Jett Travolta's Autism: Confirmed for Cops, Not for World

Like other parents of children with autism, I reacted with both sadness and puzzlement to the death earlier this year of John Travolta's 16-year-old son, Jett, as the family vacationed in the Bahamas. Sadness, obviously, because a family had lost a child; puzzlement, because the Travoltas' denials that Jett was autistic -- though it seemed obvious that he was -- persisted even after the boy died.

Today, just as John Travolta's biggest movie in years hits screens across the nation, we learn that apparently he did acknowledge his son's autism. The National Enquirer has dug up a Bahamian police report indicating the actor told authorities "Jett suffered from a seizure disorder and was autistic." Before Jett's death, Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, had said he suffered from a rare condition called Kawasaki disease, as well as exposure to environmental toxins from carpet cleaning chemicals. It's been assumed Jett's parents didn't acknowledge the possibility of autism because of their strict belief in Scientology, which denies the existence of autism.

So why would John Travolta tell authorities his son was autistic, but not anyone else? One theory is that is that he would have faced prosecution for denying that Jett had a known medical condition. Others see it as an illustration of Scientology's flaws and absurdities. But as a fellow parent of a child with autism, I see it as the understandable confusion of a parent who, famous or not, has to wrestle like the rest of us with why this cruel and mysterious condition was brought into our lives. Whether it's denied because of a religious belief, or some other reason, it's understandable. I would only say to the Travolta's that perhaps today's news that there was at least some acknowledgment by them that their son was autistic, will convince them to come all the way over into the autism community. We need powerful voices to fight for these children. John Travolta's longstanding refusal to use the "A-word" doesn't make him ineligible to join our fight. It makes him perfect for the job.

YOU CAN READ JIM'S DAILY BLOG AT WPIX.COM/JIMWATKINS

OTHER AUTISM-RELATED POSTS:
"The Travolta Tragedy and Autism"

"Kean Universtiy Autism Speech"

"My Response To Michael Savitch's Remarks About Autism"

 

Comments

[usna73]

May I correct you respectfully, not out of criticism? Our son is "autistic" by the definition of those who see a "spectrum disorder." My son, is in fact vaccine brain injured and it is definitely a neurobiological problem.

Many children like ours is "mentally retarded" simply by the use of a IQ scale. In fact it is almost 70%.

However that does mean 30% are not. MR has many etiologies, as you suggest.

[MNmommy]

Well said.

Such a tragedy, all around.

[LiLoNYC]

Jim,
Nice entry about a topic that causes mass hysteria in some corners. You struck the right chord on Travolta: it's OK if your grief, your pride, your whatever caused you some denial about your son's true condition. As a parent who's been there, I know getting that diagnosis for my son broke my heart. But it also made me strong. Me, I'm a nobody. But imagine the mountains in he autism world that could be moved if John Travolta got public - and got involved - in the autism struggle.
Michael J. Fox went public with his Parkinson's. He spoke up -- before Congress even. And millions of dollars went to his cause. Imagine what could happen, if, in the name of his son Jett, Travolta spoke up for all those with autism who can't even talk.
Thank you Jim. And -- hopefully -- thank you John Travolta.

[Singlemomma]

Please! It's a *neurobiological* disorder, not a psychiatric condition. If you're going to "join the fight" please get the basics correct. It is a Spectrum Disorder and not all children with Autism are Rain Man. I wish they would burn that movie.
It is also not associated with mental retardation (as, sadly, the State of Texas believes; what pitiful services are offered twelve years later are found in the Division of Mental Retardation - although they know it's a neurobiological disorder).

[MNmommy]

Most "psychiatric conditions" are really neurobiological disorders. What's your point?

[SpiralUp]

good poinit, MNmommy, thank you.