Asperger's father loses almost all access to his children

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I don't have enough information to make a decision one way or the other. Besides, it's none of my business.

I agree!

I know, I would forget to feed them or give them a bath.

This article seems to have syndicated to about every newspaper in Australia, but they all say the same thing. I expect that is because it is seen as an unexpected ruling.

The Judge seems quite reasonable from looking at previous decisions, she is a member of the Family Court and has presented papers at international conferences on the issue of caring for children.

There is an article in one of the parent association saying that they thought the decision was harsh.

To me it seems that his behaviour could have been better (mind you it was logical), but that his (ex)wife ambushed him with all negative stuff about aspergers.

Fights between parents for custody of children can get very dirty and very nasty. You don't know if this is the case, as we have very limited information with interesting highlights presented for publication.

Not an easy case.

I don't not think it's fair using that aspie label as an advantage to the get the custody of the child.

You should be judged your ability as a parent, which the follow clearly lacked. In that case it might be for the better, so i'm glad the mother did use the tool stereotyping. however the children still need need some time with someone they can call there father figure

My biggest fear is that this happens to me.

I have read the article. The guy may be a nut, but I doubt that Asperger's is the cause. I can thinks of plenty of instances where neurotypical parents did things like that. There are parents who play favorites with there children. Hippies and other permissives often fail to discipline children and tolerate outrageous behaviors. I have cousin whose father taught him about sex when he was five. Atheists and Agnostics are intolerant toward the idea of their children learning scripture. The man's poor ability to raise his children is caused by the same incompetence that effects all sorts of parents.

I agree, and as the son of a aspie mother I would love to have a word with this "psychologist", I could not have wished for a more loving, supporting and above all logical parent.

He didn't sound like a very good dad and did child neglect to an extent.

He most certainly did not sound like a good dad, and I think the measures they are taking are justified, but I wonder if that truly was a result of him having autism or simply bad parenting in general, as it happens with a lot a people without any form of diagnosis.

The question I'm asking myself is this:

If this had been an NT father doing these things, would it have made the headlines in this way? I know of fathers who were much more useless as parents than this, but didn't make the newspapers!

I'm not saying that he didn't deserve to have his hours restricted, it sounds like it was a fair decision. And the fact that the judge reduced his hours by more than the mother requested, suggests that she was genuinely concerned for the children.

But I do worry that this is an attempt by the newspapers to tar Aspies with the bad parenting brush!

Some people are bad parents because of their autism. But you're right anyone can be a bad parent. Not everyone is suited to be a parent and unfortunately you don't even know until you have kids. Some people know before hand if they will be a good parent or not so they either don't have any knowing they will be one or do have them knowing they will be a good one.

Then there are gray areas like s**t happens and the parent can do the best they can and can't meet all their kids needs or are forced to do something dangerous like leaving a kid home alone or using unlicensed day cares or hiring someone they don't know well to watch their kids or re using disposable diapers because they are struggling financially and can't find someone they know well to watch their kids or can't simply afford childcare. I wouldn't label them as bad parents. I would say they need family support and friends.

Hmmm... Reading Dawkins to them is abuse? Not teaching them scripture is abuse?

Sounds like the lunatics are running the asylum.

I know of an an NT mom who used to leave her son alone in the crib and go our shopping all the time. I would never have done that. I did not like to leave my kids in the care of a baby sitter, let alone leave them alone....

If they wanted to go after him for behavior, they should have gone after him, not us.

People should remember the people involved and hold them accountable.

I think that rather than banning his kids from him he should be able to get help on how to be a better parent. He is not abusive he just doesn't understand or know things. They should teach him.