Autistic Recruit Released! - Democratic Underground

Coexist

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Fri May-12-06 10:33 AM
Original message

Autistic Recruit Released!

Edited on Fri May-12-06 10:34 AM by FLDem5

Army Releases Autistic Teen
Parents Say Army Ignored Their Complaints Until Newspaper Article

<snip>
Gaylan Johnson, spokesman for the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, said Guinther's disability was not disclosed in the medical exam and information regarding his condition was not available to the command until after the enrollment process was complete. The command oversees medical exams for the Army.

Guinther's mother told The Oregonian she informed recruiters about her son's disability by telephone as Jared was being tested, but that he was accepted for enlistment anyway. Family and friends say anyone who reviewed the young man's medical or school records would know he was unfit for military service.

"Jared would play with buttons for hours on end," she told the Oregonian. "He'd play with one toy for days. Loud noises bothered him. He was scared to death of the toilet flushing, the lawn mower."

An investigation is under way into whether recruiters improperly concealed Guinther's condition.

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GreenPartyVoter

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Fri May-12-06 10:35 AM
Response to Original message

1. Glad he has been released but the military will snatch up some

other poor kid in his place. :(

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benburch

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Fri May-12-06 10:36 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. If they are this desperate, a draft cannot be far away. nt

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acmejack

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Fri May-12-06 10:41 AM
Response to Reply #2

5. Immediately after the election if there is one.

Immediately after the next "terrorist event" otherwise. There will be mandatory induction, then people will get all excited! Then they will learn it is too damned late.

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GreenPartyVoter

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Fri May-12-06 10:41 AM
Response to Reply #2

6. I think the "Illegals" will be the first drafted. We already have an 'earn

your green card in the Army' type of program. I think the fine print on the bottom of the 'guest workers' program will say that applicants under the age of 40 will have to do mandatory stinits in the military.

And then, when we run out of those folks, then we'll get back to the Viet Nam style draft of the poor and other minorities.

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Sydnie

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Fri May-12-06 10:36 AM
Response to Original message

3. I am so glad to hear this

This was just stupidity in action. What was there to think about? They make me sick!

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Coexist

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Fri May-12-06 01:12 PM
Response to Reply #3

10. me too.

I was very happy to read this.

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bloom

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Fri May-12-06 10:41 AM
Response to Original message

4. That's good news.

I figured they would have to - for one thing - what a PR nightmare.

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noonwitch

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Fri May-12-06 10:48 AM
Response to Original message

7. His desire to serve his country should be rewarded somehow

The process of getting him out of his recruitment commitment should be done in a way that values his abilities, not one that focuses on his diagnostic label. This kid is obviously a high-functioning autistic, and if he enlisted out of a desire to serve his country, he should be encouraged to find another way to do so. If he is interested in the military, maybe there is some kind of volunteer or civilian position on a base that he could fill.

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KamaAina

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Fri May-12-06 01:21 PM
Response to Reply #7

11. The social service agencies here often work with the bases

the ones that find jobs for people with disabilities. Needless to say, the bases here are major employers (we're about the only place that has all four branches), and they've been more cooperative than the private sector on the whole. The major problem since 9/11 has been getting them (or any other civilians) on base.

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demigoddess

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Fri May-12-06 10:48 AM
Response to Original message

8. not the first case, if you ask me, I know a young man who was

recruited and then released almost immediately on medical reasons. He was below par mentally. Not labeled retarded but I believe he was.

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Freddie Stubbs

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Fri May-12-06 10:54 AM
Response to Reply #8

9. I was actually signed up to join the Marines, but

was then rejected due to a hearing impairment.

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dogday

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Fri May-12-06 01:24 PM
Response to Original message

12. My Sister is Autistic

The Military would never of even tried to recruit her.. She is very obvious.. When we go out and people look at her tapping or shaking her hands, you can see them making fun of her... I used to get angry at them, now I feel sorry for their ignorance and that they don't have the opportunity I do to love someone like her :hug:

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