Leaky Faucet at Twentybelow

Ok, you are still not doing your homework.

The issue with the Krispy Kremes and autism has nothing to do with the fact they are food. It is about obsessive compulsive disorder, something that is part of the lives of most autistic people and their families.

OCD is another interesting topic. People with autism frequently have rabid obsessions.

For instance, I will use the "Rainman" analogy because people are familiar with that. Remember the part where "Rainman" had to see Judge Wapner on TV at 4 pm when he was being driven across the country by his brother? Raymond became frantic at the thought that he might miss it and his brother, played by Tom Cruise, stopped at the house of a total stranger and said, "YOU HAVE TO LET MY BROTHER WATCH THIS SHOW RIGHT NOW!"

That scene was very accurate as far as how important it is to autistic people to participate in or experience the object of their obsessions. Unfortunately, they cannot feel ok without going through rituals. It is not a psychological issue, it is a neurological issue. The brain of autistic people is wired differently.

Obsessions vary and rule the lives of those who experience them. They may include watching trains, a tv show that cannot be missed, or visiting a Krispy Kreme donut store.

The little boy, Gregg, in the newspaper story we are discussing is not so much into the donuts as he is into the whole "hot light=free donuts" issue.

Other obsessions of people with autism who I have personally known include spiders, Star Wars, birds, clocks, and organic gardening. These people work all day, every day, learning as much as they can about their obsessions. They cannot turn the thoughts about their obsessions off.

To visit a Krispy Kreme when it is your obsession is very soothing to your mind. To see a train go by when it is your obsession is something that makes you feel happy and fullfilled.

Many people with autism do not live in our world so much as visit here, sort of like the people from the tv show "Third Rock from the Sun." I think by participating and honoring their world and obsessions we are allowed to see another side of humanity.

By the way, thousands of people across America have driven hours for a Krispy Kreme. See some of the Krispy Kreme fan websites. The lure of KK has nothing to do with autism.

Gregg lives three miles from the new KK store and is happy that he gets to see the hot light on a daily basis. He only eats one donut a week.

Mother of an autistic child

Addendum to above...I appreciate that you did not mean to offend. But it is too easy to dehumanize handicapped people, and we all have to take care, (me included.)

And I am glad you have a great mom.

By the way, one more nice apology and I will send you my real email address.

AndmyhusbandhasADD

I commented on the original entry, but I will say it again -- Grin and Bear It.

The fact is, he or anyone, would comment on it being extreme if someone non-autistic drove 100 miles just to go to Krispy Kreme. If you took the autism comment out of the article, you wouldn't even be writing here.

My youngest son has mild autism, low vision, is well above his weight range (and not because he eats a lot, though people will assume he is a big pig), and wets the bed -- I am always on the verge of apologizing or explaining him to others, but then I stop. It's just Ben. His "thing" is in the bathroom -- we call it his Potty Puppet Theatre. It is really odd, but we can't stop it -- though we can limit it. I certainly wouldn't put anyone down if they commented on how strange it was. It is strange -- but I am comfortable enough to know it is just Ben and I can grin and bear it.

Can you?

Ed - -at least you know people are reading your website. :)

BTW, any of the autistic kids I know would have been more obsessed about the machines and process that make the donuts -- not necessarily the lit up sign. But every child is different. I didn't see in the article where it said that was his thing -- nor did I see his age. We could be talking about an adult child.