Treated as a Prisoner, Not a Patient
My son Charlie attends a public school autism program. He is in a self-contained classroom and a teacher or aide is always with him. Charlie has plenty of challenges, but there are some advantages—graces, perhaps—to him needing so much supervision. If Charlie were mainstreamed and left more to his own devices, I would worry a lot about him falling in with the “wrong” crowd and getting into serious trouble. What happened to 21-year-old Christopher McGowan confirms my concern.
After a three week trial, Christopher McGowan was acquitted this week of setting fire to the Glenwood Plaza in Aylmer (Canada) and destroying 45 businesses, with some $300 million in damage. Christopher was diagnosed with autism and developmental delays as a child and struggled through school; his mother, Gloria Manna, recalled getting called at work every day when her son got into a fight or “acted out” in class. As a teenager, McGowan gravitated towards students who tended to get into trouble, who accepted him because (as his mother noted) they could “manipulate” him. Notes today’s Ottawa Citizen:
“I said to Gloria: ‘One day, Chris is going to get in big trouble’,” Mr. [Bob] McGowan [Christopher’s father] recalled. “And that’s what it’s going to take to get him the help he needs.”
The day that Christopher got in “big trouble” came on Aug. 5, 2005, a month after the Glenwood Plaza fire.
Gatineau police, who already suspected him of setting the blaze that destroyed the mall, arrested and charged him with six other counts of arson for fires set in dumpsters, vehicles, and empty buildings around the mall area between March 2004 and June 2005. The final act of alleged arson occurred less than three weeks before the Glenwood blaze.
Christopher’s parents see their son’s acquittal at the trial last week as a “vindication.” After his arrest, Christopher was released on bail and started to work at the Second Chance Café in Montreal; the café was set up by an ex-convict to help those seeking, indeed, a second chance in life. He also became interested in religion and began to share his mother’s Pentecostal faith. But he was charged with twelve counts of breaching his bail conditions, which required that “a relative or other responsible adult” supervise him 24 hours a day, and he tended to wander off. He was arrested again in May of 2006 after Aylmer police bugged his mother’s house and heard him say “‘Yeah, yeah, I did it’” during a conversation between Christopher and his mother about the mall fire. Christopher was first sent to a minimum security prison,
“where the other prisoners treated him roughly, his parents said. He was moved to maximum security for his own protection, where he fared better among the men serving hard time.”
The Ottawa Citizen notes:
On Thursday, the very day that the jury reached a verdict in the Glenwood plaza fire, Christopher McGowan refused to take his insulin upon hearing news of his grandmother’s declining health, fell unconscious and had to be taken to hospital.
It was just one example of the problems of a young man trying to cope with both medical problems and intellectual limitations, in a system where he is treated as a prisoner, not a patient.
I hope Christopher McGowan can indeed get his second chance and—if that is what he needs, given his disability and needs—the services and supports he nees. And, if need be, a third, and fourth chance, too.
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POSTED IN: Crime, Legal Issues
5 opinions for Treated as a Prisoner, Not a Patient
Casdok
Oct 13, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Such a pity Christopher and his family had to go through all that, i just hope he now will get the support that he needs.
mcewen
Oct 13, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Young/adult supervision 24/7 is a tall order with a big bill.
Best wishes
Anonymous
Oct 15, 2007 at 12:16 am
Fact is, that Christopher McGowan’s mother did not want to accept nor admit the possibility that he had autism until he was charged with a crime. Up until then she did not seek the assistance for him she claims she did. It was only when it became convenient that she embraced Christopher’s autism which was not actually diagnosed formally until the court proceedings. Please remember that all media reports have a one sided view - that child needed and did not receive support he needed until his adult years. His mother chose to cover for his erratic behaviour for years. I am happy he will finally get help and hopefully become a productive member of society. It’s just too bad that the stigma of autism held his mother back from admitting the truth and her child has paid the price indeed.
Patrick
Oct 15, 2007 at 2:31 pm
If our societies don’t wake up and ’smell the coffee’ I am afraid we will continue to hear about tragedies like this.
Just because some politicians decided to de-fund institutions or other programs that provided support for those who need special care (if such programs ever existed) doesn’t mean that they did the right thing.
While I have read about atrocities committed in the past and even in the present (Judge Rottenberg Center (sp?)), the reports indirectly indicate that the institutions and programs were not properly conceived, implemented, and monitored.
Such is also the case with care for the elderly and other classes of people, I am sure.
Until the time comes that our governments start thinking about the needs of their own constituents, citizenry, and dependents, and a bit less about what is going to drive the economy, forward their own position of power, and a few other selfish things that escape my thought train at the moment, the tragedies will continue.
It saddens me to hear about Mr McGowan’s situation, but I can’t really feel that in some part, its not his fault that he wasn’t occupied in a more reasonable use of his time, I feel it is a failing of our societies.
Chris's mom
Nov 20, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Replying to Anonymous, Oct 15,2007.
You write as if you think you know what kind of help I seeked out for my son.
If you know me, you wouldn’t have to sign anonymous, but sign with your name.
You have not walked a mile in my shoes, Quebec does not have services for young adults with Autism, the school my son attended, tried to get more help for him but the finances were not given to them.
Yes my son paid the price and a heavy price it was.
But there are alot of success stories for people with autism, many go on to lead very productive lives.
I know my son will continue his life, and I will be there to support and encourage him and seek services for him.
He has needs and wants and should also be allowed to explore that, with help and guidance from myself and other family members he will become a contributing member of society.
I have no stigma’s, I have no shame in my son,
He is genuine, and is very special.
You say “that child needed and did not receive support he needed until his adult years ”
I was a single mother, working full time and taking care of my son on my own. I think I did a fantastic job. I don’t need your approval.
I feel very Blessed, having a son like Chris.
Love you Chris, go for your dreams, all things are
possible, only believe.
Signed Chris Mom…Gloria Manna
If there is anyone out there willing to give me any positive feed back on where to get services please do. Getting help is not as easy as some people think.
Talking from experience..
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