Exposing Autism's Violent Side One Mother's Last Hope

After years of painting autism as “beautiful, mysterious, perhaps even evolutionarily necessary,” Ann Bauer has been moved by the transformation of son Andrew into a violent monster to write about the condition’s violent side. Bauer forgave her son’s attacks—which broke three of her ribs—until he choked his caretaker. “For years I denied that autism can be a wild, ravaging madness,” she writes for Salon.

“Secretly, as if committing a sacrilege, I searched online using keywords such as ‘autism’ and ‘violence’ and ‘murder,’” she continues. Though dozens of articles attest to a link, advocates vigorously deny it. With her son heavily drugged and willing to admit he might kill her, Bauer has realized, “Autism does not always equal violence. But I do believe there may be a tragic, blameless relationship.” (More autism stories.)