I don't have the book or easy access to it, but am somewhat familiar with
autism and Asperger's syndrome because it has blossomed in the youngest
generation in my family.
Perhaps my greatest concern is the notion of diagnosing Jefferson long
after he is gone. Identification of autism and Asperger's's has undergone
quite an "improvement" in the past decade or so. Prior to that, intelligent
children with autistic and Asperger's's characteristics were identified as
Learning Disabled, even tho they never did quite fit. And that was with the
subject right there to study, not long dead! So, I would be most reluctant
to agree to a diagnosis of someone who is not available for the testing and
questioning that usually goes into making such a diagnosis.
What type of evidence does Ledgin present? Does he show a clear trail of
autism in descendents? Can he trace the autism back a generation or two?
How does he feel the traits were manifested?
Anne
At 06:38 AM 1/7/03 -0800, Jackson Jarl wrote:
>To All:
>Please forgive me if this topic has been discussed
>already, but I was curious: If any of you have read
>Norm Ledgin's DIGANOSING JEFFERSON, what do you think
>of the book? Are its arguments and supports sufficient
>and valid, merely suggestive, or more or less totally
>in error? Apart from the case Ledgin attempts to make
>in the book, what do you think of the idea - the
>possibility - that Jefferson had Asperger Syndrome,
>was on the autism spectrum, or had autistic-like
>characteristics?
>
>My interest in this based on work as an independent
>scholar, studying Jefferson, and work with an agency
>that serves clients with autism. I also have an
>additional reason that I do not want to reveal, for
>fear of affecting any responses.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Jarl K.Jackson
>
>
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Anne Pemberton
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