Madam, - I refer to the article under the headline, "Couple driven to suicide pact" (Nov 5th). Leaving aside the very sad personal circumstances of the article, it was stated that Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a mental illness. This is factually incorrect.
I refer you to "The Report of the Task Force on Autism" published by the Department of Education and Science in October 2001, which states that the set of diagnostic criteria for AS include social impairment including egocentricity; narrow interest; repetitive routines; speech and language peculiarities; non-verbal communication problems and motor clumsiness. In NO place does it state that AS is a mental illness.
Just because people with AS and indeed autism have a different way of perceiving and interacting with the world, that does not mean that they are "mentally ill".
As someone who lives with AS and autism, I feel you have done a great disservice to those of us directly affected by these conditions by further stigmatising them in the public mind. Next time please get your facts straight before publishing. - Yours, etc.,
LIAM CROSS,
Delvin,
Co Westmeath.