Autistic Man Locked Up For 10 Years 

Being imprisoned and tortured with solitary confinement for 10 years because of a single isolated event of assault is totally disproportionate as well as being a textbook human rights violation.

I'd starve if I was locked up for ten years. Institutional food is inedible.

Previously diagnosed with both bipolar and BPD. I've been dangerously overmedicated for a decade. I'm off almost all of the meds now, having realized I'm autistic and have CPTSD, and I feel so much better. I'm still not totally okay or happy, but I have to remind myself that I'm coming up from rock bottom, and that I was so much sicker with the meds prescribed by careless doctors. Stuffing meds down our throats doesn't help if the things we are truly suffering from are not because of a specific mental illness, they could be mitigated by human care and respect. You keep an autistic guy in a cage for the better part of ten years and then get surprised when he's easily overstimulated in the general population? What?!?? He doesn't need to be drugged or confined, he needs COMPASSION and UNDERSTANDING and ACCOMMODATION. This is such a tragic Oroborous of a situation, Ashley seems so sweet and jubilant when he's comfortable - I can't imagine the stress he's under and the pain he must be feeling. Overall - solitary confinement is cruel and unusual punishment, point blank, period. I've been in psych hospitals myself, many times; I've seen teenagers get tackled by multiple grown men, tranquilized through forced injection, and then dragged off to the "quiet room" - literally a padded cell. I was in the quiet room once for a couple hours. It was UNBEARABLE. This story makes me ill.

Seclusion is a total violation of human rights! Why do you think that prisons use it as a punishment! Ashley did not deserve such inhumane punishment - he just needed understanding, compassion and proper care. Thank you Thomas for sharing this very important documentary ❤

I've been in jail before. I would much rather be isolated than be forced to be around the other people. I spent time in both isolation when I first got there(because of suicidal ideations) and in general population. Being around other people was torture. I don't need other people to be entertained and mentally well.

This is what happens when you’re ignorant and don’t want to ask for help because you might be judged as a bad parent. I diagnosed autistic at almost 64. My parents didn’t know how to deal with me after I was burned . This is really hard to watch as my own son has struggled and I don’t know how I could have helped him through any of whatever he went through. I think this is so important to know. Thank you 🩵

i knew someone when i was really small who invited me over to her house, she had a baby sibling and everyone always said what a good baby they were because they never cried or made noises... that was definitely at least 20 years ago, i wonder how that person is doing today

Real criminals get treated better and released from prison a lot sooner for common assault than an autistic person. Autistic people are locked up for retaliation against people who wrongfully mock and abuse them. Poor man just not fair.

Agree Thomas, this story does pull on the heart strings and I'm almost in tears watching this! 😢

I feel sorry for Ashley what he has been going through. Then who's idea was it to take Ashley out to a crowded noisy pub if this environment was the trigger for his meltdown?

This is cruel and unsual punishment.

Seen this video few yrs ago as it is needed viewing world wide ~world needs 2 know/learn how we can help n many r here now willing to learn/listen 2 better understand how we can help better so thnx 4 sharing it again Thomas ~ life imitates art or is it the other way around eh!?!!2:40Pm2/11/2024

Agreed that if it were animals they would be facing crimes.

Thank you❤

I really love your content. Genuinely helps. Thank you

Judge Rosenberg Center still uses electric shock.

This is a hard thing to watch 😢

This is sad. 😢

Seclusion may actually be increasing the behaviors the institution is trying to "treat". The more time he spends away from others, the more difficult it may be for him to tolerate the sounds/activity of others when he comes out of seclusion. I think it is a self-reinforcing downward spiral. I'm not advocating "exposure therapy", such as putting him in as much noise/chaos as possible so he can get used to it. He would always likely require less stimulation than some people. But I know for myself, after extended periods of solitude (read: by myself by my own choice), it takes time for me to be used to being around others. Please understand I am not comparing my situation to his, but guessing at how the one aspect of being alone (apart from the effects of by choice or not by choice, apart from the terrible conditions they describe) may affect Ashley's ability to tolerate sensory input. Another possible way it makes it worse: if being among the people he is living with is too stressful- due to the amount of vocalization, a person might actually seek isolation just to get away from the chaos. It (for some) could be the lesser of two really terrible conditions. Like getting kicked out of class on purpose. Principal's office may feel less hostile than the classroom.

Ah, new Zealand.

🙌

as an autistic person I just wanna say I wouldn't make it to 10 years I would starve myself to death like gregor from franz kafka's metamorphosis.

I'm sorry if this is inappropriate to mention, but Ashley looks resembles a character that Mike Myers played (sorry this is even difficult for me to say the name as that is the part that feels inappropriate to me?) FatB*stard.... "Get in ma belleh" Actually I feel like I needed to say this to make light of a situation that honestly has me crying right now 😢 How can humanity do this to people? How could any expert think that what they are doing to him is the right thing? Surely there is some place...... where Ashley can be free? Like an island somewhere with lots of animals and a beach to surf on? And there would at least be one or a few people that would like to live on an island as well, that could be there to take care of him where he needs it? I think (even though Ashley was probably masking growing up) that when he was younger and doing all these activities as a kid.......you can see that it somewhat normalised him? Also why aren't the world's experts looking into psychedelics as a possible means of alleviating the issues of autism? All these experts are too scared? Or think it might be too dangerous or what ever they think........so for them it's just easier to load him up with suppressants that make him docile so "they can handle him" What a joke. I feel so sad for Ashley........ at least I've stopped crying. I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my own way of trying to make light of this

They sound Australian?

I appreciate you posting this video, Thomas. But I feel the commentary is unnecessary and, frankly, a little cringey.

Oh come on. If the guy assaulted someone unprovoked, why should we feel sorry for him? Autism does not and should not exempt you from consequences.

Sorry was a tad pissed.damned institutinals.