aspergers

Helen Baxter talks about the Gary McKinnon case on The Panel, Afternoons with Jim Mora, on Radio New Zealand, National with Jock Anderson and Amanda Miller. Gary McKinnon is a UK programmer with Aspergers Syndrome that has admitted to hacking into 92 NASA & US navy computers in 2001 & 2002. He is now facing extradition to the USA and 73 years in a maximum security prison if convicted.

Listen to Aspergers & The Geek Syndrome, with Chelfyn, MsBehaviour & Wammo on Kiwi FM >>

The recent case of teen Hacker Owen Thor Wilson caught running an illegal botnet, has highlighted Asperger's Syndrome in the IT Industry and geek community. I think the New Zealand judge did the right thing giving him a second chance, as he is the product of enforced social isolation, bullying and misunderstanding.

Aspergers Syndrome is considered to be on the milder end of what is now called the Autistic Spectrum, and I am a strong supporter of autism advocacy for three reasons. Firstly some of the brightest and best geeks I have worked with have been aspies. Secondly I am married to an amazing clever, creative geek  who is an aspie boy, and finally in a rare quirk of genetic fate - I myself am an aspie girl.