Stereotypes for Autistic People Essay Example

Christopher runs to rescue his rat even though his putting in risk his own life.

Everyone sitting around him recognizes that Christopher is acting kind of crazy because he is putting his life at risk for an insignificant a rat that he just rescued (182). Who does that? Christopher didn’t care about anything else other than he was worried that “Toby”, his rat would not have enough food or a home to survive and he possibly could die by this action we can observe that Christopher had an instinct of protection and love for what he cared the most, his rat.

Another reason on how Christopher is able to show that he can distinguish right from wrong is when his dad tells Christopher that he has to stop finding out who killed Wellington (28). Christopher understands that he is going against of what his dad requested of him. We have to remember that Christopher is a kid that associates, empathies, well to animals but he is not able to understand the human behavior or emotions. In Kennett's essay, she expresses that autistic people are capable of being moved directly by the thought that some consideration constitutes a reason for action (357).

Even though Christopher knew that disobeying his father was wrong, he continued with his investigation that let him discover no one but more than one secret. In order to determine if an action is right or wrong, Christopher has to have some sort of guideline by which to judge the action, which he does have sense of duty that is why he is able to distinguish right from wrong. In the

book, Christopher is confronted to make a moral decision on whether he uses his Swiss Army knife or not.

He admits that he is not afraid of using his Swiss Army Knife if he has to because; he is defending himself from danger. In this scene, Christopher shows his feelings towards strangers it is in fact a moral decision that Christopher has to go make. However, Kennett tell us that capable autistic people have the tendency to have a Kantian-a generalized moral concern, what we might call a sense of duty or a conscience- approach to moral thinking (350-352). Christopher says, "If I kill them it would be in self-defense and I won't go to prison" (44).

He definitely knows what he is able to do. For instance, he has the power to choose whether or not to use his knife. He has a very radical way of thinking. He also emphasizes that if he gets hurt first then he would take action which is what most people would do in the same case I believe. This shows how an autistic person actually can have some moral concern and also has the ability to make a decision of not doing something that he knows it would be or is wrong. Jeannette Kennett explains at the end of her essay that moral agency’s absence can be harmful.

“Only individuals who are capable of being moved directly by the thought that some consideration constitutes a reason for action can be conscientious moral agents” (357). At the end of the book, Christopher had accomplished every goal that he set up for himself. "I know I

can do this because... I solved the mystery of who killed Wellington? ... and I was brave... that means I can do anything" (221). Ultimately, what is at stake here is what Kennett emphasizes that it is not necessary empathize with people in order to make moral decisions.

Although Christopher's story may seem insignificant, it is in fact crucial in terms of today's concern over autism and how people is treating other people specially the ones that have disabilities. People should be more compassionate about them, and being more open-minded about people with disabilities because, those people are very capable has become very successful. So, society should learn from this book that they don’t have to pay attention to the stereotypes because these are underestimating people.