How does Ajay's potential neurodivergence complicate his treatment by the police and his recovery from trauma? How do you think his story's outcomes might have changed if his parents had pursued an earlier diagnosis?
Created: 04/03/24
Replies: 9
Join Date: 10/16/10
Posts: 1012
How does Ajay's potential neurodivergence complicate his treatment by the police and his recovery from trauma? How do you think his story's outcomes might have changed if his parents had pursued an earlier diagnosis?
Join Date: 02/08/16
Posts: 523
Ajay's fear and inability to communicate led the police to think him guilty, or at least very suspicious. It put him in a precarious position. If he'd been diagnosed at an early age, he may have developed coping skills to enable him to communicate better with the police.
Join Date: 12/16/21
Posts: 39
Join Date: 01/01/16
Posts: 454
Join Date: 05/24/21
Posts: 90
Ajay’s potential neurodivergence and his young age complicated his treatment by the police. He wanted to get his drone and did not understand that they wanted him to stop and listen. Ajay’s lack of ability to discern what the police wanted created suspicion and exacerbated their reaction. The police misjudged his age partially because of his height, and one of the policemen did not have patience with a boy who looked like a teen and did not comply. I do not know how it might have affected his recovery from trauma.
Join Date: 04/26/17
Posts: 258
Not reacting to a situation in a 'normal' way is dangerous. Ajay was at a place that he shouldn't have been due to his hyper focus on one thing, flying his drone. Hopefully if Ajay's differences are identified he will receive help in relating to others. I am sure this type of trauma would be very difficult for a young boy to work through. His family is very supportive, and now that his father is on board it will help.
Join Date: 02/09/23
Posts: 106
Join Date: 12/26/23
Posts: 12
I think the “potential” neurodiversity highlights two important common misconceptions. The first is the police lack of training and ability to recognize neurodiversity and how lack of training leads to further trauma. Second, the failure on the part of the Shah’s to accept or admit that Ajay may be different could have had even greater consequences for him. Both of these misconception show how important educating everyone: family, community, law enforcement on what to look for is critical.
Join Date: 07/24/11
Posts: 228
I think Ajay's inability to understand appropriate response to the police complicated that interaction. It also made it hard for him to recover as he didn't understand what he did wrong and why he couldn't have his drone back. Riding his bike was something he enjoyed until this incident with the police seemed to take that pleasure away from him and make him scared when he was offered a different bike. It would be interesting to have the story continue and see if moving back to his old neighborhood where he was surrounded by a little bit more of a support group would make a difference in how he dealt with the trauma.
Join Date: 10/19/16
Posts: 47
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