WhyHope.com - Hardball about Mental
health, Stigma and Society - Autistic Rights! *
Dangers of having Autism (and related social handicaps)
- videos below
I am not the only victim taken advantage of for having a type of autism
as shown in the ABC link below. In the ABC article Liane Willey describes
a similar experience to mine of feeling suicidal and detached from reality
after an extreme unwanted event. However I was victimized before
my symptoms of autism were properly diagnosed, causing me to think it was
a mental breakdown related to my previous wrong diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
People without autism (called neurotypical) started suggesting that
I might be dangerous after I had been attacked, which actually caused my
reaction to the original event to turn into a full blown nightmare of confusion
and helplessness. I tried to address what was happening and what
I was told by writing people I thought were friends.
This website is about the discrimination I continued to suffer until
recently being diagnosed with symptoms of autism. I hope to develop
a more positive attitude as a learn how to avoid dangers from neurotypicals.
Hopefully other people with social handicaps like autism spectrum disorders
can learn from my bad experiences to avoid them.
The following You-Tube video is one of my worst experiences so far.
In apparent retaliation for my making complaints about discrimination and
errors in the Bowling Green, Ohio, legal system I was arrested at home
as recorded by my home security camera. They falsely claimed I called
threatening to kill a judge, which terrorized me into thinking that some
judge would lie in court so they could put me in jail for a long time.
My psychological state was evidence for court so terrorizing me with
lies about charges certainly helped the prosecutor. Notice at the
end of the video that I am paralyzed and they forced me into the back of
a normal police car without restraints, and because I could not use my
legs to brace myself I slid all over the back. The lady driving seemed
to think it was funny and told dispatch I was acting crazy.
Then they used the lies of the lawmen in the video that I was nuts to
illegally send me to a local hospital lock down psychotic ward. Worse
was that I am significantly paralyzed and the hospital ward was not properly
handicap accessible to deal with a paralyzed man like myself. I ended
up falling in the bathroom because the toilet had no handholds, and other
disturbing issues.
Until I finally got bonded out of jail I was living in the nightmare
given to me during the video that I would be railroaded in court with a
judge lying that I called threatening to kill him, resulting in a lengthy
imprisonment. Bowling Green, Ohio, is a sick place to let someone
get terrorized by authorities seeking personal revenge.
The hospital bill is below. Note they illegally billed the VA
almost $5000 instead of the jail.
.
Name change:
the title "WhyHope.com - Hardball about Mental illness, Stigma and Society
- USA" is being changed to "WhyHope.com - Hardball about Mental health,
Stigma and Society - Autistic Rights!" in order to better reflect where
I am at. Technically because they say I have bipolar disorder in
addition to symptoms of autism they classify the bipolar as a claimed mental
illness.
Plus the national Jaycees civic group claims that people with bipolar
disorder are known to kill and can not be members of their group, which
expresses the public discrimination against people who get the label of
a mental illness. To this date the Jaycees organization refuses to
disclaim the past views it has put into the legal record, so the Jaycees
apparently do not mind being labeled themselves as a possible hate group.
I have told my roommate's medical people time and time again that I
go with her to learn and help her remember what she needs to know.
On June 6th, 2008, I went to pick her up after she spent the night recovering
from a stent placed with a catheter into a blood vessel of her heart which
was about 80% clogged.
She apparently had been given a prescription for Plavix which was necessary
to prevent the stint from getting clogged. But because I was not
there when she was told to take the medicine, there was no one to remind
her when she forgot.
In the morning of June 11th she started having chest pain. We
live about a mile from the hospital so she had me take her to the emergency
room and tests showed something was going on with her heart. They
asked about Plavix but neither of us knew anything about it. They
kept her overnight to do a catheter the next day to see what was going
on, while also giving her blood thinners.
On June 12th they discovered that her stint had become 100% clogged
because she had not been using the Plavix. She swears up and down
not remembering being told about it. I only saw the doctor on the
day of the stint and he had said nothing then, so I had no idea what I
may have missed.
When I finally found the stuff she took home from the hospital the prescription
was there. For several years I have complained that my housemate
Michelle has memory problems and could use a social worker to help keep
everything straight. However there is no help for her other than
what I can provide, and this website shows I am already exceeding my limits.
I feel bad that normally I might have asked more questions and prevented
this medical emergency. However, my mind is stressed because of my
own medical and other issues.
(You can copy and use this cartoon if left
as is.)
Two years ago I discovered MentalHealthStigma.com
which inspired my efforts to confront stigma, like in the cartoon.
Mental
illness seems to be a bigger money maker for news and movies than it is
a social issue!
This cartoon also shows why it is easier to write about these issues
than to talk about them. Bowling Green, Ohio, and the army are my
strongest experiences with this social evil.
Flower Hospital near Toledo, Ohio, is discriminating
against the handicapped in violation of Federal ADA law based
on their own admissions and conduct. They claim to have an arbitrary
rule that I can not visit my housemate because I had been admitted to their
hospital for mental health within six months of my housemate Michelle being
currently admitted also for mental health.
They chose to enforce this rule despite my being a caregiver for my
housemate and my needing to visit her to reschedule her appointments plus
other things I do for her. I am told that even if we were married
that I would not be able to see her because of their arbitrary rule.
This appears to be a clear case of discrimination based on a handicap
without any real evidence that safety or well being is involved.
In fact the hospital has been more dangerous by not providing necessary
physical handicap accommodations to my housemate. She had fallen
in the shower and states her bathroom is not wheelchair accessible.
Federal ADA law is clear about the duty of the hospital.
Flower Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio chose ignore accommodation for these
issues at the time of this writing so I have been forced to make this a
formal legal issue with the Federal Government and have been picketing
out front in the winter weather. My friends and enemies know that
I am an advocate who refuses to give up unless solutions are found.
Why does Flower hospital not list all these rules for the public to
see? Are they afraid of lawsuits? Do they simply want the right
to control things without concern for state and federal laws? They
claim to provide Compassionate Care but I do not see it with their arbitrary
rule to keep my housemate and myself from visiting each other.
Does the hospital realize that I will most likely be picking her up
and bringing her home to the house we share? They need to get their
lawyers looking at their rules before causing unacceptable consequences
without even trying to accommodate the situation.
Mental health is a best guess because there is no exact science.
Asperger Disorder with the hidden symptoms
of autism is a better diagnosis than the army's diagnosis of bipolar
disorder. For more also see : See my
Asperger's Syndrome webpage.
In the army a diagnosis of mental illness subjected me to fear, bigotry
and hate. As a result the army and civic
group claim I am a Dangerous Person. These claims destroyed my social
life and hope for a family. My regular Veterans Affairs mental health doctors
have ignored these issues. (See va-award,
page 3, "Ann Arbor" and compare with real evidence on this website.)
1988: When entering the army I proved my abilities and graduated the
top
of my class in electronics warfare school.
2
1989: After army school I was diagnosed with a mental illness, "bipolar
disorder". The army punished
me for this medical problem. I believe the memories haunt me today
as
PTSD.
1999: Instead of letting my past experience and society be a "destructive
influence", I started looking for the truth myself. This website is a record
of that quest. My getting into Ham
Radio and ability to invent patentable
inventions are how I have tried to help myself.
2003: I overcame the most terrifying of my problems. I had seemed to
be in a trance or "dream" for most of the time since the army, as if I
had no control over my fate. It appeared to be like a continuous type of
PTSD
and related to stress and stigma.
4
2003: Despite breaking my past trance, I developed a "replacement
problem". I had not tried very hard to find out why I was limping until
my foot went numb. A spinal cord tumor ultimately caused me to be paralyzed.
Depression and anger started to be more of an issue.
?
5
In the past I have hidden my problems with mental illness by using
determination and genius. Today I am paralyzed
and the effort it takes to deal with physical problems makes it harder
to deal with my mental health. Together these problems are too much to
deal with at times.
I could potentially support myself working a few hours a week on patentable
ideas. (Most of my time is spent taking care of myself or resting due to
fatigue from being paralyzed.)
6
I do not have the money, time, or ability to patent my ideas or protect
my legal rights. My disability income is barely enough to survive on. Trying
to publish my ideas has been a problem. It is hard to focus and write good
articles when your mind is in chaos and your bladder feels like it is turning
inside out.
Credit Cards and finances have
not been a major problem because I keep paying ahead one month, so that
if I forget it will not hurt me.
7
Because I "appear" to be so good with credit, they have given me more
than they should. At the moment my income balances with the credit
card payments, mortgage, property tax, utilities, car payments, insurance,
with a little left for food. I fool myself into thinking I can afford things,
then pinch pennies trying to un-do the damage.
2006: Instead of waiting for VA help, I
paid for counseling. The non-VA counselor said that it had been
my choice in the army and civic
group. I could have gone AWOL in the army to escape. A co-worker was
part of the civic group, so quitting my job would have been necessary.
Where these fair choices?
9
2006: The VA finally gave me counseling in response to my "angry"
letter. Unfortunately they are worried about my anger and not the issues
that are making me angry.
When I became paralyzed the VA
provided great medical support. I was given therapy and advice on dealing
with the world. They gave me things to help deal with life like wheelchairs
and a lift for my van.
1
0
I have constantly told doctors in the VA
about about my mental health problems, and they did very little to help
other than drugs. I feel that the VA mental health system is almost
worthless for providing practical support! Why did they provide so
much support for my being paralyzed but not for mental illness?
This is how I am dealing with stigma of "my" mental illness, bipolar
disorder. As a disabled veteran, I should feel proud that I protected and
served my country. Instead many people think I am dangerous like Rambo
in the movie "First Blood". This is what law enforcement and "experts"
claimed.
The best way for the mentally ill to fight back is to play "hardball".
Who cares if the mentally ill are victims? Authorities will use hardball
to claim that someone is sick, dangerous, or a killer - even if it is a
lie! When the mentally ill complain of a crime, who is willing to investigate?
Harassment was the army's
response after I was diagnosed with mental illness in 1989. Medical
people said I could be a productive soldier. My chain of command convinced
me that I am worthless.
Hundreds of letters
prove the stigma of mental illness. Instead of giving up I contacted
thousands Jaycees members looking for one person to help. My pay back was
more harassment, threats, and finally being brought to court by the United
States Junior Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Jaycees.
The Marion County Ohio civil
court decides the mentally ill kill people? Statements that "persons
suffering from manic depression ... kill others" were acceptable to
Judge Davidson? I asked the judge for decorum to deal with this attack
on my mental illness. I had a handicap protected by the Americans with
Disabilities Act. It was "not to be well-taken and overruled"? Courts expect
the mentally ill to represent themselves,
pro-se, in an environment
of bigotry and hate?
Why Hope to survive with stigma or mental illness? This website
has over 200 pages of evidence about my experience: Attacks,
punishment, fear and stigma for having a mental illness, BiPolar Disorder.
A
lack of finding support and having to act as my own advocate in
the worst of situations.
Does the VA care about harm caused
by the army? - My "service connected" mental illness results in
poor health and social problems. For trying to serve and protect our nation,
do I deserve to be forgotten? The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has
failed to provide the support that I request.
My Photos - Look at photos
from the life of someone with mental illness. These pictures may surprise
some people. It was too easy to forget the good in my life after I had
been confronted for being mentally ill.
My life - mental illness is creativity or
danger? - Doctors did not warn me about the social dangers of living
with a mental illness, Bipolar Disorder. Mental Health workers and
psychiatrists did not tell me about discrimination or the ADA, the Americans
with Disabilities Act. All the important things I had to learn after I
was attacked for being mentally ill. I also discuss Schizoaffective Disorder,
which is like mild schizophrenia.
In court, they say that I will kill them
- they claim "... It is well-recognized that persons suffering from manic
depression often contemplate and even act upon their suicidal thoughts.
Unfortunately, all too often persons having such low self-esteem and death
wishes chose to kill others in conjunction with destroying themselves."
Credit Cards bad for mentally
ill? - The confusion and impulses with mental illnesses
make credit cards risky: 1. Do you understand the real risks
when you sign for one?
2. Would you remember not to go over
your limit and send payments in time? 3. What if you ended
up in the hospital?
What I have learned by running this website
- Why hope to change anything if the people who need to listen will not?
Hate Crimes are acceptable against the Mentally ill? - Saint Joan of Arc
experienced "voices and visions" and was murdered for it. NAMI*
and other advocates cause harm?
Have a copy of this website, updated 5-5-07: I am still afraid of those people who want to silence me like VIPs
in Ohio. So here is a copy of this website in case something happens.
If I disappear let people see. God only knows if I am paranoid or realistic.
* This website is not associated with any links or organizations,
unless shown otherwise.
* 4 - BiPolar Disorder has been called:
BiPolar illness, Manic Depressive illness, Bi-Polar Disorder, Bi-Polar
Mood Disorder and variations.
Contact Information:
E-mail: Mike@whyhope.com - I have
been slow lately so it may take more than a few days to reply. If
I do not reply in a week or two, please email me again in case your message
got lost in all the spam I get. You also never know when I will
be put in jail for political prosecution again. They keep looking
for reasons to jail me forever as I have secretly recorded in threats against
me.
You have my permission to keep and print out one copy of this website
for personal use, as an electronic book. All other use is prohibited, except
for the indexing and cache of search engines and internet research tools.
