Gavin Joseph could have insisted his attackers felt the full force of the law - instead he chose something far more effective.
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| Gareth Joseph suffered serious injuries as a result of the beating. |
article as published by The Daily Mirror, by JON AUSTIN , JON AUSTIN | July 5, 2015
This is how Asperger's sufferer Gavin Joseph was "taught a lesson" for being "a bit different" because of the condition.
The senior school graduate was set upon by a stranger who decided to meet out some rough justice after he overheard some other teens describing Gavin as "creepy" because he sometimes hangs out on his own.
Gavin, from New Baden, Illinois, was tricked into coming over to a crowd of people before being choked and punched in front of them and left bruised, concussed and with a fractured nose after the savage unprovoked attack.
So how did he react when his attacker and those egging him on were identified to police?
Most victims would have wanted to see his attackers feel the full force of the law.
But despite suffering these injuries, Gavin decided to be the bigger man and taught them his own lesson.
Gavin asked that the offending thugs watched, with their families present, a 20-minute video message he taped so they could see the damage done and hear things from his perspective, then write an essay on Asperger's Syndrome.
Gavin's mum was so proud of her son's reaction to the ordeal she decided to post his story on Facebook - and so far it was been shared by nearly 100,000 users.
Mrs Joseph wrote: "Some kids were talking about how it's weird that he is always by himself, attending events alone and watching people, and that it was 'creepy' how he wanted to be friends with people he didn't know.
"Another kid that overheard that conversation decided to take matters into his own hands and become judge and jury, and this is the result of that."
The senior school graduate was set upon by a stranger who decided to meet out some rough justice after he overheard some other teens describing Gavin as "creepy" because he sometimes hangs out on his own.
Gavin, from New Baden, Illinois, was tricked into coming over to a crowd of people before being choked and punched in front of them and left bruised, concussed and with a fractured nose after the savage unprovoked attack.
So how did he react when his attacker and those egging him on were identified to police?
Most victims would have wanted to see his attackers feel the full force of the law.
But despite suffering these injuries, Gavin decided to be the bigger man and taught them his own lesson.
Gavin asked that the offending thugs watched, with their families present, a 20-minute video message he taped so they could see the damage done and hear things from his perspective, then write an essay on Asperger's Syndrome.
Gavin's mum was so proud of her son's reaction to the ordeal she decided to post his story on Facebook - and so far it was been shared by nearly 100,000 users.
Mrs Joseph wrote: "Some kids were talking about how it's weird that he is always by himself, attending events alone and watching people, and that it was 'creepy' how he wanted to be friends with people he didn't know.
"Another kid that overheard that conversation decided to take matters into his own hands and become judge and jury, and this is the result of that."
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| Gavin Joseph and Jonathan Moffatt who have supported him after the attack |
"He didn't ask questions, didn't get to know Gavin, never met him, and didn't give him a chance to leave.
"He was called to meet someone, surrounded by people he didn't know, choked, punched, and left laying on the pavement so he would 'learn his lesson'."
Mr Joseph said the family discovered Gavin had Asperger's and ADHD at three-years-old and his growing up was both wonderful and frustrating.
She said: "You can't "see" Asperger's since it's not a visible disability, it's a social/emotional one that makes relationships difficult to attain.
"It doesn't prohibit his movement, or ability to walk, but it makes everyday interactions with people very difficult.
"He can appear rude, impatient, "weird", detached, or uninterested, but this is not intentional.
"He can also be kind, generous, and forgiving, but even this can appear awkward at times because some of it is learned and not always natural. "Keeping longtime friends is tough because of his tendency to isolate yourself. Gavin has spent years learning what society thinks is appropriate and not appropriate, and so he doesn't offend anyone or stick out in social situations."
She urged any parents reading her post to tell their teens about disabilities that can't been seen and to be "tolerant of people who are different and get to know them."
She added: "Gavin has a mild concussion, a bruised esophagus, the tip of his nose fractured, and haematoma in his eye, but nothing permanent.
"He did not press charges, but requested their community service be disability related, that they write a paper on Asperger's, and that they watch a 20 min video statement he taped while their families were present so they could see the damage they did and hear the event from his perspective.
"I am so proud of him, and I hope a lesson will come of this to all that hear about it."
Facebook users have expressed their amazement at his reaction.
Joyce Rider wrote: "This is just heartbreaking! But what a forgiving response. Possibly Life changing for some! Prayers for you and your family!"
Ramona Brown added: "This is just wrong. My prayers are with Gavin. Shame on these kids. Its just heart breaking, but it also makes me angry that people would be so heartless."
"He was called to meet someone, surrounded by people he didn't know, choked, punched, and left laying on the pavement so he would 'learn his lesson'."
Mr Joseph said the family discovered Gavin had Asperger's and ADHD at three-years-old and his growing up was both wonderful and frustrating.
She said: "You can't "see" Asperger's since it's not a visible disability, it's a social/emotional one that makes relationships difficult to attain.
"It doesn't prohibit his movement, or ability to walk, but it makes everyday interactions with people very difficult.
"He can appear rude, impatient, "weird", detached, or uninterested, but this is not intentional.
"He can also be kind, generous, and forgiving, but even this can appear awkward at times because some of it is learned and not always natural. "Keeping longtime friends is tough because of his tendency to isolate yourself. Gavin has spent years learning what society thinks is appropriate and not appropriate, and so he doesn't offend anyone or stick out in social situations."
She urged any parents reading her post to tell their teens about disabilities that can't been seen and to be "tolerant of people who are different and get to know them."
She added: "Gavin has a mild concussion, a bruised esophagus, the tip of his nose fractured, and haematoma in his eye, but nothing permanent.
"He did not press charges, but requested their community service be disability related, that they write a paper on Asperger's, and that they watch a 20 min video statement he taped while their families were present so they could see the damage they did and hear the event from his perspective.
"I am so proud of him, and I hope a lesson will come of this to all that hear about it."
Facebook users have expressed their amazement at his reaction.
Joyce Rider wrote: "This is just heartbreaking! But what a forgiving response. Possibly Life changing for some! Prayers for you and your family!"
Ramona Brown added: "This is just wrong. My prayers are with Gavin. Shame on these kids. Its just heart breaking, but it also makes me angry that people would be so heartless."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/asperger-teen-didnt-press-charges-6008452
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