Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile
Ioanna Roumeliotis

@ioannacbc

Senior reporter, CBC News

ID: 960930504

calendar_today20-11-2012 18:12:54

2,2K Tweet

3,3K Followers

1,1K Following

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

The focus of expert testimony is on impact of autism on accused, Alek Minassian, not a general statement. But the commonality is social insight, or lack of it.

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Rigid thinking and evident brain differences tied to development stages where it becomes apparent says expert. One is in domain of social communication and in non verbal communication, like eye contact.

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Hallmark features include restrictive repetitive behaviours, a cluster of behaviours lead to autism diagnosis that impair social interactions, says Westphal.

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Expert speaks to spectrum of autism diagnosis that is a complex picture of several functions, including language and motor skills

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Westphal spoke with Minassian’s family and reviewed previous assessments and says that “tons of things” were going on that set him apart, including family history of depression, ADHD and dementia. Notably absent developmental disorders, schizophrenia

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Fact that Minassian was born several later than expected is also risk factor for autism says Westphal. Other signs as an infant/toddler was lack of eye contact, banged head on wall, speech delay, difficulty following directions

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Expert in defence continues with review of Minassian childhood assessments, no pretend play, avoided playing with others and licked things. In other ways he developed normally, such as walking and toilet trained by age 3. Uneven development is not uncommon says Westphal

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

For people with autism like Keila Alex Echakowitz the fact autism is being used as a defense to suggest the accused in the Toronto van attack is not criminally responsible is "traumatizing" and only adds to stigma people on the spectrum endure

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Court is hearing from the defence's star witness, Dr. Westphal who is laying out the difficulty people on the autism spectrum face in connecting to social cues and clues

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

The definition of empathy is being discussed. To understand and resonate with emotions and mind states of other people is how the defence expert explains it.

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Defense expert says he assessed Minassian's empathy quotient using standardized tests and that he was well below the cutoff, strongly suggestive he says of autism & suggestive he has problems processing stimuli that should provoke empathy

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Court continues to hear about the range of tests that Minassian underwent that diagnose all the bases related to the developmental history of someone with autism.

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Three domains are addressed in autism diagnosis court hears. Deficits in language & social interactions as well as repetitive behaviour

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Court hears how in practical terms, with Minassian you get a sense of someone who is highly articulate and can lose sight of how disabled he is in functional ability to apply that intelligence on real world problems

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

In the long exhaustive review of diagnostic tests of autism, Westphal says Minassian's "strikingly" low score on empathy puts him in the range of psychopathy, and in this case, the absence of Minassian's awareness of how devastating his actions were.

Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

“We are blessed” says one woman helping manage the crowds. Outdoor vaccine clinic set up in Covid hotspot of Thorncliffe Park for residents 40y/o and older

“We are blessed” says one woman helping manage the crowds. Outdoor vaccine clinic set up in Covid hotspot of Thorncliffe Park for residents 40y/o and older
Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Me and my new BFF:) It’s personal and professional too. After more than a year of covering Covid, often from hotspots, I am so #grateful for my first #vaccine shot

Me and my new BFF:) It’s personal and professional too. After more than a year of covering Covid, often from hotspots, I am so #grateful for my first #vaccine shot
Ioanna Roumeliotis (@ioannacbc) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Twenty years later. Two remarkable people who’s lives were profoundly altered when #9/11 became their life story. protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/7IyaC09mmflp….