Jett Travolta Dies at 16; Was He Autistic?

by Kristina Chew · 2009-01-02 14:42:00 UTC
Topics:

Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of actor John Travolta, has reportedly died while vacationing in the Bahamas, according to TMZ. It's unclear how Jett died; it's possible that his death may be due to a seizure. Also unclear is whether or not Jett may have been autistic: It's been said that he had Kawasaki syndrome, a disease that affects the skin, mouth, and lymph nodes (see also this June 2007 NY Post article and also today's Gawker).

It's been suggested that Travolta's Scientiology views have prevented him from saying that Jett was autistic. Without a proper diagnosis, questions arise as to whether a child is getting the appropriate services and education? And might it have been the case that there was some.......concern? worry? even shame?, in Jett's parents, which led them to choose not to reveal his (possible) real diagnosis? That, despite what's said to be more awareness and available about autism than ever, there's still some sense of a stigma attached to a diagnosis?

These are larger questions----and I think, for now, the main concern is that Jett be remembered and that many sympathies be sent to his family.

Kristina Chew
PREVIOUS STORY:
In Transition
NEXT STORY:
Why I'm Asking Aetna to Cover My Surgery

COMMENTS (43)

    Comment Policy

    · All fields are required to comment.

    [X]

    Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the campaign on Change.org. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments which, as determined solely in our discretion: (1) are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; (2) include content solely intended to personally attack the campaign creator, (3) are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them; and/or (4) violate our terms of service and/or privacy policy. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion. Please also be advised that: (A) we do not actively curate and/or monitor in any manner whatsoever the comments made on the Change.org platform, and (B) the creator of each campaign on Change.org may remove any comment at her/his/its discretion.