Comments on: UN World Autism Day: Presidential Candidates respond on Autism http://www.bloggernews.net/115081 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:35:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Wendy J http://www.bloggernews.net/115081#comment-1751919 Wendy J Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:44:58 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115081#comment-1751919 I too am an autism mom. While the government seems to finally have an interest in autism overall, at least while running for office, I am living in the ASD world. Please allow me to offer a different perspective from that of the politicians above. My 4.5 year old child was offered no hope from the diagnostic facility. And I might add, one of the finest facilities in the nation. Medical miracles happen there daily, I'm sure. But not in the realm of autism, not at all! Their knowledge is antiquated; offering the same options that would have been offered in the 1950s or maybe 1960s. But not entirely, they did suggest that I could hold off on the utilization of a "facility" until he was an adult. And yes, I know what seems obvious here. NO, my child is not an extreme example. In fact, IF anyone bothered to invest the effort, they would find him to be at a fairly high level of functionaliy. Hmm, fascinating. I DO have him enrolled in a "Special Education" program. Special indeed! It is so very special that I recently educated his special education teacher on the importance of knowing how to read the physical signs of a child's autonomic nervous system reaching a hightened state of arousal. "Special" that she didn't have any idea! Her entire career is tending to the needs of children with special needs, and she didn't know this? And with regard to the government and or insurance companies funding "autism treatment"...Who is deciding what "effective" means?!? I don't think anyone is aside from those getting their pockets padded by the rediculously anitquated world of ABA. The program that was wrong for nearly every person on the spectrum in the 1940s is still wron for nearly every person on the spectrum today. Huh, how about that! Forcing...and yes, that's a literal term...forcing a child physically to perform tricks repeatedly until they have resigned to the fact that if they just perform...ie, touch your nose, maybe someone will remove the strap that's holding them in a chair...or will shove a bit of cookie in their mouth... Hardly seems the appropriate way to "teach" them how to function in a neuro-typical fashion! They're not poorly behave dogs, they're CHILDREN! Why is that THIS is the only approach the government is considering to be "effective"? Evidence based? Really????? FEAR and DREAD do NOT replace cognitive functioning. Why aren't less outdated programs being looked at? There is a holistic neurology treatment, administered by parents who have been taught exactly what to do which has actually removed the diagnosis of "autism". There is a relationship based program that has done the same, and in the least favorable rusults, improved functioning for those on the spectrum in every category. Why aren't we spending some research dollars on these? We are quick to say they are not evidence based, because the government won't fund the research. Can you imagine the monies saved in the long term if autism treatment were something the parents were trained to administer? If the chidlren had the potential to live independently in their adulthood? Wouldn't it be alarmingly less expensive to pay a mother to stay home with her autistic child and execute these programs for a period of 5 years, offering the potential of independent functioning at least to the point of not being totally government dependent that to pay an ABA facility $70,000 a year to rob the child (and parent) of his/her childhood, crush his/her spirit and leave them with nothing but rote knowledge, and intense need to be "prompted" to perform? Just a thought. It would take a year to type out everything that isn't being addressed by our government regarding autism treatment and the lack of hope being offered to people like me. And I need to get back to becoming an "Autism Specialist"...BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY! (That's right, not ONE person fully qualified to claim that title. Psychologists: NOPE, autism is neurodevelopmental (the brain), Behavioral specialists: NOPE, the behavior is a side affect of neuro-functioning. Pediatricians: NOPE, not so much as a 3 hour seminar in medical school. Speech/Language therapists: NOPE, the true reason an autistic child is non or pre verbal is a disorganized brain. Yeah, I could go on a while on this one too... Oh well, the likelyhood that anyone will bother to read this is low anyway. Back to work...my son has autism....and I am the only person willing to put the effort into helping him. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT I too am an autism mom.
While the government seems to finally have an interest in autism overall, at least while running for office, I am living in the ASD world.
Please allow me to offer a different perspective from that of the politicians above.
My 4.5 year old child was offered no hope from the diagnostic facility. And I might add, one of the finest facilities in the nation. Medical miracles happen there daily, I’m sure. But not in the realm of autism, not at all!
Their knowledge is antiquated; offering the same options that would have been offered in the 1950s or maybe 1960s. But not entirely, they did suggest that I could hold off on the utilization of a “facility” until he was an adult.
And yes, I know what seems obvious here. NO, my child is not an extreme example. In fact, IF anyone bothered to invest the effort, they would find him to be at a fairly high level of functionaliy. Hmm, fascinating.
I DO have him enrolled in a “Special Education” program. Special indeed! It is so very special that I recently educated his special education teacher on the importance of knowing how to read the physical signs of a child’s autonomic nervous system reaching a hightened state of arousal.
“Special” that she didn’t have any idea! Her entire career is tending to the needs of children with special needs, and she didn’t know this?
And with regard to the government and or insurance companies funding “autism treatment”…Who is deciding what “effective” means?!? I don’t think anyone is aside from those getting their pockets padded by the rediculously anitquated world of ABA. The program that was wrong for nearly every person on the spectrum in the 1940s is still wron for nearly every person on the spectrum today. Huh, how about that!
Forcing…and yes, that’s a literal term…forcing a child physically to perform tricks repeatedly until they have resigned to the fact that if they just perform…ie, touch your nose, maybe someone will remove the strap that’s holding them in a chair…or will shove a bit of cookie in their mouth… Hardly seems the appropriate way to “teach” them how to function in a neuro-typical fashion!

They’re not poorly behave dogs, they’re CHILDREN!
Why is that THIS is the only approach the government is considering to be “effective”? Evidence based? Really?????
FEAR and DREAD do NOT replace cognitive functioning.

Why aren’t less outdated programs being looked at?
There is a holistic neurology treatment, administered by parents who have been taught exactly what to do which has actually removed the diagnosis of “autism”.
There is a relationship based program that has done the same, and in the least favorable rusults, improved functioning for those on the spectrum in every category.
Why aren’t we spending some research dollars on these?
We are quick to say they are not evidence based, because the government won’t fund the research.
Can you imagine the monies saved in the long term if autism treatment were something the parents were trained to administer? If the chidlren had the potential to live independently in their adulthood?
Wouldn’t it be alarmingly less expensive to pay a mother to stay home with her autistic child and execute these programs for a period of 5 years, offering the potential of independent functioning at least to the point of not being totally government dependent that to pay an ABA facility $70,000 a year to rob the child (and parent) of his/her childhood, crush his/her spirit and leave them with nothing but rote knowledge, and intense need to be “prompted” to perform?
Just a thought.
It would take a year to type out everything that isn’t being addressed by our government regarding autism treatment and the lack of hope being offered to people like me.
And I need to get back to becoming an “Autism Specialist”…BECAUSE THERE AREN’T ANY! (That’s right, not ONE person fully qualified to claim that title. Psychologists: NOPE, autism is neurodevelopmental (the brain), Behavioral specialists: NOPE, the behavior is a side affect of neuro-functioning. Pediatricians: NOPE, not so much as a 3 hour seminar in medical school. Speech/Language therapists: NOPE, the true reason an autistic child is non or pre verbal is a disorganized brain. Yeah, I could go on a while on this one too… Oh well, the likelyhood that anyone will bother to read this is low anyway. Back to work…my son has autism….and I am the only person willing to put the effort into helping him.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT

]]> By: patty bails http://www.bloggernews.net/115081#comment-299200 patty bails Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:40:09 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115081#comment-299200 H clinton forgot to mention that even before her presidency race she was/is trying to cut off wrap around services in the home for autistic children .Therefore making these therapists and case workers only pencil pushers ,with minimal home visits. Patty Bails H clinton forgot to mention that even before her presidency race she was/is trying to cut off wrap around services in the home for autistic children .Therefore making these therapists and case workers only pencil pushers ,with minimal home visits.
Patty Bails

]]> By: Brenda Matson http://www.bloggernews.net/115081#comment-299068 Brenda Matson Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:20:32 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115081#comment-299068 I think that everyone including Mr. FELDMAN above poster needs to get educated and not question where autism is coming from but how to help those that have it. There is NO conclusive evidence as to what the cause of autism is and there is no true tested proof as to what to do about it. Everyone has an opinion or conjecture, but that isn't enough. I am the mother of an autistic child, and all I want is to have medical benefits, life insurance, appropriate and acceptable education and therapy services. It is tough parenting a child with autism, but it is fullfilling as well. People need to realize that with autism on the rise, these children is this country's future! I think that everyone including Mr. FELDMAN above poster needs to get educated and not question where autism is coming from but how to help those that have it. There is NO conclusive evidence as to what the cause of autism is and there is no true tested proof as to what to do about it. Everyone has an opinion or conjecture, but that isn’t enough. I am the mother of an autistic child, and all I want is to have medical benefits, life insurance, appropriate and acceptable education and therapy services. It is tough parenting a child with autism, but it is fullfilling as well. People need to realize that with autism on the rise, these children is this country’s future!

]]> By: Les Feldman http://www.bloggernews.net/115081#comment-289072 Les Feldman Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:53:47 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/115081#comment-289072 If Hillary Clinton's and/or Barak Obama's staff looked into the prior research on autism they would find out that one way to prevent more non-familial/de novo/sporadic autism is to study that research and then have the candidate alert the public that higher paternal age, past 33, is the #1 predictor of sporadic autism and schizophrenia. We would do a great deal to lessen suffering if men would plan to father all their babies before the age of 34 and know exactly why that would be of great benefit to the health of future generations and their own happiness. If Hillary Clinton’s and/or Barak Obama’s staff looked into the prior research on autism they would find out that one way to prevent more non-familial/de novo/sporadic autism is to study that research and then have the candidate alert the public that higher paternal age, past 33, is the #1 predictor of sporadic autism and schizophrenia. We would do a great deal to lessen suffering if men would plan to father all their babies before the age of 34 and know exactly why that would be of great benefit to the health of future generations and their own happiness.

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