M. Savage calls Autistic children--BRATS!

Byrdie714 · 07-21-2008, 10:55 PM

Radio host angers parents of autistic children - Yahoo! News

Royale · 07-22-2008, 12:01 AM

He should be fired from his job because his comments toward the autistic children were totally uncalled for.

IslandGal · 07-22-2008, 12:07 AM

Jeez, that man needs to have his mouth soaped up and his arse kicked to the moon!

Liebling:-))) · 07-22-2008, 12:27 AM

*shake my head disgusitly* He is the one who need a help how to respect himself instead of uneducation and ignorant. !

***Jolie77*** · 07-22-2008, 12:34 AM

Ooooh, I am not liking this one bit at all!

He needs a reality check. Oh, I wish I could make him take my place and he will exactly know how it is to handle a child with autism because it is not an easy task to do, but u know what? That guy is taking everything for granted and he doesn't know what he is missing out. To me, a child with autism are not BRATS, They are difficult, yes but they are SPECIAL too!

So, yeah, I'm very outraged by that comment and it was uncalled for. Not every child is misdiagnosed but at least we are getting the education for it and learning as we go along.

jillio · 07-22-2008, 10:34 AM

This is what happens when we don't educate our children. They grow up ignorant and end up on the radio like this moron Savage!

How in the hell can he make a statement reagarding 99% misdiagnosis of autism, and change it to a diagnosis of behavior problems. I'd like to know where he got his medical degree or his doctorate in psychology. He is a freakin' radio announcer. He has no specialized knowledge regarding autism, and is a bigot and a perpetrator is stereotypes.

This kind of behavior makes me so angry, I don't even know what else to say.

deafskeptic · 07-22-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandgal

jeez, That Man Needs To Have His Mouth Soaped Up And His Arse Kicked To The Moon!

Amen!

Banjo · 07-22-2008, 04:12 PM

Firing him isn't really the answer to the problem. He was being pretty ignorant. An education on autism is what he need.

Cheri · 07-22-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

Firing him isn't really the answer to the problem. He was being pretty ignorant. An education on autism is what he need.

Royale · 07-22-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

Firing him isn't really the answer to the problem. He was being pretty ignorant. An education on autism is what he need.

Or, he could do some research on autism to become more understandable and aware of it before he is to speak on the subject.

Phillips · 07-22-2008, 06:04 PM

Oh Brother

Aleser · 07-22-2008, 06:14 PM

ugh, these things piss me off.

You know why more people are being diagnosed with autism? Because we've expanded our perspectives on what autism can mean, beyond the realm of 'low functioning' classic autism. Now, more girls, thought to be simply 'shy' can get that diagnosis. Now, I know handfuls of adults getting diagnosed in their 40's and 50's, finally getting an answer for why they've always existed somewhat differently than neurotypicals.

It's not as simple as 'oh, doctors overdiagnose autism'- tell that to the parents who fight to get their high functioning child diagnosed and get them receiving educational services. Tell that to the adults who beg for a diagnosis and don't get one 'because it's too late to do anything, anyways.'

I wont even TOUCH on the complete BS that autistic / neurodiverse people are 'brats'- I think it's enough to simply say that pisses the heck out of me.

deafdyke · 07-23-2008, 12:12 AM

On the other hand Aleser, I do kinda think that while M. Savage's comments were VERY over the top, perhaps he was responding more to the fact that it seems to be the dx dujour. I don't agree that autistic kids are brats........BUT, it does seem like any and everyone who even slightly falls outside the nereotypcial spectrum is dx as autistic.

shel90 · 07-23-2008, 12:14 AM

Mr. Savage is definite a savage!

deafdyke · 07-23-2008, 05:50 AM

Yes I know.....While some ADD style "autistic spectrum" kids may be "brats "(some people think that ADD kids are actually just on the autistic spectrum) , most autistic kids have a legitimate nereodevelopmental disabilty!

deafskeptic · 07-23-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

Firing him isn't really the answer to the problem. He was being pretty ignorant. An education on autism is what he need.

You have a point there but I should note here that some people just don't want to be educated. Savage strikes me as someone who doesn't care who get hurt as long as he gets free press.

dead money · 07-23-2008, 06:02 AM

if i ever walked into him somewhere ill make sure his balls are halfway down his throat when im done with the guy. What an ignorant cocksucking piece of dogshit.

Royale · 07-23-2008, 08:30 AM

[quote=deafskeptic;1042483]You have a point there but I should note here that some people just don't want to be educated. Savage strikes me as someone who doesn't care who get hurt as long as he gets free press.[/QUOT

Yeah you got a good point. Mike Savage got every chance to be educated to in order to get more knowledge and better understanding about the autism before he would be able to speak on this subject with respect.

He blew it big time.

It is clear to me that he made UNEDUCATED comments about autistic children.

Pepsi · 07-23-2008, 08:31 AM

What an asshole

Angel · 07-23-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjo

Firing him isn't really the answer to the problem. He was being pretty ignorant. An education on autism is what he need.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royale

Or, he could do some research on autism to become more understandable and aware of it before he is to speak on the subject.

You both make a good point, well said!.. =)

Reba · 07-23-2008, 03:03 PM

Just for the record:

Quote:

The Autism Controversy

My comments about autism were meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community's attempt to label too many children or adults as "autistic."

Just as some drug companies have overdiagnosed "ADD" and "ADHD" to peddle dangerous speed-like drugs to children as young as 4 years of age, this cartel of doctors and drug companies is now creating a national panic by overdiagnosing "autism, for which there is no definitive medical diagnosis!

Many children are being victimized by being diagnosed with an "illness" which may not exist, in all cases. Just a few weeks ago doctors recommended dangerous anti-cholesterol drugs for children as young as 2 years of age! Without any scientific studies on the possible dangers of such drugs on children, corrupt doctors made this controversial, unscientific recommendation.

Increasingly, our children are being used as profit centers by a greedy, corrupt medical/pharmaceutical establishment. As the brother of a severely disabled person who suffered and died in a New York "snake-pit" of a "mental hospital," I know first-hand what true disability is.

To permit greedy doctors to include children in medical categories which may not be appropriate is a crime against that child and their family. Let the truly autistic be treated. Let the falsely diagnosed be free.

Michael Savage

Reba · 07-23-2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

This is what happens when we don't educate our children. They grow up ignorant and end up on the radio like this moron Savage!

How in the hell can he make a statement reagarding 99% misdiagnosis of autism, and change it to a diagnosis of behavior problems. I'd like to know where he got his medical degree or his doctorate in psychology. He is a freakin' radio announcer. He has no specialized knowledge regarding autism, and is a bigot and a perpetrator is stereotypes.

This kind of behavior makes me so angry, I don't even know what else to say.

From Savage's bio:

"Trained as a scientist, he holds Master’s degrees in medical botany and medical anthropology and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in Epidemiology and Nutritional Science."

From his statement:

"Savage explained to the New York Times his use of the figure 99 percent was hyperbole."
Savage defends criticism of autism 'racket'

Reba · 07-23-2008, 03:11 PM

Here's another viewpoint:

Quote:

November 13, 2007
Crusades Versus Caution
By Thomas Sowell

Autism is a devastating condition, both for those who have it and for their parents. At this point, its causes are unknown and if there is any cure for it, that is unknown as well.

There are many ways of coping with tragedies. One of the less promising, and often dangerous, ways is to launch a crusade.

Crusades may be emotionally satisfying, politically popular and welcomed by the media. But crusaders are not known for caution, for weighing evidence or for counting the costs, which may extend well beyond the cost in money.

There have already been many casualties in the crusade against autism, and there may be far more if recent recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics are carried out to have every child tested for autism twice by age two.

Think about it: How many people are qualified to diagnose autism? Enough to test every child in America? Not bloody likely.

Professor Stephen Camarata of Vanderbilt University has tested and treated children with autism for more than 20 years.

"While it is relatively easy to identify a five year old as autistic," according to Professor Camarata, "it is much more difficult to reliably diagnose a preschooler or toddler."

The word "reliably" is crucial. Anybody can unreliably diagnose autism, just as anybody can unreliably predict the weather or the stock market.

The consequences of unreliable diagnoses of autism can be traumatic for parents and children alike.

As a result of organizing a group of parents of late-talking children back in 1993, I encountered many stories of emotional devastation that these parents went through because their children were diagnosed as autistic -- diagnoses which the passing years have shown to be false more often than not.

As a result of writing books about these parents and children -- the most recent being "The Einstein Syndrome" -- I have heard from more than a hundred other parents with very similar stories.

Professor Camarata at Vanderbilt has a far larger group of parents of late-talking children, since he specializes in studying and treating speech disorders, and he has likewise found numerous cases of false diagnoses of autism among children who are late in beginning to talk.

More is involved than the needless emotional stresses of the parents. Many of the treatments inflicted on children diagnosed as autistic would be called child abuse if they were not done as medical procedures, and they can set back or distort a child's development.

Once the "autistic" label has been put on a child, it can follow him and her into schools and beyond, causing that child to be treated differently by teachers, nurses and others.

Too many people refuse to reconsider any evidence contrary to the label, however blatant that evidence becomes or however much that evidence increases over the years.

The initial evidence on which a diagnosis of autism was based may be nothing more than a checklist of characteristics of autistic children, often administered by someone with nothing more to go on than that checklist.

The fundamental problem is that many items on such a checklist can apply to many children who are not autistic. A study of gifted children, for example, found many of them showing the kinds of characteristics found on checklists for autism.

According to Professor Camarata, "because there are no reliable biomedical markers for autism, diagnosis must rely on subjective rating scales making it difficult if not impossible to conduct accurate screening in toddlers or preschoolers."

But it is precisely the checklist approach that is being urged by those who are crusading for every child to be diagnosed for autism before age two.

Like most crusaders, they seem unwilling to consider the possibility of errors, much less the consequences of those errors.

The very definition of autism has been expanded in recent years to include what is called "the autism spectrum." What this means, among other things, is that there is now far more wiggle room for those whose diagnoses have proved to be wrong, who refuse to admit it, and who are now even more unaccountable than ever.
RealClearPolitics - Articles - Crusades Versus Caution

Reba · 07-23-2008, 03:17 PM

Also:

Quote:

Crusades Versus Caution: Part II
Thomas Sowell
Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The recently launched crusade to have every child tested for autism before the age of two has as its reason an opportunity for "early intervention" to treat the condition.

Dr. Scott Myers, a pediatrician, has been quoted by Reuters news service as saying that autistic children who get earlier treatment "do better in the long run."

That may be true if the children are genuinely autistic. But the dangers of false diagnoses of toddlers and preschoolers have been pointed out by Professor Stephen Camarata of Vanderbilt University, who has tested and treated children with autism for more than 20 years and has encountered many cases of inaccurate diagnoses.

A prudent trade-off, as distinguished from a crusade, would weigh the dangers of false diagnoses against the benefits of "early intervention."

There is already considerable evidence of false diagnoses of preschool children as autistic, and the treatments inflicted on them can be abusive, with incalculable negative effects on their development.

What about the positive effects of "early intervention"?

According to Professor Camarata, those children "with true autism" are "very difficult to treat and may never say 'mommy' or learn to take care of themselves without Herculean efforts by their parents and teachers."

The limitations of what can be achieved with even early intervention mean that there can be real heartbreak, whether a toddler or preschooler is either falsely or correctly diagnosed as being autistic.

Much has been made of statistics showing a sharp increase in diagnoses of autism in recent years.

What has gotten much less attention is the changing definition of autism, which raises the question whether there has been an actual change in the real world or simply a change in the way words are used when collecting statistics.

People today are often spoken of as being "on the autistic spectrum," rather than as having autism.

While there are some conditions which are much like autism, there are other conditions, such as having a very high IQ or simply being late in talking, which often include characteristics listed on checklists for autism. These are open invitations to false diagnoses.

We would see the dangers immediately if people who wear glasses were included on "the blindness spectrum" or people with harmless moles were included on "the cancer spectrum."

Blindness, cancer and autism are all too serious -- indeed, catastrophic -- to use loose definitions that fudge the difference between accurate and inaccurate diagnoses.

Loose definitions of autism produce bigger and more newsworthy statistics, which in turn can attract more children into existing programs and attract more money from the government, foundations and other sources to support those programs.

Many parents have told me that they have been urged to let their children be labeled autistic, or on the autistic spectrum, in order to get money for speech therapy or other conditions from grants that are available to deal with autism.

Professor Camarata points out that the "less precise 'autism spectrum'" label "has had the unintended consequence of diluting resources, research and services to those children and families who most need the support" -- that is, families whose children suffer from genuine autism.

Loose definitions also promote the illusion of "cures" for autism, since most late-talking children who were never autistic in the first place "will be miraculously 'cured' because most late talkers who are otherwise unimpaired learn to talk with little or no treatment," according to Professor Camarata.

Parents whose children are late in talking or have other troubling problems would do well to seek diagnoses from the most highly qualified professionals they can find -- but not rely on the facile checklists being promoted in the current crusade for universal diagnosis of infants and toddlers for autism, without facing the question whether or not there are enough people qualified to make such diagnoses.
Thomas Sowell :: Townhall.com :: Crusades Versus Caution: Part II

Aleser · 07-23-2008, 04:51 PM

That article is so many forms of negative it's not even funny. Lets start with the opening note,

"Autism is a devastating condition... for those who have it"

It is? Since when? By what right does the author speak for my feelings? To put this into perspective, how would you culturally Deaf folks feel if someone wrote "Deafness is devastating for those who have it."

"There are many ways of coping with tragedies."

A CHILD is not a TRAGEDY.

"Many of the treatments inflicted on children diagnosed as autistic would be called child abuse if they were not done as medical procedures, and they can set back or distort a child's development."

So it's all OK to abuse -autistic- children, just not those falsely diagnosed as autistic? Can't be hurting the normal ones.. can we?

"People today are often spoken of as being "on the autistic spectrum," rather than as having autism."

"We would see the dangers immediately if people who wear glasses were included on "the blindness spectrum" or people with harmless moles were included on "the cancer spectrum."Blindness, cancer and autism are all too serious -- indeed, catastrophic -- to use loose definitions that fudge the difference between accurate and inaccurate diagnoses."

The 'spectrum' essentially includes autism, aspergers, and PDD-nos.

To speak towards the validity of an "NOS" diagnosis, I will compare with eating disorders. A woman who is 5'4 and weighs 108 pounds has a BMI of 18.5 does not qualify for a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa based on her weight. Even if she has dropped 100+ pounds in a very short period of time, even if she has an intense fear of gaining weight, even if she has a grossly distorted body image, even if she has lost her period- even if she is equally likely to die as any 'genuine' anorexic. Is her diagnosis of "ED-NOS" any less valid than a diagnosis of anorexia?

The same applies to Autism. Diagnostic criteria is strict and can exclude people who genuinely need a diagnosis for personal reasons, to receive support services, so on. Being on 'the spectrum' as opposed to having 'classic' autism doesn't make you less autistic.

And since when doesn't blindness have a spectrum? We start at low vision (20/70), run through legal blindness (20/200) down to hand motion (20/8000) and all the way to No Light Perception. And again, I will be critical of the article's wording. BLINDNESS IS NOT CATASTROPHIC. To compare it to having cancer is downright insulting.

The moral of my long story:

That article sucks. It has so many holes in it, that I can only begin to touch on them.

It's all about perspective, and ultimately, when people with a autism are spoken for (and have their own voices ignored) you end up with these gross misconceptions about the nature of autism, the potential of 'untreated' and 'cure free' autistics, and the very real and complete life we can lead. So, I speak for myself and I ask you to ignore those who speak for me.

shel90 · 07-23-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleser

That article is so many forms of negative it's not even funny. Lets start with the opening note,

"Autism is a devastating condition... for those who have it"

It is? Since when? By what right does the author speak for my feelings? To put this into perspective, how would you culturally Deaf folks feel if someone wrote "Deafness is devastating for those who have it."

"There are many ways of coping with tragedies."

A CHILD is not a TRAGEDY.

"Many of the treatments inflicted on children diagnosed as autistic would be called child abuse if they were not done as medical procedures, and they can set back or distort a child's development."

So it's all OK to abuse -autistic- children, just not those falsely diagnosed as autistic? Can't be hurting the normal ones.. can we?

"People today are often spoken of as being "on the autistic spectrum," rather than as having autism."

"We would see the dangers immediately if people who wear glasses were included on "the blindness spectrum" or people with harmless moles were included on "the cancer spectrum."Blindness, cancer and autism are all too serious -- indeed, catastrophic -- to use loose definitions that fudge the difference between accurate and inaccurate diagnoses."

The 'spectrum' essentially includes autism, aspergers, and PDD-nos.

To speak towards the validity of an "NOS" diagnosis, I will compare with eating disorders. A woman who is 5'4 and weighs 108 pounds has a BMI of 18.5 does not qualify for a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa based on her weight. Even if she has dropped 100+ pounds in a very short period of time, even if she has an intense fear of gaining weight, even if she has a grossly distorted body image, even if she has lost her period- even if she is equally likely to die as any 'genuine' anorexic. Is her diagnosis of "ED-NOS" any less valid than a diagnosis of anorexia?

The same applies to Autism. Diagnostic criteria is strict and can exclude people who genuinely need a diagnosis for personal reasons, to receive support services, so on. Being on 'the spectrum' as opposed to having 'classic' autism doesn't make you less autistic.

And since when doesn't blindness have a spectrum? We start at low vision (20/70), run through legal blindness (20/70) down to hand motion (20/8000) and all the way to No Light Perception. And again, I will be critical of the article's wording. BLINDNESS IS NOT CATASTROPHIC. To compare it to having cancer is downright insulting.

The moral of my long story:

That article sucks. It has so many holes in it, that I can only begin to touch on them.

It's all about perspective, and ultimately, when people with a autism are spoken for (and have their own voices ignored) you end up with these gross misconceptions about the nature of autism, the potential of 'untreated' and 'cure free' autistics, and the very real and complete life we can lead. So, I speak for myself and I ask you to ignore those who speak for me.

07-21-2008, 10:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Byrdie714 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pacific County, Washington Posts: 5,089	M. Savage calls Autistic children--BRATS! Radio host angers parents of autistic children - Yahoo! News

07-22-2008, 12:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
Liebling:-))) My 3 darling princesses Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 27,021	shake my head disgusitly He is the one who need a help how to respect himself instead of uneducation and ignorant. ! __________________

07-22-2008, 12:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
*Jolie77* Love all, trust a few. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kentucky, USA (The Bluegrass State) Posts: 5,497	Ooooh, I am not liking this one bit at all! He needs a reality check. Oh, I wish I could make him take my place and he will exactly know how it is to handle a child with autism because it is not an easy task to do, but u know what? That guy is taking everything for granted and he doesn't know what he is missing out. To me, a child with autism are not BRATS, They are difficult, yes but they are SPECIAL too! So, yeah, I'm very outraged by that comment and it was uncalled for. Not every child is misdiagnosed but at least we are getting the education for it and learning as we go along. __________________

07-22-2008, 06:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
Phillips Lets ride horses! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Spaceship Posts: 7,192 Blog Entries: 3	Oh Brother __________________ *Enjoy life today, Yesterday has past and Tomorrow may never come.*

07-22-2008, 06:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
Aleser Woosh. Yes, Woosh. Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 567	ugh, these things piss me off. You know why more people are being diagnosed with autism? Because we've expanded our perspectives on what autism can mean, beyond the realm of 'low functioning' classic autism. Now, more girls, thought to be simply 'shy' can get that diagnosis. Now, I know handfuls of adults getting diagnosed in their 40's and 50's, finally getting an answer for why they've always existed somewhat differently than neurotypicals. It's not as simple as 'oh, doctors overdiagnose autism'- tell that to the parents who fight to get their high functioning child diagnosed and get them receiving educational services. Tell that to the adults who beg for a diagnosis and don't get one 'because it's too late to do anything, anyways.' I wont even TOUCH on the complete BS that autistic / neurodiverse people are 'brats'- I think it's enough to simply say that pisses the heck out of me. __________________ "She thinks... she can make people do what she wants or needs, what is right, by the sheer force of her own talent, not by forcing them... she can teach them and persuade them... that they'll catch it from her. This is still faith in their rationality, in the omnipotence of reason. The mistake? Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them."

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

07-22-2008, 12:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
Royale Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 890	He should be fired from his job because his comments toward the autistic children were totally uncalled for.

07-22-2008, 12:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
IslandGal Hi ya! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 4,323	Jeez, that man needs to have his mouth soaped up and his arse kicked to the moon!

07-22-2008, 10:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
jillio Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,163	This is what happens when we don't educate our children. They grow up ignorant and end up on the radio like this moron Savage! How in the hell can he make a statement reagarding 99% misdiagnosis of autism, and change it to a diagnosis of behavior problems. I'd like to know where he got his medical degree or his doctorate in psychology. He is a freakin' radio announcer. He has no specialized knowledge regarding autism, and is a bigot and a perpetrator is stereotypes. This kind of behavior makes me so angry, I don't even know what else to say.

07-22-2008, 04:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Banjo Mr. Movie Guy Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,128 Blog Entries: 1	Firing him isn't really the answer to the problem. He was being pretty ignorant. An education on autism is what he need.

07-23-2008, 12:12 AM	#13 (permalink)
deafdyke So NOT a Princess! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 6,684	On the other hand Aleser, I do kinda think that while M. Savage's comments were VERY over the top, perhaps he was responding more to the fact that it seems to be the dx dujour. I don't agree that autistic kids are brats........BUT, it does seem like any and everyone who even slightly falls outside the nereotypcial spectrum is dx as autistic.

07-23-2008, 12:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
shel90 Sun Whorshipper Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: A Desert Rat that has found herself in Maryland Posts: 16,119 Blog Entries: 1	Mr. Savage is definite a savage! __________________ ~Shel~ "A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

07-23-2008, 05:50 AM	#15 (permalink)
deafdyke So NOT a Princess! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 6,684	Yes I know.....While some ADD style "autistic spectrum" kids may be "brats "(some people think that ADD kids are actually just on the autistic spectrum) , most autistic kids have a legitimate nereodevelopmental disabilty!

07-23-2008, 06:02 AM	#17 (permalink)
dead money Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,249	if i ever walked into him somewhere ill make sure his balls are halfway down his throat when im done with the guy. What an ignorant cocksucking piece of dogshit. __________________ mike matusow...or god for short.

07-23-2008, 08:30 AM	#18 (permalink)
Royale Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 890	[quote=deafskeptic;1042483]You have a point there but I should note here that some people just don't want to be educated. Savage strikes me as someone who doesn't care who get hurt as long as he gets free press.[/QUOT Yeah you got a good point. Mike Savage got every chance to be educated to in order to get more knowledge and better understanding about the autism before he would be able to speak on this subject with respect. He blew it big time. It is clear to me that he made UNEDUCATED comments about autistic children.

07-23-2008, 08:31 AM	#19 (permalink)
Pepsi The One and Only Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA Posts: 3,398	What an asshole

07-23-2008, 04:51 PM	#25 (permalink)
Aleser Woosh. Yes, Woosh. Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 567	That article is so many forms of negative it's not even funny. Lets start with the opening note, "Autism is a devastating condition... for those who have it" It is? Since when? By what right does the author speak for my feelings? To put this into perspective, how would you culturally Deaf folks feel if someone wrote "Deafness is devastating for those who have it." "There are many ways of coping with tragedies." A CHILD is not a TRAGEDY. "Many of the treatments inflicted on children diagnosed as autistic would be called child abuse if they were not done as medical procedures, and they can set back or distort a child's development." So it's all OK to abuse -autistic- children, just not those falsely diagnosed as autistic? Can't be hurting the normal ones.. can we? "People today are often spoken of as being "on the autistic spectrum," rather than as having autism." "We would see the dangers immediately if people who wear glasses were included on "the blindness spectrum" or people with harmless moles were included on "the cancer spectrum."Blindness, cancer and autism are all too serious -- indeed, catastrophic -- to use loose definitions that fudge the difference between accurate and inaccurate diagnoses." The 'spectrum' essentially includes autism, aspergers, and PDD-nos. To speak towards the validity of an "NOS" diagnosis, I will compare with eating disorders. A woman who is 5'4 and weighs 108 pounds has a BMI of 18.5 does not qualify for a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa based on her weight. Even if she has dropped 100+ pounds in a very short period of time, even if she has an intense fear of gaining weight, even if she has a grossly distorted body image, even if she has lost her period- even if she is equally likely to die as any 'genuine' anorexic. Is her diagnosis of "ED-NOS" any less valid than a diagnosis of anorexia? The same applies to Autism. Diagnostic criteria is strict and can exclude people who genuinely need a diagnosis for personal reasons, to receive support services, so on. Being on 'the spectrum' as opposed to having 'classic' autism doesn't make you less autistic. And since when doesn't blindness have a spectrum? We start at low vision (20/70), run through legal blindness (20/200) down to hand motion (20/8000) and all the way to No Light Perception. And again, I will be critical of the article's wording. BLINDNESS IS NOT CATASTROPHIC. To compare it to having cancer is downright insulting. The moral of my long story: That article sucks. It has so many holes in it, that I can only begin to touch on them. It's all about perspective, and ultimately, when people with a autism are spoken for (and have their own voices ignored) you end up with these gross misconceptions about the nature of autism, the potential of 'untreated' and 'cure free' autistics, and the very real and complete life we can lead. So, I speak for myself and I ask you to ignore those who speak for me. __________________ "She thinks... she can make people do what she wants or needs, what is right, by the sheer force of her own talent, not by forcing them... she can teach them and persuade them... that they'll catch it from her. This is still faith in their rationality, in the omnipotence of reason. The mistake? Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them."