Adhoc?? How is it ad hoc?? did harmon put that in? It IS a human rights movement

no mention of AFF

Hmm
  That name sound sooo familiar. who is that?

  WOW we actually got a point across!!

Curebies ??? never heard it!!!

I believe I mentioned something along these lines in my protest diary. I knew this what they would say.

This quote is priceless!! and she is not alone. sadly

So what is wrong with mickey mouse custome??Overreaction, if u ask me.

The dispute extends even to the basic terminology of autism.

Dear god!! the mental burden of being ill will severely hurt those poor kids.

Curebies ??? never heard it!!!

You really need to keep up with the times TheASman:



:lol:

TheASman, aka Joe, its good that Amy Harmon has written about the movement against a cure. It will at least allow those who never heard of such an idea to realise that we do exist.
I agree that its not Ad Hoc, but it must appear that way to an outsider.

I have heard the term curebies, but not often.

I believe there is a forum on the NY Times site to discuss articles, I'm going to take a look to see if there is any debate on this article.

(Very cute Brightman, can I have one for xmas :wink: )

This post was last modified: 03-10-2006 03:43 AM by Amy.

I was thinking whether Amy Harmon got the impression that the whole movement is Ad Hoc as there are separate factions working alongside each other, but not together.

Maybe its in our nature as aspies and auties to form smaller groups and work within them, rather than everyone join one large group and work in that fashion.
It seems that is the way its working right now.
It would be good to have a unified agreement between groups, like a common declared goal, some basic points that we all agreed on and a basis for a "mission statement".

If there could be a statement on all relevant sites about views on a cure, therapies, education, or whatever was thought to be relevant, it would carry a strong unified message.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to formulate such an agreement, or feel like asking relevant sites whether they would be willing to try it?
To find some common ground?

Curebies ??? never heard it!!!

You really need to keep up with the times TheASman:



:lol:

:lol: Curebies!

:!: Mich :?:

This is great Joe, it looks as if your protest really got some serious attention!  Bravo for you!!!

We all (and I mean all) should write in and thank the NY Times and Amy Harmon for addressing our concerns.  Let them know how many people agree with this point of view, so that they'll keep it in mind when writing future stories that mention autism.  

No Bravo for us!!!

http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0034985.cfm

December 21, 2004

Autism Promoted as 'Way of Life'
by Steve Jordahl, correspondent

New thinking on the disease prompts concern among some psychologists.

Some advocates for the autistic community are trying to redefine the condition as merely an alternate form of brain-wiring—prompting concern from some in the psychiatric field.

A group calling itself Autistic Strength, Purpose and Independence in Education (ASPIE) wants the world, and those who are affected, to see autism not as a disease, but as a way of life.

"What we like to do is be able to emphasize and really celebrate what their strengths are and work with what their weaknesses are," explained ASPIE's Valerie Paradiz.

Her group's approach, she added, has been successful in cases of mild autism but would not be effective in more severe cases.

Nonetheless, with studies showing that early diagnosis and treatment are often very successful in curbing the disorder, Focus on the Family Vice President and Psychologist in Residence Bill Maier said ASPIE's agenda could be troubling.

"If this form of advocacy in any way, shape, or form causes parents to ignore or shy away from the help that we know is available," he said, "I believe that their child is going to suffer."

"If this form of advocacy in any way, shape, or form causes parents to ignore or shy away from the help that we know is available," he said, "I believe that their child is going to suffer."

On the other hand if this form of advocacy causes people with autism to feel like worthwhile people in the world who arent weirdos to be shunned, and have an intrinsic self value its bloody marvellous!!!!!

I have good news. Another board I frequent, with all but two members being parents of LFA children/teens, posted the same article. The members expressed their opinion that "there's nothing wrong with being autistic" and liked the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/22/opinio...oref=login


December 22, 2004
Treating Autism, and Accepting It (6 Letters)


To the Editor:

Re "How About Not 'Curing' Us, Some Autistics Are Pleading" (front page, Dec. 20):

As the mother of a child who recovered from autism through intensive behavioral treatment, I respect that individual differences and the need for treatment are not mutually exclusive.

The article highlighted the school of thought that people with autism should not be treated because their autism is what makes them special.

Everyone, no matter who, should be respected and appreciated for his or her uniqueness. Parents of children with autism want most of the same things as parents of typical children. They want the best for them: to help their children get along in the world, to communicate, interact and to make friends.

Treatment is not the enemy. Treatment for autism can be seen as the equivalent of schooling for the typical child. Both can help children achieve their full potential by identifying and nurturing core strengths and individual differences.

Why shouldn't children with autism have the same opportunities to learn and grow as typical children?

Karen Siff Exkorn
Sparkill, N.Y., Dec. 20, 2004
The writer is the author of a forthcoming book about autism.

•

To the Editor:

As the mother of a young autistic adult, I thank you for acknowledging the pro-autistic point of view. Understanding and acceptance of our kids is a long way down the road, but I look forward to the day they will be welcome to live in the world as autistic people.

Anne Bevington
Pacifica, Calif., Dec. 20, 2004

•

To the Editor:

It is so exciting to see in print that maybe autism is not a plague to be stamped out. My son is not a plague or a tragedy; he's a great kid with a good sense of humor and an awesome knowledge of old movies. What really needs to be fixed is how the world looks at autism.

Jeanine Kelly
Chester, Va., Dec. 20, 2004

•

To the Editor:

I am 13 years old. I am autistic. My parents did an A.B.A. (Applied Behavior Analysis) program. I am glad I can talk. I can say how I feel. I've been to London. I can talk about what I want to talk about. I am interested in politics. I can talk about politics. I did three years of treatment before A.B.A. I could not talk before I had A.B.A.

Aaron B. Epelbaum
Brooklyn, Dec. 20, 2004

•

To the Editor:

Autism, perhaps more than many other diagnoses, presents a broad range of manifestations, and one treatment (or nontreatment) does not fit all. Your article glosses over this fact and could be misinterpreted as making a case for not investigating the etiologies of autism or possible treatments (for those who need to be treated).

As a doctor who cares for many patients with autism and as the uncle of an autistic nephew, I know that the research needs to be done to help many of my patients and my nephew reach their full potential.

Gary Mirkin, M.D.
Great Neck, N.Y., Dec. 20, 2004

•

To the Editor:

As the parent of a 13-year-old son with autism and as the friend of many families of children with various types of autism, I can say the experiences cited bear little resemblance to the reality faced by most.

One of the hallmarks of autism is the lack of self-awareness, social cognition and behavioral flexibility.

The self-awareness of those representatives of the "autistic liberation movement" you interviewed is something parents and caretakers of children with autism could only wish for.

There are no treatments that change whatever the root causes of autism may be. Nor are there ways of changing the world to make it kinder to our children. What we can and must do is to use proven and humane therapies like Applied Behavior Analysis and encourage research into other treatment methods.

David Schwartz
Spring, Tex., Dec. 20, 2004

Humane? ABA is not humane! How would she like to be restrained or have amonia tablets shoved up her nose!

I have seen this false arguement before.,  What is the most effective counter arguement? I have seen several. I believe for the majority of NTs  
this would be very persuasive since they dont have all the facts

"There are no treatments that change whatever the root causes of autism may be. Nor are there ways of changing the world to make it kinder to our children. What we can and must do is to use proven and humane therapies like Applied Behavior Analysis and encourage research into other treatment methods."


There are ways of changing the world to be kinder, in the past there were no laws against child abuse and child pornography, they now exist. Also the many laws created in the western world to prevent child exploitation as part of the work force.
These laws do not exist in some countries and the tragedy there can be seen readily.
Law and legislation are one way to change things, the two recent cases of the boy refused access to his school xmas party, and the girl who was smeared with the diaper are two examples where strong and clear laws could be used against those who are abusive or discriminating.

My guess is that Harmon et al  will eventually fall back on the fiction that we - AFF - are not autistic at all -   Vaguely defined "troublemakers" out of the same packet as McCarthy era "Un-Americans."

Stella