Autism Horror As Son Attacks Caregiver

It is fashionable these days to talk about autism disorders as though they are joyful, beautiful blessings bestowed upon our children. Some internet bloggers prattle about the joy of autism. They also try to suppress any negative description of autism whether it was the "Ransom Notes" campaign of NYU Child Study Center's Dr. Harold Koplewicz or the courageous parents who participated in the Autism Every Day video. These feel good censors paint an inaccurate picture of autism, one which ignores completely, and misleads the public about, some of the harsher realities of autism disorders. In the process they do a huge disfavor to some severely autistic people, their families and caregivers.

In Desperate plea for help Susan Sherring of the Ottawa Sun reports the horror that confronted Brenda Reisch when her 15 year old autistic son, weighing more than 200 pounds attacked his caregiver, breaking his nose, leaving blood splattered on the walls and bruises on the caregivers back. Residential services have not yet been made available because her son's case is not considered a "crisis" level situation. Yet her son has become more violent, uncontrollable and aggressive in recent months.

"I can't describe the horror of looking at what my child had done, the amount of blood, it was all over the walls, all over the carpet, from one end of the house to the other," she told the Sun.
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" He could potentially hurt someone else. We need help," Brenda says.

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" We need a life. He needs a life, too. He needs help. I know this might mean he can't live with us and that devastates me. I can't tell you how many times I've been in tears.

"I love my son. He's the most precious thing to me in the world. If this is what we have to do, it's going to tear me apart, but I know he could potentially kill someone and I can't put him in that situation."

I have provided legal services to families whose children with autism spectrum disorders hurt family members and parents. And I have met others in the course of my autism advocacy. This situation is not that unusual. The truth should be told not hidden behind feel good stories and wishful thinking. To do so is to do a disservice to all involved.

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Sundance Channel Features Autism Every Day on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day

PR Newswire announces that The Sundance Channel will be airing the Autism Every Day video on World Autism Day, April 2. The neurodiversity movement, always angry at those who disagree with its "autism is beautiful" philosophy, has an irrational hostility toward the Autism Every Day video and its creator Lauren Thierry. But many parents of autistic children, including me, appreciate the video's honest portrayal of the challenges presented by autism disorders and the impact on the lives of the children with the disorder and the parents who love them and care for them. Lauren Thierry, Autism Speaks, Robert Redford and the Sundance organization deserve applause for presenting the hard realities of autism to the world.

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Sundance Channel will present the U.S. television premiere of Lauren Thierry's documentary Autism Every Day on April 2, 2008, which has been designated World Autism Awareness Day by the United Nations. The film, which debuted at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, documents a typical 24-hour day in the lives of eight families struggling to raise children with autism. Autism Every Day premieres on April 2nd at 8:00pm et/pt.

Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. There is no cure for autism and the symptoms can range from quite mild to very severe. Autism rates are increasing throughout the world. In the United States, diagnoses have increased tenfold in the last decade, affecting 1 in 150 children according to the Centers for Disease Control. Autism's cause remains unknown, and there is currently no test to help prevent it. Addressing the disorder as a global health issue, the General Assembly of the United Nations has designated April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day in perpetuity, starting in 2008. On April 2nd, U.N. member nations will seek to raise society's awareness of autism through education and celebration.

With Autism Every Day, director Lauren Thierry (who is herself the mother of a child with autism) illuminates the struggles parents of children with autism face every moment of the day. Thierry goes inside the homes of eight diverse families doing their best to cope with a perplexing disorder that completely dominates their lives. Autism Every Day shows how developmental skills that most parents take for granted -- a child's ability to brush his teeth or communicate a need -- can prove enormous hurdles for an autistic child. At the same, Thierry's film captures the unconditional, powerful love these parents feel for their children and their determination to provide them with the best care possible. Autism Every Day was produced by Autism Speaks, the nation's largest advocacy organization.

ABOUT AUTISM SPEAKS

Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Vice Chairman, General Electric, and served as chief executive officer of NBC for more than twenty years. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org/.

ABOUT SUNDANCE CHANNEL

Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, uncompromising and irreverent, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a venture of NBC Universal, Showtime Networks Inc. and Robert Redford. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel's website address is http://www.sundancechannel.com/.

Sundance Channel
Press Contacts: Sarah Eaton Sundance Channel sarah.eaton@sundancechannel.com 212-708-8043 Katie Lanegran Sundance Channel katie.lanegran@sundancechannel.com 212-708-8044

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Autism and Censorship

I do not subscribe to the vaccine/thimerosal causes autism theory. It is necessary to state that at the outset because of the often heated, sometimes irrational nature of internet discussions of autism issues.

There exists a group of people, often called "neurodiversity" comprised of some high functioning autistic persons, some parents and professionals who share their view, who tend to promote a view of autism as a non-medical disability, a socially created disability which, from their perspective is simply different wiring of the brain. In the neurodiversity belief system autism is just a different way of thinking which, by their self identification with historical geniuses, can even be seen as superior to neurotypical thought. Positive views of autism are promoted. Negative realities of autism are suppressed. And now, in the American Academy of Pediatrics, the neurodiversity movement has a powerful new ally as it seeks to censor a work of fiction - the Eli Stone television series episode which apparently suggests a link between vaccines and autism.

The neurodiversity group is so rigid in its perspective that its adherents react with intense hostility to any negative portrayal of autism disorders such as that shown in the Autism Every Day video or the Ransom Notes campaign. The AED video presented the realities of autism from the perspective of caring parents. The Ransom Notes campaign was an attempt to create public awareness of some of the harsher realities of disabilities includig autism. While they have not been able to silence Autism Speaks, or the parents who created the Autism Every Day video, it is not for want of trying. And the "autism is beautiful" movement was a prime player in the successful effort to censor the Ransom Notes campaign, a campaign which was designed to focus attention on the harsher realities of various disabilities including autism disorders. Even Ph.D's, academics, presumably committed to the free exchange of ideas, bragged on the internet that they were doing "happy dances" over their success in shutting down the Ransom Notes campaign.

The Eli Stone episode is, on the surface, objectionable to the neurodiversity autism censors because it portrays a link between vaccines and autism. The episode features a family attorney who wins a court decision in which he successfully argues that a mercury-containing flu vaccine caused autism in a child. This alleged causal link enjoys little support in the medical and scientific communities and the AAP is presumably acting with good intentions when it seeks to censor the episode in question. But the same can not be said of the neurodiversity censors.

To be sure their criticisms of the vaccine autism link are consistent with accepted medical and scientific opinion but they want the episode and such discussion censored for another reason. They are offended by a medical model of autism disability. To them autism is a disability only because society imposes conditions on autistic persons which make it a disability. Even discussion of potential environmental bases for autism, anything other than a purely genetic model, is met with intense hostility by neurodiversity bloggers.

I have never been a fan of David Kirby, or his promotion of the vaccine causes autism theories. But I would not want to silence his voice, his opinion on this or any other subject. And I believe he has a point when he expresses alarm about the attempt to censor a television series episode in Scarier Than Fiction: Pediatricians Try To Censor ABC.

Autism Disorder is a medical disorder. Censorship is a severe social disorder which poses a threat to the health of a democratic society.

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Autism Speaks Tackles Autism Crisis in South Florida Mar 24 - 28

Donald Trump, Bob Wright, Suzanne Wright, Melania Trump
Photo: TOWN-CRIER Online

Autism Speaks is continuing to show outstanding leadership in tackling the Autism Crisis in the US and around the world. Co-founders Bob and Suzanne Wright have joined with Donald and Melania Trump, local parents and autism advocates in organizing a South Florida autism awareness and fundraising initiative to take place during the last week in March. Autism Speaks Week, March 24-30, will include a number of activities including a Television News Series on the autism crisis of escalating rates of autism diagnoses, March 24 to 28 on NBC stations in the area, an on-line auction, ING Direct Ride Now South Florida motorcycle ride, Saturday, March 29, a telethon and broadcast of 'Autism Every Day', and a concert for Autism Speaks, headlined by Lionel Ritchie, Sunday March 20.

As stated by Bob and Suzanne Wright in TOWN-CRIER Online:

“Autism is a national health crisis that is affecting families in every corner of this country, from Florida to Alaska,” Bob Wright said. “Autism Speaks Week will shine a spotlight on the struggles of South Florida families and inform people about what they can do to improve the lives of individuals with autism in their community.” “Our hope is that this series of events will increase the level of understanding and acceptance,” Suzanne Wright added. “The money we raise will help Autism Speaks fund autism research and support community organizations here in South Florida and across the United States that provide critical services to children and adults with autism.”

The ability of Autism Speaks to generate public awareness of autism, raise funds for autism research is amazing. And now Autism Speaks is turning its considerable abilities to assisting local autism support organizations. Not content to engage in endless peurile debates over the appropriate metaphors to use in describing autism or whether to say "autistic person" or "person with autism" Autism Speaks is actually doing something constructive, in a big way, in addressing the Autism Crisis.

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Autism News of the Year - 2007

These are my personal choices for top autism news of the year - 2007


Autism Research (Tie)

Autism genome scan reported.
Unified Theory of Autism published.


Autism Health Care

American Academy of Pediatric autism reports published:
Identification and Evaluation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Awareness (3 Way Tie)

Autism Every Day Video screening at the Sundance Film Fesitval.
Faces of Autism series published in the Vancouver Sun.
World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, declared by United Nations.

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Autism Every Day At The Nantucket Film Festival

'Autism Every Day' was scheduled to play this past week at the Nantucket Film Festival. The film has been a key element in the efforts by Autism Speaks and Bob and Suzanne Wright to raise autism awareness, real autism awareness, around the globe. The film generated much hostility from those who wish to portray autism as simply a natural variation, a subgroup of people with different ways, perhaps even superior ways of thinking. For daring to portray the real challenges of their autistic children's neurological disorders the parents of Autism Every day were vilified by the Neurodiversity movement on the internet.

Autism Every Day, and the courageous parents who participated in the filming, helped shatter the propaganda of the 'Autism is Beautiful' movement, the nonsense perpetrated by the Neurodiversity ideologists, those who make a career of pretending to be the voices of autistic people and those who like to hold 'acceptance projects'. For the Neurodiversity movement 'Autism Every Day' could not stand without challenge. And so they lashed out at the loving parents who appeared in the video.

Autism Every Day presented autism as it really is - a neuro-biological developmental disorder characterized by impaired communication, deficits in social interaction, and in some cases dangerous behavior. As the father of a profoundly autistic boy; a father who loves his son dearly and takes joy in each moment with him, while dealing with the hard realities of his autism, I thank the Autism Every Day parents for their courage and candor.

I hope they and their children are doing well.

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Autistic Boy One of 11 Molested, Raped In Ontario Group Home

From Barrie, Ontario, the Toronto Sun reports the conviction of Joseph Cross, 37, for molesting and raping 11 children in in group homes run by the Barrie and District Association for People with Special Needs. One of the victims was an autistic boy whose mother was heart broken when she had to leave the boy in a group home and who was crushed when she found out later that he was sexually molested at the home. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10.

This story and others should be a wake up call for the people in the Neurodiversity movement who argue on the internet, publish books and establish "acceptance projects" proclaiming that autism is not a disability, that we should find joy in autism. These people pontificate on such important issues as whether the puzzle piece image is offensive as a symbol for autism and whether it is more appropriate to refer to someone with an autism disorder as an autistic person or as a person with autism. Some Neurodiversity ideologues talk about the superiority of autistic intelligence and attack anyone who advocates a theory of autism, or autism cause or treatment inconsistent with their ideology. And almost all like to downplay some of the harsher realities of life confronting the many severely autistic persons who lack the ability to engage in internet debates. Truth talking parents like those in the Autism Every Day video are vilified by these ideologues.

But each day the news brings us back to reality - an autistic child is sexually molested in a group home in Barrie, Ontario, an autistic boy is killed by a motor vehicle after he snuck out of his home clad in pyjamas to run in traffic in New Zealand, a middle aged autistic woman with no communication ability is repeatedly assaulted by attendants in a Long Island residential care facility, an autistic boy is left locked on a hot school bus for hours in Kansas.

These are ugly realities but they are realities that parents and other caregivers of severely autistic children and adults can not, should not, must not ignore.

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