Autism

This is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart. The points I make below are ones I've tried to spread to the public at large.

Autism is a sensory, neurobiological condition that affects sensory processing and language to a certain extent. People on the autism/Asperger's spectrum are as varied as there are individuals on that spectrum.

Oh, and never describe or refer to ANYONE on the spectrum as that damn "R*** M**." Less than 10% of the autism population are savants, so please retire that stereotype. It is damned ironic that a form of autism that affects so few people (the preferred term is "prodigious savant") has become the stereotype. R*** M** is JUST as offensive in autism circles as any ethnic, religious or national slur is to the group being targeted.

Daniel Tammet, a prodigious savant does not suffer cognitive delays. On the contrary, he is a genius! Rest assured, he does NOT do toothpick or matchbox tricks nor can he help you win at the casinos. The author of Born on a Blue Day, this interesting and extraordinary person has been featured on 60 Minutes. He is NOBODY's stereotype!

I have been banging on the high frequency different drum for years about rights and services for people with autism.

Good for you, BB.

I work as a teacher's assistant at a private school for students with Autism. I work with very low functioning students who are 14-16 years of age. Many of them are non verbal, and have a very hard time doing basic tasks, but I love working with them.

I hope more research is done on Autism/Asperger's so that we can stop this from affecting another generation.

I'm not sure what R*** M*** is but anyone who disparrages or mocks anyone who has any kind of condition, be it medical, mental or neurological, should be horsewhipped.

BB means the film Rain Man.

One thing that surprises people about autism is that many of them do like physical touch. My son likes to cuddle close. I know someone in my church who is on a lower spectrum than my son and he sits close to his parents in church.

I personally know several people in the Asperger's/autistic spectrum. To class them together simply because they all have, to larger or lesser degree, the same disability is rather inane. It's like saying all blind people are the same, regardless of sex, age, IQ, interests, talents etc. etc., just because they share the one characteristic of being unable to see!

I hate labeling and putting people in boxes. Every time it's done there are two losers - the person prejudged and the one prejudging.

Last year it surprised my son's teacher that his desk was so untidy. She got the idea that autistic people are neat freaks. They are only that way if being tidy is of any importance to them. But to my son, he has more important things to think about than cleaning.

I was thinking what you said about cuddling, VB. My young friend Melissa, who's autistic, has always been affectionate and as a kid would often hug me. It was her way. Another girl I know, who's also autistic, could hardly bear to be touched.

A diagnosis is only useful if it HELPS the person to function better. It's not supposed to be used to, as BB said, stereotype them!

Originally Posted by hibgal

A diagnosis is only useful if it HELPS the person to function better. It's not supposed to be used to, as BB said, stereotype them!

This is so true!

I was thinking what you said about cuddling, VB. My young friend Melissa, who's autistic, has always been affectionate and as a kid would often hug me. It was her way. Another girl I know, who's also autistic, could hardly bear to be touched.

I think it depends on the sensitivity of their nerves.

BTW, has anyone read the book by Jenny McCarthy "Louder Than Words"?

No, I haven't, VB. She's the one that says diet would cure it, right? I would assume, not being a health professional, that a lot depends on WHY the person is autistic. Some autism is caused by brain damage and then no diet in the world will heal it! I just hope it won't create a backlash and "everybody" will think that it all boils down to poor diet!

Yep, the no glucose, no wheat gluten diet. She claims it worked wonders on her son. It has raised some controversy. Some are afraid it will raise false hope.

One sad part about the book is how her marriage deteriorated. It does happen among couples with a handicapped child.

Btw, wasn't there a book recently written by a woman (now grown, of course) who suffered from autism herself? I have a vague recollection seeing something about it and thinking I should check it out further but now I can't recall either the name of the woman or the book. I'm SO with it sometimes!

I do know of a story of a woman who overcame autism by having her ears operated on. She had overly sensitive hearing, which caused her to withdraw from everything.

I havent read Jenny McCarthy's book. I work with students whose parents have them on that diet, and honestly I havent seen any changes. I do think it gives them false hope. I think Jenny McCarthy needs to be a bit more clear, I mean we all know every child is different, just because one thing worked for her son doesnt mean it works for everyone. I know at the school I work at nobody thinks she has a valid point at all.

I can understand trying to change diet to see if it helps, but I wouldnt expect a miracle.

I must warn you for those who don't like foul language, Jenny drops the F-bomb quite a bit in her book. She recently came out with another one.

10 Myths About Autism

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Coldand...6089162&page=1

Thanks for posting that, VB. I really like Dr. Tim Johnson.

Just curious have you ever seen the show Autism x 6? It was a special on Discovery Health Channel about a family with 6 kids who all have Autism. The mother has been married twice, so the kids have different fathers, so the medical community is doing a study with the kids to see if maybe the mom has a gene that she passed on for Autism and to figure why all of the kids are Autistic.

No I haven't. Is it on DVD?

No, I saw it about a month ago on either TLC or Discovery Health channel. If I can find it somewhere I will let you know.