I can tell you what I wouldn't do. I wouldn't stop treating that son as a person, deserving of love and respect as any other child. I wouldn't push them to become what is my idea of normal, like many parents of Autistic children belive is a "cure" for Autism. I wouldn't drag my child on TV, and talk about how upsetting their way of being is, as if they aren't there and do not have a soul. Just because Autistic children can't speak, doesn't mean they cannot hear. It also does not mean they cannot feel.

Autism is not a disease, it's a different way of thinking. It might be heartbreaking to a "normal" person, when their child isn't behaving just like them. Instead of trying to "cure" them, there should be understanding. Most Autistic children find eye-contact difficult or upsetting. This doesn't mean they are "ignoring the world", it means they are not giving you what you consider is proper to communicate. Forcing Autistic children to behave in a Neurotypical ("normal") way does nothing but upset them, and send the message that there is something wrong with them. Imagine everyday if you woke up and heard messages on TV saying how behaving the way you naturally do is wrong and unnatural? I don't think you'd be happy with that message. This is what Autistic children hear everyday.

How about instead of showing a ad with Jenny McCarthy crying over her son, show something positive like her spending time with her son being happy. Or does that not get the same ratings as portraying Autism as a horrible affliction, and that the children who have it are hopeless. You cannot say someone is hopeless before you try to help them, most Autistic children do not get the help or the stimulation Neurotypical children do. Most parents seem to feel with Autism all they can do is throw their hands up in the air and say, "Well what's the point, it's not like they can learn anyways." Programs showing only the negative aspects of Autism, reinforce the stigma that those on the Autism spectrum are a lost cause. The first part to a plan of Genocide is to dehumanize the group of people who you are trying to get rid of. Acting as if Autistic children are less than human because they don't meet the "normal" requirements is dehumanizing them.


You may have seen Amanda on CNN. She did a show about Autism with Sanjay Gupta. She does not speak, she uses a keyboard to communicate. Yet she is smarter than most Neurotypical people that I know. If her parents had belived the propaganda constantly spouted about Autism being a lost cause, they might not have taken the time to help teach her things so that she would become the intelligent woman she is today. It is amazing how just not having one simple skill, the ability of speech, means that person must be no more intelligent than a newborn. Perhaps one day people will not be so prejudiced towards those who are Neurodiverse. Until then please keep the negativity to yourself.

It seems your problems are more about money, than your son having Autism. There are other ways of getting money, than spreading the awareness of how devistating Autism is. I'm sorry about your position. I don't see where the issue over the right to Neurodiversity is an issue. The world is a very unjust place, you can help change that by discussing the positives of Autism on boards like this one. Even though I know wallowing in the negativity is a easier way to get money.

Frost, nice to hear from a parent who decided to raise their child by looking at their attributes, rather than their lack therof. There is always hope, the hope that one day the media might get past the lucrative raiting grabbing shows, of showing what a tragedy Autism is. That people with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome can live a life, without being seen as an object of pity, that they will be seen as a human being. Just as much as Neurotypicals are.

Excellent post mom. I'd like to know when they'll decide to take the bullies, oops I mean "conduct disordered" kids out of Special Ed. If bullies need classes specially tailored to them, putting them in a area with perspective victims is not the way to do it.

I would really like to see a show focus on the entire SPECTRUM and the varying degrees and types of 'autism'. Please talk about High-functioning and Aspergers and how different they are from other forms of autism. These children are caught in the middle and are usually the most misunderstood. I have a 6 year old child who has a undetermined form of autism (PDD-NOS) and is mainstreamed. He has a problem with speech and socialization. There is a lot of ignorance out there. People talk 'down' to him or are condescending because they don't understand his actions sometimes - that bothers him. I would prefer people to understand that he isn't all that 'different' but has some special 'requests' - ex. no loud noises (screaming or loud talking hurts his ears) and please don't crowd him or touch him without him knowing. My son plays soccer, loves NASCAR and does most things a boy his age likes to do. Please don't talk 'around' or 'down' to him, talk to him. Please don't feel sorry for him, engage him and you might learn something. You may also be surprised to see what a happy child he is, being himself! It would also be helpful if some of this 'awareness' was focused around raising money to help treat the children who need it NOW. I wouldn't want to change the person my child is, but I would like to make his life easier with Speech therapy, OT, etc. We are lucky enough to be able to work it out, but other parents are without any help.

I am excited to see Oprah on Tuesday September 18^th! I saw both Jenny and Holly on the VIEW last year. I thought what they had to say was interesting and Rosie even mentioned that she would like to team up with them both and do a special on Autism dealing with the myths and rumors. I personally, am looking forward to seeing the Oprah show with these ladies. Whatever it takes to keep Autism in the spotlight so that more laws can be created in protection of ALL children with special needs not just Autism.

My son was diagnosed (PDD-NOS) 5 years ago, it was not a shock, I knew it in my heart and had him tested. I worked with the school at age 3 through the preschool committee on special education and put together a plan for him with Speech and Special Ed.(The school pays for these services in NY) Once he moved into the school aged program, his preschool plan was carried into the school. My child is in an integrated general education, with an IEP (individual Education Plan) class for the last 3 years. He is excelling due to this integration. Our team, within the school, his general ed teacher, speech pathologist, special ed teacher, psychologist and of course the principal are all a wonder team that I have been working with. With their support at school, and their teaching of diversity throughout the school, the children have learned acceptance and tolerance of those not like themselves.

There are no cookie cutter solutions with any child of special needs. I think it very important that Autism be kept in the spotlight, no matter if it is a celebrity or a soccer mom next door.

I can't wait to see Oprah on Tuesday September 18th!

Again, I am so glad that Oprah is finally starting to shed light on Autism with a second show on the topic this year. I will be interested in seeing the show. From seeing the promo clip about it, again it seems that the focus is only on regressive autism. I hope I am wrong about that impression. ***Oprah, Autism is not always regressive and it is not always severe and is not always a miserable existance. If you only show one type and one perspective, your show is not representing the full spectrum and the varied expereinces. To know one person with Autism, is to know one person with Autism*** I hope you also show the hope and beauty of our children this time around and consulted with people other than Autism Speaks. They don't speak for many families.