I was debating with Autism speaks. Is autism really that bad

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I believed if there were more aspies advocates on that site. We could get people to open their eyes. Autism speaks are brainwashing.

Autism is a hell of a lot more fun than polio.

Seriously. I will take autism over an iron lung any day of the week. Except perhaps Tuesdays.

Naturally, KingdomOfRats is the voice of reason.

Being a person who hovers around the middle of the spectrum now, but has been higher up when younger, and lower when younger still (I don't even remember my "lower" days as I wasn't "there" due to the disorder itself); I can see both sides, and it's not even due to experiencing the highs and lows of this disorder.

Those who only see one side are doing the same thing as the people they contest who only see one side.

This is some development in the Wakefield story, which, after all, started the whole clamor about the vaccines-autism connection. What Autismpeaks says about it?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... mmr127.xml

I'm going to join and take a chance even if I may not be welcome... Such a shame... But I feel I must try to get my word out.

Edit: I posted some stuff to test the waters. *jumps back and waits for the piranhas to bite*

Chimchar, how can you demand respect from parents when you post this in the AutismSpeaks thread about Autism: The Musical?

"come now I find this very pathetic. It's so fake. How do we know these kids aren't NT children pretending to be autistic? This is all just acting."

Do you even see that? A kid running around butt-naked and throwing stuff around is something I would not call autistic.

This is ACTING!! !! !"

You are not only being rude over there (which begets rude responses. I'm actually surprised how many parents are making efforts to be nice to you) but you seem to have a very limited view of how autism presents in children. The documentary shows the background lives of autistic kids involved in a theater program and you can't believe that they are on the Spectrum. That shows how very little you know about the variety in autism. Which is fine, but please accept your unfamiliarity and don't go over to a parent message board, picking fights from a very uneducated place.

It's unethical to go barge in over there, with no introductions or easing into the community, make blanket pronouncements, and then come back here to report how awful parents are on that board.

People are respectful to people who are respectful. If you care to share your username, I'd be happy to support your efforts there, if you present your ideas respectfully.

Oh, I'm familiar with those "auties". I was not being rude, I was telling the truth. I've volunteered with over a dozen autistic kids and not one of them behave like those children. This is acting.

Sir, (or madam) you prove my point.

Same username as here... I tend to keep just a few usernames because it is easier for me to remember and keep track of things I log into.

I was just checking out your posts over there and you seem to already be an asset to the community there. I'm glad you're contributing and I look forward to reading more of your thoughts. My experience as a parent is that respectful and insightful posters, such as yourself, are generally welcomed and appreciated on that message board. You will undoubtedly run into disagreement from time to time, but if you present a sincere attitude, as you do, you will be met with courtesy and you will encounter more open minds.

Thanks for venturing over.

MJIthewriter, I saw this from a new mom to whose thread you contributed. Just wanted to make sure you got her message:

AutismSpeaks thread of thanks

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WOW! Thanks for the Aspergers insight!! !


I just posted for the first time a day or two ago and I got something I did not expect-Hope.. I posted on here thinking I would hear from other parents but I am getting alot of response from AS adults..I was ok with his dx until a co-worker of mine asked me how my son would ever be able to do a job interview. It all hit me like a tons of bricks and I just fell to pieces. But now I know his world may be a little challenging as he grows older, but the sky is still the limits. Thanks to all who posted to my previous message....

Wow, a dozen kids. Really? I guess you've seen all there is to see about autistic behavior then.

Well, I work as a speech therapist at a school for autistic children (read: I spend twenty-five hours a week working directly with autistic children), and that child's behavior is not surprising at all. Fact 1: some autistic children do not like the feeling of clothing and prefer to be naked. Fact 2: when some autistics are frustrated or overwhelmed, they throw things (in addition to head-banging, biting, screaming, etc.). Why is it so hard to believe that a child with autism could be both (1) naked and (2) throwing things?

If that kid was faking, he was a darn good actor, as he seemed very obviously and classically autistic to me.

Lost in Space, I'm glad you saw the documentary.

You can watch it for free right now here.

I do not know why anyone would attack the doc, especially someone on the Spectrum. The mom who organized the musical adopted an autistic boy from Russia (the one in question in this thread.) The doc is not just about him, but about many other kids and their lives. The point of the musical project is to provide a completely accepting and safe place for the kids to express themselves in an artistic way. If anything, one could take issue with some of the comments from parents or whatever (as people always, do, even myself,) but to claim that the kids featured are not autistic is a very odd and counterproductive claim.

Sorry for the OT rant.

I just get upset when people from here go over "there" to stir things up and just end up making everyone here look silly. Many of the WP posters that venture over there make valuable contributions and become part of the community, but trolling just to get a rise (or to give a piece of one's mind and then run off) is harmful to both communities.

It says that you must be in the US to view this. This is so unfair, I want to watch it too.

Quite frankly, I am just sick and tired and fed up with the fights in the Autism community and the disrespect shown to parents of Autistic children. The Autism community should be one of support because we all need it. This is one of countless threads on Wrong Planet you see every week where someone has a grievance with ASpeaks or the parents who post there. I don't chat on that board, but if I did, I'd want to do so in an environment where I was not constantly under attack.

Chimchair, if you and others think the "Autism: The Musical" was fake, let's break it down and discuss it scene-by-scene and show me which parts are faked or which children are "faking it." You don't volunteer for Autistic children! There's no way you could have any connection with Autistic kids and say what you've said. The kids in that movie exhibit ALL the classic signs of Autism beahvior and comorbids, hand flapping, toe walking, stemming, ticking, perseverations, lack of focus, transitioning tantrums, non-verval, echolalia, apraxia, OCDs, lack of eye contact. I'm around Autistic kids 24/7 and anyone who watched that and says those aren't typical, high-functioning Autistic kids is not connected at all to the Autism community. Those kids are so high up the Autism ladder until it isn't funny.

For anyone who wants to take me up on the challenge, let's roll with it. We can break it down scene-by-scene and I'd like you to spell out for the world here on Wrong Planet what you feel was faked. Not to mention, if you say the kids are fake and actors, you are accusing the parents of being a part of this. You are accusing the schools of being a part of this. You are accusing their support teams and doctors of being a part of it, too. You think Stills (Crobsy, Stills & Nash) is faking his son's Autism? He's the blonde, Asperger kid. There's a father on there whose company won a Nobel Peace Prize. You think the man is faking his kid's Autism? Anyone on this board who is bold enough to publically accuse this movie of being fake and attack the charcter (truly defamation of character) of the person who made it, needs to back that up with proof. You can't slander this woman, these children and their families without BRINGING IT with evidence that fraud has been commited. And, if you can prove that, then HBO who aired it, the production company who produced it, the distribution company who distributed it, and the charity organization who funded the musical itself are ALL part of the fraud.

Give me a break! This whole Autism community has got to be one so embedded with nastiness and hatred towards each other 'til it ain't funny. Really, it' ain't funny.