Sign the petition - calling on Dr. Tony Attwood and Dr.....

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A sign for the times topic

Thank you. Mark Foster's blog link was expired, but your link worked.

Beau, one can always try.

It has been written

Would someone like to point out how Tony has supported hate crimes against the AS community, I know that Tony is smart but not always wise. The worst thing which I have found that he has done is to use Maxine Aston's work as a source of advice when writing one chapter of one of his books.

Seconded Woodpecker, I too would like to know HOW precisely Tony Attwood has supported hate crimes against the AS community. Seems to me that we on the spectrum are all to easy to forget those professionals who actually have helped us more than most?? I am shocked to see a campaign AGAINST Dr Tony Attwood, totally shocked. His association with Maxine Aston is unfortunate and I am sure he will in time (I hope) come out against her as she to me is the one guilty of so many 'ethical' wrongdoings. How is SHE allowed to diagnose..........clearly she is as a couple of WP members have admitted to us in the past.

His association with 'other' associations was right at the beginning of their existance and he has distanced himself from their conferences in the past if my memory serves me correctly?? Someone will no doubt correct me. Times change, values change, maybe some organisations at the start were not what they have grown into now. Has anyone contacted Tony Attwood to tell him about this 'petition', does he know what he is being accused of or been given the right to reply?? Does anyone know if HE knows??

Throw custard pies at other professionals, I could name a whole host who TO ME, are abominable. Andrew Wakefield being just ONE! And actually a few academics would be on the receiving end in my book too. Having gone to University to LEARN about the spectrum I am totally disillusioned with what the 'supposed experts' are saying, IT IS PATHETIC. They are outdated, behind the times and stuck in a rut, but again my opinion.

Look at the POSITIVES not the negatives. Don't look at the spectrum as a deficit look at it as a POSTITIVE! Prof Tony has in my opinion (and I have extensively researched I promise) always been at ground zero as it were, continuing to see/observe children and adults, endearingly talksto about, because actually HE LIKES THE SPECTRUM! Yes he can take on a slightly comedic role from time to time.......................personally I am not offended, although I am sure there are always the few who will be. I identify with it. None of what he has said in my opinion is offensive.

So it is on this thread that I will publicly stand up FOR Prof Attwood, and I will thank him for popularising his work so that us mere mortals have access to a wealth of information. i am looking at his books on my bookshelf now, they have taught me sooo much.

Give the man a break, yes he earns a good salary, but so does Maxine Aston and it is HER that we should be petitioning against NOT him. Cassandra?? Yup SHE invented it, he merely mentioned it in a different context. Do we really have to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Can't we just politely ASK Prof Attwood for his position?? Uggg, sorry folks, I for one am disappointed. Let's not bite the hand that feeds us. PLEASE. He is one of the only professionals that I have met that actually LISTENS TO US AND LET'S US SPEAK!!

Ok I have my tin hat on, you are all welcome to chuck pies at me, but ultimately I THANK PROF ATTWOOD

But hey that is MY opinion................................

By supporting Maxine Aston's unscientific made-up nonsense that has never been submitted for peer review and proper scientific analysis and by supporting the ignorant hate group FAAAS, he is supporting hate and bigotry against aspies in the courts (particularly family courts), employment, and in society in general. He should damn well know better and he needs to be called out on it.

HE DOESN'T SUPPORT MAXINE ASTON'S NONSENSE!! !! Aggggghhhh, it was a word Tony MENTIONED that's all.....................................gosh what a mountain is being made out of this molehill.

WHY AREN'T YOU PETITIONING MAXINE ASTON THEN?? She is the deceiver in my opinion, WHY BLAME TONY ATTWOOD for someone else's unprofessionalism, unethical ways of practicing and ripping people off?

Maxine Aston in my opinion is a Charlatan, not qualified but bigging herself up to pretend she is some kind of expert when actually she is nothing.

Give me a petition to sign against MAXINE ASTON and I will gladly sign it, and what's more guarantee you of at least 100 signatures BUT TONY ATTWOOD?? No way, am I biting off the hand that helps us. You can stick your petition. I personally think those of you stirring this nasty little pot are creating a foul smell, something I don't want to be associated with.

And can anyone answer me this?? Does Tony know? Anyone asked him his postion or is all this being done behind his back?? Have you asked him if he supports FAAAS??? Maybe at the beginnning but I can't see evidence of it now?? BUT MY BIG QUESTION IS, DOES TONY KNOW ABOUT ALL THIS?? Anyone had the decency to ask him or are you all digging knives in him coz you haven't got anything better to do? Tony Attwood is one of the nicest professionals I have met, my opinion of his work will not change.

I am disgusted quite frankly. Get the order of attack right...............MAXINE ASTON is the target NOT TONY. Grrrrrr

Not often a thread gets me soooooo angry but sadly this one has.

I signed it with a note attached to watch out for Autism Speaks too.

WHY? Could those that are signing this ridiculous petition PLEASE give THEIR REASONS AS TO WHY?? Yes I can see why some of these 'hate groups' are upsetting, by giving them ALL THIS LIMELIGHT ,you are merely bringing them to the fore again.............groan. BUT WHY BLAME TONY ATTWOOD; Someone answer me please. I can't see anything he has done that deserves this kind of outrageous behaviour.

Behave everyone, let's look at those that are REALLY guilty, uh? MAXINE ASTON for one!! ! Should I remind the board of what she is up to? UGG, I urge you NOT to sign any petitions against Dr Attwood, do I know him? No, Have I ever seen him talk? Yes. Have I benefited from his books? Yes. Do I regard him as someone who I trust, and would take advice from? Yes. But then I am not you, those of you who choose to dig knives into someone that has done SOOOOO much for us.

Oh and by the way I happen to know that Dr Attwood's fees are VERY reasonable compared to Charlatans such as Maxine Aston.

I don't have any trouble believing that Tony Baloney is a captivating speaker with a charming personality.

How about we make a list of captivating speakers with charming personalities and see who else gets included.

Supporting FAAAS is not something that can be described as "just an unfortunate mistake."

Aspie is not a synonym for abusive. Aspies get blamed enough already. Tony Attwood does not speak for me.

OOOOOOhhh PLEEEAAAASE, really how pathetic. Sorry but I am fast losing my patience with all this RIDICULOUS MALARKEY to 'disredit', dish the dirt on one of our most foremost experts. For goodness sake, we have enough trouble finding the good guys in this specialist area, what do you want to do............shoot the good guys, bully them into what?? Eh??

Supporting FAAAS, who say's? I see plenty of evidence that Tony has distanced himself from previous conferences. And why shouldn't FAAAS exist eh? I bet there are plenty of women who have plenty to say.............hate groups? Maybe some of the things they say can be classified as 'hate', so WHY give them the pleasure of REACTING??? And much of what they say is just an excuse to moan and whinge about their unreasonable husbands.

Yes Tony does have a charming personality who tends to captivate his listeners, are we to punish him for that?? It is real ya know, not made up, what you see is what you get with Prof Attwood, he is up front and dares to push those boundaries that others are too scared to find. He is a maverick, a forerunner and ONE OF THE ONLY PEOPLE I KNOW TO TAKE NOTICE OF WHAT WE ON THE SPECTRUM SAY???

So yes let's campaign against one of 'our allies', let's confuse parents, professionals and the rest of the world by telling everyone how rubbish he is??? ARE YOU ALL CRAZY??? Who do we have to replace him??

Why is everyone avoiding the MAXINE ASTON subject? I urge you all to research into her a little bit more, you will find much more dirt to dig than if you continue on this nasty little petition against Tony Attwood.

Definitions of baloney on the Web:

pretentious or silly talk or writing

PLEASE define precisely what you mean by referring to Prof Tony Attwood as 'Tony Baloney', I personally find your manner offensive and inappropriate. Makes you look rather silly to be honest.

I have always tried hard to be as well informed as I can about things before posting. I also try very hard to remain courteous, polite and appropriate, respecting the feelings for others on this forum. BUT THIS IS ....................................getting me VERY hot under the collar. By the way Prof Attwood is a member of this forum so please at least address him with the courtesy of his real name and title. Thanks.

Then there's no use anyone trying to convince you otherwise.

Correct opal! thank you for taking time to read and understand!
Prof Attwood's books will continue to sit in my bookcase well read and often hi-lighted, to us as a spectrum family (I have 5 children as well as myself ALL diagnosed) he is a lifesaver. Let's remember all the great things that Tony has achieved for us on the spectrum. He is one of the good guys, if you want a list of the baddies............someone pass me some toilet roll, this could be a long list Now where shall I start?

I ask and request all of you that have signed or are considering signing/protesting against Prof Attwood, to think again. We can't afford to discredit our allies. We really can't. Life on the spectrum is a struggle at the best of times, let's not make it harder......please. There are other battles we have to fight against, let's concentrate on those eh?

You think you'd still have your kids if you were an aspie male and somebody got coached by FAAAS types into saying you're abusive?



Yeah, thanks Tony. It's great that people on the spectrum are deprived of all their rights, ridiculed, humiliated, and forced to watch their kids suffer.

I gotta acknowledge a remarkable fact. Almost all the protests I've seen against FAAAS have come from women. That's people taking a stand against injustice when they have nothing personal to gain from it.

I don't like humanity much, but sometimes I'm forced to recognize that humans have a capacity for good.

Evening from UK CanyonWind, mmmm let me tell you that as a female on the spectrum, I too have had to fight to keep my children (long story but one I have openly talked about before) and fight for them. So being an aspie male to be honest is no different to being an aspie female, just as hard in many ways!

And yes I do thank Dr Attwood, he has contributed so much to the autistic community ( I hate the way my uni refers to 'people with autism' grrrr, get over it, some of US prefer to be referred to as autistic!! I have no axe to grind with those who are working WITH us and not WITHOUT us. I am horrified to see those in academic circles who profess to call themselves 'up to date, experts' are actually totally OUT OF DATE and clueless as to what life on the spectrum actually involves. At least Tony works in a clinical setting and understands the differences.

Sorry rant over! But I beg all of you who want to research anyone, check out Maxine Aston, it will scare you I am sure, as it did me.

Interesting. Thank you for pointing out your own experience.

I gather that the problems in the UK child custody system are similar to those we have in the US. There is an obvious gender bias. No other conclusion is possible based on the numbers, but there could be a whole lot more to it.

The system here is based on the assumption that the person who gives the impression of being the better parent in an interview actually is the better parent. The very worst thing an aspie could be expected to do is to create a good impression in an interview. I would expect this to work against female aspie parents exactly the same way it does against males.

This requires more consideration.

Hiya again CanyonWind

Yes you are correct, the problems in teh UK are similar to those in the US. It is a terrible mess over here. The secrecy of the Family Court System is appauling, you would not believe the horrors that go on behind locked court doors, orders of secrecy wrapped up in the disguise of 'protecting the child's name', absolute poppycock. The system we have here is Dickensian, sadly many of the judges are in close contact with Social Services and I am sure many fates are decided at the 19th hole of the golf course. The old boy network is still very much in force here.

Uggg, what a mess, what a horrible mess. I can assure you though it aint easy being a parent on the spectrum, a single parent on benefits with multiple children and different fathers is like an invitation for Child Protection here. We are even screening for Child Protection possible cases in early pregnancy!!

Oooh dear, don't start me on this subject, I will go on forever and ever! You will need more than a drink to get you through the post! So on that note, I bid you all goodnight from the UK, stay safe wherever you are.

Yes, Maxine must definitely be a target also, no question. But Attwood should be totally discrediting her and her nonsense, very publicly discrediting her, and attempting to stop the promotion of her nonsense and FAAAS's hateful BS. He has a golden opportunity to use his position and power to assist the people he claims to be an expert on. Instead, what does he do? Appear to give credence to her absurd nonscientific "syndrome" AND speak at FAAAS conferences!! ! I'm sorry, but that deserves a calling-out, period.