Comments on: Oops they did it again… on CNN

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:36:12 +0000

I get upset over stories like this as well. The ‘early intervention’ they are always talking about is not always available when the child is young. Our daughter has waited on list after list for services. I used to see these reports and get this panicked feeling.

We recently decided to move back to my hometown of Windsor, Ontario for IBI. The program they offer here is much different than the programs of sitting the child in a cubicle. They actually come to our home and do the therapy. They will also go shopping, go to playdates, go to daycare, etc. They will work with her in real, everyday settings. In my opinion THIS is what therapy should be!

How is sitting in a cubicle going to help a child learn about the world they have trouble understanding?! So, we dropped everything and moved here for this therapy. I was not a believer in IBI before this! I wish all cities had this.

I’m rambling, but I just wanted to say that I get really upset when I see that stuff on TV as well. Parents of newly diagnosed kids will just panic and feel like they aren’t doing enough for their kids if they can’t get ABA or IBI. I feel bad for the parents in the US who have to spend life savings for therapy.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:10:06 +0000

I admit I, too, get calls and e-mails regarding the latest push, though the people who usually send them to me are looking for a response not trying to foist their opinions (or others’ opinions) on me.

I agree what you’re doing is worthwhile and support your efforts. The other voices need to be heard and we each struggle in our own ways (and in overlapping ways) to ensure that they are heard.

By: Estee

Estee — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:53:14 +0000

Stephanie,

I had stopped as well this year because of other matters to attend to, but I am in a situation where inevitably I get calls about reports. I would love to ignore those reports, and I try. Yet when certain issues are called into question and I must defend Adam, I am inclined to write more articles like this one.
How many other parents out there receive those comments can phone calls about autism reports just because we have autistic children, and as if we haven’t heard it all before??

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:51:46 +0000

Perhaps mine is not the best strategy, but I just stopped watching CNN’s special reports on autism years and years back. I have better things to be frustrated about than their bias.

But I also recognize that it’s important that some monitor their reports and point out the bias. Thank you for that.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:09:30 +0000

This SO hits home for me. There is a mom at my son’s school who always corners me to talk about autism–causation and cure mostly. She very nearly accused me of abuse because Eli is not on “that special autism diet” and told me all about how so many autistic kids have been cured by it. Ugh!
It’s okay, though. That same mom also corners a different mom who is gay and wants to only talk about gay issues with her. Nice that we can all be pigeonholed that way….

For the record, Eli was never even offered ABA. It puzzled me, and I asked about it when he was in his transition kindergarten class. However, there were no therapists on staff at the school so it quickly became a moot point. For what it’s worth, he seems to be fine without it, which only proves your point that one size does not fit all.
Thanks for this. Many of us share your frustration.

By: DJ

DJ — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:08:17 +0000

Thank you, Estee! You’ve succinctly summed up what I’ve been trying to say for years. I’m an adult who “survived” Lovaas style ABA back in the 70′s and I can tell you that even though I could be considered “recovered”, that was purely thanks to my own effort to teach myself how to cope with my condition and deal with the PTSD and anxiety that stemmed from that residential torture …er… ‘treatment’. I had to go through the meltdown from H**l first!

By: Debra Hillbrant

Debra Hillbrant — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:42:45 +0000

“What a wonderful article you wrote”