Friday, August 17, 2012

The Death of Urgency for Autism

From ASA at their July national convention: "Dr. Jim Ball, Chairman of the Autism Society, issued a call for a summit to bring together national organizations involved in advancing the independence, autonomy, self-sufficiency and dignity of each person living with autism."

This seems like a nice enough good feeling statement about the need for all to pull together for autism. But take a closer look. Who exactly on the autism spectrum is capable of "independence, autonomy and self-sufficiency"? Dr. Ball is only addressing the high functioning end of the spectrum here. Those people with clinical autism, the highly disabled middle and bottom of the autism spectrum, will never be independent or self-sufficient -- unless they receive intervention and treatment and rise to the level of Aspergers or higher. But the ASA is not focused on finding new treatments and causes for autism. They don't see the need, apparently, and are more of the neuro-diverse persuasion.

The Autism Society of America is functionally the Asperger Society of America, and has been their drift over the last few years. There is nothing wrong with having this focus, I would hasten to add. But the goals and needs of those with Asperger Syndrome is markedly different than the goals of those with clinical autism, especially newly diagnosed children. Go to any Autism Research Institute conference and you will find young parents looking for treatment answers for how to free their children from the dungeons of autism and the bleak future it holds. They are not there primarily looking for housing solutions, jobs for young adults, or social programs. Those things may come in time and are real needs for the exploding ranks of adults with autism.

But first things first. We need to expose the causes of autism and put a stop to it. We need research to find treatments and cures for autism. This is not the ASA agenda so I doubt there will be much to rally around for those advocates who are pulling for young families by seeking causes, treatment and cures for autism.

Defeat Autism Now!
Somebody has to say it for them.

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