Charles asks…
Jenny McCarthy and autism...People magazine?
I just read the interview with Jenny McCarthy in People discussing her autistic son. While any awareness is good news for the autism community at large, and while they did print some information that deals with the move realistic, average world of autism (in the box toward the end of the article) I have to admit I was very angry with both her veiws (and those she quoted of Holly Pete Robinson) that if you get your child services soon enough you can "pull him out of autism" or into a type of autistic remission. I feel comments like that do a huge diservice to the autism community at large and minimize the struggles many families face. Both of these women, who have struggled to provide the best services for thier kids (and I admire that) are fortunate enough to have both the location (CA has some of the best programs in the country on state and local levels) and the finances (many of us can't afford a second mortgage...or even a first...to finance over $200,000 in supportive services a
year. While I recognized much of my life with my son in Ms. McCarthy's article, I felt angry with it as well. Both because she was lucky enough to have those resources (I fully admit being jealous) and because at no time does she acknowledge that her story is not how 90% of families lives will turn out, no matter what diet or services we have. Raising awareness is one thing, but I felt she was , in some ways, offering a lot of misinformation as well...and maybe false hope to families just beginning to deal with autism....your thoughts??
She does not mention MMR in the article and I was unaware she believes it to be the cause of her son's autism. I know many families do feel vaccinations played a role in their child developing autism, but our son also showed symptoms (although we did not know that was what they were) from a very young age...predating the MMR shots. It is possible the vaccine is a catalyst in some children, but until there is more direct proof, I choose to continue vaccinations..autism is not deadly, but many of the things we vaccinate against are. As for alternative therapies..every family should try any services or therapies they have at their disposal...little is lost in trying. I think the disservice in Ms. McCarthy's article is presenting that these therapies can cure autism. Presently, for the majority of families, alternative therapies have offered little help or improvement, especially in children with moderate to severe autism.
Clays Mom...Every professional working with autistic kids supports the idea that the more intense therapy the sooner, the better in the long run. However, the truth is that even with the most intensive therapies, onl 10% of autistic children will reach the point where the symptomology is so minimal as to go unnoticed (basically the remission Ms.McCarthy speaks of). I have no problem with her saying "This is what worked for my son." But to make generalized statements that this is what could make all children reach this level of functioning is a disservice.
admin answers:
I didn't read the article but I did see them both on Oprah..but from what you have stated here sounds like the same info they we're discussing on Oprah. I agree with you, I have a child with autism. They live in a so say "fantasy world" compared to the rest of us "regular" people. They do have the finances to receive the best possible resources for their childern.
Honestly I hate when any show, including Oprah's, that uses "stars" to talk about disabilities. They really don't know how it is to deal with a disability like regular people do. I feel regular people like us are actually are more of a reality of what's it is like and what it involves. I think a big mistake of hers was making it sound like that what has worked for her and Holly will work for everyone. BS!! I do agree early intervention is a key to helping childern with autism but by all means it does not mean you can "pull him out of auitism". Each and every child is different and not all improve. She made it seem like it was a breeze to improve a child with autism...big misconception. You cannot "pull your child out of autism" or into "an autism remission". Autism is a life long disability, as a parent you can try everything possible to improve the characteristics and behavior of the autism but you can never ever "pull them out" or send them into "remission". Now I don't know if she mentioned the MMR vaccine in her article as well like they did on Oprah. She and Holly both stated that MMR is the cause of autism and the doctors need to listen to the mothers. Then they both stated that their childern was "living science" to prove that. I think that was wrong wrong wrong. My son was diagnosed with autism before his MMR shot, that's my "living science". He has had the shot since and their has been no change in his behavior or characteristics because of the shot. I feel they used it an "excuse" to blame the cause of autism in their childern. There's no concrete evidence that's supports that theory. I feel autism is like other diseases and has more than one contributing factor to it and that's why it is hard to pinpoint the cause of autism.
Linda asks…
What do you think about Jenny McCarthy's view about autism?
I did not see this, this is second hand from my friend. Apparently on Oprah today Jenny McCarthy was on saying how autistic children don't have disabilities but instead are more "special" and are the next evolution in our human race. Something about "indigo or crystal" children? Are any of you familiar with this "theory" of hers and what do you think?
admin answers:
I think that it is her view and that she is entitled to it. I feel though that she thinks this also because her child is autistic. She does not want to see her child as one with disabilities just as any parent wouldn't either.
Sandra asks…
autism? jenny mccarthy last night.?
i definatly agree with jenny on how vaccines and autism have a link. why cant any baby use hyrocrotizone(an itching cream) but they can get a half dead disease. Also i think sids is linked with vaccines. Babies cant take all the mercury in the vaccines and the disease and that shots can can fatal seizures. Japan raised the age of vaccines to 2 and they have een an increase in sids. Does anyone wonder why people arnt informed of all this? And what are your opinions on the link.
oops i mean decrease in sids.
admin answers:
I agree too! I cant believe those insensitive drs were sitttin there tryin to defend the fact that these vaccines have all this crap in them, then say its ok to inject in intrevenously into a baby?!?! But its pretty hard to get the general public to recognize this... All they know is that the government says its a good idea and required and they just go along with it and dont even question it just cause the government says you HAVE to do it... To me, that would be a red flag NOT to do it!
I do not get my children vaccinated since doing THOROUGH research and weighin the pors and cons of them...my mom even thinks im crazy and i mae her watch cnn last night, and she sided with the drs'!! I couldnt belive that anyone could defend the fact that there IS antifreeze, mercury, aluminum, aborted fetal tissue, raw eggs, etc and say in any amount, big or small, that its ok.. Itsjust ridiculous!
Av: YOURE WRONG!! There IS a link to autism and vaccines!! The drs on the show even admitted that there was a "small link" as they put it.... Of course they are not gonna sit there and say," yeah, were pretty certain it causes autism".. Jenny mccarthy is right and ppl REALLY need to read and do thier research before judgin her! Youre just like the rest... Government says its good, so it must be, right?
They keep adding and adding new vaccines that you HAVE to give your child every year... From the time my child was 18 mo ol, they said she was good for shots thru ag 5 or 6.. When i took her to school, they informed me that she would need a total of 11 shots to be caught up because they added so many "required" shots to the already ridiculously huge list! The expect me to give my kid 11 doses of mercury, antifreeze etc, over a period of a week?? Nope, sooy! I care about my child and actually look into things that are put into her body. Now kids need a shot for chicken pox?? A mild illness that ALL of us have had and turned out just fine. I remember having it, and i know it wasnt that bad. I mean, how is it that we've all (adults today) have gotten by just fine without these unneccesarry vaccines that are today somehow necessary? My daughter hasnt been vaccinated since the age of 18 months and my son hasnt been since the age of 6 months... And they WILL NOT be! Ever!
Its gotten to the point to where the cdc wont even stand behind the vaccines because the government was REQUIRED in 1993 to take all mercury, lead etc out of these shots and as of today, 2008,. They STILL have not... And doesnt anyone find it a lil odd that vaccines are the ONLY FOOD OR DRUG that DOES NOT have to have the ingredients listed on the bottles?? I do.. And i also think that vaccines are responsible for more childhood complications than just autism. If parent hadnt stepped up and made an issue of this, the government would be just sitting by lettin this happen and KNOWING its happening!
Edit: how can all of these ppl be sayin "the benefits outweigh the risk" when the risk have been death in some cases?!?! And in other cases, its autism. How big of a "risk" is polio nowadays?? Or measles? Or ruebella?? And i dont consider chicken pox to be a "risk"... For me,and my peers it was part of childhood
William asks…
Do you believe that Autism is what kids get from there shots? Do you agree with Jenny McCarthy?
I think kids are actually born with it and it never disappears. PPL like Ms. McCarthy are crazy in my opinion for believing that kids can actually loose the autism. Autism can never be lost. Do teacher's treat kids with autism differently than regular students.
I have Autism and I'm in my mid 20's.
admin answers:
I agree that individuals on the spectrum can't be "cured" in the traditional sense. I think "managed" is closer to it. What caused the problem still exists, they have learned how to deal with it.
Don't forget that autism is diagnosed behaviorally, not medically. Some are regressive, some not. Because of that, we are probably looking alot of different causes. I have heard from parents who believe their childs' autism was caused, by allergies, vaccines, food preservatives, environmental insult, trauma during birth and genetics. We may find out that they are all right. Could be that we will see a refining of diagnosis and many kids rediagnosed with something else. Until it was added to the DSM, it was considered psychological and often diagnosed as childhood schizophrenia
Not sure I understand what you are asking about teachers treating kids on the spectrum "differently". They have to just to be sensitive each child's needs and learning styles. If you mean in a negative sense- yes, some do. Those who have not bothered to educate themselves.
Mom of 2 on the spectrum from birth.
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