The fallacies continue to include that nonverbal Autistics are mentally retarded. That “Aspies” when put with “real Autistic” students have lowered self-esteem. That “real Autistics” fail to gain receptive and expressive speech. That no Autistic can have positive outcomes in life, be a police officer, learn to cope with their surroundings.

I wrote a letter to the editor and encourage you to do the same. I’m going to wait to post my letter until I’m certain that they are not going to post it, or after they post it. But I want to take a minute to dissect the Asperger’s fallacies. I think the others are pretty easily recognized as just evil, but the Asperger’s fallacies are what contributes to most of the problems in the new DSM 5 criteria and the general bias many feel to say Asperger’s isn’t really Autism.

1. A social disability is not a communication issue. In the Steinburg piece, he talks about communication issues like they are only expressive and receptive speech. I wonder if he’s aware that there are pragmatic and semantic language issues as well. Often, this is where we seem to lack. Even children who had no speech, but gained it and reproduce is ‘accurately’ tend to have pragmatic and semantic language issues. This is not something that’s an “Aspie only” trait.
2. A social disability is accurate enough for many “Aspies.” I’ve met many Autistics, especially women, who were diagnosed with a social disability. It’s commonly known as either Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder. But to say that this diagnosis is encompassing of an Autistics difficulties, most of us will tell you is yet another fallacy.
3. “Aspies” don’t have any other traits in common with “real Autistics.” We apparently don’t have sensory issues (finally acknowledged in DSM-5), or motor deficits, or executive functioning issues (both lost in current diagnostic criteria). We apparently don’t stim like real Autistics. We apparently all have appropriate self help skills as well. We apparently have no problems with adaptive living skills.
4. Deficits in youth that don’t make it to adulthood means that I’m not really Autistic. In the Nugent piece, he talks about the fact that he used to speak oddly. But as he got into adulthood, he recognized the issues socially around this and stopped. One of my favorite sayings seems to fit well here. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Everyone learns from their mistakes. Everyone. To think that just because you learn to cope or learn traits or learn to not do something means that a diagnosis is inaccurate. That’s basically saying we should stop all interventions on Autistic children because they’ll never learn to cope or learn the right way to do something. Just because you self-taught rather than having a professional teach you how to do something doesn’t mean those symptoms never existed.

I can think of more, but think this is plenty for now. Feel free to continue the discussion about the other fallacies in either piece.. I’m not going to talk about the repercussions of these pieces as I believe it goes without saying that they are  both damaging.

Loud Hands Launch Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iVektXsNRI

As you may notice, the IndiGoGo campaign has officially exceeded the goal. However, that does not mean that more support isn’t needed. The original goal was set to meet the cost of the Loud Hands Anthology (submission guidelines). That means the Anthology will be made! This is great, but Loud Hands was never meant to stop there.

Check out what your donations will do past this:

Benchmark 1: $15,000 “About us, without us”

 

“About us, without us” is a video about the Autistic community and our place in the conversation around eugenics and the prevention of autism. If we make the $15,000 benchmark, we’ll be able to pay for Julia to go on the road and collect interviews and footage, and cover production, editing, and initial distribution costs.

 

Benchmark 2: $20,000 “Welcome to the Autistic community”

 

• With these funds, we can rush website development and have the Loud Hands project website complete, fully accessible, and ready to launch on April 2, 2012–Autism Acceptance Day.
• Use the website to commence the development of materials tailored to all ages and abilities explaining autism and welcoming the autistic person to the community.
• Initially, this will take the form of a letter drive, blog carnival, and pamphlet-design competition, with ongoing further refinement and eventual publication of materials.

 

Benchmark 3: $25,000: Connecting to Community Together

 

To begin, we will produce a DVD incorporating video and written content from across the history of the Autistic community, establishing our historical context. Then, to explore the state of the movement today, we will use the funds raised to establish a Conference Scholarship fund for Autistic self-advocates to use to attend Autistic and disability rights related conferences and events connecting to the larger theme of disability culture. Scholarship recipients will participate in a second video documenting Autistic community and culture.

I’m rather excited about all of this. (And not just because I’m not responsible for any of it. ) We have long needed a way to show what and who the Autistic community is. To define who we are. Loud Hands is meant to be just that. Not only that, but a way of introduction for those who come after. I’m extremely excited and I look forward to what’s to come.

—–

What are we teaching Autistic kids, preteens, teens and young adults today?

1. Autistic people are very literal minded.

2. Autistic people see things in black-or-white.

The Attwood blog got a lot of response, some of which criticized me for being “too literal” and seeing things as too “black-or-white.” I get the impression most of these people did not read my commentary after the transcription (Thank you, nicocoer, for stating this fact.). If they had, most would see that I wasn’t upset at the PYSCHOLOGICAL and CULTURAL and SOCIOLOGICAL “phenomenon” that children pick up characteristics of those they were around, but how that notion was presented. So was I being literal when quoting “Asperger’s Syndrome is infectious”? No, but that doesn’t mean that rhetoric doesn’t *hurt* Autistic people, and in this particular case, Autistic parents.

As for black-and-white thinking, apparently you can’t think a notion of human conditioning, persay, is perfectly ok while thinking rhetoric to present it is wrong without being called a “black and white” thinker. Rhetoric says more than a message at times.

3. All Autistic people have sensory issues they need to work around.

The phrase here that’s a total myth is “work around.” Yes, all Autistic people have sensory issues, but sometimes we need to find a way to work THROUGH them. Around is an avoidance strategy that can work for some things and not for others.

Compare and contrast: 2009 piece on an Autistic couple and 2011 piece on an Autistic couple

Lindsey and Dave are awesome people (They also have a new NPR interview that’s not nearly as thorough as the 2009 piece.). I have yet to meet Kirsten, but have met Jack, and he seemed like a nice person. However, you can see the differences in their relationships and how they “cope.” I’m not going to get into the other issues with the 2011 piece, including the theory of mind and ableist actions of the ex-boyfriend.

However, you can see how both relationships seemingly “work.” Jack and Kirsten come from a younger generation of Autistics where they have been taught to avoid their sensory issues. Lindsey and Dave, from the slightly older generation, that work together to find solutions to their sensory issues.

As a married woman, I know my husband loves giving me light touch. I tolerate it because I know it makes him feel good. I let him know if it’s hurting any particular day (usually when I’m in overload/overwhelmed mode). I know my husband prefers noise around him, so if I cannot concentrate, I will go to a different room to do my work. At the same time, when I need it, he will take care of the kids for me to decompress and will give me deep pressure when I need it. These are work throughs, not work arounds of daily sensory challenges. (Feel free to say I’m nitpicking on the terminology.)

4. Autistic people have a hard time gaining and keeping friendships.

Maintaining friendships when you’re the only one working to do so is going to be difficult on anyone. Friendships are not friendships without give and take. Friendships are another type of relationship and is ignored in modern “social skills training.”

A lot of social skills training revolves around scripted exchanges. Sit in on a elementary group speech session.. Is it really that customary during a turn taking game for the next person to ask for the (example) dice each and every time it’s their turn? Is it really “normal” for the prior person to not give the dice until the question is asked?

When you see someone, anyone, do you always walk up and say “Hello ____. How are you today?” Would you do that every single time you saw that person? Does this help gain and maintain a relationship with that person?

In short: NO!

Yet, this is what social skills training works on (there are flavors that work on more like MGW’s Social Thinking and Jed Baker’s program). It doesn’t work on gaining or maintaining relationships.. It works on normalization of communication which is not the overall issue at hand. (BTW, I prefer Baker’s approach because it equally takes into the account the NT peers social skills as well as the ASD child’s skills. MGW is a good program if you have a good practitioner for people who struggle with reading emotions.)

—-

You bundle this together with parents who want their children in a segregated classroom. What you get is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You teach a child for so long that what they say is “wrong”, that they are black-and-white, literal thinkers, with “mindblindness”, what you are going to get are adults who cannot work in a typical environment and must be sequestered to maintain a job.. you’re going to get adults who cannot maintain relationships.. you’re going to get adults who believe so deeply in what they’ve been told that they cannot escape a literal, black-and-white, mindblind mindset.

We are dooming a whole generation to failure, in a sense, by perpetuating these “truths.” And so, I do fear for the next generation that will be going into adulthood because they are not being given the skills to get support and accommodation to meet their needs. They are being spoon-fed the lie that they will never work or live in the community, will never find love, and will have to rely on “the government” for their needs.

Tony Attwood has rarely been a good proponent of Autistic adults being in relationships with his giving credence to the “Cassandra Phenomenon”. Or by his distinctive choice to not leave the FAAAS advisory board. Or many of the other things that have been said about us in relationships.

However, in the link that was shared today on my Facebook stream, Attwood has done something that damages not just Autistic adults in relationships, but in parent roles, especially the men among us.

Oo-oh. Yes, Al.
(question by Al was whether children could exhibit AS if their parents are AS, but not have AS themselves.)
You’re spot on there.

Um.. Asperger’s Syndrome is infectious. The more you live with or work with Aspie people, the more Aspie you become. *chuckles*
So… to a certain extent in the family, it’s a survival mechanism of the neurotypicals. ’cause quite often the Asperger’s characteristics, especially in a father, can be the dominant force in the family. And sometimes you have to fall into line and you have to adopt the same pattern of less social life, rigidities, and those sorts of things to survive. Now, what we find is, though, that when the children go and visit other families with their friends, um, they say, “Wow. This family is totally different. There is a different atmosphere. There is a very different routine. I feel quite comfortable here.”

That is something I did in my childhood, um, I would visit other families and my mother would say “Anthony, you’ll wear your welcome.” And I didn’t know because I wanted to be in a normal family.

So, um, in some ways, I think what you have is someone who can be different and true to their neurotypical self at school and, um, at other people’s homes. But when they go into the Aspie household, they almost put the Aspie mask on to succeed in that environment.

So we talk about those with Asperger’s Syndrome faking it in a way and putting on a mask. Then the children in that environment may also do the same to be able to create an atmosphere at home of cohesion to accommodate the Aspie characteristics. So very interesting question.

I’m sure that I don’t need to add anything here, but I will anyways. The idea that it’s a survival skill for children of Autistic parents to “act Aspie” is a poor characterization at best. Children will undoubtedly pick up characeterstics from their parents by nature. However, using the term SURVIVAL SKILL means that they cannot survive without picking up those characteristics.

Not to mention, it’s quite possible to have many of those characteristics innate in the child of an Autistic parent due solely on genetics. It works in reverse as well, or else you wouldn’t have Broad Autism Phenotype for parents who exhibit some traits but are not Autistic themselves.

Also to note, a lot of children crave to be at others home not because of having an abnormal household, but due to the fact that it is something different from their norm. My dad was an alcoholic, so I often preferred to be at someone else’s home. HOWEVER, the same can be said of friends of mine, my brother and sister who lived in typical households and came over to ours.

And while my quote from above can be taken in many different directions, and not even necessarily to how it was used, the fact remains that Mr. Attwood chose to use that statement and others to suggest that our “behaviors” rub off on others.

I can think of other ways that this is damaging, but I’d be able to go on for hours if I were to post all of them. Please feel free to comment. (And always remember, I reserve the right not to post your comments if I feel they are inflammatory due to this being a safe environment for those of us who live with these fallacies daily.)

***If you catch a mistake in my transcription, I do apologize, just let me know!

——————-

Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics: Narrative Symposium: Parenting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders During the Transition to Adulthood

Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics

A Journal of Qualitative Research

Edited by Kelly Dineen, JD, RN & Margaret Bultas, PhD, RN, CPNPPC

Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics will publish an issue devoted to personal stories of parenting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) during the transition to adulthood. The stories should give readers a sense of what parents find rewarding as well as challenging during this time. Stories about any aspect of the transition are welcome, ranging from navigating the health system to romantic relationships. We want your true, personal stories in a form that is interesting and easy to read. In writing your story, you might want to think about:

• How did available supports or services change during the transition period to adulthood?
• Do you think the transition to adulthood has been affected by your child’s level of functioning or other health problems?
• What do you or your child disclose to others about their disability?
• What advice would you give to parents of younger children with ASDs about the transition?
• Did you obtain formal decision making authority (e.g. guardianship, conservatorship, power of attorney) for your child when they turned 18? Why or why not?
• What are the most surprising issues you encounter now?
• What do you think is important to share with others about the transition to adulthood for individuals with ASDs and their parents?

You do not need to address these questions-write on the issues that you think are most important to share with others. You do not need to be a writer, just tell your story in your own words. We plan to publish 10 to 12 brief stories (800 – 2000 words) on this topic. Additional stories may be published as online‐only supplemental material. We also publish two commentary articles that discuss the stories in the journal.

If you are interested in submitting a story, we ask you first to submit a 300‐word proposal-a short description of the story you want to tell. Please include a statement about 1) your relationship to your child or children (mother, father, other parenting role), 2) your child’s diagnosis (e.g. PDD‐NOS, Autism, Asperger Disorder), 3) the age of your child now and the age at diagnosis or treatment for symptoms, 4) the main issues you propose to address.

Inquiries or proposals should be sent to the editorial office via email: narrativebioethics@gmail.com.

We will give preference to story proposals received by Jan 2nd, 2012.

For more information about the journal Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics, the guidelines for authors, and privacy policies, visit our webpage with Johns Hopkins University Press at:

http://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/narrative_inquiry_in_bioethics/guidelines.html

Every issue of Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics will be available electronically to over 1,000 institutional subscribers via ProjectMUSE.

——-

This is a conglomeration of thought based on several things I have read and conversations I’ve had recently, and quite honestly, for the past few years. Kassiane‘s blog post was repeated on TPGA and speaks about self-advocacy and autonomy even at a young age. Laurent Mottron’s commentary in Nature has been widely circulated with a quote from Dr. Mottron stating

As a clinician, I also know all too well that autism is a disability that can make daily activities difficult. One out of ten autistics cannot speak, nine out of ten have no regular job and four out of five autistic adults are still dependent on their parents. Most face the harsh consequences of living in a world that has not been constructed around their priorities and interests.

**bold emphasis is my addition

A recent conversation with a person discussing ASANs Navigating College handbook lead to talking about how to get something similar going for parents to help their child be more independent in preparation for transition. Then there are my continual lingering thoughts about nonPariel, which in my opinion is nothing more than a day hab, sheltered workshop with plans to include an onsite group home/institution for those considered by those who created it to be “high functioning.” If you’re wondering what all of these have in common, prepare to be enlightened.

First I will start with the statistics that Dr. Mottron said. 80% of all Autistic people are still dependent on their parents. I’m sad to say, I’ve got anecdotal evidence of the same.

Then on to nonPareil which was created by parents who were worried about their children’s futures. They don’t expect them to have hopes for independence so started a program directed to where they will be at transition age.

Next is the discussion about a guide for parents to help create independence. So many parents realize their 17 yr old is about to be 18, and adult and they scamper to find what they can do to help their child. This is a discussion I’ve had with more than one person over several years.

Last is Kassiane’s blog post about showing autonomy to a young boy 9-10 yrs old. How he was never shown that, which is not that uncommon.

I worked for a company into this April where preteens and teens with “HFA and AS” got together for social activities twice a month. So many times, parents said their children couldn’t be trusted to help cook. One boy even hit himself in the face when he was upset with himself and people let him use that it was a part of his condition.

What is this all getting to? Are you a parent that is helping your child be independent or are you standing in their way? If your child is in middle or high school, are they allowed to make mistakes like their peers are? If your child is in elementary school, are your children allowed to make any of their own food?

Do your children have responsibilities that they must do? And how about entrusting them with money? If your child is young, does he have to put the dishes in the dishwasher? If your child is older, does he know how to do his own laundry?

These are all life skills that really build onto each other. So when I hear a parent has waited until their child is 15, 16, 17 to ask “What does my child need for transition?” I always think that the parent has already waited too long. When parents say their child can’t do something, I always ask why. If it’s maturity, then what are you doing to increase his/her maturity?

Like I’ve said before, we use ChorePad HD to help with all sorts of skills. But it doesn’t serve just as a reward system. There’s saving and practicing and growth to learn new things. Daniel, who most would think couldn’t grasp the delayed-reward system, does.

So why not try it with your child? Even if you don’t have an iPad, you can go pick up tickets at the dollar store (Dollar Tree has some). Like those older carnival style tickets. And you get to give tickets for things you want to praise, and remove (if your child is ready) for things that were harmful or disrespectful. It’s the same idea. They can save up to something large while still spending for small things, like 30 min on games/the computer. (A good way to recoup those tickets is adding a goal of “No protest getting off electronics which teaches another skill. And make sure you have a timer that they can read!)

If this sounds preachy, I apologize. But part of having a self-advocating, autonomous adult is allowing them to make their own mistakes, teaching them skills to increase their independence and allowing them to make their own decisions.

What I have lived in the year since then has shown me something new. Resilience.

After a car accident that’s left me crawled up in bed for days… after a move into an apartment… after failed attempts to keep my boys in ‘their’ school… after joining the employed ranks at ASAN… I have continued to drive forward.

For those that know me, it’s pretty plain to see that I’m completely overwhelmed, overworked and over-extended. To those who just take a glance, I appear together, thriving and tenacious. The truth is, I’m both. I must be both. I have a drive and need to be the together, thriving tenacious person, but it will always leave me overwhelmed, overworked and over-extended.

Those who see me as the together don’t question what I’m doing it all for. Those who see me over-extended don’t question what I’m doing it all for. There is a future for us all, but only if people DO over-extend themselves. My therapist says it’s because I’m a Type-A personality, that I have unrealistic expectations of myself. And she is completely correct.

But I ask those who do doubt why someone like me, who really cannot “handle it” all, who needs to take 30 minutes of break time for every 10 minutes of work, would continue to persevere. Why would I have these unrealistic expectations for myself and for humanity as a whole? Because if I don’t, I’m bound to sell myself short. And you would be bound to sell me short. And then my children would be bound to a life of never dreaming and never rising above.

I do it for me, those like me and for those who will come after. Because if I won’t do it, who will? The person that can handle it? That only teaches the disabled and Autistics that they can never or will rise above.

This past year, I have seen many struggles… But I have also seen that I can get through them, with a lot of support… with a lot of effort… and some very high, unreachable expectations.

Tomorrow is Autism Awareness Day.

Next week the boys have their birthdays.

This month is supposed to be devoted to Autism.

After today, I realize more than ever the need for accommodations for Autistic children and adults. I observed my Stephen at school. I had my meeting for Daniel’s upcoming IEP meeting this afternoon. My mind however kept going back to this Wandering code. To be honest, it’s because of the accommodations, services and goals both the boys need.

Daniel is your “classic” wanderer. The one that will walk out of the classroom. The one that will bolt outside. The one you have to stay close to, and even hold his hand when he’s in “that mood.” Stephen is your “typical” wanderer. The one that walks around the classroom. The one that sees something shiny and goes to it. The one that needs to be reminded to sit down. He will bolt too, but always within safety and always for attention as he loves the chase.

At soccer, people consider Stephen to be our runner. At school, people consider Daniel to be our runner. They are both right. Stephen can run like the wind when he’s playing. Daniel runs faster than the wind when he’s escaping a situation. To anyone who watches, they just both look like runners, wanderers, elopers. Honestly, they both have a function in the behavior. The place it diverges is that one runs safely, and the other dangerously.

So what is this getting at? Well, earlier this week, a mother read my post to the Wandering Code and we had an argument. This happens and I finally stopped replying. But one of the things she said made me think.

what the CDC seems to see is easier access to funding specifically FOR research and education….. Coming up with conclusions is the whole idea but that doesn’t happen without funding and education. Funding and education, especially in the current service-slashing environment, doesn’t happen without certain paperwork, definitions and stamps of approval.

The reason so many want this code is for funding. There’s not enough funding to go around. I think of particular interest is this page on IACC website. We see how much funding there was in 2008. (Sorry, don’t see anything more recent.) 37% of all research dollars go to finding a cause and cure for Autism. Yes, I realize 24% goes to interventions and treatments. But to look closer, only 5% goes to studying Autistic adults? My point is, if you are worried about where research dollars are going to come from, try speaking at the IACC about the fact that you need help with your child now. That funding cause and cure research over helping those here and now is foolish.

A diagnostic code isn’t going to change where the funding comes from. You will still be fighting over that same 24%. Then what? There are interventions for children that could help your child communicate. There are interventions that can help your child be more independent. There are interventions that can help your child lead productive lives as adults. Do you want to take away all those opportunities for your child? The child a few years younger? Or would you rather speak up now and get more research funds to go to helping your child?

Being a proud supporter of ASAN, as well as having a chapter, you can guess which side I support. While I have many real life friends that are members or part of NAA, this is yet another area that we will have to agree to disagree (as there are numerous other areas that we do so as well). But yesterday I read a blog where it questions our sincerity in caring for the “lower functioning” “less able” on the Spectrum. So here I want to make it clear that I personally VERY much care.

Daniel is a wanderer. We have thought in the past that we may have to get an Autism dog to help curb that, but so far we have not needed to. We put a double deadbolt lock on our front door. We have had him walk out the front door, around the corner, and into a grocery store. We have had him wander into traffic. Believe me when I say I CARE about anything that has to do with children that wander. It is something we have to prepare for everywhere we go, any place we live or visit. Because of our due diligence, we haven’t had him escape in over a year now.

At the same time, I find it DEEPLY disturbing that anyone would want to put the diagnostic label of wandering onto anyone. Wandering is not a diagnosis, it is a behavior. If it is approved, this would be the first time I’ve EVER seen an Autistic behavior listed as a DIAGNOSIS. If this Autistic behavior is listed as a diagnosis, are there any other Autistic behaviors that would be listed next? To me, that alone makes it not worth it to do.

As well, I do not see how it can possibly help first responders when there are other measures (Mason Alert anyone?) that do not require a new DIAGNOSIS to achieve the same effect. Research to me is a moot point as the reason for wandering is as varied as any other behavioral response. Daniel is a wanderer when he’s very upset. He’ll take off running when he’s flustered or frustrated. Other times he’ll stomp off and then open the door and walk out. It has happened. This is because he’s flustered or frustrated.

What can we do to help him not wander? Recognize when he gets flustered or frustrated, help him communicate how he’s feeling, and help him calm down. Other children, some do it because of an attraction to something. If they don’t have a way to communicate, then sometimes they will wander off. The long or short of it, giving someone the ability to communicate their needs, understand their feelings, and then giving them the tools to support their needs is what needs to happen. Do you need a separate diagnosis for that?

If it’s about getting GPS tracking for your child, what are you doing to PREVENT wandering? There are two key pieces to wandering prevention and response. The GPS device is not nearly enough without a good proactive prevention plan.

What happens to these children that then become adults with this Wandering label? And do we need a diagnostic label BEFORE deciding what’s to happen? I know that they want to research it, but research should ALWAYS come before labeling. The end results of this label are just NOT clear and until they are, we SHOULD NOT diagnose thousands of children and adults.

Edited for my glaring mistake. (Reversed names)

I felt it was needed to place that disclaimer at the top as I know the title could lead one to believe I support them. I went for the sole purpose of planting the seed of doubt in parents who may have been on the fence. I had 3 invites on Facebook to go, so I took the opportunity even if it meant my sanity (lol, just kidding!).

Dan Olmstead started by talking about Occam’s Razor. For those that don’t know, Occam’s Razor:

is a principle which generally recommends selecting the competing hypothesis that makes the fewest new assumptions, when the hypotheses are equal in other respects.

OR

simplified:

Of two equivalent theories or explanations, all other things being equal, the simpler one is to be preferred.

To put it short and succinctly, they believe that mercury is the simpler explanation. I don’t think they read the actual principle, as you will see later on in this piece. They compare Autism to Crop Circles to make their point of Occam’s Razor. That because genetics is complicated *They showed a slide of the complexities of genetic research into Autism* that it is more like the theory that Aliens created the Crop Circles. However, they equate Vaccines and Mercury to the two drunk guys in a truck creating them. (Note: I thought that was pretty funny that they called themselves two drunk guys.)

They then went into the fact that Kanner was the first case studies. They gave two theories why these were the first case studies:

1. That Kanner was such a genius that he finally recognized the disorder.
2. That Kanner was witnessing the first ever Autistics.

They, naturally, would believe the second. However, I propose a third theory. That there was literature on the subject dating into the 19th century which did in fact show Autism, but with no actual label placed on the characteristics. (Note: Again. They didn’t read the actual principle of Occam’s Razor that the least assumptions is the accepted one.) They go on to state that by the 1930s there had been in all of human existance been 100 billion people roughly. That if there were that many people, then surely we would have seen the 1 billion some-odd Autistics. (Hrm.. Could it be that before 1900 that life expectancy was less than 40 yrs of age? Or that many of the disabled were put into institutions? Or they went on to have happy adulthoods like happens even today?)

When it came down to it, they didn’t just blame vaccines, but mercury in any form. They started out explaining mercury and arsenic as treatments for syphilis. Then said how the researchers into syphilis treatments went to making biological weapons during WWI. Then when the war was done, that’s when they came out with thimerasol and ethyl mercury that was used as an antifungal in plants and trees. I think we all see where this is going. Mercury was put into antifungal form for crops and lumber, then of course, thimerasol in the first inoculations.

They then showed us how 8 of the Kanner 11 had been exposed to the mercury. Most of it is pure conjecture, but I do agree that the two parents that worked with the antifungal powder (one they can prove researched it, which is more than they could say for the others) could have easily brought it home. But this assumes of course that the first 11 were the first 11 in existance. The whole basis of their book and argument (as said by them!)

They then went into incidence rates rising. Lots of charts to show when incidence rates rose. Some more to talk about prevalence with special interest spent with Brick Township, NJ. It was all rather boring by this point to me. Same old arguments.

The Q&A

(This was a question during the end of the presentation and not part of the actual Q&A.)

Person 1: “Didn’t they take thimerasol out of vaccines?”

Blaxill: “No! It’s still in the flu vaccine which is given to pregnant mothers and babies as young as 6 mos.”

Me: “That’s not true. The one before age 2 does not contain thimerasol.”

Blaxill: “Yes it does.”

Me: “No it doesn’t.”

Person 2-5: “<I’m feeding your ego>

All the while, I have my hand raised. Blaxill keeps pausing at it, then turning to call on someone else. Eventually, Olmstead sees my hand and asks me. Sadly, I only got two questions in, but they were:

1. How can you say there was no Autism prior to Kanner when Dr. Down (of Down’s syndrome fame, 19th century) wrote about very distinct Autism characteristics?

• There may have been characteristics, but you can’t say that it was Autism because they don’t present particular cases.
• Europe was in the industrial revolution and this was the first time Down’s was reported.
• It might have been Fragile X and comes from the same time.

(Basically, just because it looks like Autism, smells like Autism, and quacks like Autism doesn’t mean it’s Autism. It could have been Down’s and Fragile X babies showing Autism characteristics. And it’s quite possible that Down’s and Fragile X started because of Europe’s introduction to the industrial revolution.)

2. Can you turn it to slide #26? Which one is it? You had numbers, can you switch it? Describe it and we’ll know what you’re talking about. The one with prevalence from around 1950 to present day. Yes? (Me getting annoyed that he wouldn’t switch it for those WITHOUT photographic/cinematic memory!) What do you say is the reason for the rates changing? I noticed the incidence rose after DSM revisions (~1984 and ~1995).

No. We went with current DSM criteria. (Well how are we supposed to know that if you refuse to go back to the slide and show us your data?)

At this point, he cut me off saying he needed to get to other people’s questions. I had several other questions:

1.  What is your explanation for the rate “increasing” even with no thimerasol?

2. What do you think of the survey out of England that shows rate of Autism in Adult Men to be roughly 1%? (Not including anyone who had mental health or were institutionalized)

3. What do you think you’re doing by saying Autism is either defective or sick? What do you think how you affect those on the Spectrum by characterizing it like that?

4. Why do you think that Autism is just seen as “quirky” and “antisocial” adults? Do you realize there’s a lot of us who weren’t diagnosed until adulthood who are significantly disabled?

5. What’s your explanation for the same data being shown in Asperger’s studies as Kanner’s studies done roughly at the same time? Or the text that shows Asperger describing Autism in the early 1920s?

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The dinner afterwards ended up me talking with Olmstead, a close acquaintance and another “Warrior Mom”. I finally got some of them to concede that at least in my family, it does seem to be genetic. Olmstead asked what my dad did, I can only assume to figure out how I became AS and my brother ASD.

I didn’t get home until 11am. I couldn’t calm down until 1am. And I woke up at 7am. While that’s plenty early for most, it’s not for me. So I’m leaving you all here. Hope you enjoy my wrap up of last evening.