To be massively unimpressed by the Autism Speaks adverts

[CommunistLegoOoOoBloc]

Come on, MN. Why are you displaying adverts from such a hateful, ignorant organisation? One that advocates a cure, eugenics, is hated by so many people on the autism spectrum and fervently believes in the anti-vax movement?

Urgh.

JustAnother just branding medical issues as Autism rather than identifying them and helping the kid is not helpful. Let's just then go and hide in a cave and say fuck it its autism!

JustAnother just branding medical issues as Autism rather than identifying them and helping the kid is not helpful. Let's just then go and hide in a cave and say fuck it its autism!

??

www.autism-watch.org/about/bio2.shtml

fanjo I've told you I agree about chelation but my nephew wasn't chelated and he's doing amazing. That's why I mentioned my sis, not sure where the confusion is and why people are so stuck with chelation and bleach

WhereTheFuckIsElsa

Have you stepped into the thread, started talking about something else and expected the other posters to suddenly know what you are talking about.

That's why I mentioned my sis, not sure where the confusion is and why people are so stuck with chelation and bleach

Becuase that's what we were talking about. that's what you replied to.

Fanjo that's your opinion that's how you see autism.

Fanjo the cave comment wasn't about our asd kids it was about our mentality- pls re read my post

Fanjo that's your opinion that's how you see autism.

And this was my response to your comment about allergy - just to put things straight

Do you mean our mentality at accepting ourselves and our children for being who we/they are?
It sounds like you're criticising those of us who accept autism, is that what you mean?

It's naive to think that these kids have no hope

So not being able to be "cured" = no hope? Yes, treat other conditions the kid has, whether thyroid, (genuine) mineral deficiency, gut infections, (genuine) coeliac disease or lactose intolerance. Obviously. Just like you would for any other kid. (Doesn't mean any of them cure autism, though. And you were replying to a comment about chelation, which is harmful and ineffective.) But the fact that those things won't cure their autism doesn't mean the child has no hope.

I have three children with autism, the youngest I cannot answer for, but if my older two could take a hypothetical pill that made them no longer autistic they would.
Asd causes them so much daily struggles, on a good day we see glimpses what life would have been like for them then without asd.
It is just as acceptable for individuals to hate their asd as it is for others to embrace it.

I'd like to not be autistic too. I also wish I wasn't a shortarse. But I'm not going to get any taller so I have to make the best of what I'm given. I'm not going to go and get painful and scarring leg-lengthening surgery to give me an extra couple of inches.

Someone being 'nearly NT' shouldn't be an aim, if we're a truly accepting society that aims to celebrate and enjoy the differences of others. Yeah, you want a child to be happy, but on their terms. Not yours.

I know people who have taken their children with lifelong disabilities to religious/medical centre - these places claim to be able to cure all disabilities (including life long genetic conditions like Downs Syndrome and Fragile X). A friend once told me that I could cure my son's speech disorder with drops of almond oil given at night.....there are all sorts of beliefs in the world, and yes it is people's choice whether they want to subscribe to those beliefs.

However, I do not think that major influential charities (who raise millions for research, and who advise and raise awareness to the public and government bodies) should be advocating unscientifically proven 'cures'.

And here on mumsnet, I think there is very good reason to object to advertising autism speaks.

ASC. Autistic Spectrum Condition. Not ASD Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This is what I prefer.
Elsa, pleased your nephew has help with his other issues. Sad that his Autism and presumably the coping strategies put in place are not being acknowledged. He either has an ASC or he doesn't. If he does it will be coping strategies that are enabling him.
I'd be interested to know how old he is.

Cloud I mean the mentality and attitude against someone not agreeing 100% against what's been said in this thread. Yes autism speaks is shit based on the clip but now there are posts against people who are trying to find answers for their kids issues. If someone wants to accept a situation I respect it, but shutting down anything another parent is trying to do for the sake of their kids is bloody offensive .

You don't accept it, you don't believe it its fine, doesn't meant you re right and I'm wrong

Dawn he's now 5

There's a difference between finding a method that helps your child learn to communicate their wants, beliefs, pain, happiness etc (i.e. something that benefits them, allows them to control their own environment better etc) and wanting to reduce their behaviours so that they fit better into the NT world (i.e. benefitting you / their teacher / general gawpers)

WhereTheFuckIsElsa

You said your sister used the chelation technique to sure you nephews autism, this is dangerous, then you back tracked.

You have to see why people objected when you first said this?

he's pretty much NT
No he's not. He's just better at masking because he's learnt that he isn't accepted for who he is.

The problem is, there aren't any autism treatments that are proven to work.
Far easier for the autistic person to be accepted as they are, rather than try to cure them and in the meantime show your child that they're not good enough as they are. This leads to lifelong self esteem issues which can be very debilitating.

All children change and develop a lot from 3 to 5, autistic and not autistic, I'm not really sure it's soon enough to be heralding he's 'cured'. Supporting development is good, it's what we all strive to do as parents.