BBC article re French treatment of ASD

[Ben10NeverAgain]

here

This really stuck out for me

"Today only 20% of autistic children in France are in school, and often only part-time. The rest are either in psychiatric hospitals, or in medico-social centres, or living at home - or in Belgium," says Sajidi.

as well as this :(

In its recent report, the ministry also effectively outlawed a practice known as "packing" where autistic children are wrapped in damp cloths in order to reconnect with their bodies. Campaigners say the treatment is both barbaric and ineffective.

Just took a look :(

One good thing is that the French parents are now travelling to belgium or not listening and seeking further advice I suppose.

That's horrific :(

The 'refrigerator mother' theory still has some currency here though :( I was interrogated regarding DS's birth, early days, how we bonded, whether I had PND etc etc during his assessment process only a few years ago...

It's awful, really sad.

Saying that, I agree with the last two posters - where do the BBC get the idea that ABA/VBA is mainstream here or that all children here are diagnosed early? Shame the article isn't open for comments it's made me quite cross.

I think the refridgerator mum theory is still alive here too. One of the reasons the NHS paed told us DS couldn't possibly have autism was because "he really loves his mummy". He was being very affectionate to me during the appointment, in a slightly over intense way I thought (gritting teeth, slightly crazed look) but he completely ignored that. Autistic children don't love their mums according to the checklist he was ticking off.