National Autistic Society and Mermaids [Title edited by MNHQ]

[GColdtimer]

My friend just posted this on Facebook this morning. She isn't on MN so I have her permission to share. She would really like more people, especially people with ASD or who have children with ASD, to write to NAS thanking them for their willingness to listen and their agreement that Mermaids is not reputable.

This is really great news so please can we keep this bumped and shared. Thank you.

If posters on the SEN board would like to share that would also be great (if appropriate).

Dear XXXX ,

Thank you for your feedback regarding the Gender and autism page on our website.

I’m writing to let you know that I’ve raised your concerns regarding Mermaids UK, one of the organisations we link to on our Gender and autism page, with a number of teams within the National Autistic Society. In light of the concerns raised in your message, and of other feedback that we have received, we have decided to remove all links to Mermaids UK from our website, while we take the time to consult with relevant professionals and to reconsider which organisations we wish to place links to on our website.

As such, our Web Team are working to remove all links to Mermaids UK from our website as soon as possible. Please do be aware, however, that, as we are currently in the process of updating our website to reflect our new branding and organisational identity, it may take a few days for this to be actioned.

Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, and I hope that you are satisfied with the actions we are taking in light of the concerns that you have raised.

Kind regards,

National Autistic Society

[Edited by MNHQ to remove personal info]

[I was diagnosed with autism at 4 years old. It’s a diagnosis that has been constantly rechecked throughout my life]

This contradicts what AC has previously written. They have said before that they found it odd that their Mother did not want a possible diagnosis of ASD explored when she wanted multiple other ailments/syndromes diagnosed.

AC was however diagnosed with another disorder in early childhood which is often a co morbid disorder for those on the autistic spectrum.

Thingybob

Interesting, thanks. I have read lots of conflicting stuff on that family.

Thought this on Fair Play for Women's site might be of interest

fairplayforwomen.com/jane/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

I see HQ looked at SpiritualLoves trolling posts in this thread and found them fine. So, disablism is utterly fine, but god forbid you call a man a man. I know they looked at them and deemed them fine, as they told me they had had a lot of reports and would look into the posts in question. Yet they still stand. I find that pretty disgusting tbh, but its pretty normal for MNHQ.

We have actually been outright told in the past that disblist posts are left to stand because disabled people or parents of disabled children should spend their time educating said disablist posters and then then they may stop being disablist!

Never sure whether its disablist or ableist..

To PersonWithAVulva

With respect, I can't find anywhere, anything which I have said as being disparaging towards anyone with a disability. In fact, the only comment which could be considered as insulting is those towards straight men, and the HQ did take them down.

If you let me know which posts I have made which do disparage disabled persons, then I will ask MNHQ to remove them myself, and will apologise for making them.

Personwithavulva - I find that scrolling works wonders. Don't get in the mud with a pig - you'll only get dirty and the pig will enjoy it.

Spirituallove
Thank you for dropping the subject of Dr Webberley and Mermaids.
For what it's worth I don't think you've been deliberately disablist towards anyone, you've just hit a very raw subject in an incentive way.
Sometimes it's hard to take a step back when you are emotional and not see dilibrate personal attacks.

My reason for posting here was because the original Post had made national news. Many of the replies to this thread came with the outdated notion that people cannot change their sex. These are beliefs which I, as a friend and supporter of the transgender community, take issue with. The way many have dealt with the subject has been insensitive, especially towards members of the trans community, of which is one of the most attacked in society today. Which is why the NAS has made the right decision in reversing the original snub.

But, I am very willing to accept any criticism for any personal attacks made by myself, if anyone can quote any. I strongly oppose any kind of attacks against anyone with any disability, and if anyone feels that I have been party to such, then I am more than happy to address such.

Spirituallove

I don't know how to break this to you, but people can't change sex. That's not an 'outdated notion', it's a scientific fact.

These are beliefs which I, as a friend and supporter of the transgender community, take issue with.

Here's the thing, a lot of transsexuals don't take issue with it because they understand the problem. The GRA needs discussion that's it, in it's current form it takes rights away from women, homosexuals and lots of other groups.
All people want is discussion. Look at this petition, look at the people who have signed it, do they look like they are against transgender people? TRANSSEXUALS HAVE SIGNED IT. www.ipetitions.com/petition/dear-stonewall-please-reconsider-your-approach

But here's the thing, this has nothing to do with why the NAS got rid of Mermaids, as you well know. That issue is about the use of a doctor who was illegally experimenting on children with an unregistered clinic. As you well know.

strongly oppose any kind of attacks against anyone with any disability

Then why have you repeatedly defended a doctor who has been found guilty of experimented on Autistic children?

Either you are 'oppose any kind of attacks against anyone with any disability' or you are not.

especially towards members of the trans community, of which is one of the most attacked in society today.

I think you'll find if you look up actual facts and figures Disability discrimination is.

According to you the process of the NAS removing a link to Mermaids was discrimination, but Mermaids being complicate in experimenting on vulnerable children wasn't....

Do you not see how your view is warped, how you might have a skewed idea of what discrimination is?

Spirituallove

You have told people they are transphobic for believing in scientific truth: people cannot change sex. You have obviously gut your own set of beliefs, which you’re entitled to. But calling people names like transphobic for not sharing that belief, which is all it is, is making personal attacks. Further, you have indeed made several ableist comments, on a subject that you just don’t know enough about at all. It is absolutely ableist to support a doctor, and organisation, that effectively experiment on children, and autistic children included. A doctor who has now been prosecuted for it.

Point of factual correction: trans are not the most attacked group in society. There is literally no evidence to support that.

What if it was an organisation which was linking to a doctor who was experimenting on transkids, ultering their brain to make them normal?

Would you get what was wrong then?
Surely if it's okay for autistic children it's okay for transchildren too, you wouldn't want that link removed would you?

Of course not, because you'd be a lying hypocrite if you did.

criminally convicted means she was found guilty, in a court of law.

Many of the replies to this thread came with the outdated notion that people cannot change their sex. These are beliefs which I, as a friend and supporter of the transgender community, take issue with.

My italics.

No person can change sex. Surgery can approximate the first and secondary sex characteristics but that's all it can do.

It's not a belief but a fact. Sex is not ideology but a fact.

I think the danger lies in the belief that a person can change sex. No doctor who cared for patient's well being and safety would actually say this to a patient.

Is there evidence of Dr Webberley experimenting on autistic children? I'm not sure hyperbole is helpful.

Spartacus, I hear you. But if you look at it without the bias of it having been normalized, Webberley's treatment is indeed experimental, as there are no long-term studies out there that would predict, whether her approach is in the best interest of the children, regarding side effects of the hormone treatment, suicide rates, depression rates, sexual contentment rates, outcomes of small genital SRSs...

Not even attempts to establish this knowledge by long-term studies involving control groups. The kids are guinea pigs, plain and simple. Even Ehrensaft, who does this type of stuff legally in the US, admits as much, even though she couches it in more pleasant terms.

Just be aware when making claims like 'experimenting on autistic children' that people raising questions are facing police/legal action.

Fine:

She illegally treated children who have autism with experimental drugs, using an unregistered online clinic.

People are facing police prosecution for questioning whether a convicted Doctor has treated autistic children? I’ve seen plenty of autistic people talking about it. If the figures are correct, re autism and transgenderism, what’s so outrageous about saying autistic children were directed to a doctor who has since been prosecuted for what is effectively experimenting on children? I’m confused at your point

So much more accurate.