Transgender issues & Special Needs Children

[spongedog]

My child has special needs and I belong to various special needs groups. They are very supportive but over time each group takes a stance on various matters (eg Autism - no ABA support). On one group recently a parent posted asking for support in dealing with a child who wishes to be the opposite gender and asking for support. I posted (after other posters with links to Mermaids etc) the link to the Transgender Trend website. There have been many posts decrying what Transgender Trend stand for and stating that the posters dont believe it is supportive to families where a child is trans. I had stated that TT are supportive of children, young people and families being given the right information and not being rushed into life changing decisions such as taking drugs with little research or offered surgery.

I can nitpick each separate point but I dont feel that is a good route to go. Personally I dont like the TT website - I am not sure it sells itself that well to disbelievers. Any thoughts on next steps? I dont wish to alienate other families, but gosh the mindset is deep on this.

Have you looked at Bayswater bayswatersupport.org.uk/ or Our Duty ourduty.group/

As far as I am aware they are support groups for parents of gender questioning children, who don't want their children to rush into transition, although I confess I have not looked particularly closely at either group's website.

Sorry this post isnt for my Dc - no gender issues there. Its about how to deal with the push back about TT - push back that I have experienced before from other SEN parents.

It would be worth mentioning the judgment in the Keira Bell case. Didn't the judges express surprise at the Tavistock's lack of records relating to autistic kids coming through their doors?

I was perhaps more subtle. I just said that TT were "very supportive of children, young people and families being given the right information and not being rushed into life changing decisions such as taking drugs with little research or offered surgery. This is the view as well of the UK Courts. Information and facts are very important."

Parents of children with special needs have a rough time anyway so I really wont go in critically. But a new post has provided a link/article from an organisation called the Good Law Project - weirdly enough fairly close to where I live. Apparently as I like facts that's good enough.

They've been advertising for Board members - sadly closed today. They mention in their article they were advised by their "Trans Advisory Group". I will research further.

I've had this reaction before - everytime I post a link to TT with a mild comment - people react adversely.

The UK’s feminists have tried to bring evidence to this. If your group are resistant to this, you could link to a Trans person who nearly lost everything trying to protect children (in a law suit brought by Mermaid’s Helen Islan.) mirandayardley.com/en/common-threads-and-narratives-of-transgender-children-and-what-this-means-for-our-lesbian-and-gay-populations/

Children with special needs are particularly at risk from trans ideology as they can be more easily led. However, I personally find special needs groups to have a particular narrative/group think and to be resistant to any alternative narrative. The group think seems to centre on medicalisation/diagnosis and how professionals don't listen and get in the way of diagnosis/treatment. Mental health is heavily medicalised. There seems to be huge resistance to treating the child as a person who has understandable reactions to the predicament they are in due to having special needs. It's all about getting kids on meds and getting them 'treatment'. It's very sad. I personally don't bother any more trying to offer an alternative perspective, as I have repeatedly found it not to be welcome. I would focus on your own child and leave others to go the path they choose.

I would prioritise damage limitation. They are better off sticking with the NHS than getting entrenched in a particular view and then going to someone selling pills on the internet, or self-help groups where the only self being helped is the facilitator... so I would just send them the NHS page on gender dysphoria in children. You might not agree with everything in it but if they are already half way down the trans child narrative, neither will they, and it may at least keep them more open to the idea of different outcomes. www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/think-your-child-might-be-trans-or-non-binary/

I have an ASD child and this podcast was interesting, there’s an autism episode and ADHD episode - gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm

It not overtly gender critical, taking a more neutral but logical approach which is sympathetic. I suspect they are holding their tongues on some issues to be more friendly to non GC listeners. Directly being critical doesn’t work to bring people around on this topic.

Plus autistic kids often have parents with autism or autistic traits, such as black and white thinking and being unable to understand the motivations of others - eg people taking advantage of the trans ideology.

Also worth keeping in mind that a parent of a SEN child may also have a similar need, eg ASD or ADHD. I say this as a parent of a SEN child and certainly seems the case in the SEN groups I am in. There is often quite an aggressive tone to groups as I think many struggle with nuances with the written word as well as being in fight mode most of the time dealing with everything.

The point being, certainly with ASD, you are unlikely to change their POV with links. I find this, not with issues of transgender as when has come up it is ‘fair accompli’ mentioned as an aside. So many teen girls with ASD wanting to transition.

I worry more when they invite young teens to join ASD adult LGBT groups. This isn’t wise for anyone. Adults need their space and teens need theirs.

I presume you saw this from TT OP?

twitter.com/Transgendertrd/status/1399286349392400385