Reversing Bad Attitudes, Not Autism
In the past few weeks, I have written too many posts about violence against autistic persons and, in particular, autistic children, including the 4-year-old who was beaten unconscious last week by his father’s fiancé and 3-year old Katherine “Katie” McCarron. Katie McCarron’s killing by her mother, Dr. Karen McCarron, has touched off some impassioned exchanges. One recurring point made by the media is the “toll” on the parents of an autistic child. This is well-meant compassion that is better focused on the experiences of autistic persons. While my son Charlie has had more than his share of struggles in his academics and in his “behavior,” he is always the best boy I could have ever wished for. I love him unreservedly, as and who he is.
So I was not happy to see a Bay Area (California) news station touting a segment on Reversing Autism which will feature Raun Kaufman, the director of the Autism Treatment Center of America—-the Son-Rise or Options Institute:
The basis of the Son-Rise technique is to teach parents how to play with their child to build trust that leads to a transformation.
Kaufman’s parents were unwilling to accept his diagnosis so they developed the program … and it worked for their son.
It is not autism that we need to “reverse,” but out-of-date beliefs of autism as “hopeless,” “devastating,” and other fighting words. That would be a real transformation—-of society’s limited view of what autistic persons are and can be.
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POSTED IN: Autism Organizations, Family, Media, Stereotypes, Treatment
11 opinions for Reversing Bad Attitudes, Not Autism
Sharon
Jun 21, 2006 at 2:25 pm
I am so sick of this attitude. I believe autism is hereditary and maybe parts of the reasons I had a difficult time growing up. I learned to “fit in” but I was depressed. How many times did I hear my mother yell at me “What is WRONG with YOU?!” And as a mom I have heard myself start that phrase again but to catch myself and stop with “What is wrong?” Putting emphasis on the situation NOT the child.
What we need is to educate the public in how to work, live and love these kids & adults. And we need to help these kids & adults learn to live in this world.
Adaptive! Where you adapt the situation NOT the disability.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 21, 2006 at 3:56 pm
And the public has such a long way to go in “reversing” that it thinks!
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 21, 2006 at 4:11 pm
Update on the NBC segment courtesy of my mom: No kids shown, but parents giving hugs to Kaufman.
Laura Cottington
Jun 21, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Discovery Health Chanel featured “Son-Rise” on it’s “Medical Incredible” show this week featuring, yes…a child cured from autism.
David N. Andrews BA-status, PgCertSpEd (pending)
Jun 21, 2006 at 9:51 pm
“The basis of the Son-Rise technique is to teach parents how to play with their child to build trust that leads to a transformation.
Kaufman’s parents were unwilling to accept his diagnosis so they developed the program … and it worked for their son.”
So, by my reckoning, that means that - as far as they are concerned, he wasn’t autistic.
Which begs the question… WTF are they doing dealing with autism now??? Idiotic behaviour, I find…
Kassiane
Jun 21, 2006 at 10:37 pm
They deal with autism now because of MONEY. They charge a mint. Probably so they can get on TV and reach more folks to charge a mint…
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 22, 2006 at 5:51 am
Son-Rise seems to encourage parents to solicit funds—-
http://www.autismvox.com/raising-sums-for-son-rise/
Julia
Jun 22, 2006 at 7:32 pm
The “oh, no, autism is so devastating!” thing was the worst thing about Sam’s diagnosis. If there weren’t so much of that crap everywhere, I’d have been a lot happier than I was for a couple of years. And I might have been able to enjoy him more. (I really like him; I understand him better than I understand his younger brother!)
I think Sam having autism is one of the better things to have happened to me, not one of the worst. (And I’ve said it before, but I don’t know if I’ve said it here — the worst parenting nightmare I have lived through had absolutely nothing to do with my son having autism, or even with that son.)
Mike McCarron
Jun 23, 2006 at 6:04 am
Julia, your note here is beautifully stated, it is tightly wrapped in love. Our family shared your views.
I have had the “opportunity” to read more comments, letters, newspaper articles and “blog” postings than I ever thought possible. Strangely, they are more about people’s reaction to autism than about autism itself. There seems to be two major camps in the way in which people react to a family member with autism, bitterness or love.
When I see a letter from the “bitter” side of the world the writer never uses the child’s name, they try to de-personalize. They say things such as “I have a child with autism”; not my son, Bill or daughter Amanda. They are ashamed of the fact that their off-spring has a disability. It is their shame. These letters never use words like love, cherish, or enjoy. They are completely incapable of using the words beautiful and autistic in the same sentence to describe a son or daughter. That to me is a disability far more serious than autism. They are convinced that the world has treated “them” unfairly; no mention of the child. Nothing is good; the schools, the doctors, the therapists, the state programs; all are terrible because they have not fixed the problem. They want “the problem” out of their life.
The other camp is not selfish; they accept their sons and daughters with unconditional love. They use their names when referring to them. They revel in the accomplishments and beauty of their children. They regularly use the words enjoy, cherish and beautiful in the same sentence with autism when describing their children. They have accepted their children as they are and have become better people. Now when I read letters I count the number of times the words love, enjoy and stronger are used.
It seems people either get bitter or better depending upon their moral fiber and capacity to love, not autism or any other disability.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 23, 2006 at 7:51 am
Here’s to us all becoming better and certainly less bitter——being Charlie’s mother has always been a magical, wonderful and happy thing for me.
Even on the “bad” days. He’s always perfect.
muna
Oct 7, 2007 at 2:23 pm
hello i want some study about perants attituds to autism plz thanks
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