Autism Vox

4 opinions for The Fastest-Growing Disability?

• S.L.
  Apr 21, 2008 at 12:00 am

  Sounds awfully similar to the line of how more kids are being diagnosed with autism than diabetes, cancer, etc. Another good phrase for raising money. I guess only time, and good science, will tell.

• Marcie
  Apr 21, 2008 at 9:02 am

  I hate to break people up into categories, as I don’t consider myself to be inherently different from other people on the spectrum. But the list of characterstics described is, of course, not accurate for “1 in 150″, since that number includes *all* autistics but the description given in the article will not apply to all on the spectrum. I worry about the kids who simply pass, but then don’t understand why noone understands them, including being punished in one form or another for being who they are.

• UNCDoc
  Apr 22, 2008 at 3:25 am

  I’m afraid that I have a great distrust for large fundraising organizations, because of the hideous number of stories of sky-high “overhead” and misappropriation of funding. Although portraying autism under a black/white label such as “developmental disability” certainly is an effective way to raise money, I take exception to having my child portrayed as some sort of victim. My goodness, don’t we have enough of those already? I have got to tell you, he is one of the greatest joys in my life; a life filled to the brim with joy and grace. He is who he is, and he is ours to care for and nurture.
  My bride is a general pediatrician who tells the story about parents howling in the waiting room that their child shouldn’t have to wait in line because “he is autistic!”, when he will be sitting there playing his gameboy as quiet as can be.
  Makes me smile. I feel bad for the general peds docs having to put up with this stuff all the time and getting paid squat compared to other docs.
  By far the best thing we hear as doctors and parents is “obviously you don’t know anyone with autism”. Usually we will just say “Well, I wouldn’t be too sure of that.”
  Too much anger in the world and not enough looking at our blessings.
  Dr. Polyanna, here, signing off.

• Daisy
  Apr 22, 2008 at 5:17 pm

  Autism diagnoses in our school district are increasing to the point of outnumbering those with learning disabilities. It makes a big difference to teachers and administrators; training is essential.

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