Comments on: Developmental delay

By: MG

MG — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:42:00 +0000

Came here by way of Jon Swift’s Best Blog Posts of 2008.
Yikes! As a parent of an 8-year old son who has autism, I knew there was a lot of talking going on back and forth between the different autism camps-the ones who think its the vaccines; the ones who don’t; the people who believe in this type of therapy; the people who don’t..; the people who think its food-related and those who don’t.
I wish there could be more unanimity, but I guess what will be will be.
I agree with your point about this post-(at least I think I know what you’re trying to say) that the media is rushing around trying to find stories to do about autism and it’s fluff-just a news story. It has bothered me that just because some actor or singer or politician has a child with autism, then all of sudden autism is a cause and worthy of funding, more study, etc. Where was the concern before? I am glad that autism is getting some coverage but I think that sometimes the “celebrity” of it all drowns out the real issues.

I think we all can agree on a few things: autism interventions-whether autism cases are an epidemic or just being diagnosed earlier and with more accuracy, need to be funded adequately in the public schools. I think that insurance companies should assist parents/caregivers with costs of therapy for those with autism. I think those are some things that possibly many of us “in this” can agree about(?)

I had a post about Michael Savage’s comments about autistic kids a while back. While I don’t think that there is a real epidemic the likes that people are talking about, I didn’t like the way Savage (and others) described, put down and blew off autism concerns. Same thing with Denis Leary.
I do have some concerns though with people like Jennie McCarthy and others with the vaccine thing-shouting at Dr.’s on TV shows. There are some people who are giving people some false hope-I believe, by giving them non evidence-based solutions-new age quackery “cures” and such.
I also am a little bothered when I see (on Youtube, blogs) or hear about people-(mainly adults) who claim they are autistic, when it seems they have given themselves that diagnosis. Sometimes it is famous people-Darryl Hannah, Dan Ackroyd -but that bugs me a little-pe0ple who seem to be looking at the symptoms of autism and deciding that their behavior fits those symptoms. Heck they could just have poor social skills.
Anyway-sorry this was so long! Good post! I want to come back later and check out more or your stuff!

By: Autism Miracle

Autism Miracle — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:55:39 +0000

Its For nearly all parents, the most important things in the world to them are their children. if your child is suffering from autism.

By: Prometheus

Prometheus — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:14:04 +0000

Autblog,

HL Doherty comment is an example of what is known as a “concern trolling”. He posts a scolding comment about how your article could be (mis)construed as “[m]ocking children with developmental delays…” in an attempt to either embarrass or discredit you.

I would be interested to see how many times he has complained about autistic children being described as “a fate worse than death”, “train wrecks”, “toxic waste dumps”, “empty shells” and worse.

Compared to that, “spinning” and “flapping” are positively complimentary. Besides, they happen to fairly accurately describe activities that many autistic children frequently engage in.

I suspect that Mr. Doherty found your statement (which I believe is correct) that “…there is no clear evidence of an [autism] epidemic…” far more offensive than any description of autistic children you made.

I’m sure that he would have rather challenged you on that point, but he has no data to support the “autism epidemic” (nobody does). Since he has been beaten up (in a figurative sense) about that point so often, he instead has resorted to “concern trolling” in the (vain) hope of distracting you or your readers with his “straw man” of concern for how autistic children are viewed.

If Mr. Doherty were truly concerned about how autistic children (and adults) were being described, he would be posting comments on those ‘blogs that routinely describe them in clearly, unambiguously negative terms. Not “spinning” or “flapping”.

“Concern trolling”? Just another name for hypocrisy.

Prometheus

By: autblog

autblog — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:06:02 +0000

This is what you call “An evidence-based commenting”? Mocking biased reporters with developmental delays?

Developmentally delayed reporters like David Kirby are real. Your claim to being an evidence based commenter is not.

Your commentary is offensive.

By: Club 166

Club 166 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:49:42 +0000

If this blog post has a theme, it’s that many news outlets (not just in small or mid-size outlets) have no problem spinning the truth and flapping their gums about things they know little about, and the only ones who usually notice are frazzled bloggers who unfortunately care about things like evidence and responsible reporting.

Joe

By: Landru

Landru — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:17:40 +0000

Thanks Joseph. I did only a quick scan before engaging, and I didn’t pick up on what I was engaging with–my bad. I’m with ANB; why bother?

By: autblog

autblog — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:38:50 +0000

Kind of transparent. And disappointing. Part of me wants to better understand that kind of obstructionism, but another part says “Why bother?”

By: Joseph

Joseph — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:07:54 +0000

If there are any doubts about what I said, he recently did the exact same thing in a blog post at the Runman blog.

http://therunman.blogspot.com/2008/04/running-for-autism-not-against-it-why.html

By: autblog

autblog — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:17:15 +0000

I have to ask: What point am I making, as you see it?

By: Harold L Doherty

Harold L Doherty — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:54:51 +0000

Landru I understand your point but, with respect, I don’t agree. ANB is using the image of autistic children in a derogatory fashion to make his point.

Joseph, you make no point at all. Just another personal attack because I don’t share your ideological views of autism.