The Autism Society Canada web site was down briefly and I had hoped, notwithstanding past experience, that the ASC would have started presenting an accurate picture of autism disorders to the Canadian public and families with autism disorders. My hopes, faint as they might have been, were dashed again. ASC,
Continue readingTag: autism spectrum disorders
Facing Autism in New Brunswick: SUDEP Awareness Day and Autism Disorders
A much higher percentage of people with autism spectrum disorders suffer from epileptic seizures than among persons in the general population. At the severe end of the autism “spectrum” it has been estimated that as many as 39% also suffer from seizures. My severely autistic, intellectually challenged son Conor suffers
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism and the Liberal Party 2014 Election Platform: Nothing on Autism – No Adult Autism Care Centre
The Liberal platform is published and there are no commitments to address autism issues, no mention of autism disorders. In particular there is no mention of any intention to change the current system of adult autism care from generic group homes lacking autism trained staff, hospital wards, the Regional (in
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: US CDC Autism Prevalence Estimates Challenged
I didn’t see this autism “controversy” brewing. The authors of an article published in the Sage Autism journal have challenged the credibility of the US CDC autism prevalence figures. The full article is on line and free for viewing (PDF also available free) at: Should we believe the Centers for
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: JAMA Study: $2.4 Milliion (US) Lifetime Cost of Care for Person with Autism and Intellectual Disability
JAMA study points out US lifetime costs of care for a person with autism disorder and intellectual disability will approximate $2.4 million US (ASD W/Out ID #1.4 million). For children special education and parental productivity loss were largest cost components. For adults residential care, supportive living accommodation individual productivity loss
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Joel Rubinoff’s Angry, Ill Informed, Misleading Autism Rhetoric
Conor Doherty on World Autism Awareness Day 2014, as I tried to take a “selfie” of the two of us wearing blue, gave his old Dad an unexpected hug. As in this pic, Conor brings us great joy but his autism is a disorder which restricts his life and causes him harm.
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Intellectual Dishonesty: Autism Disorders Misrepresentation Via High Functioning Autism Only Research
In the picture above SFARI presents news of two “autism” studies which purport to find that brains of persons with “autism” are overly connected as compared to those in control groups. In fact both studies intentionally and expressly excluded persons with autism and intellectual disability, approximately 50% of those with
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: An Excellent Week For Autism Advocacy! Suzanne Wright Speaks Out and John Elder Robison Resigns
Thank You Suzanne Wright! It was a good week for reality based autism advocacy for two reasons. First, I was very encouraged by Suzanne Wright’s very honest description of the many challenges facing persons with autism disorders and their families in Autism Speaks to Washington – A Call for Action.
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Research Progress To Date In Two Words: Lovaas, ABA
Research to date benefiting persons suffering from autism disorders can be summed up in two words: Lovaas, ABA. The work done by Dr. Ivar Lovaas has been applied successfully for decades as reported by the US Surgeon General’s office (1999) and by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2007), reaffirmed (2010): The
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: High Functioning Autism Speaks Continues Betrayal of 50% of Autism Spectrum With Intellectual Disability
Autism Speaks continues its betrayal of the 50% of persons on the autism spectrum, those with intellectual disability, those for whom autism is a disorder not a superior way of thinking or the possible subject of a new TV comedy series or a career as a well paid “autism” advocate with “Autism“ Speaks.
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Speaks Enters Into "PURE" Autism Research PACT; Excludes Autism With Intellectual Disability
Autism Speaks has entered into a Research PACT to continue its focus on “pure autism” (referred to in the PACT as core symptom autism), while ignoring 50% of the autism spectrum, those with intellectual disability (WHO, September 2013): “Working together, the PACT team is developing a platform of preclinical tests to
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Senator Jim Munson Says Ottawa Has Done Little to Address Canada’s Autism Crisis
Laverne Stewart of Fredericton’s Daily Gleaner reports (September 24, 2013) that National autism advocate Senator Jim Munson, shown left in his Parliament of Canada photo, is frustrated, that after years of working to secure a national autism disorder spectrum strategy, Munson said the federal government has done little to address
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: October is Autism Awareness Month in Canada, Canadian Government Still Doing Nothing Eh Mike Lake?
October is Autism Awareness Month in Canada. You would never know it based on the contribution made by Canada’s federal government which has taken a strict, division of constitutional jurisdiction, approach to autism disorders in Canada. In other words it has said that addressing Canada’s growing National Autism Crisis is
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: My Reply to Non Autism Expert Dr. David H. Gorski Also Known as ORAC
Dr. David H. Gorski, who is NOT an autism expert, somewhat ironically, attacks parents, professionals and journalists who disagree with his autism disorders opinions as “quacks” Dear Dr. David H. Gorski. Thank you for acknowledging your total lack of autism expertise. For the benefit of readers unfamiliar with your “style:” I
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: New Brunswick is a Canadian (and North American) Leader In Early Autism Intervention and School Autism Services
New Brunswick is a Canadian, and North American, leader in early autism intervention and school autism services. I do not doubt that that statement is enough to prompt a retort from many jurisdictions. New Brunswick is not one of the wealthiest jurisdictions in Canada, let alone North America, but the
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: 2 Harmful Acts: Autism Hate Letter And CHEO Removing Autistic Child With GDD From Early Intervention Program
The notorious autism hate letter that targeted an Ontario family and their autistic child has sparked horror and outrage around the world. As the father of a 17 year old son with severe autistic disorder, profound developmental delays and tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures I recoiled when I heard the news
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Writes Off Child With Autism AND Global Developmental Delay (Intellectual Disability)
CHEO: No Teddy Bears & No Autism Program for Severely Challenged Children The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario has been added as a respondent in a human rights proceeding, and accused of discrimination, after it kicked an autistic child with global developmental delay, severe intellectual disability, out of an early intervention
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism Severity: Verbal Communication Doesn’t Count? Crows Say Otherwise!
Photos by Harold L Doherty One of the more irrational features in some autism discussions is the claim that being non verbal is not a significant indicator of autism severity. Anyone who thinks that verbal communication is not a significant factor in daily functioning is fooling themselves. Communication is
Continue readingFacing Autism Symptoms in New Brunswick: The Damaging Impact Of Seizures On Individuals With Autism
Seizures and epilepsy are serious issues for persons with autism and their families as we learned first hand in our home on November 17, 2012 when Conor suffered a very serious seizure. Following is a publicity release issued in respect of Silently Seizing and author Caren Haines, RN (Haines also
Continue readingFacing Autism Disorders in New Brunswick: Questioning Answers – An Excellent Autism Research Blog
My favorite blog dedicated to autism research is Questioning Answers, by researcher Paul Whiteley, and I recommend it for anyone interested in the subject. Whiteley presents autism research information in a manner that can be digested by this humble autism dad and is not condescending. The content is broad,
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