Comment by marti wolf on December 18, 2012 at 10:14pm

Thanks for sharing this list.  My daughter has already been a 'victim' of the Asperger ignorance/fear at her college.  It was VERY hurtful and so very unnecessary.  This has been a very sad time, all around.

 

Comment by Gerri on December 18, 2012 at 11:43pm

So grateful to see you make this statement.  I watched the video on FOX with you and Dr. Robert Mellilo.  They confused both of you but was glad to see that both of you were presented.  I have read his book Disconnected Kids and he is right on when it comes to bringing this as a discussion as a neurological imbalance related to ADHD, Tourettes, and Dyslexia...all depending on how you profile as a right or left brain weakness.  It is a fascinating book and it has provided me with insight on how to better address needs.

I find too that the schools are very sensitized now and are watching all of these kids now. The schools are processing the data as they are hurting for solutions on what to do, but don't know what to do other than respond to fear mongering.  If they really want to help these kids, they need to properly diagnose ( as directed under Child Find), and find all opportunities for supported inclusion, to help them develop.  They will respond fantastically, given the proper therapies and instruction. Prescription drugs need to be at minimal, just enough to be available to learn and/or be available to receive therapy, any more and it will lead to unintended results. Not every psychotropic drug has been clinically tested for ASD patients...many are used off-label and the side effects can be extreme.  In addition, the large variability in the ASD population means that the pharma effects are less predictable, so doctors rely on trial and error.  We need to bring the discussion away from fear mongering to directed services.  We need to bring up the importance of transition planning for these children in high school. We need to challenge the Dept of Ed to rethink their waivers to NCLB so they can "graduate"  them out of the system.  We need to keep these kids in school, not force parents to "home school' them so they stay out of trouble.  We need to teach tolerance in school for all. We need to bring Disability Awareness Week into the school curriculum.  We need to have more supported peer interactions in the classroom.  Secluded self contained classrooms are not the answer. I refer to the Lorax a lot to my kids, as someones needs to speak for the "trees".  Please be our national Lorax.

Thanks again for your perserverance. If you are any example of what are children can become, I am very hopeful, and grateful that you are the representative of the ASD community.

Comment by Tony Wuersch on December 19, 2012 at 12:27am

I really appreciated your input in the panel with Megyn Kelly on FOX. It made a lot of sense and it emphasized that maybe we need more rules not less, as long as they make sense.

Comment by Diana Hortsch on December 19, 2012 at 1:42pm

Thank you for this- very helpful. I think asking for retractions is an excellent idea.

Comment by Lisa DeSherlia on December 19, 2012 at 3:14pm

Thank you, Michael John Carley, for sharing all these links letting us know that so many media outlets have tried to correct the mistakes that need not have been made in the first place. I saw the video where you spoke on the panel with the others and I think you did a great job with the limited time that you were allowed on FOX. I'm awaiting a dx from two sources, one on Jan. 3 of early next year and later, on October & from an autism specialist out of my area. Family dynamics are such for me that I'm being pressured to "stay in the closet" in the event of my pending dx, & to have my daughter "stay in the closet." This has been BEFORE the autism backlash. But the only way to stamp out stigma is to talk about things. Last night I was made aware of a horrid and sick Facebook page called "Asperger's Prevent--Stop the Slayings" that was supposedly taken down. The SICK status update says, "When we get 50 likes we will find an autistic child and set it on fire."  It is VERY sad that has EVER become a side issue, not only worsening the stigma of many of us who are already seeking to be accepted as we are, but taking the focus off sharing in mourning the loss of so many innocent children and brave adults who died saving them and others. And today, I learned that one of the victims has a confirmed autism dx and died in the arms of his ASD aide! RIP to 27 people who were taken from us way too soon and may God help us work together to build a safer, kinder, and more welcoming world where desperate acts become unthinkable!

Comment by Laurie Murdock on December 19, 2012 at 5:41pm

Thanks Mr. Carley.  I have two sons with autism, and I run a school for students with autism.  The idea of any one of them becoming the target of hatred and ignorance is almost too much to bear.  We have enough to worry about!!!

Comment by Patrick O. Marsh on January 10, 2013 at 8:27pm

This is sad and frightening to hear. I had not known that people were bullied for having my condition(Aspergers) or Autism in general. I rather thought that instead of bullying, they'd just ignore the person and have nothing to do with them as if they were tainted. But, bullying exist on every level.

The media is always looking for a scapegoat. You see, I have anger issues as well. Do you want to know what my father things is the reason for such anger? Video games. You've heard this one, I'm sure. It's crap. It really is, Same to music, and book. Any media. A media form shouldn't be a direct influence on how you behave. There are stronger and more prominent forces behind closed doors here, that are very rarely opened until it's too late. It's the sad truth. As your book says, we are in a "Cowboy Culture" and I love that term, it is so accurate. It's like you are reading my mind, and I'm only 50 pages in.

This world...is just...I don't know anymore.

Comment