lbrb is one of the best known Neurodiversity sites in the blogosphere. The site fully embraces the social model nonsense of the ND ideology to which its authors subscribe. The lbrb authors, the "team", never fail to put their ideological spin on any autism issue, cause, treatment or cure that surfaces. And they can be counted on to attack any parent or professional that does not share their ND ideology. With their latest howls about intimidation by the Age of Autism and various pro-cure organizations though they have just gotten weirder and weirder.
The lbrb authors criticize any parent or organization that speaks truth about the harsher realities of autism disorders. They are all for organized protests and campaigns that demand that such free expression be stifled. And yet they get their knickers in a twisted bunch of knots because Age of Autism and some organizations protest the questionable actions of some IACC members. Most recently one IACC member left a note on the floor of a meeting which questioned the motives of a participant in IACC proceedings. That type of conduct deserves criticism which is what occurred. In the fevered imagination of the lbrb writers such criticism amounted to intimidation.
lbrb gave no examples in their article that constitute evidence of intimidation. As for lbrb's own comments, they were not intimidating. They were, however, ill founded, illogical and over the top. Yet again.
The writers at lbrb should take a deep breath, push themselves away from their computers and step out into the world. Take a badly needed reality check.
autism
"And they can be counted on to attack any parent or professional that does not share their ND ideology."
ReplyDeleteWait, but how is this any different from (mostly neurotypical) people who can be counted on to attack autistic folks that speak up for themselves? I honestly don't understand what is wrong with autistic people telling doctors and NT parents that "No, actually, that's not what my life is like at all -- you may have lived with an autistic child, but I have lived as an autistic person. I know more about my life than you do."? How is that an attack?
I don't know of instances where "autistic folks" are attacked for "telling doctors and NT parents that "No, actually, that's not what my life is like at all ... you may have lived with an autistic child, but I have lived as an autistic person. I know more about my life than you do."
ReplyDeleteCriticism, and controvery, usually arise when SOME persons with Aspergers or High Functioning Autism purport to speak on behalf of ALL persons with Autism Disorders and attempt to interfere with parents seeking treatment or cure for their own children.
As an example Michelle Dawson appeared as an intervenor in the Canadian Supreme Court case in Auton, as an "autistic", to oppose the parents efforts in that case to require the British Columbia government to provide funding for ABA treatment for their children. I don't think her intervention played any significant part in that decision but it is an example of an autistic person seeking to tell parents what is best for THEIR children.
It seems to me that that's what you're doing here -- portraying neurodiversity folks as all being "weird" and unnecessarily aggressive toward curebies.
ReplyDeleteSure, we have no right to tell people how to parent their children. But as autistic people, I think we have a right to criticize treatments used on fellow autistic people, or to criticize the ways that people talk about us. Why is it any different when the people we're disagreeing with are parents?
I'm sure there are autists who want a cure, just as there are NTs who don't. And yes, speaking for anyone else is always a bad idea... but NTs often speak (negatively) for/about ALL autistic people, so I guess we're not so different after all. ;)
As an autistic person, my impression has been that if you speak for yourself, you're not autistic enough; the "real autistic people" are ones who can't/don't speak up. So, in the end, it's neurotypical (parents' & doctors') voices that get heard. And I'm sure you don't mean it this way, but calling ND folks "weird" just feels another NT discounting autistic voices.
Sorry, I'm doing a rant here. I'll stop commenting, but I just thought I'd chime in with a different opinion.
"No, actually, that's not what my life is like at all -- you may have lived with an autistic child, but I have lived as an autistic person. I know more about my life than you do."? How is that an attack?
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, you may know more about YOUR life than I do but what gives you the right to demand that my son not be able to say that for himself??
That is the issue that the ND/ASAN crowd refuses to address... they just want those that cannot speak for themselves to remain silenced.
"They are all for organized protests and campaigns that demand that such free expression be stifled.... Most recently one IACC member left a note on the floor of a meeting which questioned the motives of a participant in IACC proceedings. That type of conduct deserves criticism which is what occurred."
ReplyDeleteAren't YOU the one denying this woman's right to disagree? Seriously, how is expression a bad thing, until someone overreacts to it. Besides, the comments were valid. She never said anything (so far as I read) about wanting the other speaker to sit down, and shut up. How was she being unethical? AoA were the ones I could best tell as being unethical.
it's ironic that the LB/RB folks don't see that they are frequently guilty of exactly the same things they complain about "curbies", "antivaxxers", etc. do.
ReplyDeleteMy kid doesn't speak and barely communicates. These LB/RB folks lump all kids with autism in one big group and prejudge parents who want a better life for their kids. I would be happy if my child could live independently and maybe use the toilet.
It blows my mind that you guys don't understand what you are doing. Is this kid's parent a "curbie"? I hope so. http://autismretort.blogspot.com/2009/08/severe-autism-self-injurious-behavior.html
statements made like you have lived with an autistic person but I have lived as an autistic person make no sense. What if I said well you have lived with a person with melanoma cancer but I have basal cell cancer. Having basal cell cancer can not be compared with having melanoma. Treatment is different one form of Cancer much more serious than the other.
ReplyDeleteThere are degrees of impairment with autism. Don't try to stop those with real needs having treatment. That is what Michelle Dawson tried to do. LP
Interesting and hot debate going on here. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTwo videos of two very different autistic.
ReplyDeleteOne can defend her rights, including not being required to undergo any form of treatment, while the other has been subjected to various treatments, but without effective results for reducing self-injurious behaviors.
Is it the same condition or very different conditions, despite the two being called autistic?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-8QLWnYqoY
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPWL5yimhyg
"You are correct, you may know more about YOUR life than I do but what gives you the right to demand that my son not be able to say that for himself?"
ReplyDeleteA: We AIN'T saying that! Myself and parents have this in common: We want the best for the moderate/severe. And, I am pro decent education, and maybe medicine to calm the sensory symptoms.
B: Seriously, we might actually have a better idea. Have you ever had sensory issues? If you haven't, then you probably wouldn't understand what the correlation is between the senses, and the brain. We do, or might. WE could help. But seriously, why would we want to? You're always saying we DON'T.
Quote from a blog:
"The mythical, magical Neurodiversity Movement Law:
Any poster who argues against a mythical, magical neurodiversity movement that posits that parents of autistic children (children with autism) believe nothing should be done to help said children achieve their potential and that therefore the poster is the better parent/person/martyr/victim immediately loses any credibility and proves his/her priority is not the child but him/herself."
Mind you, I believe you guys actually care for your children for apparent reasons.
"People with Asperger's have no clue what it's like
to live with a more severe form of autism.They cannot speak for those who do."
Well, we have better clue, because we've actually been capable, and had to face judgement for our different sensitivities. Don't be a wisecracker. Have YOU had sensory issues? Do you know how they effect the brain? We might have a better idea than you, you know.