It seems to be impossible for anyone connected with the Mainstream Media, the MSM, to speak honestly and accurately about the natue of autism disorders. Even Dr. Ivy Chong of the Florida Institute of Technology whose site lists her impressive autism resume feels compelled to paint a pretty picture of autism disorders and ignore the harsher realities as shown in the following excerpts from her interview by Matt Reed at Florida Today:
To learn more about the mysterious disorder, I interviewed Dr. Ivy Chong, director of behavioral services at the Scott Center for Autism Treatment at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. Chong is a licensed psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst.
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Q:What happens to autistic children when they become adults?
Chong: A person with autism can expect to live a very good quality of life. They can hold jobs. There are some very bright individuals who aren’t even diagnosed with Asperger’s until they get to college, and they do very well. Their level of focus is exceptional in certain topics or courses.
As the children we are working with get integrated and go to school, and we have treatments for social skills and getting jobs, the sky’s the limit.
Professor Chong could have, but did not, mention the 70% of persons with Autistic Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities and severe challenges in daily functioning. She could have mentioned the 30% of those with autism and epilepsy. Instead she chose to mention high functioning persons with Aspergers some of whom are only diagnosed at university. She could have mentioned the very serious self injurious behavior issues, wandering, drownings and traffic deaths of those severely autistic who do not understand how the world works but she did not. She could have mentioned the uncounted numbers of severely autistic adults living with parents, in group homes and in institutional care, but she did not.
Just more feel good buzz about autism the beautiful and nothing about those who are most severely affected by autism disorders. Just the usual omission from our public consciousness of the invisible autistics, those in greatest need of our attention and assistance. From a MSM outlet like Florida Today? Par for the course. From an accomplished, experienced BCBA certified director of an autism treatment center? Very surprising.
Hakuna Matata! It's a problem free philosophy!
5 comments:
And she is a BCBA. She is a complete disgrace. Too many BCBA's are unfortunately lazy, in it for the money and leading parents down the wrong path when it comes to good intervention and the reality of autism. I have no doubt she only works with high functioning kids and has no clue what the entire spectrum is really dealing with.
As we all know, these things are true! BUT, if this therapist is to say this, she should couple it with percentages (accurate ones) and a picture of what life is like for the other percentage. Keep up the hard work letting people know the realities of the whole percentage.
Problem children and issues just get in the way of PROGRESS Howard. Just wait till we start blowin' air and water into the ground all over our beautiful province to get a few cubic yards of gas. Gee I wonder if any of those revenues will find their way towards yours and mine severely affected kids down the road here? I'm not holding my breath. Hold the line my friend. Cam.
Well, if I've got the right one, the institute she is with does strongly advocate ABA, so maybe it is a mixture of editing and her being optimistic about how ABA can help.
Oh boy, how glad I found your blog! I share your intense feeling for how this public portrays autism is just crazy and almost scary to think many believe all of autism is just a social disability because of how the public sends the wrong message!
Yes there are individuals with autism going to college, doesn't even mention how said individuals may suffer from anxiety or depression though but that they succeed despite their autism though? I don't even want to say that they never mention the other individuals who aren't high functioning or do not have any cognitive and intellectual disabilities!
I agree with you Harold, why do none of these people mention the individuals who do not fall into the "successful autistic" category. I posted on your other post about the situation with my autistic woman who is extremely aggressive. She has a low cognitive function, and anything, I mean anything can set her off. I look at her blank expression, extremely strong bodied, and watch her sometimes be angry literally almost the whole 24 hours a day! Why? could be weather related, monthly cycle, upset stomach, undetected pain, something wrong she ate, constipation, oh the list goes on. Sometimes we exhaust ourselves playing doctor throwing vitamins, supplements, diets, massages, treatments, therapies hoping one may fix that moment, maybe day so she can at least appear happy and involved in this world!
Needless to say, everyday is a new day, that motto fits our family well. The biting, punching, kicking, scratching, screaming, head banging/punching/slapping, body hitting, is a daily thing. Any day she is her own hitting bag, but when her anger and impulses turn towards us, we become the body bag. Its hard when you watch this girl come after you- no expression, no emotion, no holding back, full on anger and strength like a gorilla on steriods, and for what? most of the time, we don't know!
For us that is autism, the low cognitive function, the inability to even recognize danger or understand fear or how society is suppose to be is another side of autism that never is mentioned to the public. You see stories of families children with autism drowning or missing, but let me tell you it doesn't always get easy when they grow into adulthood either. They can still wander, get lost, or even bolt into traffic at any particular moment.
That woman needs to come spend some time in day programs or institutions where autism isn't just a social aspect but a disability that can impact individuals in many different areas and at times very severely.
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