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Good question. They definitely have raised awareness and are in the fight to get legislation changed, however, for being such a large… read more

I am the same way... I got a safety box from them, which has helped, they are full of resources like the 100 day kit? but quite afew are… read more

I think every organization has their niche. Autism Speaks is very political and the 'squeaky wheel gets the grease'. In my view, any… read more

It's so/so; I'm sick of all this money being poured into research with nothing to show for it in terms of real life applications for… read more

Also, some of their "awareness" has been quite hurtful to my son, who is trying to accept himself and embrace his autistic… read more

Oh, and here's the full "Autism Everyday" video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjEC0kw_nvA

Bad. Here's a huge long thread why...

https://www.facebook.com/parentingwithaspergers/posts/391857480838982

This is very interesting! I am learning so much!

Autism Speaks is extremely bad. They would rather try to find a cure for autism rather than allow society to change and mature to accept… read more

I have heard autism speaks is terrible. I personally think they are just an outlet for the government to control what parents think about… read more

@KristenMunyon - Actually, Obama has autistics on his advisory board for health issues.

Ari Ne'eman being one ---

… read more

I meant more or less the CDC and mainstream media the the president

They are just like the susan g. komen. We need the right people in there! Often in the military we change duty stations or units because the… read more

@KristenMunyon: I apologize for saying this, but in my point of view, autism is not a disease. It is a genetic condition like the many… read more

I have a friend that wants to go to south america and get stem cell treatment. (her idea of a cure) I argued with the fact that it is not fda… read more

I know of many families whose children are autistic and those children are now functioning to a level of what is considered "normal"… read more

@KristenMunyon, I simply have to disagree with you as to causes and treatment... I believe it only offers false hope. Those children you know… read more

Im not saying they are cured. I know there is no cure. But I do know that the choices their parents made gave them the best chance to live as… read more

Kristen I see your point and agree with your conclusion. I have different experiences with genetics and I think it is a combination of both...… read more

The treatments that work are not dependent on autism being seen as a "disease" or not. They work because they bring the feedback,… read more

Bad, from what I gather, misused funds.

Love it Sally! I know... well I don't know what is like, but my daughter has dislexia. The opometrist said that even with vision therapy… read more

I'm tired of being told I have a disease or that I can be cured. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME. Back off.

@AspieCarrie: Take it easy! I'm on your side!

I think it might be an expression... Carrie baby? I am sorry? if it was us or autism speaks? I think it was...them! I was just trying to get… read more

Ok, I must have misunderstood something someone said. I apologize. It's been an ugly week for me and communication is not working in my… read more

I understand. Coping with being on the spectrum can be very hard even at the best of times.

Indeed. Most of the time, I'm ok, but not this week.

For @AspieCarrie and @SallyRistaAnderson: What are your suggestions for my Aspiedaughter who is mentally ill? I am SO thankful neither of you… read more

@MercyGirl, I understand. I inherited depression from both my parents, but I also earned quite of bit of PTSD from being abused both by them;… read more

@Mercygirl ...My 15 year old has severe anxiety and ADHD which often comes with Autism, which affects functions of the brain, mental illnes is… read more

Push for help. That's all any of us do. DEMAND that she be treated for her issues.

Thank you so much for your comments everyone. I really appreciate them. @SallyRistaAnderson, I addressed you and AspieCarrie because you both… read more

I do not believe asd is a mentall illness. I believe it is a different operating system. That said, mental illness can definitely be conorbid… read more

Generally, when things get sorted out, it isn't the autism that is the most stressful and worrying, but comorbid mental illness, learning… read more

MichelleSarabia if you could highlight your second paragraph I would! It is woderful! Everyone else getting upset, please don't... We are… read more

@mercygirl: I think your only hope might be to apply for political asylum in Germany. I'm not kidding. They have fully socialized… read more

Thank you all so very much for the insightful and helpful information. I am not a fan one way or the other of Autism Speaks; they haven't… read more

@Aule, after reading your post, I read your story and I am so overcome with your fourthright honesty in expressing your life and advice to… read more

@mercygirl, I understand. But the exercise of compassion, just as should be the exercise of all other things, is local. Look to your girl… read more

American culture can be brutal. It's hard for my 20 yr old NT son with a personality as big as the Grand Canyon, let alone my daughter.… read more

Thank you very much for the link. I am so grateful to you for your help. I read your MAT Story and am in awe of how well you have handled your… read more

Finding amazing people to help your child is about never giving up the search. There truly are these wonderful needles in the haystack of… read more

@mercygirl. I believe you said your daughter is 23 now? That's the same age when I crashed out of my first attempt at a doctorate. When… read more

@Mercygirl, @MichelleSarabia: sometimes an angel or two falls into each person's life to turn that life around. Sometimes you only… read more

So true, MichelleSarabia! Thank you for your encouragement. =]

Thank you for your helpful advice, Aule. She has not had any OT. She did have an IEP every three years for extended time testing since 1st… read more

Great information, @SallyRistaAnderson! Thank you! Where does a person go to get this type of testing done; OT, the psychologist/… read more

@Mercy girl have you talke to your local Autism Society? They have people that do help you go through the process... Like I said before it was… read more

I separate ASD as a Social Cognition Deficite/ Condition separtate from mental illness. I hope I didn't seem to imply they were the same.… read more

Sometimes I wonder if the people who consider autism to be a mental illness ever realise that correlation is not at all the same as causation.… read more

@Mercygirl...My son does says a lot of these things also and bets bullied when he is playing on-line games. The key is to identify behavior… read more

Thank you thank you ladies..., no way will I say goodbye to either of you. I'm sure it sounds like quite a pity-party I'm having.… read more

@mercygirl: don't thank me, thank my Stat 314 instructor! I was taking it as a refresher course for my second and final attempt at… read more

@mercygirl: [ My natural tendency to want someone to "do something" (I guess it's part of my DNA being an RN) ]

I thought being… read more

@LucyTBourque: One thing I found actually helpful for learning both physical and emotional self-control was karate. I had taken the Okinawan… read more

@LucyTBourque: Another alternative for learning to displace stimming would be Tai Chi.

@Aule, Hahahahahaaa!! Too funny. Thank you for the smile. I needed it!

I was horribly bullied all through elementary and middle school. Finally, my mother put me in karate. I had a very patient sensei for a few… read more

I am soooo loving this! It is so difficult to explain and you guys GET IT! Ian is so introvertive it is unreal... Ian witnessed a robery and… read more

@LucyTBourque - Your child's occupational therapists should be breaking these tasks down into tiny steps, and using those steps to find… read more

@LucyTBourque: Seems your son is pointing his own way to equestrian activities. At least a horse is a friend who won't judge him. Unless… read more

We are military and not officer and my husband deploys a lot... I am a disabled vet so insurance is good but with 3 kids and 2 on spectrum its… read more

@LucyTBourque: Philadelphia!?!? That's very close to where I was raised. My grampa started out as a motorcycle cop in the Philly police… read more

We live in Fort Bragg NC... I went ot Philli for an Iceskating competition we had... That is a good idea though! Thanks!… read more

@KristenMunyon Is Autism a Disease? I thought it was a disorder but would like clarification as I had not heard this before?

She said and I quote... "others treating it as a "disease"" she did say it was a disorter... Wording may be confusing at… read more

Autism is niether a disease nor a disorder, it is a condition.

@SallyRistaAnderson, if Autistic people are ever going to find acceptance socially as adults, then we need to call it a condition. Do we call… read more

I don't consider Autism to be a meal ticket. Ever. An apology would be nice.

Consider this also. I am on SSDI for inherited depression. Not in a million years would I have considered applying for it on the grounds of… read more

Well I agree with it being a condition, which it could be verbal expression maybe even a way of life. You will be fine until you need… read more

There are a variety of conditions, disorders, and diseases which are on the "labels" list for services like SSI. They are judged by… read more

BAD. They do NOTHING for us. All they want is from us is to donate, donate, donate. I send a note back to them saying, "Once you begin to… read more

I am 68 years old, adopting my 6-year-old great niece who has autism and is hyperactive. Patience has never been my long suit, but I am… read more

go to I EP slowly with him and go to independent evaluation u got medicaid also be constant with the education early please god bless u to all… read more

My 6 yr old son, diagnosed PDD-NOS at age 3, is currently reading at above 3rd grade level! Most kids, mine included, when young, care more… read more