Why would a genetic origin of autism be disrespectful? How does it make the child “defective”? I have a cousin with celiac sprue, a very clearly genetic disorder; I wouldn’t dream of calling her defective. Why would I think of an autistic child as defective? They’re not. They’re just different. They think differently, they learn differently, and if we teach them differently, they can still have the same fair chance at those inalienable rights we hold so dear: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thing is, I don’t understand the obsession with “proving” that autism isn’t caused by genetics. I think your choice of words is very revealing, though. You can’t seem to separate the words “genetic” and “defective”. You don’t want your daughter’s condition to be genetic, because to you, that would imply she was defective. Why? Why is it somehow more palatable to believe her condition was an injury? Why does the manner of the disability matter? Isn’t it more important that she is your daughter, and you love her, and you want her to achieve great things?

I think that prejudice against the disabled still has a long way to go, if we’re still fighting words like “defective”.

But, then again, I seem to recall you coming up with a poor argument against a recent genetic study. I encouraged you to actually contact the author for clarification, and you quietly declined. I had to do your work for you. It would have been nice for you to acknowledge your mistake in that thread, rather than to quietly slink away. Just as it would be nice for you to acknowledge your actions in this thread. Nice to have you back in the discussions again, though. Don’t be such a stranger.

The answer as I went to great lengths to explain is no, and your editorial comment is one you are now backing away from. Are you now willing to concede that Autism Speaks is doing more for autistics and their families than say ASAN.

I am not backing away from anything.

I made it very clear that I see ASAN doing more important work for autistics than ASAN. I don’t see why you feel the need to pretend otherwise.

If you believe that “my crowd” is rude, then take the high road. Apologize. When you find my approach rude, go ahead and call me out on it. I don’t apologize for other people, nor do I take credit for their successes.

I don’t see any neurodiverse people using the word “defective”. It is an attempt to be insulting, and, as I said before, it is intentional on your part. You can rise above the muck or swim in it. You appear to be choosing the latter.

“The big question is whether Autism Speaks is just another Vaccines-Cause-Autism organization but hiding under a cloak of science. If so, they should let the donors know so they can take their money elsewhere:.

The answer as I went to great lengths to explain is no, and your editorial comment is one you are now backing away from. Are you now willing to concede that Autism Speaks is doing more for autistics and their families than say ASAN.

As far as rudeness is concerned, spare me. Your crowd routinely insults anyone not believing the neurodiversity drivel which continues to trivialize a profoundly handicaping disorder. The cause of autism is unkown and the majority of the ND crowd who believe autism is genetic are disrespecting autistic children and their families by claiming that autistic chidren are genetically defective therefore cannot be cured and continue searching for ‘politically correct’ labels.

My daughter was diagnosed with PDDNOS and is a grown women cured of her problem , whatever it was, and yet your ilk dismiss her recovery by claiming she is just ‘passing’ as normal which I find demeaning and insulting to her (that was Kristina Chew’s comment about her recovery).

The people who have resigned from Autism Speaks (Siger London) to form their own science organization are all parents who deeply believe they have produced genetically defective children, that there is no environmental component in autism, and the studies they want to fund are all genetic studies.

You are just full of inaccuracies today. Do you even look at the ASF website? While they haven’t shown yet what they will fund, here’s a nice list of the research they find important.

http://www.autismsciencefounda.....earch.html

Maternal antibodies….how exactly is that genetic? Loss of family income? Racial/ethnic disparities?

The “genetically defective” comment is quite rude, and, I expect, intended as such.

I guess one of the “special rights” I want for people with autism is the right to be treated with respect. You are able to trample that right, I just don’t understand why you would want to.

Despite many flaws Autism Speaks is the only organization with the political and financial strength to actually make a difference in the lives of families…

You are very much incorrect there. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) has shown that it isn’t just money that speaks, but ideas and highly motivated people. They are making a difference in the lives of families.

that was my comment, not Kev’s.

Since I obviously wasn’t clear enough, I thank you for pointing this out and giving me another chance to clarify. I was referring to Autism Speaks’ press release on the IACC strategic plan. The Plan was finalized, and I didn’t see any comments from AS about the issues that are important to me. Perhaps I missed another press release? If so, please post the link. I would sincerely like to see Autism Speaks supporting important issues in the Plan. I found this one on the Plan before it was implemented. Some information on therapies and other issues. Not much on lifespan issues, though.

To say Autism Speaks is simply an anti-vaccine organization is foolish, misleading and something that can be expected from the neurodiversity crowd.

Do a quick search of this post and the comments. The first and-at the time your wrote it—only mention of “anti-vaccine” is your comment. Do you actually read the posts or do you just use this forum to make your own comments? To do so is misleading and something that, unfortunately, is expected from some of our commenters.

You will also find, if you read carefully, that I very rarely use the phrase “anti-vaccine”.

I don’t expect the apology to be forthcoming. Surprise me.

As much as I despair over the attitudes of the vaccine/bio-med gang, I also feel desperately sorry for them – they are just being used by their doctors and therapists.