Lives lost to autism is a new website with what seems at first glance to have an excellent reason for existence – to record all the non-natural deaths of autistic people.
But the name ‘Lives lost to autism’, the strapline ‘For many, autism can be deadly.’ and most particularly the statement ‘This site tells the story of the precious lives cut short by autism.’ are very misleading. Blaming autism for murder is utterly misleading. Autism didn’t murder any of the children listed as murder victims – or the ones that haven’t been listed either.
The site seems to be set up and run by Ginger Taylor (left) who’s position on autism has grown more and more extreme over the years. It seems now she is happy to denigrate autism itself as a murderous entity.
Should there be a site where victims of murder AND natural deaths are remembered? Of course there should, its a great idea. But to politicise it so graphically and so ham-fistedly is wrong. Its a testament to the ideas of Ginger Taylor and not a lot more right now.
Left Brain Right Brain 
There is no more horrifying message than the one AoA is letting Ms. Taylor promote. And then they wonder why people are so terrified of autism. How about providing support and understanding without the Clockwork Orange-style negative conditioning?
I have never been more disappointed in AoA than I am today. And that is a significant statement.
When you jump down a rabbit hole, where is there to go but “down”? Seems to be true for Ginger, and so many of her cohorts. Deeper and deeper…
[LBRB say] Blaming autism for murder is utterly misleading. Autism didn’t murder any of the children
COMMENT
utterly misleading and stupid…lives were not cut short by autism, but by a non caring, rabbit hole, Red Queen, society…
one that fails to dx autism early; and (in all too cases) ignores it in those who were not dx-ed early…sentences them to today’s version of snake pits…mental and physical snake pits.
stanley seigler
I just don’t understand how this is thought of as acceptable.
The more I hear out of Ms. Taylor and her associates the more foreign their thought processes seem.
There is/was a site run by an autistic individual that included a section for the memory of murdered autistics. The site was called This Way of Life.
Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find it, and the domain seems to be up for grabs, but it’s been archived here: http://www.oocities.com/growingjoel/murder.html
I’ve encountered Mrs. Ginger Taylor before, and I agree with Savannah; the more I hear out of her and her associates, the more I question them.
Autism is not a disease, but they seem intent on portraying it, especially when people compare the diagnositic rates to diseases such as diabetes, aids and caner.
Autism is not contagious; a person cannot “become” autistic any more than a person can completely stop “being” autistic. (in my opinion, “losing” a diagnosis basically means being sufficient enough in skills to mimic being non-autistic enough to not need specialized supports. It does not make one less autistic, just that one doesn’t need or meet the diagnostic criteria anymore)
The actions that Ms. Taylor and her associates make, in my opinion, does not help the negative stereotyping and stigma that autistics all over face, and in fact, adds to it so that instead of preventing, they are contributing to the murders of autistic people.
@CorinaBecker: That was Joel Smith’s page – he had moved it to his own domain, thiswayoflife.org, but he seems to have let that one expire too! ::sigh::
As sgt schultze said “I know nothing” about ms taylor…but from a read of her blog I do not find her as offensive as many comments here imply…
of course with the exception of “lives cut short by autism”…which is a possible mis-statement which she may regret…
I cant believe she believes autism caused the deaths. and there is no indication in the blog she believes autism is a disease.
A study Abstract on the blog say: “The objective of this study was to determine which causes of death are more frequent in persons with autism, and by how much, compared with the general population.”
The objective of this study was to determine which causes of death are more frequent in persons with autism…NOT to show/imply autism caused the deaths.
[LBRB say] at first glance to have an excellent reason for existence – to record all the non-natural deaths of autistic people.
I believe it does have an excellent reason for existence…hopefully ms taylor will clarify the comment, “lives cut short by autism”.
stanley seigler
“lives cut short by autism”
NT children, lets say the age of 8, recognize scarey things. A swimming pool. Can’t swim so won’t jump in the pool. That pool is dangerous if you don’t know how to swim this can result in drowning. An NT 8 year old recognizes danger and dangerous situations and stays away from the pool. Many autistic children are drawn to water. Love water. Every year there are newsfeeds with autistic children drowning. Wander away from home to that water source and don’t recognize the danger of drowning, and sadly they drown. Another example is gustatory. Balloon. An 8 year NT child knows a balloon can pop in your mouth and results in not being able to breathe which results in death. Yes, over the years autistic kids have mouthed balloons and some the heimlich worked, for others it was too late and this resulted in death. Most in the autism community will recognize that autism presents with “not being able to recognize danger or dangerous situations.” The 8 year old autistic child who doesn’t know how to swim but drowns, The 8 year old autistic child who mouths a balloon and it pops and his/her air passage is blocked dies. The autistic young man who is left alone on the bus and dies from lack of air doesn’t know he is in a dangerous situation and doesn’t break a window, or open a door and flee stays trapped in the bus til he dies. This person didn’t have the recognition that on a hot day with no windows unrolled would result in his death.
Life is cut short for some with autism. To pretend that every autistic can recognize danger or dangerous situations, will not stop the tragic deaths by swallowing a balloon, drowning, or simply staying on a bus instead of opening a door to life and living.
Can’t fix things if you don’t acknowledge that a problem exists.
Donna,
You might note that this blog post refers only to murder. Not the accidental deaths that occur.
Hi everyone,as a person with Asperger’s & on the spectrum I appalled not only at AoA but at Ms Taylor & Kim Stagliano should shoulder some of blame as well,no wonder there is fear & division in the Autism community, no wonder we cannot get along with them,because of the fear,hatred,& misinformation that they put out there. I have made a protest blog,& don’t forget Kim Wombles http://counteringageofautism.blogspot.com/. Since people & parents are bombarded with negativity everyday I think its time we counter these people with positives on sites as a way of peaceful protest against the hatred towards us in the community. Here are my blogs: http://realageofautism.blogspot.com/ & http://spectrumtimes.blogspot.com/. We can’t let the hatred & discrimination get us down,we have to keep educating people in a positive way the good things & how to use technology etc, to help,early education is also key. I will peacefully protest & fight as long as I can. We don’t need these people adding to our discrimination & using fear & exploitation in there tactics. Thank your for listening.your friend Zoey
Yes I know that.
Autism is about safety for those who can’t recognize they are in a dangerous situation. The safety issue has to be exposed and gotten out to the general public. They need the public to understand safety first. Safety as in a restraint that results in death. Safety in a home (whether private or placement) that is lacking the supports that is needed.
So some individuals with autism safety has to be addressed first. To educate someone, you have to keep them ALIVE first.
By helping to address the safety issue first, it helps everyone else.
The blog you link to doesn’t allow for comments. You blogged about the blog, and I am addressing my concerns and failures of that blog here.
Because I think the majority can agree that most of the deaths are first about safety as in parents who are not getting the supports their child needs and turn to murder and suicide, or residential placements who underpay staff which results in not the best people to hire which results in the abuse and deaths.
The goal posts have to be shifted to safety first. Alive first, educate 2nd.
Don’t know Ginger, don’t read AoA, and I am sure that many who read AoA are more into biomed/chelation/vaccines/blame game, and what not that safety is something that involves independent thinking or thinking outside the typical box.
Safety is about keeping someone ALIVE, which will result in the way we think about autism.
I think insofar as this is merely a memorial site, it is fine with me. But I agree that the name is rather unfortunately. Autism doesn’t cause parents to murder their children. Autism doesn’t cause accidents either. Autism might influence some people to kill others, but it is a generalization to call those lives lost “lost to autism”.
natural deaths are remembered?
Not the accidental deaths that occur.
Natural deaths? Accidental deaths? These deaths are all about “SAFETY” first! Safety as in KEEPING ALIVE as the GOAL.
TO TEACH ANYBODY THEY HAVE TO BE ALIVE TO LEARN.
The majority of the spectrum is a capable learner! Might take weeks or years or decades and maybe never for some to learn safety for the individual with autism and recognizing they are placing themselves in danger or are in a dangerous situation and they need to get out NOW, but those without autism, have to address their are no accidental deaths or natural deaths, but deaths where the aspect of safety is again going ingored and kept hidden.
AoA reminds me an awful lot of the Tea Party. The people there really want to make sure not only that autism gets a cure, but also want to shut off anyone that has opposing views. I never really liked Ginger Taylor; I’m sure she has great struggles with her child, but her attitude only makes them worse. Of all the suffering she is going through, her child definitely has it worse than her.
Sure, many autistic kids need more supervision than NT kids, since for some it takes them longer to recognize danger (if they ever do). Neglect will cause them to drown or get hit by cars, so it is in the caregiver’s responsibility to watch them. I understand parents cannot give up every minute for their kids, that is why we need babysitters willing to work with autistic kids. Other autistics are the opposite and are afraid of everything. The only reason I cannot cook is because I am so terrified of explosions that I cannot light the stove.
But for parents to murder their children with autism, it is not at the fault of the child’s disorder, but rather the parent’s irrationality.
“The actions that Ms. Taylor and her associates make, in my opinion, does not help the negative stereotyping and stigma that autistics all over face, and in fact, adds to it so that instead of preventing, they are contributing to the murders of autistic people.”
I agree, Corina.
@ Donna – My older sister Pat (the evil one, 5 yrs older) taught me to re-use balloons that had popped when I was around 5 or so. Showed me to hold the flattened rubber up to my mouth, inhale, and then twist the balloon to capture the air. I don’t recall it ever popping in my mouth, but of course, it could have. She must have been disappointed when it didn’t. I made of game of seeing how many times I could twist it (in my hands) until it popped. Damn, so that’s why she bought me all those balloons!
[Astrid say] I think insofar as this is merely a memorial site, it is fine with me.
and this seems to be what it is to this simple parent…most put downs throw out baby w/ bath water…
stanley seigler
I can say without reservation that I would object strongly to Ms. Taylor or AoA or any similar blogger “memorializing” me or any member of my family. Their approach would not be respectful of who I and my family are. I can not speak for those who have been “memorialized” on that site.
The Age of Autism blog was trying this for a while. They were using the deaths of autistics to bludgeon others within the autism community with comments like “doesn’t so-and-so find this serious?” or, “why doesn’t this subset of the online community discuss this person’s death?” Such comments are disrespectful to those who have passed, in my opinion.
Such efforts as hers are very difficult to sustain. AoA appears to have lost the stamina to continue their efforts.
I find it very difficult to blog deaths. These stories bother me a great deal but I find them hard to discuss while keeping the focus on the humanity and the tragedy, rather than what will be read by many as an attempt to use the tragedy to promote a secondary message. I realize that I share the opinion of Corina Becker. I will note that on more than one occasion I have read a story where a parent has stated they didn’t want an autistic child. Not a disabled child, but specifically an autistic child. The image of autism presented by groups such as AoA and Ms. Taylor is certainly not helping to prevent such deaths in my opinion.
[sullivan say] I can say without reservation that I would object strongly to Ms. Taylor or AoA or any similar blogger “memorializing” me or any member of my family.
i have no desire to be or have anyone memorialized…butt if it alerts society to the abuse, murder, of those w/ autism would certainly allow it…
i did forward the list from “lives lost” blog to certain CA USA legs…telling them this is the plight of those with special needs and their cutting programs exacerbates the abuse…it was a very telling list.
stanley seigler
My father, Kenneth Day, tried to muder me because he regarded my Autism as ‘the defective child’ he didn’t want, by bashing my brain about 40 times against the walls of his house. I have never gotten any remedy for this, he still walks scot free, and the injuries ruined the rest of my life.
sorry, typo – can’t see letters, my father’s attack on me caused brain injury over and above my Autism
My father, Kenneth Day, tried to muder me because he regarded my Autism as ‘the defective child’ he didn’t want = My father, Kenneth Day, tried to murder me because he regarded my Autism as ‘the defective child’ he didn’t want