Autistic children really brats

[IDrinkaRum]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080721/.../savage_autism

Talk show host said 99% of children diagnosed with Autism aren't really Autistic, but just brats. They need their parents to tell them to act properly.

Even when I tell the people around me that my daughter is Autistic, at least 25% of them have this: "Yeah, right" look on their faces. It's not like Down Syndrome where many of the children have a certain look or someone who is in a wheelchair. My daughter also has Sensory Integration Issues (where too many people, noises, lights set her off for whatever reason). My mother is obsessed with the Autism diagnosis (she's convinced my daughter is just "slow").

Yeah, this is something I hate as a parent with a child who has Autism. There's nothing magical we can do.

[BlaqueKatt]

FTA-"Savage offered no apology in a message posted Monday on his Web site. He said greedy doctors and drug companies were creating a "national panic" by overdiagnosing autism"


wow way to show ignorance-these are two groups that have nothing to gain from a spike in a disease that no one fully understands. It's not like it can be medically cured or even treated in any manner.

On the other hand most autistic children can be taught to behave, and too many parents just don't want to be bothered. So they end up acting like "brats", and the parents use their diagnosis as an excuse or a shield from accusations of bad parenting.

[tropicsgoddess]

Radio Hosts and Foot in Mouth Syndrome

It seems like lately quite a bit of radio hosts have been putting their feet in their mouth or just have their heads up their asses. First Don Imus and his racist remarks, now Michael Savage in calling Autistic children brats. That's just downright horrible.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/ente...Savage.Autism/

[IDrinkaRum]

Right BK - I'm trying to teach my daughter manners & how to behave, but it's really 1 step forward, 3 steps back. Plus, I don't want her medicated, but I might have to. It's so hard sometimes, knowing what to do. You know?

[IDrinkaRum]

http://www.fratching.com/showthread.php?t=590

I placed it in "Things I hate" 'cos it's that type of ignorance that not only makes people not want to get their children the help they may need, but it keeps the masses from actually feeling compassion for these children.

As I said in the previously referenced thread - I'm trying to teach my daughter manners & how to behave, but sometimes ... it's hard ... 1 step forward, 3 backwards.

[Boozy]

Note: I've merged tropicsgoddess and IDrinkARum's threads and moved to "Social Woes"


I personally know three children with autism. They all have completely normal siblings. So the autistic child and the normal sibling were raised in the same household, and yet display completely different behaviour.

So the "brat" theory doesn't hold water. It's offensive and distressing to parents (many of whom are already at the end of their ropes).

It's a dangerous opinion, too. There is something we are eating, drinking, breathing, or doing in our society that is causing a surge in autism cases. We need to work together to find out what the hell that is, and the sooner the better.

[Lace Neil Singer]

You can't deny tho that there are lazy parents around who are slapping the "autism" label on their kids just to avoid having to do anything to actually parent their kids. Those are the people you should direct your anger at, cuz it's them who are provoking this kind of reaction from people. The same thing goes for AHDD and Aspergers; to some people, they are just convienient labels to hang on their nasty, bratty children so they can let them do what they like in public without having to discipline them... and if anyone complains, they can just scream prejudice.

[MystyGlyttyr]

I've always disliked Michael Savage. My sister and father listen to his radio show for whatever reason and while I have to admit that I do agree with some of what he says, I completely disagree with the way he says it. Just this "I'm right and there is no argument and if you don't agree then you're a fucking moron" thing. Plus the part where, I notice, he never actually DEBATES his points with anyone, he doesn't say WHY they're wrong and he's right, aside from repeating what he's already said and then screaming insults over any disagreeing callers to drown them out. One of the most irritating things I've ever heard, to be honest. He just seems like a very rude, insecure man.

So far as autistic kids being bratty, my mom and anyone else would tell you that despite the quirks of behavior that I displayed as a kid, I was generally pretty well-behaved and polite (aside from kicking an ass or two here or there). Plus I wasn't diagnosed to any degree until I was in my 20's. So, yeah...explain that one.

[BlaqueKatt]

It's so hard sometimes, knowing what to do. You know?

basic trial and error for the most part, When my son was with me he responded to positive reinforcement and rewards(small things like 50 cent toy cars, and dollar store stuff, hugs, trips to the park, new clothes from the thrift store), but responded very badly to any kind of isolation punishment, meaning I could not put him in a time out-he'd actually self-harm at 2 years old!

Best advice I can give is figure out what causes the one step forward and build on that. Behavior modification works for some, but is horrible for others, I actually have a pretty decent book for parents-"A Parent's Guide to Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism: How to Meet the Challenges and Help Your Child Thrive" another one I've been told s good(but never got around to getting is "1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders"

See if your local library has either one-it's worth a shot!

[Lace Neil Singer]

So far as autistic kids being bratty, my mom and anyone else would tell you that despite the quirks of behavior that I displayed as a kid, I was generally pretty well-behaved and polite (aside from kicking an ass or two here or there). Plus I wasn't diagnosed to any degree until I was in my 20's. So, yeah...explain that one.

Ditto as far as I'm concerned; I was actually very introverted and withdrawn as a child. I found that I related far more to my books and the imaginary world within my head than I ever did to my peers, so I withdrew. I did get into fights. but only ones that other people started. And I only got my diagnosis around a year ago.

[IDrinkaRum]

My daughter was medically diagnosed with Autism by a Developmental Pediatrician who works for Children's Hospital in the Washington DC/Northern Virginia area. He's highly recommended and very good at what he does. I know my daughter is autistic. And y'all are right - there are people who say their kids are autistic without getting them officially diagnosed and that makes me very angry iindeed.

http://www.autismbites.com
is a website started by a family that has 6 children with varying degrees of autism. There are t-shirts I want to buy from them. One reads "What? Is my autism showing?" and "Eye contact is overrated". They're cute and get the point across.

[tropicsgoddess]

IDaR, that site is awesome! Have you ever read Temple Grandin's book Thinking In Pictures? Such a great book!

[Amethyst Hunter]

I want that one that says "Eye contact is overrated."

Eh, Savage is known for being a dickweed (here's his profile: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael...commentator%29 ) - what else can you expect from a guy who called being liberal a "mental illness"? I've noticed that most "conservative" (shit, calling these asswipes conservatives is an insult to real conservatives) gabbers love to spew crap like this: there was Ann Coulter's "we should kill every Muslim or force them to convert to Christianity", there was Rush Limbaugh's ripping on Michael J. Fox for "faking" his Parkinson's...the list is endless. People have asked me why I'm not a fan of talk radio; I just tell 'em "why the hell would I want to listen to 2 hours' worth (or however long a show lasts) of bile and hate from ignorant jackasses?"

Fuck 'em. In a better world, *they'll* be the ones on the receiving end of their own bullshit. Then they can see how much fun it is to be the targets. >

[blas87]

I personally think that a lot of people don't have the means to seek help for their child, and just pass it off as being a "brat", as "kids will be kids", and on the other hand, a lot of people try to excuse their childrens' behavior because of Autism or Aspbergers, and yet these people have probably never even seen a doctor about it. Cuz ya know, it's SO trendy nowadays to have a "special" child. It gets you all kinds of attention.

It really makes it really hard for someone who actually has a child with a disability or has one themself......everyone is going to pass judgement either way. It's what we've become as a society.

I mean that with no disrespect intended to anyone, I was just trying to explain it the way I think society feels it.

[SorryIsGoodEnough]

I don't know anyone close with nor do I have any form of autism.

I do not have A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. or any variation of it.

I am Bipolar and have O.D.D. (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) as well as social anxiety disorder.


I don't like being told I am 'just spoiled' or I was 'just a regular teenager' when I was diagnosed.

However. The trend of diagnosing kids who are a little bit anti-social, slow, or lazy with disorders like those above disgusts me. I know that SOME children and adults have genuine illnesses and disorders but seriously, some people need to accept the fact that their child is a dumb, lazy brat and that's their own fault as a parent.



P.S. My harsh opinion comes from over-hearing kids in my IEP in high school talk about how their parents MADE the school psychologist diagnose them with ADD so they could get extra time for homework and not have to be bothered with disciplinary actions.