Dachel Media Review: Reno and Minneapolis
By Anne Dachel
Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.
Nov 11, 2013, The Daily Pennsylvanian: New program addresses adult care for autism
Nov 11, Reno Gazette-Journal: Temple Grandin to speak on 'The New Autism' in Reno
Nov 11, 2013, CBS Minneapolis: Local Charity Helping Adults With Autism
The Daily Pennsylvanian
"A new Penn program aims to address the lifelong effects of autism.
"Psychiatry professor Edward Brodkin has started Penn Behavioral Health's Adult Autism Spectrum Program to address the problems that surround adult care for patients with autism.
"'These kids with autism are growing into adulthood . there's a real need for some form of clinical care and services for adolescents and adults with autism,' Brodkin said.
"Brodkin created the program with the goal of working with adolescents and adults with autism to help them optimize appropriate treatment plans, medication intervention and promote overall positive well-being.
"'Once people with autism hit age 22, we have very little in the way of services, supports and entitlements,' David Mandell, director of the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research at Penn, said. 'We're just at the beginning stages of understanding what adult services should look like.'"
My comment:
'Once people with autism hit age 22, we have very little in the way of services, supports and entitlements.'
My question is WHY. Why isn't there help for adults with autism? Maybe the answer is, BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER HAD A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION LIKE THIS BEFORE. Otherwise, young adults with autism would go where autistic adults have always gone. The problem is, no one can show us where that is. Overwhelmingly, autism affects CHILDREN. The rate of one in every 50 U.S. children is always based on studies of CHILDREN.
The disorder with no known cause or cure is about to bankrupt us as all these autistic children age out of school and become dependent on the taxpayers for their support and care.
Anne Dachel, Media editor: Age of Autism
Reno Gazette-Journal
"A leading advocate for people suffering from autism and their families, Temple Grandin, will speak in Reno on Thursday about "The New Autism" and new diagnostic ratings for autism.
"'This is the third time she is here,' said Toni Richard of the Autism Coalition of Nevada, which is presenting the event along with the University of California Davis Mind Institute.
"Money raised at the event goes to ACON, a local nonprofit, to help local families with expenses related to children with autism, Richard said.
"'Parents really like seeing (Grandin) and hearing her, getting inspiration for their children and trying to understand more,' Richard said.
"'Born autistic, Grandin has become a leading advocate for autistic communities. In 2010, HBO released an Emmy Award-winning film on her life, "Temple Grandin,' starring Claire Danes."
We're told here that Grandin was "born autistic" and that she has degrees in psychology and animal science. She holds masters degree and a doctorate.
I guess we can all relax. Nothing to worry about. People may be born with autism, but they can become very successful.
CBS Minneapolis
"One of the things that we don't often hear about are adults with autism and that's where some of the greatest need is."
We're told there's an 80 percent unemployment rate for adults with autism.
It's all positive and nothing is too concerning. It sounds like we just need to provide services and everything will be fine---as we all adjust to a disorder that was practically unknown 25 years ago.
"Any adult with autism can find success."
"We talk so much about young people with autism and programs for them, those kids are growing up and now so many different challenges."
"There are only going to be more."
"Thank you . . ." end of interview.
I don't agree that every adult with autism "can find success." I know too many children who are so terribly disabled they require constant care. They're totally disabled. This is a look at the up side of autism. These are the people who can talk and have potential to develop their talents. Many others are not so lucky.
Why have we mostly been talking about CHILDREN WITH AUTISM. No one even asks.
"Those kids are growing up" and we've never dealt with a significant population like this before. We all need to be asking why not.
"Any adult with autism can find success."
Many adults with a severe case of autism would find much success in being able to change their own diapers.
Autism is CLEARLY being used as a tool, as is much of man made "disease", against we the people. Until we come to grips with this truth we can do little to solve our problems with autism, the ASDs, all the diseases of "vaccination" and "health care".
Meanwhile we can protect ourselves and ours by NOT VACCINATING.
Posted by: Lou | November 14, 2013 at 03:49 PM
I would be very interested in what Grandin calls "the new autism".Does this mean she thinks that the autism we are seeing now is different than what autism was when she was a child?I would like to know if someone has asked her this.I once saw a video of a talk Dr.Grandin gave,that was full of what you might call "soft" neurodiversity,that regressive autism was a completely different thing than the type of autism she talks about.
I have spent a lot of time in the last five or six years in online autism discussion groups,and .I read all sorts of blogs from parents.The more I do,the more I am convinced I am very different than anybody else.
I am what you might call middle aged,and I was born with both moderately severe autism,and a lot of medical issues,more than most parents even here could dream of,and regressions galore,but no ID.I am only temporarily non verbal after seizures.In the last four years,I have had a lot of tests,mostly thanks to DAN/MAPS doctors.I have been found to have cerebral folate deficiency,with both folate receptor autoantibodies.
But I seem to be very different than just about any other child found to have this.I have normal mitochondrial tests.Any time anything not related to folate or B12 metabolism was tested it was normal.I have been found to have mutations on a number of genes related to folate metabolism.
In my case,we are not talking about just methylation,it is obvious errors of folate metabolism.Probably severe MTHFR deficiency,with all sorts of secondary problems.Hits on multiple genes,but 100% genetic.Now that I know the problems folate genes and metabolism can cause,I see there is quite a long history in my mother's family of all sorts of medical and psychiatric problems related to it.
I have also heard from a lot from parents who say I am an inspiration to them that their chidren can recover like I have.I am not comfortable with this.There is quite a difference between me,and a child who is non verbal,or intellectually disabled,and has no one obvious cause you can point to,and treat as a cause of their autism,like inborn errors of metabolism,that can be treated once identified.
Once you do spot them,and correct them,the person with the IEMs can lead a full and normal life.Not the case with someone with severe intellectual disability,or who is non verbal.
It has not been easy,but I have come to see that the autism that has come about in the last two decades is different. What did it for me,was after a while,I began to notice the staggering number of autistics under twenty five,who were intellectually disabled,and/or non verbal.Something has happened,and I think it's just too easy to put all the blame on vaccines.This is just too big and too severe a problem for that.
Posted by: Roger Kulp | November 13, 2013 at 02:09 PM
Just some thoughts-
Maybe the next Autism Awareness month could be focused particularily on severe, non-verbal autism. Maybe there could be an 'invite your local politician to your child's school placement,' type of thing. How could they refuse an invitation? Make one day where a lot of politicians or key people are invited. I just am getting the feeling that besides family members, or those who work with children with severe non verbal autism, people just don't get it. Heck maybe we could even invite people like Ari Neeman or some of the Skeptics!
Posted by: jen | November 12, 2013 at 10:09 PM
"Born autistic, Grandin has become a leading advocate for autistic communities..."
I'm certainly not very familiar with Grandin's story, but there is a moment in the HBO movie that suggests her mom saw her regress at some point? I wonder which representation is based on her personal input?
Posted by: Jeannette Bishop | November 12, 2013 at 07:08 PM