9 Nov 2007 - Treating Autism Statement to Letter in the Independent 08 Nov 07
We at Treating Autism value our good working relationships with
other charities and groups which aid children and adults with autism.
The National Autistic Society is the largest, most well funded such
group in the UK, with nearly 18,000 members. We recognise and welcome
the efforts of the NAS on behalf of the autism community in the UK. In
particular, we appreciate recent campaigns such as "Make School
Make Sense" and efforts to increase awareness of the challenges and wide
ranging needs of people on the Autistic Spectrum.
However, we are forced to speak out in response to the recent NAS
Campaign "Think Differently About Autism," which purports to
represent the breadth of the autism community and their need for greater
understanding by the public at large. We feel "Think Differently"
actually lets down people with autism, as the entire tone of the
campaign thus far has been one of resignation, acceptance of
circumstance, and pleas for understanding, rather than one of hope
for improvement.
A number of parents who are members of our charity noted that the NAS
featured a photograph of a young man with autism in their campaign
leaflet, with the caption "has autism and prefers not to speak."
However true this may be of this particular person, the NAS comes
dangerously close here to characterising autism as a preference, a
lifestyle choice, and trivialising the disorder.
Whilst it is no doubt true that people with autism need
and deserve others to make an effort to understand and accommodate
their differences, it is just as true that, with appropriate help,
therapies and treatment, people with autism can very often meet the
world halfway, and lead happier and more independent lives.
We understand that there are difficulties inherent in being a large
national group struggling to represent a diverse population, but
surely it is incumbent on the NAS, which describes itself as "the leading
charity
for people affected by autism," to offer better than this.
Many children with autism suffer related health problems, often
significant, which are largely ignored by doctors and consequently go untreated. These
same problems in an ordinary child would not be ignored, an inequity which
condemns many children with autism to lead lives of poor health and
sometimes pain. Many parents have found that when these health issues have
been remediated, children have become more alert, calmer, better
sleepers and in many cases have made impressive gains in social
communication.
Surely this must be a good thing. We call upon the NAS to Think
Differently about the value of biomedical treatments to many
families affected by autism, and to Think Differently about hope for all our
futures.
other charities and groups which aid children and adults with autism.
The National Autistic Society is the largest, most well funded such
group in the UK, with nearly 18,000 members. We recognise and welcome
the efforts of the NAS on behalf of the autism community in the UK. In
particular, we appreciate recent campaigns such as "Make School
Make Sense" and efforts to increase awareness of the challenges and wide
ranging needs of people on the Autistic Spectrum.
However, we are forced to speak out in response to the recent NAS
Campaign "Think Differently About Autism," which purports to
represent the breadth of the autism community and their need for greater
understanding by the public at large. We feel "Think Differently"
actually lets down people with autism, as the entire tone of the
campaign thus far has been one of resignation, acceptance of
circumstance, and pleas for understanding, rather than one of hope
for improvement.
A number of parents who are members of our charity noted that the NAS
featured a photograph of a young man with autism in their campaign
leaflet, with the caption "has autism and prefers not to speak."
However true this may be of this particular person, the NAS comes
dangerously close here to characterising autism as a preference, a
lifestyle choice, and trivialising the disorder.
Whilst it is no doubt true that people with autism need
and deserve others to make an effort to understand and accommodate
their differences, it is just as true that, with appropriate help,
therapies and treatment, people with autism can very often meet the
world halfway, and lead happier and more independent lives.
We understand that there are difficulties inherent in being a large
national group struggling to represent a diverse population, but
surely it is incumbent on the NAS, which describes itself as "the leading
charity
for people affected by autism," to offer better than this.
Many children with autism suffer related health problems, often
significant, which are largely ignored by doctors and consequently go untreated. These
same problems in an ordinary child would not be ignored, an inequity which
condemns many children with autism to lead lives of poor health and
sometimes pain. Many parents have found that when these health issues have
been remediated, children have become more alert, calmer, better
sleepers and in many cases have made impressive gains in social
communication.
Surely this must be a good thing. We call upon the NAS to Think
Differently about the value of biomedical treatments to many
families affected by autism, and to Think Differently about hope for all our
futures.