An adult autistic perspective on growing up on the Autism Spectrum.

Ask any parent with a child on the spectrum about how they feel about Michael Savage’s recent comments about their children and you are likely to find very passionate parents intent on clarifying what autism really is.

Although autism awareness is rising, it is not at the same 1 in 150 rate of which children are being diagnosed. It seems to have been confined to autism awareness month where much of the awareness taking place is that of those promoting the cause through their sport or organization. Few ever actually take the time to learn about what it is to have autism.

Apparently, Michael Savage is one of the popular who watch in disgust as an over stimulated child acts out in a public place. One of the many who views media stories about inconvenienced airliners and kids alienated from school as a discipline problem that needs to be controlled. However, instead of just standing there staring and making comments to a nearby friend, he chose to use his status to speak his very uneducated opinion about children with autism and defame not only the disorder, but also the individuals who are merely surviving it.

Autism is a spectrum disorder. Like cancer, there are varying degrees to which an individual can be inflicted. The most severe are considered mind blind and are seemingly unaware of those around them. The least affected do not fit the entire criteria and are diagnosed with PDD NOS for lack of any other disorder to fit the symptoms unique to autism. Others still are not completely mind blind and eventually learn to speak but have difficulties in many other areas but are able to function are considered to be high functioning. Aspergers describes those on the spectrum that overcome or are not affected to as severe a degree as those with the more severe types. They have problems with reading and often think in pictures, among other common learning disabilities.

Children on the autism spectrum are often diagnosed with ADHD and other types of behavior problems. The high levels of abuse associated with those who are disabled does not spare those on the autism spectrum either. This abuse often leads to complications in development or regression in those who have autism and bring about other disorders.

This must be why Michael Savage has now attacked abuse as the cause for autism. Savage has brought a professional aboard to back up his inappropriate statements. Concluding that Savage’s suggestion that autism is a label for a spoiled bratty child in need of discipline is concrete and thus acceptable. Albeit that abuse is very detrimental to child development, it does not explain the unique symptoms of autism.

There is no excuse to ignorantly attacking an entire spectrum. To pick and chose based on your own theory about what is “real” autism. Children on the spectrum already have enough problems being diagnosed. In addition, when they are finally given a definitive diagnosis, they have an even tougher time getting the necessary therapies to aid them in their development.

Michael Savage’s position on this issue is certainly controversial. Controversial enough that sponsors are quickly adapting a disassociation with him, much as those on the spectrum are disassociated with the world around them.

The difference between Michael Savage and those on the spectrum are that kids with autism are helpless to control their behavior. They often lack the ability to communicate their needs or tell about their pain. Savage can talk all he wants about anything he wants and try to come back the next day to justify them. They can’t speak up to give rebuttal to his ignorant comments.

That is why we must do it for them.

My mother kept a plate above the stove through out my childhood. They were very simple words to live by:

Be careful of the words you say

Keep them soft and sweet

Cause you never know from day to day

Which ones you’ll have to eat

We could all take a lesson from that…especially Michael Savage.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS