Every child with autism is different. When "they" say autism is a spectrum, boy "they" were right. Many people have asked me what my definition of autism is since I seem to differ with many in the mainstream medical profession. I found this definition in today's Age of Autism by Julie Obradovic. It really puts into words my position on autism for my son's case:
Position 1: Autism is a Treatable, Medical Disease
People who take this position believe the first problem with Autism is its name. Autism by definition in one dictionary means “preference for fantasy over reality”, an inexplicable cluster of behaviors and symptoms that manifest for some unknown reason. (That particular definition makes it sound like it's even a choice.) It is categorized as a psychological disorder.
But for these people, Autism is hardly a mystery. They believe it is a treatable and preventable whole-body disease that occurs in a genetically susceptible group. Genetics is not the cause of the problem; it is simply a factor in developing it. So are toxins. So are vaccines.
While not precisely known, they believe Autism is a collapse of the immune, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems that eventually manifests itself physically and behaviorally, only appearing to be psychological in nature. Addressing medical issues in those areas can often reverse the disorder in its entirety or at a minimum relieve the intensity of its symptoms.
This position is hopeful; it does not believe Autism is a lifelong irreversible disorder for which there is only behavioral therapy. It embraces a whole gamut of possibilities for treatment, recognizing that while the root causes are similar, each child is unique and needs specialized treatment.
You will never see a puzzle piece sticker on my car or a puzzle piece pin on my lapel. The puzzle piece has never represented my experience with autism. For me, it has never been a mystery.
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10 comments:
whoa! this has certainly never occurred to me, but in a way you are right - the puzzle piece is the symbol for "mystery", and yet I belong to the group that believes there is hope for its erradication (sp?)...thanks for the post!
It doesn't bother me if anyone else find the puzzle piece symbol comforting, I just know for me, I don't find it representative of my case.
I believe there is hope for autism recovery. It's so sad that autism families fight the government, CDC, Big Pharma, AAP, AND each other. I've read a lot of blogs lately that bash Jenny McCarthy and her way of thinking. I believe it, because my son shows me it's true. :)
Crystal, you're so right. We hyave so much on our plate that fighting one another is so worthless, yet there is such a division in the autism community. it's astounding. I had no idea until I found out my son had autism (thanks to Jenny M.). As soon as I started GFCF and the biomedical approach, I learned rather quickly that I was a target. Oh, well....my son is recovering, so frankly I don;t give a flip what anyone else thinks of my methods. Thanks for commenting!!
Pardon the typos! ;)
Crystal, bloggers who bash are clearly bitter that either their children did not respond to biomedical intervention or the parents were too lazy to even try it. One blogger by the name of Leelo and His Potty Mouthed Mom (yes, the name says it all about this mom) is one of the worst. She loves to bash biomed whenever possible.
And once again, Amen sista!
The Leelo mom is the worst all right. She believes in drugging the kid and shoving him full of junk food. The kid is massively overweight and attacks his siblings and she has the nerve to trash biomed? Clearly she is a bitter, burnt, out non effective mother. The scary thing about someone like this is that they try to get to parents of newly diagnosed kids and lead them down some bizzare path of "acceptance" which, to them, means letting them "be who they are." This mother is contributing to wasting a child's time which is the real tragedy.
You know, I wasn't going to get into the habit of bashing the non-biomed mothers because I do not like being bashed myself over doing biomed, but the more I read the non-biomed blogs the more disgusted I get. Seriously.
I found another non-biomed blog through the Autism Bites website the other night and it really pissed me off. One of those "I'm glad I love my children for who they are and can see the blessings unlike Jenny McCarthy and the angry biomed crowd". You know, I am so damn sick of being told that I do not love my daughter for herself for treating yeast infections and food allergies and low muscle tone. I am to the point where I really do not feel like being very graceful back to these people. They really do believe that we do what we do because we do not love our "imperfect" children. That makes me sick.
I will make it no secret. If I could cure Natalie of autism, I would do just that. It has brought us no gifts or blessings. Just sleepless nights, poop on the carpets, and a one-month-old infant with a skull fracture. There is nothing beautiful about your child digging in her butt and crying because her butt itches her and her doctor refuses to treat her problems. This is my reality.
I want her to be happy and comfortable even if she never recovers. Period.
Agree with you all. I understand loving a child unconditionally, but not treating what makes them miserable is not fair to the child. There is no way that my son was happier when he stimmed all day, swirled in circles, and itched everywhere from his out of control yeast. I am doing what, inmy opinion as his mother, is the best thing for him. I have no doubt he is better off. Our whole family is.
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