A Question for Autism.About.Com Readers: What Should This Blog Cover?
To some degree, this first idea has been very successful. Practical tips for toilet teaching, advice to parents new to autism, and other topics have inspired some terrific reader responses. I'll certainly continue to ask these types of questions - and put together articles comprised of reader tips and resources.
The second idea had a lot of legs early on. In September of 2006, I asked readers to share "what they loved most" about the person with autism in their lives. I received over 150 wonderful responses! Since then, though, I've asked similar questions many times - and received few positive responses.
Meanwhile, autism has moved more and more into the public eye - and major books, media reports and television programs are covering the subject. The vaccine court hearings became big news. Autism Speaks has recruited celebrities from NASCAR to Broadway to promote autism awareness. Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey have made headlines with their "green vaccine" campaign. All of these subjects are interesting - and clearly readers do have a lot to say about them! To some degree, these "big" stories are drowning out stories of new studies, new schools, and other "smaller" topics.
In the past week, a number of stories have "popped" into the Google alerts that relate to autism... are probably in the public eye... but I am really torn about whether to blog about them. Should I really blog about Jenny McCarthy's response to Amanda Peets? Is it appropriate to note that PETA has decided, for whatever reason, to launch a campaign condemning cows milk as the cause of autism? Should I mention that Jenny bought a stripper pole for her son with autism?? Where do I draw the line - and what do readers want to read and comment on? Just as importantly - to what degree should this blog address readers new to autism, and to what degree should it engage readers who are seasoned, long-term members of the "autism community?"
I'd appreciate your thoughts on this issue. Are you most interested in taking part in debates that address issues of causes and cures of autism? Do you enjoy reading headline news? Are you interested in reading about autism-related studies, whether or not they're likely to lead to treatments or cures? Let me know your thoughts - and please do vote in the poll.
Comments
I don’t think the vaccine-autism quacks should be given any more airtime, but neurodiversity is a very different matter. I think it’s important for parents of autistic kids to listen to autistic adults, and like or not, many autistic adults support neurodiversity.
It’s odd. The Down Syndrome community doesn’t have this kind of split between self-advocates and parents. What’s different about autism?
Lisa, you need to start ignoring the purported vaccine-autism link. It’s nonsense. There is no evidence. Not every story has two sides to it. The sun doesn’t revolve around the earth. Jesus didn’t ride to church on a dinosaur. And vaccines don’t cause autism.
I disagree. I like the vaccine stories. My daughter started having seizures after 4 month vaccines and a slew more after the 6 months. Even though these were immediate, we got “no-way, no-how related to vaccines” from the first millisecond. I don’t know what is going on exactly, but I hope the debate continues.
The case is not closed on some environmental factor. Whether it’s vaccines alone or vaccines plus some other factor, the “Case Closed, Shut Up” strategy seems to be employed by the government on a lot of topics.
Suggestions that come top mind …some more stuff on keeping a family together and/or thriving in spite of autism, autism and finances, autism and seizures, special diets, something on Gardasil, more on the combative nature of autism issues, which seems like it will always be the case.
I love that your blog isn’t like the National Enquirer of autism, isn’t a battle zone and has something for everyone.
PS – I thought name calling was banned?
Lisa,
Please don’t change this site!
Autism.About.com is a wonderful combination of lighter stories, scientific fact, parent suggestions, and basic information. It’s positive without being unrealistic. It feels like a community, there is information on almost any related topic and I appreciate the moderate tone of your writing. Too often I see other writers going into an all or nothing mode, trying to convince the reader of their viewpoint. Your comments sometimes raise more questions than answers, but that allows your readers to make up their own minds, with some solid information from you to start them out.
This is one of the first places where I send my newly diagnosed clients.
I like this blog’s POV on topical issues and scientific developments. But what defines you is not your content but rather your voice – moderate. In a land of extremism, your blog is an oasis.
I like the current balance on your blog, which is why I read it. If I really am in the mood for some one sided propaganda I would head over to LBRB, Autism Vox, or Age of autism.
However comments like this :
I don’t think the vaccine-autism quacks should be given any more airtime, but neurodiversity is a very different matter. I think it’s important for parents of autistic kids to listen to autistic adults, and like or not, many autistic adults support neurodiversity.
This is the sort of one-sided debate that needs to be avoided. The ND folks like to pretend that the speak for all people with autism, but it is a sad fact that that a large percentage of people with autism are incapable of speaking for themselves.
Yet ND feels more than qualified to speak for someone who they have never even met and who possibly are unable to speak for themselves.
I speak for my children until they are able to stand up for themselves.
I think if it’s related to autism, you should blog it. We cant hide in a shell from all the controversial topics surrounding autism and you’re giving your readers a well rounded ‘in the know’ about what’s going on concerning autism. I don’t think you should ignore any topic either, if it makes news why shut that door just because some may not agree? Readers of a choice of reading and responding. Now I don’t think we all need to know about what some buy their kids- unless of course a stripper pole has some functional use for sensory issues.
I also think it’s important to remember the new parents to autism, them being able to come to a one site-stop for current news and topics is important.
“Should I really blog about Jenny McCarthy’s response to Amanda Peets?”
If Jenny McCarthy had responded to Amanda Peet at the time Ms. Peet made the apology, maybe. But, as it stands, Jenny McCarthy waited to make comments until she in the rollout phase of her new book. So, in this case, ask yourself, do you want to be a part of Jenny McCarthy’s advertising campaign?
I don’t think it adds to the advertising campaign, although it might be Ms. McCarthy’s hope. I think it’s media attention grabber to bring this up so long after the fact when she had enough to say at the time to begin with. If anything, it’ll add to why one might want to consider listening to her at all. Ms. Mccarthy is about every where one may want to read or surf, it’s hard not to read a blog entry any where that doesn’t include some media event she started.
The wonderful thing about your blog is there is this place for “what is happening inn the autism world” but if you are not interested in that…you have all those archived articles and areas where you find just the facts Ma’am…
I don’t think we need to choose….after all it is “About Autism”.com
I really feel that there is hardly any talk about “low-functioning” adults with autism.What happens to the cute little ones when they grow into adulthood and still have toileting issues, few communication skills, elopement problems, etc. There are few quality programs in upstate NY( if any )for this population which includes my 31-year old daughter. And there is barely any talk or help for parents and caretakers for this population.
Please provide more resources for adults with autism — especially those of us who are new to the knowledge of their condition.
Many adults in their 30s, 40s and older learned in adulthood that we have an ASD. We need to know what resources are available so we can make an informed decision about whether or not to apply.
For example: If you are self- or peer-diagnosed, how do you navigate insurance requirements to get a formal diagnosis? Is formal diagnosis a prerequisite for services?
ìì íå äóìàë !