Okay, we can do this. As a community, we can agree on one - just one - priority for the autism community for 2009. It may not be everyone's top priority. It may be the only point on which we agree. But there MUST be at least one thing that we all feel is critically important for kids and adults on the autism spectrum.
So as a New Year's resolution, I am determined to find this one thing that we all care about. Even if we battle and fight throughout the year, let's agree on this!
As a starting point, I've written up this poll. You can vote for more than one priority (or, of course, for no priority). Remember: I'm not asking you "what is your TOP priority." I'm asking "can you agree that ANY of these points really are significant priorities for 2009?"
Of course, as always, if none of these priorities is of any concern to you at all, feel free to say so in the comments. But honestly - if NONE of these priorities concern you, you're probably not very involved with autism.
In reading through all the commentary, blogs, articles, interviews, the one theme that shines through is the need for supports and services throughout the lifespan, with an emphasis on education, housing, and work—–I don’t think everyone can agree on what such supports and services might look like, but these are things that are needed, albeit, perhaps, in different formats and to different degrees.
Interesting also to note that the items in your poll are similar to the recommendations for research initiatives in the Interagency Coordinating Committee’s Strategic Plan.
Best wishes in the New Year—-
The second to last would have been better if it focused on treatments. There are going to be a myriad of causes at treatments based on cause would only help a select few, while there are therapies or potential therapies that could benefit a wide variety of those on the spectrum. I think the research should focus on therapies.
The only one I flat out don’t agree with is the last. If you can show fever induced seizures cause autism, I might swallow vaccines caused it in a tiny percentage of cases. I don’t know if such a study has been done. Studies into vaccines themselves? Overdone. We need to move on.
The third to the last concerns me that it could be heavily influenced by politics & psuedoscience.
The first, is too broad. Timeouts are considered fine for typical kids. And we have to use a modified version for my son. For his safety & ours. There are those that see the gate we have in his doorway as abusive. However, he practically kicked his door off his hinges. With his night waking we need to make sure we’re woken up if he needs something, rather than be woken up by him hurting himself, or worse, not be woken at all. I also put him in his room when he gets in a wild, hit everyone & everything mood. Other times, I might hold him, cradling while applying deep pressure, which is soothing. But it’s still a form of time out..,
Forgot to mention I’m all for criminalizing institutional
Let me try that again. It submitted prematurely. I’m all for criminalizing institutionalized (ie in schools, group homes, hospitals, facilities…) corporal punishment for ALL people….
I think most of those issues have varying degrees of importance. However, I think one thing that greatly troubles me is that autism is an international phenomenon and yet only Autism Speaks – an org a lot of people from all areas of the community have big issues with – seem to tackle this.
Is using US stats right for the UK? Are using Somali stats right for the US? Who knows?
We need an international body.
Hello, I am a dancer with an MSW. I just recently completed a dance curriculum and instructional DVD for teachers of autistic children (pre-K through high school) The project was initially implemented and funded by AHRC nyc. I’m looking for ways to fund the program on an ongoing basis at AHRC and elsewhere. Any ideas? Thanks, Carolyn