Since 1973, I have been researching the cause and cure. Collectively, I have taught at least 1,ooo children on the spectrum. It was upsetting for me to hear Barbara Walters say “autistic children”. In ethics class (USF) Sarasota, Fl. I was taught that any individual be labled a person first and then their disorder. The politically correct way to put it…is an individual with…. or a child on the spectrum!!!

As far as my comment on this article… I have a sister 47 years old that is reluctant to immunize her one year old twin girls. She is very concerned. She is a doctor. I plan to read your article ASAP, and give you my opinion. It sincerely has been my life’s work. I currently work in privitization for the Florida Center here in Sunny Sarasota Today I did some fun, interesting amazing work.

As for the vaccine debate…Time magazine ( a year ago)disclaims this theory. However,
Autism is our country’s favorite flavor. Nobody says…”what artistic”..”you teach art! anymore.
Thank goodness. I need to get some rest but lastly would like to add that, while driving to work recently… Tampa Bay’s 98 Rock made the crack..” Rock Out Like An Autistic Child”…How offensive that people are so @#$%n ignorant. Thanks for listening. And trust me I will read the article, take it to work, inform my little sister and get back to you again ASAP. Namaste,
Kate Hurrelbrinck ….paintinholland@hotmail.com

P.S. I agree with the above comments. Currently working on a book on Autism
yeah, I fought the ADD diagnosis for my oldest child and my bipolar diagnosis( after 10 years of being drugged by lithium and 10 other drugs. Let’s all get a “thing” going against autism turning into American Hype. What would george bush say? artistic? or is he in on this too! I don’t even want to know what miss hillary would say!! Can’t wait to read this first thing tomorrow.

So please if you have never raised a true adhd or autistic child, please don’t judge those of us who have or are. I also had a 4 yr old nephew who was autistic.

I personally am sick and tired of hearing all this that adhd is just parents don’t discipline or a child just needs more belts across the behind. That’s one thing I DON’T DO. I don’t beat my children. There are other ways to discipline a child without violence or anger. In that case I could say that if you hit your child, you are only teaching your child to hit…. So be careful, cause your child will be the next one on a drug to control his/her anger/temper that you taught them.

Good luck with that one and keep your opinions to yourself, unless you have walked in someones shoes who has or is going through this.

How do these well meaning folks see what goes on in my home (and everyone else’s)?? Are they flies on the wall or something?

My high school son told me once that he wishes I had not bought into all that “ADHD is a myth and your kids should not take meds” propagnda when he was younger, so he wouldn’t have had such a hard time adjusting to the ADHD diagnosis in 8th grade.

He was considered smart, even gifted, by many when he was homeschooled. He is well-read and very verbal, with many original ideas. however, disorganization and inability to memorize well has hindered him greatly in public school. I do think the system is flawed. however, in order to survive there he really must take meds.

The first semester of ninth grade he took meds and every teacher thought he was very intelligent and well-behaved. By NOv., he was freaking out about it and didn’t want the meds anymore. The second semester he had new teachers and very soon had a new reputation–as a struggling student who “refuses to work, refuses to pay attention, gets out of seat too often, blows up at other students for bothering him” etc.

So should I let him struggle on as the latter student, or encourage him to take meds and have a productive and happy high school career?

He has chosen to take meds again. We are working with the side effects and the blown reputation. It isn’t easy. But we are not unintelligent hopeless parents. Some of these posters have no clue!