Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Larry King, Autism Special

Did anyone happen to catch the piece on Larry King about Autism?  It was a great piece.  They featured: J-Mac, Holly Robinson-Peete, Doug Flutie, and Toni Braxton.  They also had an appearance by a doctor with a son with Autism, who specializes in patients with Autism.  You can find more info about this show at the following link:

Larry King, Autism: Solving the Puzzle

It was a great show.  Definitely still a lot  of debate in the media whether or not vaccinations cause Autism.  I am with J-Mac's mom.  While I am not devaluing the need for finding a cause, let's stop spending so much time debating about where it came from and do something about helping those who are affected.  We can start by beginning to change people's view about people with Autism.  Many are very capable individuals, even those who are considered more "severe". Trying to put these kids in a box and labeling them Autistic, can seriously devastate families and individuals affected by Autism.  My sons will never be "normal", but the more accepted they are in more typical activities, they may have the opportunity to unlock hidden potential. My sons are very functional and do have a good chance for independence, but they do need special help in certain areas.  We are fortunate to live in a community where we have lots of support with services, school, and special activities.  Not everyone is so fortunate.  It is my hope that some day there will be more opportunities for individuals affected by Autism everywhere.

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