Monday February 20, 2012, 11:16 am
 
Gladly signed your petition, Linda:
 
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Autism-and-other-medical-disorders-dsm/
 
Thanks for posting!
 
 

Monday February 20, 2012, 11:26 am
thank you sooooo much carole

Monday February 20, 2012, 12:35 pm
Have noted,signed and will forward this petition on to those on my friends list. Thank you Linda and thank you Carole for the forward.

Monday February 20, 2012, 12:47 pm
thank you soooooo much edwin

Monday February 20, 2012, 12:51 pm
Signed, thank you Linda & Carole for the forward.

Monday February 20, 2012, 12:57 pm
oops, my comment disappeared.
Thanks Linda, have also gladly signed and hope the petition will make a difference for those changes MUST NOT COME: To me it sounds like a dirty trick, same old story, sole purpose is cuts on social ad med spending on the expense of the needy.

Monday February 20, 2012, 12:57 pm
thank you soooo much lisa

Monday February 20, 2012, 12:59 pm
thank you angelika its a shame that that they target the ones who cant help themselves but i will help them again thank you all for your support its very appriciated

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:03 pm

It's all about the money...

*sighs*

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:20 pm
Thank you ~ signed

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:22 pm
thank you soooo much alice

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:25 pm
Signed and shred on FB.
Thank you Linda and also Carole for the link.

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:27 pm
thank you soooo much vivien its much appriciated :-)

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:28 pm
noted, thank you Linda and Edwin for the forward

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:35 pm
thanks for the forward, edwin. signed.

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:37 pm
Done

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:40 pm
Gladly signed.
My heart and prayers go out to you and yours Linda.
Thanks for the forward Edwin, i might not have seen this were it not for your forward.

Monday February 20, 2012, 1:41 pm
#248, thanks Linda and Carole

Monday February 20, 2012, 2:00 pm
Signed. Thanks for postin and for the petition, and to Edwin M. for the heads up.

Monday February 20, 2012, 2:03 pm
Thank you, Linda for your post/petition, and dear Carole for your FW in this subject. I work with 3 middle school students with ASD this year, and we are currently on the lookout in SpEd to see (how, when), these changes take effect. As stated in the article..."The criteria for an autism diagnosis, as defined by the authors of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), is about to change so dramatically that parents across the world are fearful children classified as having high-functioning autism, Asperger's syndrome or pervasive development disorder are likely to lose their diagnosis - and with it, their therapy and educational entitlements.

"It is teachers who should be complaining the loudest. They will be the ones left to manage untreated children with less help from special needs staff because fewer children will be classified as special needs."

This is absolutely correct. These children need their modifications/accomodationss within the classroom environment, as well as in the elective places on campus'. No AND's, IF's or BUT's in this situation.

I am very concerned about this subject, and pray that our Autistic children continue to have ownership with their rights, (and parents), and that this not go through. I am passing this on to my other teachers at school, the more that sign, the more our kids will have a voice!! Thank you.

Monday February 20, 2012, 2:04 pm
Oops...got carried away....DEFINITELY SIGNED this!!!! Thanks, all. xox

Monday February 20, 2012, 2:11 pm
i know that feeling gran pat i have 2 children with autism and its not easy they need these services and diagnoses to assure that they will understand how to live in this world

Monday February 20, 2012, 2:17 pm
That is simply insane! I have an adult Autistic son, when he was little MOST Doctors didn't know about Autism. It was hard on our family, but we got through it & he's always lived with us. He does not talk, though he can repeat words if you ask & he feels like it.. he would not be affected by re-writing the test.
But those on the high-functioning end of the spectrum are the ones Most Likely to Succeed with help & training! So changing their diagnosis would actually yank away any chance they might have to become Functioning Members of Society!:( It would cost Society & Taxpayers so much more to abandon help & hope than it would to just give help & training right Now!!!

Monday February 20, 2012, 2:19 pm
Linda, I only wish that these individuals in this field, who come up with these ideas, would (at LEAST)!!! spend TWO weeks on a school campus, helping, tutoring, monitoring, assisting SpEd students with disabilities. Put themselves in their shoes, (if not for half a day) to realize how difficult it is for our kids to get through a 'normal' day. If only......

Monday February 20, 2012, 2:21 pm
PS. Signed & commented!:)

Monday February 20, 2012, 2:43 pm
Signed, thanks, Linda. And thanks to Edwin for the forward.

Monday February 20, 2012, 3:01 pm
Thanks Carole and Linda, noted and signed!

Monday February 20, 2012, 3:03 pm
I can't sign this. There is too much against the DSM as to its validity, and the inclusion of autism and Asperger's as psychiatric disorders;
See this link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/01/27/f-vp-bambury-autism.html?cmp=rss

"It was DSM-4, the current, gargantuan edition that added Asperger syndrome as an autism-spectrum disorder in 1994.
Since then, the number of reported cases has exploded and the man who headed the task force that created DSM-4, Dr. Allen Frances, currently professor emeritus at Duke University, has been highly critical of his own work.
He told Ronson that the inclusion of Asperger was a mistake and he has also had some sharp advice recently for the task force working on DSM-5.
""Anticipate the worst. If something can be misused, it will be misused," Frances told National Public Radio in the U.S. "If diagnosis can lead to over-diagnosis and over-treatment, that will happen. So you need to be very, very cautious in making changes that may open the door for a flood of fad diagnoses.""

"Dr. Frances told Ronson that he and his associates had created three false "epidemics" — childhood bi-polar disorder, autism and ADHD."

It is NOT cut and dried regarding autism or asperger's as being psychiatric disorders.

Another point is how many psychotropic drugs are given children diagnosed as autistic currently? Is that good, or bad? Howw ell do they work? Side-effects? Is profit by Big Pharma a large incentive behind the DSM?

Psychiatry and their DSM is already a total witches brew in my personal opinion..

Another point is that I doubt all teachers or parents agree on what is autism, varying degrees of autism, behaviours, etc. so there again it's not all cut and dried.
It's hard to be on solid ground regarding these things when psychiatry and the DSM are on shaky ground.

The thing I agree on is that children no matter what condition they are in, need good help, whatever that is, whenever they need it, like everyone else..

Monday February 20, 2012, 3:17 pm
Noted, and signed petition...Thanks for the forward, Carole :)

Monday February 20, 2012, 3:45 pm
Just C. and Linda, Thank you so much and proudly signed.

Monday February 20, 2012, 4:41 pm
Have signed for sure, thank you for conjuring up a petition Linda! I had read the article and was wondering how they can be (again )so stupid as to focus on short-term money saving instead of (for once) the long-term consequences... and even better, what causes it?

Monday February 20, 2012, 4:58 pm
266, TU Linda & Carole

Monday February 20, 2012, 5:06 pm
All lives matter, we are souls in a body. I signed. Thanks Linda.

Monday February 20, 2012, 5:23 pm
a socialized medical care system would work best for all, I don't give a damn about "socialism" or whatever labels they want to paste on that. Caring for our own means insurance companies should go the way of the dinosaur.
Signed, thanks.

Monday February 20, 2012, 5:59 pm
Noted, signed and shared. Thank you Linda and thanks for the forward Carole.

Monday February 20, 2012, 8:13 pm
Thank you for the forward Carole - and for posting, Linda. I have gladly signed this and posted on my FB!

Yvonne, you deserve more than a star, so consider yourself hugged as well.

Kenneth - I don't like over-using or diagnosing a term like ADHD either. I do believe you are correct in some regards about over-medicating, and (maybe) even labeling children with such 'terms'. The fact is, however, that whether a child has full-blown Autism or if it's related to, with less 'qualifiers' - if there is a problem, they need to have the treatment they need. Using your argument for saying "NO", why not simply use the current DSM, but NOT 'label' the child since it is 'so difficult' anyway? Let all children get the therapy/treatment they need until they can function in society? They could then be 'graduated' - but would still have the opportunity to receive all the help they need. Labels are never so good anyway.

Camila, You have the best answer for all medical, social, psychological, dental & visual "impairments, disease, ailments or injuries" that are required for a healthy society! "I don't give a damn about "socialism" or whatever labels they want to paste on that." 100% Agree.

Monday February 20, 2012, 8:21 pm
Well put sue!!, and thank you for your support

Monday February 20, 2012, 10:26 pm
Sue, good comments and observations. One of the problems with the autistic condition is that there is still so much to be learned. It makes no sense to attempt to define it into a corner. While it may have become something of a catch-all, that isn't the way to work through to a better understanding of it. There needs to be the time to study it. If anything, a little discipline within the discipline, too many lazy and inept therapists. Why people go into this field when they have no gift or calling to it chaps my hide.

This over-simplification will betray our children. It does seem that it is dollars trumping comprehensive access to care. Shame on those mental health professionals who are bureaucrats before they are practitioners, remember, "Do no harm." This has the potential of unraveling so much. I believe it is the wrong approach with which to deal with some valid concerns.

Monday February 20, 2012, 11:05 pm
noted,signed, gracias

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 12:40 am
Thank you.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 1:44 am
Signed of course!
http://www.theautismsite.com/

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 2:42 am
Thank you Linda for the news at site! Absolutely signed, a bunch of great comments Gran Pat, Sue...

Just "C" thank you for forwarding this to me!

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 4:32 am
Sue: "if there is a problem, they need to have the treatment they need. Using your argument for saying "NO", why not simply use the current DSM, but NOT 'label' the child since it is 'so difficult' anyway? Let all children get the therapy/treatment they need until they can function in society?"
You understand that many psychiatrists themselves (not to mention psychologists, medical doctors, neurologists, etc.) view the DSM as NOT science but only based on subjective agreed-upon opinion, and disorders are merely voted into it. Also that they have NO definition, if you can believe it, for a 'mental disorder and yet have 374 of them in the book! Also that they have NO medical or biological test to prove any 'brain chemical imbalance' as the cause of any 'mental illness' or 'mental disease' or 'mental disorder' yet that is what they drug and 'treat' on the basis of.
So when you talk of 'treatment' and what children 'need' regarding something in the DSM, like autism, any reasoning person has to take all the above into account.
What nobody needs are sheeple who follow blindly because some authority like Psychiatry (the DSM is their book) tells them autism is such and such, and the gov't. pays money to fund them, and 'treats' them using that authority (Psychiatry). I don't care how much money is spent on something if it's bad money.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/aspergers-history-of-over-diagnosis.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=Asperger%27s%20syndrome&st=cse

(the above article in the ny times written by a psychiatrist)

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/side-effects/201202/dsm-5-controversy-is-now-firmly-transatlantic

I could care less how much money is spent on something if it's bad money, money thrown away.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 4:55 am
Noted and signed.Thanks Linda.Thanks Carole for the forward.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 6:13 am
signed ty CAROLE

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 7:54 am
It seems that we should allow the scientific and medical community do their work without inappropriate and biasing factors because I can tell you, as a sociologist, that every scientific inquiry throughout human history (and even today, with high scientific standards, better tools and investigative methods), there are two factors that work against a scientist/researcher:

1) Cultural baggage and cultural conditioning. It's what induces a scientist to formulate (or not!) a hypothesis to test, and it influences how the research question is even formulated.

2) Funding sources or the impact on perceived resources. A study can be invalidated, regardless of the findings, and a researcher stripped of credibility if the funding source can be demonstrated as a "set up," meaning the ends justified the means (and the outcome was what a funding source was seeking or hoping for). It also means that scientists and researchers who give in to this kind of pressure or who sell their skills to "the highest bidder" discredit themselves in the academic community and researchers like myself, a sociologist, goes to this FIRST, instead of merely accepting findings.

As a sociologist, I know all too well that the term "massaging the statistics" means more than just doing fuzzy math to support a finding the researcher "needs" to conclude the study. It means that data triangulation and the reputation of the researcher now also has to be taken into consideration when citing sources and using evidence to support a conclusion.

When I read the article, it reminded me of how appointees with little, no or questionable scientific (biology) backgrounds are placed in charge of (so-called!) wildlife "management" agencies. It's usually those who open espouse very speciesist views which have been traditionally appointed, or the token biologist who is willing to support the establishment as mouthpiece for anti-wildlife agenda of producing wildlife for sale to killers when too many scientists are badgered into keeping the truth quiet: that "management" should apply to humans as well, and what has been applied to wildlife is more often of little to moderate help and in some cases, made the problem of decline even worse.

In the case above, it was all about money and keeping revenue coming in. But, society's viewpoints are changing in the aggregate, and more people are finding out about this form of mismanagement and questioning it (and the animal advocates of the world are doing a great job of helping people get factual truth).

This isn't so different from this situation and how scientists and practitioners are being pressured to change findings, outcomes and other conclusions because of non-science entities applying pressure to solicit a "desirable" (to them) outcome to then justify a change in the dedication of resources, social policy, and other related avenues.

Final analysis? Diagnosis for these conditions either constitutes science, or it doesn't. If it does, allow the scientific, research and medical communities to do their work so that it can be applied to the greatest good. If the science has been invalidated, refuted, or is questionable, state such and retract findings so that research can continue to find answers in light of what appeared to be previously inaccurate assumptions.

But putting pressure on practitioners to change their diagnostic procedures and subvert the application of the standardly accepted scientific method for the purpose of manipulating resources? The timing of this could not have been more overly suspicious. This isn't just political interference, it's unethical and immoral because it undermines scientific veracity and credibility. It's analogous to the catholic church threatening Galileo Galilei to stop investigating heliocentrism because his findings might not be "convenient" for the church's doctrine, and therefore, its control of society and social evolution.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 8:07 am
Camilla and Sue - interesting points.

Unfortunately, there are very many uneducated, uninformed and reactionary people all over the world who erroneously conflate the following and falsely believe/claim "it's all the same thing":

1) Socialism - economic *theory* or system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned by the community collectively, usually through the state. It is characterized by production for use rather than profit, by equality of individual wealth, by the absence of competitive economic activity, and, usually, by government determination of investment, prices, and production levels. The theory is put into practice through a form of governance wherein the state acts as the locus of the collection and distribution, instead of individuals, to block accumulation and to ensure equal distribution and participation.

2) Socialized medicine - Access and distribution of medical services based upon equal access with no individual obtaining greater or lesser access for whatever reason. Service types and quality varies based upon the social resources available to allocate, not the form of governance under which the system operates.

3) Socially responsible - Societies which place a premium on the stability of greater society by equalizing living standards to reduce disparity and spread more extensive and applicable services and resources more widely to reach a great number of individuals in society. The net effect is an overall higher standard of living, better health, less economic disparity, and less participation in wars and conflicts internally and externally. See Scandinavian Union nations as models for this concept.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 9:08 am
Ben O. i clicked the link

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 9:34 am
Signed/ noted. I don't understand what's up with the DSM changes. I heard they're removing Narcissistic Personality Disorder as well. My sister has NPD, so this is making it difficult for her to get proper treatment.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 9:52 am
yes caro its more then just autism that will change but most of the focus seems to be on autism but my petition is for all mental disorders that will suffer from these changes

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 10:15 am

This is truly sad for children and parents-- signed and shared. Thank you Linda and Carole for the forward.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 10:16 am

TY Ben, I click everyday :)

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 10:35 am
I am helping to raise my ASD grandchild and it is very difficult, even now, to get schools to accomodate her needs. She has a diagnosis from a qualified neuropsychologist, but her school counselor says she doesn't qualify under the school guidelines. This "disorder" is not a mental problem. It is neuropsychological in origin and they need to get to the root of it so that it doesn't just keep getting more widespread. I hate labeling any child with these problems for learning, and I especially hate how easily people will accept the treatment of these children with drugs. They CAN learn. They just learn differently than most and at their own pace. When I went to school, there were separate classes for children with these kinds of learning problems, but now "there isn't enough money to do that", but there is enough money to pay out disability to them when they cannot be productive citizens due to a lack of educational opportunities when young? This step is just another way to cut back on government spending. It is a political move, and the people responsible should be ashamed ... if not flogged! TY Edwin and C for the forward. Signed.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 10:43 am
well spoken and i agree deb

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 10:47 am
Petition signed.

The drug + insurance companies are behind the proposed changes in getting rid of autism.
They do not want to be held liable for the mercury preservative in it as it has been shown to cause
autism and related problems.

TY, Linda for article, petition. Just C for forwarding.
.

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 10:52 am
thank you for your support jim :-)

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 11:02 am
We can thank this dastardly, specious, contradictory religious influence we are currently being unduly subjected to. Where it is not the loving philosophy and teachings of Jesus being espoused, but rather the bastardization and self serving version. When we find this de-evolized nonsense being hocked as gospel, well what are we to expect? We so often hear, give unto Caesar, or the Lord, ..., based on what point is being perverted. And, surely the disruption, denial, or complete eradication of our public educational system makes sense, not! This is the point, how do we recognize good science, and that which is in our best interest, if we are denied a path of education? If we agree to blindly accept with not even the least bit of thoughtful curiosity regarding method, we are sheep and lemmings. Are we then doing our best for those who depend on us? The children, the infirm, the well being of our very society?

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 11:25 am
nicely put suruna

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 2:19 pm
Noted, signed and shared! :)

Tuesday February 21, 2012, 7:35 pm
Thank-you. Noted. Thank-you Ben O., those are my second set of daily clicks I do.

Wednesday February 22, 2012, 3:31 am
Thankfully there are lots and lots of other fields and practices than Psychiatry and their bible, the DSM, that look at autism, such as nutritionists, wholistic practitioners, speech therapists, educators, etc.
Madame Zog's Book Of Afflictions is on the same level as the DSM. So ANY money spent on the DSM is a waste of money. It is NOT science, there is no scientific veracity or methodology in it.
It's actually heavily influenced by Big Pharma who makes 300 billion dollars a year worldwide from providing psychiatric medication to it's customers.
The sheeple are being suckered big time while complaining about 'big bad gov't. reducing funding to the DSM'. Don't make me laugh.

Wednesday February 22, 2012, 3:40 am
Correction, should be..."reducing funding BECAUSE OF CHANGES to the DSM". Same thing.

Wednesday February 22, 2012, 7:33 am
Some DSM revision is needed; hopefully those chosen will be fully ethical choices and meet consensus.

Wednesday February 22, 2012, 1:12 pm
thanks Linda for sharing this important information

Wednesday February 22, 2012, 2:18 pm
For instance: from the Autism Research Institute, For Families Living With Autism website:
http://www.autism.com/fam_autism_myths.asp

No. 2 on their list of MYTHS OF AUTISM is----"AUTISM IS A MENTAL ILLNESS".

And if anyone searches this website they will see not a SINGLE reference to treating an autistic child by using a psychiatric diagnosis or psychiatric drug and certainly not a SINGLE reference to any treatment of autism as 'AUTISTIC DISORDER' as listed in Psychiatry's book, the DSM.

Make sure you flip a couple of pages of the DSM from 'Autistic Disorder' over to 'Caffeine-induced Disorder'. Yes, that's right. Four categories of this psychiatric 'mental illness'.. Drink too much coffee and it made you hyper? Caffeine-Induced Disorder.. Drink too much coffee and can't sleep? Caffeine-induced Sleep Disorder'. I'm not making this up. Google it. So you get the picture about psychiatric 'disorders'.

Wednesday February 22, 2012, 5:50 pm
Idk ken if u even know what autism is or how it affects someone but I can tell u from experience. I have 2 autistic children one of which can not have a conversation with u and can barely hold a pencil to write. Can u explain it any differently then it is a mental disorder which the categorized as autism. It's not just autism that the dsm is targeting its other mental disorders also.

Autism is an impairment in communication skills, social abilites and repetitive behaviors.  Autism can be reliably diagnosed by the age of 3 years old.  However most parents can usually see it earlier by the way their child developes, by not hitting the developmental milestones on target as they should.

These DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) changes that are being proposed will remove atleast 2 of the diagnoses from the spectrum, leaving many lost and confused. The 2 spectrums that are begin targeted are PPD (Perassive Development Disorder) and AD (Aspergers Disorder). 

Changing the DSM will potentially affect 1.5 million people.  Without services for these people you are setting them up for failure. 

My son can't have a regular conversation oth u but he can watch a movie or show once and repeat the whole thing from start 2 finish. Until u live with or have any experience with a person like this u probably have no clue what or how 2 deal with it. So please don't judge something u don't know.

Autism isn't a tragedy Ignorance is

Wednesday February 22, 2012, 6:02 pm
Btw can u tell me how he will ever b able 2 b productive in any society without a diagnosis or services 2 help him My concern is making sure he will b able 2 take care of himself when I'm gone and his older brothers r also.

2 everyone else I do apologize but I felt I needed 2 say this

Thursday February 23, 2012, 12:18 am
Noted. Thanks.

Thursday February 23, 2012, 2:09 am
Thanks.

Thursday February 23, 2012, 7:41 am
Linda, did you go to this website?

http://www.autism.com/fam_autism_myths.asp
.
What does it say? Does it look credible, reputable? What treatments does it advocate? How do other people view autism, people who ARE knowledgeable?

There are MANY different views as to WHAT autism is, HOW to deal with it or treat it. For you to ignore or not research anything else but keep on about 'autism is a mental disorder' because the system uses this idea as a basis for treatment, and operates this way, and because autism is in their list of 374 disorders in the DSM, is myopic.

There are many mothers with autistic children. They wouldn't all agree with you about treatment, about the DSM, or that autism is a 'mental disorder'. Sorry, but this isn't about SYMPATHY. Or sympathy for you. It's bad to have sheeple. It's fought every day in Care2.

You say: "Without services for these people you are setting them up for failure." You mean services provided for free, through insurance or the gov't? I fear this is probably your entire reason behind your views about autism and the DSM.. Because there are lots of other treatment options.

Did you read this?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/01/27/f-vp-bambury-autism.html?cmp=rs

This?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/aspergers-history-of-over-diagnosis.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=Asperger%27s%20syndrome&st=cse

This?
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/side-effects/201202/dsm-5-controversy-is-now-firmly-transatlantic

The article you provided in this C2NN story is by a Sydney, Australia newspaper journalist.
So I have provided these other links to BALANCE the thing out. Much to your chagrin evidently.

Friday February 24, 2012, 4:59 am
Thanks to Carol. Signed and noted.

Friday February 24, 2012, 5:55 am
And there is an AUTISM RIGHTS MOVEMENT as stated here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_rights_movement

"The autism rights movement (ARM) (also neurodiversity movement or anti-cure movement or autistic culture movement) is a social movement that encourages autistic people, their caregivers and society to adopt a position of neurodiversity, accepting autism as a variation in functioning rather than a mental disorder to be cured".

"Curing autism is a controversial and politicized issue. Doctors and scientists are not clear on the cause(s) of autism yet many organizations like Defeat Autism Now! and Autism Speaks advocate researching a cure. Members of the various autism rights organizations view autism as a way of life rather than as a disease and thus advocate acceptance over a search for a cure.[6][7] Some advocates believe that common treatments for the behavioral and language delays associated with autism, like Applied behavior analysis therapy, are not only misguided but also unethical.[8]"

"Since those in the autism rights movement see autism as a natural human variation and not a disorder, they are opposed to attempts to eliminate autism."

"Some people lament that professionals, such as social workers, may discourage autistics from having children.[22] Some are concerned that the "ultimate cure will be a genetic test to prevent autistic children from being born"[6] and that most fetuses with autism would be aborted if prenatal tests for autism are developed."

(shades of eugenics?)

As I said earlier, it is bad to have sheeple.

Friday February 24, 2012, 9:18 am
Signed..noted and forwarded this very important petition...

Thanks Linda..

Friday February 24, 2012, 9:22 am
thank you sooooo much Dee

Friday February 24, 2012, 8:42 pm
Kenneth, because some don't 'agree' with you or the opposing positions of "other" Autism groups, does not mean they are "sheeple", as you like to call them - or wrong. Simply accepting autism as "a variation in functioning rather than a mental disorder to be cured" could also be considered to be denial or 'turning a blind eye'. There is still SO MUCH unknown about the brain, why would anyone (esp. a parent) 'WANT to accept' this as being a "natural human variation" - and why would any Dr. worth his salt DARE say, "This is just normal behavior, there is nothing worth taking any kind of medical or psychological path to do anything about it." ??? JUST because there is no determined cause for autism, doesn't make it normal - regardless of what you might believe or some Dr. that doesn't want to admit he doesn't know.

Saturday February 25, 2012, 12:57 am
Sue D., I have no interest in anyone agreeing with me about anything. I AM interested in people not being sheeple. Ask any Care2 activist no matter what area they are active in, from vegans to animal rights to endangered species protection to pollution to fracking to pesticides to politics to human rights etc.---they ALL know about people being sheeple and sheeple-itis as a HUGE factor to deal with in society and 'the masses'.
From what many health professionals have observed and stated, including psychiatrists themselves, about the field of Psychiatry, and backed by Big Pharma as it is, and that 'autism disorder' is another one of their 374 disorders in the DSM, it certainly can fall into the definition of sheeple. Many children and adults are labelled with this 'mental disorder' and are thus labelled'mentally ill' because that's ALL everything is in the DSM---a psychiatric labelled mental illness.
Autism is a term coined by a psychiatrist 100 years ago. 'Asperger's syndrome' was formulated and named after another psychiatrist.
I personally care when psychiatry kills approx. 3,000 people a month with their 'treatments'.
I care when Psychiatry says 26.4% of the entire population of the U.S. is mentally ill with some psychiatric disorder of one kind or another. ONE IN FOUR?! Huamnity is being pathologized and controlled by psychiatry backed by Big Pharma that makes 330 billion dollars a year worldwide from selling their 'treatments' for all the 'mental disorders' that can be stacked into the DSM.
Research it yourself.

http://naturalbias.com/making-a-killing-with-psychiatric-drugs-literally/

Saturday February 25, 2012, 1:14 am
Another one of the 374 psychiatric 'mental disorders', 'mental illnesses' in the DSM put on children---
"The increase of bipolar disorder has been of particular concern among children. This diagnosis was made popular by Dr. Joseph Biederman (psychiatrist) who was the primary force behind the 4000% increase in the diagnosed cases of bipolar disorder in children and the associated 2.5 million prescriptions. Dr. Biederman was eventually exposed for having been paid by 25 different drug companies and having failed to disclose 1.6 million dollars in income from them."

Saturday February 25, 2012, 1:39 am
And now, would you believe Sue D., children as young as 12 months are being diagnosed with 'autistic disorder' by psychiatrists. See a pattern here?
As I said before, it's bad to have sheeple

Saturday February 25, 2012, 2:41 am
Kenneth - Believe it or not, I have NO argument with you about "mis-diagnosis" or even "flavor of the day" labels that should not be put on anyone and everyone. They exist. That still does NOT make autism or asperger's etc, a "natural human variation" or something that should be unrecognized as "real". I don't know "what" it is either, but it is definitely not a figment of anyone's imagination.

They said the same thing about Fibromialga (sp) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome just 10-12 years ago, and those are VERY real. Just like a 'bad back' - some people will use to get benefits because it is hard to prove or dis-prove - but that does not mean it's never real.

Anyone can find a "Professional" that will argue for or against anything if it serves their purpose. There is not ONLY a "bandwagon" for false diagnosis, but an equally destructive "bandwagon" to refute any syndrome, disease, mental disorder & medical condition to save a few $$$$$$ on health care for Insurance Companies and Government/Military (PTSD) and big Corporations that don't want to pay for the damages or health problems they CAUSE. It is popular now-a-days to discredit any and all programs or funding whenever possible, especially if it's a political target and costs any of the above precious money. It's a despicable practice with a complete lack of moral conscience.

Do you also believe that the BP oil spill (or the MANY others) didn't really cause lasting damage to our oceans, sea life, coastal lands & wildlife? Maybe Fracking is just another innocuous use of unmentioned chemicals in the aquifers we depend on for clean drinking water?

Saturday February 25, 2012, 7:00 am

Well said, Sue!

While I totally agree that the DSM and FDA have increasingly been used as a tool of Big Pharma in order to saturate the general population with its over-prescribed, continuously rebranded, potentially dangerous -- and not carefully tested for long-term side effects -- drugs, the potential side effect of removing an existing condition from the manual (since it IS used as a reference by many health care providers and insurance companies) is that those who have been receiving treatment (which, by the way, also includes alternative methods of therapy not requiring medication) will have problems continuing with what has been successfully controlling their condition.

Saturday February 25, 2012, 3:26 pm
Didn't need to read - am a former MH supervisor and am aware of the changes- even gave them some recommendations - do not agree with this change.

Sunday February 26, 2012, 1:47 pm
Sue D., I never said autism or asperger's was 'a natural human variation' or 'something that should be recognized as not real'. False.
SOME people evidently do as per the Autism Rights Movement. You'll have to argue with them about that The point is not everybody agrees about what autiism is (to put it mildly), whether lay or professional people.
Of course anyone can find a professional to argue against something if it serves their purpose. The DSM is compiled from such people. The same can be said of course for lay people as well.
I never said behaviour or symptoms of anyone is not real, but WHAT IT IS is a whole different ballgame.
I have no idea what you're talking about regarding the BP oil spill or fracking.
The bottom, basic problem is the DSM is a pack of lies so it's moot where and how or when or why it is used. Thats my view of it, as well as many psychiatrists, psychologists, medical doctors themselves.
i'll say it again, IT'S BAD TO HAVE SHEEPLE.
.

Sunday February 26, 2012, 3:22 pm
Here's another petition regarding the DSM, accessed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwRwqhhWh3o&feature=related

This is by David Elkins, Phd., President, Division 32, Society For Humanistic Psychology.

I'm going to point out again that autism ('Autistic Disorder', 'Autistic Spectrum Disorder' and 'Asperper's Syndrome' are all called/labelled 'psychiatric mental disorders' in the DSM. That is a FACT.

So there's lots of viewpoints about the DSM, lots of viewpoints about autism, Asperger's Syndrome, 'mental disorders', psychiatric disorders, by laymen, professionals, individuals who have or do not have autism or asperger's (as considered by them), psychiatrists, psychologists, as well as differing viewpoints of autism and asperger's and treatments by a whole host of organizations regarding these things.

Voila.

Sunday February 26, 2012, 5:11 pm
Kenneth - Your post on February 24, 2012, 5:55 am, said EXACTLY that and that's why I quoted you. If you post a statement from other views as an argument, you are saying it is also 'what you believe' if you don't make a point of saying it is "NOT". Who are the "sheeple" YOU continue to refer to regarding this subject? I was not at any time saying "I believe" it is or is not a mental disorder - I was simply saying there is enough evidence to indicate there IS something that needs to be treated and taken care of regardless of WHAT specific "diagnosis" is given.

Autism (& sub categories) is said to be a neurological disorder. In Wikipedia's Neurological disorder definition/information, it includes, "The distinction between neurological and mental disorders can be a matter of some debate, either in regard to specific facts about the cause of a condition or in regard to the general understanding of brain and mind."

Whether Autism is also a mental disorder - I don't know (and apparently there is enough conflict among professionals to have NO absolute determination) "I" believe that children who have gone through the 'MANY' age/symptom testing as they grow, and are determined to need programs, treatment or specific help to assist them in achieving as non-problematic life as possible - should get it. Simple as that.

Monday February 27, 2012, 2:09 am
Signed and noted.

Monday February 27, 2012, 3:49 pm
Noted. glad to see I'd already signed for this. Good luck!

Tuesday February 28, 2012, 5:28 pm
I think the real question is why a child with a "social disorder" label wouldn't get help and care and teaching to help him/her function better. It doesn't need to be called autism, and in some cases it even may not be, just be diagnosed as a problem. All children with special needs should be getting extra help, whatever the label.

Tuesday February 28, 2012, 6:29 pm
Exactly, Ra Sc - Special Needs are exactly that and children with special needs should be given what they need.

Thursday March 8, 2012, 10:33 pm
Noted and signed.

Friday March 9, 2012, 5:31 am
ty for your support tonya