Comments on: David Kirby and Autism Speaks

By: 29 Marbles / Autism awareness “elevator pitch” (reprint)

29 Marbles / Autism awareness “elevator pitch” (reprint) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:52:40 +0000

[...] scientists might “frame” some “hot button” issues in autism: As the back-and-forth in the comments on a post about David Kirby and Autism Speaks, facts and research studies can be cited, but [...]

By: Mercury In Court

Mercury In Court — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 06:16:34 +0000

[...] a number of posts linking the mercury-based preservative thimerasol and also mercury from the environment to autism and to the rising prevalence rate of autism, to an “epidemic of autism,” and [...]

By: John Taylor

John Taylor — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:20:24 +0000

God, I had a buck for every mother who went from product to product – secretin to B12 to oxgen therapy and on and on… – each time saying ‘that’s it, I can see an improvement’.

Ms Wright is a tragedy. Mr Kirby should be ashamed of himself.

By: Katie Wright Does Not Speak for Autism Speaks

Katie Wright Does Not Speak for Autism Speaks — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:20:00 +0000

[...] statements regarding vaccines as causing her son’s autism and her references to using biomedical treatments? ASD, Aspergers, autism, children, Education, family, mercury, parenting, PDD NOS, science, [...]

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 01:21:00 +0000

Phil, I completely agree with your posting regarding both Best and adult/elderly autistics.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this topic and wonder how many homeless adult men and women might be on the spectrum? It would certainly provide an insight into why we don’t see that many adult autistics walking around. Namely, the homeless are the most “invisible” sector of our society. With the closing of government institutions, it’s been shown numerous times that a notable percentage of the homeless population often have mental disorders/disabilities.

For that matter, what other “invisible” populations in our society might fall within the spectrum if evaluated appropriately? Immigrants? Working poor? Prisoners? “Mentally Retarded”?

It seems that there is an exigency for diagnosing children to meet educational needs; whereas, what motivations are there to identify, diagnose, and treat adults, especially those who constitute the most “invisible” sectors of our society?

By: landonsmom

landonsmom — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:42:22 +0000

Kristina,

I have to say that I agree wholeheartedly with Phil’s assessment of Mr. Best…..what an ego.

Too bad he can’t find a way to educate parents in a more effective manner….he actually ends up scaring most of them away with his zealotry and “attack dog” manner…..he may acutally have much information he could share with many parents who are interested in finding out more about a possible mercury/autism conncection, however it gets pushed aside when he becomes abusive and shows his ignorance of other facts pertaining to autism as well.

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:11:18 +0000

Kristina, Best is a meglomaniac. It’s comfortable for him to be abusive and emotional. Let him – give him enough rope to hang himself (I think he’s got enough already!).

And typical of him to change the context of what I wrote. He wanted to know where the 76 year old Autistics are (and older) and I told him. Before Kanner (and even after as long as the asylums were still around) they were sent to these horrific places and I doubt any of them lived past 40 if that. They weren’t being allowed to be themselves and they couldn’t cope without that routine. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there were a lot of suicides amongst them. Alzheimers would have been a long way off for them.

But of course, Best doesn’t see that because he doesn’t want to.

Youth dementia = Autism (as it was translated at the time). And there was youth dementia in 1893.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:23:11 +0000

I agree to disagree.

By: John Best

John Best — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 16:01:21 +0000

MS Chew, Different tones for differnt audiences. I think I chose the right one.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 15:17:37 +0000

Mr. Best, the tone of your comments diminishes anything you might wish to communicate.