Comments on: McCarthy’s, Er, “Autism” Pole

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:03:23 +0000

Dumb as a stump.

By: Regan

Regan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:24:05 +0000

“hasn’t ‘recovered’ but no longer qualifies as autistic for special services”.

Video clip from Sept. 2007 The View
Barbara Walters: “Your child is no longer autistic”
McCarthy: “Yes”.

Sept. 2008 to Diane Sawyer
McCarthy: “He is completely typical”.

(O-kay.)

Coincidentally, Sullivan over at LB/RB noted that Congressman Henry Waxman (CA) just sent out a “Dear Colleague” letter to members of Congress.
Good Information being spread on Capital Hill

This might be a better time than most to send a followup with your opinion to an elected representative.

By: siliconmom

siliconmom — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:57:14 +0000

I think Semantha brings up a good point. We have a responsibility to let organizations as well as our government officials know where we stand on various autism issues. Obviously, an organization like TACA will probably disagree with most of my opinions on autism but I still should make sure that they know that not all parents of autistic individuals feel as they do and that they should remind Ms. McCarthy or any other spokesperson that they do not speak for everyone, as Ms. McCarthy often claims.

On an interesting note, I did some research through google U. Apparently Ms. McCarthy claims that Evan “hasn’t ‘recovered’ but no longer qualifies as autistic for special services”.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:10:13 +0000

But isn’s she a spokesperson for TACA…….

By: Semantha

Semantha — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:59:56 +0000

More harm than good please contact TACA and let them know that she DOES NOT speak for alot of us!!!!!!!

Four ways to contact us:

Mail – 3070 Bristol Street, Suite 340, Costa Mesa CA 92626

Call- 949-640-4401. Calls are returned during normal business hours.

Fax (949) 640-4424

Or check Website for e-mail options-
http://www.tacanow.com/contactus.htm

By: siliconmom

siliconmom — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:01:30 +0000

I just saw her CNN interview. Haven’t seen the Barbara Walters controversy yet, mostly because I really try and avoid Ms. McCarthy in any way shape or form. I think what I find most annoying is that the media keep her in business and that her perspective of autism is many people’s first and only impression of the disease. I knew that he had epilepsy but hadn’t realized it was his primary diagnosis. So why doesn’t she get on the epilepsy advocacy band wagon and claim that vaccines cause epilepsy.

I’d really like to see a debate between Ms. McCarthy and a mother who has a completely opposite perspective on their autistic child, someone who can ask her point blank “If Evan is recovered, why does he continue to receive services?” I wonder if that’s a clause in her interview contracts, that no reporter can ask her that question?

Grrr. She just irritates me so much.

By: Robin H. Morris

Robin H. Morris — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:41:23 +0000

Apparently Ms. McCarthy forgives Barbara Walters, but not actress Amanda Peet, who apologized for referring to parents who don’t vaccinate as “parasites”. So what’s the deal, are apologies compartmentalized to the most worthy, or the most influential?
ange, I love the pole incentive!
xR

By: Bonnie Sayers

Bonnie Sayers — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:34:39 +0000

The story did not state what the pole is used for. Never read of any family or clinic using that before, swings yes, pole no.

So is Evan a Regional Center consumer? Must not be if he is cured. When was the last seizure, is it mentioned in book?

Thanks for commenting about the Barbara Walters blurb, that is unreal. The articl at that site calls her an actress.

Her name was familiar when first heard of her coming to TACA, but what movies or shows has she been in that get her that title? Not counting the guest appearance on Two and a half men.

By: Bonnie Sayers

Bonnie Sayers — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:54:02 +0000

What condition do his teachers understand. She said he is recovered in one book and cured in another.

There is a yahoo group called autism for sale. Many parents sell the DVDs they buy from her site. Seems they watch them once and sell. Guess they are not worth keeping.

By: Regan

Regan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:35:36 +0000

She forgives Barbara Walters for getting angry with her because Ms. Walters has/had a special needs sister.

If that wasn’t the most passive-aggressive “forgiving” ever; publicly painting a picture of Barbara as a shouting harridan then piously “forgiving” Barbara because Barbara is…sorry that her sister was not cured, and was not calling JMc on facts, but “really” angry at Jenny for that reason. AoA is doing a lot of supposin’ about the guilt card pretty heavy right now.
Nice, real nice.