Seven Responses to Autism’s Parent Trap

Here are seven letters—all from autism parents—in response to Cammie McGovern’s June 5th New York Times op-ed, Autism’s Parent Trap. I include excerpts below.

1. Linda H. Davis (mother of 20-year-old): “Even if I could turn Randy into a “real boy,” I would not.”
2. Robert J. Schmoldt (father of 4-year-old): “We will continue to be determined and undaunted parents, even as I am reminded to be balanced and pragmatic.”
3. J. B. Handley (of Generation Rescue) (father of 3-year-old): “At the most recent Defeat Autism Now! conference in Washington, recovered children were featured on stage and filmed for the world to see.”
4. Barbara Coccodrilli Carlson (mother of 16-year-old): “Government and philanthropy, take note: It is a whole lot easier to accept the absence of a “cure” when you know that your child will be embraced by others, despite his differences.”
5. Charles A. Amenta III (parent): “As the physician-parent of a person with autism, I feel a triple stress: dealing with a difficult child; feeling a professional defeat, as your own efforts at “cure” are failing; and feeling alienated from other parents because of the almost universal antagonism toward standard medicine by the autism parent community.”
6. W. David Jenkinson (father of 28-year-old): “I guess what I am trying to say is that the problem does not just disappear when the child reaches age 22.”
7. Kitty Prendergast (mother of 9-year-old): “I agree with Cammie McGovern that total recovery is not a realistic goal, but parents should never give up hope or stop trying to make their kids better. And yes, do enjoy their “quirky ways.”