Added: 4 years ago
From: MargaretRomaoToigo
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  • fugly fecker bugger off troll!!!!

  • Wow, your son has some mighty locks on him. I think it looks sweet.

    It's great to hear that you are raising your child in the realisation that he's not sick and in need to be cured, but an individual who will move through the world in his way and do just fine.

    Autism is not brain damage. Our brains simply process things differently, perhaps at a slower rate, perhaps at a faster rate. The brain may take different routes but they get the job done.

  • i thought that was a girl..get a haircut

  • Very happy for you that your child is so high functioning. Please do not dismiss the fundraising efforts. My child is 12 and is severe. His class is full of children as severe or worse than him. There are many children out there that are exactly as you say depicted in the ads. We must raise awareness for all the autistic people not just the high functioning ones.

  • @rloutos Raising awareness can be accomplished without all the maudlin hyperbole of icky autism charities like Autism Speaks.

  • Luck has little to nothing to do with it. Happiness and misery are choices that come from within, not gifts or curses that come from without.

  • I view your opinion as narrow minded. As a parent of a 6 year old on the non-verbal side of autism I think you have been fairly lucky. If you want to have fun spend some time with some low functioning autistic children. There's a pair of 12 year old non-verbal, non-toilet trained, and bald (due to stress) boys that I know that would be perfect. Your statements disgust me, you should be ashamed of representing something you do not fully understand!

  • THE FACE OF KYUTE!

  • I really think you are the only one making drama here. I have two high functioning autistic children. They are difficult, but a blessing.  I know people who have severely autistic children who go through so much more than I do, despite the fact that I am raising two with special needs. It's sad that you beleive that understand what other parents are facing. Don't discredit their hardships. I suggest that you read a little and educate yourself and quit creating drama!!!

  • I really think you are the only one making drama here. I have two high functioning autistic children. They are difficult, but a blessing. However, I know people who have severely autistic children who go through so much more than I do, despite the fact that I am raising two with special needs. It's sad that you beleive that understand what all these other parents are going through. I suggest that you read a little and educate yourself and quit creating drama!!!

  • I am sam changed my life. Just wanna get one of these things as a pet

  • My two younger boys are autistic and they are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Not only have they improved dramatically within six long years but I have also grown along with them. Yes it is hard but I believe that if something is easy then it is not worth it. Raising any child is hard and I know because my two older children did not have any disabilities while my younger two were diagnosed with autism. All four were worth the heartache and pain because joy also came with them.

  • My two younger boys are autistic and they are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Not only have they improved dramatically within six long years but I have also grown along with them. Yes it is hard but I believe that if something is easy then it is not worth it. Raising any child is hard and I know because my two older children did not have any disabilities while my younger two were diagnosed with autism. All four were worth the heartache and pain because joy also came with them.

  • Autistics such as myself hate groups like Cure Autism Now, Defeat Autism Now, Generation Rescue, and Autism Speaks. They see us as money signs because they prey on the emotions of parents. It should be up to the individual to decide on whether or not he or she wants to be cured, not the parent.

  • I have Asperger syndrome and I think that AS/Autism is genetic and some people have an autistic mother, father grandmother or grandfather etc. I think all this chelation shit going about is just hate speech and it incites NT people to tell their NT children to hunt down Asperger syndrome people (that is both children and adults) to harass them. Misdiagnosing an AS child as having brain damage is a highly damaging politically conscious act. Aspiphobia should be a criminal offence.

  • @philsaspiezone And do you take pharmaceutical drugs? If you don't wanna be cured then why do nearly all aspies take meds? Im not being mean im just saying wanting to be cured of mercury poisoning is not a criminal offence. I would reccomend eating a couple tablespoons of raw cilantro everyday for a week and see if you feel better.

  • @CodexAlimentarius1 Cilantro may be a tasty addition to numerous dishes, but it doesn't cure anything.

  • @CodexAlimentarius1

    It's a hard decision, it's not like being cured of something like cancer or any other illness. It is a developmental disorder that affects the way we learn. To cure someone of it would be to wipe their entire brain.

  • @CodexAlimentarius1 Autism is not mercury poisoning. It's neurological, the way the brain is wired and how it communicates with the rest of the body and interprets input from the outside world. That has nothing to do with mercury, it's from birth, most likely conception. There isn't a cute for autism since it isn't a disease or something that you can catch. The wiring for autism is there from the start, it just isn't always evident at first.

  • Guy is absolutely ADORABLE!!!

    What a great relationship the two of you have!

    That child would brighten up any rainy day.

  • He is my Sunshine Boy!

  • All about autism here: watch?v=F5B596UxO2w

  • I am a single father of a 4 year old autistic child who is my entire life. Well, today I let an employee w/ a bad attitude go and following that, this person said the most insulting (and disgusting) thing I have ever heard. This sicko pointed reference to "my stupid autistic daughter!"

    Going to see who would like this person's contact info so perhaps she can hear from other parents and those who are affected by with autism how they feel about comments such as this?

  • i've had relatives, in anger, call my son retarded. your employee probably said this because it's the only thing they had to hurt you. they are only words that only you can give power to them. let it go and love your kid. those people are not curious type anyways :)

  • I think the "business" is on people promoting therapies, and taking advantage of the situation to make us pay big amounts of money for treatments that most health insurance will not pay... I liked the video!

  • There are effective alternative therapies such as tactile and picture exchange therapy, but there are far too many quack treatments.

  • @aspie101 Yeah and what do you call the billion dollar pharmaceutical drug industry that instead of curing make billions maintaining kids on dangerous anti-psychotic drugs that cause diabeties and seizures. How many of you anti-cure autistics are on these drugs? Do you not see the hypocrisy.

  • good!

  • My 5-year old ASD son said his first word at 5 months and was speaking by age nine months. Yet, he remains hard to understand since he has difficulty in choosing the correct words to use and usually provides little context to what he says. He speaks with the tone and pitch of the characters from Dora the Explorer. We have 24-hour parent stress about his future. Nasty remarks can't do to us what autism has already done to us long ago.

  • it be easy for me to see not to worry, but his repeating the words in someone elses way tells me hes learning to give meaning to his thoughts, if his "forced processen" are the same as mine (which i find extremely likely) he sooner or later will learn other pitches as well and hell immidiatly start to differentiat...

    it may also be possible hes more concerned with other things, which you wont know about untill he has found a way to express that

  • @billpedan Your kid will turn out fine! Just keep a positive attitude!

  • Enjoyed your video. I am sorry for any nasty remarks that you have received. My 15 year old autistic daughter is high-functioning, and also didn't speak until she was four, and she had an English accent when she did--from watching to much Peter Pan. She is a straight A student in regular classes, but requires an aide, so she doesn't get up and run out of class. Does Guy take any meds at aqll?

  • Videos like this should be promoted. Too often, parents of autistics fall victim to quack therapies.

  • Hello..I am a mother of 5 children..3 of which are autistic and one of which also suffered a stroke at birth. I feel like both sides really.depending on the day..lol..somedays are so good I think OMG we are almost a regular family..then there are those days when all 3 are screaming and coloring on the walls and putting poop in the floor vent and I say to myself"why me? Our household is definately stressful for everyone...but I do see the beautiful momments as well. I am a better person from it

  • I agree and understand your point...

  • Agreed, as a classic autie that became a Cal alumna, has always been well-liked, and didn't have 'therapy'! The many auties I know that had 'therapy' now have depression or nastier stuff like borderline personality. Our disability is living in a society designed for non-auties and people w/o the empathy to see faking n-a is harmful, not a sign we're 'recovering' or getting 'better'. My email signature: Being autistic and using Linux: both unusual, both challenging in our society, both worth it!

  • Cue the violins and cry me a river!

    I am not obliged to cater to those of you who choose to see your lives as "pure hell" -- and make no mistakes, misery and strife are choices people make for themselves.

    Our family (and many others) faces the same kinds of day to day challenges, but we have chosen to count our blessings, and concentrate upon the positive aspects of our lives, rather than to dwell upon our troubles, and wallow in self pity.

    Happiness comes from within, not from without.

  • Based upon your response it is quite clear you misunderstood my post. Your sense of compassion leaves a lot to be desired. I never said my life or famliy's life is hell. You have a lot of pent up anger and hostility for whatever reason. Do not post on such an open forum if you can not take feedback or differing opinions on approaching such a complicated matter.

  • You are not the only person to whom I responded, mattewahowes.

    There have been 169 comments made here thus far, such as the one by TeresaLoffer who writes, "Living with autism is pure hell." And several other remarks by folks who have apparently chosen to sit upon the pity potty, crying and complaining -- as if that will do them any good.

    Well, not all of us "autism families" choose to live our lives that way, and we do not care to be depicted as desperate, pathetic souls in need of pity.

  • Amen to that!!!

  • Videos like this do not accurately depict the struggles a majority of families unfortunately impacted by Autism face. People forget this is a spectrum diagnosis and not a specific diagnosis like Diabetes, etc. I have a son with Autism and I love him dearly, but his struggles for speach and simple comprehension are huge.

  • That might well be because we aren't designed to communicate via speech (most do better with typing), tend to learn things in different ways from non-auties, and also tend to express our knowledge or feelings very differently as well. (I'm a Kanner autie.) We do better and are far happier when allowed to function/communicate the way we're designed to, both according to auties & a big UK study released last year. You might have more luck if you got in touch with parents taking that route.

  • "When you see one child with Autism, you have seen one child with Autism". This child is not my child. My son doesn't speak like Guy, doesn't have the comprehension he does, stims, has weak muscle tone, and has a lot of issues that Guy doesn't seem to have. Praise God Guy doesn't have them. I hope those without children with Autism realize this is not a picture of ALL children with Autism so no nasty remarks when our child isn't as on the ball as Guy. All children with ASD are different.

  • In 1970s, 95% labeled with autism did not have functional speech without intervention & many had no speech at all.

    Dr. Ole Ivar Lovaas at UCLA showed that from a population in 1970 diagnosed by autism 89% could have functional language, 63% could have a regular I.Q., & 47% could be indistinguishable like Guy here.

    Mind you prior to ABA treatment 0% was the number of children in the study to have functional language, regular I.Q., & to be indistinguishable from the regular population.

  • living with autism is difficult, but I agree that it does not have to be put to the media always like it is. I am sure that the same kids that are shown screaming can also smile. Why not show both sides of the picture?

  • Well put.

  • I disagree with this woman completely. Living with autism is pure hell. And that is no lie, it is no drama. You know if you took more of a hands on approach to helping autism instead of ignoring it, he might function even BETTER.

  • You seem to be the one trying to show your child off saying look what my autistic son can do! Well you should be ashamed, some of us struggle everyday and yes i do sometimes wish for my daughters sake that she be on the same developmental level with children her own age, so sue me for wanting the best for my child. I would gladly accept funding for ABA therapy.

  • this woman is a idiot!!! she should hang her head down in shame.

    for what was written at the start.

    what a moron!!!!!

  • I disagree completely. And so do many others. Educate yourself.

  • I think pictures of starving children are just a way to raise funds too. They are after your money after all. Oh, the drama!

  • Excuse me you talk of Autism CURE charities ?????????? CURE i am very confused...You can not CURE autism...

  • You are correct, but tell that to places like "cure autism now!"

  • autism is not a disease to be cured, but the kids can very well recover from it.

  • For me it has been exactly as difficult as depicted in the Autism Fundraiser videos if not worse! I have three autistic children, two are severe and one is profound. They are now all teenagers and all in depends. One of them still cannot speak a word. The others barely talk. They cannot feed or dress themselves.

  • It sounds lke you have many challenges, but I think this person would like to make the point that the constant negative media attention, the talk of autism as a plague and a curse, does not present a full picture, and does not serve autistics well. That HORRIBLE video A Day in the Life of Autism is the worst I have seen of this type of woe is me crap.

  • True respect for an individual's value, is not pity propaganda against how people are, and should not be solely for those less disabled by autism.

  • AWA ~ Asperger Women Association endorses this video.

  • autism varies there are severe and mild forms so because your child has a more mild form than othe rparent doesnt mean you have the right to saystuff like that at the begening....

  • the start of this video is just ignorant!

    you should be ashamed of yourself.

  • I will just say what noone else has said in their comments. You are a stupid, selfish, bitch! My little girl is my sunlight. She is autistic. I cannott interact with her. It breaks my heart every day, as a quickly increasing number of people. Why can't you just be happy for your son and not put down the people who are trying to help all autistic children?! Fuck you!

  • I am happy for you BUT why do you feel the need to judge and compare ? Some people are not as lucky as your son.Some of us have hell. My son compares his mind to an instrument of torture. He has such extreme anxiety attacks he self-harms and tries to comit suicide .He experiences genuine terror at the world. He asks me why he suffers such torment. He also has rare moments of joy and rarer moments of peace. He deserves all the compassion ,love , help and support he can get.These charities help.

  • My son is mildly autistic so he does not display any of those severe characteristics but I've seen it in action and it's enough to make a parent break down. There is no 'but' about that. Even though my child is not severely autistic it's still a higher than normal challenge raising him nonetheless. You little guy Guy seems like a wonderful kid and your are truly blessed, but please keep your biased opinions to yourself regarding those who are and may remain severely autistic.

  • Wow, um, I really don't know how to respond to this video, but I'll start by saying Autism is a SPECTRUM disorder. I'm sure you already know this. How can you say autism is 'portrayed' negatively? How can Autism be 'portrayed'? If a child is severely autistic then they are on the SEVERE end of the SPECTRUM, that is reality, not a portrayal.

  • This mom is very lucky. There are many children with autism that present much different. I know 13 y/o autistic children that are non verbal and have many other issues as well, including outbursts of temper tantrums. This mom is lucky but her statement is inaccurate. There are many severely autistic children and their families struggle every day just to make it through. This is your experience and it is a great one, however do not negate the reality that others are going through.

  • I think he is like his mum, I wish he was my son he is a delight and I can see how muh you love this Beautiful human, he is a match for Daya she is much the same I believe a gift from God . sorry my typing is not the best, it is just as good as my spelling. have look at my channel maybe you would like to help ROGER VALENTINE

    love and peace

  • I'm guessing you're referring the the "Autism Everyday" documentary? When I thought there might be something wrong with my daughter, someone sent me that documentary and I cried for days. It is a horrible portrayal of autism. My daughter does have autism and although our life isn't always easy, it's NOTHING like that documentary! Your son is beautiful and I hope my daughter will be where his is when she is his age. How did he get to where he is? Is he recovered? He amazing. Thanks for posting!

  • I don't get this. There are so many different types of autism. My grandson ,He is a head banger and severerly developemental delayed and none verbal and can be violent at times. On a boat load of meds..It is what it is. That should be seen as well. We need funding for all these kids. Whats your point????

  • @TomMikeAvaMilan so you advocate genocide? good to know.

  • I have Asperger's Syndrome and I think a cure for it is downright wrong and awful. Without my disorder, I wouldn't be myself. Sure, I hit myself every now and then when I get really upset but my obsession with cartoon dogs and 80's rock music makes me an individual.

  • Wait, what's the fundraising for? I mean, I have Asperger's Syndrome but my parents didn't tried to donate money or anything.

    The video of that boy seems like as if he's acting. I mean when I was his age (I'm 14 now), I had trouble with speaking to people and I wouldn't make friends easily.

    If the donation is to cure autism than I would tell those people that "there is no cure.". I mean, people like Einstein, Beethoven, Bill Gates and others had autism and they became famous and/or rich.

  • there sems to be alot of confusion surrounding autism/ASD/Aspergers and those of us with children and even working with children that have these conditions realises just how broad the Spectrum really is and that no 2 neuro-typical children arethe same so why would any 2 with autism/ASD/Aspergers be the same??

  • Continuing on.....though I personally strongly do not agree with some of the comments made at the start of the film- for example the National Autistic society here in the UK is a charity and I would have been lost without them at my son's diagnosis. They were unbelievable intheir support and help. Not all 'autism charities' are 'cure charities' or ones that exploit the extremities of autism. there are many that provide Much needed support, information and advice and that should be remembered.

  • "The video of that boy seems like as if he's acting. I mean when I was his age (I'm 14 now), I had trouble with speaking to people and I wouldn't make friends easily."

    Also, I would also like to note that I am not 100% sure about the kid in the video. So I'm bound to make mistakes or something.

  • Are you people morons? Apparently most of you think you are an Autism Expert. There are different degrees of severity of Autism. One child could be severely delayed while another child might be just slightly delayed. I can't believe the ingorant comments I have read about this child and his mother. SHAME ON YOU.

  • Thank you! God bless!

  • Never mind the many children who have died from that therapy, and the many autistic people not only are able to function but have special gifts that many NTs do not have.

    What parent would rather risk their children contracting a deadly disease or dying on the path to recovery rather than be different?

    Jesus!

  • Trust me on the last paragraph. It happens.

  • capable of functioning in everday life and who injure themselves will usually improve by the time they reach adulthood. The beef with autism cure charities is that they try to make these extreme cases seem like the norm and utterly hopeless.

    By the way, it is one thing to want your child to speak or dress herself, and another to take away her computer books and force her to be into "normal" things so the parents won't have the stigma of not having a "perfect child."

  • Okay, to all those who are accusing this woman of lying about her son's autism, there is a reason that autism is referred to as a spectrum disorder. It affects everyone differently. It is very likely that Guy is autistic. It was a short video; I hope you weren't expecting a life story.

    Moreover, the point is not that some cases of autism are not severe, but rather, it is extremely rare for them to be that severe. Self-injurious behavior is actually rare even in autistics. Even those who are not

  • i just finished reading the book "does my child have autism?" and the author asks the same question, why is it that they only show that? well, i am 180 pounds so, next to you i am FAT but next to a 400 pounds woman i am not, right? the same applies here, "drama" (as you put it) is what sells and gets attention, it is good that you show the other side of it. my son is almost 3 and just this week he started talking. so, i understand what you meant.

    what is big for you or me is not for others.

  • i  highlyu agree!

  • your son just had a speech delay.Brain neuro development happens at any age. You can have a speech delay or disorder like apraxia and not labled autistic.

  • well,, when any fool on the plannet can diagnose another person's child simply by watching a two and a half minute video on their computer, Then I guess we shuld go ahead and strip the PHD's from those in the clinical field who might never be so bold as to suggest such a claim...

  • Margaret, why didn't you pitch your video about hope? I have 2 Autistic boys. I had 3-4 years of constant screaming, head banging, biting & other self harm. I also had to cope during that time on 1-3 hrs sleep each night, the rest of the time at least 1 child was awake. Now aged 8 & 10, they resemble Guy. you are very lucky, but it is cruel to pretend other families don't have the problems shown on other programs.

  • autism its awful ..thing makes you isolate from the envirement

    im 21 years old annm i'm still infected..somtimes i feel strange ..and i think killing myself..i i recover ..amen

  • Um, I'm 21, and autistic.

    I struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. But it had nothing to do with autism.

    Being autistic is awesome.

  • listen.. if people lift me alone.. i wont feel strange but when they talk about me i feel different and depressed ..sometimes i feel i have to suicide ..but alone means i'm ok ;)

  • So right! Huzzah for Asperger's Syndrome.

  • thats a boy? long hair! lol!

  • you are not open minded at all

    i have long hair and a lot of girls like me because of it.

  • How can anyone can say " don't try to cure it" have they have watched their child bang his head and vomit on purpose?& watched your typical child cry to you & ask why his sibling won't play or talk to him then you can't begin to know the pain of autism.

    When kids call your child freak or retard and hit your child.

    Who would want this for their child?

    I have home movies of my son screaming, this is how they behave and once mom and dad are gone who will put up with it??

  • I know exactly what you mean, it seems to be a lot of people with asperger's thinking they know what it's like to deal with a severely autistic person, it's really NOTHING the same (I have a personal opinion that asperger's isn't really even a disorder but anyway...)

    My brother I would do anything to cure him, he not only hurts himself he mostly hurts other people, putting several and himself in the hospital. It's unpredictable and a curse, anyone "thankful" for it has a sick sense of humor.

  • I agree with you WHOLE HEARTEDLY......except the fact that my son has not had a "good" week of school in his life and he's 10! yes, obviously this woman is a moron; and I understand FULLY after taking Josh to some centers that I have it VERY easy comparatively. On the other hand you will never know what it's like to have a child who "looks normal"; or hear the words "He's just gay.", or "You don't want your child to have that", or "Mommy how come no-body EVER likes me?" Just a thought..

  • I agree with ign2112. This kid is not low-functioning that why you can make a video like this. Try no speech, in dippers, meltdowns, head banging, no sleep, chronic diahrrea, running into traffic, not being able to chew, enderocolitis!!! Then talk to us about Autism Drama!!!

  • I cannot pinpoint how disturbed I feel by this video and the comments. That you would generalize concerned parents' videos of their children, parents who are desperate to do something / anything as a bunch of frauds is disgusting. You clearly know nothing of the massive struggle of those afflicted with serious, low-functioning and/or violent cases of ASD. I could only be so lucky to have both of my children, who are autistic, talk and interact as normally as your son.

  • Well, I gotta reply to myself here. I do believe that "professionally" sponsored videos are engineered to elicit an extreme emotional response. And to that end, it's disgusting. I thought you were singling out home videos posted or private efforts to raise funds and/or awareness. Some people do have it much rougher than you or I, though.

  • You go! Way to expose those fundraisers for what they trully are!

  • I can't understand. Why would anyone want to cure Autism? Many of the greatest people to have lived were believed to be on the Autistic spectrum such has Albert Einstein and so on.

    It's also rumoured Bill Gates is Autistic and look how well he's done for himself.

    Anyway it's not a disease it's how the brains wired up so it can't be cured thank goodness.

  • what cool first words :)

  • Thank you for making a video that shows how wonderful kids on the spectrum can be. I can't tell you how sick I am of videos consisting of a series of pretty pictures of a "poor little autistic kid" accompanied by some heart wrenching ballad.

  • there is no need for dramatic license to be taken for any child with autism.i think this is BS and makes lite of autism and makes that kid and her look dumb as hell.we need everyone to throw as many darts at the board as we can ,so maybe someone will hit the bullseye.there is nothing wrong with trying to help your kid.i bet this kid dont even have autism,looks like a joke to me.or missinformed.

  • This is just my opinion, but initially, it seems me that some of the people who want a "cure" for Autism are some of the same people who believe Mercury-poisoning to be the cause in some cases...?

  • Hey Margaret, do you have any more of these videos? I really liked seeing Guy talk, he is really cool!

  • I am sorry about all those rude comments, they are ammatures! Have respect you guys! I think your son is extremely brilliant and very cute! Tell him Hi for me, and that he stuck to my heart.

  • WOW! I hope one day my daughter will be able to talk like your son can. How wonderful!

  • I am at this moment working on a journal writing that puts forward the viewpoint that curebie parents do not love their children, but rather covet their children. To them, their child is on the same level in emotional terms as their television set or radio. When their children fail to meet expected norms, they think they must take their children to a repairman to get the child to perform "properly" again.

  • I'm not sure about all of them, but I think you've hit that ol' nail on the head for some. A few actually admit to coveting their neighbors' NT kids -- I don't get it as my 2 NT kids are often the bigger pain in the neck.

  • *laughs* Well, I only know that having children is probably the cruellest thing I can do to them, but some things I see parents do, I just wonder exactly how they expect the child to react. I am sort of having a drought of video ideas at the moment, but maybe reading out selections from my upcoming journal writing might be an idea. I don't know.

  • Wow, what a sweeping judgment! There's nothing wrong with parents of autistics seeking a "cure." Why wouldn't someone want their kid to function as normally as possible? Autism isn't just a personality quirk -- it's a serious disorder that affects the kid's whole life, especially if he's got it bad. To imply parents who seek an easing of autistic behaviors don't love their kids is hugely insulting and totally wrong. (And no, I don't have an autistic child.)

  • "(And no, I don't have an autistic child.)"

    That pretty much says it all right there.

  • No, it doesn't. I can still have opinions on autism as I have several autistic kids in my family and circle of friends. Those who think seeking a cure = bad parenting are just living in a world of denial about how BAD autism is!

  • I wish my father would look at sites like these. Every day, he is confronted with an adult son who is always asking "why did you reject me as a boy, dad?". And he was unaware that I was autistic then. When your son begins to ask you a similar question, it will be your just desserts, but some of us cannot wait that long to be recognised as human beings who have collectively met the burden of contribution to society many, many, many times over.

  • By the way, under "things that are wrong", file "presuming to speak for someone who might have different feelings", or "negating the will of an individual and replacing it with your own". Which is basically dictatorship. In a world where every adolescent dreams of being "free" to think as they please, you and your friends are teaching a collective of children that you are their enemy.

  • In case you're wondering - I don't think there will be a cure. In Denmark, the state helps families of people with Autism a lot, and I believe that people who have to raise Autistic children face big challenges, so the more severe the Autism, the more money for the family, even though money is the least of worries for a family with an Autistic child, but I guess that's probably a bit different for you guys in America, different social welfare system and all.

  • Having said that, I feel torn between wanting to rip you a new one for dismissing organizations that accept donations and commending you for pointing this out. You see, organizations like that need money to make a difference, but I agree with you that showing clips of kids having tantrums only serves to make matters worse for people who do function relatively normal. Tell you what, I'll rip you a half one.

  • Pity of potential donors... Yeah, probably. Or maybe not; Children banging their heads against things, screaming, etc, is the easiest way to showcase extreme Autism, but also very detrimental to the perceptions of people.

    For example: It sucks when people talk to you like you're a child, and you know it's because some know-it-all asshole told them that people with autism are like that.

  • Wow u have a beautiful family, very blessed.its so funny Guy looks exactly like my neice svelynne, she looks EXACTTLY like Guy, and is about the same age.She is beautiful in a very androgynous way,its so crazy that they look so much alike!I def need to send u a pic or something, u would laugh so hard! Svelynee is about 7 or 8 yrs old now.neways, Beautiful children and a beautiful mother!

  • ur an ass lady...you would not kno autism if it hit you across the faCE! shut ur damd mouth....ur son is not as bad as what these other children have...KEPP UR FUCKIN MOUTH SHUT

  • I'm glad that you think so, but I will not shut up.

  • totally agree with you!

  • YOU ARE SERIOUSLY FUCKED UP. GROW UP AND GET A LIFE.

    people like you are the real "sick" people.

  • I can go on and on and on !My son doesn't have Autism or Your son doesn't ,it is one of this 2 options.Why can just people like You leave us alone to help our children.Don't you have something better to do?who is trying to put You down for not trying to address Your son's problems(if he have any).NONE OF US <FOR SURE!!Have a happy NT life !!

  • I am just getting tired from pepople like You.Soooo tired.You have a butifule Son and that is fine,but what if he never spoke to You ,what if he never got Potty trained,what if He skreams for hours in pain and can't tell You wher it is .What if he is hungrie andpunch You in the face b/c he have No idea that he could try to eat and the tummy ache will go away.

  • Wait...that's a "he"?

  • Yes. He has long hair, so what?

  • I mean, you'd think the name "Guy" would give it away.

  • He is biting, licking (people and objects), slapping, hitting (me mostly), stuttering and struggling to get out his words, stimming more!

    But I don't believe in "curing" ASD! I think you can alleviate symptoms in ASD children who may have gut issues.

    Ben is who he is, I love and accept everything about him!

    I just want to help him be able to function better, and OT, PT, ST has given him that.

  • here's a tip, try 2 teach him 2 b responsible,toilet training, brush teeth, put on his clothes,n 2 d his homework, b there 4 him alot so he can feel mor sociallly comfortable but,also give him atleast 1-2 hrs 2 b in his own world,(u kno when they start playing, jumpin, flappin thr hands, dont diturb him much, believe me , after he distresses his mind, it would b easier 2 spend quality time w/ him.n 2 control him

  • For me the Autism diagnosis was a relief of sorts. I knew Ben was a unique child, almost in utero. I have 2 other children (both now adults), and Ben had the oddest patterns while I was pregnant, and after his birth. He had meltdowns as an infant where he would cry so hard, he'd pass out!

  • cont.

    He had issues with food, sleep, and was only content in his swing or in my arms. I began to think he had hearing issues, because he wouldn't respond to me. Had difficulty with eye contact, and at 4, he really couldn't put together a sentence, and had difficulty understanding directions.

  • He finally potty trained at 4, with difficulty, and still has accidents, and has to wear a pull-up at night! Ben is almost 6 now, and at 4 was diagnosed with SPD/DD. An autism specialist observed him and wanted to test him. The diagnosis was Autism, and it came last month. Unfortunately, Fraser is out for the summer, and he is not receiving services, and is regressing!

  • for some of us the challanges are much more difficult than this video shows.

  • High/low functioning labels should be given to parents and caregivers instead of autistic people. Because it really is a matter of individual perception and perseverance.

    I could tell you all sorts of horror stories about the challenges I face everyday, but I'd rather not dwell upon negativity, or wallow in self-pity.

  • Wow! I was just about to reply to your comment when you posted another one!!! And hey that's cool, I just wanted to make sure you realized that.

  • A bit of a dark horse I thought. I mean what view is he likely to put across?!! Was he advertising???!!

  • Er Margaret, you did realize that that guy Quantumerik with the really poorly autistic daughter is the president of the foundation for autism information and research inc which both benefits and promotes autism biomed research didn't you?!!!

  • I know who Quantumerik is. I even know his real name.

  • Generation Rescue, was it?

  • Great video. A pity that some people do not understand the message your trying to get thru with your video. Hope you post more ;)

  • I wonder how you feel about AIDS being portrayed as horrible, we should downplay it right ?

    @@ I love my son the way he is good or bad times cause I am his mother regardless. BUT I DONOT shut my sad or bad emotions off to delude myself. You can honestly sit there and say happily yeah one day he MIGHT not get married cause no woman wants the chance of having a child with autism or he MIGHT not do this or that? YOU never feel this way? WOW

  • AIDS? What a weak strawman! And I don't think I should have to explain why it is.

    Years ago, I did feel that way, just about everybody does in the beginning, but I got over it.

    Unfortunately, not everyone is able to get over it, which is too bad, because it really does make the day-to-day living much easier when you stop fretting about the future.

  • well I havent been living with it for years, just a year. well sorry to say I do worry about my childrens future and so should you. but anyway happy autism life

  • She never said she didn't worry. All good parents worry about their kids. She's just not being all melodramatic about how "Oh no! The media has brainwashed me and my child only has a halflife!".

    What she is trying to do is make your life easier. A child can't grow up healthily thinking that they were a complete burden. It's enough to make you suicidal. Believe me, my over-competitive nature spawned from peoples first impressions of me.

  • Lady, I'm glad that your son is doing so well but let me tell you, you have no idea what some other parents like myself are going through. What's wrong wih you to make this kind of comment. There's a special place in hell waiting for you!! IDIOT!!!!

  • With all due respect, kyran01876, you have no idea of what I've gone through, either. Such "pity contests" are rather tiresome in that regard.

    High/low functioning labels should be applied to familes and caregivers rather than to autistic people.

    Spending too much time sitting upon the pity potty can cause piles, you know.

  • I also hate it when people suddenly assume that you had a great and comfortable life just because you can accept your autism. Many people suddenly assume that parents (such as yourself) had never had to struggle bringing up your child. They have absolutely no clue how better life can be if you don't let things that you can't change bother you.

  • ''While raising autistic children presents many unique challenges, it's nowhere near as devastating as autism fundraising collaterals often make it out to be.''

    I agree to some extent.

    Autism is not all negative and people need to see it -but there are ''scenes of screaming children banging their heads, crying appearing on the edge of mental breakdown, chaotic homes in disarray,'' in many homes and they (myself included) do not ask for sympathy or money.

    These severe cases DO exist.

  • I know all that, Happyautism, as I have lived it -- and I am still living it. I'd just rather not dwell on the bad times.

    I deal with the screaming, head banging, disarray, biting, furniture throwing, feces smearing, etc, by focusing on the good times. I wish to help others to do the same.

  • I agree with you 100 %, please look at my page - my whole reson for opening a utube acount was because i was sick of the woe is me posts. But i was just refering to the comment that there are severe times, but i too like you dont dwel on those :))

  • Indeed, the difficulties of raising autistic children cannot be denied, but neither can the wonders of it, like being amazed by ordinary things, such as the wind blowing through the trees, which most people take for granted.

  • you gotta be kidding me.

  • In what way have i got to be kidding you?

  • Just so you know, I have a 10 yr. old son with autism. I had noticed that his behavior changed dramatically 2 times in his 1st 3 years (occasions marked by family birthdays). He started showing symptoms of autism and was subsquently DX'd. I didn't believe that it was due to shots. But when I read how mercury is STILL allowed in flu shots, I checked his shot record. BOTH times were immediately after flu shots.

  • We all have different stories to tell.

    All four of my children got the same vaccines from the same pediatrician. 1 is autistic, another very likely has Asperger's, and the other two are neurotypical.

    Thinking back, once I got past the denial phase, I realize that the 2 autistics were different from the NTs from about 2 months of age.

  • or the ones with autism have higher levels of testosterone. few may have "genetic autism" like fraigle x or rhetts, prader willi, but the MAJORITY of autistics are mercury poisoned. I guess you missed the April 8 2007 press release. All you have to do is have urinary porphyrin profile analysis (UPPA) and that will reveal if your child is heavy metal toxic

  • A press release is not even a published article, let alone peer-reviewed research.

    Who are you trying to convince?

  • youtube won't let me post the links. but there are clinical studies.

    only parents of children - who don't know any better.

  • Yes, there have been several clinical studies (no need to provide links, I've read them), and all of them have been discredited by legitimate peer review, mostly due to serious flaws in research methodology.

    Parents of children -- "who don't know any better" should not be encouraged to believe in urban legends and the conspiracy theories used to "support" them.

    The last thing such parents need is to be set up to get ripped off by quacks selling chelation as a "treatment" for autism.

  • I used to be in denial such as you. but I have seen children recover from autism by chelation.

    you believe your way, I believe mine. I know I'm right. and those studies have not been discredited. Big pharma has a lot of liability of the line, and so do a lot of doc's.

  • It took some time for me to accept that autism is permanent and incurable and that the only thing I can do for my son is to send him to school and ST/OT (which have apparently very similar effects that others attribute to chelation).

    Please explain how I am in denial and what I am in denial of.

  • I read everything I could find on the subject, including very discouraging reports of questionable studies involving flawed research, and warnings about autism quackery. I tried very hard to deny it all, but I simply could not bring myself to believe in urban legends and conspiracy theories. I was depressed for quite a while after those revelations

  • It's been 5 years since my son was diagnosed. Back then, I eagerly read about vaccines, mercury, autism, and chelation and was filled with great hope -- as well as anger at the mainstream medical community, the pharmaceutical industry, and of course the US government.

  • my kids have s/t and o/t.

    none of that has helped.

    I am getting real results now with chelation. you don't know my 4 kids with autism, so you don't know.

    I am seeing gains with them no other thing has done.

    I've looked at your profile and webpage, and believe you are another one of the neurod crowd.

    We really don't have anything more to discuss, you won't change my mind and I won't change yours.

  • you might want to check out this personal story at recoveredfromautism . com

  • It's interesting to note that the owner of that website is Erica McPhee who claims her child was diagnosed with autism at 13 months old. Not sure what type of expert would diagnose a child that age. She started "homeotherapy" on a 13 month old child and claimed a recovery. Very odd. She wrote that her child received his first vaccine at 9 months and then regressed and she found a DAN! doctor willing to put her kid on a regimen when he was 14 months old.

  • autism can be diagnoised as early as 6 months. Her child recieved first vaccine at 9 WEEKS, not 9 months.

  • Why can't the basics of BOTH theories be true? Perhaps some children have autism or Asperger's due to purely genetic reasons. But there really ARE children who are extremely disabled and in great distress, with severe sensory disturbances, as well as all sorts of health issues. While some or many of their symptoms mimic those from "true autism," my belief is that these children are indeed suffering from some sort of heavy metal poisoning.