Sociology - Social Problems - Autism - Project Video

I created this video for a semester-long project in a Sociology class called Social Problems. It was meant to inform my class (and others) about the rising number of cases of autism in the US. It has segments of video in it from "Autism Every Day" and the "Oprah Winfrey Show".

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• autism

[GypsyLifeForMe]

it seems that these kids are just being kids who need of things to do and to not be treated like there is something wrong with them.

i work with kids k-5 and i've seen this "autistic" behavior turn on and off , just like so called "ADD". some days they seem normal depending on how busy they are, other times they seem distracted, bored, or hungry..

i'm not a neurologist, but it seems to me that autism is a false diagnosis in order to sell more drugs & counseling to families, not a disease...

[mcsemel]

I wish that were true. There is no question that my son (age 6) has true autism. He did not speak until he was three. Not a word. That's not him just being bored or hungry! He rocks his head back and forth (stimming) when he's watching tv, drawing, or speaking to us until we point out that he's doing it.

My son is not on medication and no doctor or medical professional has EVER suggested drugs or counseling to us. I'm personally insulted that you would even call this a false condition.

[GypsyLifeForMe]

i apologize if you feel insulted.

i didn't mean to offend anyone with autism, or anyone with a child who has autism. i still don't yet understand autism and i'm trying to.

i meant to express my thoughts on it, as well as my lack of knowledge about it, with the hopes of someone such as yourself shining a brighter light on it for me.

[mcsemel]

There are lots of parents who would love to help you understand what it means to have autism. I personally take for granted the 6 1/2 years of in-the-trenches experience that 'helps' me be so intimately familiar with what autism is. To someone not so affected by it, I'm sure it seems vague and hard to understand.

[mcsemel]

The fact that it's a spectrum (you have severely affected children, unable to speak and/or violent grouped into the same diagnosis with mildly affected children who just sometimes seem spacey or shy to the untrained eye) is frustrating whether you're a parent or a teacher. My son had delayed speech. The way he interacts with other children is definitely atypical, though most folks tell me they can't put their finger on 'what's different' about him.

[ABC4353]

here is the best solution for awareness: families with autism- PLEASE take your autistic family member out with you everywhere as much as possible. This helps the autistic person and society both learn! It is HARD. But I do it and our family goes most everywhere as a complete unit. we leave no one behind.

[ischlopischlo]

I am autistic, an autistic, just like I'm a male and a white person, and not a 'person with maleness' or 'person with white skin'.

This 'have autism' thing is bullcrap.

There are autistics and there are neurotypicals.

There is no such a thing as a neurotypical with autism, nor autistic with neurotypicalism.

[sachtelj]

@GypsyLifeForMe-

It seems as though you are not be as familiar with Autism as you say. Many kids with autism can not speak, stem constantly, and have difficulty processing information in their environment. Their sensory system is overloaded. This is evident in brain scans of those with autism showing larger brain sized and too many neuro connections.

[jeniejackson73]

Parents of children with autism face stigma because there are people who believe that it is a fake diagnoses. So for the person who made the comment. I have two children who suffer from autism and they can not turn thier autistic behaviors on and off. They take no medication because there is not one that will help. People really need to educate themselves about autism and stop judging the families who are effected by it.

[emililu28]

This is an excellent project. Good Job- I have never seen a better one.

[emililu28]

@MultiSnooty What are you talking about? The country doesn't pay for interventions for children with autism- it's the parents who go into debt for that.

[MultiSnooty]

Our economy is in crisis! Obama can't raise enough money to end this crisis. However, children with autism cost the country too much money. Our country is worth the money, autistic children are not!