GMA: Autistic Pride - June 10, 2008

Good Morning America: Autistic Pride - aired June 10, 2008. No copyright infringement intended, no profit has been made. Will remove if there is an issue. Posted for people outside US. Video was not available on ABC/GMA's website.

Update:
Due to problems, comments must now be approved before they will appear. If I end up with a lot of spam in my inbox because of this, I will disable commenting altogether. 9/22/2011

Category:

Education

Tags:

• good morning america
• gma
• autism
• neurodiversity
• autistic pride
• asperger's syndrome
• aspie
• Ari Ne'eman

[slsmith77]

The condescension and pity these two women showed demonstrates what Ari is talking about: It implicitly demands that all autistic people feel badly about who they are. Certainly, it does nobody on the autism spectrum any good.

[zeichner42]

Good story - although I'm disappointed that Diane Roberts referred to autism as an "illness" at the end. "Condition," yes - "disability," often - and, according to DSM-IV, "disorder" - but "illness" is not an accurate description.

[Xadreos]

@civilizedwiturmom I know genetics don't equate to predetermination, but they largely shape who we are. Autism shapes the mind in many positive ways such as making it more inquisitive and focused, qualities which are often overlooked. It's not a disease in need of a cure, and having a dominant group conform the genetic diversity would be eliminating many potential out-of-box thinkers.

Lastly, it IS largely genetic, as things in the environment can influence gene expression too.

[civilizedwiturmom]

@Xadreos It's rather insulting to those out there who actually want a cure. That doesn't mean I hate myself because I want a cure and don't feel sorry for me if I choose not to feel prideful of something that wasn't an accomplishment. U know that a genetic preconditioning doesn't always equate to a predetermination. As I said before - There's a reason it's going up and NO it's not purely genetic. Autism was practically unheard of before the 40's. The world does not work the way u think it does.

[Xadreos]

@civilizedwiturmom No, I say they're trying to eugenically eliminate us because most of the funding from autism speaks goes towards pre-birth detection for autism so that they can abort a kid who is likely to have the autistic gene.

And ya, I do think someone who tries to eliminate people who have something deemed a defect when so many before with this syndrome have made significant scientific contributions. I'm proud of my autism; I'm sorry if you feel you need to be fixed to fit in.

[civilizedwiturmom]

So the people who want a cure are the ones(according to you)that want to eugenically eliminate them. Suggesting that all people who want a cure from this brain abnormality are bigots.If those autistics don't want to be cured then fine. But to say that others out there can't have a cure because it gets in the way of those peoples vain, prideful and utterly stupid selfish belief system. There's a reason autism is going up. Funny that you can't see it. This was written by an autistic by the way.

[Antreus]

Wow, ignorant talking heads - condescending much, yes. It's startling the culture war going on here - parents who want their children to be like them and people with autism being over-ruled by parents. There isn't enough support for college age, young adults to be productive citizens, not marginalized as defected - will remain so unless those who can push themselves receive adequate services to do so.

[Xadreos]

You know our society is f***ed when it's controversial for the autistics to stand up for themselves, but it's widely accepted and not controversial to eugenically eliminate autistics before birth, or to "cure" them.

We live in such a bigoted world...

[TheAutismLeadership]

@Spydyee2 I receive services and I know people with A.S do not. I have supportive living and supportive employment.

[Spydyee2]

@11pouncey11 Kristina has been an Autism Advocate for a long time. Those of us who are on the spectrum and moms of kids on the spectrum at the same time have the utmost respect for her and her advocacy for the community as a whole.

[Spydyee2]

@Debba99 that is BS and if you believe it then you need an education. The CURE for Downs Syndrom that medical science found was a test that has led to 90% of all prenatally diagnosed downs children being eugenically aborted. They are not looking for a cure they are looking for a test to see if they can eugenically eradicate us. I am an Autistic Person and the proud mom of 6 Autistic Kids and 3 Autistic Grandkids. I do not want to be or have my offspring eradicated thank you very much!

[Spydyee2]

@TheAutismLeadership Believe it or not generally (not in all states) the kids who are severe and profound like my two youngest kids get help. The kids who don't are the ones who are somewhere in the middle like my Aspie son. I cannot get any help for him because he is too high functioning. He is actually the one that needs the most help because he is expected to be more "normal" than the kid that is waving his hand back and forth in front of his eyes in rooms with fluorescent lights.