Support Autistic People of All Ages

This week's post is about autism. I have not covered this subject in a long time. Yes, this is a prolife blog and always have been. I have just not been so vocalabout my worldview until now. But I still am just as prolife about those who are already born, as I am about the unborn. THat is because, as in autism, many people need our voice and more support to get more out of life.

Autism Affects All Of Us As A Society

I've stated this before. Autism affects all of us as a society. One reason is that many among us are autistic. This includes those who have not been diagnosed and those who do not disclose their diagnosis. There is still a stigma attached to autism. They sense that they would lose good jobs and that people may treat them "differently." Some marriages have been ruined because the spouses did not know of the one's autism, merely thinking that the other was plain incompatible. A high pecentage of adults on the spectrum are unemployed or underemployed. They are forced to collect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability (SSD). I know that you can guess what this adds up to. Collected tax dollars! This is bad for everyone. These adults would be much happier contributing to society. If only they were given the tols to deal with autism that can interfere with holding a job. In spite of the stress of employment, people are happier working. You know that you are contributing to society and that your income is earned. You get a sense of accomplishment. You can build relationships. Depending on the job, you can get promotions and other forms of recognition. Many people would gladly pay taxes if they were given the tools to deal with what can interfere with keeping a job. Many may not even be diagnosed with autism; they and their bosses may think they are merely lazy or incompetent. Many may not have the social skills to interact with supervisors or co-workers. Autism wandering also is a big problem in the world of autism. This is where autistic children vanish because they have wandered. Too many children have been found dead in bodies of water. It's true that most are found safe. It is easy to judge the families and say, "They should have watched their child better." The sheer frequency of these autism wanderings means it's not a simple matter of parents becoming better parents. Moost tragically, a few caregivers have snapped and have killed or tried to kill, autistic children. It's easy to judge these caregivers as "monsters." Is it this simple?

Autistics Need Our Support and Hindrances

Autistic people and their families need support. They need the support of the general community. I know that the factions in the autism community have not helped the cause. I'm taking about the how these factions argue about autism, what causes it and how it should be managed. I'm talking about factions about how to raise autistic children and how to teach autistic adults to deal with their issues. The "cure" people see autism as a disease to be defeated. They focus on changing autistic people to accommodate themselves to the world. The "acceptance" people see autism as just a difference in how one's brain is wired. Symptoms can be managed to increase one's odds of being accepted. UNlike the "cure" camp, the "acceptance" camp does not try to make autistic people typical. The "acceptance camp" seeks to advocate for autistic people so that society will accommodate to the autistic. The "acceptance" people see autism as a part of a person's identity; the "cure" people see autism as a separate part of a person that needs to be eliminated. Both factions war with each other and tend to bully each other. This lack of unity has not not helped us get acceptance or understanding from the general public. But it is because autism is a complex neurological disorder that factions exist. And this community needs our support. They need it because without acceptance and understanding they will keep experiencing failure. We should rather see many more of them become taxpayers rather than collect benefits. Most of them would rather be employed. Families want their children to have all the tools they need to succeed so they can live up to their potentials. Many minority and low-income families would empower their children to do well, if only they had access to diagnostic and support services.

How You Can Help

You may wonder how you can make any difference. Everyone agrees that diagnostic and support autistic services are needed. Most of us in the autism community agree that these services need to be funded. Efforts have been made to obtain federal funding and have not yet been successful. But this does not mean to give up. So how can we help? I have created a petition for this. It calls for Congress to fund diagnostic and support autism services. It calls for funds to be released to each of the 50 states in the U.S. I used to have such a petition on another account, but I have redone the campaign on my primary account. Even if you signed that petition, you need to sign this petition. If you have already signed this newest autism petition, thank you! You can do even more. You can share it over and over!

If you have not yet done so, sign this autism petition!

If you have already signed this autism petition, share it!

Two Simple Things You Can Do for Autistic Persons of All Ages

Many teens and young people with autism have been receiving special services during their school years. They will age out of these services at age 21. What will they do then?

Many poor or minority families don't have access to their state's Medicaid or may not know about it. Their autistic children may not even be diagnosed yet.

A couple have gotten divorced because one spouse was fed up with the other's "weird" ways and seeming inability or refusal to communicate or understand. The spouse has udiagnosed autism.

A family in a poor apartment complex have a child that they don't know what to do with. Neighbors see him as a little brat. This child has undiagnosed autism.

A man has been fired from every job he ever landed because his bosses thought his lack of eye contact was contempt for them. A woman has a history of failed relationships because of a lack of communication skills. Both have undiagnosed autism.

Lack of services or aging out of them are what all these scenarios have in common. Why should we be interested in this? What does this have to do with us? We should be interessted in this because when peopele's basic needs for acceptance and understanding are not met, they may get angry and bitter and take it out on us. They may end up on benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability (SSD) or enter the mental health or even the criminal justice system. In any case, we will all pay. The moral reason we should care is that these are people who also have the rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

If you are one who believes that autism is a disease that children outgrow and that there is a cure for it, you should still care about this. The reason is that many poor or minority families, as I already mentioned above, have children who need services though they can't access insurance or pay for these services. You should care because of generations of autistic children who are not yet born.

Click here to sign this autism petition

Click here even if you have signed this petition. Share it!

Autism, God & the Bible

Much has been going on these past months and I have not posted about autism or autism-related issues. That is certainly not because these are no longer important, or important to me. With all that has been going on with the threat of ISIS, worldwide terrorism, and the ever-increasing loss of a moral compass in the US, I have not focused on autism or aut ism-related issues. But I have remained fully aware of the raging, heated debate in the vaccine controversy, the alarmingly high rate of missing autistic person cases related to wandering, and the hostility to certain organizations for what is seen as their patronizing attitude toward the autism community. Now there is an massive tragedy of historic significance in the country of Nepal that claims an ever-rising death toll of an estimated 4,000. With things like this, it makes what we may face here in the West, especially in the US, minor. I'm talking about objectively speaking, as everyone's own problems feels like the worst problems in the world. I'm not one who likes to throw around the platitude, "People have worse problems than you; count your blessings." Everyone's own life journey is unique.

Is Autism Man-Made?

The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with its variants (Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Nonverbal Autism, and so on) have only been in existence for several decades. Where were people on any end of the autism spectrum at before the diagnosis of ASD was created? They had to be around somewhere; it can't be that all of these people suddenly popped up out of nowhere with the official diagnosis. Back in the 1930's the diagnosis of severe, nonverbal autism did exist but autism was not yet seen as a broad spectrum and those so diagnosed were seen as facing bleak futures. They were sometimes called "changelings" and the condition was called "early infantile autism." There who see autism as a "disease" that only appeared on the scene due to vaccine injuries, see autism as something that has been with us only since the diagnosis of ASD was created. Then there are others of us who see autism not as an alien "disease" but as a neuro-biological condition that has always been with which has only recently been recognized for what it is. Can both sides actually be right or is only one of the sides right? While I know that the vaccine controversy is a very emotional, hot-button issue, studies are indicating that vaccines do not "cause autism." It used to be believed that this was so, but now the cause of autism remains unknown. In that case, then maybe autistic people have always been with us and have just been called other things. In fact, most of them either existed in restrictive settings like institutions or were sent to "special classes" and tightly controlled at home, believing their primary need was physical protection. In my own experience, my own daughter, now 15 and finishing up 9th grade in high school, was originally diagnosed as having "Pervasive Development Disorder" and her diagnosis was switched to "autism spectrum disorder." She is doing very well in school, making good grades and her teachers love her. In my case, when I was growing up, I was labeled many things, and my problems were considered either psychiatric or behavioral in origin. After decades of having no idea "what was wrong with me," I was never able to access as formal diagnosis as an adult until two years ago. The diagnosis came too late to do me any practical good. It only gives an explanation for many of my issues that were blamed on "emotional problems."

Is Autism in the Bible?

I don't know if you read the Bible or not or count yourself a follower of Jesus or not. It is true that there is absolutely nothing in the Bible about autism. But then, the Bible was set in another time and in another culture. It does not contain a word about many other things that we consider important today, because many scientific discoveries had not been made yet. For that matter, cancer was not a diagnosis. The closest I can get is in the New Testament when Jesus healed many people, including those who were considered demon-possessed. While I believe that demon possession is real and probably exists today, I wonder if any of those people counted as "demon-possessed," could have had unknown and undiagnosed conditions like autism, epilepsy, or certain mental illnesses. Though the Bible says nothing about many things we deal with today, including scientific discoveries, it is still relevant to these matters if you believe that God is the Creator of all and the ultimate Author Who inspired men to write the Bible. Of course, if you do not believe these things, there is nothing I can say to convince you otherwise. But it makes little sense to me that autism just showed up on the scene a few decades ago and soon will be "cured" when the cause of this "disease" is found. While I sympathize fully with those who have had negative, painful experiences with being autistic or loving someone who is autistic, I think this "cure" position is a mistaken one.

Following Jesus, the Church & Autism

What are the ramifications for autism and the Christian community? Can autistic people be found in local church fellowships? How do they see God and their place in the Christian community? In my experience, the few autistic people who have been reached and are part of local church fellowships, are those with more severe, nonverbal autism. Many families with autistic loved ones, like many people with other disabilities, simply do not feel welcome in our church fellowships. Usually this is not because of malice but because Pastors and church leaderships do not know how to set up their fellowships to welcome disabled individuals, much less assimilate them into the life of their congregations. I have seldom seen it happen; there are very few books on the Christian market about autism or other disabilities. The rare ones that exist are never written directly to disabled individuals, but to church fellowships or to parents. I know that this is not the fault of Christian retailers but it shows how the Christian community has neglected those with autism and other related disabilities. I know that Joni Earackson Tada, totally paralyzed and an outstanding Christian leader in the field of disabilities, has done much to bring awareness to severe and physical disabilities. She has touched countless lives in that community. But much still needs to be done to reach and welcome those with autism and other, related, invisible disabilities. What does all this tell those of us who love people with autism or related disabilities, or who live with these ourselves? Nothing good. I see very few autistic teens or adults in the Christian community. They do not feel welcome. They are aware that the Church values non-autistic behaviors like eye contact and social interaction and know that these are considered very important in the lives that the Church and in the teachings of Jesus. And so the autism community is largely unreached and even those who love and follow Jesus do not want to do so within the context of local church fellowships. If you read the Bible, especially the New Testament, you find no verses that command us to "go to church." It is true that followers of Jesus are to meet with each other, worship together and serve God together. This does not mean that we always need building to meet, for meeting can be done anywhere. In any case, autistic people seem to generally feel like outcasts and outsiders to the Church and often sympathize with the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,Transgender) community. I have often seen this. It is unfortunate. If you read your Bible, you read in the Goepels that Jesus hang around with misfits and outcasts, not just to welcome them but to call them to repentance and to lives of blessedness. If you are a member of the autism or larger disability community, I encourage you to get a Bible and start with the Gospel of Luke, to see how Jesus dealt with people.

Please sign my autism petition at Change.org.

What Does America Need?

Constantly, we are hearing what America needs.

Many, seeing the terrorism that threatens us, are calling for a "war on terrorism" and that if we "reform immigration," we can keep ourselves safe.

One political party insists that we need tolerance, racial reconciliation, brotherhood, peace, and equal rights for all.

One political party insists that we need personal responsibility, reduced taxes, independence and intact liberties.

One powerful lobby is demanding the right to reproductive freedom in the name of equal health care for a certain gender.

One powerful lobby is calling for the right to marriage equality and tolerance.

An active voting bloc is calling for the right to life for all, prayer in the public schools, and the preservation of traditional marriage.

One strong lobby, often because of tragic personal tragedy, are calling for the strict control of guns to protect America.

A centuries long oppressed race of people are calling for justice and equality for themselves.

I can go on and on and on. Everyone has ideas what America needs. So many people believe that they have it down what is wrong with us and what is needed to fix the problem. Can all these people be right? Or do the points each party seek to make have some truth in them? Or are we all turning a blind eye to what America really needs? Or are we content with the way things are?

Peer Pressure & Culture

We often talk about peer pressure as it applies to children and especially teens. I daresay that peer pressure never goes away and we all remain vulnerable to it, no matter what our age. This has much to do with all the ads that hit us constantly, whether via television, newspaper, radio or the Internet, giving us the constant message that what we need is "personal happiness" and that this "happiness" can be found through material things, get rich quick schemes, "magic" products promising to make us thin, lose weight without effort, give us a well-behaved child without loving discipline, "cure" neurological conditions like Asperger's Syndrome or Autism, or to re-capture our youth or halt the aging process. I find myself getting mad at these ads, especially those pop up ads that interrupt my reading when I surf the Internet and make unwanted sales pitches about their products that supposedly will make me "happy" or give me a "better life." Many months ago, someone pitches a product claiming that purchasing it would "cure" the addictions of our loved ones. Really?

Our American President's Vision

In the US, we are as deeply divided as I remember us ever being. We are deeply divided on what America needs to "be taken in the right direction." Is this why our current President is so divisive and we are raking him over the coals with our constant criticism of everything he does, good or bad? I remember when, under President Obama's watch, Osama bin Laden was put to death. I remember when the news was delivered on television. I also remember snarky comments such as, "This President did nothing to put bin Laden to death; those brace Navy Seal soldiers did! Don't give this President any credit!" I'm not disputing that it was the actions of the military that carried out the sentence of bin Laden, but apart from the President's orders I don't believe could have carried this act out. Our President is famous for his promise to bring "change" to America. What we think about this "change" he has been bringing to America depends on what we think America needs.

Republicans, Democrats & What America Needs

My feelings about his "change"? I would be lying if I said that I support the President's policies concerning "abortion on demand" for, at one time, we all developed for some nine months inside our moms. Marriage equality? With Jesus' words on marriage designed by God to be between male and female and with Bible verses telling us that same sex lifestyles are, in God's eyes, as wrong as any other sin, I cannot support "marriage equality either. I do support other policies put fort by this President, such as the ABLE Act, that will let people with disabilities be able to keep their benefits even if they set up special needs trusts. I support his call to raise the federal minimum wage to make it easier for the "working poor" to support their families. I wish that I, as a Christian, did not have to choose between two issues that God has spoken clearly on (the sanctity of human life and marriage) and other issues He has spoken on (poverty, justice for the working classes, caring for the vulnerable and race relations). But with this two-party system, we are not given much choice and are forced to choose one vision over another, though both visions speak on matters on which God speaks.

Where is America Headed?

I know that some Pastors and Christian leaders now believe and declare that America is under the judgment of God or at least is in danger of that. I can only say that with our current loss, more and more, of a moral compass, we may be losing our way as a country. Our children and teens have never been so violent or so vicious. Months ago, two 12 year old girls had viciously stabbed one of their friends of the same age. This girl miraculously survived and was surrounded by international support as her story was made public. But her two friends may, if charged as adults, face the rest of their lives behind bars. They reportedly spent months planning this act and wanted to see what it was like to commit a murder. A few years ago, in my own home state of Missouri, a nine year old girl had gone missing one day. Days later, she was found deceased and her murderer was a fourteen year old girl, not a grown man or even a boy. On television, programs show videos of violent bullying of young people by other young people. We now have what is called a "rape culture" and one college student has been said to boast: "I would rape women if I knew that I would get by with it." Months ago, a "how to guide" was published telling child rapists how to satisfy their pedophile urges. We know of one organization, NAMBLA, set up for males who have an attraction for boys. Have we lost our minds? By our actions, we are saying that we value not the freedom of religion but freedom from religion.

I'm sure that as I write this, most of you are aware of that account of the barbaric burning of the pilot in the country of Jordan, which was caught on camera with this man in a cage (unconfirmed). And two Japanese hostages were beheaded this past week. War is being declared on us.

Well, What Does America Need?

As I read my Bible, I see little that suggests that efforts to reform this country, or any other, will do much to solve our society's ills, moral problems or social-economic injustices. Legislation can do some things to restrain hard-hearted people and to keep them in check, so civilization does not stop. I suggest that we get back to reading the Bible to discover what God says what we need, what He has gone to great lengths to provide us, and what we need to do to be part of the solution to what ails us. Jesus said that He was going to come "like a thief in the night" and at an unexpected time. Are you ready for Him?

Mass Shootings, Suicides, and Mental Health

If you have been following the news, even casually, I think you know about a very sad tragedy. It is a tragedy that is like others of its kind, unfortunately. It is an indictment of our society. It should serve as a wake-up call to all of us. This includes the family, the Church, schools, the medical and health professions, the government, indeed to all of us. I'm talking about another senseless act of violence that was absolutely preventable. Like so many others of its kind, it should never have happened in the first place. But it continues to happen, over and over. What explains that?

Fort Hood Devastation


So What Is the Big Deal About Psychotropic Medications?

Yes, these tragedies usually bring out dialogues about mental health, the mental health issues of perpetrators of these mass shootings, the call to ban the gun rights of anyone with suspected or diagnosed mental heath illnesses, and the call to increase mental health issues. I heartily agree with each of these measures. The stigma of mental illness needs to go so that its victims and their families will willingly seek treatment. The government, instead of cutting funds for mental health services, need to expand these services. Parents, teachers, and indeed all of us, need to educate ourselves about mental health, suicide, and take depression seriously when it is suspected or diagnosed. But with all this, it is a fact that often the cure can be worse than the treatment, especially when it is overdone. This is where psychiatric meds come in and the need to address their abuse and overuse. Doctors tend to use medicine as an easy route to address anything that is considered medical. Big Pharma is prospering nicely and making millions off the backs of addicts to prescription drugs and others who may also be their victims. Doctors are making Big Pharma wealthy with their penchant to prescribe medications. This includes psychiatrists, who tend to freely place patients on meds to "calm them down" and to bring them "happiness in a bottle." Now I'm not against taking medication to address mental health issues, if used properly and in people whose systems can handle them! In many mental heath cases or Neurodevelopmental especially Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), meds can mean the difference between a full, productive life or one lived on the fringes of society, in an institution, jail, or prison. Yet we know that these psychiatric meds can have serious side effects, not only in children and teens and the elderly, but also in certain "nonvulnerable" adults whose systems can't handle them for some reason.

My Experience and That of Others

I can, sadly, testify from experience as to how harmful these prescription medications can be. My situation was not a military one, but it still is one where I had to deal with the mental health system. As a middle to late teen, I was sent to psychiatrists to justify the funding for the kind of special education that I received. These doctors concluded that the heart of my difficulties was "anxiety neurosis" and they had just the cure for my "illness." I became quite a cash cow for Big Pharma at this time in my life. My parents did not see that these psychiatrists were helping me, but as the autism spectrum diagnosis did not exist, they, my teachers, and my doctors had no idea that maybe they were dealing with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder. At the time, I was also placed on anti-convulsants, which I use to this day. Then, these doctors placed me on multiple anti-anxiety medications, which included Valium and Haldol. Almost from the beginning, these meds took effect on me. These effects were not good! I experienced bizarre effects with my eyes moving upward in their sockets, and both adults and my peers treated my reaction like attention-getting, deviant behavior, and treated me accordingly. I became a "monster" and a person that no one knew. My entire personality charged and my mental faculties were radically altered. I became hostile, aggressive, profane, and exhibitionistic. Of course, except for my immediate family and teacher, all others reacted with hostility and rejection, blaming me instead of the meds I was placed on. I was in and out of a psychiatric hospital. It was all a total nightmare. It took Mom to wean me off the meds. Fast-forward to about ten years ago. My late grandmother became depressed. She was, like me, sent to psychiatrists. They placed her on different meds, including Ambien. They made her even more depressed, and one tragic morning, she left our home in her nightgown and the local train hit her. She was treated in the hospital, and after a number of days, she passed away. She, too, was a cash cow for Big Pharma. Years ago, I read a sad story about a 12-year-old boy who killed both his grandparents; his defense was that he was put on Zoloft and that it put him over the edge. The Fort Hood Shooting: Did Big Pharma Play A Part?

Currently, there is an active investigation going on in the case of the recent Fort Hood shooting. There are many factors that no doubt played a part in pushing Lopez over the edge, causing him to "snap." A history of mental health problems. Possible PTSD. Easy access to a shotgun. Escalating arguments with other soldiers. Depression and hopelessness. He clearly felt alienated from society. Is is documented that his latest Facebook status reflects that. But not to be overlooked is that he was on multiple prescription meds. By themselves, they may not have made Lopez snap. But clearly, his anti-anxiety medications were not having their desired effect! They did the exact opposite of calming him down. This gunman was a cash cow for Big Pharma. His meds played a part in helping to destroy the lives of four people and forever alter the lives of many others. If his medications were supposed to help him, why didn't they calm him down and hinder his aggressive tendencies? We may not have the answer to these questions for a long time. In our dialogue on mental health, we can't leave out the proper use of prescription medications.

Agree? Disagree?

Created Equal: What Does This Really Mean?

"All men are created equal."

It is written in our US Constitution. We are each created as equal, created that way from the beginning. Our belief in this saying and the principle it reflects, lies behind so many of our actions. This belief fuels all advocacy. When we see so much in this world that goes against this principle, we react, believing, "Life is not fair!" Our outrage in violations of the principle of the basic equality of persons fuels protests, movements, causes, and even vigilante efforts like The Blank Panthers and online movements like the one which calls itself Anonymous.

Inequality, Where Is it Found?

Yet we see much inequality in this world. It is everywhere, and it's a part of life. No institution is equal, in fact. The justice system is a glaring example in this injustice and inequality. According to my research and observation and those of many others, guess who get convicted of crimes more often than Caucasian, nondisabled, wealthy, Establishment males? Non-Caucasian, developmentally-disabled, poor, and disenfranchised persons! Guess who gets convicted least often of crimes against persons in any of these people groups? Establishment, Caucasian, non-disabled, or wealthy males. The George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case brought this matter to national and international focus and attention. Sadly, a federal hate crime bill has had to be created and passed to address this inequality. Inequality abounds in the health care delivery system. Affluent persons with money or quality private insurance often can access more and better health care services than those who use Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Medicare, or Medicaid. Worst, many remain without any health care access. Inequality looms large in education. Families which are affluent often can enroll their children in private schools and even in pricy extra-curricular pursuits such as dance, music, theatre, and the link. Low-income and many minority families often must make do with public schools and seldom can afford to enroll their children in extracurricular classes to develop their talents. Even crime and missing searches are often unequal, with more and better resources going to victims and missing persons who are Caucasian, from more affluent families, who are without disabilities, and who are young. Sad but true.

Inequality, Is It Ever Okay?

Yes, we are all created equal, and this truth is forgotten far too often. It is behind all society's ills, in fact. Yet we misunderstand "All men are created equal," when we confuse recognizing inequality of personhood and inequality of function. We all know that, in all of society, starting in the home and working into the schools, the workplace, and from citizens to government, authority vs. subordination are central. This holds true in Scripture, where God Himself designed these authority structures and as Ultimate Authority, He tells us we must submit to those placed in authority over us. Yep, this is inequality in function but a needed one, for without authority, we would have anarchy. We need to recognize another basic principle: We are all unequal in distribution of talents, abilities, challenges, and weaknesses. People with certain "glamorous talents" like singing voices, athletic prowess, or acting talent, can aspire to celebrity status, especially if they enjoy social connections and opportunities. People with many other talents can aspire to and often enter jobs that are either high-status or high-paying. Many of us may bemoan not having "the better" talents but the fact is, many of the "less glamorous talents" such as attention to detail, memory, persistence, solid communication skills, and empathy are absolutely essential to keep society going. Yes this is inequality but needed. This is Scriptural.

My Experience


Yes, I have struggled with misunderstand what inequality means. Like almost any school student, I did not like having to obey my teachers, especially the ones who seemed not to even like me. I didn't like having to obey my parents. I did obey, but often not gladly, believing that my best interests would be furthered by my obedience. When I did go to regular classes at C---------'s church-based school, I struggled with feelings of jealousy toward the popular girls or those with athletic talent. Life wasn't fair, I would tell myself. I had no concept that equality in personhood does not mean equality in function--very frequently. Because of how I was treated and because of misdiagnosis and improper intervention, I very often fought a shame-based identity where equality in personhood seemed to apply to everyone but me. I know that this sad phenomenon is applicable to so many victims of many different kinds and is behind depression and suicide. Even when I got older and entered adulthood, I would bemoan how I was made and wish I had been blessed with one of the "glamorous talents" such as singing or athletic talent. The fact that I did not have answers for my life made this worse. Getting an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis is proving to be relieving and enabling me to come to terms with the way I have been put together.

Inequality Misunderstanding & Getting It Right

We need to get over confusing equality of personhood vs. equality of function. Much jealousy, insecurity, egoism, and competition would fade if only we understood and embraced the truth that we are all equal in personhood but we are NOT equal in function. Nor was it ever meant to be so. God made it like this. We may not like it, but that is what He did. We do need to fight the "isms" that fuel the lack of respecting inequality of personhood, such as racism, sexism, and ablism. We need to respect and revere equality of our personhood, while accepting that we are often very unequal in function. We will continue to see and hear about civil rights protests, vigilante groups or movements, hate crimes and the need for legislating against them, and calls for more and more legislation bearing the names of victims, until we do. On one Facebook page a couple years ago, under the post, "All men are created equal," someone commented sadly, "Too bad they do not stay that way." What kind of world would it be if we cleared up our confusion about what equality really is?

The image at the top of this post is courtesy of John Sundermann.

Vaccine Wars

Vaccines.

This topic evokes strong emotions from two sides, two factions, that heartily oppose each other on the topic of vaccines. For years, since I added many new people to my Facebook network, I have seen countless posts about the dangers of vaccines. Some even bluntly call vaccines evil and of the devil. I have seen accusations of the Government using the promotion of vaccines to "make us all sick." If you use Facebook, you may have seen such posts. The controversy seems to be here to stay.

What Am I Talking About?

When we picture or think about vaccines, we probable think mainly about having a pediatrician vaccinate his/her young patients. That's a huge part of it. But this raging controversy also extends to vaccines that are available to us adults, such as flu vaccines and to extra vaccines that are available to senior citizens. Yet the major focus is child vaccines because it is children who receive the most vaccines. When I was growing up, in the 1960s and 1970s, in St. Louis, MISSOURI, I do not remember that any vaccine controversy existed. I became aware of it only some time after my daughter was diagnosed, at close to age three, with Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). I didn't know what to make of it.

Why the Vaccine Controversy?

This controversy seems to have begun when Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) became an official diagnosis and was added to the DSM-IV in the late 1990's. Before then, autism had never, to my knowledge, been seen as a spectrum and the diagnosis was restricted to those who showed severe autistic traits. These people fit the "rain Man" in the famous movie by Dustin Hoffmann. With the rise of the ASD diagnosis, the rate of diagnosed children soared. Studies indicated that vaccines were to blame for this sharp rise, though evidence did not seem to support that. Still, anti-vaccine activists, then and now, have remained staunch in their determination to purport the danger, even moral evil, of vaccines. We are being called to allow our children to "tap into their natural immunity" and the shun the grave evil of vaccines. Vaccines have come to be blamed not only for autism, but also are taking a sharp rap for setting our children for future cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. Vaccines are now taking a rap for other childhood illnesses. To a point, I see the point of these strenuous arguments against vaccines (or any medications for that matter).

What We May Be Overlooking

Granted, vaccines do have side effects. All medications do, for that matter. In a perfect world without any disease, vaccines would not even be an issue. But they are. We know that, for decades, we have allowed our children and ourselves to be vaccinated from diseases that have been determined to be preventable with the use of those vaccines. I don't remember that anyone in my growing up days questioned the use of vaccines to prevent diseases in our children or ourselves. Our doctors and the health experts told us that we could prevent many disease with vaccines, and this has been the case in many ways. Yet now we live in a media and digital age where we question everything, including the Government and experts. We realize that we need to research matters and not blindly accept anything we are told. This is good! We should not be naïve or gullible. Those against vaccines are totally right when they tell us to educate ourselves before we get our children or ourselves vaccinated. We should do our due diligence before making any important decision. I get that!

What Should We Conclude?

We do need to do our due diligence on vaccines, as we need to do on all important decisions facing us. I know all of you, especially those of you in the autism community, hold strong opinions on vaccines and whether to use them or not. Wherever you stand on this, you need to weigh both the pros and cons of using vaccines, and why you hold your position. Vaccines may indeed set us up for future diseases like cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. At the same time we are seeing a rise in the flu epidemic and in flu deaths. Last year, the flu killed at least 20 children. This year it is soaring in areas like my own. AS in all things, there is risk in using vaccines. There is also risk in not using them. We cannot have it both ways.

Thoughts?

The above photo is by James Gathany (CDC, PHIL #2676) and is courtesy of Wikipedia Commons. It can be found here. This image has been used under this license.

Article Resources

Safe Minds

Exposed: The Truth About Vaccines

Centers For Disease Control

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

Vaccine Information

My Change.org Autism Petition; Will you Sign It? Will You Pass It On?

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Keeping Safe This Halloween

Yes it is that time of the year. Halloween costumes. Halloween candy. Halloween parties. It's that time of the year when even those of us who are on diets, will "splurge" and "cheat." Many of the holidays, like Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, are more solemn and are not seen as mainly "fun" holidays. But holidays like Halloween are. Yet the potential and the pitfalls on "fun" days like this are many. It is not for nothing that Halloween has been called "the Devil's holiday." Many children and families come out at night to "trick or treat." So do predators and they are hard to identify. Many, for religious reasons, choose not to celebrate Halloween, and I don't blame them at all! For many, Halloween is a hard time, especially those who have lost children to having gone missing, or to death. Survivors of something called satanic ritual abuse also find this to be a hard time. Children with sensory issues due to autism or a related disorder, also find Halloween tough because they dislike the sounds, lights and smells of it all. Many single people may also struggle with especially acute feelings of loneliness at this time of the year.

Yes, I know that many adults also celebrate Halloween and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as it is good, clean, safe fun. I know of some who do. I, who am based in St. Louis, Missouri, consider "splurging" on pizza from Pizza Hut to be celebrating, as I enjoy Pizza Hut pizza. My mom and her boyfriend went to a Halloween party the other night and were asked to wear costumes. I know of others who have, too. I know that the bars will no doubt be packed with people tonight. Yet we know that at this time of year, many people, children included, turn up missing. Many may see all the witches, ghosts, goblins, vampires, and warlocks costumes to be just innocent fun, but can these open the door to evil? Can these put "trick or treaters" at risk of something called satanic oppression, even bodily harm due to being preyed on, even the unthinkable?

No, I'm not one of those who wants to take the fun out of anyone's Halloween. People who don't celebrate usually don't wish to take the fun out of that day and probably have other ways, if they have young children, of offering wholesome alternatives to their children. It is possible to keep your children and yourself safe and having fun, believe it or not, whether you celebrate Halloween or not. You may be one who has already participated in Halloween parties or events that have already been held, including through churches or through your places of employment.

So what are the best ways to keep your children and yourselves safe if you plan to go out tonight?

First, I know that many children are going out tonight to "trick or treat." I would assume that every child would be attended by a parent or another trusted adult. Children alone are easy prey for predators at any time or day during the year. On Halloween, they probably are even more vulnerable. Also, don't go in to the homes of people you don't know. I'm sure most of you know this. I don't want to insult anyone's intelligence. And when you get home safely with your children, you still need to ensure their safety. You need to check their candy. If it looks suspicious or if in doubt, throw it out! It is better to be safe than sorry. Also, people love to hand out lollipops and Tootsie Rolls. Aside from their total lack of any nutritional value, these hard or gummy candies are choking hazards. I recommend throwing them out. If you go out as adults, it is strongly recommended That you go out in groups and stay together. There is a campaign called "You Came Together? You Leave Together!" and at LostNMissing, Inc., you can learn more about how you can keep your friends and neighbors safe.

And please don't forget those who don't see this time of the year as "fun." Whether survivors of satanic ritual abuse, those with sensory processing issues, those with missing or deceased children, many lonely individuals, and those who don't believe in Halloween for religious reasons. Feel free to enjoy this day but don't "show it off" to those who would be offended by it. You need to do all those things that can keep yourself and your children safe.

Bottom line: Have a safe, clean and fun Halloween!

Photo courtesy of MorgueFile.com.
Photo by cohdra.

This photo can be found here.

A New Open Letter To the Autism Community

To all parents of children with diagnosed or suspected autism, autistic individuals, diagnosed or self-diagnosed, autism professionals and autism specialists:

I realize that I'm writing to a people group who share one thing in common, that you have contact with the condition we call autism, in one form or another. That is true whatever your political views, your religious beliefs, your lifestyle, your stance on vaccines, the cause (s) of autism, whether it is a disease to be cured or a difference to be celebrated, whether autistic children should be taught to "fit in" to accommodate themselves to society or society should be expected to accept autistic people exactly as they are. I have a wide variety of you in my networks.

I know that many of you have created and maintain blogspots, many of you have set up Facebook profiles or pages, many of you are writing books, and some of you have set up autism nonprofits. I know that you all have another thing in common, whatever your connection with autism. You want autism services to be available to all people who need them, regardless of their ability to pay. I know you do because I have read many of your blogs and some of your books. I have seen many Facebook posts. We know that many people remain underserved or unserved. Yes, there are fine nonprofits that seek to fill the needs of a number of these. But I notice that almost all of them have been set up to serve autistic children, and they tend to be underfunded. Adults? Services are mostly nonexistent if you are an adult who wants to get checked out to see if you are autistic or want autism services for yourself.

When I use the word autism, I mean all levels of function, from those who are nonverbal and classically autistic, to those who are verbal and are (for want of a better word) higher-functioning. Yes, I know that level of function has little to do with intelligence when it comes to this population. You all know this but most outside our community don't know this. They also don't know that every autistic person's autism is different and unique from every other person's autism. But we know this and I'm including this here for the benefit of those who don't have any known connections with autism, are if they do, remain uneducated about it. We also share in common that we are disturbed at the alarming high rate of autistic children and sometimes autistic adults, who go missing because of wandering. We also share in common our sadness and anger at the way so many in society continue to misunderstand, mistreat, and abuse autistic children and adults.

Many of you are in my networks, especially on Facebook. I have had bad experiences with some of you, usually due to misunderstandings and conflicts that never were resolved. I know that so many of you have been officially diagnosed, some of you who have children who are autistic also. You know that I have never claimed to be anything but self-diagnosed, as I have never had access to an affordable but qualified autism professional who can give a screening leading to a diagnosis. I know that some of you who are diagnosed and many parents with autistic children, frown on people like me and view me as a fraud or imposter of sorts. I know this because of comments made. I had made an appointment for an autism screening about eight months ago and I plan to go to this screening in a couple of weeks. The autism screening is a four-hour round trip, but it is the only one that my insurance covers. No, I don't know if I will end up with the autism diagnosis, another diagnosis, or no diagnosis at all.

Whatever happens as a result of that autism screening, I will stay a member of the autism community. I have a daughter with autism and she is 13, in the 8th grade, in middle school, and active in her church youth group. Without her, I would never have gotten educated about autism, identified myself as possibly sharing her condition, and I would never have started an autism petition to get government funding for universal autism services. My signature is high enough that the US government won't get these signatures until long after this shutdown and when we have another US President. In the meantime, I am still collecting signatures and I need every one of you in the US and at least age 13 (minimum age to sign at Change.org), to sign this petition and to share it. Since I have links to the petition all over this blog, sharing this BlogSpot is sharing the petition. Will you click here to sign?

Victims and Responsibility

Recent or current court cases have contributed to the debate over what we mean by what it is to be a victim and how responsible individuals or for their actions. In the recent George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case, the US and indeed and no doubt much of the developed world, has been divided over who the victim was in this case. The supporters or George Zimmerman have concluded that he was the victim, basing their views on the idea that Trayvon appeared "out of the blue" to brutally attack Zimmerman and for no reason at all. The supporters of Trayvon Martin base their views on the idea that Martin was followed, racially profiled and shot because of his skin color. The jurors in that case agreed with Zimmerman that he was the "real victim" of the unprovoked attack of a "thug" and "gang happy," troubled boy who "had it coming to him." This six-women jury's verdict still divides us because so many of us disagree with their conclusion over who the actual victim was in that case. Prior to that, both the public and a 12 person jury, overwhelmingly concluded that Travis Alexander was an undisputed and absolute victim, despite his now-convicted murderer's futile efforts to convince the jury that she was the victim and so not "so responsible" for her crime. Thus the Jodie Arias verdict is far less divisive than the George Zimmerman verdict was.

I read and, more recently, re-read a book on the case of the tragic double murder of homeschool parents, DESIRE TURNED DEADLY, because an 18 year old boy was livid over a confrontation with the parents of his 14 year old girlfriend. Kara's parents, devout Christian parents, were angry when they learned of their underage daughter's romantic relationship, calling for a confrontation with David. As a result, David shot both parents to "have them eliminated" and Kara entered his car with him, and an Amber Alert was issued as it was unclear if she was a victim, a "hostage" or not. When they were found, it was believed that she "may not be a victim after all, and 14 year old Kara was herself investigated. While Kara was totally cleared because of how laws were written in the state of that case, it shows that we all agree that being victims reduces (and often totally eliminates) our responsibility for our actions and at least in the eyes of the law. In an older case (which I'm not familiar with but have only heard of) a 19 year old boy was infatuated with a 14 year old girl and murdered a couple members of her family. She took off with him and he went on to kill more people. Like her older lover, she was sent to prison for many year until she was paroled. Cases like these, as well as others, illustrate how the degree that one is considered responsible for one's actions as to one's possible involvement in the wrongdoing of others. That is, in they eyes of the law. In the eyes of God, according to Scripture, regardless of how much of a victim we may be, we are ultimately responsible for our actions.

Today, it is very fashionable and "in" to claim to be a victim or a survivor of some adversity or another. In fact, this practice has been in vogue for decades, for quite a few years ago, I had read a book called A NATION OF VICTIMS. The author made valid points though I felt quite unsettled by much of what he asserted, and I'm sure that many, maybe most, who have read that book would be similarly affected. Indeed, we should take to heart the fact that these terms have been widely abused by many of us to duck responsibility for our actions, to gain sympathy or attention, and/or to reduce or even eliminate expectations of us or consequences for our misdeeds. It is also politically correct to never blame a personal called a victim, for anything done when victimized. "Playing the victim" is a derogatory and accusatory remark directed at anyone who is seen as "whining" about his or her "lot in life" or "bad luck."

In the recent, highly publicized court case, we who have been even casually following it have noted how the defendant, Jodie Arias, has been claiming to be a victim/survivor of both child abuse and of intimate partner violence. Her claims have been exposed as false by prosecution character witnesses, by the prosecution expert psychologist and by two siblings of Travis, the murder victim. In the penalty phase of the trial (resulting in a mistrial for that phase), in profoundly moving, powerful victim impact statements, Steven and Samantha Alexander paid tributes to their murdered brother, what he meant to them and how his terrible loss has devastated every area of their lives and the glue of their family life. In this case, the defendant, Jodie, has been claiming abuse, as a child and as an adult, to avoid responsibility for her actions and their consequences via gaining sympathy from the jury who had not bought her story. We know this from their "Guilty of First-Degree Murder" and "Unusual Cruelty: Proven" verdicts in the guilt and aggravation phases of this trial. In short, Travis was a total victim and Arias's trial verdict proves that most of us agree that she is totally responsible for her actions.

This causes me to ponder and address the issue of autism and how this abuse of the words "victim" and survivor" have created a backlash against those in the autism community and against many in the larger disability community. Let me illustrate. The accusation is often made that many in the autism community use the autism diagnosis to evade personal responsibility. This accusation is made, often, of parents who seek (and get) the autism diagnosis for their children. "You just want people to feel sorry for your child," "You want sympathy for yourself," "You are looking for excuses for your poor parenting," and even, "You are looking for an autism diagnosis to get government benefits for your child." This same accusations is often made of adults who seen an autism diagnosis later in life. It is for this reason, among others, that there is still controversy about neurological conditions with behavioral symptoms, like Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and other such conditions. Parents are sometimes accused of using their children's diagnoses as "chemical babysitters" or as "substitutes for good parenting" when medications or therapies are used as treatment options. I know people, including doctors, who believe that Asperger's Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism don't exist and are "pop psychology fads."

There is also the practice of inducing false memories of child molestation, which is extremely scarring, with psychological effects which stay with its survivors for life. There have been cases of parents who have lost children to false allegations (whether of false memories or other things) to false accusations of child molestation. Workers with child contact have also lost their jobs for the same reasons. We all have read of numerous women who have brought forth false rape accusations against men. Many years ago, I read a book by a woman, called FORGIVE ME, who did just this; as a result of her Christian conversion years later; she recanted her story to free the innocent man who was sentenced for a rape he never committed.  As I remember, she had reported having survived a horrible childhood. Any of us who even casually follow the news, hear of false rape accusations. Why are such accusations made? It is no doubt because the false accusers want sympathy and attention, as our society sympathizes with victims of rape, whether in childhood or as adults. Often these sort of people are trying to deal with unmet needs (often horrible childhoods themselves) in inappropriate or downright wrong ways.

We all are aware of how many, many scams are brought about by playing on our compassion and generosity, whether you are talking about people falsely claiming to be cancer victims to raise money for themselves or are talking about numerous scams exploiting community tragedies to profit off misfortune. Many years ago, a woman claimed to be a 911 survivor, actually became a leader among 911 actual survivors, and raised money for this community and attracted much sympathy and accolades for her supposed "courage" and "strength" for all the "horrors she had survived." This was until one person was observant enough to see that this lady's story did not "add up" and after checking into matters this lady was exposed as a fraud. In recent years I have known of a number of women who had claimed to be cancer victims and had garnered much public sympathy and donations. Many people falsely claim to be victims, whether of natural causes like cancer, or of unnatural causes like rape--all to get attention, sympathy, even money.

Yet this very frequent practice of falsely claiming abuse, whether to get money, attention, sympathy, or to evade society's expectations or consequences, backfires. It causes a backlash against genuine victims and survivors of traumas. Those who are truly victims, whether of any form of abuse in childhood or adulthood, become more and more hesitant to share their stories and to make police reports. This is because they do not want to become re-victimized through not being taken seriously or believed or blamed for their victimization. This practice of false victimization has spawned a recent petition to create legislation calling for criminal background checks on all those who come forward about abuse. And then think of the devastating effect false abuse allegations have on those whom they are made against, destroying reputations and putting innocent people in jail, prison, and even on Death Row. While we are rightly admonished by child advocates to report even suspected child abuse, we are wise to ensure that we are able to back up our reported suspicions with a statement, an action, an incident, that is a basis for our suspicions.

True and actual victimhood does not diminish our responsibility though it lessens it and makes our actions more explainable. We so often see this in countless people who have survived childhood or adult adversity and have emerged to become positive, strong, caring, even successful. I have heard it said, several times, that "Prosperity is a more severe test of character than poverty (or adversity) is." The Scriptures, over and over, from cover to cover, tell us that spiritual growth comes through suffering. We know this because of how so many recent tragedies have brought whole communities together, whether weather disaster, shootings, bombings or other tragedies. The one perfect Person Who lived, Jesus, also suffered more than any other human during all the events leading up to His trials and His death in what is known as "Holy Week." Throughout that time alone, Jesus suffered the betrayal of a very close friend, eventual desertion by all His friends, false accusations, mockery, injustice, and every form of abuse in its most severe form. He suffered extreme physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. This all means that we do not have to be prisoners of out pasts and also, that we cannot use even actual abuse to excuse our misdeeds. This holds true whether we are talking about medical conditions where we have reduced control over our behavior, like Autism, or life events, like abuse or illness. Photo courtesy of PicDrome.org. "Rain Drops on Glass"

Autism Affects Us All & What This Means

We all know that regularly updating your materials, whether you are talking about a website, a Facebook page, a talk show, a crime or a missing persons case, or anything you work on, is crucial and adds greatly to one's credibility. One cannot expect a loyal following if one does not work to keep these supporters "in the loop" about what one does. And so I have applied this not only to my Facebook materials but also to my autism, launched at Change.org and now at SignOn.org, to be more inclusive and to spell out to supporters, would-be supporters and to our government, exactly what I would like this petition to do and the sources of the funds which I am requesting. For, when I created it, I was aware that many people would, rightfully, be wondering, "Where are the funds going to come from? Do they even exist? And if so, how would such programs be implemented? And what about services for children and teens that are in danger of being cut in the name of "balancing the budget"? My hope is to go a long way toward answering these questions in this blog. I believe that you will be more motivated to support the petition.

Over a year ago, I had launched this petition on Change.org and through that site, I have been circulating this petition all this time and still am. Because of Change.org's settings and because I did not initially check my petition targets, The U.S.President and the House and the Senate, no signatures are emailed to these targets. They will never be delivered to these targets until I am able to somehow print up all the signatures and all comments, when my goal is reached. I would have to deliver my printed up petition in person and at this time, that remains a dream. Today, I have launched this petition at SignOn.org, another website that hosts petition. Even if you have signed this petition at Change.org, you can sign it at SignOn.org. At this site, when you sign, your signature is automatically delivered to the U.S. President, the House and the Senate, unlike at Change.org when you sign. At this site, on any given day, if my petition or any petition does not generate enough signatures, SignOn.org will close it. This is one big reason why I call on all readers of this blog to support my petition, if you are at least 18 (the minimum age at which you can use the SignOn.org site). Even if you are not in the US, you can still share the petition off my petition page with your friends in the US. My page can be found at Autism Affects Us All: Please Sign & Keep SharingThePetition. I am now continuing to promote my petition from both Change.org and from SignOn.org. The only difference between my petition on either site is that I have more of a description there and my letter to my targets is longer there. Since MoveOn.org limits characters, my petition description and the petition letter to my targets is shorter than at Change.org. This petition can be signed at both sites as Change.org and SignOn.org have no connections with each other.

First of all, where will all the funds I call for come from? They must come from somewhere. First of all, it has been brought to my attention that fund had been set aside for services for autism, and, to this day, this legislation for autism has not yet been fully funded. Let me provide some history, according to Wikipedia. On December 19, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Combating Autism Act of 2006. This bill was meant to provide a package of research services and diagnostic services for children and to detect autism in toddlers, among other services. The funds for these services were never appropriated, though. On September 30, 2011, President Obama added his signature to the Combating Autism Re-Authorization Act of 2011 (H. R. 2005). You can read the text for this, in pdf format, here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr2005ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr2005ih.pdf. There were $231 million that were supposed to be appropriated for different autism efforts. However, even though the Combating Autism Act was re-authorized, to this day, it has not been fully funded, according to Politifact, a website full of "fact-checking" information about politicians and legislation (http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obamameter/promise/82/fully-fund-the-combating-autism-act-and-federal-au/. Therefore, my petition calls for these $231 million. already set aside for autism, to fully fund, and appropriate, the services that they were meant to fund in the first place. For this reason, my petition has become more inclusive and, because of the unfunded autism legislation, my petition calls for the protection of those services that are meant to serve autistic people age 21 and under, also. This makes my petition more inclusive and should attract support from many people, including those who young children who are diagnosed with autism and are NOT thinking in terms of them becoming adults. It should also attract more support from many outside the autism community, who still think only of children when they hear the word "autism." For this reason, I have slightly tweaked my petition title from "1,000,000 People for Better lives For Adults With Autism" to "1,000,000 People For Better Lives For All Persons With Autism." This gives all of you who are reading this, even if you have signed this petition (and I thank you for that!) all the more reason and "ammo" to freely circulate this petition, whether by email, Facebook, Twitter, online chat, other social networks and yes, word-of-mouth, through my shortened URL: http://tiny.cc/mrsahw.

The mission of my mission has not changed one bit and I still call for all those services for adults with autism, 21 and over, who have little or no access to these services. These services simply do not exist or, if they do, they are typically available through private nonprofits and are unaffordable to most adults. Yes, I'm sure there are exceptions. In my petition, I call for funds to be offered to EXISTING services for those with developmental disabilities who serve those with autism. Typically, such services are directed to children, teens and maybe young adults, to age 21. Sadly, it is like there is no life for any adult with autism who passes the age of 21. Want a diagnosis, if only to find answers about your unusual past? Too bad, because, unless you are fortunate to live in an area where a qualified professional diagnoses adults or have the time and money to go to such a professional, you are basically doomed. You will not know the relief of a diagnosis, a community and possible services. This sad fact also extends to poor and many minority people, children AND adults and I hope that the exclusion of many less-fortunate children can be addressed through the funding of the Combating Autism Re-Authorization Act of 2011. And where would the funds for all the services that I outline would come? Good question! According to an article on the website for the nonprofit, Autism Speaks, there are cuts that are scheduled in January of 2013, and these cuts include services for autism. And, according to the last paragraph of this recent article, $238 million were set aside for autism initiatives. It is unclear what these autism projects were meant to do, and they expired in September 30, 2012, probably because of the Election. In this petition, I call for the re-newal of these expired funds and then I call for these same $238 million to be re-allocated to the services and programs for adults with autism that have been calling from the creation of my petition (http://autismspeaks.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/19-million-risk-new-autism-research). The point of the article was deep concern about upcoming cuts, but I discovered that there are $238 million that, taken together with the $231 million called for in the Combating Autism Re-Authorization Act, means that $469 million do ALREADY EXIST for autism! My petition calls for these existing funds to be re-newed, appropriated and then re-allocated to include the services for adults with autism which I have called for from the beginning.

Yes, I know that, as I write this, our U.S. President is into the second year of his second term. We do know, at this point, who is occupying the White House for the next two or so years and we do know what the current Congress is and who are filling many sets which were, not long ago, "up for grabs." My signature goal was not be reached by the Election and I know that President Obama and a new Congress will be the ones who will need to re-new, appropriate and then re-allocate the EXISTING funds mentioned in my petition text, to improve life for ALL people with autism, of all ages, at all levels of function, diagnosed and undiagnosed. Yes, now there are many in Washington and those who aspire to be in power, who want to make hurtful cuts to EXISTING programs and services across-the-board and autism is only one target of these proposed cuts. And I know that there are controversies over proposed changes in the DSM-5 and this includes the autism diagnosis. However, even with these realities and challenges, we owe it all people with autism and to ourselves, as a society, to try. Autism affects all of us and when a people group remains unwelcome, misunderstood, and underserved, this affects us all.

Months ago, as I wrote this, many in the autism community and myself have been reeling from the things that many said in that one afternoon's Congressional Autism Hearings. In listening to the hearings for three hours, in the background, via C-SPAN 3, I was not only saddened but angry at what our politicians exhibited what could best be called condescending, paternalistic, uninformed and insulting toward persons with autism. I heard references to autism as a "terrible disease and as an "epidemic" that needed to be "curtailed"! Adults with autism were referred to as "burdens to their families and society" but besides a few uch references, nothing else was said about providing these adults with services. I found much of those two hours of hearings almost unbearable to listen to. The third hour hearings were better as it featured autism nonprofit CEOs but the attitudes some of them exhibited were offensive to me. For example, one CEO called for services to "make autistic adults productive so that they will not be burdens on society." Two CEO's of self-advocacy nonprofits, Ari Ne'man and Micheal John Carley, spoke and in my humble opinion, their testimones were by far the ones that made the most sense as they were from a self-advocacy perspective and from two CEOs diagnosed on the autism spectrum themselves and which they have made public.

Though there were two "autistic voices" at these hearings, which is great progress, please bear in mind that Michael John Carley and Ari Ne'man are among "the lucky ones" as they both are the first to tell you. Most autistic adults, whatever their level of function, do not know the quality of life that these two men know, they may need services that these two men do not need and many struggle with unemployement, secondary emotional problems, family crises, divorce and even worse, even incarceration or homelessness. I know that many people, in AND out of the autism community, are calling for funds to focus on research and "finding causes and the cure." Some of them, with more resources and bigger "voices" than mine, are lobbying Congress for this purpose. I realize that research has its own valid place and is needed to find better ways to diagnose autism and to provide effective services for autistic people. But my petition, on Change.org and at SignOn.org, focuses on comprehensive services for all underserved persons with autism, whatever their age or ability to pay. These hearings only underscore the need for enthusiastic support for a petition like mine that calls for such coverage; the outcome of yesterday's hearings is most uncertain and unless you are okay with autism funds to go mostly for research and early intervention (fine as these are), active and ongoing circulation of my petition on both Change.org and on SignOn.org, is wise. I repeat, you can sign this petition at both sites as neither has any connection with the other.

We all have a vested interest in supporting this because, at any time, anyone in our families or lives) can receive a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder or self-diagnose based on life experiences. In fact, because not all people with ASD's disclose their condition, it's safe to assume that almost all of us are affected by autism.

My petition can be found at the Change.org site: http://tiny.cc/mrsahw. I shortened this link to make it much easier to remember and to share than the original Change.org URL link is. My hope is that, once you have signed this petition, you will share it in email messages, send it or post it on Facebook, tweet it, share it through real-time online chats, and through any other social network at your disposal. And do not leave out the traditional word-of-mouth.

My petition can now be found at the SignOn.org site: http://tiny.cc/vq5ztw. Like at Change.org, I shortened the petition at SignOn.org to make that URL easier to remember and to share with others. My hope is that once you have signed the petition at SignOn.org, you will use this shortened URL to share it at Twitter, through Instant messaging, emails, Facebook and through any other social networks that you have access to. And do not leave out the good old-fashioned word-of-mouth.

CaringEnoughToMakeADifference You can find my petition on a widget at this site, which is under construction, and it can be signed there. There are also share options for this widget and my hope is that you will share this site, especially with those in your life who do not use social networks.

Autism Affects Us All: Please Sign & Keep Sharing The Petition If you are a Facebook user, I recommend that you visit this page, "like" it (so its contents will stream into your Newsfeed), and you will find that my petition should be easily found and shared through this page. You can sign my autism petition at Change.org. Click here. You can sign my autism petition at SignOn.org. Click here.

Autism Affects Us All: You Can Support The Petition For Autism Services

This week, when I was scrolling through my Facebook Newsfeed, a post streamed through. It stated, "I am going to defriend anyone in my social network who has anything to do with autism." Puzzled, hurt and rather angry, several people and I posted in the comments area, "Why?" Later, the person curtly responded, "I do not have to answer your question." Minutes later, a person in my network who is closely associated with autism, posted graciously, "You can keep me. I will not force any opinions." This all got me thinking. I wonder if this person who posted about wanting to remove the profiles of all those linked with autism has seen so much of the bullying and encountered the infighting and factions that are rampant in the autism community. I wonder. Certainly there are many in my network who have never shown any form of association with autism. I know that ignorance is the main reason people hold bad attitudes about autism. But another reason, I daresay, is because of the factions and bullying in the autism community. And I know that our US Congress, who are, after all, from us, also hold poor attitudes. We all know that autism services are desperately needed by underserved people of all ages who do not have high incomes or proper insurance. Most supporters of this community also know this. Autism Speaks has launched an autism petition on their own platform, which got hundreds of thousands of signatures. I do not see that it has gotten Congressional or Presidential attention or has made any difference. Another national autism nonprofit has launched an autism petition on Causes. I don't see that it has made any difference. I wonder if it is because of the federal budget and I'm sure that has much to do with Congress's failure to do anything about funding autism services.

There is my petition, which as I write this, seems to have stalled as far as gathering signatures is concerned. Though this saddens me somewhat, there are explanations. First of all, the plain ignorance that is rampant still. The bullying and factions in the autism community itself. People's getting turned off by what often goes on in this community. I know people have their own reasons for not signing which I may never know. A few have said simply, "I don't sign petitions," and a couple were people in the autism community themselves. I know of people who have told me, frankly, "I do not care about causes." I am sure a person or more refuses to sign simply because of some personal dislike for me. I have no control over other's attitudes, perceptions or behavior. But I do have control over my presentation to ensure that my petition is clear in its mission, which is appealing to the US government to fund autism services in all 50 states, so all who need them can access them. I need to make sure it is easy to access, which is why I have set up a Facebook page for it and create occasional Facebook "events" for its easy sharing. This is why I have a website with the petition on a widget there, so people can sign there without needing a Facebook account to do so. However, Change.org had removed the widget option so my petition is gone from my website and now I have to figure out what to do to get it back on that site. Currently, I'm using my upcoming June 29 birthday as a platform to get support for the petition in the form of "My Birthday Wish: Please Post This On Your Own Timelines."

     We all know that regularly updating your materials, whether you are talking about a website, a Facebook page, a talk show, a crime or a missing persons case, or anything you work on, is crucial and adds greatly to one's credibility. One cannot expect a loyal following if one does not work to keep these supporters "in the loop" about what one does. And so I have applied this not only to my Facebook materials but also to my Change.org petition for autism, to be more inclusive and to spell out to supporters, would-be supporters and to our government, exactly what I would like this petition to do and the sources of the funds which I am requesting. For, when I created it, I was aware that many people would, rightfully, be wondering, "Where are the funds going to come from? Do they even exist? And if so, how would such programs be implemented? And what about services for children and teens that are in danger of being cut in the name of "balancing the budget"? My hope is to go a long way toward answering these questions in this blog. I believe that you will be more motivated to support the petition.

     First of all, where will all the funds I call for come from? They must come from somewhere. First of all, it has been brought to my attention that fund had been set aside for services for autism, and, to this day, this legislation for autism has not yet been fully funded. Let me provide some history, according to Wikipedia. On December 19, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Combating Autism Act of 2006. This bill was meant to provide a package of research services and diagnostic services for children and to detect autism in toddlers, among other services. The funds for these services were never appropriated, though. On September 30, 2011, President Obama added his signature to the Combating Autism Re-Authorization Act of 2011 (H. R. 2005). You can read the text for this, in pdf format, here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr2005ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr2005ih.pdf. There were $231 million that were supposed to be appropriated for different autism efforts. However, even though the Combating Autism Act was re-authorized, to this day, it has not been fully funded, according to Politifact, a website full of "fact-checking" information about politicians and legislation (http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/82/fully-fund-the-combating-autism-act-and-federal-au/. Therefore, my petition calls for these $231 million. already set aside for autism, to fully fund, and appropriate, the services that they were meant to fund in the first place. For this reason, my petition has become more inclusive and, because of the unfunded autism legislation, my petition calls for the protection of those services that are me

     We all know that regularly updating your materials, whether you are talking about a website, a Facebook page, a talk show, a crime or a missing persons case, or anything you work on, is crucial and adds greatly to one's credibility. One cannot expect a loyal following if one does not work to keep these supporters "in the loop" about what one does. And so I have applied this not only to my Facebook materials but also to my Change.org petition for autism, to be more inclusive and to spell out to supporters, would-be supporters and to our government, exactly what I would like this petition to do and the sources of the funds which I am requesting. For, when I created it, I was aware that many people would, rightfully, be wondering, "Where are the funds going to come from? Do they even exist? And if so, how would such programs be implemented? And what about services for children and teens that are in danger of being cut in the name of "balancing the budget"? My hope is to go a long way toward answering these questions in this blog. I believe that you will be more motivated to support the petition.

     First of all, where will all the funds I call for come from? They must come from somewhere. First of all, it has been brought to my attention that fund had been set aside for services for autism, and, to this day, this legislation for autism has not yet been fully funded. Let me provide some history, according to Wikipedia. On December 19, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Combating Autism Act of 2006. This bill was meant to provide a package of research services and diagnostic services for children and to detect autism in toddlers, among other services. The funds for thse services were never appropriated, though. On September 30, 2011, President Obama added his signature to the Combating Autism Re-Authorization Act of 2011 (H. R. 2005). You can read the text for this, in pdf format, here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr2005ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr2005ih.pdf. There were $231 million that were supposed to be appropriated for different autism efforts. However, even though the Combating Autism Act was re-authorized, to this day, it has not been fully funded, according to Politifact, a website full of "fact-checking" information about politicians and legislation (http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/82/fully-fund-the-combating-autism-act-and-federal-au/. Therefore, my petition calls for these $231 million. already set aside for autism, to fully fund, and appropriate, the services that they were meant to fund in the first place. For this reason, my petition has become more ant to serve autistic people age 21 and under, also. This makes my petition more inclusive and should attract support from many people, including those who young children who are diagnosed with autism and are NOT thinking in terms of them becoming adults. It should also attract more support from many outside the autism community, who still think only of children when they hear the word "autism." For this reason, I have slightly tweaked my petition title from "1,000,000 People for Better lives For Adults With Autism" to "1,000,000 People For Better Lives For All Persons With Autism." This gives all of you who are reading this, even if you have signed this petition (and I thank you for that!) all the more reason and "ammo" to freely circulate this petition, whether by email, Facebook, Twitter, online chat, other social networks and yes, word-of-mouth, through my shortened URL: http://tiny.cc/mrsahw.

     The mission of my mission has not changed one bit and I still call for all those services for adults with autism, 21 and over, who have little or no access to these services. These services simply do not exist or, if they do, they are typically available through private nonprofits and are unaffordable to most adults. Yes, I'm sure there are exceptions. In my petition, I call for funds to be offered to EXISTING services for those with developmental disabilities who serve those with autism. Typically, such services are directed to children, teens and maybe young adults, to age 21. Sadly, it is like there is no life for any adult with autism who passes the age of 21. Want a diagnosis, if only to find answers about your unusual past? Too bad, because, unless you are fortunate to live in an area where a qualified professional diagnoses adults or have the time and money to go to such a professional, you are basically doomed. You will not know the relief of a diagnosis, a community and possible services. This sad fact also extends to poor and many minority people, children AND adults and I hope that the exclusion of many less-fortunate children can be addressed through the funding of the Combating Autism Re-Authorization Act of 2011. And where would the funds for all the services that I outline would come? Good question! According to an article on the website for the nonprofit, Autism Speaks, there are cuts that are scheduled in January of 2013, and these cuts include services for autism. And, according to the last paragraph of this recent article, $238 million were set aside for autism initiatives. It is unclear what these autism projects were meant to do, and they expired in September 30, 2012, probably because of the Election. In this petition, I call for the re-newal of these expired funds and then I call for these same $238 million to be re-allocated to the services and programs for adults with autism that have been calling from the creation of my petition (http://autismspeaks.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/19-million-risk-new-autism-research). The point of the article was deep concern about upcoming cuts, but I discovered that there are $238 million that, taken together with the $231 million called for in the Combating Autism Re-Authorization Act, means that $469 million do ALREADY EXIST for autism! My petition calls for these existing funds to be re-newed, appropriated and then re-allocated to include the services for adults with autism which I have called for from the beginning.

I have also launched this same petition on SignOn.org, a few months ago. I thought maybe this may be a better platform for the petition than Change.org, though I'm unsure. Even if you are one who has signed the petition at Change.org, you can also sign it at SignOn.org, right here. On SignOn, you need to be in the US and you must be at least age 18 to add your own signatures there. However, with my independent pages and tweets, anyone can pass this petition on, even if you cannot sign it. At SignOn.org, the petition is found at my shortened link: http://tiny.cc/vq5ztw. I shortened it to make it easy to remember and to make it easy to email, tweet and even share word of mouth. Your support in any form is appreciated!

     Yes, I know that, as I write this, the US President Obama is well into his second term.  Congress has been embroiled in budget gridlock and it has not been fully resolved. Many who did not vote for the US President are still reeling from his second Election. I have no way when my desired signature will be reached but it cannot be done by me alone! One person can do very little; it takes many, many people to make a difference and to sway a government to action on matters we care about. I know that, when that happens, the then-sitting President and the then-existing Congress will be the ones who will need to re-new, appropriate and then re-allocate the EXISTING funds mentioned in my petition text, to improve life for ALL people with autism, of all ages, at all levels of function, diagnosed and undiagnosed. Yes, now there are many in Washington and those who had and who still may desire to be in power, who want to make hurtful cuts to EXISTING programs and services across-the-board and autism is only one target of these proposed cuts. And I know that there are controversies over the now-released and published changes in the DSM-5 and this includes the autism diagnosis. However, even with these realities and challenges, we owe it all people with autism and to ourselves, as a society, to try. Autism affects all of us and when a people group remains unwelcome, misunderstood, and underserved, this affects us all.

My petition can be found at the Change.org site and can be found right here. I shortened this link to make it much easier to remember and to share than the original Change.org URL link is. You can also find it here: http://tiny.cc/vq5ztw, on this platform, SignOn. My hope is that, once you have signed this petition, you will share it in email messages, send it or post it on Facebook, tweet it, share it through real-time online chats, and through any other social network at your disposal. And do not leave out the tradional word-of-mouth.

CaringEnoughToMakeADifference You could find my petition on a widget at this site, which is under construction, and it can be signed there. The widget is now gone but plans are underway to get the petition there in another form. There are other, equally important features on this site.

Autism Affects Us All: Please Sign & Keep Sharing the Petition If you are a Facebook user, I recommend that you visit this page, "like" it (so its contents will stream into your Newsfeed), and you will find that my petition should be easily found and shared through this page.