Autism West Cork
Earlier this year we (finally) got a diagnosis for Roisin that she was on the Autistic Spectrum. We’d suspected for some years that she has Aspergers Syndrome or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD); but it wasn’t until her assessment last October, and subsequent discussions, that we got this diagnosis.
What this means is that it’s opened a number of doors to services that were previously not available. These are provided by the excellent ASD team at Co-Action. As well as the services there’s a parents support group and it’s great to be able to get together with people to share experiences and support each other.
To help the parents group I’ve set up a web site Autism West Cork. The site doesn’t have much in the way of content yet; but there is a forum for parents of children under Co-Action’s care. I hope you’ll take a look at the site and let me know if there’s anything you think should be on it.
[...] Via David: New website for parents of kids with Autism living in West Cork. [...]
The site looks good so far and I’m sure it will be very helpful to the parents of autistic children in your region. You’ve explained that there is not much content yet, and I see you’ve included just one link in the “autism research” section. The US ARI is not however a respected organisation among scientists and medics. They focus on unproven treatments and are linked to the DAN movement. They collect “data” from on-line surveys of parents so this isn’t at all accurate.
Research Autism gives a better, evidence based assessment autism science and theories.
Sharon, many thanks for your comment. I’m very new to the area of autism and wasn’t aware of the status of the ARI site. I will update the link description on our site to reflect the nature of their site
Good on your for starting this website; I’ll link to you.
I would strongly disagree that ARI are “unrespectable” .. but would agree with Sharon that ARI is unrespected. There is a difference.
ARI were dismissed in the 1960’s when they said things like: “Autism is not linked to fridge mothers”, “Behavioural modification (ie ABA) has evidence of benefit to children with Autism”, “non-verbal ASD children can obtain speech”, “DMG/Vitamin B6 has benefits for some children with ASD”. These unrespected claims are now acceptable by respected Autism science community.
Its called “from-practice-to-research”.
Dr Bernard Rimland was medical doctor who converted into medical researcher after having son with ASD; his son is now respected photographer I believe. Dr Lorna Wing described Aspergers Syndrome; and Autism Triad in 1979. She was mother of child with ASD. Her thesis is now mainstream.
Much of the DAN community are Doctors who bore a child with ASD and used/added to the mainly “practice-to-research” treatment knowledge documented by ARI. Most of the advocates for children with Special Needs are families – families push the boundaries.
ARI treatments and “hypotesis” have provided the input for many research papers (peer-reviewed) that have documented among other things: Digestive-Immunio issues with some children with ASD, Enviromental triggers combined with a genetic suscebability as potential causation of ASD’s in a subset of the ASD population. They are research papers not proof-of-causation papers and thats important point. But emerging medical science is progressing even if drug/pharma industry does’nt like it .. any yet drugs are a valid treatment option for some individuals with ASD .. but hopefully as a last resort.
Many families living with ASD reject the notion that they must wait 20-30yrs for a possible “respectable” Autism treatment – but that is the message given to them every day by GP’s and consultants. A genetic explanation for ASD is a small part of the story; Autism is unfortunately proving perplexing to science and the ARI as a “practise-to-research” organisation has a key part to play in developing respected treatment for Autism; my respect!! CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine Medicine) is respectable in my view only if there is plausable body of research behind it; I would promote CAM but stop short of “holostic medicine”; I know little about that area.
sorry for long post; Its hard to post a “one-liner”.