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”.