The Grinch who stole World Autism Awareness Day
by Marcie Lipsitt
Thursday, April 02, 2009
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I don't mean to sound like the Grinch who stole World Autism Awareness Day, or even the green-eyed monster, but I have some real issues with this "day" and America's views on autistic spectrum disorders.
I will start by saying that I am the mother of 20 year-old with early onset bipolar disorder and Asperger Syndrome (There's more but that is for another blog). So my issues with World Autism Awareness Day have nothing to do with my ignorance of, or lack of concern for those that suffer from an autistic spectrum disorder.
My beef - and it is as big as the biggest herd of cows - has to do with the fact that I am tired of the growing misconception that children on the vast autistic spectrum are the most complex children on the planet and the most underserved. This simply is not true.
It is not only children with autism who are in need of intensive speech and language services, behavioral interventions, social skills training and sensory integration therapy. So, why should health care insurance cover these services only for the child with autism and not the child with another disorder or illness?
Frankly, if we are to look at the most neglected population on the autistic spectrum, it would be those diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Aren't they the lucky ones? They barely have an autistic spectrum disorder (she says with sarcasm) and boy do our public schools and special education programs and services let them know it! Locating appropriate, meaningful and prescriptive autism programs and services in a public school for a student with Asperger Syndrome is less likely than finding a needle in 14,000 haystacks...Oops, I mean school districts!
If I am to compare U.S. numbers of children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder...there are just as many children identified with a pediatric or early onset of bipolar disorder and yet there is no outpouring of media coverage, advocacy, mental health coverage, targeted treatments or research funding for these children. So what do children with pediatric bipolar have that children with autism don't? Stigma and even without a "World Awareness Day," there is a "World" of stigma to go around.
There is no stigma attached to a child with an autistic spectrum disorder. There is more than enough stigma to go around for a child born with pediatric bipolar disorder or virtually any other neuropsychiatric disorder.
The parents of a child with autism are unlikely to also suffer from an autistic spectrum disorder. At least one parent of a child with pediatric bipolar disorder is very likely suffering from bipolar disorder or depression. A healthy parent is a far better advocate. A healthy parent has no fear of coming out of the shadows of a mental illness.
And, the autism community is absolutely blessed to have General Electric's Bob & Suzanne Wright. The Wrights have used their wealth, fame and endless national and international connections to begin turning their child's disorder into a wealth of research-lemonade, advocacy, answers and targeted treatments...But let's be real. If they were not wealthy, famous and with the ear of our current and past President of the United States and Congress and a growing number of our Fifty States' governors and legislatures...They would be Bob and Suzanne and nobody important cares.
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