Special Education Law Blog

Closing Circles and Opening The World for Children with Autism

DIR which was formerly known as Greenspan/Floortime has worked very well for a number of children with autism that I represent. The following article is from Michele Ricamato, a certified DIR therapist, SLP and a well respected colleague of mine, who has dedicated her professional life to working with children with autism and other disabilities with tremendous results. This article Download ClosingCircles.pdf is a great overview for parents and others who are interested in learning more about this unified set of therapies that has shown great promise for children with autism.

Painful Failure of the Special Education System

The following is a speech given to a local autism support group. The speech is from the parents of a young adult who was diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum in his late 20s, after his time in school had passed, and as discussed below well too late to prevent tragic consequences. I publish this with the permission of the parents of this young adult with the hope that their pain may spare others the same tragedy. There are many lessons to be learned from this story: keep a close eye on your student's use of the internet, social development is often more important than academic, transition planning for self-sufficient and safe outcome can not be emphasized enough, and sex education that is meaningful for students with special needs is even more important than for other students.

Savage Losing Big Advertisers

Home Depot and the insurance company AFLAC (the duck people) have pulled their ads from the Savage Nation radio program in protest over his comments last week regarding children with autism. If a few more major advertisers take a similar stand perhaps it will mean Michael Savage will be looking for a new job that requires his kind of finesse; perhaps there is an open seat at an IEP meeting near you.

Broadcast Syndicate Supports Savage

The broadcast syndicate for Michael Savage's radio show has rejected pleas to fire or censure him accepting his flimsy excuse that he meant no offense.  The only way Michael Savage will go off the air is if enough people vote with their radio dials and turn off this unfortunate excuse for a radio commentator.

Illinois Autism Insurance Bill Signed into Law

Today the pending Illinois House bill  4125 was signed into law to provide additional speech services to children with autism.

Congressional Autism Caucus Blasts Savage Attack on Children with Autism

 

Washington, D.C. – July 18, 2008 – U.S.   Representatives Mike Doyle (PA-14), Chris Smith (NJ-4),   today criticized syndicated talk show host Michael Savage for his recent   comments disparaging families with autistic children and questioning cases of   autism spectrum disorders as frauds. 

Illinois Police Joining Other States in Special Training for Working with People With Autism

The Chicago Tribune had a recent article on ongoing training efforts to allow more effective police work with people with autism.  Download Illinois police autism training.doc Among the tools being used by local area police departments:

"Wilmette officers now carry flash cards in their patrol cars to better communicate with autistic people who may struggle to respond verbally.

Northbrook authorities have a wallet-size card cuing them on how best to approach someone with autism-calmly, slowly and, if possible, without flashing lights.

In Naperville, youth officers next month will huddle with educators from the local school district to get tips on interviewing autistic children."

A great first step towards training police to avoid tragic and harmful consequences for children and adults with autism.

New Gene Discoveries Offer Insights and Promise for Children with Autism

A recent research report from Dr. Christopher Walsh, chief of genetics at Children's Hospital Boston, published in the professional journal Science show that children with autism are not missing whole genes but are missing parts of DNA; the genes which in part lead to autism are turned off. The good news is that intense early intervention can to some degree turn those genes back on. Psst, just do not tell Michael Savage about these latest findings, as it would ruin his Medieval perspectives on autism.

The ramifications of this report are:

• there does not appear to be a genetic magic bullet on the horizon in the form of  a vaccine that will prevent or treat autism
• autism is genetically-based, so arguments that autism is akin to a behavior disorder are unwarranted
• intense and individualized instruction, especially early in life are critical
• autism is truly a spectrum disorder and only over time will there be more understanding of the different sub-groups and more tailored treatments.

Savagely Indifferent to the Truth

Other commentators are firing back with well deserved criticism of of Michael Savage's hurtful drivel that spews forth from him on the subject of autism, and for that matter on other subjects of genuine public concern.  Autism News,  a blog that is intended to introduce scientific fact to journalism on autism, had the following to say:

"Either Savage skipped class the days his professors talked about “medicine”, or he’s an entertainer who doesn’t care who he hurts. I vote for the latter. Chances are, Savage knows that autism is a real disorder, with a strong genetic component, and that changes in diagnostic criteria have led to a spike in diagnoses over the last 20 years. But how boring is that? How many of his eight million listeners would sit through 15 minutes of their hero going all Dr. Phil, telling us that autistic children need understanding and accommodation? So much more entertaining to joke about smacking the handicapped."

Here is a story from Newsday about advocates calling for Michael Savage's job. A blog that has compiled the reaction to Savage from a number of autism blogs. Here is from Terri Mauro's blog who always has a kinder and more creative twist on things.

We have to hit back with plain fact to counter this propaganda and bombast for the sake of ratings. Unfortunately the damage in this instance is already done but change comes incremently. Changes are coming as we are coming to the post-Bush era where facts and reason will hopefully once again become the accepted means of discourse for most Americans.

A Savage Fool "Speaks Out" On Autism

Hope you are sitting down for this one! Michael Savage, a right-wing radio host has determined that: weak, feminized fathers who do not berate and humiliate their children are the cause of autism. Alternatively, according to this paragon of wisdom, autism is just a "fraud." Wow! You have to read and hear his words to believe that I am not exaggerating.

Apparently, following his undeniable "logic," if at the first signs of autism, at say 6-18 months when most children, I mean,  infants/toddlers are diagnosed, we as a country should scrap EI services in favor of a new military model of working with young children. Remove those children from sorry sensitive men, and give them over to institutions that will not put up with wining, crying and cringing. I can hear the future "teachers" of these children now: "Alright lets all crawl in formation, if  you wet that diaper one more time, I want 10 push ups, and do not even think of asking for your mother (that is assuming your verbal skill permit making such a request.)

He repeatedly refers to his father as a model of parenting.  Use of the word "fool" applied to the little savage seemed to a prominent part of his upbringing. Well his Daddy would be so proud to see he succeeded in raising a total savage fool. The only silver lining is that he makes Nanette Asimov look thoughtful and balanced.

By the way, it appears that Savage's rant about autism is not even current. He simply recycled and recast criticisms of autism he made in 2003.

This blog comes to me from my cousin Mark Mlawer, who is a national special education consultant and monitor, who is  an inspiration for all I do as an attorney. Education Week has also blogged on this topic.