New book trivializes ASD, chastises parents, and proposes no solutions to challenges of severe autism, writes Jonathan Mitchell.
Read moreInnovative Housing Development for Adults with I/DD Opens in Santa Cruz
A new housing development designed for the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities has opened in Santa Cruz, California. A group of families developed the project which will house about 16 residents with I/DDs such as autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, as well as several families, students, and staff.
Read moreEarth to Disability Activists: The Britney Spears Conservatorship Is Irrelevant to Cases of Adults with Severe Autism
Britney Spears in concert (photo: Wikipedia)
In the case of adults with severe autism, families petition for conservatorships not because they want to oppress or control their extremely vulnerable loved ones, but because they want to protect them.
Read moreNCSA's President Jill Escher talks autism reality on the Disorderly Blondes podcast
“Severe” or “not-so-pretty” autism voices demand a place at the table, and no noisy, lame attempt to shame the advocates over semantics will “cancel” the grim statistics. Severe autism is coming for all of us, actually. It’s time to listen.
Read moreSevere Autism: Stuck in the “Circle of Strife”
An autism mom calls for an integrated care approach for the severely autistic.
Read more"The Big Picture": IACC Public Comment by NCSA President Jill Escher
The IACC has been around for 2 decades, so I think it’s fair to ask, “Are we better off today than we were 20 years ago?” The answer is unfortunately no, we are most definitely not better off today. While some minor battles have been won, we are losing the war, and losing it big.
Read more"A dystopian future where our loved ones have no refuge": Public comment to the IACC
“True advocates … must awaken to the coming tide, if the most needy on the autism spectrum are to thrive and survive.”
Read moreA sister's sacrifice: Public comment to the IACC
“I still dread answering my phone. Afraid it means the police are there again. That there is another hole in his wall that another broken window has sliced his hands and feet.”
Read moreNew Paper Makes Case that Autism Tsunami May Threaten American Economy
The study, Autism Tsunami: the Impact of Rising Prevalence on the Societal Cost of Autism in the United States, by Mark Blaxill, Toby Rogers and Cynthia Nevison, concludes that future costs of autism could be $589 billion/year in 2030, $1.36 trillion/year in 2040, and $5.54 (4.29–6.78) trillion/year by 2060.
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