Damage over generations. Quotes by major influencers in #autism

In the past I’ve written a blog about my favorite autism quotes. On the other hand, I have a list of least favorite quotes. One thing that is clear – what may be accepted as standard practice today may be totally discredited tomorrow.

BIGGEST MOTHER BASHER OF THE CENTURY

Bruno Bettelheim, who caused an entire generation of autistic children to be separated from their mothers, committed suicide in 1990. His theories are still implemented in France.

WORST MEDIA MESSAGE

Autism Speaks. Enough said (literally). I recently wrote a blog about this entity.

PERSON IN DIRE NEED OF A NEW PUBLICIST AND WRITER

I could probably do an entire page of Suzanne Wright quotes (but that’s another blog).

PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR A GENERATION OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN BEING TREATED LIKE PAVLOVIAN DOGS

Lovaas recommended young children and toddlers be in ABA therapy for forty hours a week. Many adult autistic people now write about losing their childhood due to this type of therapy. The good news: his therapy keeps lots of therapists employed. (Disclaimer: I’m not against behavioral therapies. In many instances I’ve seen dramatic results from behavioral therapies if they are child-driven. This may be a future blog.)

BIGGEST FEAR-MONGERER ABOUT THE ‘AUTISM EPEDEMIC’

Rick Rollens, former California Secretary to the Senate and ARCA lobbyist coined the term “full-syndrome autism.” His child has been featured on the cover of Time magazine twice.

Fear-based messages about our children hurt our children. We must change the way we speak about Autistic people. They are human beings, not political pawns or laboratory guinea pigs. Many autistic people have told me they heard everything that was said about them when they were young, even though their parents, educators, and therapists thought they could not comprehend.