Fwd: Fw: Please sign and forward the GRASP DSM-5 Petition

[Guest guest]

FYI...

____________________________________

From: DDudasik@...

Sent: 1/26/2012 9:47:29 A.M. Central Standard Time

Subj: Fwd: Fw: Please sign and forward the GRASP DSM-5 Petition

____________________________________

From: DDudasik@...

DDudasik@...

Sent: 1/26/2012 9:35:10 A.M. Central Standard Time

Subj: Fwd: Fw: Please sign and forward the GRASP DSM-5 Petition

FYI - PASSAGE is passing along this information for you to review.

PASSAGE is not encouraging or discouraging you from signing this petition, but

rather keeping you informed of current events regarding the issues

surrounding the DSM-5.

Many thanks to Lynette for helping us keep current on this issue.

Take care,

Teri

____________________________________

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: GRASP Press Office <press@...>

Subject: Please sign and forward the GRASP DSM-5 Petition

All,

We have our petition online just now. Please forward to anyone and

everyone concerned who is at risk of losing special education, services, or

self-esteem. Click _here_

(http://t.ymlp261.net/eeemafaebshagaujhatajjsj/click.php) to sign.

Note: Medscape today released _an article_

(http://t.ymlp261.net/eeejazaebshafaujhakajjsj/click.php) in which DSM-5

Committee member, Dr. H.

King, disputes the fears by saying " I think it is very unlikely that there's

going to be a group left out in the cold " However, other Committee members

such as Dr. J. Kupfer (in _the New York Times_

(http://t.ymlp261.net/eeebacaebshavaujhakajjsj/click.php) ) and Dr.

Lord (in several

media appearences) have indicated the opposite. Whatever is going on, from our

vantagepoint, could be good.

Please keep up the pressure by signing, forwarding, calling the APA at

703.907.7300 (every day—for many of you, it's worth it), and emailing them at

dsm5@... or apa@.... Visit _our Facebook page_

(http://t.ymlp261.net/eeehaoaebshaaaujhatajjsj/click.php) for current and prior

articles on

this issue.

Test of the petition is as follows:

DSM-5 Committee: Don't Reduce the Criteria for an Autism Spectrum

Condition in the DSM-5

Why This Is Important

WHEREAS . . . we, as adults and teens on the spectrum (as well as we,

their loved ones) do not want to return to the days prior to the DSM-IV, when

most of our (their) behavioral differences were thought of as character

deficits

WHEREAS . . . the DSM-IV did not (as has been stated) financially drain

clinical or government resources; on the contrary, the DSM-IV, in a big

picture sense, actually saved money given the long-term cost of (a) children

who

if not educated properly would cost more in services later on, and who

because of their appropriate education could be productive citizens as adults,

and ( individuals who by knowing who they were had their capacity for

anxiety, depression, or anger lessened—thus decreasing incarceration and

homeless rates and reducing their dependence on others to lead productive lives

WHEREAS . . . The DSM-IV did the world great good by broadening the

criteria, thereby expanding our notions of behavioral pluralism and increasing

the self-esteem of innumerable individuals: Furthermore, without the DSM-IV

there would most likely not be anti-bullying campaigns; (given two wars

since) the much-needed increase in attention to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder;

and a multitude of other, big picture improvements for us all

WHEREAS . . . autism spectrum diagnoses are not “over-diagnosed,â€

especially given our still-limited understanding of how these conditions

manifest

in women; and how many under-represented, economically-challenged

communities (especially belonging to minority groups) still have not been

properly

evaluated

WHEREAS . . . the proposed changes to the DSM-5 contribute to the

emotionally-destructive “competition of suffering†(between opposite ends

of the

spectrum) that the autism world was finally starting to back away from,

wherein non-GRASP and non-like-minded entities often attempted to invalidate

the seriousness of another’s experiences

WHEREAS . . . the DSM-5 has attempted to implement these changes in bad

faith by releasing news thereof at a time when they had no outlet available

to the public for receiving commentary

WHEREAS . . . the DSM-5 Committee’s autism spectrum experts seemingly

carried no real expertise or experience with either (a) the end of the spectrum

at risk with these changes, nor ( adults; and we object not to the

participation of these individuals but to the overall, and very poor

composition

of the Committee

WHEREAS . . . the DSM-5 Committee’s attempts at damage-control (including

many statements of “Well, your child may or may not qualify, but don’t

worry. Wait and see instead.â€) only furthers our confusion over what their

true motivations could possibly be in implementing such backward revisions

WHEREAS . . . the DSM-5 Committee is not beholden to, nor should they be

guided by proven or unproven economic concerns whatsoever; that they should

instead be guided solely by a concern over our mental and emotional

well-being, which these changes dramatically threaten

THEREFORE . . . I believe that the proposed narrowing of criteria for an

autism spectrum diagnosis will cause catastrophic and irreparable damage to

(1) the future of innumerable children on the spectrum who need specialized

education, (2) innumerable parents with children receiving specialized

education, (3) innumerable adults on the spectrum who are receiving services

under the current criteria, and (4) anyone on the spectrum needing to know

that their behavioral differences are the product of wiring, and not

personal defect. Don’t reduce the criteria for an autism spectrum condition

in the

DSM-5.

Click _here_ (http://t.ymlp261.net/eeemafaebshagaujhatajjsj/click.php) to

go to change.org to sign

In thanks,

Carley

Executive Director

---------------------------------

End Petition

The folks at

GRASP

The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, Inc.

666 Broadway, Suite 825

New York, NY 10012

p + f = 1.888.474.7277

www.grasp.org

Help GRASP make a difference. Donate now by clicking the link below:

_http://www.nycharities.org/donate/charitydonate.asp?ID=2223_

(http://www.nycharities.org/donate/charitydonate.asp?ID=2223)

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