A Letter to the Editor of the Canadian Press

[Guest guest]

I wrote this letter this evening to the editor of the Canadian Press for reasons that will become obvious to those of you who read this letter.

ARTICLE: Playmate-turned-author and activist McCarthy battles autism her own way

DATE: Saturday, March 15, 2008

BY: Jered Stuffco

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/health_mccarthy_autism

As the parent of a child with Autism and as the founder and co-creator of the MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO initiative raising awareness and funds for Autism, I am quickly growing tired -- along with a number of people Advocating on behalf of individuals with Autism -- of the undue attention being granted Ms. McCarthy.

She lacks an understanding of Autism and has confused healing autism-like symptoms in children through diet and detoxification with curing children of Autism.

It has been proven repeatedly in many countries including the United States and Canada that mercury and thimerosal do not cause Autism. It has been proven that Autism is genetic. One does not become progressively more Autistic with time.

One does not die from Autism.

One is not cured of Autism any more than one can be cured of being female by having a sex change operation.

I and the co-creator, American artist D. , of the MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO initiative have created, and continue to create, podcasts on various aspects of Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Asperger Syndrome. This month's podcast is a two-part podcast entitled "Autism and Bullying." The upcoming podcast is "Autism and Vaccinations."

My own son, who was diagnosed in 2000 with Asperger Syndrome and who, at the age of 12, has had his own website since 2005 provides information on Autism bas well as insight into the world of a child with Autism. You won't find any quakery on his site but rather links to current research, ideas and so much more. He is, after all, in his own words, "a professional child with cool ideas and Asperger'sSyndrome." (http://www.thisislewis.net)

He has been interviewed by world renown Autistic author, Donna , for Irked Magazine (April 2007) and the extensive interview was posted on a number of online news magazines, news forums and online versions of hard copy newspapers. He has been interviewed by broadcast and print media in Saskatchewan and Ontario. He has been invited to present his artwork at Autism Conferences.

If you want a good snapshot of what Autism can look like, here's a kid that can give you that snapshot!

McCarthy noted that she's working hard - and taking non-paying speaking engagements -- to ensure that younger generations don't have to go through the pain of dealing with such a debilitating disorder. [end quote]

First off, any difference can be perceived as debilitating, especially if the parent cannot embrace the child for who the child is. The pain most Autistics have to endure has nothing whatsoever to do with Autism but rather it has to do with the outrageous lengths their non-Autistic parents will go to in order to try to wipe out that difference.

Speilberg has Autism. Vernon L. has Autism. Bram Cohen has Autism. Satoshi Tajiri has Autism. Yes, all of them are diagnosed with Autism. And there are many others -- many who are not as recognized as these four.

Ms. McCarthy has the financial wherewithall as does her current boyfriend -- Jim Carrey -- to allow her to do these non-paying speaking engagements. At these non-paying speaking engagements, she promotes her book which generates additional income for her. Would Ms. McCarthy be so generous with her time and money if she was an everyday mom like other knowledgeable advocates -- with much less money in their bank accounts -- who work tirelessly to advocate on behalf of Autistics and to educate non-Autistics on the subject of Autism?

Perhaps it's time to listen to those of us who make the most of the facts, who embrace our children with differences -- our children of different abilities -- and who work tirelessly for the betterment of society so all can appreciate the gifts each of us bring to this world.

[signed]