Have Dreams, a recreational facility for kids with autism, has some fans among Chicago attorneys. Matthew Johnson’s son has been attending the after-school program for three years. The kids not only do crafts and play games, but they learn socializing skills that help them in other areas of their lives. Have Dreams was founded in 1996 by a group of parents who wanted a place for their kids to feel safe. Charles Gilbert, with the IL attorney general’s office, said his son still participates in some of the activities even though he’s 23 now. Kim Denkewalter, another attorney became involved when he met a young man with autism. He started a golf fundraising event for Have Dreams. This year the attorneys are hosting a fundraiser for Have Dreams that they hope will bring in $400,000 for the program.
Read original article: Lawyers Help Raise Money for Autism
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Where are the Adult Autistics ?
Nov 2, 2007 by AnonymousI have noticed in the last few years there has been a growing interest in Autism. Everywhere you look there's "awareness" of autism on t.v shows ,commercials,talk shows,news and other media sources. Early intervention,special diets,inclusion,communication,advocacy all these things are becoming a part of daily news.The number of children being diagnosed autistic are supposedly epidemic form which is still debated. But what happens when these children grow up? And where are the autistics that came before them? Were they cured? No,many were institutionalized and suffered unimaginable abuse. Many Autistic adults still suffer from PTSD as a result of the aversive ABA treatment, created by Ivar Lovaas, that they were subjected to as children in the 1960's.There are many "survivors" from that era.
It's as if an entire generation of autistics have simply been forgotten. Never seen,never spoke of.Contrary to what some may believe ,they do exist. Jenny McCarthy,spokesperson for TACA(Talk About Curing Autism) was asked this question during an interview "Where are the autistic adults?" her poignant response was "It's cause there weren't any,It's all now".
Yes,read that line one more time.
You can read the full interview here http://www.pr.com/article/1076
Perhaps Jenny and anyone else who is ignorant enough to think autism just rose out of the ashes within the last 6-7yrs (as she references in this interview) needs to check their facts. In 1943 Dr.Leo Kanner ,a psychiatrist from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and Dr.Hans Asperger,an Austrian Pediatrician both published their findings around the same time.Both described very similar traits in the patients they were seeing. What we now refer to as "classic" Autism and the other Asperger,coined by Dr.Hans Asperger.Because their discoveries were during a World War,neither of them knew about the other so they never had the opportunity to collaborate with each other. The earliest case recorded of Autism was as early as the 1930's.(Donald T. and Fritz V.) So,clearly autism and has been around for quite some time.
Autistic children grow up to be autistic adults.They can lead very fulfilling lives becoming parents,advocates,business owners,authors,scientists. And they are homeowners ,taxpayers, and soldiers . But there are some autistic adults who may need the same amount of support,education and other resources as autistic children do and that is where the system has failed.Imagine the money raised by "walk now" events , Hollywood glam fundraisers and enormous fundraising that big Autism Org's like to do so often .Think about how that money, or at least a good part of it, could be put into the communities to be used for outreach programs,housing,education etc for autistic adolescents and adults who are not being represented. Or what about financial assistance for families who cannot afford essential therapies such as speech therapy and better health care?
It is likely that you either know someone who is autistic or have a relative who is. Autistic adults who have made a difference in the lives of others are Tito Mukhopadhyay,Amanda Baggs,Sue Rubin,Temple Grandin,Michelle Dawson,Jim Sinclair,Jerry Newport..just to name a few.
Not one of these Autism Org's(Autism Speaks,CAN,TACA) who proclaim to "speak" for Autism has even one autistic individual that sits on a board or committee. The next time you give to an Autism Org or walk in circles to raise money for research,be sure you know how and where your donated dollars are being spent.