You all act as if Savage had some sort of revelation, when these arguments are so old, tired, and dismissed that you all might as well be saying, “Hey, our lack of research into this alchemy thing is why the U.S. economy sucks.” This conversation in the autism world dates back decades – if you want to bother reading about it – and I have no interest in covering that ground again here any more than I feel the need to verify that gravity works every morning.

The assumption that the ‘explosion’ in autism diagnoses is based on sloppy doctors and disinterested parents is so silly that I don’t even know where to begin. It’s like you don’t even have the foggiest idea how autism is diagnosed down here on planet Earth or what the realities of life are once you receive that diagnosis. You make it sound like the entire process is some orchestrated plot so we can have more time with our personal trainers or something. 

And I loved this quote, “Not all children who begin speaking late, or have compulsive behavior are autistic.” No shit, Sherlock. I find it very amusing that you feel the need to provide your version of ADHD 101 and this blinding flash of the obvious. I guess I don’t need those 20-shelf-feet worth of books about autism, speech, sensory integration, umpteen different therapy techniques, ADHD, and other childhood developmental issues anymore, and neither do the countless other parents with similar libraries. We could just ask you and Savage.

Diagnostic criteria for autism, Asperger’s, PDD-NOS, et al are outlined in the DSM-IV, and the threshold for a valid diagnosis is way higher than what you described, not to mention way higher than it is for ADD/ADHD. You act like they can give autism diagnoses out like candy. As we say in the business, RTFM. In order to get services around here, you need a clear, verifiable diagnosis. If you really believe that achieving eligibility for services is as easy as having a pediatrician put a signature on a piece of paper like they were writing a prescription, you are completely divorced from our daily reality.

Oh, and I loved this too. “Both disorders deserve proper long-term neurological and psychological study” – Dear God, where have you been? We’ve already had studies that have put most of this crap out to pasture already. There are studies going on constantly, and they are largely endeavoring to answer real questions and problems rather than re-verifying that we orbit the sun. Hell, we’re in like three studies ourselves. Based on what’s coming out of the Collective, you’ve got a lot of reading to catch up on.

But that’s not really what bothers me as intellectual laziness is just merely annoying. It’s the ongoing perpetuation of the debunked nonsense that the lack of active parenting is what is bringing about the increase in autism diagnoses. The ‘refrigerator parent’ theory of autism was researched, debunked, and discredited decades ago – not to mention it was originally proposed by a fraudulent quack. It’s the autism equivalent of the flat earth theory. 

Wrapping all this up in some fruity coating of altruistic motives is laughable. In the South, we have this philosophy that you can say anything bad about anybody as long as you include “bless your heart” at the end of it. At least in those cases, we’re honest enough about it to not bother veiling it under the guise of concern trolling. If you’re really concerned about the availability of services to us, you’ve got a funny way of showing it. 

If you want to be part of the solution, go talk to real people living this out or go sign up for a library card and start reading. Otherwise, take your keyboard and go home. We’ve got better things to do like putting “forth the necessary time, effort, love, and discipline required to raise a child into an adolescent and ultimately an adult who can function in society” or whatever it is you think we’re not doing.

I will close with this as I’ve already spent way too much time here. Say what you want about me as I stopped caring what people think about me long ago. But demeaning other parents of children with autism – that kind of crap isn’t welcome here. Take it back to the Kool-Aid factory where it belongs. 

And oh my God, I was in academia long enough to know that arguments that conclude with, “Look at this mighty degree and behold its greatness! I win!” are just full of it. Behold! A well-educated peeing contest! It’s like saying I’m qualified to design a Mars mission because I have a degree in engineering.

And perhaps you’ve heard of specialities in medicine. If I want an opinion about autism, I’ll go to someone who actually specializes in it. If I want to learn about medicinal plants in Fiji, I’ll call Michael Savage. Heck, by your logic, you should go to a dentist to get a vasectomy. 

We’re done here. Good night and good luck, bless your heart.

Take ADD/ADHD. When it was first studied and deemed a disorder, people who were diagnosed were cared for and had treatment programs developed, had psychological care, and occasionally were given medication. Nowdays, things have degraded to the point where you can walk your child into his primary care physician/ pediatrician and the doctors will literally offer free amphetamines to your children, and offer no real extended or personal care. Rarely should such a powerful combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (read Adderall) be necessary.

Both disorders deserve proper long-term neurological and psychological study, not a trip to the minute clinic and the pharmacy.

Savage just doesn’t want the same thing to happen with autism, or any other disorder for that matter.

He is not saying that autism is not real. I would be willing to bet you never ACTUALLY LISTENED to him, and simply heard about this, or at best read a few out of context quotes, and became so blinded by the words you read that you were unable to discern, rationally, their meaning.

P.S. This putz has a Phd in Nutritional Ethnomedicine from The University of Berkely. Where, I wonder, did you aquire your medical expertise again?

Remember, by lightening his wallet you are doing a doubly-good deed. You’re also relieving pressure on that part of his anatomy where his brain resides…