's post and new to the group

[Guest guest]

wrote:

" I invite you to visit our local chapter's website at

www.asaoakland.org

to see what a small group of committed people on a shoestring budget

of +/-

90K accomplish. Having been involved in this issue since 1994 I

have

observed a lack of focus and cohesion by large groups who have

significant

financial resources yet fail to consult with those at the grassroots

of the

Autism community. "

******

Hi - I totally agree with you and could not have said it better

myself.

I'm new to this list, but not to autism. I was involved way back

when and remember the mercury moms on a chat I hosted on drkoop, as

well as running the ASA www.cnyasa.org here since 1996. I remember

the FEAT list when it first started as well as the ME list. My son

is now 12-1/2 and was diagnosed at 18 months. What I wanted to say

was the same thing - we are a group of volunteers who sacrificed

everything for our kids, but mainly for other kids as well to

make sure the community was educated on how to handle our kids. We

were doing conferences with B. Rimland, T. Attwood, Temple, and on

and on and on with different various world renowned " experts "

way back when teachers had never even seen an autistic child

before. Since then all the groups have popped up, so many now that

there is actually in-fighting!

Now the s come along who have money and fame and all of a

sudden people are listening. We busted our butts for years and

burned out - I had to take a year or two off because of it - with

what thanks do we get? I would love to be idealistic and say " well

at least the word is getting out " , yeah it is, but I don't need

wealthy big wigs speaking for me or my kid.

Well we all know who we are in this fight and what we've done for

those who come after us. All I know is I'm rejuvenated in the fight

and I'm mad as hell and someone's going to pay for what they did to

my kid.

It's good to be back - I was sometimes known as Jacksmom, ridautism

and rainmanmama as well as scolletti on the various groups and

chats over the years, so hi again!

Sally Colletti, President

Central NY Autism Society of America, Inc.

www.cnyasa.org

rainmanmama@...