Re: Action Alert

[Guest guest]

I would like to correct some misinformation in this email.First, Ari Ne'eman (no capitalization on the 'e) does NOT believe potty training, speech or medical treatments should not be used on Autistic children. He believes anything to try to take out non-threatening self-stimulatory behaviors or other social norms should not be done. This includes things like hand-flapping,  eye contact, or watching spinning things. Intervention is still one of the best ways to help facilitate accommodation and independence in an Autistic individual. Someone like Mr. Ne'eman knows this the best because he has experienced good interventions along with the abusive practices normally used on Autistic children (including, restraint, seclusion and aversives).

The position to NCD does not mean he has any say on where research dollars go. Straight from the front page of the NCD website: " The purpose of NCD is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, and that empower individuals with disabilities to achieve

economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society. " These are just the things that Mr. Ne'eman and his organization ASAN promote. Straight from the front page of ASAN website: " Working in fields such as public policy, media representation, research and systems change, ASAN hopes to empower Autistic people across the world to take control of their own lives and the future of our common community. " Clearly, Ari Ne'eman's nomination shows what a strong supporter of acceptance, accommodation and accessibility he is. Whether you agree with his views on whether research dollars should go towards a cure or for advancement in quality of life, you should be able to agree that Mr. Ne'eman does hold the standards of the NCD.

Sincerely,Melody Latimer27, Asperger's Syndromemother to (6, Autism) and (5, PDD-NOS)

 

Hello, friends,

I am asking that any of you who are so inclined to call our Senators TODAY and ask them to oppose the nomination of Ari Ne 'Eman to the National Council on Disability.

Mr. Ne'Eman is a twenty-two-year-old man with Aspergers who has publicly stated he is opposed to finding a cause or cure for autism, and discourages any treatments to " normalize " (potty training? speech? medical treatments for seizures?) individuals with autism.

While I understanding Mr Ne 'Eman's position that individuals with autism needacceptance, he does NOT speak for me or most people I know when it comes to autism. He may be able to articulate what he wants, and might want to stay just the way he is. That's fine. But hundreds of thousands of individuals with autism need therapy, as well as medical care for the myriad symptoms that accompanies THEIR autism.

If he is confirmed, he will hold a coveted, precious position and he will speak for your family. There are many more appropriate choices for this position, of course including adults with autism like Elder Robison who advocate for understanding and acceptance of differences, while understanding that many children need much more.

Here are the phone numbers:

Texas

Cornyn,

202 224-2934

Hutchinson, Kay

202 224-5922

You can also read more at the link below and/or send an automated email. I had

to call a couple of times to get through, but even so calling both Senators took

less than five minutes.

http://capwiz.com/a-champ/issues/alert/?alertid=14874836

Regards,