An Update and a Caution for members post Dr. Phil

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

It continues to be a busy time with regard to the fallout after the

Dr. Phil show.

First, I want you to know that I wrote Jon Colman, the Exec Director

of NDSS last night, and as the Project Director of the DS-Autism

Information Center AND as a member of their clinical advisory board

expressed my dismay with the tone of their letter.

I first presented on this dual diagnosis at an NDSS conference in

1999. They didn't bother to contact me, or probably anyone, before

writing this letter. BAsed on teh statistics they quote, there are up

to 28,000 people with this dual diagnosis in the US. And that does not

include those who have complex needs without a dx of autism.

It is no longer posted.

Second and ***VERY IMPORTANT***

Beth has been very diligent in approving list members. After

the students who were signing up to lurk and learn for their projects,

we have taken a policy of not approving membership to people who are

not families. Although this limits our access to professionals, I

suppose, it also allows all of you to have some semblance of privacy.

There are, of course, easy ways around it.

Today we had a request from a freelance writer to join our group. I

wrote a nice letter denying his request, and suggested that he send me

an email I can forward to the group for those who would want to be

interviewed. We'll see if he responds.

However - as i said earlier - it would not be hard for a reporter to

find a way to join our group and lurk.

So please, for the time being, be cautious about what you say on the

list. It pains me to say this - we had to do it one other time when

someone was in a legal crisis - but I think it's in everyone's best

interest to think of this list as a public place for the next month or so.

I care deeply about everyone here - and want only the protection of

your families and the freedom for you to receive support.

Thanks so much,

Joan

Joan Guthrie Medlen, R.D., L.D.

Program Director, Creating Solutions

Home of the Down Syndrome - Autism Information Center

TheEditor@...

www.creating-solutions.info

www.disabilitysolutions.org