My final word on the Michael Savage controversy
It’s often been said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. I disagree. I would reserve that distinction for the phrase, “I was taken out of context.” It was the phrase radio host Michael Savage used over and over tonight, refusing to take full responsibility for his toxic comments last week that the vast majority of children with autism are, in reality, brats who haven’t “been told to cut the act out.” He went on to say that what these children needed were to be told to stop acting like morons and idiots.
I responded on this blog Friday night, writing as a parent of an autistic child. I was overwhelmed with the number of people who took the time to read my post, and the hundreds who wrote their own responses. The vast majority of them were, to put it politely, furious with Mr. Savage’s comments. To all those who checked out the blog, my deepest thanks for your thoughts and good wishes.
Monday night, on his program, Savage issued what could best be called the “non-apology apology.” He wasn’t referring, he insists, to the “truly autistic” people, who he now says are “truly ill.” That, he says, was a distortion of the group Media Matters, a liberal-leaning organization that tracks comments from right wing radio and television hosts. Hosts, like Michael Savage, who refers to Media Matters, with typical hyperbole, as “Stalinist.”
But the transcripts of Savage’s comments last week, backed up by audio recordings, show that he said autism is a “fraud, a racket,” being faked in “99 percent of the cases.” He said these children need to be told to not “act like a moron.. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there, crying and screaming, idiot.”
Those are quotes. What possibly could have been the “context” that would change their meaning?” Why not just admit he spoke too harshly, that he exaggerated to make a point, that he needlessly hurt people who deal with “truly autistic” people every hour of their lives? Just easier to say some mean old liberals took the comments “out of context.” Act like a man, indeed.
But beyond that, it’s worth looking at what he said tonight was what he was really trying to convey. Namely, that he’s sick of watching this autism epidemic grow to the enormous proportions that it has; that every kid who shows a short attention span or stacks their blocks up neatly doesn’t need to be diagnosed as having autism; that it flies in the face of common sense or even the realm of possibility that 1 in 150 children born today will receive the diagnosis; that instead of labeling every other excitable kid with ADHD and prescribing drugs for them, guide them to better behavior and more hopeful futures.
To which I say, fair enough. You don’t have to be a ranting radio shock jock to believe that the seeming explosion in autism cases is more smoke and mirrors than reality. What’s frustrating about being a parent who’s involved in this “epidemic” is that not only is there no known cause, not only is there no cure, there isn’t even agreement at the highest levels of science that there’s an increase in autism, at all! It’s just better diagnoses, many say. Others believe the criteria of what constitutes autism have become far too broad. As I, myself always tell groups that I speak to about the condition, it describes children like mine, who can’t talk, and it describes children who can’t STOP talking.
My personal belief, which scientifically is worth nothing, by the way, is that there IS an increase in cases. Use common sense. How many people did you know 25 years ago who had a child in their family with classic autism traits? One? None? How many do you know now? Well, most people say, there’s the kid down the hall, there’s my cousin’s four-year-old, there are those three kids in the playground we see everyday. It goes on and on. Maybe doctors in decades past couldn’t diagnose that there was something going on with these children, but, man, that was some lousy diagnosin’ goin’ on there. It strains belief that all those children who couldn’t talk, or make friends, or learn even basic skills were all flying under the medical radar.
Also, Savage’s contention that kids with attention deficit problems are being labeled autistic simply isn’t true. They are different conditions. If he wanted to say that child hyperactivity is being over-diagnosed and over-medicated, then he should have said that, not rolled them up into the autism spectrum just because he wanted to.
Look, it’s so hard to deal with something that is a complete mystery. Are there people out there who are taking advantage of the system to exploit the new fears of autism? Sure, there are. Are some misdiagnoses being made? Of course. But my experience as a parent who has lived in this world for ten years now is that it is NOT some self-created fad disease that families are desperate to latch onto. It’s exactly the opposite. We live in pain every day that our beautiful children will never have normal lives. We would do anything, ANYTHING, to have that diagnoses taken away. But it’s our reality. And to Michael Savage, I would only say that it’s the genuine reality of the vast majority of the families and the children who face this condition. 99 percent of them, I would guess.
And then there’s always the other question, that no one wants to face: What if there really is an epidemic? What if 1 in 150 is going to be 1 in 100 in five years, all of them, to use Michael Savage’s word, truly ill? And we still don’t know why? What then?
Comments: 92
Jim-
I have a son with autism and have helped grow our chapter of the ASA locally to a prominent force of advocasy and support in my area.
I can appreciate your comments and further appreciate your good judgement and breadth of scope on your criticism of Michael Savage.
His job is to be provocative,but you handle his comments intellectually and appropriately. It is unfortunate that there are so many new diagnoses of autism and that has been the major catalyst to the increase in support groups and attention on the topic.
For most clear thinking individuals, especially those who live with autism, his comments are ignorant at best. Thank you for taking that critical breath before posting your comments. His comments, especially when illuminated alongside insightful comments such as yours, will speak for themselves.
With thanks-
GG
I would like to thank Dr. Savage for getting it correct, most of these kids need a swift kick in the ass.
Jim, I just had to take a moment and tell you how much I (as a parent of a five-year-old autistic son) appreciate your candor and grace in handling that ridiculous Savage SOB. Your insight and intelligence in your response to his inflammatory comments are really to be commended. For someone like that who doesn't live with the day-in and day-out drama that comes with a child with autism to say things that they really have no first-hand knowlege about is absolutely ridiculous. He should not be allowed to continue to rant about things that he has no real knowledge about. The daily struggles are horrifically overwhelming most days, especially for those like me who are successfully treating our children biomedically and having tremendous outcomes in recovering our children (after many many ups and downs). It's a lot of painstaking work - but well worth the effort and expense. Please feel free to forward any other parents to my website, www.mothercub.com for more information. In two years time, my son who at 3 could barely say five or six words thanks to his regressive autism, is now on track with his peers. I'm happy to help point other parents in the right direction for helping their kids with autism as well. We must always remember to "pay it forward" to others who are suffering, and to refute (or ignore) idiots like Savage.
Best regards,
Susan Lynn Perry
www.mothercub.com
Jim You deserve a lot of credit and I thank you for your good work. All of us need to pray for the welfare of the increasing number of Autistic children.Michael Savage is truly a savage and unfit to be a human being.
Dear Jim
After watching that video I have come to the conclusion that Micheal Savage is the most arrogant person on the radio airwaves.
You can try and get that guy to realize how arrogant and ignorant he came off as but he will just twist it always in his favor from what that video has shown.
Sorry you and everyone with an autistic child had to go through this and may he get whats coming to him someday.....
Jim;
I'm a father of a child with Aspbergers Syndrome and I know how difficult it can be. It's only through the help of teachers and case workers that things have gone as well as they have. We don't get Micheal Savage in Canada fortunately, but I must tell you I'd rather have my son growing up with Aspbergers than being a jerk like Savage. Anyway I enjoy the newscast and wish you and your family all the best.
Jim,
As usual, you rise above in your eloquence.
Savage already has too much notoriety. Let's put the focus back where it needs to be in trying to find all the answers in solving autism.
Jim:
If my name seems familiar, I'm the guy on your show tonight who runs the nudist group, and I am the father of a 6 year old autistic son. I'm going to try and post here an article from the July 11th issue of SCIENCE magazine that reports on an investigation into the genetic causes of autism.
Good luck to you, your family, and your son.
Science 11 July 2008:
Vol. 321. no. 5886, pp. 208 - 209
DOI: 10.1126/science.1160555
Prev | Table of Contents | Next
Perspectives
GENETICS:
Insights into the Pathogenesis of Autism
James S. Sutcliffe*
Autism is a common developmental disorder that profoundly impairs the emergence of social behaviors and communication in children before 3 years of age. Repetitive, stereotyped, and obsessive-compulsive-like behaviors are also prominent features of the disorder (1), and are often accompanied by cognitive impairment, seizures or epilepsy, gastrointestinal complaints, disordered sleep, and other problems. Identifying risk factors for autism has become a high priority of scientists, lay groups, and parents of autistic children. On page 218 of this issue, Morrow et al. (2) add several more genes to a growing number of genetic abnormalities that correlate with susceptibility to autism (see the figure).
Twin and family studies demonstrate that the etiology of autism has a substantial genetic component. Current estimates of sibling recurrence risk--the likelihood that a younger sibling of an autistic child will also have autism--is greater than 15% (3-5). Comparing this to population rates of approximately 1 per 500 children for narrowly defined autism or 1 per 150 children for the more broadly defined autism spectrum disorders indicates a high degree of heritability in families.
Determining specific genetic changes that increase the risk of developing disorders like autism is extraordinarily complex (6) due to heterogeneity--different kinds of variation at many underlying genes are involved. One type of variation consists of rare disease-causing or highly penetrant mutations, and these have implicated specific biological processes. Similarly, common variation--usually discrete changes in DNA sequence--has been identified in autism, but only a few specific findings have been replicated. Other important clues to genetic factors in autism include abnormalities such as chromosomal translocations, inversions, and large deletions or duplications, which are more frequent in individuals that present clinically with dysmorphic features and severe cognitive impairment. Geneticists have long hypothesized that genes disrupted by chromosomal abnormalities in isolated cases may play a role in susceptibility to autism more broadly and have pursued experiments toward this end.
Recent advances in DNA microarray technologies have revealed a substantial etiological role for small losses and gains of DNA--so-called copy number variation--in autism (7-12). All individuals harbor this common form of genetic variation, which can be inherited from a parent or can arise as a sporadic event de novo. However, a large and growing number of deletions and duplications of DNA have been found in people with autism. As comparisons to control samples identify which variants are unique, more frequent, or equal in autism versus control cases, we will be better able to interpret the observed copy number variation.
Much discussion has focused on whether a copy number variant is inherited or arises de novo, with greater interpretive weight vis-à-vis disease association given to the latter. As with large chromosomal abnormalities, it may be that the disruption or dysregulation of gene expression underlies the risk or causal effect for a given copy number variant. Genes may be lost or an extra copy may be present on a given chromosome; genes flanking a DNA deletion or duplication may be subject to dysregulation because of altered local chromatin structure or separation from key enhancer elements (which regulate gene expression). Thus, copy number variation is a major category of genetic risk for autism spectrum disorders, and is implicated in 10 to 20% (or more) of cases (7-12). The genetic heterogeneity of autism, however, greatly complicates the task of identifying genes that increase susceptibility to the disorder.
PUTATIVE AND KNOWN AUTISM-RELATED GENES
Glutamatergic synapse function and/or
neuronal cell adhesion
FMR1A,B Fragile X mental retardation 1
NLGN3B Neuroligin 3
NLGN4B Neuroligin 4
NRXN1B,C Neurexin 1
SHANK3B,C SH3 and mulitple ankyrin repeat domains 3
CNTNAP2B,C,D Contactin-associated protein-like 2
PCDH10C Protocadherin 10
CNTN3C Contactin 3
Endosomal trafficking
NHE9 (SLC9A9)B,C Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 9
NHE6 (SLC9A6)B Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 6
DIA1 (c3orf58)C Deleted in autism 1
A2BP1C Ataxin 2-binding protein 1
Neuronal activity regulation
FMR1A,B Fragile X mental retardation 1
MECP2B,C Methyl CpG binding protein 2
DIA1 (c3orf58)C Deleted in autism 1
PCDH10C Protocadherin 10
NHE9 (SLC9A9)B,C Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 9
A2BP1C Ataxin 2-binding protein 1
UBE3AB,C Ubiquitin protein ligase E3A
Implicated in related disorders
FMR1A,B Fragile X mental retardation 1
MECP2B,C Methyl CpG binding protein 2
NHE6 (SLC9A6)C Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 6
A2BP1C Ataxin 2-binding protein 1
UBE3AB,C Ubiquitin protein ligase E3A
Other functions
EN2D Engrailed homeobox 2
SLC6A4B,D Serotonin transporter (SERT, 5-HTT)
METD Met proto-oncogene (c-Met, HGFR)
SCN7AC Na+ channel, voltage-gated, type VII
RNF8C Ring finger protein 8
Genes implicated in autism pathogenesis. Genes have been implicated in autism (1, 2) on the basis of different functions and forms of genetic variation, and also on their association with disorders that show features of autism. They share common or related pathways, as shown. A, genes showing triplet repeat expansion; B, genes with rare mutations or coding variants; C, genes with copy number variation or chromosomal abnormality; D, association of common alleles. Genes implicated from (2) are shown in bold.
Morrow et al. use the powerful genetic technique of homozygosity mapping to identify autism genes. Geneticists have long taken advantage of the statistical power afforded by genetic analysis of families in which parents of affected individuals share a common ancestry (e.g., first cousins). Such consanguineous families, more common in the Middle East, are at substantially increased risk for autosomal recessive conditions [traits that are expressed when an individual is homozygous (has two identical copies) for a particular gene]. There is a growing recognition that inbred families are also useful in identifying genes for complex disorders, such as autism.
Morrow et al. use DNA microarrays to study numerous consanguineous families from the Middle East. By analyzing the inheritance of DNA throughout the genome in these pedigrees, they identify chromosomal regions that are inherited in common by the affected individuals who share the same two copies of these regions. These homozygous segments, which are heterozygous in the related parents, are likely to represent a causal or risk factor. In several of these families, the regions linked to the autism spectrum disorder and inherited "identical by descent" contained deletions. Thus, the affected individuals were completely deficient for the genes (or potential regulatory DNA) that lie within the deleted intervals. By extension, the absence of those gene products, and/or the possible altered expression of genes in the immediate vicinity of the deletion, is predicted to cause the autism spectrum disorder in that family.
An important question is whether a gene identified as causing disease in a single inbred family has any relevance to autism in nonconsanguineous families. In addition, establishing which gene (or genes) lies within or near a deleted interval--the disruption of which is causing the disorder--is not trivial. Here, a nice story is developed for one such region on chromosome 3q containing a large (~886 kilobase) deletion. A gene called DIA1 (deleted in autism1; also known as c3orf58) encoding an uncharacterized protein is completely removed, whereas NHE9 (Na+/H+ exchanger 9), a nearby gene encoding a membrane protein that exchanges intracellular H+ for extracellular Na+, remains intact but could be dysregulated. To assess the broader relevance of these genes in autism, Morrow et al. sequenced the coding regions of NHE9 in affected subjects from nonconsanguineous U.S. families and found a loss-of-function mutation in one family. Similar mutations cause an epilepsy phenotype in mice, and for the related NHE6 gene, they cause a phenotype with autistic symptoms and epilepsy. In addition, other variation is implicated, because a focus on autism families with epilepsy led the authors to observe a much greater number of coding variants in cases compared with controls. Taken together, these findings support dysregulation of NHE9 as a contributing or causal factor in that family.
The most provocative observations from this study point to an important functional class of genes involved in autism susceptibility. The authors show that several of the genes identified in or likely affected by homozygous deletions are regulated by neuronal activity--that is, their expression changes in response to stimulation of neuronal activity. Because autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, emphasis has been placed on prenatal development, which is guided by intrinsic gene-expression patterns. The brain continues to develop long after birth, however, and experience and environmental input play an important role in subsequent development. Synapses (connections between neurons) mature partly as a function of experience-dependent neuronal activity and of the gene-expression changes that accompany it. But if those genes are disrupted by mutation or copy number variation, that could suggest that the process of activity-regulated synaptic development itself is disrupted in some way. Indeed, this is the authors' hypothesis.
Dysregulation of synaptic development is an established idea in autism research. Although it is conceptually a big step, and the authors are cautious in their conclusions, the possibility that dysregulation of these genes results in disruption of synaptic development in response to early-life environment and experiences is an intriguing proposal, whose validity must await the results of further research.
References
L. Kanner, Nerv. Child 2, 217 (1943).
E. M. Morrow et al., Science 321, 218 (2008).
R. J. Landa, Nat. Clin. Pract. Neurol. 4, 138 (2008).
R. J. Landa, K. C. Holman, E. Garrett-Mayer, Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 64, 853 (2007).
M. B. Lauritsen, C. B. Pedersen, P. B. Mortensen, J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 46, 963 (2005).
B. J. O'Roak, M. W. State, Autism Res. 1, 4 (2008).
J. Sebat et al., Science 316, 445 (2007).
P. Szatmari et al., Nat. Genet. 39, 319 (2007).
C. R. Marshall et al., Am. J. Hum. Genet. 82, 477 (2008).
S. L. Christian et al., Biol. Psychiatry 63, 1111 (2008).
R. A. Kumar et al., Hum. Mol. Genet. 17, 628 (2008).
L. A. Weiss et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 358, 667 (2008).
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10.1126/science.1160555
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Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-8548, USA. E-mail: james.s.sutcliffe@vanderbilt.edu
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The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:
In Science Magazine
RESEARCH ARTICLES
Identifying Autism Loci and Genes by Tracing Recent Shared Ancestry
Eric M. Morrow, Seung-Yun Yoo, Steven W. Flavell, Tae-Kyung Kim, Yingxi Lin, Robert Sean Hill, Nahit M. Mukaddes, Soher Balkhy, Generoso Gascon, Asif Hashmi, Samira Al-Saad, Janice Ware, Robert M. Joseph, Rachel Greenblatt, Danielle Gleason, Julia A. Ertelt, Kira A. Apse, Adria Bodell, Jennifer N. Partlow, Brenda Barry, Hui Yao, Kyriacos Markianos, Russell J. Ferland, Michael E. Greenberg, and Christopher A. Walsh (11 July 2008)
Science 321 (5886), 218. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1157657]
| Abstract » | Full Text » | PDF » | Supporting Online Material » | Podcast Interview »
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Hello Jim. just wanted to say thank you for standing up for those who have no voice. My son is seven and has autism. he did not speak a word until the age of 4. now he is doing well. Speaking and acting like a normal kid. There is hope for our children. It has been hard. We tried everything diets, behavioral, speech and other therapies. Thank god my son is doing well. I will pray for your son and all the other wonderful children that are truly special. You will hear your son speak one day.
Now hopefully the people will take this negative and turn it to a positive by funding research to help our beautiful children. i also wanted to let you and the viewers know that if you live in ocean county the ocean county sheriff department have a tracking bracelet to track your kids incase they walk off or get lost ect. The cost is free except 20 dollars a month for the battery change a month. this is specificaly for autistic children. you need to call the ocean county sheriffs dept. Its called project life saver. god bless
I guess Doug Flutie, Dan Marino and myself are all wimps for not controlling our sons! Well unfortunately it is not just Michael Savage who does not understand Autism. Two years ago there was a published paper by a professor at Cornell University that made allegations of television having some sort of causal effect on Autism.
http://pressoffice.cornell.edu/oct06/tv_autism.shtml
For the only time in my life, I was embarressed to be a Cornell graduate.
I saw a woman this weekend who declared that she was a teacher tell my wife that my wife should remove my son from the pool if he did not like other kids making fun of him because he is Autistic. Yes, Dear, lets open up all the Psych hospitals that were closed in the 1980's and put the Autistic off the streets!
Thankfully we have people like Jim Watkins on our side. Thanks Jim for presenting a balanced view.
I work with students with autism and although I do not have a child of my own I feel connected with all the kids I teach with. I think it's great that a parent like you has stepped up and spoke out about this in a refined manner. Michael Savage has clearly set forth with his own idea that he formed on little data. He has pieced together an inaccurate portrayal of autism and the "epidemic" to talk about on his show and get the hype that he feels he deserves. It's all for attention, and many people will understand "attention seeking behaviors." I just hope that no one with have a mind of their own will listen to his picture that he has painted.
Jim
Thank you for standing up for our kids. We are one big family, of which we wish we did not have to belong to. Savage, and I refuse to call him Mr.... obviously does not have a child with autism, nor any relativies, nor any friends that have a child with autism. ( hard to believe since its 1 in l50 children with autism. (But a man like him, how can he have friends? As the jerk Bell that posted applauding savage..
I have a 21 year old son with autism and I wish he were just a brat.. I would like this savage character spend just one hour in my shoes and see what kind of life we all lead. I like you Jim love our son with all our heart, and to hear that this jerk savage say those hurtful things about our kids is very upsetting. I hope that he is tossed off the air. I watched you tonight on the 10 o'clock news and you looked like you barely could compose yourself when speaking about savage. (Understandable) You are OUR Angel in the eyes of the public, your voice is always heard. Thanks Jim,
Angela Cerina
Dear Jim,I just finished watching Larry King Live and then switched at 10 pm to your broadcast.I knew that there would be covrage of Mr Savage's comments and was curious to see if you would be addressing them.Not only are you extrodinarily professional but it was obvious through the television screen how dignified and gracious you truly are.I myself am a parent of three children ,my two youngest are both diagnosed with pdd,both have limited vocabulary,and contrary to Mr Savages remarks ,there father is around,everyday, helping and encouraging them to strive for more ,to try to get that extra word out of them.I hope this causes an uproar and continues to until this man is silenced,and unable to spew this venom on the air waves. Not only to the people going through this now ,but for the people in the future who might actually believe this guys rant and not seek out help for their children.I wish you and your family all of the best and i will continue to pray for a cure for all of our children
Dear Mr. Watkins,
I commend you for speaking so eloquently regarding Mr. Savage's absurd remarks. It's nice to see such an example of professionalism in the media. Perhaps Mr. Savage should follow your example. To hear that Mr. Savage holds a PHD made me realize that even supposedly intelligent people can be incredibly ignorant. Thank you for continuing to bring awareness. You continue to do a great job at Autism Awareness day at Shea. I look forward to the coverage every year!
Nancy
Thank you Mr. Watkins for your professionalism and eloquence in response to Mr. Savage's absurd comments. When I read that Mr. Savage holds a PHD, I realized that even supposedly intelligent people can be incredibly ignorant. Thank you for promoting awareness. You continue to do a wonderful job at Autism Awareness Day at Shea. I look forward to it every year!
Thanks,
Nancy
Thank you Mr. Watkins for your professionalism and eloquence in response to Mr. Savage's absurd comments. When I read that Mr. Savage holds a PHD, I realized that even supposedly intelligent people can be incredibly ignorant. Thank you for promoting awareness. You continue to do a wonderful job at Autism Awareness Day at Shea. I look forward to it every year!
Thanks,
Nancy
I pray they find a cure & the cause that has caused so much pain to the children and their parents.
Dear Jim,
Our family would like to thank you for speaking up for all the children who cannot speak for themselves. Our 23 year old son does not have autism but does have an extremely rare genetic disease. He has severe disabilities and cannot speak and cannot make eye contact. Each time someone looks down on him because he is "different", or makes a comment about the noise he makes, or makes a face because he drools, it breaks our hearts. Michael Savage should be ashamed of himself. We,like many parents, share your frustration and anger concerning Savage's remarks. Just remember, there are good people out there who are our angels, who see our children as we see them. And yes, they do light up a room with their smiles. God bless your family.
Danny's mom and dad
Jim,
I always watch you on the 10 PM news, but this evening I was especially looking forward to hearing your response to that moron's comments about autism. You made your fans very proud! Thanks for being such a fine spokesman on behalf of all of us who care about decency. Hopefully, that moron will soon be forced off the air by a a public that is fed up with such arrogant stupidity. Keep up the good work. You and your family are in my prayers.
As a mother of an eight year old autistic boy I was shocked at the uneducated comments made by Savage. In my son's case he is verbal, but it is a learned speech that is more like Tarzan (blunt phrases). When my son has the occasional tantrum I can feel people staring and thinking that he is just a brat, but he is NOT. He is my beautiful boy who even though he has made such amazing progress still has a long way to go. As for children with ADHD, I use to believe that it was a label place on every overly active kid. Then I had my second child who has ADHD and I educated myself and understand how his ADHD affects him and I understand why he needs to be medicated.
Every child every case is different. But the key is to be simpathetic and EDUCATED.
Its a shame that Mr. Savage with all his education has shown us how UNEDUCATED he is. If you ask me he is the real PUTZ.
Good evening Jim,
I am the sole surviving parent 26 year old autistic young man. You said it so well...."it’s so hard to deal with something that is a complete mystery"......especially when done alone! I really appreciate your words/support on this subject.
Thank you,
Margaret
Burke, Virginia
Hi Jim
I am a parent of a 39 year old autistic adult.
I want to thank you for all your dedication and work for this cause which, unfortunately, had no coverage not too long ago. Ironically, much needed media attention, which is a positive, also brings out the negative factor - jerks like Michael Savage who indeed has acted like a savage.
Let's hope that we can take people like him, huge egotists with nothing to say, and shove them right back into the closet where they belong.
Your original response was very touching. We too love our child-adult son who will always remain an innocent, who finds it difficult to control his behavior and who cannot tells us how he feels verbally. He will always be dependent on the kindness of people; so as a parent hearing these remarks from a so-called "normal" person that society would label successful is truly devastating.
Wishing you and your family good luck.
P.S. ...I confess, I have heard of you personally from my daughter who treated your son as a speech pathologist.
Hello Jim as you did before you once again more than rise above your point again and i really commend you for that if you can remember im the person who has some features of autism and now satan's spawn call us "Truly Ill" unfortunately I didn't get a chance to see the 10 o clock news but in a way i thank god i didn't like to that arrogant nazi rant some more about this sad and serious matter which he keeps bringing to a new low every time and lucky for me im a very big fan of the wwe as i watch raw and smackdown every week followed by your show and i just learned that the wwe and Jenny McCarthy are doing "Saturday Night's Main Event" and they're doing it for the fight against autism and i dunno if you're a fan of the wwe or not just thought i'd let you incase you want to watch or not
Ok back on task here i wanna say that i'm glad to see true strong people standing up and believing whats right and you sir are definitely doing that! and god bless you and god bless Liam i'm glad he has a hero in you!! As for Savage HE is the one who's truly ill and as my mom always said to me what goes around comes around
AND ONE LAST THING I WANNA SAY ABOUT THE SPINELESS NAZI HYPOCRITE KNOWN AS MICHAEL SAVAGE: IN A WAY I WISH I COULD'VE HEARD SOME MORE OF YOUR IGNORANT VICIOUS LIES BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T EVEN LEARNED YOUR LESSON ABOUT ANYTHING YOU COME ACCROSS YOU KNOW I COULD BET IF ALL THE AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND YOU TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM TAKING A PERSONALITY TEST THEY WOULD MAKE LAPS AROUND YOU AND KICK YOUR SORRY YELLOW-BELLIED CARCASS ON THAT TEST OH NO WAIT THAT'S RIGHT YOU HAVE NO PERSONALITY YOU MUST BE A VERY LONELY SAD AND ANGRY MAN TO SAY SUCH THINGS TO BRING ANYONE DOWN TO YOUR OWN LEVEL AND YOU SURE AS HELL DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING GOOD TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR SUCH PITIFUL REMARKS YOU MAKE NOT ONLY AUTISTIC CHILD TO ANYONE ELSE YOU DON'T SEE FIT
Hello Jim as you did before you once again more than rise above your point again and i really commend you for that if you can remember im the person who has some features of autism and now satan's spawn call us "Truly Ill" unfortunately I didn't get a chance to see the 10 o clock news but in a way i thank god i didn't like to that arrogant nazi rant some more about this sad and serious matter which he keeps bringing to a new low every time and lucky for me im a very big fan of the wwe as i watch raw and smackdown every week followed by your show and i just learned that the wwe and Jenny McCarthy are doing "Saturday Night's Main Event" and they're doing it for the fight against autism and i dunno if you're a fan of the wwe or not just thought i'd let you incase you want to watch or not
Ok back on task here i wanna say that i'm glad to see true strong people standing up and believing whats right and you sir are definitely doing that! and god bless you and god bless Liam i'm glad he has a hero in you!! As for Savage HE is the one who's truly ill and as my mom always said to me what goes around comes around
AND ONE LAST THING I WANNA SAY ABOUT THE SPINELESS NAZI HYPOCRITE KNOWN AS MICHAEL SAVAGE: IN A WAY I WISH I COULD'VE HEARD SOME MORE OF YOUR IGNORANT VICIOUS LIES BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T EVEN LEARNED YOUR LESSON ABOUT ANYTHING YOU COME ACCROSS YOU KNOW I COULD BET IF ALL THE AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND YOU TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM TAKING A PERSONALITY TEST THEY WOULD MAKE LAPS AROUND YOU AND KICK YOUR SORRY YELLOW-BELLIED CARCASS ON THAT TEST OH NO WAIT THAT'S RIGHT YOU HAVE NO PERSONALITY YOU MUST BE A VERY LONELY SAD AND ANGRY MAN TO SAY SUCH THINGS TO BRING ANYONE DOWN TO YOUR OWN LEVEL AND YOU SURE AS HELL DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING GOOD TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR SUCH PITIFUL REMARKS YOU MAKE NOT ONLY AUTISTIC CHILD TO ANYONE ELSE YOU DON'T SEE FIT
Jim
Thank you for your unlimited professionalism, intellect and true journalistic analysis again of something that clearly affects you personally ~ you are a credit to the Human Race and your children are clearly the beter for it. It is very difficult to display your qualitys when faced with personal attack and, as I said before, both you and your wife will always be a million times the man (and woman) Michael Savage will ever be.
On a side note ~ clearly his father telling him to stop the foolishness didn't work out too well.
Thank you for once again showing true humanity
Dear Jim,
I need to begin by saying that I had no idea that you have a child with autism. And I am so impressed with your blog and your professionalism. You handled yourself so profesionally and with a decorum that I could never achieve. When I heard this story this evening, I wanted to throttle Savage. HE HAS NO IDEA!!!
I also have a child with autism, he is almost four years old and these have been the hardest years of my life. I want to take Savage and have him go the grocery store with my son for one hour and see if he will change his tune. How dare that SOB Savage declare all our chlidren in lacking discipline. I've tried everyday of my life to discipline my child (positive discipline, mind you) and nothig works. I have two typical daughters, one older and one younger, and every technique that I use on them works. My son, nothing works. This man, I heard is a well educated man, a PhD. in Nutrional Etho Medicine (I didn't know those were available). But he should have some background knowledge in the belief that certain nutrional diets affect children's behavior. Is he truly ignorant, not even remembering his own education or is he just a shock jock, just looking to get publicity? I believe the SOB should be fired and I'd like to know how to go about making that happen.
I would like to STRONGLY recommend that everyone posting here send an email to Radio Shack and Budweiser! They are huge advertisers for The Savage Nation talk show. AFLAC has already pulled their accounts. A rep for the insurance provider stated that it will no longer advertise on the show hosted by Michael Savage (real name Michael Alan Weiner) because of offensive comments he made about children with autism.
As the grandmother of a much loved Autistic child, I am mortified by what this man said. We all need to band together and make ourselves heard. Get him off the air for good.
Jim, I too, have a beautiful 12 year old little boy with Autism. He has come so far with his struggles and I am truely proud of him. We have been victoms of other peoples judgements in the past. Once in a grocery store, my son wanted 3 bottles of catsup and could not get past the concept of "having to have 3 bottles...one for his potatoes, one for his scrambled eggs and one for his hamburgers." Only parents of Autistic children could understand what happened next. As I put only one bottle in the cart, my precious Evan began to scream, bang his head and knock every bottle of catsup on the floor. I held him on the floor in aisle 7 of our local supermarket. I was holding him to protect him from hurting himself, not to mention that I was worried about what the bill was going to be for all the damage he had done. Somewhere between his screaming and the catsup flying... people were coming from all over the store to watch and whisper. It was at that very moment that our lives changed. I am thankful for that day because you see... we no longer seek approval from other people for Evan's behaviors. I never realized before that day that I had been so worried about his "social acceptance". I was so hurt by the people watching Evan, stripped of all dignity and their comments leaving us with nothing more than their hateful words.
My point in telling you and all the readers of this posting is that they are OUR CHILDREN. Our hearts are broken enough as we watch our children struggle in a society that does not understand this complex disease. I refuse to justify his behaviors with a diagnosis, but I welcome educating people that interact with our family. That day was a good day for me. I felt a freedom that I had not had in years.
By the way, we still go to that very store to shop and I always make sure that Evan gets to pick out his 3 bottles of catsup. His "need" for having 3 bottles of catsup for 3 different foods means so much more to him than any of us will ever understand.
I have nothing to say about Mr. Savage or his comments on Autism. I do not have hateful thoughts about him and I wish him well. I will say that I am glad that God gave Evan to me and not to Mr. Savage. I feel certain that if Evan were his son....he would not only never take him to the store again, but he would still be buying only 1 bottle of catsup.
God Bless our Babies!
Jim, I too, have a beautiful 12 year old little boy with Autism. He has come so far with his struggles and I am truely proud of him. We have been victoms of other peoples judgements in the past. Once in a grocery store, my son wanted 3 bottles of catsup and could not get past the concept of "having to have 3 bottles...one for his potatoes, one for his scrambled eggs and one for his hamburgers." Only parents of Autistic children could understand what happened next. As I put only one bottle in the cart, my precious Evan began to scream, bang his head and knock every bottle of catsup on the floor. I held him on the floor in aisle 7 of our local supermarket. I was holding him to protect him from hurting himself, not to mention that I was worried about what the bill was going to be for all the damage he had done. Somewhere between his screaming and the catsup flying... people were coming from all over the store to watch and whisper. It was at that very moment that our lives changed. I am thankful for that day because you see... we no longer seek approval from other people for Evan's behaviors. I never realized before that day that I had been so worried about his "social acceptance". I was so hurt by the people watching Evan, stripped of all dignity and their comments leaving us with nothing more than their hateful words.
My point in telling you and all the readers of this posting is that they are OUR CHILDREN. Our hearts are broken enough as we watch our children struggle in a society that does not understand this complex disease. I refuse to justify his behaviors with a diagnosis, but I welcome educating people that interact with our family. That day was a good day for me. I felt a freedom that I had not had in years.
By the way, we still go to that very store to shop and I always make sure that Evan gets to pick out his 3 bottles of catsup. His "need" for having 3 bottles of catsup for 3 different foods means so much more to him than any of us will ever understand.
I have nothing to say about Mr. Savage or his comments on Autism. I do not have hateful thoughts about him and I wish him well. I will say that I am glad that God gave Evan to me and not to Mr. Savage. I feel certain that if Evan were his son....he would not only never take him to the store again, but he would still be buying only 1 bottle of catsup.
God Bless our Babies!
Jim, I too, have a beautiful 12 year old little boy with Autism. He has come so far with his struggles and I am truely proud of him. We have been victoms of other peoples judgements in the past. Once in a grocery store, my son wanted 3 bottles of catsup and could not get past the concept of "having to have 3 bottles...one for his potatoes, one for his scrambled eggs and one for his hamburgers." Only parents of Autistic children could understand what happened next. As I put only one bottle in the cart, my precious Evan began to scream, bang his head and knock every bottle of catsup on the floor. I held him on the floor in aisle 7 of our local supermarket. I was holding him to protect him from hurting himself, not to mention that I was worried about what the bill was going to be for all the damage he had done. Somewhere between his screaming and the catsup flying... people were coming from all over the store to watch and whisper. It was at that very moment that our lives changed. I am thankful for that day because you see... we no longer seek approval from other people for Evan's behaviors. I never realized before that day that I had been so worried about his "social acceptance". I was so hurt by the people watching Evan, stripped of all dignity and their comments leaving us with nothing more than their hateful words.
My point in telling you and all the readers of this posting is that they are OUR CHILDREN. Our hearts are broken enough as we watch our children struggle in a society that does not understand this complex disease. I refuse to justify his behaviors with a diagnosis, but I welcome educating people that interact with our family. That day was a good day for me. I felt a freedom that I had not had in years.
By the way, we still go to that very store to shop and I always make sure that Evan gets to pick out his 3 bottles of catsup. His "need" for having 3 bottles of catsup for 3 different foods means so much more to him than any of us will ever understand.
I have nothing to say about Mr. Savage or his comments on Autism. I do not have hateful thoughts about him and I wish him well. I will say that I am glad that God gave Evan to me and not to Mr. Savage. I feel certain that if Evan were his son....he would not only never take him to the store again, but he would still be buying only 1 bottle of catsup.
God Bless our Babies!
As a person with HFA who needs support and help after my parents pass away I deem the radio man a threat. I have tried to live independently before and it did not work out, I could no get to the grocery store and was isolated. The mans ignorance is a threat to my life and the current services I get through The Redwood Coast Regional Center that make me less isolated and have less anxiety for when my parents pass. My I.Q is high in one part but educationally I also need help. The world is just becoming more accessible to me with awareness and social programs, to have it taken away becuase I'm higher I.Q with autism would be nothing less the torture. I'd like to talk to that big man radio host on the air. I come from a military family so I know about my freedom of speech.
Dear Jim,
I have an 8 year old son with autism who is doing very well with a combination of biomedical treatments and a supportive school district.
Thank you standing up for us and also for educating the public. Good luck with your family.
Also, thanks to CW11 for running the story.
Jim:
Thank you for standing up! As a father I know how you feel.
I have a 24 year old autistic son. Back when he was first diagnosed, we dealt with ignorant comments about his behavior. Most of the time when we explained his actions and the reason why, the people involved were very contrite and went out of their way to be nice to him.
Over the years Dan has grown into a handsome, loving man who is his nieces favorite uncle and one of the people I know who every day strives to work on being the best he can be.
Michael Savage is not ignorant. He is of the vein of hateful media personalities that hide behind a microphone to spew their venom. Unapologetic and self righteous, if you don't fit into what Savage feels the world should be, you should not be here.
There is very little you can do, because Hate sells.
I will no longer buy any product advertised on Michael Svages show(s).
Jim, Michael Savage is just one of many ignorant people out there. Most people out there that are fortunate enough not to have a special needs child, do not have a clue to what it's all about. I have a special needs mentally challenged 27 year old Son and even family members look at the situation and think that my husband and I are not doing a good job of parenting or of disciplining him and that's the reason for some of his bad behavior. I know it may not be the same thing as having a child with Autism, but we face alot of the same challenges and it's not an easy life for us or our child. I wish there were more people out there with compassion and understanding of these situations. Our Son brings us more joy then we can ever say and most people do not even understand that. Michael Savage should have a special needs child or grandchild and then maybe he would wake up and smell the roses instead of being a totally ignorant human being.
God bless you and your family. Keep the faith.
Hi Jim-
Thank you for defending our kids on the spectrum with your grace and dignity. As far as Michael Savage, the propaganda that he spreads, to me, is dangerously close to the kind of poison that ending with six million Jews being murdered.
Scary times.....
Carolyn
Dear Jim, Thank you for so graciously responding to the insensitive and obviously un-informed statements by Michael Savage regarding children diagnosed under the Autistic Spectrum. I am the grandmother of a 5 year old beautiful boy who "appeared" to be developing normally until around the age of 2. Speech regressed, affection disappeared, social interaction became non-existent and any changes in routine put him in a tail spin. Autism was not a household word in our family. Our weekly gatherings with the family became a source of embarrassment and frustration and for my daughter and husband. To this day, my daughter and husband avoid large family gatherings since they do not want people to think there son is a brat when he gets upset. We truly did not understand what was happening to this once happy, normal, beautiful little boy. I thought maybe it was a hearing loss problem. My daughter took him to AI DuPont Childrens Hospital in DE. The diagnosis was heartbreaking for my daughter and her family. The prognosis given to her was the worst case sceneario. "He would most likely never leave home, never talk, possibly begin to suffer seizures, begin head banging, and potty training would be a challenge." I truly do not see these as characteristics of a brat! How bdare him be so hurtful to the parents and their families that share the heartbreak of this diagnosis. The pain and stress that my daughter and husband experienced after the diagnosis (borderline Autism) was heartbreaking and put a lot of strain on their relationship. They have survived and now are seeing wonderful improvement in their son; who also has a brother 8 and a sister 3. They fought for over a year with the support of AI DuPont Childrens hospital and Justin's pediatrician to get him out of the public school system and to the Charlton School in DE that has done wonders with him. My daughter has also done alot of research regarding diet and changed his diet accordingly. He now is potty trained, displays affection, has become more socially interactive and is talking more all the time. To you and all the other families with children with Autism you are in my prayers. Those of us impacted by this diagnosis are strong and have weathered far more pain than the hurtful, ignorant words of the likes of Michael Savage.
My 11 year old son who lives with Asperger's has more compassion and common sense than Mike Savage will ever exhibit.
God help Savage should he ever have to deal with ASD personally (directly or indirectly). These children (and adults) an the spectrum are some of the most remarkable people I have ever encountered.
My son had taught me more in the 3 years since he's been diagnosed than I have learned my entire educational career. Much more than I could ever teach him.
Because he has taught me unconditional love, rather than become irate over Savage's remarks, I will use the opportunity to teach anyone who will listen about ASD and what it means to our family.
My 11 year old son who lives with Asperger's has more compassion and common sense than Mike Savage will ever exhibit.
God help Savage should he ever have to deal with ASD personally (directly or indirectly). These children (and adults) an the spectrum are some of the most remarkable people I have ever encountered.
My son had taught me more in the 3 years since he's been diagnosed than I have learned my entire educational career. Much more than I could ever teach him.
Because he has taught me unconditional love, rather than becoming angry over Savage's remarks, I will use the opportunity to teach anyone who will listen about ASD and what it means to our family.
My 11 year old son who lives with Asperger's has more compassion and common sense than Mike Savage will ever exhibit.
How would Savage react should he ever have to deal with ASD personally (directly or indirectly)? These children (and adults) an the spectrum are some of the most remarkable people I have ever encountered.
My son had taught me more in the 3 years since he's been diagnosed than I have learned my entire educational career. Much more than I could ever teach him.
Because he has taught me unconditional love, rather than becoming angry over Savage's remarks, I will use the opportunity to teach anyone who will listen about ASD and what it means to our family.
Sorry, I did not wish to be "ANONYMOUS" my post is at 8:40 a.m. 7/22; I suggest that Mr. Savage instead of being fired be required to do community service in a school for Austistic Children for a minimum of 30 days to open his eyes!
Mr. Watkins;
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your voice of reason, I am sure born of your daily experiences as a father, news person, and above all a sensitive and intelligent human being. You set the example for my typical son (8 yrs) who was becoming so upset after hearing over and over about Mr. Savage's comments. Understadably, he (as did the rest of our family) took exception to much of what Mr. Savage said, and the brutal way he dilivered his misinformed and irresoponsible message.
Your candor and grace were much appreciated by all in our family and provided solace to both of my children.
May only good things surround you and your family.
Roberta
Jim,
Excellant final comment. These radio "shock jocks" get paid to be confrontational. Your comments did not give him the media outlet,(video bite) to exploit and make a bigger name for himself.
It is still a sad day for this country, when we have these, "radio personalitys" out there who do no good for the common man with their platform.
I am sure other countries mock us, for our use of "free speech".
I applaud you, and truly hope that we find a reason for this autism epidemic.
Growing up in New York, in the sixties, seventies, there were one or two families in my schools, with special needs children.
I am the father of a special needs child, and now it seems everyone I know is related to someone with a special needs child.
There is something very real going on.
Dear Mr. Watkins ~
Thank you for speaking out on behalf of all of us who have a child on the autism spectrum. My son is 8 years old and I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world.
I honestly had never heard of Mr. Savage before all of this. I think he is uneducated in the world of autism. Maybe he should visit an ABA classroom. Maybe he should spend a day (or two) with the parents and teachers and aides and therapists who try to help these children with everyday activities that are "normal" to some children but not to others.
Thank you for being our voice. I have become a loyal WB watcher because of you.
My God bless you and your family.
Mr. Watkins
Although I do not have an autistic child, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments. Working in a school district, I have seen many autistic children and there is no way that any of them are brats. I wish you the best with your son and want you to know that there are many many outraged people on this subject.
God bless you and your family,
Eileen
Hello Jim
I just want to say thank you. I too have a son with this horrible disorder. We love him dearly and are greatful for your comments.
Melissa
Dear Jim, I have a son and daughter, both on the spectrum. My son has more social and abstract difficulties than my daughter, but they are both "high functioning", only with early intervention and appropriate therapy. Still my son struggles with odd behavior and lack of typical social skills, and we promote biblical principles in our home. We have never replaced appropriate discipline with patronizing because of their condition, and they have been taught right from wrong and know it, but don't always have the self control to use it. I have read Michael's book "Take America Back" and actually agree with many things he talks about. I am not going to attack him for his lack of "brain-mouth" connection on this specific subject, But I will say that when he gets the news that someone in his family has Autism, his tune will most definitely change. And at the rate it has been occurring, he is not far from hearing those words. I would love to hear hear him channel that energy into helping our cause, he could actually become a powerful ally if he could muster some compassion. KD NB, Texas
My heart goes to all of those that have children with autism, including ourselves. We have a 7 year old who was diagnosed as being in the middle of the autism spectrum so we can relate with pretty much everything that has been said.
I do want to make a clarification (from my point of view) about dianosis. I haven't yet met a family with an autistic child who I would say had a "wrong" austim diagnosis. They all are different and all have different "severity" levels and/or skills but all of them share the same common traits. I strongly believe that the increase in autism cases is real, regardless to the cause (better diagnosis, genetic mutations, environmental factors/triggers or a combination of the above).
God bless you all! Even fools like Savage!!!
Jorge
Hi Jim,
Thank you so much for standing up for the autism community with eloquence and grace. I am a firm believer that we as parents have to stick together,educate,and support each other as we face this devastating disorder. We are the only ones who really know what it's like. Mr. Savage should walk in my shoes for a day and then I would like to see what he has to say. But I have no time to waste thinking about that unfortunate fool. I need to focus on getting the best possible services for my Michael,as well as caring for my 2 yr.old daughter and my husband.
My son Michael developed typically(talked @9months,sang etc.)and at about 16 months started to lose skills. Now at 5 yrs. of age,Michael works so hard at a special school,has ABA therapy at home , and sensory gym. We are so proud of him.We sure have gained perspective on what really matters in life.I was a preschool teacher for 20 years and one of my greatest joys was to hear what the little ones had to say, so this has hit me pretty hard.
Thank you for being such a positive spokesperson for us. And please know your son and your family are in our prayers.
Linda Mancuso
P.S.You may know about this, but there is a surfing event in Long Beach L.I.for children with autism this Sunday July 27th. Volunteers take our kids out on the boards. Surf Pals is the name of the group. Maybe your son would enjoy it.
Mr. Watkins:
Thanks for your compassionate remarks. I'm the work-at-home father of a young man (almost 19) with Asperger's Syndrome. And my guess is that Michael Savage felt badly for fathers of children with autism. After all, for decades mothers had Bruno Bettelheim telling them the cause of their children's autism was that they, the mothers, were chilly and remote. Fill that gap for dads, says Savage, and now, we have his theory that our children would not have difficulty with social situations, or with speech, or with any other aspect of life, if only we had told them not to "act like a putz."
What a revelation! If only I'd started listening to Savage years ago!
By the way, there is hope, parents: My son, diagnosed at age 5, will be an incoming freshman at a major university in less than two months. Hang in there, and don't listen to the idiots!
Hello Jim,
I have listened to Dr. Savage for years now. However, this is the first time that I am considering no longer listening to him. I have 3 children and although none of them have been diagnosed with Autism. I am tired of people thinking that behavioral problems can be solved through corporal punishment and shame.
This is not the first time Dr. Savage has mentioned Autism, implying that it is a behavioral problem.
What makes me sick is that he did not take responsibility for what he said. He blamed Media Matter for comments that he made. However never did he play back the tape so that his points could be clarified..
Of course not, because he was on a tirade about "not being able to eat in restaurants when children are around.." etc....
Jim,
I will start this post like the ones before me. I am the mother of a 6 year old boy with a form of High Functioning Autism named Asperger's Syndrome. In addition to this, as if one issue wasn't enough for his little brain to digest, he is also diagnosed with ADHD. Did you know that this is now being called the lowest form of disorder in the Autism Spectrum? As someone who wasn't aware of the different "kinds" of Autism, it took 6 years of me being the kind of parent that "didn't know what to do with her child that just wouldn't mind me." So suffice it to say that I did the "cut the crap" thing. Guess what? It didn't work. My child was finally diagnosed during his kindergarten school year when the private school I paid for him to go to said "We just can't do anything with him. He is distracting us from the other children who deserve our attention." I was dumbstruck over this. For me, who is a very strong willed individual, I was at a loss for what to do or say. He went through the testing offered by the school system and I was told that he just had a language impairment. Wrong. If you ask me, maybe there aren't enough children being diagnosed with the proper disorder so that they can receive the appropriate kind of help. Finally, after months of testing and doctors visits, my son received a diagnoses that just simply hurt my heart. Not for me mind you, but for my son. So many people will make fun of him, hurt his feelings, not understand him, think he is abnormal, think he is uncontrollable, or think he is just a "brat." The worst part is that we experienced it the very next day he went to school when the principal reduced his school day to half a day and requested that I be there at all times. I was told, "We just can't handle him. We have actually done all that we are required to do. We don't have to let him attend this school." What kind of school does this? A Catholic School that did not care about my one single child as they claim to care about all children. We live in Southeast Missouri and I am very sorry to say the closest Autism Society Association is 1-2 hours away. Why can't a branch be closer to where my son is most comfortable? What can I do? I work around someone who told me that the reason my son is Autistic is because I don't "spank him" enough. Let me just say, been there, done that. The end result is the same. A lost look that goes hand in hand with not understanding what they did wrong. How many times should a child be spanked or punished for something they can't understand or help. News flash Mike Savage and Tedd Bell (who posted a comment on 7-21-08 9:19pm). Autism is a neurological disorder involving complicated portions of the brain which is responsible for dopamine, serotonin and other chemical re-uptake. Not to mention having to do with other portions that deal with impulses moving across the synapsis during information exchange. Lets not forget to add the other parts involved that nobody without the highest science/medical degree could understand. To Mike Savage- You cut the crap. Go to school, get a degree, earn your doctorate and then maybe someone with intelligence might possibly listen to YOUR CRAP. To Tedd Bell-Maybe it is in fact you who needs a "swift kick in the ass" for no apparent reason to see what it feels like to the children with autism. Maybe then you will educate yourself, lose the ignorance, and not sound like such an ASS.
A VERY PROUD MOMMY
Felecia A. Smith
I want to say I understand where Savage is coming from and agree with him completely. I have a stepson who was incorrectly diagnosed with autism and who is treated like an idiot by his real mother so she can get attention. The cause of his problems are a lack of discipline at his mothers because he does not misbehave when he is with me and his real father. I can see how parents of really autistic children can be angry, but you should see how angry I am that a perfectly healthy boy is treated like he is retarded. I agree completely that boys need to be boys and not be treated like little girls. I felt like Mr. Savage was speaking about my family because SCHOOLS PROMOTE THESE DIAGNOSIS TO GET MORE MONEY! It is SO true. And for this newsman to get on his high horse was more annoying than Mr. Savages comments. Everyone has a right to their opinion.
Jim - God Bless you, your family and your beautiful son. Liam. It made me sick to hear Mr. Savage's comments. When I was growing up there was a boy who had a severe case of autism. He had a wonderful family like yours. It always made me sad to see this boy. I am now 37 years old and I believe he was my age - this whole thing makes me wonder whatever became of him. It also makes me sad to think he was never able to lead any type of normal life.
Kim
We who live with autism are fortunate to have a voice of reason like Jim Watkins speaking for us. Isn't it funny that Don Imus received so much publicity for his racial slurs against the Rutgers Womens Basketball Team and Michael Savage's inaccurate, prejudicial comments about people with autism have received little media coverage? Our children with autism are often the targets of mean-spirited, narrow-minded, ignorant bullies. People with disabilities have rights protected under our Constitution. Thank God we have people like Jim Watkins speaking on their behalf.
Dear Jim,
I am from the mid-west and to be honest I had no idea who you are.
The internet is an amazing thing .... I found you through links that some have posted on www.WoWoWoW.com.
I am very proud of you and would like to thank you for taking a stand against the person Weiner/Savage.
Mitchell my 9 year old has autism and I thank god that he can not understand this hate monger Weiner/Savage.
We will thank god for you.
All Best,
Karin Fein
Humm....I think Savage is correct in many matters. I am sorry if it gores your ox, and I am sorry for all the indeterminable suffering (and guilt) by parents of autistic children. I'm 60 and I know that when I was growing up, tough love as Savage articulates really doesn't always work, but with the pendulum swinging the other way, and all the financial benefits to receiving a diagnosis on autism yet without firm uniform diagnostic criteria, coddling doesn't necessarily work either. It is a tough world out there and Savage is right on target to say what he has said so eloquently. Above all, he has a right to say it. I hope that right is never taken away by the fascists like Media Matters or the ACLU. It is plain down scary how the media is so left wing.
Obviously, Ned Allen, you are an avid Savage fan and don't know the first thing about Media Matters. They simply post links to video or audio clips and the transcripts of those clips ... nothing more. Savage and his ilk don't like Media Matters because MM catches them in their stupidity and post the stupidity for all the world to see. Nothing "fascist" about that.
As for the rest of your comments, you are woefully uninformed. Tell me how "tough love" is meted out to an infant . . . my very sweet little friend (will be 4 in September)started exhibiting signs of autism at about 1 1/2 years of age. His twin sister is fine. His older sisters are fine. He can't focus, he can't talk, he can't express himself . . . he's just as bright as his sister, he just can't be all that he should be. Not ALL autistic children scream and yell, some are very quite, very gentle souls like my little buddy.
I am aspecial education teacher working with children with autism..Our school educates students all through the spectrum... I invite Savage to our school so he can see what he is criticizing...he is an ignorant man doing damage to children who are just being recognized and being given a chance to reach their potential
I think it's about politics and money which to me is selfish. Liberal and conservative and all that nonsense. Please don't use mainstream politics to hurt me in my life. Without services I would be isolated and independent living would be unhealthy.
Jim, I watch you almost every evening at 10:00pm.
I have an eight year old grandson with autism who does not speak. We still hope that some day he will. He lost his speech at about 18 months. Savage needs to be educated!! Somehow though, I don't know if it will help him because he shows signs of some kind of abnormality himself. Perhaps he has some form of autism. I wish you and all the families with children and adults on the spectrum, a miracle. Maybe someday a definite cause and cure will be found. For the few who have found the cause such as "Fragile X" I wish a cure. But right now I really wish someone would put tape around the mouth of Savage!!!
Best of Luck to all of us!
As a person with high functioning autism what does the Radio Man imply in my life? My local newspapers allow me to write for them from time to time on autism issues and I get help from a PHD autism specialist. I really would like to understand this. This subject to me is scary because allot of major news stations are carrying this story. I am very upset and want to know if a political party is trying to remove services that I need and hope from my life. I don't want to cost people tax-money anyways. Also I know others with autism that goto a day service with me. I don't like labels as they make me feel defective and stigmatized but what does the radio man mean?
Dear Jim;
Radio talk show host Michael Savage really step over the line. I believe he ought to be taken off the air for his attacks on children with autism. I also hoped he will be fined and added to that I hope he is given community service and that should be with the Autism Center. I think than and only than can he have any understanding on what these kids are up aganist and what their parents are going through.
I wouldn't want him at the center I goto.
Jim,
As the father of two autistic children, I too was upset with Weiner's comments until I saw where he is based. Unfortunately, my job takes me to San Francisco a few times a year, and I've never experienced so much hatred and ignorance in a lifetime compared to a couple of weeks there. Downtown smells like stale urine, strangers on the street cuss at you for no reason, and I've encountered people masturbating in public there. My anger toward Weiner turned to pity when I realized he was based in San Francisco, and I can only imagine that he is a product of his environment. One of these days an earthquake will knock that cesspool into the Pacific Ocean, and I just hope I'm not there when it happens!
As a parent of an eight year old with Autism. I deal with ignorance of the disorder everyday. The comments the looks and smirks. I challenge anyone who thinks that Autism needs only a kick in the butt as a cure all to live in the life of parents, families, and educators of Autistic children and adults. I didn't ask for my son to have Autism, and neither did he. I would do anything to change this for HIM, NOT ME!!! I may not understand the way he, one person, thinks, but he doesn't understand the rest of the world. I am taking this personally to heart, but I won't lose sleep over it. Michael Savage and others who agree with him only show their ignorance, lack of sensitivity, and most of all lack of humanity. Why did he even comment on a subject that obvioulsy he knows nothing about? Does he even have children alone a wife that could stand him? Yeah, back in the old days they had "tough love." But, they also knew when to keep their mouths shut when they didn't know what they were talking about. To all the families out there affected, hold your heads high and remeber how special our children are. We must all stand proud!
Well even if people are like that in the streets they are likely not well. If someone curses then they are of another thing which is not of the original self before they became that way. Just because the radio man is not understanding people like me and rages about some things does not mean he and others should die or a whole city should fall.
This is like violence but sincere ill will. I believe that maybe the radio man might be forgiven eventually should he understand instead of not treat others like that emotionally socially. He could be lost to the hate syndrome that society first might have influenced to him to be but it's his choice to make a living from it. Yet it would make others of concern to autism in everyday life look bad to others whom we want support from to be more integrated and in general get help that is needed. S.F is tax payers to.