Who do I petition to ban this sick book?

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There's no point in banning it. If it got banned, the Streisand effect would likely take hold, and nothing good would be accomplished.

Regardless, I personally don't believe in banning books, even ones containing opinions I do not agree with. I think free speech is one of the most important values in a free, democratic society, and it is unfortunate that so many governments around the world are trying to suppress this valuable thing.

"I wish my child had a deadly disease rather than a intellectual disability"
Which honestly at least cancer can be fought, autism is for life and will affect everyone in evolved for 50+ years.

There's two things to consider when a child has autism

1)How will it affect the family and society
2)What will become of the child when they reach adult hood?


Both of those things don't have a pretty answer.

Amazon books

Check out the comments. It is not reviewed well.

I have to disagree that autistic people only bring pain and suffering to others. I'm sure we do sometimes like everyone does, but we bring valuable things to the table as well.

You might be successful at banning it at particular places (a school, for instance), but not in general.

However, on a larger note, I'd like to see this side of the autism community find peace with the type of community we have here at WP. I don't think the answer is silencing them--no matter how hard it is to hear what they say. I think the answer is finding a way to validate their pain (some people just get louder and more obnoxious until you validate them). You don't have to validate the whole of the statement, just that life is hard with high needs kids--it is. We won't ever make progress if we don't speak to each other.

A very lucid comment. You sum up some parents' attitude very well with the word 'entitlement', the belief that having children with disabilities is something that happens to other people, not to them. If someone were to complain to them about his or her lot in life, they wouldn't hesitate to point out that it was God's will and should be accepted as such. But when it happens to them ... well, that's another matter.

Well what else can they say "I'm sorry your stuck with a autistic child, enjoy how sh***y your life is about to become.". The only polite response is to attribute to "a gift from god" etc . Deep down everyone know's how much a burden a disabled /mentally ill child is but its rude to say.

What an absolutely horrible title. It sounds sick. Makes one NOT want to read it.
If it were to be banned, it would suddenly appear exiting to many people and have far too much publicity. Let it die in peace.

It might be worth buying to save for a time when it would be universally considered injurious and objectionable. Black-history memorabilia (which would otherwise seem repugnant) is collectible. Maybe this would become equally collectible.

I've heard that those who are severely Autistic can be a burden on their parents, and, by extension, society in general, but I wonder why the same damaging Eugenics argument isn't being aimed at people with Down Syndrome, Schizophrenia, or other debilitating mental illnesses and disabilities? At least with Autism there's hope. It can be a blessing. A low-functioning person can emerge from his dark world and contribute great things to society. Those of us who are on the high functioning, or even Asperger's, side of things certainly see it as a blessing, although the social deficits do create a mild inconvenience. We're unique, and we like who we are, mostly. I, personally, do wish they find a way to prevent the severe forms of Autism, but I hope they find it in their hearts to understand the rest of us Autistics.

I kind of don't understand, really. Parents have no problem providing their children the kind of care they need when they are babies. At it's worst, isn't it just like still having to care for a baby? They could put up with it the first year or two, why can't they continue to put up with it? Not everyone grows at the same rate, and, although it's rare, some don't grow at all. Why is that so difficult to accept? I'm not saying I'm grateful for the severe form. I view it as a mental disability like Down Syndrome, but not many people cry about wanting their Down children put to sleep!

Useless burdens? Is there nothing to learn from the lives of people who overcome enormous barriers to achieve wonderful things? To the "useless burden" posters, have you never heard of Helen Keller? (Look her up, Google makes that easy). She inspired millions of people worldwide and still does. You won't.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this but the title alone made me cry for a good 10 minutes. I dare not read the book but... I'm going to. Of course I'm not paying for that crap, I'll just torrent it.

How about "How can we as a society help care for the disabled/anyone less fortunate?"

When people get old, they often lose the ability to care for themselves like they once could. Are they burdens who should be put down?

The book has 100's of negative marks and comments on Amazon!

http://smile.amazon.com/Wish-Kids-Had-C ... m+Epidemic

92 of 207 people found the following review helpful

Abusive and Self-Serving
By Bev on March 8, 2009
Format: Paperback
This is absolutely appalling. Does Mr. Alan seriously believe that his children will never hear of this book? Oh, yes, of course he will explain, "Oh I just meant for the insurance!" or "People often recover from cancer," or some such. Not good enough, not nearly. The damage done to autistic peoply by this sort of thing is immeasureable. And what about the offense to those families who are dealing with cancer? This never should have been published, and Amazon.com has made a poor decision in offering it. Negative 5 stars.

All children are a burden to there parents in many ways. Some more then others and that includes the "normal" children everybody thinks are correct and look up to.

It can't be banned- but I guess you could petition certain stores to not carry it. Maybe by starting a mini protest from people online.

That title is really offensive. I mean can you imagine how offensive it would be for someone with asperger's to see their parents reading it ?

No I don't think the book should be banned. I think if we censored things, then we wouldn't see how horrible people can feel about their kids, it would be like sugar coating life if we censored things, keeping things unknown you know so we all assume no parent can ever feel that way about their child. Now I feel tempted to read that book because it got me curious.

Caring for a baby and toddler in a big kid's body are not the same nor is caring for a toddler or infant in an adult body the same. They get bigger, get stronger, get harder to care for, same as keeping things out of their reach you don't want ruined or them being touched because they can reach higher places. Also the fact they change all the time because their brains are growing so fast so they get better self control and get better control of their impulse because things pass real fast when they go through annoying stages. I often think to myself "Can you imagine if your kid stayed like this for life" and then I think 'Ugh I think it would be so hard and I don't think I would be able to handle it because of my anxiety" Then just try carrying them or changing their diaper or giving them a bath. If some people can't handle that, I can't imagine how it would be for me and I get pretty bad when my anxiety gets bad, I get ill when I have that much and then I am hard to be around and I feel I don't want to do anything and anything irritates me. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone special needs who has a mind of a toddler or infant who can't stop their behavior or who can't just all of a sudden start taking care of themselves to less my anxiety. If it's hard for my kids and husband and anyone around me, just imagine how much harder it would be for these special needs kids. Yes it's a gamble to have kids because you could end up with a kid that turns out to be a massive school shooter or a kid who grows up to be a child molester or a kid that just abuses or they could end up with a very rare disease or of course end up with having a intellectual impairment or a kid with Down's syndrome. etc. more common conditions but they are still the minority. If everyone thought this way and decided to not have kids because they don't want to roll the dice, then no one would be having kids and people would lose their jobs because there would be no kids to teach, no kids to watch, etc. So more people would be out of work and then we all eventually die off and then who will take care of the elderly or sick people and do deliveries to stores, etc.

I think I would be able to handle a kid with Down's syndrome because I have been around them and they don't seem that much work except you have to take them to therapy is all and not just expect them to grow up and hold them to the same level as other kids their age and when they are adults but they are not like toddlers or infants so you don;t need to carry them or change their diapers or give them baths or dress them or chase after them or having to keep things out of their reach. I just don't know how I would care for someone in a wheelchair if they will be too heavy for me to lift. I always wonder how caregivers do it or families. But of course worrying is a waste of time and you could get prepared for having a kid with any condition including rare diseases but then what happens when your kid turns out to be normal? Then you will be so disappointed. I say when your kid turns out to not be normal, then you go from there and take a new pathway and try and figure it out. You worry when you get to that bridge.


Note: I am not saying everyone in the world should have kids, I am just saying if everyone in the world thought this way, then this is what would happen.