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Oh and for the record, I have some criticism over Amanda (her Getting the Truth Out site contains slander against Jerry Lewis), but she's not a liar, I'll tell you that.

Thanks. I never thought she was, I just find the constant slander about her over there irritating. At one point it seemed to me that it was more than just Droopy, but maybe I was reading too much into things. I do that sometimes.

A lot of bio-med enthusiasts have a problem with her. People who are not into bio-med seem much more receptive to what she has to say. I've seen this animosity develop over the course of the last few years and the more famous she gets, the more vocal the opposition from these people. The "last straw" seemed to be the CNN piece on her. These people seemed to think that CNN was taken in by her, that she is faking being autistic. They can't believe than an autistic could be so aware and so articulate and appear so "severely impaired" at the same time. "Severely impaired" plus articulate and aware = no need for "recovery."

I think that there is a huge leap that parents must take when they see her outward appearance juxtaposed with her writing. She is obviously extraordinarily intelligent, observant and well written. She obviously has no cognitive disability. The only thing barring her from participating fully in society is how her outward appearance is perceived. So parents who believe that autism is some kind of environmental poisoning have a huge conundrum when they take her in. If you believe your kid is poisoned and is locked in his own world, and that you are taking heroic and questionable measures to 'save" him, Amanda Baggs' presence flies in the face of there needing to be any such "saving."

Guess what happened

What????

Click the link where my previous post said 'guess what happened'

Ah, thanks.

Well, our area has an autism walk every year, and last year the motto was "Got autism? I'm walking for someone who does." Well, what if it were an obesity walk? Would it be "Got fat?"

Sorry, I have to rant and this seemed like the place to do it. A certain person on the AS boards is grinding my last nerve. I have not tried to pick fights with this person, but she has been nothing but rude to me for no reason but the fact that I linked to an article written by Amanda Baggs. It bugs me that this person is hailed as being suuuuuuuuch a wonderful person by nearly all of the parents on AS, yet to me it's clear that she pushes her own personal vendetta whenever possible and is just rude to anyone who disagrees with her. Maybe I'm oversensitive--actually, I know I'm oversensitive--but this really bothers and frustrates me. I'm afraid Autismdiva's analysis of the dynamics on that board are all too true. The kinds of autistic adults who get lionized over there are the ones who won't say anything too controversial, never mind how they act or what personal grudges they might have. It's predictable, but frustrating nevertheless.

There's one really rotten human being over there who claims to be on the autism spectrum, and she scares me. She's best buds with John Best Jr. What does that tell us about her??? There are people who are totally stinking jealous of Amanda for the attention and credibility that she has received. I personally have NO doubts about Amanda. I've known her online for a few years (3 or 4?) and she is the same person all the time. Her story is consistent and believable all the time. I haven't met her myself, but I have met two people who I trust who have spent time with Amanda. I mean, it's time to stop dissecting Amanda's life. She deserves better than this. She's not ripping anyone off and she's not raking in the bucks from being autistic. She's just being herself, which happens to be unusual and very good at communicating in an unusual way.

Bo Peep hit the nail on the head when she said that biomed (and I suppose even ABA) parents are totally freaked by her. She's drawn Mr. Hating's wrath because she's so articulate and so non-cured. She undercuts their chances of cashing in on the vaccine lawsuits, just by saying autism is a way of being and that she's not mercury toxic and doesn't want to be chelated or dosed with massive amounts of vitamins.

Amber told me not to.

Amber told you not to say something?

Which witch are you talking about, Diva? Diane Davis? Or someone else?

As if it isn't enough what Droopy spouts on Autism Speaks, our "friend in need of a Spectrum DX" (Foresam) has opened a blog exclusively rag out Amanda. It's pathetic to say the least. I am in no doubt that Amanda is genuine. The trouble with Foresam is that he insists that anyone who is not like his son is not Autistic. I doubt he would even notice an Aspie in his presence - he'd regard us as "normal" and then when we say we're Aspie he'll yell out "liar" and stalk the crap out of you!

He doesn't want ANY positive promotion of Autism. Nil, nada, zilch. As Diva alluded to - she scares the crap out of people like Foresam because she publicly shatters the myth that Autism is 100 percent negative with no redeeming features whatsoever.

Heh, looks like I'll be given a bit of trouble when I become a filmmaker then!

Hello everyone on my favourite WP thread...Got CellfoneThumbAche Sydrome, and RealLifeInMyFace Disorder, that's taking my time. Back next week with a bag full of Facts, on a new All-Star WP Thread...

Yes, the gossip in me is dying to know who you are talking about!





I can tell you (collective you) that many parents are very inspired by what Amanda has to say. I know a lot of parents online and in RL, and most do not participate in the AutismSpeaks board (or the bio-med haven AutismWeb, either.) Most parents are not bio-med gung ho and pretty much all are pro-cure because that is all they read about. But many, many, if not the great majority, of parents I know of have great admiration for Amanda for sticking her neck out and saying what she says. Most parents I observe and know take great comfort in her very presence. Most, after becoming more familiar with her life and her writing, open up to the realization that autism is not a curse, but a very different way of thinking and perceiving the world.

People who bristle at her mere presence are much more likely to openly and strongly respond when they see any evidence of her. That's why you get some nasty reaction to even a link to her words. But most of your run-of-the-mill parents, who have little idea that autism politics even exist, have very positive reactions to her.