Jenny McCarthy and autism...People magazine?

Question

I just read the interview with Jenny McCarthy in People discussing her autistic son. While any awareness is good news for the autism community at large, and while they did print some information that deals with the move realistic, average world of autism (in the box toward the end of the article) I have to admit I was very angry with both her veiws (and those she quoted of Holly Pete Robinson) that if you get your child services soon enough you can "pull him out of autism" or into a type of autistic remission. I feel comments like that do a huge diservice to the autism community at large and minimize the struggles many families face. Both of these women, who have struggled to provide the best services for thier kids (and I admire that) are fortunate enough to have both the location (CA has some of the best programs in the country on state and local levels) and the finances (many of us can't afford a second mortgage...or even a first...to finance over $200,000 in supportive services a

year. While I recognized much of my life with my son in Ms. McCarthy's article, I felt angry with it as well. Both because she was lucky enough to have those resources (I fully admit being jealous) and because at no time does she acknowledge that her story is not how 90% of families lives will turn out, no matter what diet or services we have. Raising awareness is one thing, but I felt she was , in some ways, offering a lot of misinformation as well...and maybe false hope to families just beginning to deal with autism....your thoughts??

She does not mention MMR in the article and I was unaware she believes it to be the cause of her son's autism. I know many families do feel vaccinations played a role in their child developing autism, but our son also showed symptoms (although we did not know that was what they were) from a very young age...predating the MMR shots. It is possible the vaccine is a catalyst in some children, but until there is more direct proof, I choose to continue vaccinations..autism is not deadly, but many of the things we vaccinate against are. As for alternative therapies..every family should try any services or therapies they have at their disposal...little is lost in trying. I think the disservice in Ms. McCarthy's article is presenting that these therapies can cure autism. Presently, for the majority of families, alternative therapies have offered little help or improvement, especially in children with moderate to severe autism.

Clays Mom...Every professional working with autistic kids supports the idea that the more intense therapy the sooner, the better in the long run. However, the truth is that even with the most intensive therapies, onl 10% of autistic children will reach the point where the symptomology is so minimal as to go unnoticed (basically the remission Ms.McCarthy speaks of). I have no problem with her saying "This is what worked for my son." But to make generalized statements that this is what could make all children reach this level of functioning is a disservice.

Answer 1

I didn't read the article but I did see them both on Oprah..but from what you have stated here sounds like the same info they we're discussing on Oprah. I agree with you, I have a child with autism. They live in a so say "fantasy world" compared to the rest of us "regular" people. They do have the finances to receive the best possible resources for their childern.

Honestly I hate when any show, including Oprah's, that uses "stars" to talk about disabilities. They really don't know how it is to deal with a disability like regular people do. I feel regular people like us are actually are more of a reality of what's it is like and what it involves. I think a big mistake of hers was making it sound like that what has worked for her and Holly will work for everyone. BS!! I do agree early intervention is a key to helping childern with autism but by all means it does not mean you can "pull him out of auitism". Each and every child is different and not all improve. She made it seem like it was a breeze to improve a child with autism...big misconception. You cannot "pull your child out of autism" or into "an autism remission". Autism is a life long disability, as a parent you can try everything possible to improve the characteristics and behavior of the autism but you can never ever "pull them out" or send them into "remission". Now I don't know if she mentioned the MMR vaccine in her article as well like they did on Oprah. She and Holly both stated that MMR is the cause of autism and the doctors need to listen to the mothers. Then they both stated that their childern was "living science" to prove that. I think that was wrong wrong wrong. My son was diagnosed with autism before his MMR shot, that's my "living science". He has had the shot since and their has been no change in his behavior or characteristics because of the shot. I feel they used it an "excuse" to blame the cause of autism in their childern. There's no concrete evidence that's supports that theory. I feel autism is like other diseases and has more than one contributing factor to it and that's why it is hard to pinpoint the cause of autism.

Answer 2

I saw the Oprah show, and while I agree with Jenny in many ways, I think she failed to point out the different levels of autism. My son is HF and we have been able to mainstream him with the help of alternative therapy. I will agree with the other replies, money seems to be the determining factor on what type of treatment your child receives. I have experienced a lot of back lash from the autistic community for having the "nerve" to buck public service and incorporate alternative therapy into my child's treatment. Autism is both a medical and economic issue. However, I would like to point out to all the parents who are pursuing traditional therapy, twenty years ago the same therapy you are using would have been considered experimental or alternative. The only reason your child is receiving these traditional therapy is because of parents (who were most likely comparatively wealthy) when out on a limb and invested their own resources because they knew there was something better . . . We do not expect "thank yous" but some compassion would go a long way.

Answer 3

I have to say that I am one of the "lucky" ones. My son was diagnosed at 2, and since we live in Ca, he got intensive therapy 5 days a week at absolutely no cost to us. But saying that, I do realize how supremely lucky we were/are. Yes, he has reached a state where his autistic traits are not very evident to the unknowing eye. But I do not think that he is in remission. I think that he has been "trained" very well in how to live in society. And we worked extremely hard to get him to this point.

I didn't read her article, but I did read the thing where she called Jim Carrey the Autism Whisperer. That statement disgusted me!

I don't think that people with autism go into remission, I think some are just more able than others to exist in typical society. Look at Bill Gates for example. I also don't believe that the MMR shot is the primary cause. I too noticed things in my son before the shots. And I would rather live with autism, than have to live with my child's death by a disease that could have been prevented by a shot.

While I realize that these celebrities with kids on the spectrum are just trying to help, and to get the cause out in the public consciousness, they need to be careful how they do it, or they will end up angering a lot of people!

Answer 4

I disagree. I think by saying that some children can be helped or pulled into a "remission" was doing a good service she is letting people know that there is help as LONG AS SERVICES ARE PROVIDED, maybe this will make the government do somehting for the ones who cannot afford it. She could have said" well if you can afford it there is help to help change the actions of these children" that wouldnt have brought attention as needed to it. Also on Oprah she DID go against the MMR, I was surprised Oprah allowed it. That maybe why it is not in people mag... She did get her point out there about one size does not fit all!!!

Answer 5

While I did not read her article in People Magazine, I did see a headline and read a little yahoo article about the same topic and was appalled by the title of the article. It said that she calls Jim Carrey "The Autism Whisperer" because he was able to make a great connection with her son.

I think it's great that they were able to connect but the name he called him makes me think that she is referring to her son as an animal (like the "Dog Whisperer")

I work with children with Autism and while it is important to get services early to help teach them to interact with their world better, I don't think that these services would ever put a child into a "remission". Instead it just better helps them adapt to their world so that the individuals and their families do not suffer as much with the difficulties in having an autistic child.

I commend you and the hard work in raising your child, I am sure you are doing a great job, and wish you all the luck!

Answer 6

I agree with you. Both are celebrities, who probably pay $500.00 for shampoo. Unfortunately, most families are limited to the services in their area,as well as the inability to afford the expenses of the services. Not all locations have great services either. I'm sure the last thing many struggling families want to hear is how these celebrities' children are "getting better"...Autism does not just "go away". Symptoms can be reduced, but it doesn't just disappear. Nothing like giving false hope.

Answer 7

I agree with you. I also agree about the MMR.

As for a cause - you should know that there is ongoing research into the use of epidurals during childbirth as a cause of autism. Autism was relatively rare 30 years ago- as epidurals increased so did autism. I am not saying it is so but preliminary research indicates there is a corellation- I don't know if we can show a causation absolutely. But people need to be aware and if another choice can be made do it.

Answer 8

I agree with you 100% Why don't celebrities find a way to reach out to families who have limited resources? Why don't they start a foundation to help low/moderate income families find and utilize resources that online the elite can afford? Why can't they come out and hear how "average" family struggles with autism? Why don't they visit a real classroom with austistic children?