Of Autism and Genetics

My son, FlareHolyMeteo, who has autism, will turn twenty-one in two weeks. I ran into this article in my local paper: Autistic overload

For decades, the best estimate for the prevalence of the behavioral disorder was about one in 2,000 children, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2002 CDC study released earlier this year showed the prevalence of autism was closer to one in 150 children, a number 13 times greater than the established consensus figure.

There were some rather alarming comments, as well. Some of them from people who obviously have no idea what Autism is, or working on "The Master Race":

"When society abandoned Proverbs 13-24 the troubles began. ADHD, Autism and whatever is next on the social workers excuse list for bad behavior will continue to spiral out of control. Children need discipline and without it they will do as they please growing into irresponsible adults. If the schools fail to discipline children the courts will when they inevitably run afoul of the law. As the commercial used to say pay me now or pay me later."

"country has done is do away with the Bartonville State Hospitals and the Zeller Zone Centers. Put them out into the general population is the mantra of the modern social worker. On the farm I grew up on, which was one of the last "full circle" farms of the 50's, less than adequate animals where euthanized at birth. But of course to do that with someones " blessed, special, event" is all wrong. We treat animals better than we do ourselves Thanks to the bible thumpers. When will they be gone from the planet?"

Anyway, here is my comments on the articles and those comments...

When he was very tiny he was shut off from the rest of us, would go limp when picked up, wouldn't make eye contact, and had violent tantrums - all before his first birthday. This disorder is neurobiological and has absolutely nothing to do with "bad" behavior - unless you can say that an infant is capable of "bad" behavior.

Unlike many children with autism my son got lucky - and will tell you so if asked. He has went from being unable to talk at the age of three to being an honors student at University of Illinois. He still has some stereotypical behavior - he flicks his fingers when he's excited (sometimes while driving!), his eye contact is still poor unless he knows you, and we still have to remind him occasionally on how to behave in certain social situations. He's very blunt, but also very sarcastic and delightfully funny. He has friends who love him the way he is. As I said, he is lucky.

On the other hand your ignorance of the disorder is glaringly obvious. Autism, despite what the article says, is not necessarily just a behavior disorder. There are also issues with motor skills, hypersensitivity, speech-language skills, and social problems. Like Down's Syndrome, it's biological in basis, with some possible genetic links still being researched. The "bad parenting" theory has long been abandoned, thank goodness.

In fact, my son is highly disciplined in nature, unfailingly polite to his elders and respectful of his peers. About the only people he mouths off to are his older brother and of course his mother, which is to be expected from any young adult. I had expectations of his behavior when he was young. I didn't "beat" him into submission - I didn't have to. The best form of parenting will always be leading by example, and with both of my sons this has paid off.

Still think that "spare the rod, spoil the child" is the problem? For the record, the rod was the shepherd's staff, used to gently guide the sheep in the right direction, not to beat on them. I think you need to go back and re-read your Bible.

I will toss out my son's opinion on the search for a "cure" for autism. He feels insulted by such campaigns, saying that it smacks of eugenics. I did point out to him that those parents who have adult children with autism that are still in diapers would probably beg to differ. Being autistic, his opinion has not changed, and I respect him for it.