Michael Savage, who happens to be a conservative talk radio host, stated that there is no epidemic of autism in our nation. Surprisingly, I agree with Mr. Savage's point-of-view.
As a professional, who works in a public school setting, I understand what it means to brand your child as being "special." It means your child receives special services, which go above-and-beyond the daily services afforded general education students. It means receiving more government money to make ends meet. But most of all, it means you don't have to be responsible for your child's actions, because he/she is special, after all.
I attend parent/teacher conferences with parents about their child's behavior, academic progress, etc., on a routine basis. Unfortunately, most meetings do occur because of either a failing grade or misbehavior (but that's another story). Sitting across from my students' parents, I sense a disregard for parenting. I can honestly say that 8-out-of-10 parents I meet are unable, or unwilling, to accept responsibility for their child, either in the home or school. There is always an excuse why he/she behaved the way he/she did, and it very seldom involves anything at home. It is either a teacher, subject, other student, principal, cook in the cafeteria, janitor cleaning the restrooms, messy locker...and, yes, a mental/developmental disability.
Parents are substituting parenting skills with developmental/learning disorders. It is easier to put your child on medication than it is to confront what the real problems are facing that child and/or family. As I have said before in other blog entries, when I was a student, it was
chic to be labeled as having attention-deficit disorder (ADD). Then, it morphed into attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Those disorders were all treated with a healthy daily dosing of prescription stimulants. The paradigm has shifted, however, from "my child has ADHD" to "my child is autistic." At the end of the 2007-2008 school year, there had never been a student in my school who had had the diagnosis of autism. Although, this coming school year brings in
four students who wear that label.
Is autism a new disease? I do not think so. Before anyone attacks me for being insensitive, I understand there are authentic cases of autism; however, I do not accept that in a population of 150 students there are four legitimate diagnoses. These children probably are hyperactive with age-related developmental disorders. Instead of their parents dealing with behavior issues, they are happy to accept a "get out of jail" diagnosis of autism. After all, if it is autism, who says they have to control their child? Also, the diagnosis saves the medical professional from having to face angry parents who did not get their child labeled. It is easier to make exceptions.
In the end, my favorite part of every parent/teacher conference is when the parent throws his/her hands in the air and says, "I just don't know what to do! What would you do?" My response is simple: "My parents never had to ask someone else how to handle my discipline. They just did what had to be done." My parents did not beat me or abuse me in any way. But I knew when I had crossed the line, and neither Mommy or Daddy had to ask the teacher what to do about it. Let's just say my parents believed being grounded was stupid. I'll leave it there.
As for autism, I will accept these diagnoses with a healthy dose of skepticism.
