Autism Stats Exaggerated: Parents Starting To Rebel
An important trend to watch: Pushback from parents against the diagnosis of autism for their children.
Go to www.autisticlike.com and watch the trailer for Autistic-Like: Graham’s Story.
AUTISM STATS EXAGGERATED: PARENTS STARTING TO REBEL Worldwide Event Oct. 10 & 11
CDC Says One in 150 Children in the U.S. Has Autism. Maybe Not.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Parents and child advocates in 60+ cities across the US and Canada and on every continent will gather Oct. 10 &11 to advance the conversation about “autistic-like” children, and watch the path breaking documentary film AUTISTIC-LIKE: Graham’s Story.
www.autisticlike.com <See the trailer & Get local information here.
Misdiagnosis is the hottest emerging autism issue. Thousands of children diagnosed each year with autism actually have milder disorders, but to get treatment, parents are often pushed to accept the inaccurate label of autism.
From New York to Mexico, and from Fiji to Dar Es Salaam, parents working to persuade the medical community to make more nuanced distinctions about early childhood developmental delays will gather to discuss the issue and watch the film. Parents who accept an inaccurate diagnosis to get therapy for their child often embark on a confusing treatment path, wasting precious time and money.
According to Dr. Stanley Greenspan, who is featured in the documentary, “We basically have to misdiagnose them to get them treatment. The people who are going to have to take the lead on this are the parents.” Go to www.autisticlike.com
AUTISTIC-LIKE: Graham’s Story shows how Erik and Jennie Linthorst eventually found the right help for their 4-year old son, who has sensory processing issues, but is not autistic. “Every child with autism has sensory issues, but not every child with sensory issues is autistic,” Greenspan says in the film.
Linthorst produced the film with journalist Jody Becker, a former National Public Radio station reporter and editor. Praised as a “must see,” unblinking portrayal of a family’s anxiety and education, the film’s universal message stresses parent advocacy, no matter what challenges a child may face.
The worldwide event October 10 &11 is co-sponsored by the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation. The SPD Foundation is dedicated to Sensory Processing Disorder research, education, and advocacy, including diagnostic recognition of SPD in the DSM-V.
AUTISTIC-LIKE: Graham’s Story has screened at eight film festivals in the US this year, is featured in segments on the Documentary Channel and Good Morning America/Health, and is a 2009 Freddie Award finalist for outstanding medical reporting. Director and dad Erik Linthorst presents the film at the SPD Foundation’s annual conference October 10 in Chicago.