Media Watch
Media Watch (a subcommittee of the Public Relations Committee) has three primary initiatives:
- Educating the public about effective autism treatment through proactive contact with the media;
- Responding to inaccurate information or proposed treatments described by the media (as it relates to scientific findings about their effectiveness); and
- Supporting accurate media depictions of empirically–sound interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
We seek to increase awareness of the scientific underpinnings surrounding autism treatment that can lead to real hope for those touched by this disorder.
Below are some recent letters showcasing our Media Watch efforts.
ASAT Eulogy for Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Source http://www.latimes.com/.../la-me-ivar-lovaas-20100806,0,1639646.story
It is an understatement to say that Ivar Lovaas was a pioneer...
ASAT Responds to Denver Post "Alternative Therapies for Brain Disorders Seeing Success"
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Source http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_14886346
In the absence of data from well-controlled scientific studies, a testimonial from a consumer and opinions offered by Brain Balance therapists or franchise owners do not establish Brain Balance as a scientifically validated treatment for autism...
ASAT Responds to Sun Sentinel's "Castration Drug Given to Kids as Autism Therapy" story
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Source http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-autism-treatment-20100803,0,2504213.story
Despite the caveats, articles such as yours with the media attention it brings may raise concern for a few, but actually may do more to increase revenue for those turning autism treatment into a cottage industry...
ASAT Responds to Chicago Tribune story "FDA Warns Maker of Product Used as Alternative Autism Treatment"
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Source http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-autism-chemical-20100623,0,7088247.story
It is unconscionable that medical professionals in leadership roles make unsubstantiated declarations about unproven treatments, especially those that may have side effects that threaten health and safety of children...
ASAT Responds to Irish Times article "Best Practice Autism Treatment 'Will Vanish' Under Proposals"
Monday, July 19, 2010
Source http://www.irishtimes.com/.../1224274659597.html
Ireland’s Department of Education is making some dangerous and unfounded assumptions. Acting upon these assumptions will harm children, squelch progress, and lead to generations of soon-to-be-adults with autism who will require significant life-long services...
ASAT Responds to NYT story "Vaccinations: A Hot Debate Still Burning"
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Source http://tv.nytimes.com/.../27vaccine.html?_r=2
For a number of years now, scientific studies have confirmed that vaccines are not causally linked to autism. That is the good news...
ASAT Responds to ABC News "A Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet No Remedy for Autism"
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Source http://abcnews.go.com/.../story?id=10690766
This is a time when families of children with autism are bombarded with treatment claims and, too often, promises of "magic bullets" or cures based on little more than slick marketing, bold testimonial or word-of-mouth. Many of these so-called treatments offer much but deliver little...
ASAT Responds to Psychology Today article "FC Is BS"
Friday, April 30, 2010
Source http://www.psychologytoday.com/.../fc-is-bs
Dr. Ahearn's account of the research at the New England Center for Children that helped to debunk facilitated communication is a story that should be heard by all families, professionals, and policy makers interested in providing the best possible treatment for individuals with autism.
ASAT Responds to Seattle Times article "Evidence lacking for special diets in autism"
Friday, March 26, 2010
Source http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/.../2010688565_autism04.html
Parents of children with autism are presented with a bewildering number of treatment options, often to the point of great confusion. Unfortunately, many of these options have little or no scientific evidence to support their use for the core or associated features of autism...
ASAT Responds to Tallahassee Democrat story "Autistic child responding well to learning option"
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Source http://www.tallahassee.com/.../Autistic-child-responding-well-to-learning-option
Twenty-five years ago, I read a book about the Son-Rise program as part of an undergraduate psychology course. It was a compelling story. To date, there has not been a single study documenting the effectiveness...
