ASAT
ASAT Responds to Irish Times "French film ban raises autism issue"
Friday, February 17, 2012
Dear
Mr. O'Donoghue,
We applaud you and the Irish Times for your article "French film ban raises autism
issue" (February 9, 2012), in which you join thousands of people worldwide
who are supporting the denouncement of France's predominating psychoanalytical
ideology and treatment of people with autism. Thank you for shedding
further light on this unsubstantiated theory, and for expressing your opinion
of what was directly described by the professionals interviewed by Sophie
Robert in her documentary The Wall: "nonsense
of psychoanalysis in this arena."
We
also share your concerns about the unjust consequences faced by Ms. Robert as a
consequence of her courageous act.
Evidence-based
practice is transparent and conducive to accountability, as is the underlying
research basis that supports it. Indeed, there is no scientific support for the
psychoanalytic theory or treatment of autism, and the psychologists interviewed
apparently will not even stand by their own words. That is a disgrace!
We
commend you for raising a very important point:
that this topic is a matter for academic debate, not for the
courtrooms. The lawsuits against scientists and journalists who are weighing in
on this important matter are trying to silence a discourse that needs to happen
between scientists and be made accessible to the larger community freely by the
media.
The
board of ASAT, in our mission to disseminate science in autism treatment,
education, and care, could not agree more.
Daniela
Fazzio, Ph.D., BCBA-D
David Celiberti, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
Read More at http://www.irishtimes.com/.../1224311507688.html
