ASAT
Media Watches
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 Responds to Perryvillenews.com's "Autistic Child Finds Comfort from Non-Traditional Therapy"
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Source http://www.perryvillenews.com/archive/article_5d8252d2-4536-11e2-911d-001a4bcf6878.html
When reporting on a possible intervention for autism, it important to inform your readers as to whether or not the approach is science-based...
ASAT Responds to Statesman.com's "Popular autism treatment might not be effective, study finds"
Monday, November 26, 2012
Source http://www.statesman.com/.../
Sensory integration is not a new proposition; indeed, it has been marketed in various forms by practitioners for decades...
ASAT Responds to Huffington Post's "The Curious Case of Autism and MMS"
Monday, October 15, 2012
Source http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-drezner/autism-cure_b_1588498.html
Unfortunately, in addition to asking for (often significant) outlays of cash and time, some peddlers ask much more – the suspense of disbelief...
ASAT Responds to ABC's "Aquatic therapy center helps those with autism, open to all"
Monday, October 08, 2012
Source http://abclocal.go.com/.../your_health&id=8814192
"...you may be providing false hope for those parents who want to “heal” their children’s autism...
ASAT Responds to The Daytona Beach News-Journal's “Surf event serves as therapy for kids with autism”
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Source http://www.news-journalonline.com/.../307299972
The implication of the use of the term “therapy” is that the person receiving the therapy will be cured or that symptoms will lessen in clinically measurable ways...
ASAT Responds to Charlotte Observer's “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is healing many ills”
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Although research supports its use in cases of carbon monoxide intoxication, in relation to autism there is no such empirical support, and still much skepticism exists...
ASAT Responds to MSN.com's "Pets May Help Kids With Autism Develop Social Skills”
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Source http://healthyliving.msn.com/.../pets-may-help-kids-with-autism-develop-social-skills
At a time when there are 400+ treatments for autism, journalists must be very careful how they pitch their message, however touching and seemingly benign an intervention may appear...
ASAT Responds to US News story "Many Parents of Kids with Autism Don’t Put Faith in Pediatricians"
Friday, August 03, 2012
Source http://health.usnews.com/.../many-parents-of-kids-with-autism-dont-put-faith-in-pediatricians
"...in the absence of guidance from their primary care providers, parents are left to navigate treatment options on their own..."
ASAT Responds to TheAtlantic.com's "The Economic Impact of Autism on Families"
Friday, July 13, 2012
Source http://www.theatlantic.com/.../257892
It is the responsibility of all members involved in the individual’s healthcare and educational team to commit to science, rely on data published in peer-reviewed journals, and be guided by data in making their decisions...
ASAT Responds to MSNBC's "1 in 3 autistic young adults lack jobs, education"
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
Source http://www.msnbc.msn.com/.../
Your accurate summary of high unemployment...is exemplified by the personal stories that describe a very real and terrifying prospect for the parents of these young adults...
