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 Ezinearticle, "Is Autism Treatment Possible?"
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Source http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Autism-Treatment-Possible?&id=6458523
How disheartening to think that with the level of evidence that is available to support behavioral intervention, "effective treatment would need to be "trial and error" for children with ASD..."
ASAT Responds to Portland Press-Herald's "Graduating to an Uncertain Fate"
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Source http://www.pressherald.com/news/graduating_2011-05-15.html
Waiting until adulthood to teach complex work skills within service delivery models that have low staffing ratios will not likely culminate in proficient and marketable skills...
ASAT Responds to US News & World Report's "Complexities of Autism Extend to Its Treatment"
Monday, June 06, 2011
Source http://health.usnews.com/.../complexities-of-autism-extend-to-its-treatment?PageNr=2
Faced with aggressive and, in some cases, disingenuous marketing tactics, how can families and persons with autism confidently investigate possible treatments?
ASAT Responds to StarTribune's "Autism's $100,000 Question"
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Source http://www.startribune.com/.../119121174.html?refer=y
Important conversations about autism treatment are sidetracked when journalists use sensationalism in the titles of their articles...
ASAT Responds to Mansfield Journal's "Shelby Coach Steps Down to Help Son Battle Autism"
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Source http://www.asatonline.org/pdf/shelby.pdf
...there are no published research studies supporting the effectiveness of the DAN protocol, and furthermore, many of the techniques practiced by DAN physicians are considered to be harmful by the medical community at large...
ASAT Responds to NIU's "Science or Bunk: How to Tell the Difference"
Monday, March 28, 2011
Source http://today.niu.edu/.../
You astutely point out that there are both direct and indirect costs for allowing pseudoscience to persist...
ASAT Responds to Chicago Tribune's "When the Evidence Is Conclusive"
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Source http://articles.chicagotribune.com/.../ct-perspec-0130-vaccine-20110130_1_rotavirus-vaccines-smallpox-vaccine-anti-vaccine-movement
Your evaluation of the recent books published by Paul Offit and Seth Mnookin highlights for the reader the clear empirical evidence in support of vaccinations...
ASAT Responds to Salon.com's "Correcting Our Record"
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Source http://www.salon.com/.../index.html
It is important that the media take responsibility to get the facts straight. You are correct in your assessment of the potential danger of wildly misleading stories such as this one. ..
ASAT Responds to Globe and Mail's "Medical Fraud Revealed in Discredited Vaccine-Autism Study"
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Source http://www.theglobeandmail.com/.../article1859560
As you effectively pointed out in your article, the suggested (but now discredited) link between the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism has had far reaching negative effects by putting the health of scores of children at risk...
ASAT Responds to Star-Ledger Article 'Apple iPad, iPod Touch Might Help People with Autism Take Steps toward Independence'
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Source http://www.nj.com/.../apple_ipad_itouch_may_help_peo.html
I want to commend you for balancing the potential utility of this technology to promote independence...
