Editorial #215: Wasting Your Money?

Autism Politico noticed an article out there which suggested that

“Early intervention starting with children as young as age 2 can be effective in heading off some of the problems of autism.”

Hmm. Autism Politico wonders how much money people could save if they did a little research into how to work with their own autistic children.

“Barnhill, professor at University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said one example of intervention involves encouraging young children with autism to make eye contact. Positive reinforcement could include praise, a favorite toy or whatever else works.”

Autism Politico wonders if the people advocating this therapy every asked autistics how they feel about it. Autism Politico wonders if you could train NTs NOT to make eye contact through petty ploys like cheap, meaningless, insincere praise and toys.

Circulate within the autism community and you will discover that some autistics find eye contact painful, and it increases their feelings of aggression. Giving them praise for making eye contact causes some of them to feel resentment, and holding them hostage to their own toys breeds hate. Aside from that, bribery seldom works when the payoff is aversive. Psychologically speaking, for some its like associating punishment with a loved object.

But none of us on the Autism Politico staff are psychologists, only autistics, and so we don’t know what we are talking about when we offer the opinion that this method of theray is akin to potty training. See your psychologist or other medical professional for advice…or brainwashing.

Replies to this editorial are welcome.