[BensMom]

Jumping in from Nov ddc... I don't know if any of you have children with autism, but I thought I'd pass this along just in case:

If any of you are interested in the subject of autism, there's going to be a special on CNN tomorrow (I forgot what time - 4 ish?). It's about a girl with autism who, as an adult tested a genius I.Q. score. With help, she carries on perfectly normal conversations. They're trying to show that just becuase you have autism doesn't mean you're stupid. It just means part of your brain is locked away making you appear so to people who don't understand. I think it'll be facinating! The commercial gave me goose bumps. They're making so many advances in medicine today. I hope one day autism will be either just another treatable childhood disease or a thing of the past all together!

[BensMom]

Found it!

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/presents/index.html

Airs at 3, 8, and 11 EST.

[LuckyGirlx4]

Thanks, i'll try and check it out.
I have 2 nophews (brothers) with autism, and I know first hand that they are not stupid- I actually didn't that there was a stigma like that about it.

[outnumbered]

Hi.

Yes, my son has autism, diagnosed August 9th, 2001. I was about to introduce myself when I saw this post.

Hunter just finished Kindergarten...he is 7 years old. His delay in this accomplishment isn't because he lacks the academic skills, it's completely the opposite. We held him back because he's delayed in communication and social interaction. Toward the end of this school year, his teacher was asking him to read books to his class...the books she would have read herself, he could do with very little help. He is a very smart boy, but his condition has hurt him in other ways, and that is why he isn't in the 1st grade...and even then he'd probably be above that. We feared regression for all that we've accomplished since he stopped talking at 15 months if we put him in Kindergarten last year when he was still having difficulties being around his peers and lacking the skill to even tell someone if he's hurt (or if someone hurt him). I am so glad we waited a year. Now he's ready for 1st grade!

Kids with autism are most definately NOT stupid. People can be cruel, and if they see someone showing stimulating behavior, like my son, and doing things you know a "normal" child should be doing, it's very easy to come to that kind of conclusion.

Thanks for showing an interest in that program, even when it seems you, smithcp, don't have any association with it. That means a lot.