Media Watch
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 NY Times story "Trying Anything and Everything for Autism"
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Source http://www.nytimes.com/.../20brod.html?_r=1&ref=science
Jane Brody’s “Trying Anything and Everything for Autism” accurately described behavioral intervention as an effective autism treatment while outlining a family’s struggle with repeated attempts at dangerous and unproven “bio-medical” interventions to address their child’s autism...
Parents Press States for Autism Insurance Laws
Friday, December 19, 2008
Source http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27276558/
The article, “Parents Press States for Autism Insurance Laws,” quotes me as saying that the evidence for applied behavior analysis (ABA) after the age of 6 or 7 years is “sparse.” Actually, I said there are many studies showing that ABA is effective for children for autism at all ages...
ASAT Responds to Recent ABC News Ten Myths About Autism
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Source http://abcnews.go.com/.../story?id=6089162&page=1
In general, this article corrected many misconceptions related to the condition of autism; however, the information about autism treatment was scant...
ASAT Responds to NY Times story "Reaching an Autistic Teenager"
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Source http://www.nytimes.com/.../19Autism-t.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
The information presented in the article is both incomplete and inaccurate in light of published empirical data on autism treatment effectiveness...
ASAT Responds to PETA Billboard
Monday, October 13, 2008
While we appreciate your efforts to educate the public, it is important to point out there are no peer-reviewed studies showing that dairy consumption has any role in causing autism...
NIMH Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) 2008 RFI
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Though not an easy or inexpensive approach, and certainly not a cure for autism, ABA deserves better review and accurate representation. Also noteworthy is that ABA has been shown to increase independence...
Leesburg Today
Monday, August 11, 2008
Source http://www.leesburg2day.com/.../fp456autismsummit073008.txt
Though not an easy or inexpensive approach, and certainly not a cure for autism, ABA has been shown to offer a cost savings over a lifetime of care...
Oregon Health Commission
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
In reviewing the Commission’s draft report on “Effective Autism Treatments for ASD”, we find incomplete and inaccurate information on the current state of our field...
NEW AAP REPORTS HELP PEDIATRICIANS IDENTIFY AND MANAGE AUTISM EARLIER
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Source http://www.aap.org/.../oct07autism.htm
It is encouraging to see the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend early screening for autism in all children, given some may be later diagnosed with the disorder. The science is clear th...
ABC Drama Takes on Science and Parents
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Source http://www.nytimes.com/.../23ston.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=abc+drama+takes+on&st=nyt&oref= l ogin
I am writing to express my grave concern about the upcoming "Eli Stone" drama. You may be unaware that a large majority of medical health professionals, including organizations such as the Center...
