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Media Watch Letters
Source Dear Ms. Ziv, We are writing to express our gratitude and commend you for your informative, accurate, and evidence-based reporting on the recent measles outbreak, Andrew Wakefield’s response, and the research that has negated a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. As a journalist, you have a great impact on the public’s…
Source Dear Ms. Lutz: “Do no harm.” The fundamental tenet underlining ethical health care delivery bears tremendous relevance to the newly proposed rules regarding funding for residential and vocational settings for persons with developmental disabilities (DDs) in New Jersey. It is great to see that the State of New Jersey’s Department of Human Services…
Source Dear Mr. Huffman: Bravo! We would like to commend you for your thoughtful and insightful article calling attention to the fact that discredited therapies continue to be used with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With over 400 treatment options available, parents may struggle with identifying the most effective research-supported treatment that leads…
Source Dear Ms. Mehta, We commend your coverage of this crucial topic: the need for adequately trained staff and appropriate crisis management protocols within schools. You deliver a straightforward account of the distressing incident in which a 9-year-old boy with autism was handcuffed by a police officer due to “acting out in the principal’s…
Source Dear Ms. Malcolm and Ms. Dean, I had the pleasure of reading your article, “Horses, scientists and the search for effective autism treatment” (October 22, 2014), and am happy to see that Mr. Isaacson was able to find in horses something that is very motivating for his son, Rowan. For many parents, finding…
Source Dear Ms. Marshall, Thank you for your article entitled “Facing down autism: The unconventional (and somewhat controversial) therapy that’s led to recovery” (Theglobeandmail.com, August 3, 2014). We applaud you for highlighting the difficulties families face when they have a child with autism, and for pointing out that experts emphasize the importance of starting…
Source Dear Ms. Grasswill: I watched “I Am Jack” on Australian Story (October 6, 2014) and read your article, “Hope for autistic teens: How Applied Behaviour Analysis helped Ian Rogerson’s son Jack overturn bleak prognosis,” with great interest. You have done well in capturing the poignant moment when a family learns that their child…
Source Dear Ms. Brenzel, We wish to thank you for your recent article highlighting the New Jersey Department of Education’s recognition of Mr. Mark Mautone as the New Jersey Teacher of the Year for 2014. Your story is important for a number of reasons. Such recognition is often bestowed on general education teachers; therefore,…
Source Dear Ms. Kelly, We applaud you for updating your readers on the uses and application of tablet technology to teach individuals with autism (“Using tablets to reach kids with autism,” April 10, 2014). It is wonderful to see how the use of technology—specifically the use of tablets and the development of a variety…
Source Dear Dr. Gnaulati: We are writing in response to your article, “1 in 68 Children Now Has a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder-Why?” (The Atlantic.com. April 11, 2014). Thank you for reviewing recent research in the field on screening processes, such as the pitch of infant cries and the interest in geometric shapes…
Source Dear Ms. Schlanger: I am writing to extend my appreciation for your story titled, “Autism Therapy in 6-Month Old Babies Eliminates Symptoms in Limited Study” (Newsweek.com, September 9, 2014), and commend you for balancing the potential benefits of a relatively low-cost, low-intensity therapy, and the limited conclusions that can be made given the…