Dear Mr. O’Donoghue,
We applaud you and the Irish Times for your article “French film ban raises autism issue” (February 9, 2012), in which you join thousands of people worldwide who are supporting the denouncement of France’s predominating psychoanalytical ideology and treatment of people with autism. Thank you for shedding further light on this unsubstantiated theory, and for expressing your opinion of what was directly described by the professionals interviewed by Sophie Robert in her documentary The Wall: “nonsense of psychoanalysis in this arena.”
We also share your concerns about the unjust consequences faced by Ms. Robert as a consequence of her courageous act.
Evidence-based practice is transparent and conducive to accountability, as is the underlying research basis that supports it. Indeed, there is no scientific support for the psychoanalytic theory or treatment of autism, and the psychologists interviewed apparently will not even stand by their own words. That is a disgrace!
We commend you for raising a very important point: that this topic is a matter for academic debate, not for the courtrooms. The lawsuits against scientists and journalists who are weighing in on this important matter are trying to silence a discourse that needs to happen between scientists and be made accessible to the larger community freely by the media.
The board of ASAT, in our mission to disseminate science in autism treatment, education, and care, could not agree more.
Daniela Fazzio, Ph.D., BCBA-D
David Celiberti, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
Read More at http://www.irishtimes.com/…/1224311507688.html
