tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post9132044244867392950..comments2024-03-14T18:26:18.208-07:00Comments on autism's gadfly: Zakhqurey Price:More inconsistencies from Ari Ne'eman?jonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972394536850151087noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-71344608892276239062010-01-17T14:50:51.314-08:002010-01-17T14:50:51.314-08:00Zakh's mother is both autistic and mentally re...Zakh's mother is both autistic and mentally retarded, and so Zakh is in the custody of his grandmother. <br /><br />http://www.thezakhappeal.com is the website Carole Reynolds is maintaining with the latest updates on Zakh's case. <br /><br />And to one of anonymous commenters (not sure which one, but the one who was wondering whether Zakh really has autism), not all those who have autism behave in the same way, even within the same family. I think all of us can agree on that - everyone with autism is different, and in more ways than just one. <br /><br />Also, his grandmother has the documentation of the diagnosis of autism, even though the school is refusing to acknowledge this fact.<br /><br />(Thanks for posting my last comment.)Ylanne Sorrowshttp://www.sorrows.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-83288466512412297992010-01-16T17:46:14.791-08:002010-01-16T17:46:14.791-08:00Funny thing about these neurodiversity folks....
...Funny thing about these neurodiversity folks....<br /><br />There was a report out on KFSM by Darren Bob who did a little investigative reporting into the Zakh Price story, but the neurodiversity people didn't like the report so they spammed the website. <br /><br />The report was taken down and the neurodivesity folks are claiming victory. <br /><br />But all anyone needs to do to get the whole story is send a letter of inquiry to the station or to the reporter who will spill the beans. <br /><br />I think the ND folks might wind up feeling pretty ashamed. <br /><br />Especially if the story winds up getting re-posted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-85018366653251870802010-01-16T17:09:53.908-08:002010-01-16T17:09:53.908-08:00Kagan Raylynn Price was just a sweetheart. people...Kagan Raylynn Price was just a sweetheart. people was sad when she died that October. they took those kids away and didn't even put them with any other family members, so maybe the whole bunch of them had something wrong. (the family, not the kids.)<br /><br />I don't know what the cause of death turned out to be, but I guess the kids got back home after a while so it must have come out alright. but then kids don't just act like nuts for no reason either, and Zakh had a history of causing trouble in that school.<br /><br />his brothers who has autism didn't act out at school, so maybe either Zakh don't have it or else his is worse, in which case, what is he doing in school anyway? don't his mamma have enough sense to put himin one of those special schools? <br /><br />I wonder where his mom is anyway. it's his grandma we keep hearing about. maybe DHS ought to take another look at the whole thing and sort out this mess.<br /><br />The DA was right to charge him if it comes to pass that Zakh winds up in a better home and also gets the charges dropped.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-1065400581343929032010-01-16T16:43:38.391-08:002010-01-16T16:43:38.391-08:00It is hard to know what to do. On the one hand, I ...It is hard to know what to do. On the one hand, I care for Zakh. But on the other, he was taken from his home with the rest of the kids after his sister's death and sent to foster care. What was that all about?<br /><br />They treated him bad in school. that much I get. But I wonder if he doesn't need some help all around and not just at school.<br /><br />Ne'eman seems to be using this story to clinch his nomination for the national Council on Disability, but what kind of appointee will he make if he does not do more checking of the facts of all this and tell everyone all about them. Does anyone know what Zakh's sister died of for instance?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-23566014626493341892010-01-15T16:09:41.547-08:002010-01-15T16:09:41.547-08:00Hi, Ylanne Sorrows here. I'm a woman with Aspe...Hi, Ylanne Sorrows here. I'm a woman with Asperger's, and a neurodiversity advocate. But I'm not here to defend neurodiversity or Ari Ne'eman. (Surprised? Making assumptions goes in both directions...)<br /><br />Quite frankly, I think that you're missing the point. The point is not whether neurodiversity is a good thing or a bad thing, and it is not whether Ari Ne'eman is a good person or a bad person. The point is not whether Zakh Price is another Gary McKinnon. <br /><br />The point is that Zakh's school refused to implement an IEP, blatantly ignored his grandmother's efforts to educate the teachers on Zakh's behavioral problems, and when he had a meltdown, they did everything you shouldn't do when an autistic kid has a meltdown. So he kicked a teacher. <br /><br />If he were a non-autistic kid, I think the answer is obvious: give him detention for a week, suspend him for a few days. Criminal charges is pushing it. Kicking a teacher who has grabbed you is not the same thing as choosing a random victim and beating him/her senseless. Now <i>that</i> would be worthy of felony assault charges. <br /><br />But in fact, a crime was not committed. If anyone committed a crime, it was the school administrators in refusing to recognize that as a child with autism, Zakh needed behavioral interventions. Whether or not you support neurodiversity, we all know that in many cases of autism, students do need behavioral intervention and therapy! We all know that our children need to have IEPs and other supports in place. It doesn't matter what we think about ND or a cure, but the reality of autism is the same. <br /><br />The infighting among the autism community needs to stop. We need to recognize that the Fort Smith School District is trying to ignore Zakh's autism and the challenges of his problems by charging him as a criminal. To me, this is idiocy at its best. This issue is NOT about ND. It's about an autistic boy whose rights are being abused at the behest of a broken system. <br /><br />Blessings and peace,<br />Ylanne <br /><br />(P.S. If you post this comment, thanks for posting!)Ylanne S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15260021956215537586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-70123410339671642202010-01-09T07:03:20.687-08:002010-01-09T07:03:20.687-08:00"a couple dollars from a couple thousand PEOP..."a couple dollars from a couple thousand PEOPLE" --makes more sense.<br /><br />Thanks for posting my comment, Jonathan.Kim Wombleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492455180502821052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-72243150042861170262010-01-08T18:41:15.699-08:002010-01-08T18:41:15.699-08:00Doherty, it isn't a cheap shot to say that Mit...Doherty, it isn't a cheap shot to say that Mitchell screwed the pooch on this one. The appropriate focus would have been to express concern for Zakh Price. Each of you has the opportunity to show that your concern is for autistic individuals in dire need of help.<br /><br />The grandmother has found representation for Zakh, but she needs to raise $5000 to pay for the lawyer. We've set up a chip-in at http://zakhs.blogspot.com/. Show your support. Do something. A couple dollars from a couple thousand dollars and this young man will have legal representation.Kim Wombleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492455180502821052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-70644984741054987392010-01-08T14:58:19.909-08:002010-01-08T14:58:19.909-08:00"I can think of several "ND ideologues&q..."I can think of several "ND ideologues" that think quite the opposite.<br /><br />And there's more documentary proof of that than supports the average FAINB or AG post."<br /><br />Maybe that's because nobody cares about an incident that happened to a minor that did not happen anywhere near where you live? <br /><br />The only people who would be bothered by this incident is anyone affected on the autistic spectrum that impairs them enough to want to emphasize with an 11-year-old who's affected with an ASD LIKE THEM. What's funny, though, is that I've been told in the past by others on the spectrum to not compare myself despite them being a part of Neurodiversity, yet deep down they compare themselves to an 11-year-old boy who shouldn't have as big of an impact as 9/11.<br /><br />So what about other ASD individuals who are on my side besides Stephanie's, Jonathan's, Jake's, etc. who do not publish "documentary proof"? Perhaps no one else with common sense would want to waste time with you, yet you should be grateful we're taking some time from our lives to support you by making you realize the reality of why you are considered handicapped! <br /><br />And what the heck is FAINB? Do you expect everyone who posts here to know what that is in the same sense everyone should know what NBC, ABC and CNN are? Oh wait! You don't live in the U.S. so you may not know what those abbreviations stand for, but my point is that someone like you would yell at your Mom if she asked you, "What's FAINB?" and respond that you're the one with the bigger brain and what a stupid NT she is!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-13726338876149494832010-01-08T13:53:52.075-08:002010-01-08T13:53:52.075-08:00I can think of several "ND ideologues" t...I can think of several "ND ideologues" that think quite the opposite.<br /><br />And there's more documentary proof of that than supports the average FAINB or AG post.<br /><br />And finally in response to 2nd comment:<br /><br />I've not seen any statement from any of the staff to support the idea of him actually causing any injury.Socrateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12525104555859213125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-2050937407628190882010-01-08T11:36:16.502-08:002010-01-08T11:36:16.502-08:00Stephanie
ND ideologues also shun and reject you ...Stephanie<br /><br />ND ideologues also shun and reject you because you do not follow the ND Ideology party line. <br /><br />HaroldAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838571980003579163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-53574222114508735102010-01-08T10:38:35.394-08:002010-01-08T10:38:35.394-08:00"No, I did not know those facts about yoursel..."No, I did not know those facts about yourself. But your particular condition is irrelevant as to whether or not children should be encouraged to think that they can become successful in life and achieve great things."<br /><br />This is very typical of "Neurodiversity:" completely forgetting that there are people with ASDs that are actually *gasp* disabled!<br /><br />"I am sorry that your life, as you describe it, sucks. The world is, unfortunately, filled with lonely unemployed people living off a meager government check."<br /><br />Yes, and many of them have an ASD, whether or not you choose to accecpt this reality.<br /><br />"But it will never be made better by believing that the same society that isolates you and treats you as an affliction has, in any way, your best interests at heart."<br /><br />Neurodiversity has done nothing for me but reject and shun me because I am actually disabled.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540927559726674184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-89112667342900496372010-01-08T04:40:40.799-08:002010-01-08T04:40:40.799-08:00Is the punishment too harsh or is it necessary to ...Is the punishment too harsh or is it necessary to protect the other children. What has happened to push that school to the point of placing a felony charge against that child. This was not the first incident.<br /><br />What happened in that classroom?? Is it not societies job to protect the innocent from voilence?? What gives those with ASD the right to be violent??<br /><br />You assume it's the school's fault. You claim it can't be the child's fault. ND's, those like Stephanie and Jonathon all know the difference btwn right and wrong. It's taught at home first. As the book I am reading says "The 11th Commandment is - Take responsibility for your actions". Again you don't think the guy who hacked into the US security sites needs to be tried either, he doesn't know right from wrong... Sounds like an excuse to me b/c my barely verbal 8yr old certainly knows when he's in the wrong.<br /><br />That child needs mental health help. He needs to learn to control his own head, his own thoughts and take responsibility for his behaviour. He isn't a child, he's 11. Contrary to whatever ND's think.. and Kristina wrote yesterday... It's not OK to have to patch holes in your house... It's not OK to create Skye Walkers.farmwifetwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02680758336779501712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-49319448900725988982010-01-08T03:38:03.153-08:002010-01-08T03:38:03.153-08:00Jonathan
I admire your calm integrity in posting...Jonathan <br /><br />I admire your calm integrity in posting the cheap personal shots from Elaine, KWombles and Socrates.<br /><br />Harold DohertyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838571980003579163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-75006742390419556442010-01-07T20:30:24.750-08:002010-01-07T20:30:24.750-08:00Stephanie,
No, I did not know those facts about y...Stephanie,<br /><br />No, I did not know those facts about yourself. But your particular condition is irrelevant as to whether or not children should be encouraged to think that they can become successful in life and achieve great things.<br /><br /> I am sorry that your life, as you describe it, sucks. The world is, unfortunately, filled with lonely unemployed people living off a meager government check. Some even have an unpublished and unpublishable novel stuck in a drawer somewhere. Most of them are not on the autistic spectrum. Those people no more represent the potential of NTs than do your unfortunate set of circumstances represent the potential of the autistic.<br /><br /> As to your question as to why autistics, when they succeed, always do so BECAUSE of their autism. I neither know nor have claimed this to be the case. Only that it is the case with regard to myself. And this is because my Aspergerian nature is the core essence of who I am. To a certain extent blackness or whiteness is a social construction. You are free to embrace or reject it as a personal identity as much as you wish or are socially allowed to. To that end, an author's perceived and self-perceived racial self-image may play a crucial role in whether he or she succeeds or fails as a writer. Or it may play no role whatsoever. On the other hand, how one thinks and processes information is never not relevant.<br /><br /> Every group that has bettered its position in this society has done so by rejecting the labels of inferiority or dysfunction put upon them by those in power: blacks in the 1950s and 60s, women in the 60s and 70s, homosexuals from the 60s onward. And in every instance there have been those in the community who have bought into the lies about themselves: that they weren't as good as white people, that they weren't deserving of equal pay for equal work, that they needed to be cured of their monstrous affliction by psychiatric intervention.<br /><br /> Again, I am sorry you have a crappy life. But it will never be made better by believing that the same society that isolates you and treats you as an affliction has, in any way, your best interests at heart.Walternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-55369253737404485002010-01-07T19:21:01.291-08:002010-01-07T19:21:01.291-08:00Anyone impaired with an ASD would know the punishm...Anyone impaired with an ASD would know the punishment was far too harsh. Whoopie doo for Ari! <br /><br />I'd love to see him try harder without anyone supporting him.<br /><br />What did ND proponents expect the teachers to do? "Oh, don't worry little boy. Just calm down and everything will be ok! We're not gonna touch you if you cooperate with us since we know you dislike being touched without warning." ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-30507797019372877022010-01-07T17:39:26.379-08:002010-01-07T17:39:26.379-08:00Walter,
I don't know if you realize this but ...Walter,<br /><br />I don't know if you realize this but I am an adult with high-functioning autism. I live off SSI, am unemployed, have no friends, spent time in institutions, etc. etc. etc. <br /><br />I get it: there are successful people in every "group." But you have to face the fact that most people are not going to be that way.<br /><br />And why is it people with ASDs are always successful <i>because</i> of their autism? Are black authors successful because they are black? Are women scientists successful because they are women? <br /><br />It just makes me angry to see some people distort reality with a few very high-functioning people and not the majority of people with ASDs.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540927559726674184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-85449156293117677952010-01-07T16:44:52.804-08:002010-01-07T16:44:52.804-08:00Harry (Socrates): The autism hub in general and t...Harry (Socrates): The autism hub in general and the new republic in particular are propaganda and hate mongering parties.jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972394536850151087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-73665526764956559792010-01-07T14:28:45.122-08:002010-01-07T14:28:45.122-08:00"What exactly DOES the ND movement say? I hea..."What exactly DOES the ND movement say? I hear so many different opinions and so many different philosophies from so many different people that I'm not even really sure what it is. And it is a pity that more than 80% of people with ASDs (high-functioning) do not have jobs, most likely because they are unemployable, not because they are being discriminated against. It is equally dangerous to give people false hope and have them believe that they can be as successful as the handful of successful autistic people when in reality they never will be."<br /><br /><br />Why, yes, of course. Telling children about people who are like them who have become successful is misleading. It's so cruel. Most black children are not going to become critically acclaimed authors when they grow up. Why get their hopes up? Most girls will not grow up to make an important contribution to science. What's the point of letting them know that any woman has ever done that? Why inspire anyone to anything?<br /><br /> And, quite frankly, it's clear to me by my life experiences that NTs, including those who specialize in the field of autism, haven't got clue one as to how those on the spectrum actually think, much less have any capacity to predict which five year old headbanger is destined for unemployment and which one is on his way to working for NASA. <br /><br /> Our brains are wired for introspection and systemic thinking and we process information in a completely different manner. This allows some of us to master our particular fields in ways beyond that of the NT. Of course to do this, these skills need to be recognized, valued, and nurtured. I, and those like me, found success because we were not written off at four or five because some bogus statistic says 80% of us will somehow end up unemployable.Walternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-15119455015596278332010-01-07T14:19:33.089-08:002010-01-07T14:19:33.089-08:00Elaine, I'd like to give you a big, big (((((h...Elaine, I'd like to give you a big, big (((((hug))))).<br /><br />We've all made genuine and heartfelt overtures to Mitchell in the hope that we can show him the brighter side of life, which he stubbornly refuses to acknowledge.<br /><br />This place is a pity party.Socrateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12525104555859213125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-19709432964535390102010-01-07T12:29:01.668-08:002010-01-07T12:29:01.668-08:00It sounds to me like you are bitter and twisted , ...It sounds to me like you are bitter and twisted , more concerned with scoring points against Ari who you obviously dislike for disagreeing with you, than with knowing the whole story of the injustice done to Zak. I am a teacher in England where its illegal to restrain any child . I am appalled that so few people comment on the behaviour of the teachers which was innapropriate and unprofessional . If they had responded to Zak differently , this whole fiasco could have been avoided. Not only then , but since then the non autistic powers that be [school district , judge etc ] have behaved badly and even illegally , withholding information ,and doing allsorts to make Zaks distress worse . Get your priorities right ! There are more important things at stake that your own personal battle with another man!Elaine van Zonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823740776449386190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-66782805529440290952010-01-07T07:41:20.840-08:002010-01-07T07:41:20.840-08:00"And what exactly is this endless pity party ..."And what exactly is this endless pity party offer up that is preferable to what the ND movement has to say?"<br /><br />What exactly DOES the ND movement say? I hear so many different opinions and so many different philosophies from so many different people that I'm not even really sure what it is. And it is a pity that more than 80% of people with ASDs (high-functioning) do not have jobs, most likely because they are unemployable, not because they are being discriminated against. It is equally dangerous to give people false hope and have them believe that they can be as successful as the handful of successful autistic people when in reality they never will be.<br /><br />"Not all are success stories but those who are (and there are many) owe what they have to the unique set of skills that their state of being has conferred upon them."<br /><br />So what about all of those who AREN'T a "success story," which are the majority of people with an ASD? Is it fair to just have a few people be a success and have the majority be unsuccessful?<br /><br />"That is the message of the ND movement: that autism has benefits as well as drawbacks. Focus on your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses."<br /><br />This is so much more easily said than done. And what about those who truly have no "benefits?"Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12540927559726674184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-85561382582408497582010-01-07T06:06:31.955-08:002010-01-07T06:06:31.955-08:00By the same logic, Ne'eman would have to suppo...By the same logic, Ne'eman would have to support prosecuting Amanda Baggs for fraud.<br /><br />Do you think Ari will start a campaign to ask Vermont and Social Security to cut her off from all the benefits she receives?John Besthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133970669787632440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-59525197610441373942010-01-06T22:35:37.523-08:002010-01-06T22:35:37.523-08:00MJ,
And what exactly is this endless pity party...MJ,<br /><br /> And what exactly is this endless pity party offer up that is preferable to what the ND movement has to say? I've an Aspergerian and I've known plenty on the spectrum. Not all are success stories but those who are (and there are many) owe what they have to the unique set of skills that their state of being has conferred upon them. That is the message of the ND movement: that autism has benefits as well as drawbacks. Focus on your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses. That's what life is about for everyone.Walternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-57574322191264890392010-01-06T18:45:08.782-08:002010-01-06T18:45:08.782-08:00Kent,
If I were hearing new ideas from the ND cro...Kent,<br /><br />If I were hearing new ideas from the ND crowd and Ari Ne'eman in particular, I would rejoice and be first in line to congratulate them. But I all I am hearing and reading is more of the same.<br /><br />All I am seeing is more examples of why they don't represent people with autism and why they don't even have the courage of their own convictions.<br /><br />In my opinion, there are few things worse than being a hypocrite. <br /><br />If this is truly reflection point for Ari Ne'eman, I hope he has the integrity to stand up and admit that he was wrong in the past. But for some reason, I don't think I should hold my breath.M.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12033918835169823548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8353442983052145851.post-34245963067880278112010-01-06T18:07:37.314-08:002010-01-06T18:07:37.314-08:00MJ, what do you do when you are presented with new...MJ, what do you do when you are presented with new information? Do you continue to cling to your old ideas and ignore the new information so as not to appear contradictory, or do you embrace the new knowledge and evolve?Kent Adamsnoreply@blogger.com