NEWS FROM AUTISM CYMRU AND AUTISM SPEAKS
Autism Research Centre in Wales “a world-class initiative”
9 November 2007
In a ground-breaking move that underpins the nation’s already innovative approach to autism service development, plans are today announced for the creation of an Autism Research Centre in Wales.
The centrepiece of the proposal is a new Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders based in Cardiff University’s School of Psychology which Lord Kinnock, President of the University, describes as “[demonstrating] a research and operational model for other countries to follow”.
The Centre will be a key component in the development of a Welsh national strategy for helping those with autism. Wales is the first European nation to commit to a ‘wholenation’ model for delivering high-quality services and research into the brain disorder which is now thought to affect up to one in 100 people.
The establishment of the new Professorship was initiated by the Welsh national charity Autism Cymru, in partnership with the leading UK research charity Autism Speaks, and has been endorsed by the Welsh Government and Cardiff University which are both giving it financial backing.
Autism Cymru and Autism Speaks are now seeking further financial support with the aim of announcing the first holder of the Chair in 2008.
News of the proposed new Centre and Chair was given at the first ever conference dedicated to research into the causes of autism to take place in Wales.
In a message to delegates, Lord Kinnock also said that the new Chair would “further emphasise the pioneering comprehensive approach to autism taken within Wales by Government”.
Ms Jane Hutt, the Welsh Government Minister for Children, welcoming the creation of the new Chair, said, “This project is a world-class initiative which will help place Wales firmly on the world autism map.”
Hugh Morgan, Chief Executive of Autism Cymru, said: “So far we have made good progress towards achieving the £750k needed to make the first appointment to the new Chair in time for the new academic year in 2008. This is an enormously exciting and highprofile development for Wales and we would be pleased to talk to any organisations or individuals wishing to contribute and become a key part of a major Welsh initiative having international significance.”
Professor Dylan Jones, Head of Cardiff’s School of Psychology, welcomed the development as part of the strategy of sustaining the School’s leading research position in the UK:
“We are very excited by the prospect of the appointment of a Chair in an area of research that complements our interests in human development and that can draw upon our worldleading facilities for brain research. It is very much a partnership of equals with Autism Cymru and Autism Speaks; we are all passionately interested in seeking a breakthrough in autism research.”
Notes to Editor
(1) Press enquiries on 9 November to Liz Roberts, Autism Speaks, 07745 80 20 30 or media@autismspeaks.org.uk.
(2) Thereafter to Liz Roberts or Hugh Morgan, Autism Cymru. Hugh may be contacted on hugh@autismcymru.org or 01970 62 52 56.
(3) Both Autism Cymru and Autism Speaks will endeavour to locate life stories of those affected by autism to complement the news of this new academic appointment should Editors require.
Note/Warning:
Autistic people have fought the inclusion of ABA in therapy for us since before Autism Speaks, and other non-Autistic-led autism organizations, started lobbying legislation to get it covered by insurances and Medicaid.
ABA is a myth originally sold to parents that it would keep their Autistic child out of an institution. Today, parents are told that with early intervention therapy their child will either be less Autistic or no longer Autistic by elementary school, and can be mainstreamed in typical education classes. ABA is very expensive to pay out of pocket. Essentially, Autism Speaks has justified the big price tag up front will offset the overall burden on resources for an Autistic’s lifetime. The recommendation for this therapy is 40 hours a week for children and toddlers.
The original study that showed the success rate of ABA to be at 50% has never been replicated. In fact, the study of ABA by United States Department of Defense was denounced as a failure. Not just once, but multiple times. Simply stated: ABA doesn’t work. In study after repeated study: ABA (conversion therapy) doesn’t work.
What more recent studies do show: Autistics who experienced ABA therapy are at high risk to develop PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions. Historically, the autism organizations promoting ABA as a cure or solution have silenced Autistic advocates’ opposition. ABA is also known as gay conversion therapy.
The ‘cure’ for Autistics not born yet is the prevention of birth.
The ‘cure’ is a choice to terminate a pregnancy based on ‘autism risk.’ The cure is abortion. This is the same ‘cure’ society has for Down Syndrome.
This is eugenics 2021. Instead of killing Autistics and disabled children in gas chambers or ‘mercy killings’ like in Aktion T4, it’ll happen at the doctor’s office, quietly, one Autistic baby at a time. Different approaches yes, but still eugenics and the extinction of an entire minority group of people.
Fact: You can’t cure Autistics from being Autistic.
Fact: You can’t recover an Autistic from being Autistic.
Fact: You can groom an Autistic to mask and hide their traits. Somewhat. … however, this comes at the expense of the Autistic child, promotes Autistic Burnout (this should not be confused with typical burnout, Autistic Burnout can kill Autistics), and places the Autistic child at high risk for PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions.
[Note: Autism is NOT a disease, but a neurodevelopmental difference and disability.]
Fact: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.
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One response to “Archived | UK: News From Autism Cymru And Autism Speaks | Circa November 9, 2007 #NotAnAutisticAlly”
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