ABC Press Release: A COUPLE LEARNS THEIR THREE BABIES ARE ALL AUTISTIC

[JoshP]

"PRIMETIME THURSDAY" airs APRIL 22 (10:00-11:00PM E.T.) on the ABC Television Network.

A COUPLE LEARNS THEIR THREE BABIES ARE ALL AUTISTIC, INSPIRING A DESPERATE JOURNEY TO HELP SAVE THE BOYS FROM LIVES
OF COMPLETE ISOLATION

Marc and Sophia Augier were overjoyed when their dream of a big family quickly became a reality with the birth of son Marcel and, little more than a year later, twin boys Christophe and Henri. Yet that dream turned into a nightmare when they found out that, incredibly, all three babies suffered from autism.

This mysterious and complex developmental brain disorder -- which affects, by some estimates, as many as one in 166 children -- has no known cause or cure.

Elizabeth Vargas reports that the Augiers decided to devote their lives and their savings to pursue a cutting-edge -- and sometimes controversial -- therapy for their sons in an effort to prevent them from slipping away forever into a world of utter isolation.


The Augiers discovered that a nearby hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, was starting a center for autistic children. With the clinic's help, they turned their basement into an intensive therapy facility for their children and hired a team of dedicated therapists. Using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a form of behavioral modification which involves constant repetition, reinforcement and praise for success, the therapists were able to help the boys re-learn much of what they had lost, and dramatically improve their ability to communicate.

But this level of intensive care is expensive, and with Marc jobless and insurance and the government unwilling to pay for it, the Augiers were forced to exhaust their life savings. They tell Vargas about their dramatic journey, and the desperate fight to now get the local school district to pay for their children's therapy. Anything less, they fear, will mean losing their boys all over again.

[Lucas]

Doesn't it state how old these 'babies' are? If they are just babies, it's a little early to start brainwashing them with ABA.

[JoshP]

I was just sent the press release and pasted it as is...so I'm not positive how old they are. But, I'm assuming you're not a supporter of ABA?

[Lucas]

You are using mediocre terms, but yes I do not support ABA.

[mrphillip]

I watched the program last night and I believe that the oldest boy is seven(7) and his twin brothers are five (5). I do not have any kids of my own, but have been a case manager for about 10years, a direct service provider for over 20 years. I became very intrigued with autism and the spectrum disorders associated with it. Several parents in my area tried ABA, some of the kids showed "real" progress, while others did not. The program last night stated that only 35% of the individuals show progress in ABA, which is not too uncommon a percentage in any other form of autism therapy or treatment models. I have been fortunate enough to work with with many individuals diagnosed with autism, and not one of them had the same exact treatment plan.

I did speak with a lady at a conference one day, who explained what I feel is the best way to provide services, treatments and therapy to individuals with the autism diagnosis. Very simply she said, "You try everything. You keep what works, and get rid of everything that doesn't, it's just that simple." The lady that I am refering too is Temple Grandin.

I have seen many people disagree with treatments just because it did not work with their child or family member, but that doesn't mean it won't work with the next individual that comes along. The most important thing I can do for families is to give them all of the information about all of the treatments, therapies and what have you and let them make the decision.

Until someone finds the reason for autism, no one can say that this therapy or that treatment is good or bad. If it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't.

[AutMom]

[QUOTE=mrphillip]I did speak with a lady at a conference one day, who explained what I feel is the best way to provide services, treatments and therapy to individuals with the autism diagnosis. Very simply she said, "You try everything. You keep what works, and get rid of everything that doesn't, it's just that simple." The lady that I am refering too is Temple Grandin.
.[/QUOTE]
Great quote! I have also used this wisdom for team members, agencies, etc. along the way. Keep the ones who are helpful. Lose the ones who are in the way.;)

[Lucas]

I disagree with ABA on ethical grounds, not because it doesn't work. But that depends on what you mean by wether or not it 'works'.

I don't like to scaremonger either, for the plain simple fact that people accuse me of being a scaremonger. This usually happens when a parent pulls their children out of ABA because I inform them that before it was called ABA, it was used by Dr Lovaas to treat Homosexual teenagers for their 'defective behaviour' back when it was in the DSM.

I'm scaremongering, aren't I?

[mrphillip]

I'm scaremongering, aren't I?

No I don't think your being a scaremonger, I think you are presenting ABA as what you see it to be. When giving information to parents, it's not all positive as I think they should no both sides or it wouldn't be an informed decision.

What determines "if it works"? If it successfully addresses target delays of the individuals disability. For example, if an individual goes from completely non-verbal to using appropriate communication to address needs. This was one of the behavior changes that was addressed with the boys on the ABC program. I have also seen it work with individuals around the same age in my community. I have also seen it not work.

[Julie]

[QUOTE=mrphillip]No I don't think your being a scaremonger, I think you are presenting ABA as what you see it to be. When giving information to parents, it's not all positive as I think they should no both sides or it wouldn't be an informed decision.

What determines "if it works"? If it successfully addresses target delays of the individuals disability. For example, if an individual goes from completely non-verbal to using appropriate communication to address needs. This was one of the behavior changes that was addressed with the boys on the ABC program. I have also seen it work with individuals around the same age in my community. I have also seen it not work.[/QUOTE]

Any behavioural modification will "work". Does it make it effective in the long run? Not for me it didn't. Sure, I am completely normal seeming on the outside...no one would ever guess I'm autistic. However, the breakdowns and meltdowns I had when I started realizing that simply "changing my behaviour" wasn't working on it's own. I needed to relieve the discomfort and find solutions to me medical problems first...medical problems that were ignored by ABA professionals (said I was being manipulative and such) and almost killed me when I was 23.

Regardless, I wish these parents all the best in their endeavours. I'm sure their hearts are in the right place, but I hope they don't end up doing more damage to these boys.

There are worse things out there than autism that these children can have! (Trust me on that one...) And remember, feelings of isolation can come on when a person's needs are being ignored and he is being "forced" to behave as others want him to through these radical methods. It does not do anyone's self esteem any good and those boys could be doomed to feeling like absolute crap and absolutely rejected for the rest of their lives because of it.

I'm not being a scaremonger, just an autistic person who's been there and has seen the damage it's done to others who have "been there". To this day, none of the people I was in ABA with are still alive. They either killed themselves because they felt worthless because they just couldn't keep up the act anymore or died from other causes (one guy drowned himself...it's questionable as to how and why).

Not all therapies work for all people, but I do not believe that ABA is ethical either. I will never support it because autism is neurological and those problems will always be there no matter how much one modifies another's behaviour.

(Sorry for sounding negative, but ABA is a real sore spot for me...I still have nightmares about it)

Julie

[salspop]

What other therapies are out there for these kids? I know my 5 year old grandson recieves some ABA at his school.His teachers know that our family pays close attention
to the things he goes through. As far as I can tell at this stage in his life,he is a very happy,loving and very loved little boy.What kind of behaviours should we look for. This
is the only way for us to see due to him being non-verbal.

Bill