Episode 4: Segregate the Charlatans. What's in a degree?

Segregation

• Filling the void (Elizabeth Floyd Mair/The Times Union/Feb. 13)
• "Twin", written by Allen Shawn, is a memoir of his growing up without his twin sister, Mary, who was institutionalized at 8 because of her diagnosis of autism and mental retardation.  This occurred in the 1950's, but segregation is still reflected in modern approaches.  Institutions have been replaced by agencies, but the goals remain the same.
• Allen Shawn has anxiety issues, which is common among family members of individuals with autism spectrum disorders
• "The deeper truth is that we are all very odd. We're odd beings, each odd in our own way."
  
• Mum starts Hume's first autism support group (Hume Leader/Kate Swan/Feb 12)
• Susie Ball started a support group simply because she "felt lonely".
• Her son's behavior made her feel like an outcast, but parents who understand those behaviors remind her of her normality and the normality of her son.
• Picture shows Susie Ball playing Wii with her son, a normal routine for any modern-day family
• iPads provide needed tool for autistic students (Stamford Advocate.com/Maggie Gordon/Feb. 8)
• Typical technology is invaluable for nontypical students
• iPads and smart-phones can normalize otherwise odd technological assists like bulky communication devices.
• Donate to RenaissanceInstitute.org and help us develop applications specially designed for individuals with autism.
• Autism Awareness Month: Playgroup offers a social outlet (News Review Messenger/Tim Williams/May 12)
• Allison Dix created a play group for her children with autism spectrum disorders
• Mrs. Dix reported that her twins with autism have shown improvement in their behaviors since regularly interacting with others in play.
• Perhaps more importantly, the children show improved confidence, which can translate into motivation for tackling challenges for the rest of their lives.  This is the true value of social competence.

Parents may not have degrees, but nobody knows what their children need more than mothers and fathers.  Professionals exist to hone that knowledge and motivation and learn how to apply it to a wider population.  Many families do not have the knowledge, time, social support, or financial ability to take on such a task as creating the supports that their child needs, so professionals are here to do so on their behalf.  There's no expert like a parents, but many so-called doctors consider themselves infallible.  Doctors have not changed their tactic since the day Allen Shawn said goodbye to his twin sister before she was swept off to an institution.  Doctors often seek to create bubbles in which they can control all variables, but this is the opposite course they need to take.  The real world is nothing like a laboratory and true professionals try to apply ABA to real world situations because the only other option is segregation and is unethical.  A degree is only a piece of paper and is worthless compared to the love of a family member.  But, some charlatans take the arbitrariness of academia to the next level...

Charlatans

• Lawmakers push for harsher penalties for phony autism therapists (NORWALK/The Hour Online/By Danielle Capalbo/ Feb. 14)
• "A group of bipartisan lawmakers has proposed a bill that would ratchet up the penalty for people who misrepresent their credentials to work with special needs children. ... The law would currently punish that fraud with misdemeanor charges for impersonation, Cafero said. The proposed bill, however, would amplify the penalty to carry up to five years in prison and up to $500 in fines for each session or consultation."
  
• This news story and bill focus on the case of Stacy Lore, who created Spectrum Kids, LLC under the guise of being a professional ABA practitioner, but who only had her GED.

Does a degree matter that much when even the highest level service-specialists make fundamental errors and even abuse the consumers of their services?  Egregious examples of fraud may distract from deeper problems in treatment for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.  Though Stacy Lore had no right to waste the time, energy, and money of those whom she cheated, does a piece of paper with their name on it give doctors the right to do the same?  It's been my experience that some of these doctors are even more dangerous because they feel that their degrees validate their neglect, incompetence, or other form of abuse.