Re: The Autism Project, Nov. 19
Pamelas Buttons story is at once about the resilience of the human spirit and the appalling obstacles put in its path. The fact that she was autistic makes both of these the more remarkable.
The attempt to zap her into compliant normalcy through electroconvulsive treatment when she was 15 when she could not legally refuse it is symptomatic of a time and approach when do no harm meant much less than do anything to ensure normalcy.
According to Pamela Button, the sheltered workshop that opened up when she was 16 saved her from a lifetime in an institution. How many others did not find such a place, but lived and died in bleak, isolated, cheerless places, their spirits broken, their voices silenced, and their stories untold?
Julia Schneider, Stratford
Your recent article about moms sometimes having symptoms of autism that affected their relationship with their autistic children. I worry that the impression left is that moms could be at fault for not demonstrating enough love.
As a retired teacher of children with autism I can say that most parents were very loving and physically demonstrative, but their children were often limited in their ability to return the affection.
Jim Jackson, Oshawa
Thank you for shining a spotlight on this crisis. My husband and I have an adult son who requires daily support. After 21 years of care and love, we are burned out. Our responsibilities are life-long and will continue beyond our own graves. We need others to help take over.
It is heart-wrenching to realize you cant provide for your developmentally delayed child any more, but then to face the reality that residential placements are not available is a cruel twist.
More here:
Autism: resilience of the human spirit