7:41 September 05, 2008 | All news from "Autism"

If you report it...GET IT RIGHT!

This is a rant...has nothing to do with WL or eating healthy and everything to do with being a mom who has worked hard to encourage and empower her Autistic son to be a strong, thoughtful young man.

We usually watch the morning local news in the early morning while we wait for the time to leave for the bus stop. I ran outside to feed one of our outdoor cats and out of nowhere I could hear Jesse yelling for me. I came back in and asked what was wrong and he was outraged by the news.

The story was on Autism and how its still on the rise in our country...nothing new there. It wasn't so much the content as it was they kept referring to Autism as a disease. Jesse was so offended...he knows that its not a disease. He didn't catch Autism..he didn't sleep with someone and catch it..nobody sneezed on him and he came down with it and he knows that sitting next to someone that he can't give it away as much as I think he would love to sometimes.

I know its not the newscaster's fault..they are just a puppet. They read the script and don't think about their words and how ignorant they sound when its not given out right. I am outraged too...how many other kids listen to the morning news or maybe an ignorant parent who might actually believe its a disease that can be caught?

I assured Jesse I would contact WWMT which is our local news and tell them how outraged my 12 yr old Autistic son felt listening to their misinformation...it made him feel like they were saying Autism was an illness when in fact we don't know what causes Autism but in my heart I know Jesse was born with it and it had everything to do with Genetics the same way my Marfans...and his...were caused. I have heard major news networks refer to my connective tissue disorder as a disease...it just makes you want to scream. Your job as a news outlet is to be journalistically responsible to those you are giving information out to...GET IT RIGHT!!

I know it might seem insignificant thing to be upset about...but you didn't see the look on my son's face. It was a look of outrage and hurt.

Okay...I am off to bitch at our local news. Thanks for reading my rant!! I hope you can take it with you and if anyone else refers to Autism as a disease you can set them straight!
--------UPDATED---------

I exchanged a few emails with the News Anchor and all is better. lol

Read on :

Hi Jeff,
I am actually writing not just for me but for my son Jesse who is affected by Autism. At the age of 2 we were told Jesse would never be able to talk or learn and given no direction as to who to turn to for help. I know you don't have children so I will tell you how it felt. It was as if someone or something...a dream...died for me. I was devastated because I had a beautiful little boy who was locked inside himself and at the time they said he was severely autistic. I grieved for about a day and then as a mother I got angry. Angry with the pediatrician for dropping the ball with my son and in my book..gave up and encourage me to accept the dx. I turned to Early On and within 6 mos our son said his first word which was D'Donalds...EVERYTIME we passed a McDonalds. lol From there it snowballed and he began mimicking words and interacting more with speech therapy, weekly OT and twice a week playgroups at Doris Klaussen Center in Battle Creek.

You are probably wondering why I am telling you my son's story? Well, Jesse is now 12 and just entered Middle School as a 6th grader. He is still lagging behind his peers but he is a bright, sensitive and articulate young man with passion about his views from politics to simple things in life. Jesse is no longer considered a severe Autistic...in fact he is high functioning and labeled as having Aspergers. He has worked hard and has gone from a non verbal little boy to a non stop talking and thinking young man who makes anyone smile with his jokes and stories.

Now to the point of my email...Jesse was watching the news cast before he left for the bus this morning at 7am and he heard your story on Autism. I was in another room at the time but my son became very agitated with you...I know its not you personally that writes the scripts and if it is I hope you will listen or pass this on to the right person. Apparently you kept reporting that Autism was a DISEASE...when in fact its a disorder. The difference between disease and disorder are simple. Jesse and the millions of other kids affected by it did not catch Autism. They didn't sit next to someone and have them sneeze on them and catch it, they didn't get a fever and come down with it and they didn't drink from the same water fountain and catch it. A disorder is something that often times is not understood such as Autism but it is firmly believed it has everything to do with the roll of the dice of Genetics. Similar to another disorder that he has which is Marfan Syndrome...which I have heard even major news networks refer to as a disease.

Please if you are going to report on something Get IT RIGHT! Again, I am not blaming you personally and whoever wrote the script didn't think about the children out there with this disorder who suddenly hear that what they have is a disease. What about the children who don't have it but know my son has it..will they suddenly ignorantly think they will catch it from Jesse. Do you know how easy a target he already is? Kids are cruel and I can imagine him being taunted with the idea that he carries a disease when he doesn't and kids not wanting to be near him just in case he does.

I calmed my son down and explained that even adults don't understand about Autism and I would write to you personally and hope to enlighten you or whoever else needs to understand. Jesse was hurt and it might not matter because you don't know him personally. I work hard as a mom of a Special Needs child to empower him and to protect him..and I realize I can't protect him from everything. I am proud of him for getting mad about such a little word...it means I am doing my job to raise a child who is thinking and passionate.

Thank you for taking the time to read through my email.

Sincerely,
Melissa and Jesse
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Subject: Re: A comment about the Autism Story
In a message dated 9/5/2008 8:13:17 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, jvarner@WWMT.com writes:
Thank you so much for your email. My best friend has 2 autistic children, and so I'm very aware of the disorder and how it affects not only children, but their parents and loved ones. I went back through our scripts and am actually cutting and pasting for you from our system:
[TAKE VO](***VO***)[Anchor:HOLLY](***HOLLY***)
FIRST ... SCIENTISTS CLAIM THERE'S A GENE THAT MAKES GUYS CHEAT.
NOW ... THEY'VE FOUND ONE THAT THEY SAY MAKES MEN FEAR COMMITMENT.
THE RESEARCHERS SAY IT'S THE SAME GENE ... CONNECTED TO AUTISM.
AND ... WHILE IT MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY GUYS SOMETIMES DRAG THEIR FEET WHEN IT COMES TO TYING THE KNOT ... SCIENTISTS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN THE AUTISM LINK.
THEY'RE HOPING THE DISCOVERY WILL HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT DISORDER.

Perhaps in transition comments one of us accidentally called it a disease. I apologize for that possiblity. I've sent an email to the team to make sure they understand never to call it a disease.

I'm so grateful you wrote. Please explain to Jesse we meant no harm if we accidentally said disease. We do know better. I appreciate you took time to share your story.

Jeff Varner
Morning/Noon Anchor
WWMT Newschannel 3
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Subject: Re: A comment about the Autism Story

Jeff,
thank you so much for responding back and I will share this with Jesse as well. I have tried to make Jesse understand that everyone makes human mistakes...even News Anchors. lol I appreciate the apology.

I think there is so much misunderstood about Autism and how there are so many affected by this Spectrum disorder. Its too bad that your station couldn't do a human interest piece on kids affected and instead of concentrating on how hard it is and the severe form of it...concentrate on the strides that these kids make and how they are just like any other child in many respects. My son has faced so much discrimination by his peers because he is misunderstood. Of course I counter it by telling him that I am sure Bill Gates was misunderstood a lot too and that it is believed he has a form of it as well...and look at him now? These kids aren't retarded which is the biggest misinformation out there.

Thanks again and I am sorry to rant on.

Sincerely, Melissa
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His Reply:
good for you with the gates analogy. what a wonderful example his success set for families affected by autism. if you don't mind, i'd like to keep your contact information in the event i do a future story on autism. not sure if you and jesse would be interested in helping us with a story, but if we do one, i'd love to reach out to you.

let me know,
jeff
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My last reply:

Jeff, I think that would be great!

Anything that can influence a change in how Special Needs children whether it be Autism, ADHD or Downs Syndrome is perceived by others. I am involved in a committee of Parents called the Parent Advisory Committee..PAC for short in Allegan County. Every year we have a ceremony to give recognition to those who have made a difference in a Special Needs child's life and their family. There are bus drivers, neighbors and of course, teachers who are nominated by a personal letter to us. Its not a fancy ceremony due to budget constraints but our last ceremony left us all with a tear in our eye...it was of pride for these kids. We also gave recognition to kids who were graduating and were in Special Education...kids that exceeded what was originally expected of them. The ceremony is usually held in April or May and I would love to invite you at that time as well to see this special community of professionals, kids and parents come together for one cause and that is Special Education.

I am a mom with a child with Autism but I also have a child with ADHD and I recently found out that my 3rd son is Cognitively Impaired. Its tough but that's life and the more we can shed light on these special kids and that they are special for more than just having a disorder the better their future can be. The more empowered they will be to be successful.

Let me know when and if you would like to do something and I will be happy to be a part of it. I would want the focus on the kids and the great things that Public schools are trying to do to make a difference for these kids. The No Child Left Behind Act has not made it easy nor Michigan's decline thanks to our economy.

Thanks again..
Melissa