Many Options in Conquering Autism

Re “For Developmental Treatment, Let’s End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ ” Orange County Commentary, April 22:

The piece by Christina Adams revealed a parent who is passionate about helping her child and others to conquer autism. The people at Regional Center of Orange County, the agency whose mission is to help these parents to access services and support for the children, share her passion and commitment.

I am most concerned that she failed to share a crucial point that Orange County parents need to know: There are, in fact, dozens of autism therapies available, many of which have some evidence of effectiveness, with some children, under some circumstances, and none of which--including the CARD program she discussed at length--is undisputed or has been proved universally effective.

We applaud the progress that her son is seeing with CARD, but we also celebrate the progress being made by hundreds of other children with autism whose families chose different therapies. The daily lives of hundreds of Orange County children reveal the simple truth: Each child is a unique individual, and Adams’ suggestion that autism therapy can be reduced to “one-size-fits-all” is simply wrong. Given this truth, we cannot deny families the opportunity to consider the many different options they have, so they can decide for themselves the therapies that are effective for their children.

Given the range of promising autism therapies, and dramatic increases in autism diagnoses, Regional Center, in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education, four years ago began sponsoring the Interagency Autism Group. Among the key activities are frequent presentations to parents by nationally recognized autism experts who share the results of their research. The group has also developed an assessment center here in Orange County to help families gain a fuller understanding of autism therapy options, so they can make informed choices for their children. Perhaps most exciting, though, is a recent grant that Regional Center secured from Proposition 10 funds to study the effectiveness of all available approaches.

More can and will be done as we gain more objective, outcome-based information about how to best help children with autism. But in the meantime, we will continue to be mindful of the fact of each child’s individuality and present parents with comprehensive information so they can make the decisions that are right for them and their children.

Janis White

Associate Executive Director

Regional Center of Orange County