[轉錄]◇ [參考]Autism FAQ (9):Advocacy

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作者: [e-mail]
標題: ◇ [參考]Autism FAQ (9):Advocacy
時間: Mon Oct 14 21:53:19 2002

作者: Jf (寫給往事的一封匿名信) 看板: NTUStar_rain
標題: [參考]Autism FAQ (9):Advocacy
時間: Thu Sep 27 19:47:58 2001


     _________________________________________________________________

                           Autism FAQ - Advocacy
     _________________________________________________________________

   There are a number of issues on which a number of autistic people and
   parents of autistic people take an active role. Naturally, there are
   those who feel strongly about a particular hypothesized cause or a
   particular treatment or educational method. On such issues, one will
   find advocates on various sides of the issue. However, there are other
   more general issues, on some of which there is more of a consensus.
   This section will list some of the issues & positions that autistic
   people and parents of autistic people are active in. Some of the
   issues are specific to autism, but many are relevant to other
   disabilities.

    Laws on education of the disabled

   The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other laws
   that protect the disabled come up for renewal and/or are reviewed with
   an eye toward amendment on occasion. Many disabled people and parents
   of disabled people watch such proceedings closely and make their
   opinions known to their representatives.

    Inclusive Education

   Improving and even maintaining quality of education of the disabled is
   a continuing struggle even with federal and state laws. Since
   education in the USA remains largely under local control, many parents
   of the disabled find themselves acting as their own advocates to make
   sure the laws are upheld given the tendency of some localities to make
   decisions based on the idea that the expense of educating the disabled
   is more than they can handle.

   One of the trends in educating the disabled for the past few decades
   has been to include them in classrooms of typical students. Many
   parents and disabled people have this as a goal.

    Funding for research on autism

   Despite the fact that many of the general public find autism of some
   fascination, a good case can be made that private and government
   funding accorded research into autism is much less than that of some
   diseases and conditions that are rare relative to autism.

    Misplaced blame

   See section "History" about how parents used to be blamed for Autism.
   It was not that long ago that that was happening and people without
   knowledge of autism as it's currently preceived may well run across
   material from those times. The activism necessary to counter such
   thinking is thankfully much reduced by those who worked hard on the
   issue in the 1960s.

    Group homes

   The general trend in the housing of the disabled who cannot live
   independently has been away from the idea of large institutions toward
   the idea of group homes located in the community. Among the reasons
   cited:
     * Disabled who are separated from society have less chance to
       practice their social skills, which further cuts them off from
       society. The nature of autism sets people at a social disadvantage
       to begin with, and separation exacerbates the problem.
     * Some institutions have been poorly run. The fact that the
       institution is somewhat separated from the community reduces the
       chances that citizens will take sufficent note of the problems to
       effect change for the better.
     * Keeping disabled people and non-disabled people apart also has an
       effect on non-disabled people. If they have no contact with
       disabled people, they are less knowledgeable about disabilities
       and have less experience interacting with disabled people.

   There are on occasion drives to allow a group home in a neighborhood.
   If the neighborhood has never had one, people are naturally suspicious
   and unsure of what to expect. On many occasions, after the fact,
   neighbors of group homes have been willing to testify to the positives
   of having a group home in the neighborhood.

   I haven't mentioned other living options aside from group homes: many
   disabled live independently, and many live with only a minimum of
   assistance. The real issue being pressed goes beyond group homes: it
   encompasses the provision of appropriate housing and related services
   for all the disabled.
     _________________________________________________________________

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        吹不亂我心頭的人影.

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