Edited by author 09-03-2004 01:54 PM
Hi Michelle,
I was very interested in your thought-provoking comments on the NAS. I'll have to look up its goals to see if they are those of autistics.
It maybe that I am too pleased with any crumb of representation and involvement given to autistics. At least the NAS gives more than a crumb, but the entree (I think that's the right word) course rather than a full meal. Better than nothing, but still leaves one hungry for more.
I agree wholeheartedly with your vision of what a "real" autism society would look like, however I fear that any autism society would be likely to be dominated by parents of autistic children, and that it will be a steep uphill struggle to make our vision a reality.
 On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 as no place for autistics, and 10 as brilliant, fantastic, perfect for autistics; I would give the NAS a score of 4.
The CDSS colour advertisement in the Toronto Globe and Mail is marvellous. I've just seen it on their (CDSS) website.
In my message /m5, I should have thanked you for your book chapter and not your essay.