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Radio Host Angers Parents of Autistic Kids

By DAVID BAUDER
,
AP
posted: 45 DAYS 22 HOURS AGO
comments: 83
filed under: National News
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NEW YORK (July 21) - Radio talk show host Michael Savage, who described 99 percent of children with autism as brats, said Monday he was trying to "boldly awaken" parents to his view that many people are being wrongly diagnosed.
Some parents of autistic children have called for Savage's firing after he described autism as a racket last week. "In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out," Savage said on his radio program last Wednesday.

Savage offered no apology in a message posted Monday on his Web site. He said greedy doctors and drug companies were creating a "national panic" by overdiagnosing autism, a mental disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate.
On his radio show last week, he said: "What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, `Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, you idiot.'"
The government estimates about 1 in 150 children have some form of autism. But many experts believe these unsociable behaviors were just about as common 30 or 40 years ago and that the increase is mostly caused by a surge in special education services and a corresponding shift in diagnoses.
Wendy Fournier of the National Autism Association, a parents' advocacy group, said she was invited to speak Monday on Savage's three-hour program by Savage's boss, Mark Masters of Talk Radio Network, which syndicates the show across the country. A spokeswoman from Talk Radio Network did not immediately return a call for comment.
Fournier called Savage's comments "way, way, way over the line and cruel."
"I'm hoping to make him see the reality of what these kids are facing," she said. "You can't fix it by telling a kid to shut up. It's like telling a kid with cancer to stop being sick."
Evelyn Ain, whose 8-year-old son has been diagnosed with autism, said she had never heard of Savage and couldn't believe what she had heard when she first listened to the remarks. She organized a demonstration Monday outside New York's WOR-AM, which broadcasts Savage.
"That isn't just freedom of speech, it is hateful speech when you say 99 percent of children with autism are brats," she said. "I'll tell you, I wish I had a brat."
Savage, with more than 8 million listeners a week, is talk radio's third most popular personality behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, according to Talkers magazine. He's made a living off bold, outrageous statements: His brief MSNBC show was canceled after he told a caller he should "get AIDS and die, you pig."
Peter Bell, executive vice president of national advocacy group Autism Speaks, said he isn't aware of any big controversy about overdiagnosis of autism. He said Savage's remarks, effectively blaming parents, reflect an outdated point of view.
"He's an entertainer, he does these things for attention," Bell said. "I think we should, to the best we can, ignore it."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-07-21 22:09:22
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Stacknef

01:09 PMJul 24 2008

Michael Savage is an overblown, self proclaimed right wing talking head, with no medical experience, no psychological experience (maybe perhaps as a patient?) and certainly no connection to anyone who has an autistic child. To allow his idiotic rants to continue unchallenged is morally indefensible. I suggest calling radio stations and their advertisers to protest their support of this moron.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Drjeff21

08:33 AMJul 24 2008

The fact is that he's right. We have become a nation completely obsessed with labeling children, lowering the bar for there success and making excuses.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Kbow456

02:44 PMJul 23 2008

My son is autistic. He is a very well behaved child. He is sweet and loving. He cannnot communicate and has trouble dealing with situations, he has querky behaviors, but in NO way is he a "Brat"! He gets frustrated because he can't communicate his needs. If you couldn't speak and knew what you wanted but couldn't get it... you would be frustrated too! Savage should educate himself before he state falsehoods. He is just ignorant!

AVG RATING:
(3)

KBrown5365

11:18 AMJul 23 2008

Savage's comments are naive, insensitive , incorrect and unprofessional. The best way to get this guy off of the media is to NOT listen to him. NO LISTENERS = BAD RATINGS = NO MORE SHOW. Power to the public!!!

AVG RATING:
(4)

RJOLLY21

10:39 AMJul 23 2008

Right on heather155 add another one. He's right medicine is nothing but money!

AVG RATING:
(2)

Greekdish

08:52 AMJul 23 2008

Libs are all for defending the free speech of Americans, except when it conflicts with thier Liberal agenda. What a bunch of hypocrites. And they cry more about trampled rights than anyone, and yet do the most trampling. What a bunch of hypocrites.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Dbklyngirl33

08:03 AMJul 23 2008

GrantmA , you look like the loser now jerk off. If you read beyond my post, you will see hillaryclintoon started the politic rants. and you know what, staying on it right now, obama better win, cause if we end up with McCain, say goodbye to the good old USA.

AVG RATING:
(1)

CSWMORBROM

07:11 AMJul 23 2008

I began to smell something rotten about 15 years ago when half the boys in my kids class were being told they had ADD. The way he says it might be crass but i'll bet he's on to something.

AVG RATING:
(1)

RIVERPORTMATT

01:28 AMJul 23 2008

LBERALISM A MENTAL ILLNESS? WELL, IF IT'S ONLY THE LIBERALS THAT ARE OBJECTING TO SAVAGE'S NONESENSE, THAN WE NEED MORE OF THE LIBERAL'S DEVINE MADNESS. WHAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE TALKING ABOUT IS THE RW's ILLNESS OF THE HEART. GOD BLESS THESE POOR CHILDREN.

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(2)

Froggirl030

12:36 AMJul 23 2008

How do I know these FACTS? I am a parent of a child with Autism who was diagnosed by 3 specialist with impecable credentials who did not prescribe my child drugs only therapy. Today he is 10 and wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up. When he told me this I had to look the word up... Doesn't sound like a brat to me. He is the easiest and most well behaved of my three children. We just needed to learn how to help him.... The talk show host got what he deserved and hats off to those who made his cancelation possible..He is no doctor that I would rely on.

AVG RATING:
(4)

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