Raun K Kaufman? Your thoughts...

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I have to say that I agree almost entirely with Raun's message. I have seen how many of the same things he advocates in his program helped my son. My son was diagnosed at age 5 and is now 13. He is an incredibly happy and yet still autistic teen. The only thing I may not agree 100% with is that he calls it being "cured", when in reality I do not believe people are cured, they just learn to handle things in a better way, etc. However, I have to say that out of everything I have read out there, that could possibly help kids today, his method is spot-on and what autistic kiddos need. I think that because there are other programs and groups out there who advocate a CURE, if he does not, he runs into more people not listening to his message. He has stated in some posts that the autistic mind will always be an autistic mind, so I think in reality he does get it.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? My thoughts at this point is that in order to help other kids, we all need to support people such as Raun so that parents out there today looking for answers understand that although his methods might not be the norm, they are indeed what is needed and much better for their kids than what Autism Speaks advocates.

He has a Facebook page that I follow and I encourage those of you who agree to follow him and get the word out. I have read for the last 8 years to help my son and between wrongplanet.net (which has been my #1 place for advice), Raun and Temple, I think many kids will benefit. If we don't support such people, kids will continue to be abused by the BS of therapists whom I have seen many times have created much more stress and caused much more harm to kids with autism.

Your thoughts?

I'm afraid I can't comment because I've never looked at his work. But I didn't want your post to stay un-replied to.

I'm also on-board with the general concept that semantics are less important than actual protocols and methods, but that can be difficult for others in this community.

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where is there evidence this guy ever cured anyone

Never heard of him, so I watched some of his clips on YouTube. In this one, he discusses the differences between ABA and Son-Rise. It is encouraging that such alternatives are beginning to appear.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MxhO3nNlls[/youtube]

I think the OP already noted that she does not believe he ever "cured" anyone, and that the only reason the word is used is because that is what many NT parents are looking to hear. Some parents consider getting a child to do any normal things the same as a "cure," even if you and I would look at the child and know in an instant they are full-on ASD. Just pretend the word "cure" is really meant to be "improved to the point you are no longer frantically worrying if your child can ever live a normal life."

oh cool,good explaination,thanx.i was a bit confused about the post

From what I understand, the results Kaufman attributes to son-rise have not been replicated.

I think it should be noted, it's not Raun's work, it's his parents'. Raun is autistic, severely autistic. Hid parents developed the program that helped him and he took over as an adult. His daddy, Barry, wrote a book about it, Son-Rise. Or for more details and updates Son-Rise, The Miracle Continues. It's one of my favorite books.

I have looked into him several times. Is he cured from autism? No, I don't think so. But I have to say that his condition drastically improved over the years.

I think my development is similar to Raun's, and I think many autistics with normal or high intelligence as well. I have achieved a lot since I was diagnosed with autism at 4. When I was 18 months I got the wrong diagnoses of mental retardedness.

I live nearly independently, I am very good with money. I have some savings and can travel to various countries by myself. I can drive a car. (although I don't have a car myself; I am too greedy for that) But I won't ever say that I cured from autism, while Raun does. That is misleading. Either he is still autistic, or he never was and isn't now, either. There is no such thing as curing from autism.