Monday, June 24, 2013

Nurture genius by bucking the system - Autistic boy with higher IQ than Einstein discovers his gift after removal from state-run therapy

From Carolanne Wright(Natural News)
In yet another example of how an out of control goliath state system can cause more harm than good, a teenage boy who was diagnosed with autism at a young age has risen to stellar heights after quitting the special ed system with the help of his concerned mother. State therapy specialists claimed Jacob Barnett would never tie his shoes, read or function normally in society. But the boy's mother realized when Jacob was not in therapy, he was doing "spectacular things" completely on his own. She decided to trust her instinct and disregard the advice of the professionals. Instead of following a standardized special needs educational protocol, she surrounded Jacob with all the things that inspired passion for him - and was astonished at the transformation that took place.
Don't fix what's not broken
Following a diagnosis of autism at age two, Jacob was subjected to a cookie cutter special education system that focused on correcting what he couldn't do compared to normal children. For years, teachers attempted to convince Kristine Barnett that her son would only be able to learn the most basic of life skills. When exposed to the state system of educational therapy, Kristine noticed Jacob would withdraw deeply and refuse to speak with anyone. Even though she found it "terrifying to fly against the advise of the professionals," she knew in her heart "that if Jake stayed in special ed, he would slip away," Kristine relates in her memoir, The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius. So began a journey for Jacob that would lead to such unexpected achievement that the whole premise of standardized therapy for this 'special needs' child would be blown to bits.
A path of passion and discovery
After years of frustration and little progress, Kristine made a radical decision in the eyes of the special ed system -- she took Jacob out of school and prepared him for kindergarten herself. As described in the New York Daily Times:

She let him explore the things he wanted to explore. He studied patterns and shadows and stars. At the same time, she made sure that he enjoyed "normal" childhood pleasures - softball, picnics - along with other kids his age. "I operate under a concept called 'muchness'," Kristine said. "Which is surrounding children with the things they love - be it music, or art, whatever they're drawn to and love."

By the time Jacob reached the age of 11, he entered college and is currently studying condensed matter physics at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. According to an email Professor Scott Tremaine wrote to Jacob's family, "The theory that he's working on involves several of the toughest problems in astrophysics and theoretical physics ... Anyone who solves these will be in line for a Nobel Prize."

Jacob also has an IQ of 170 - higher than that of Einstein. He is history's youngest astrophysics researcher, has spoken at a New York TED conference and appeared on a variety of news interviews, including 60 Minutes and the Time magazine website. Not bad for someone who was classified by state experts as so severely disabled that he would never tie his own shoes or learn to read. If Jacob had stayed within the system, the prediction may very well have come true.


Thursday, June 6, 2013

A Serial Psychiatrist Child Molester was Stripped of Lifetime Achievement Award

William Ayres, 81, pleaded no contest in May to eight counts of molestation connected to five male former patients between the ages of 9 and 13 under the guise of medical exams. He faces between eight and 22 years in prison when sentenced in August and, shortly after his plea change, Supervisor Dave Pine requested his county honor be reversed. His span of child molestation spread out over decades, but due to statute of limitations he eventually plead no contest in the more recent offenses 1988 to 1996. Victims went as far back as the early 70’s.
According to the San Mateo Journal, Ayres was well known as president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and for hosting the sex education series “Time of Your Life.” Ayres also received juvenile court referrals, all of which contributed to the Board of Supervisors in January 2002 adopting the resolution honoring his “efforts to improve the lives of children and adolescents. The Board of Directors has egg on their face for that award.
Ayres has been skirting the law for years and years, as the county never looked or saw or did follow-up with referred juveniles. Recently he attempted to evade prosecution by claiming dementia. There was a hung jury in 2009, and Napa State Hospital had William Ayres under evaluation, and they concluded he had been exaggerating dementia to avoid a second trial. He went on that second trial and eventually plead no contest.
For decades Dr. William Ayres treated young children under the approval of San Mateo County Juvenile probation programs. For decades he used his license and influence in the community to continually molest the most vulnerable.
If you hear that a psychiatrist can evaluate you based on your behavior and actions, well none of Ayres colleagues could make a simple evaluation that could have saved a youth. At the age of 81 Ayres may get 22 years, but his victims have a lifetime of pain, confusion, and deplorable memories. Like many victims of the failed science call psychiatry they go onto other psychiatrists, who have only one solution. “I have this drug”.