How to Avoid Autism‐Related Scams

There's a lot of misinformation and fearmongering around autism, which can leave parents feeling scared or even desperate when a child is diagnosed. Families are also easy targets if they do not have the support or education to best help a struggling autistic child. ^{[1]XResearch source} This makes autism a popular target for scammers and cult-like groups to leech money from families.^{[2]XResearch source}^{[3]XResearch source}^{[4]XResearch source} This How.com.vn will teach you how to steer clear of scams and find helpful therapies and organizations.

Note that this article includes discussion of abusive therapies and other material that may be disturbing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Avoiding Therapy Scams

This section focuses on parents and caregivers, since autism scams usually target parents of newly diagnosed or high-support children. However, autistic people may also find it helpful.

1
Identify common discredited therapies and treatments. Some therapies are well-known to be fake, and you can even find lists of unproven and dangerous "treatments" online.^{[5]XResearch source} At best, they could drain your money and waste your energy. At worst, they could injure, traumatize, or kill an autistic person. Beware known scams such as:^{[6]XResearch source}
- Miracle Mineral Solution uses bleach to "cure" autism. It is painful and capable of causing severe internal damage or death.^{[7]XResearch source}^{[8]XResearch source}^{[9]XResearch source}
- Chelation is a risky treatment to remove heavy metals from the bloodstream, and is typically used for mercury poisoning (not autism). It can cause lethal internal damage. One autistic child's heart stopped due to chelation, killing him.^{[10]XResearch source}^{[11]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source}^{[12]XResearch source}
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is done for divers suffering from decompression sickness (DCS or "the bends"). A comprehensive review found no evidence of it helping.^{[13]XResearch source} It can cause seizures, embolism, and serious pain. ^{[14]XResearch source}
- Lupron blocks puberty in children and "chemically castrates" adults.^{[15]XResearch source} This isn't useful for autism.
- "Holding therapy" involves pinning someone down against their will and forcing eye contact in order to make them cry or panic. This is potentially traumatic, and excessive force or attempts to subdue the person could cause serious injury.^{[16]XResearch source}^{[17]XResearch source}^{[18]XResearch source} A ten-year-old girl suffocated to death in a type of holding therapy.^{[19]XResearch source}
- Secretin injections can cause seizures, aggression, and hyperactivity. Multiple systematic reviews found no evidence of it helping.^{[20]XResearch source}^{[21]XResearch source}
- Special diets, while usually less risky, have not been proven to be helpful.^{[22]XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitalsGo to source} Following a restrictive diet may also be stressful for the person and their family, and could increase the risk of eating disorders later on. While healthy eating is a good thing, any diet changes should be discussed with a doctor or dietician.
2
Stay away from glitzy, heavily-advertised treatments. Scams try to drum up false excitement.^{[23]XResearch source} Stay away from high-profile "treatments" that try to capture attention using strategies like:^{[24]XResearch source}
- Celebrity endorsements
- Doctors selling supplements
- Guarantees of miraculous results or a "quick fix"^{[25]XTrustworthy SourceUS Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. government agency responsible for promoting public healthGo to source}
- Claims that the treatment cures all kinds of different conditions
- Special incentive programs that encourage impulsivity (e.g. "Call now for a 50% discount!")
- Personal testimonials with no hard data or published studies to back them.
3
Stay away from treatments that claim to cure autism or target its cause. Autism is inborn and mostly genetic,^{[26]XResearch source} with signs of autism showing up before birth.^{[27]XResearch source} You can't erase someone's genes. Autism is lifelong.^{[28]XResearch source}^{[29]XResearch source}^{[30]XResearch source} Any autism "cure" is a scam.^{[31]XTrustworthy SourceUS Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. government agency responsible for promoting public healthGo to source}
- Nobody has yet been able to pinpoint an exact cause. Anyone claiming to definitively know the precise cause is simply wrong.
- Autism "cures" are often dangerous or a waste of money.^{[32]XResearch source}
Did You Know? Someone whose autism was "cured" either is hiding their autistic traits (which is damaging to mental health^{[33]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}^{[34]XResearch source}), or was never autistic in the first place. Other conditions like Landau-Kleffner syndrome and selective mutism can be mistaken for autism.
4
Notice suspicious wording that scammers tend to use. Pseudoscientific treatments often claim to know the cause of autism, and profit from selling "cures" that can be administered by someone with no training. They may diagnose your loved one with conditions that they have invented. Here are some of the words and phrases they often use:^{[35]XResearch source}^{[36]XResearch source}
- Recovery
- Toxins/detoxing
- Parasite removal
- Healing
- Miracle
- Restoring
- All-natural
- Biomedical
- Belief
5
Be wary of manipulation attempts. A scammer may try to leverage guilt, or threaten you that your loved one will live a hopeless life because of you if you don't listen to them.^{[37]XResearch source} They may make you feel like nothing that you do or your child does is ever good enough. You always have to try harder to "fix" them.
- You didn't cause autism. Genetics and random circumstances caused autism. DNA is no one's fault. Blaming yourself isn't healthy for anyone.^{[38]XResearch source}
- No kid has perfect parents or caregivers. You're going to make mistakes, and your kid will probably still be fine. (Even parents who made big mistakes have had their kids turn out well!^{[39]XResearch source})
- Kids (and adults!) need rest. Both of you should be getting down time to relax how you see fit.
- Above all, autistic kids need adults who listen to them, treat them well, and encourage them to play and enjoy childhood.^{[40]XResearch source} You need quality time, not fear-driven "treatment."
6
Avoid overly intense or rigid therapies, especially for children. Autistic people have feelings, and children especially need lots of patience and free time. They deserve to have a childhood. No therapist should take that away from them.
- 40 hours per week of therapy is like a full-time job. That's hard enough for adults. It's definitely not appropriate for children, especially those who already go to school. Kids need time to play, unwind, and enjoy childhood.
- A therapist who tells you to be harsh, strict, or cruel to your loved one may not have your loved one's best interests in mind.
- You don't need to bankrupt yourself on therapies. You can say no to that.^{[41]XResearch source}
7
Know the difference between masking and gaining skills. Some therapists train autistic people to stop doing things like stimming, avoiding eye contact, showing distress when upset, or talking about the things they like. This doesn't mean the person has become less autistic. It means they're suppressing their instincts and pushing themselves to fake being okay even if they're uncomfortable or overwhelmed. Research shows this is deeply damaging to their mental health.
- Blending in with non-autistic people is not a good therapy goal. Learning how to be a happy and authentic autistic person is.
- Risks of autistic masking include anxiety, depression, fatigue, autistic burnout, loss of identity, and suicidal thoughts.^{[42]XResearch source}^{[43]XResearch source}^{[44]XTrustworthy SourcePubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of HealthGo to source}
Tip: Pay attention to how a therapist treats the person's needs. Is the autistic person trained to ignore/conceal their needs or to advocate for them? Self-advocacy and boundary-setting skills are crucial to help autistic people live happy lives.
8
Beware overly cruel, risky, or invasive procedures. Many of these therapies, such as Miracle Mineral Solution (bleach), chelation, or harsh compliance therapies can hurt or traumatize your loved one. Never do anything to an autistic child that you wouldn't do to a non-autistic child. Therapy shouldn't hurt.
- Some of these "therapies" can actually kill people or do severe physical or emotional damage.^{[45]XResearch source}^{[46]XResearch source}^{[47]XResearch source}^{[48]XResearch source}
- No therapist should yell, call names, hit, take away self-calming tools, or cause sensory pain.
9
Beware conspiracy theories. Websites that claim of giant cover-ups or conspiracies about autism are probably just trying to scam you out of your money.
- Which is more likely: that the government and medical establishments of all technologically sophisticated countries are covering up a miracle cure for some reason, or that the person ranting about it is a quack?
- Conspiracy theorists can be very charismatic. They might play off your fears in order to get you to listen or buy their products. Some are very good at manipulating people. Be careful.
10
Steer clear of dire predictions. Some therapies prey on nervous people, and warn you that you need to use their therapy immediately and intensely or you are giving up on your loved one.
- You don't need to micromanage your own loved one.^{[49]XResearch source} This will just stress out both of you.
- Autistic children develop at their own pace. There is no "developmental window" after which your child will stop being able to learn.
- No one knows the future. There's no way to know that "your loved one will DEFINITELY speak after this" or "your loved one will never have a happy life without this."
- Different autistic people develop at different paces.
11
See what other groups and people have to say about this therapy. Any decent, established therapy should be well-regarded by both health organizations and the people who use the therapies. Check out sites like Research Autism and the CDC to see their evaluation of different therapies for autistic people.
- If well-regarded medical organizations warn against it, they probably have good reason.^{[50]XResearch source}
- What do autistic adults who went through this therapy say about it now? If many autistic people or families say it harmed them, that's a pattern worth looking into.
- If you can't find anything from reputable sources, that's not a good sign.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Avoiding Charity Scams

1
Consider organizations that have a well-known reputation for being harmful. To learn about an organization's reputation, you can look up its name along with the phrase "controversy."
- Autism Speaks (which is behind the blue puzzle piece and "light it up blue") has spent many times more money on advertising than on family services.^{[51]XResearch source} Its ads often demonize autism, portraying autistic children like monsters or burdens.^{[52]XResearch source}^{[53]XResearch source}^{[54]XResearch source}^{[55]XTrustworthy SourceAustistic Self Advocacy NetworkNonprofit organization run by and for individuals on the autism spectrum that empowers autistic people through education and public advocacyGo to source}^{[56]XResearch source}
2
Notice where a charity's money goes (or if they try to hide where their money goes). How much is spent on salaries? How much is spent on useful things like family services?
- "Raising awareness" isn't necessarily a great use of money, especially if the ads they make are stigmatizing and negative.
3
Identify negative advocacy. Some groups fall into conspiracy theories about autism, and/or advocate for false or dangerous things. Notice what the group calls for. Do these ideas help or hurt autistic people?
- Do they advocate for unproven or dangerous therapies?
- Do their ads use scare tactics?
- Do they throw money into unscientific ideas, like the doctored "vaccines cause autism" myth?^{[57]XResearch source}
- Are they trying to "defeat" or "destroy" autism, rather than help autistic people?^{[58]XResearch source}
- Do they portray autistic people as bizarre, burdensome, or unlovable?
- Do they tell parents to be mean and unyielding with their kids?
- Are autistic adults notably absent from the conversation?
- Do many of their supporters bully autistic people?
4
Identify positive advocacy. A positive advocacy group involves both autistic people and their loved ones, and encourages autistic people to speak out about issues that matter to them. A good autism advocacy group is likely to...
- Include autistic adults and prioritize their goals
- Encourage autism acceptance
- Fight stigma
- Stand up against abuse
- Challenge pseudoscientific "treatments" and beliefs (such as the vaccine myth)
- Offer resources for autistic adults as well as kids
- Celebrate the strengths of autistic people
5
Steer clear of a group that demonizes autism or autistic people. There's a lot of stigma around autism, and this hurts both autistics and their loved ones. Ask yourself: does this group help autistic people, or throw them under the bus? Don't accept people who say awful things about yourself or your loved one.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Adjusting Your Attitude

If you're panicking about autism, you may be more vulnerable to scams. Parents and caregivers should learn to make peace with reality.

1
Accept that autism will always be a part of your loved one's future. Your loved one will always be autistic.^{[59]XResearch source} Autism is a part of them and it will not go away. Don't waste time fighting reality, or setting unrealistic goals.
- That doesn't mean giving up. With support, autistic children can learn and grow up into happy, healthy autistic adults.
2
Learn more about autism. Understanding autism will help demystify your loved one's unusual traits. Parents and caregivers who don't understand autism may think that their loved one is being naughty or rejecting them, and this can cause unnecessary stress. When you understand autism, you can relax a little, and learn about ways to better help your loved one.
- Autism comes with both needs and strengths. Encourage the strengths, and find ways to meet the needs.
- Autistic body language is a little different. Autistic people are going to do things like making repetitive movements, avoiding eye contact, and turning away when they feel overwhelmed. This is totally normal, and you don't need to worry about it.
3
Reach out to other loved ones of autistic people, and autistic people themselves. You don't have to do this alone. Look for people who have been there, and spend time with them. Befriend them, talk about autism, and don't be afraid to ask for advice.
- Read blogs about autism, especially ones written by autistic people. Include blogs focused on people who are a little older than your loved one, because that can help you imagine the future better.
- Avoid the urge to dismiss autistic people who don't look like your loved one. You don't know what they were like when they were younger, nor do you know what they go through when you aren't watching. No one is identical to your loved one, but some people are similar, and can give you good advice.
- Ask autistic adults what they wish their parents had known when they were younger, and parents what they wish they had known.^{[60]XResearch source} You can use this knowledge to help your own loved one.
4
Know what is and isn't autism. Autism does not equal suffering—so if your loved one is suffering, then something is wrong. Many autistic people, especially high-support ones, have co-occurring conditions that are not autism. Recognize that these things are different, and seek appropriate help. Don't let them go untreated. Things that are different from autism include:
- ADHD
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Intellectual disability
- Learning disabilities
- Pica
- Seizures/epilepsy
- Sleep disorders
5
Prioritize the help you get for your loved one. Therapists may point out an overwhelming amount of things that are "abnormal." But not every difference needs to be changed. Focus on the problems that cause the most harm, and let the quirks and minor problems go.
- Address any physical health problems, such as pain or sleep issues, first. If your loved one is exhausted or in pain, of course they will show signs of distress. Acting out can be a sign that something is wrong.
- Don't worry about things that are different but harmless, like lack of eye contact or quirky body language. Your energy is better spent on real problems.
6
Work on creating an autism-friendly environment. Autistic people are very sensitive to their environment, so if you create a space where the autistic person feels comfortable and safe, their mood is likely to be much better. A peaceful environment can be the difference between a stressed person and a calm one.
- Limited noise and distractions
- Books and toys related to special interests
- Fidget toys
- A quiet area where they can retreat if needed
- Loving, supportive adults who give compliments and show understanding
7
Remember the importance of downtime. Both you and your loved one should be getting plenty of time to relax. You can relax together by doing an activity that you both enjoy, and you each should be able to get quiet time alone.
- True playtime involves doing whatever you want. Getting bossed around by adults isn't playtime. Autistic kids may not always smile when they play, and they may do repetitive movements like lining up objects or walking in circles. Even so, you can assume that they're enjoying themselves, and that this behavior is good for them.^{[61]XResearch source}
- Autistic people thrive best in a calm environment, so don't feel guilty for taking a little "me time." It's helping you be a calmer and more effective person, and thus it benefits them too.
8
Seek out and enjoy the positives. Family relationships will always going to have ups and downs. Make an effort to create positive experiences, and to enjoy them when they happen. You can't choose a different life, but you can choose to experience it with the best attitude you can.
- Notice what your loved one enjoys, and build on it
- Do activities that you and they both enjoy
- Give compliments and praise
- Work together on new goals, giving lots of encouragement to your loved one
- Celebrate the milestones, regardless of when they happen
- Laugh together
9
Be patient. Autistic people have developmental delays, and that means that some things will happen more slowly. This is perfectly normal, and you don't need to stress about it. It's not a reflection of your parenting skills. It's going to be okay.
- There are no "developmental windows" when it comes to autism. It is never too late for an autistic person to gain new skills and abilities, especially with the right support.^{[62]XResearch source} Someone who has no verbal communication abilities at 15 may be a great typist at age 17. It's normal for autistic people to be late bloomers, so don't worry.
- Autism isn't a sentence to eternal sadness. Some autistic people, including high-support ones, talk about enjoying life.^{[63]XResearch source}^{[64]XResearch source} Many autistics describe being happy with who they are and what their life is like.^{[65]XResearch source}^{[66]XResearch source}
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Tips

You may have legal options if someone has tried to scam you. For example, in the US, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
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Warnings

Some anti-autism groups can get into a negative feedback loop of exhibitionist complaining, receiving attention, neglecting the disabled kid, feeling worse, and complaining some more.^{[67]XResearch source} This isn't healthy. Stay away from it.
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