"A Reply to Recent Public Critiques . . ."

TIME magazine featured a couple treatments for autism in its May 7, 2006 issue. One article in particular "Tale of Two Schools" by Claudia Wallis was especially critical of behavioral treatment. Many behavioral treatment professionals in the autism community were unhappy with the piece, and the Lovaas Institute, as well as others, decided to be proactive by responding quickly with a letter to the editor. The editor later wrote us to say he felt other letters made a "better, more compelling case" for ABA and so ours was not used. Below is the shortened version of the letter the Lovaas Institute sent to TIME to meet the criteria of 120 words or less set by the editors. Another version follows which is also relevant to other current public critiques. -- Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas