Category Archives: autism

Michael Specter: The danger of science denial

Attachment Therapist Thomas Gill Jailed for Sex Crime Against Autistic Child Patient

Day 594. Survivors found: 8 Thanks to one of our supporters for alerting us to this case. Thomas A. Gill, co-founder of Kirkland-based Attachment Center Northwest, was sentenced to five months in jail and a two-year suspended sentence Friday after pleading guilty to sex crimes involving a 15-year old male client. Gill, 63, is a [...]

Why America is Flunking Science

Day 517. Survivors found: 8 The following article was written by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum, co-authors of the new book “Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future.” I can’t wait to get my grubby little claws on this up-and-coming tome. This article was first published two weeks ago for Salon, and is based [...]

National Autism Awareness Month

Day 428. Survivors found: 8 We’ve been extremely busy with several ventures here at anti-torture-cum-quackery central, the details of which cannot be disclosed at this point in time, but have faith! Our efforts are better spent behind the scenes at the moment. So rejoice! Or be afraid. Heh. What with all this conscientious activity, this [...]

Attachment/Holding Therapy Inspired "Gay to Straight" Movement Leader

Day 361. Survivors found: 6 From ACT (Advocates for Children in Therapy): [Martha] Welch’s Holding Time approach has been embraced by the “gay-to-straight” movement. Richard Cohen, in his 2000 book, Coming Out Straight, suggested that therapists can cure homosexuality — or parents could avoid it in the first place — with Welch’s method: “I recommend [...]