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My public complaint because some people with ASD have "lost"

Duane Wyatt

my morse exhibit at events
V.I.P Member
Hello:
I have autism and major depression.
For 53 years now, communication by Morse code has been my coping mechanism with life. There are lots of people to talk to using Morse over the shortwave radio bands. If I get stressed, a short session sending Morse with my Morse "bug" or iambic paddles calms me. I am fascinated with Morse and I am good at it. Many people with ASD are interested in "patterns" and music.

I am fortunate to be able to speak to over a hundred Sacramento area school children each week. I describe my daily struggles with major depression and autism. Since Morse is a vital part of my life, I describe and demonstrate Morse code. The students and teachers are routinely amazed at my 30 wpm Morse.
I have been trying to gain an appointment with the MIND INSTITUTE Autism research institute staff at UC-DAVIS for over a year now to discuss Morse communication for some socially anxious youth. Morse is a lots of fun, challenging, wholesome,safe, non violent, self esteem elevating, non threatening way to find new friends.

I have emailed several MIND INSTITUTE staff, asking to meet with them. They have declined and after sending them several email messages, the staff finally told me that they will not give me the appointment I seek (MIND INSTITUTE office manager email message to me)

They do not reply to further email messages from me.

I am puzzled, frustrated and angry because I know that some of their patients have lost due to MIND INSTITUTE policy regarding this issue. They are ignorant of this valuable, new and unique activity, yet refuse to spend the hour needed to discuss it with me.

I personally feel that MIND INSTITUTE staff are not innovative or forward thinking. They seem unwilling to "step outside the box" and talk about this. I could go on, but will summarize my narrative with a "minus ten" rating
for the MIND INSTITUTE at UC-DAVIS.
 
Imo they want people who have the label low functioning on the autism spectrum so they can didcover drugs! to make them neurotypical
 
Stop focusing your energy and efforts on the UC Davis Mind Institute. They're not interested and have clearly told you. Instead, search for other ASD-related institutes, centers, practitioners and support/advocacy groups and sell them on your obviously fascinating, potentially life-changing idea. If they say no, then thank them for their time and move on.

One potentially fruitful area of focus could be contacting Meetup groups in your area that are focused on supporting children and youths on the spectrum. Pitch your idea to those parents and group leaders. If they like the idea, then they would most likely let you start teaching Morse to their children. Once word gets around about how much your program has helped those children reduce their anxiety and learn coping skills, word-of-mouth will spread, maybe even to UC Davis. Be patient. Change takes time, even with great ideas.
 
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Stop focusing your energy and efforts on the UC Davis Mind Institute. They're not interested and have clearly told you. Instead, search for other ASD-related institutes, centers, practitioners and support/advocacy groups and sell them on your obviously fascinating, potentially life-changing idea. If they say no, then thank them for their time and move on.

One potentially fruitful are of focus could be contacting Meetup groups in your area that are focused on supporting children and youths on the spectrum. Pitch your idea to those parents and group leaders. If they like the idea, then they would most likely let you start teaching Morse to their children. Once word gets around about how much your program has helped those children reduce their anxiety and learn coping skills, word-of-mouth will spread, maybe even to UC Davis. Be patient. Change takes time, even with great ideas.
Yes, in some aspects I agree withyou. I am upset with MIND INSTITUTE staff because my state tax dollars are paying their salaries. I have been trying to discuss this with subject matter experts for over twenty years now. I only seek an hour of their time, but this far, only two university autism research professors have met with me. I suppose that I have sent several hundred appointment solicitations via email over these years.
One MIND INSTITUTE staff person can spare an hour of his-her time to become informed about this issue, especially since they know that a person with AS is asking for this appointment.
 
Please know that in the US, research into autism and illness is not about curing, it is about making money.

There are cures for Lymphoma, Bexxar and Zevalin, which were SHELVED. There are cancer vaccines that are in the $800,000 range. They are so expensive, there are DIY cancer vaccine websites.

They don't want your idea because they probably have grants to study very specific things. Vapid things, like eye movement in non-verbal 3 year olds, things that will not make a difference.

American Medical Model is not about making a difference, it's about making money and LOTS of it.

Research centers in the US get MILLIONS of dollars to do research that will never ever come to you or me or anyone. It's just a way of getting grant money to write a paper to get more grant money.

You can do A LOT of good through You Tube and things like that. I would watch it. I want to learn Morse Code. I would really like it, and you would reach more people than if you went through that half witted place.
 
Please know that in the US, research into autism and illness is not about curing, it is about making money.

There are cures for Lymphoma, Bexxar and Zevalin, which were SHELVED. There are cancer vaccines that are in the $800,000 range. They are so expensive, there are DIY cancer vaccine websites.

They don't want your idea because they probably have grants to study very specific things. Vapid things, like eye movement in non-verbal 3 year olds, things that will not make a difference.

American Medical Model is not about making a difference, it's about making money and LOTS of it.

Research centers in the US get MILLIONS of dollars to do research that will never ever come to you or me or anyone. It's just a way of getting grant money to write a paper to get more grant money.

You can do A LOT of good through You Tube and things like that. I would watch it. I want to learn Morse Code. I would really like it, and you would reach more people than if you went through that half witted place.
Please know that in the US, research into autism and illness is not about curing, it is about making money.

There are cures for Lymphoma, Bexxar and Zevalin, which were SHELVED. There are cancer vaccines that are in the $800,000 range. They are so expensive, there are DIY cancer vaccine websites.

They don't want your idea because they probably have grants to study very specific things. Vapid things, like eye movement in non-verbal 3 year olds, things that will not make a difference.

American Medical Model is not about making a difference, it's about making money and LOTS of it.

Research centers in the US get MILLIONS of dollars to do research that will never ever come to you or me or anyone. It's just a way of getting grant money to write a paper to get more grant money.

You can do A LOT of good through You Tube and things like that. I would watch it. I want to learn Morse Code. I would really like it, and you would reach more people than if you went through that half witted place.
Yes, you would likely love Morse. I have three videos on Youtube related to Morse. Search for "Duane Wyatt's home amateur radio station" on the YouTube website.
I am excited because the Northern California Shriners hospital school staff are starting an amateur radio and Morse practice program for their patients. They told me that that my recent Morse presentation to them was "awesome!"
 
I'm a "ham" too but put off getting my license for MANY years because of morse code. I simply didn't think I could get the hang of it. I started listening to shortwave in 1986 at age 12 and didn't get my license until 2012. Today I mainly stick to voice modes.

As for UC Davis, all they really care about is first the grant money and second being a "teaching hospital" using the sick and disabled as de facto classroom guinea pigs. If you see one of their top specialists at anything you will see on his business card that he is an assistant professor at the "school" of whatever he's seeing you for. This means he's using his notes as teaching materials, despite it not really being legal.

Therefore, you've just become a "case study" in his classroom. "Here we have Patient O. O comes to you with Problem X. You can rule out Causes A and B via talking with O. What would you ask O next?" So then he walks a bunch of 23 year old master's degree students through how he diagnosed O, and how he came to that conclusion.

Unfortunately, most of America's hospitals are now university owned since everybody else went out of business ages ago due to skyrocketing costs and falling insurance payments. So tuition and grant money are the only things keeping the doors open. They really don't care about enriching the lives of their patients, but making money off them via the process I described above.

Other than that, America really doesn't have much of a health care system anymore unless you're a billionaire. The poor are lab experiments.
 
You should probably stop wasting your time and energy on an institute that has clearly stated not being interested in what you have to offer. As frustrated as you are by their lack of interest, they're probably not going to change their mind just because you keep pushing.

I think you'd be better off exploring other options that allow you to teach people morse.
 
I'm a "ham" too but put off getting my license for MANY years because of morse code. I simply didn't think I could get the hang of it. I started listening to shortwave in 1986 at age 12 and didn't get my license until 2012. Today I mainly stick to voice modes.

As for UC Davis, all they really care about is first the grant money and second being a "teaching hospital" using the sick and disabled as de facto classroom guinea pigs. If you see one of their top specialists at anything you will see on his business card that he is an assistant professor at the "school" of whatever he's seeing you for. This means he's using his notes as teaching materials, despite it not really being legal.

Therefore, you've just become a "case study" in his classroom. "Here we have Patient O. O comes to you with Problem X. You can rule out Causes A and B via talking with O. What would you ask O next?" So then he walks a bunch of 23 year old master's degree students through how he diagnosed O, and how he came to that conclusion.

Unfortunately, most of America's hospitals are now university owned since everybody else went out of business ages ago due to skyrocketing costs and falling insurance payments. So tuition and grant money are the only things keeping the doors open. They really don't care about enriching the lives of their patients, but making money off them via the process I described above.

Other than that, America really doesn't have much of a health care system anymore unless you're a billionaire. The poor are lab experiments.
I'm a "ham" too but put off getting my license for MANY years because of morse code. I simply didn't think I could get the hang of it. I started listening to shortwave in 1986 at age 12 and didn't get my license until 2012. Today I mainly stick to voice modes.

As for UC Davis, all they really care about is first the grant money and second being a "teaching hospital" using the sick and disabled as de facto classroom guinea pigs. If you see one of their top specialists at anything you will see on his business card that he is an assistant professor at the "school" of whatever he's seeing you for. This means he's using his notes as teaching materials, despite it not really being legal.

Therefore, you've just become a "case study" in his classroom. "Here we have Patient O. O comes to you with Problem X. You can rule out Causes A and B via talking with O. What would you ask O next?" So then he walks a bunch of 23 year old master's degree students through how he diagnosed O, and how he came to that conclusion.

Unfortunately, most of America's hospitals are now university owned since everybody else went out of business ages ago due to skyrocketing costs and falling insurance payments. So tuition and grant money are the only things keeping the doors open. They really don't care about enriching the lives of their patients, but making money off them via the process I described above.

Other than that, America really doesn't have much of a health care system anymore unless you're a billionaire. The poor are lab experiments.
Well stated. I am frankly puzzled why they will not give a person with ASD an hour of their time. I agree with you that I have no respect for UC- DAVIS.
 
You should probably stop wasting your time and energy on an institute that has clearly stated not being interested in what you have to offer. As frustrated as you are by their lack of interest, they're probably not going to change their mind just because you keep pushing.

I think you'd be better off exploring other options that allow you to teach people morse.
My autism is talking, I simply do not want to give up. But, it is okay when I reflect on all the blessings I have.
 
Are you aware that this is a public forum, @Duane Wyatt, and that the folks at UC Davis are able to read every single word you post about them? Bashing them publicly is the surest way to keep those doors locked to you and your program forever. Surely that's not what you want to have happen.
 
Are you aware that this is a public forum, @Duane Wyatt, and that the folks at UC Davis are able to read every single word you post about them? Bashing them publicly is the surest way to keep those doors locked to you and your program forever. Surely that's not what you want to have happen.
I am aware of this. Your thoughts are correct. It is normal for angry and frustrated people to "vent" verbally. I am glad that my comments are public, after a year or more of correspondence with them, I knew that this would be counter productive.
 
I am aware of this. Your thoughts are correct. It is normal for angry and frustrated people to "vent" verbally. I am glad that my comments are public, after a year or more of correspondence with them, I knew that this would be counter productive.
But to what end? What is your ultimate goal-- to somehow prove that UC Davis is shortsighted, or to help people with autism?
 
It would appear their entire focus regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder for better or worse is "elsewhere"- and quite defined. Which may explain why they may be quick to dismiss anything that doesn't meet their narrow (Phenotype-based Treatments) research parameters.

UC Davis MIND Institute wins coveted ACE grant

Not to mention that in soliciting government grants to fund such things, it's also about the publicity and pre$tige brought to the university. Which has little to do with the welfare of their "test subjects". o_O

I'm guessing individuals alone with the best ideas and intentions don't stand a chance of even being given an audience by such an institution and all those who formally represent it. That you could knock on their door all day long and no one is home.
 
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But to what end? What is your ultimate goal-- to somehow prove that UC Davis is shortsighted, or to help people with autism?
Yes,this is and should be "not about me". But, also, dedicated and progressive and caring subject matter experts would want to network with me anyway, at least for an hour. They would realize that I am simply "acting out", realize that this is normal human behavior and overlook these comments. They are intelligent enough to realize that " this is not about me."
 
Yes,this is and should be "not about me". But, also, dedicated and progressive and caring subject matter experts would want to network with me anyway, at least for an hour. They would realize that I am simply "acting out", realize that this is normal human behavior and overlook these comments. They are intelligent enough to realize that " this is not about me."
It's too bad that you're stuck on this track, one that will lead you nowhere other than possibly getting a restraining order put on you by the MIND Institute. If that were to happen, your credibility as an autism advocate would be severely diminished. I urge you to focus your talent and energies elsewhere. You've got such a great idea that could help so many children, it's a shame that you're putting it aside to pursue this meaningless vendetta that will help nobody.
 
My autism is talking, I simply do not want to give up. But, it is okay when I reflect on all the blessings I have.
Directing your attention towards a more attainable goal is not giving up, in my opinion. It's just sensible. But hey, knock yourself out.

Just don't be surprised when the restraining order is served.
 
It's too bad that you're stuck on this track, one that will lead you nowhere other than possibly getting a restraining order put on you by the MIND Institute. If that were to happen, your credibility as an autism advocate would be severely diminished. I urge you to focus your talent and energies elsewhere. You've got such a great idea that could help so many children, it's a shame that you're putting it aside to pursue this meaningless vendetta that will help nobody.
We know that people with autism act impulsively-these comments reflect that. We know that people with autism are also single minded and extremely focused on their interest area--these comments reflect that.
We know that autistic people can have "meltdowns" if they become extremely frustrated. I am having a verbal "meltdown".
We know that people with autism may have strong feelings about an issue and see information in "black and white", with no "Grey areas" seen.
I am simply being autistic!
The often quoted excuse also is reflected here :"Freedom of speech".
If people hear about a " restraining order" given to me by UC-DAVIS staff because of my comments here and elsewhere, they may possibly not understand the reason for it.
I knew that I would get " beaten up" by my peers here for posting my comments.
That is also okay because of course, you also have "freedom of speech!"
 

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