On May 19, 2010 I have written about about Autism / Custody Battles – Kennedy Krieger researchers find autism does not affect family structure and have written a letter to Dr. Freedman, asking him to do research on Autism and Custody battles, rather than Autism Divorce rates. My reasoning behind it is that many abusive and “in denial” fathers will not allow a child to be diagnosed, and never making it into the research studies.
Below is a response from Dr. Brian Freedman, Clinical Director, Center for Autism & Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute:
July 30, 2010
Thank you for taking the time to write and share your personal story. Here at Kennedy Krieger, we see the challenges faced by families of children with autism every day and we marvel at the resiliency and strength of these families, especially moms like yourself. We know how important it is to listen to families, as they are in the best position to be an expert on their child’s autism. In fact, Kennedy Krieger has a national online research registry at www.ianproject.org that collects information from parents and individuals with autism to share with researchers. The IAN Project is exploring everything from diagnosis and treatments to maternal/paternal stress. We encourage more parents to register and share their valuable knowledge. My research into the rate at which parents of children with autism remain married is indeed only one insight into the experiences that parents are facing. Hopefully this work will pave the way for researchers to further explore the experiences and circumstances of parents of children with autism. I couldn’t agree with you more that there is much for us to learn and understand about the challenges that families like yours are facing.
Brian Freedman, Ph.D.,
Clinical Director, Center for Autism & Related Disorders
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Links for Parents: Join the IAN Network https://www.ianresearch.org/signup
KKI IAN :: Interactive Autism Network – Linking the Autism Community and Researchers – The Interactive Autism Network (IAN) is an innovative online project bringing together tens of thousands of people nationwide affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and hundreds of researchers in a search for answers.
Autism Custody Battles 
Brian Freedman I need someone like you to see what is happening to me and my precious girls it’s criminal and illegal as all get out but goes on. Visit my blogspot & see if you can join to read and here are my other sites. The damage that has been done in parental alienation alone, emotional & mental abuse, PTSD by ripping them away from their only parent and a good parent @ that as I raised a 26 yr. old NT daughter alone as well. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-395984 DISCRIMINATION~!!
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-4746 BEING KEPT INTENTIONALLY F-THEM.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-397737 BEFORE I FOUND OUT SHE WAS ABUSED (BITTEN BY A ADULT IN THE HOME)
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-439181 KEPT AWAY FOR WHAT ??
Linda Souza HFA