Last week, Michael Savage said that most kids diagnosed with autism weren’t really disabled. "In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out.” At Pajamas Media, we learn that autism is the new sacred cow, and that the rest of society should be protected from these kids. A few weeks ago, Greene and Foster said that it was impossible that 1 in 7 kids were disabled, though they had absolutely no proof on that matter.

What’s going on? Why the hate?

There’s an inclusion backlash. People, unaccustomed to seeing kids with disabilities, are getting them thrust in their faces in their kids’ classrooms. Newly empowered parents are leaving their homes for the first time and taking their kids to Wendy’s, amusement parks, and movie theaters. The public is getting their first look at temper tantrums and hyperactivity. They may have to listen to a meltdown while they enjoy a Single Combo at Wendy’s rather than enjoying their God-given right to a peaceful meal. They have to endure the kid who won’t shut up during Wall-E. They have to make accomodations and, for some, that’s tough.

There still aren’t enough supports for families with disabilities. Disabled kids are being put into classrooms with untrained aides, who don’t know how to contain the kids. It’s inclusion, but bad inclusion.

The disability denial fits in really well with people who also deny poverty. They apply the "they have just gotta pull themselves up by the bootstraps" philosophy to everything.

The thimiserol debate has caused some lasting damage. There’s a very strong case that there is no link to immunization and autism, but less than smart people have concluded that since this claim is false, all claims about disability are false.

Also, it would be really nice to think that disability is just about bad parenting. Then you can take back all those taxes for schools. You have a handy villian — the stupid mother. With this line of argument, you can roll back the welfare state and hate women all at the same time. What a bargain!