AGE OF AUTISM

JOHN McCAIN ENTERS THE AUTISM WARS

This is from the ABC News blog: See the blog and leave comments HERE.

February 29, 2008 7:11 PM

At a town hall meeting Friday in Texas, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., declared that "there's strong evidence" that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that was once in many childhood vaccines, is responsible for the increased diagnoses of autism in the U.S. -- a position in stark contrast with the view of the medical establishment.

McCain was responding to a question from the mother of a boy with autism, who asked about a recent story that the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program had issued a judgment in favor of an unnamed child whose family claimed regressive encephalopathy and symptoms of autism were caused by thimerosal.
"We've been waiting for years for kind of a responsible answer to this question, and are hoping that you can help us out there," the woman said.

ABC NEWS: PLEASE LET ‘EM HAVE IT!

By J.B. Handley

As the email chain below from AOA reader Monica Bice shows, ABC is clueless and trying to defend the indefensible. Their chief medical correspondent blatantly lied to the American people and falsely reassured parents that the rates of autism amongst unvaccinated children has been studied when it has never been studied (except for Generation Rescue’s study!)

We want, and deserve, a retraction. Please email:

Roger Sergel
Managing Editor
Medical Coverage
ABC News
roger.h.sergel@abc.com

David Westin
President
ABC News
This email address is not working - if anyone has a working address please email leave us a comment!  Maybe David's mailbox is full???
David.westin@abc.com

Audrey Grayson
ABC News Medical Unit
(781) 455-6020
audrey.grayson@abc.com
 
________________________________________

ABC WORLD NEWS TALKS OUT OF ITS.......

Editor's Note: Age of Autism reader and mom Monica Bice got in touch with ABC to complain about Dr. Timothy Johnson's statement that studies have been conducted on vaccinated-versus-unvaccinated children to determine whether vaccines cause autism. First, read the response from Audrey Grayson of ABC. Then read what Monica answered back. And many thanks to Monica for obtaining this very useful information and sharing it with us. Perhaps others would like to let ABC know they still don't have their facts straight.
--

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Grayson, Audrey
    To: monica@aware4autism.org
    Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 10:19 AM
    Subject: Autism and Vaccines

    Monica,

    Thanks for your call. Below is some of the information you requested, with studies and additional information attached.

    Best,
    Audrey Grayson
    ABC News Medical Unit
    (781) 455-6020
    audrey.grayson@abc.com

    There are two kinds of theories out there, neither of which is supported by the evidence.

ASA AND MEAD WESTVACO CREATE "AUTISM PLANNER"

Check out this fabulous idea! The Autism Society of America and Mead Westvaco Corp. have teamed up to create a new product, a Cambridge brand planner to geared to autism. From the ASA press release:

Special planner designed to help families organize, navigate the complicated medical, education needs of autism

ASA and MeadWestvaco Consumer & Office Products Group have partnered to design an autism-themed Cambridge Planner in honor of this April’s National Autism Awareness Month. The planner will go on sale at 1,000 Wal-Mart stores nationwide starting April 1.

Read the full press release HERE.

Beats the hell out of another study on Prozac or the genetic makeup of the short tailed, Mongolian titmouse.....

NEW BOOK ON ADULTS, AUTISM AND ASPERGER SYNDROME

ARI founder Dr. Bernard Rimland, who also founded the Autism Society of America, was the man who dispelled the refrigerator mother theory of autism. The current ARI newsletter speaks to the current state of care/services for adults with autism and Asperger Syndrome. Today's problem is going to be tomorrow's catastrophe as the tens of thousands of children with autism grow into adulthood, into a society that is ill-equipped to care for and respect them.

A new book called Families of Adults With Autism: Stories and Advice for the Next Generation is now available for sale on Amazon. (PURCHASE COPY HERE.)

Read the ARI newsletter HERE.

We're grateful here at Ageofautism.com for the generous sponsorship of ARI.

CITI-MOBILE TEAMS UP WITH NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION

NIXA, Mo., Feb 27, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- This week Citi-Mobile launched a new mobile billboard campaign to raise awareness about the autism epidemic. The advertising company generously donated their mobile billboards to the National Autism Association (NAA), a nonprofit autism organization dedicated to advocacy, family assistance, and cutting-edge research.

The mobile billboards are set for a three-month run in California, including the cities of Glendale and Burbank. Kevin Bartanian, Senior Account Executive of Citi-Mobile, helped coordinate the project. "Citi-Mobile, with its Hollywood Mobile Billboard product, is working to raise public awareness about the autism epidemic and its effect on millions of families," says Bartanian. "We've joined forces with the National Autism Association to bring much needed attention to this cause."

ABC's DR. TIM JOHNSON LIES TO AMERICAN PUBLIC

Managing Editor's Note: Well lookey here! Dr. Johnson was given the Sabin Vaccine Institute 2006 award.  Here.  The Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute’s mission is to prevent disease by advancing development of new vaccines and increasing immunization rates. Founded in 1993, the Institute pursues Albert Sabin’s vision of a world protected from disease by vaccines. You can email ABC at the link following this post.

By Julie Obradovic

What's that you say, Dr. Johnson?

So I'm sitting at work this morning, when an email from my best friend pops up. It's about 10 AM, and she wants to know if there's ever been a study of the vaccinated versus the unvaccinated. She wants to know this because Dr. Tim Johnson on Good Morning America just told her that not only has this study been conducted, but that it has conclusively shown there is no link between the rates of autism among those who get vaccines and those who don't. Even better, the IOM agrees.

Huh?

I thought she must be mistaken. Even Dr. Johnson wouldn't go so far as to make something up, would he?

A quick check of the GMA website verified he would.

WHAT DOES PROQUAD TELL US ABOUT THE MMR?

By DAN OLMSTED

Back in 2005, when the FDA approved the four-in-one live-virus vaccine ProQuad as safe and effective, manufacturer Merck had high hopes. "Based on the public health benefits realized following the introduction of other combination vaccines, such as M-M-R II, we expect PROQUAD to become a primary option for prevention of measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox," said Mark Feinberg, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of policy, public health and medical affairs, Merck Vaccine Division.

That was then. Now, because of a twice-as-high risk of fever-related convulsions, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has dropped its preferential recommendation for the four-in-one shot – measles, mumps, rubella (the MMR components) plus chickenpox. Read the story HERE.

THE SWEATHOGS RETURN

By Harry Hofherr

Remember that TV show about Mr. Kotter who was welcomed back to his old school as a teacher? The students he was assigned to were the challenging ones, the bottom of the class. They were called the Sweathogs. Eventually the show was cancelled. One of the students ended up famous while the rest just disappeared.

I think I found them.

AUTISM: FROM ADDERALL TO ZOLOFT SURVEY RESULTS

Click HERE to see the results the Autism Research Institute Parent Ratings of Behavorial Effects of Biomedical Interventions.

We are proud that ARI is an Age of Autism sponsor. Their commitment to our children is unwavering.

DOUG FLUTIE, TONY BRAXTON: AUTISM AND VACCINES

By Kim Stagliano

Are the autism Luddites, genetics only, epidemic deniers going to bash NFL quarterback (and my fellow Boston College classmate) Doug Flutie the way they have Jenny McCarthy for saying our vaccination protocol is behind the autism epidemic?

These words from Doug Flutie talking about the MMR and autism on Larry King Live right now:  "I draw a parallel. The Gov't would be afraid to admit it. At least spread them out."

Tony Braxton said she points the finger at vaccines. Is Autism Speaks going to disown her tomorrow on their site? Stay tuned. Jenny McCarthy and Katie Wright opened the door. Now a crowd is bursting through it.

You can send an email to Larry King Live HERE.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism, Mom to three beautiful girls with autism and yes, a Boston College Eagle.

FLU SHOTS FOR KIDS SO MOMMY CAN STAY AT WORK?

Managing Editor's Note: You think staying home from work for a few days because your child has the flu is expensive? Trying having to quit your career to care for a child with autism. Read on.

ATLANTA — All children - not just those under 5 - should get vaccinated against the flu, a federal advisory panel said Wednesday. The panel voted to expand annual flu shots to virtually all children except infants younger than 6 months and those with serious egg allergies.

That means about 30 million more children (cha-ching! cha-ching!) could be getting vaccinated. If heeded, it would be one of the largest expansions in flu vaccination coverage in U.S. history. The flu vaccine has been available since the 1940s.

GOV'T ADMITS VACCINE AUTISM LINK

By Kent Heckenlively

I understand that headline is something we thought we’d never hear, but it’s difficult to come to any other conclusion from recent events.

This is from the document concluding that this child I’ll call “Eve” (pseudonym) is entitled to compensation as determined by medical personnel and the Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation, Department of Health and Human Services.  “DVIC has concluded that the facts of this case meet the statutory criteria for demonstrating that the vaccinations Eve received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder, which predisposed her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism, and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of autism spectrum disorder.”

It’s official.  The sky has fallen.  The fat lady has sung.  Pigs are flying.

WHY SO LITTLE HELP FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN?

By Sandy Gottstein

Why Aren’t Autistic Children Getting The Establishment Help They Need?

One of the most puzzling aspects of the autism fiasco is the failure of The Establishment to participate meaningfully in research into how to manage, treat and/or cure the disorder.  Congressman Burton held at least one hearing on the subject.  In the one I attended, NIH was grilled on the paucity of funding compared to conditions like diabetes and AIDS, some of which are considerably less widespread than autism is now understood to be.

OLMSTED ON AUTISM: ABC SNAPS TO ATTENTION OVER VACCINE CASE

By DAN OLMSTED

Below is an e-mail I've been waiting a long time to see -- someone from the mainstream media trying to get their mind around the fact that the United States government has conceded that vaccines triggered autistic regression. By now you've all read about this case and David Kirby's brilliant reporting and analysis of this watershed development (if not, click HERE for a link to David's A of A and Huffington Post column and HERE for the text of the settlement). What is so great is to see a news outlet scrambling to get the story quickly and get it right. The author of the memo, Dan Childs of ABCNews.com, sent it to various interested parties looking for feedback. So far, so good -- that's the way to solicit as wide a range of input as possible. Now to watch the coverage unfold -- and who's to say whether we'll ultimately be grinding our teeth once again or popping champagne. But for now, it's a complete blast to watch, especially for someone like me who's felt like a resident of Bizarro World for the past three years as Big Media covered its ears, eyes and mouths while the biggest health scandal of our lives has unfolded on their watch. Meantime, pass your thoughts on to Mr. Childs at the e-mail below, won't you? (And copy us by commenting on this post.)

From: ABC MEDICINE <ABC.MEDICINE@abc.com>
Sent: Tue Feb 26 12:56:31 2008
Subject: Federal Government May Have Conceded on Vaccine-Autism Case -- ABC News Interest

Good afternoon,

This is Dan Childs, producer of the Health page of ABCNews.com. I hope this message finds you well.

There has been a buzz lately about the possible concession of a vaccine-related case by the government. Much of this talk has surrounded a column posted on the Huffington Post. ...

ABC News is still assessing the validity of this report, but we would like to be ready to responsibly cover this issue if the report does, in fact, prove to be true.

MIKE WAGNITZ ON 92.1 THE MIC, MADISON, WI

Click HERE and scroll down to 2/25 for a Podcast from 92.1 Madison, Wisconsin's "The MIC." Lee Rayburn interviews Mike Wagnitz about Mike's quest to find the cause of his daughter's autism.

FULL TEXT: AUTISM VACCINE CASE

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS

CHILD, a minor, by her Parents and Natural Guardians, MOM & DAD,

Petitioners,

v. 

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

RESPONDENT’S RULE 4(c) REPORT
In accordance with RCFC, Appendix B, Vaccine Rule 4(c), the Secretary of Health and
Human Services submits the following response to the petition for compensation filed in this
case.

FACTS
CHILD (“CHILD”) was born on December --, 1998, and weighed eight pounds, ten ounces. Petitioners’ Exhibit (“Pet. Ex.”) 54 at 13. The pregnancy was complicated by gestational diabetes. Id. at 13. CHILD received her first Hepatitis B immunization on December 27, 1998. Pet. Ex. 31 at 2.

From January 26, 1999 through June 28, 1999, CHILD visited the Pediatric Center, in Catonsville, Maryland, for well-child examinations and minor complaints, including fever and eczema. Pet. Ex. 31 at 5-10, 19. During this time period, she received the following pediatric vaccinations, without incident:

Vaccine                       Dates Administered
Hep B                           12/27/98; 1/26/99
IPV                               3/12/99; 4/27/99
Hib                               3/12/99; 4/27/99; 6/28/99
DTaP                            3/12/99; 4/27/99; 6/28/99

Id. at 2.

CBS REFUSES TO APOLOGIZE FOR "AUTISTIC = RETARD" REMARK

Added 2/27:  Cast member fired. Read more HERE.

From our friends at A-CHAMP and Autism United.

Keep Up the Pressure on Big Brother Advertisers
Lowe's pulls ads, Geico on the brink 

CBS has yet to do anything about broadcasting references to people with autism as “retards” on their Big Brother program.

See the full action alert with contact names, numbers and email addresses HERE.

OK SENATOR JAY PAUL GUMM AUTISM NEWS CONFERENCE

The State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF SENATOR JAY PAUL GUMM
Atoka, Bryan, Coal, Johnston & Marshall Counties
 
February 25, 2008

 
MEDIA ADVISORY


Contact: Senator Jay Paul Gumm
State Capitol: (405) 521-5586
Durant: (580) 924-2221
Mobile: (580) 920-6990
 
Senator, Families with Autistic Children
Schedule Capitol News Conference
 
OKLAHOMA CITY – Several families with autistic children will join Senator Jay Paul Gumm for a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 at 10 a.m. The news conference will be in Room 419-C of the State Capitol.

Senator Gumm and the parents will discuss legislative efforts to require health insurance policies to cover autism related diagnosis and treatment.

Gumm, D-Durant, was author of SB 1537, also known as “Nick’s Law”; that measure was not heard in the Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee.

Among the parents joining Senator Gumm will be Wayne Rohde, the father of Nick Rohde, the inspiration for “Nick’s Law.” Mr. Rohde and other parents will be available to discuss the challenges faced by families with autistic children.

The news conference also will be broadcast live on the Internet at www.oksenate.gov; you can reach the streaming video by clicking on the link “Senate Audio-Video, 419-C”.

For more information, please contact Senator Gumm at the above contacts or Amber England at (405) 521-5695, or by email at england@oksenate.gov.

CASTLE OF SAND ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER AUTISM

By J.B. Handley

We’re proud to be re-running our ad again today in USA Today asking health authorities to   “Green Our Vaccines.”

The message that our children are getting way too many vaccines way too early, that the vaccines are toxic, and that thousands of parents are reporting a reaction to the vaccines that results in autism for their children has resonated with many.

Our children are being pushed into the River Autism by a bloated vaccine schedule managed by a conflict-laden “Vaccine Lobby.” Thousands of parents and doctors are pulling as many of these children out of the river through biomedical intervention and trying to keep more children from being pushed in through education, awareness campaigns, lawsuits, and civil disobedience.

Meanwhile, the Vaccine Lobby (comprised of the CDC, AAP, vaccine manufacturers, and Autism Speaks) has been building a castle on the banks of the River Autism. They are doing their best to pretend they don’t see the children being pushed in by denying the epidemic, and they certainly never acknowledge the ones we are pulling out through recovery.
Unfortunately for the Vaccine Lobby, the River Autism is swollen and rising and the castle they have built is made of sand–-it’s starting to crumble.

LES INCOMPETANTS: OPEN LETTER TO THE AAP

By K. Paul Stoller, M.D.

"Diet, injections, and injunctions will combine, from a very early age, to produce the sort of character and the sort of beliefs that the authorities consider desirable, and any serious criticism of the powers that be will become psychologically impossible. Even if all are miserable, all will believe themselves happy, because the government will tell them that they are so."

-Bertrand Russell, The Impact of Science on Society p50, 1953

As a pediatrician, who has been a fellow of the AAP for two decades, I find the AAP’s approach to the autism epidemic to be deeply disturbing.

PFIZER HAS A HEART ATTACK OVER LIPITOR ADS

Boy, The New York Times has no problem going after Big Pharma when it comes to drugs. (Here's the full article, titled "Pfizer to End Lipitor Campaign by Jarvik.")

$258,000,000. That's how much money Pfizer spent on its ad campaign for Lipitor in one year, featuring Dr. Jarvik, he of the artificial heart fame and the very bad hair. 

Oops! He was the inventor of the Jarvik heart - not the artificial heart. And he doesn't actually row - that's a body double in the ads. Did we mention $258,000,000? That's a lot of ABA hours. Speech Therapy. DAN! visits. Yasko RNA's. And quite likely the GNP of several small countries in Africa.

JAPAN: VACCINATION LAWSUITS

KYODO, Japan, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The Japanese government is bracing for a flood of damage suits from hundreds of people who contracted hepatitis B through mandatory childhood vaccinations.

Lawyers for the victims say the first suits will be filed in late March by a group of some 20 people who are seeking compensation of between $139 million and $555 million each, Kyodo News reported Monday.

Other groups are expected to follow in April, filing their cases in 11 district courts across Japan, the lawyers say.

Last month the Diet enacted relief measures for people who contracted hepatitis C from tainted blood products after Japan's Supreme Court ordered compensation for five hepatitis B victims, Kyodo said.

Japan no longer mandates vaccinations against certain diseases due to side effects that prompted a number of lawsuits.

Full article is HERE.

LIFE IMITATES TV

By David Kirby

Three weeks ago, the American public health establishment turned nearly apoplectic over the airing of an ABC TV fictional drama series, “Eli Stone,” for having delved into the thorny issue of vaccines and autism, and coming out on the side of the theory’s proponents.

Well, last I checked, the sky did not fall down, hell did not freeze over, children are still getting vaccinated (even with this year’s somewhat ineffective thimerosal-containing flu shot) and life goes on pretty much unchanged.

But as powerful as fictional television can be (and I confess to being a fan) it is still no match for good old fashioned reality.

When Eli Stone won a vaccine-autism case on TV, not much happened in our world. But last November, a real American family won a real concession and settlement from the US Government, and will soon be receiving very real dollars to help care for a sick little girl.

What happens next remains to be seen. But stay tuned for some fun and games this week as the mainstream media tries to grapple with (or, perhaps, roundly ignore) this very real courtroom drama, one that played out right under our very real noses.

[Editor's note: see David Kirby's discussion of the vaccine case concession, "Government Concedes Vaccine-Autism Case in Federal Court-Now What?"  at the Huffington Post, HERE]

GARDASIL AND CHIVALRY: A KNIGHTMARE FOR BOYS?

The New York Times ran a piece on Sunday titled: Vaccinating Boys for Girls' Sake?"

Parents are becoming skeptical of the plethora of vaccines as evidenced by the quote from this mom:  Madeline Cattell, an interior design consultant in Beverly, Mass., and the mother of two boys, ages 8 and 12, never paid much attention to Gardasil, assuming it was a gender-specific vaccine for a gender-specific disease. She was surprised that her boys might be offered it one day.

“You don’t want to say it’s just the girls’ problem,” Mrs. Cattell said hesitantly. “But my sons won’t contract cervical cancer. And genital warts are treatable. I’m very skeptical. What risks will I expose them to?”

THE DIRT ON CANCER AND INFECTIONS

From the LA Times:

Germs may actually help our bodies fight tumors -- which means an infection-free lifestyle comes at a price.

By vaccinating our children against common childhood illnesses, are we denying their bodies the opportunity to develop robust immune systems?  Are we trading chicken pox and measles for cancer down the road?

Read the full article HERE.

The studies also imply that our cleaner, infection-free lifestyles may be contributing to the rise in certain cancers over the last 50 years, scientists say, because they make the immune system weaker or less mature. Germs cause disease but may also fortify the body, a notion summed up in a 2006 report by a team of Canadian researchers as "whatever does not kill me makes me stronger."

CDC's GREAT LAKES GREAT LIES

Did the CDC withhold information about toxicity in the Great Lakes region for "fear of alarming the public?" Who are they, our Mommy????

Read the full article HERE.

The Center for Public Integrity has obtained the study, which warns that more than nine million people who live in the more than two dozen “areas of concern”—including such major metropolitan areas as Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee—may face elevated health risks from being exposed to dioxin, PCBs, pesticides, lead, mercury, or six other hazardous pollutants.

In many of the geographic areas studied, researchers found low birth weights, elevated rates of infant mortality and premature births, and elevated death rates from breast cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer.

Since 2004, dozens of experts have reviewed various drafts of the study, including senior scientists at the CDC, Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies, as well as scientists from universities and state governments, according to sources familiar with the history of the project.

SACRE MERDE! FRENCH VACCINES: MANSLAUGHTER

PARIS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - French authorities have opened a formal investigation into two managers from drugs groups GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and Sanofi Pasteur over a vaccination campaign in the 1990s, a judicial source said late on Thursday.

Judge Marie-Odile Bertella-Geffroy also opened an investigation for manslaughter against Sanofi Pasteur MSD, a joint venture between Sanofi Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and Merck (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the same source said.

The investigations follow allegations that the companies failed to fully disclose side effects from an anti-hepatitis B drug used in a vaccination campaign between 1994 and 1998.

Say it ain't so, Pierre! Read the full article HERE.

SUNDAY AM: KOMU MISSOURI: SHOW ME AUTISM

As a follow-up to the incredible Combating Autism From Within series on KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO (See the series HERE) KOMU NEWS will have a one hour special tomorrow, Feb. 24 at 11 am CST. 

In the show, Ashley Reynolds and her news team will take a look at the families they brought you in the series along with an investigation into the controversy over vaccines and autism.   They will also show some of the responses to the series that they received from all around the world.  In addition, the show will feature a story on the Combating Autism From Within blog along with behind the scenes clips from the crew that made this series possible.

The show should be up online by tomorrow afternoon.

If anyone wants to comment on the show they can fill out the YOUR VIEW HERE.

MONTANA: BIG SKY, BIG BALLS

Attorney General Mike McGrath has sued two national pharmaceutical companies and accused them of manufacturing certain prescription drugs that were “in defective condition and unreasonably dangerous.”

McGrath filed the complaint in state district court in Helena Wednesday against Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP over their prescription drugs Risperdal and Seroquel, respectively. These medicines were intended to treat adult schizophrenia and short-term treatment of acute mania associated with bipolar disorder.

He charged that the two companies “have engaged in false and misleading marketing, advertising and sales campaigns to promote these drugs for non-medically indicated uses.” McGrath said the companies “successfully deceived physicians, citizen-users and others in the medical community” about the safety of these drugs compared to other antipsychotic drugs in order to carve out a greater market share.

Read the full article HERE.

AUTISM ONE CONFERENCE MAY 21 - 25

By Kim Stagliano

Are you planning to attend the AUTISM ONE 2008 CONFERENCE?

Jenny McCarthy is giving the key note address.  Dr. Amy Yasko is presenting. Even better? Dan Olmsted, Mark Blaxill and I are presenting on Saturday morning the 24th.  (Don't tell Jenny and Dr. Y. I said, "even better!" OK?) And did I mention, that the AAP headquarters is darn close? Maybe we'll shoot over there and inject our presence?  And the kicker? A1 offers babysitting so you can bring your children.

5 Days That Will Change Your Child's Life
The Sixth Annual Autism One Conference Returns to Chicago
Wednesday, May 21 – Sunday, May 25, Chicago, Illinois

THE REALITY OF RECOVERY Autism is a whole-body condition with many causes and many roads to recovery. Some children develop autism from vaccines, other children from exposure to molds, pesticides, and a host of environmental toxins.

The pioneering efforts of parents and practitioners have brought new appreciation about the underlying causes that create the conditions of autism. Understanding the causes has led to
safe and effective treatments that are helping our children get better.

Main Conference: Friday, May 23 – Sunday, May 25

BRILLIANCE IN ACTION Learn at the breakthrough presentations highlighting over 100 of the most eminent autism experts across five tracks:

1. Biomedical Treatments
2. Behavior and Education Therapies
3. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
4. Adolescence and Adulthood
5. Government and Legal Issues

"THE AAP KNOWS VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM"

By DR. DAVID AYOUB

Editor's note: Dr. David Ayoub, a radiologist from Springfield, Ill., gave this speech at the rally Wednesday in front of the American Academy of Pediatrics in Chicago. Age of Autism is pleased to help it reach the wide audience it deserves.
--

I thought I would share with you some of my personal experiences with the American Academy of Pediatrics.

My experience with lobbying for safer vaccine laws in Illinois and Massachusetts gave me some insight into the heart and soul of the AAP.

CHICAGO ELECTIONS AND BOZO'S CIRCUS

By Harry Hofherr

Modern Medicine keeps playing with the autism numbers. I'm here to warn them they'll go blind if they keep it up.

I'm from Chicago.  I was actually born in Chicago but raised on the north side of Howard Street which technically makes me an Evanstonian. But Evanston was the home of The Women's Christian Temperance Union and the south side of Howard Street had a tavern on every corner, sometimes two. I liked the south side of the street better. It was a more interesting class of people.

A significant part of growing up in Chicago was being exposed to the politics. I was fortunate that my parents knew a few of the pols (politicians) and they were frequent guests at our house. My brothers and I would hang around watching the poker games, keeping our mouths shut and our ears open. 

LDDI SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS STATEMENT

LDDI has created a scientific consensus statement on environmental agents associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.  The document is in the right hand column at their site. Click here.

WYETH WINS THIMEROSAL CASE

"...it is generally accepted in the relevant scientific community that autism is genetic in origin except in rare instances of prenatal exposures to certain substances at defined periods during pregnancy."

Here's a Yahoo article on the case.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE SPEECH THERAPIST: DAY NINETEEN AUTISM OMNIBUS PROCEEDING

It Must Have Been the Speech Therapist – Day Nineteen of the Autism Omnibus Proceeding – Snyder v. the Secretary of Health and Human Services

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

I keep expecting the defense to come up with convincing evidence that autism has nothing to do with vaccines.

I keep expecting them to provide information which would convince a reasonable person that they understand what’s gone wrong in the brains and bodies of our children.  Maybe it’s because after all this time my mind still subconsciously rebels against the thought that this profession which I’ve long respected has been responsible for such a great tragedy. 

But like a well-connected pillar of the community who can’t explain where he was on the night of his wife’s murder, if this day’s medical testimony from the defense is the best they have, the government’s case is in serious trouble.

BULLIED ASPERGIAN TEEN COMMITTED FOR KNIFINGS

HERE is an article about the tremendous pain and life altering consequences that can come with having autism or Asperger's Syndrome.

"Antietam school stabbings admitted by boy, 13: The eighth-grader will be committed to a facility specializing in Asperger’s syndrome, a mental disorder characterized by lack of social skills."

From his lawyer: “He’s a good kid,” Gavin said. “Life dealt him a difficult hand.”  Indeed.

BERNIE VS. BRYNA: THE TROUBLE WITH AUTISM SPEAKS VERSION 2.0

By J.B. Handley

In March of 2007 I wrote an essay titled “Bernie Versus Bryna, the Trouble with Autism Speaks” that was widely circulated on the web (full text at the end of this post). At the end of the letter, I encouraged parents to write Autism Speaks directly to express their frustration with the organization’s direction.

As of today, I’m certain that Autism Speaks heard from many members of our community, often quite loudly.

The recent emails that I have featured in my columns have created a great situation where I now get more and more emails from all kinds of people that are of interest to our community.

I found this most recent chain that a reader forwarded to me to be particular interesting.

After reading my original post on “Bernie versus Bryna,” a Mom named Lynne sent an email to Suzanne Wright, Co-Founder of Autism Speaks:

JENNY McCARTHY CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO RAISE HELL

WHO: Jenny McCarthy and our sponsor TACA Now.

WHAT: "The biggest largest rally ever done in front of the Centers for Disease Control"

WHERE: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA

WHEN: June 28, or 29, 2008 (tentative)

WHY: Jenny will tell you here. (You need Apple Quicktime)

AND THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO...

By Teresa Conrick

I am no wimp.  I have had my share of hard days but have learned to survive, to take it on the chin.  I am no fan of the lemons into lemonade propaganda, but instead investigate those damn lemons and find out if they could help or hurt. So, it was with great surprise that I found myself out in the cold, Chicago morning, clutching Megan's hand as we caught a glimpse of her little, yellow, special ed bus gone.

Why, you might ask?  Let me rewind to the start of this event.

PARENTS PROTEST AT PEDIATRICIANS' FRONT DOOR

By DAN OLMSTED

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., Feb. 20 – You didn't need a mercury thermometer to know it was cold outside the American Academy of Pediatrics building early Wednesday morning. But despite single-digit temperatures, a double-digit crowd showed up to tell the AAP they shouldn't be injecting babies and pregnant women with mercury and other toxins.

"They need to start listening to parents' concerns and take them seriously," said Amy Carson from Moms Against Mercury. She and cofounder Angela Medlin came all the way from balmy North Carolina to freeze in front of the AAP, abetted by TACA and NAA Chicago, led by Chapter Development Director Karen McDonough. This was their fifth rally outside the AAP, timed to greet employees arriving at work and remind them that thousands of American families believe vaccines have triggered an epidemic of autism and other developmental and chronic health disorders.

FDA VOTES TODAY ON NEW ROTAVIRUS VACCINE

By Barbara Loe Fisher

Today, the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will vote on whether or not GlaxoSmithKline has proved that its new rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) is safe and effective. An FDA staff analysis of the clinical trial data submitted by GSK, which was released on Feb. 15, revealed that Rotarix was associated with an increase in pneumonia-related deaths and convulsions. In addition, there were 27 cases of Kawasaki disease, which involves fever and blood vessel inflammation, a serious disease that has also been associated with Merck's rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq).

Vicky Debold, PhD, RN, who is Director of Patient Safety for the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), has been appointed as the consumer voting member on VRBPAC and will be participating in the FDA Committee's discussion of the quality and quantity of the science presented by GSK in its efforts to secure a license for Rotarix. VRBPAC briefing documents on Rotarix may be viewed HERE.

Barbara Loe Fisher is with The National Vaccine Information Center.