WIN A SIGNED COPY OF DEIRDRE IMUS' GROWING UP GREEN!

By Kim Stagliano

One lucky Age of Autism reader is going to win a signed copy of Deirdre Imus' newest book, Growing Up Green!  Contest details at the end of this post.

I think you'll especially like the chapter on Green pediatrics. (Someone needed to tell the docs that "green" doesn't end with the poop chart we all got in the hospital when we had our babies!) 

We took a family ride down the road to New Canaan, CT to Elm Street Books to meet Deirdre at a signing. As you can see from the photo I snapped, she looked beautiful, with a snazzy new haircut and perfectly green shirt. Her husband Don was there, as was their son Wyatt, a handsome kid. I thanked Don for his work on behalf of kids with autism. After all, he helped put David Kirby's Evidence of Harm on the map three years ago. (Feels like a lifetime, doesn't it?) 

Mike Lupica was also at the bookstore (the sports writer.)  He's good friends with autism Dad and football star Doug Flutie.  Mike, Doug and I are BC grads. (Go Eagles!) We'd met a few weeks ago at a Special Olympics event in which our Mia participated and he spoke to introduce the event. By coincidence, both he and David Kirby had been on Imus that very day. His wife owns a lovely clothing store called True Blue down the road from the bookstore. New Canaan is tres chic. If you're ever if Fairfield County, CT come check it out.

Mia, Gianna and Bella were on their best behavior. (Well, there was one incident that involved a brief meeting with the floor but we won't go into which one of us or why. It could have been me for all you know, right?)

My husband brought up an excellent point on the ride home. Deirdre could sit home, count her money, lunch at the country club every day and spend her evenings worrying if her next manicure appointment might not feature her favorite nail color. Instead, she works tirelessly to help children. You have to respect that.

If you'd like to win a signed copy of the book, just leave a comment.  Make sure you fill in an accurate email address on the comment form. You don't need to post your email address within the comment to maintain your privacy.  I'll announce the winner next week.

Can't wait to see if you win a signed copy?  Order several copies HERE at Amazon. What a great teacher gift for the end of the school year. A perfect baby shower gift. Give one to the folks who run your daycare center. Maybe one for Grandma and Grandpa, who still have that bottle of rat poison on the garage shelf....

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism.

Comments

[Mindy McCahn]

I love what Deidre is doing. I sat in at a PTA convention work shop held by the Deidre Imus Environmental Center in Cromwell, CT last week. I must say I learned so much and can't wait to buy some of the "green" cleaning products she markets.

I would love to get her book. It reminds me of another great book "William Is Going Green" about a smoky white garbage truck character who learns about conservation, and ways to help the planet. He eventually transforms into a "Green" green hybrid recycling truck committed to the fight against global warming. Very cute. Great book to teach kids how to go green.

[Anne Dachel]

Officials try to deny that mercury in vaccines is harmful. They tell us that they removed it and autism rates still are going up. Are they proud of that? Where is their alarm over all the other toxic ingredients in vaccines? Where is their concern over the toxins everywhere and the effects they're having on our children?

All the experts who pretend there is nothing wrong with our kids will cease to be asked. What good are they? The voices of truth like Deirdre Imus will take center stage. Theirs is a message of hope!

Anne Dachel
Media editor

[AnneS]

This looks like a great book!

[Jan Randall]

I caught Deidre on Imus' program the other morning and a couple of days later my Dad called me to tell me to catch her on The View. What she is doing is just awesome!
Mmmmmmmm makes me think... my son(who has autism)favorite color is green...always has been! maybe he knew something we all should have known years ago... green is the way to go!

[Laura Adjunta]

Thank you for all the great work in distributing wonderful information for us parents. This is truly a challenge worth taking not only for our kids but for our world.

[Jennifer]

Thank you for having such a helpful website available to people. I have a friend whose son was diagnosised on Friday with Asperger's and another friend of mine referred us to this website. Thank you so much again for all you do!

[Stagmom for PT]

Hi, PT. We're glad to have you here! Have your read John Robison's book, Look Me In The Eye? He was diagnosed with Asperger's at age 40 - his memoir is fascinating and great read - I think you'd find you have much in common with him. You can read his blog at www.jerobison.blogspot.com. He's now involved with a futuristic brain treatment using magnets at Harvard. Check it out!

Kim Stagliano
Managing Editor of Age of Autism

[PTBartman]

Dear Dan,

Great article, great blog.

I'm 44 years old and huge Imus fan since the early 70's ( http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/246866 )and remember when he and Deirdre first met.

It has been through her activism that I began to realize that I may have been suffering from undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome my whole life (and to think that I had just accepted my old man's diagnosis that I'm just a F-up).

I got Deidre's first book at Town Hall back in Dec and loved it. "Growing up Green" would be a welcome addition to my Imus memorabilia.

Here's hoping I win
PTBartman
http://imustimes.wordpress.com/

[Holly]

FYI, I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday in Marlton, NJ and they did not have the book but you can get it on-line.

[Tracy Stewart]

I am so glad she has a new book out; her first on green cleaning was great! (I read it in the HBOT with my son, LOL). I will be sending this one to all my new mom friends (and old for that matter). Spread thw word! It's amazing with how much "information" there is out there, when you get right down to it, it's almost all propaganda for some company or another. THANKS to Deirdre and all the others like her (including you guys) that are opening eyes and minds.

[Tara]

My 2 young children do not have autism and are pretty healthy for the most part, just normal colds and such. Still, I visit this site every day to find out what is going on with the autism vaccine issue. I think the answers to this issue are going to provide the answers for all of the other issues that the children of today are faced with (thinking allergies, asthma, cancer, etc.). Thanks to all the writers here who are keeping us informed.

I am gradually working on eliminating toxins from our life. I first stopped the vaccines and then the meds, and now I am working on our food and products that we buy. I am sure this book would be very helpful to my family. Thanks!

[Teresa Conrick]

Count me in..I love Deirdre and Don!

[RimlandFanWA]

Hey Kim, you are, of course, right- There's lots of folks who could sit home, ignore the epidemic, and just take care of themselves- and many, many do- (but not anyone I know on this site!).

Someone mentioned cell phones don't cause autism, and I'd like to comment on that. Most folks do not beleive cell phones are the main cause of autism,(except for this research assistant that picked me up from the airport once...rolling eyes..), but many beleive they are a contributing factor in electrical pollution that bombards our kids and messes with their brain waves. LOTS of research on pubmed there. (but of couse those clusters of brain tumors near cell phones towers mean nothing- really!!) For anyone interested, try the search phrase "electromagnetic emissions brain". I haven't read Deidre's book- but am wondering if she addresses this? Anyone know?

[Emily]

Thanks for the contest! I have so much respect for Dierdre Imus (and you, Kim!)...I learn so much from you both.
Emily

[Gene in Greensboro, NC]

Our wonderful grandson happens to have Autism. Thank goodness for people like Diedre & Don Imus who generously give of their intellect, time and financial resources in support of causes that are so important to us all.

As for the "ringback" comments in the above posting, there is something we can ALL do every day to get the word out. A couple of years ago I added information about Autism and 'my position' to my eMail signature so that it was automatically added to all the eMails I sent out to friends, family and business associates...doing my part to spread the word.

Here is what I tell anyone who will listen. Tell everyone you know what you know and believe.
-----------
► Autism can be treated and in many cases, the damage can be greatly reduced and even reversed...ask me how.
The risk of Autism can be reduced...ask me how.
Help Save our Children. Support these organizations and information resources.
Austism Speaks - Awareness: http://www.autismspeaks.com
DAN - Defeat Autism Now Conference: http://www.danconference.com
Generation Rescue: http://www.generationrescue.org
Talk About Curing Autism Now: http://tacanow.com (Jenny McCarthy is associated with this organization)
Age of Autism / Dan Olmstead: http://www.ageofautism.com/

There is one thing families with Autistic children all agree upon: We are a growing population.

Quick Facts:
• 35 years ago, 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with Autism.
• By 2005 in the United States, Autism occured in 1 out of every 150 births (boys and girls combined) and at a rate of 1 in every 69 births for boys alone.
• If one looked at a graph of the increase in mandatory childhood vaccinations (now up to 36) and a graph of the increase in number of cases of autism, you would see that they are nearly identical.
• There are 1.5 million cases of Autism in the USA and each year there are 24,000 new cases.
• Autism is the third most common developmental disability following mental retardation and cerebral palsy.
• Autism is more common than multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis or childhood cancer.
• Autism receives as little as 5% of the research funding as other less common diseases.
The annual per-person allocation for persons with autism is approximately $35.
In contrast, multiple sclerosis receives roughly $158, diabetes $424, breast cancer $600, and AIDS nearly $1,000.
• Yet, each year, there are more new cases of Autism than Cancer, Diabetes and AIDS, combined. (source CNN)
• With treatments, many kids are making enormous strides and a significant number are now indistinguishable from their peers as they enter the public school system.
• Behavioral therapies, diet, vitamin and mineral supplementation, chelation, and medical interventions are some of the treatments effectively being used.
• Most of the above interventions are considered experimental and are not supported by the medical community or health insurance companies.
• In fact, Autism is a condition whose treatments are specifically excluded by most insurance companies...except in the state of South Carolina. (Ryan's Law)
• As aggressive vaccination schedules and Thimerisol receive more scrutiny as a primary 'trigger' for Autism, our Congress has passed legislation to protect vaccination manufacturers from lawsuits, and nullified state laws passed in recent years that prohibited the use of Thimerisol (ethyl-mercury) as a preservative.
• Thimerisol continues to be used by pharmaceutical companies in the manufacturing of vaccinations leaving traces of the toxin while other vaccination like the Flu shots, contain full (dangerous levels) of Thimerisol.

Something is dreadfully wrong. Though the causes of the increase are still being hotly debated, a growing number of parents and professionals believe genetic pre-disposition has collided with too many environment insults -- toxins, chemicals, anti-biotics, vaccines, Thimerisol (mercury) -- to create immunological chaos and overload in the developing nervous systems and immune systems of our young children.

One medical journalist speculated that these children are like the proverbial “canary in the coal mine” here to alert us to the growing dangers in our environment. While this is certainly not a view shared by all in the autism community, it seems true to me.

[NANCY SMITH]

Wow... I would love to win a copy of Deirdre's book. I would share it with our patients!

[Wyndie]

Yay! :) Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!

[Cathy Jameson]

I'm all for a good read--thanks for the chance to win a great book for our expanding library.

Cathy

[Sara Reider]

I am looking forward to reading the book - whether I have to buy it or get lucky enough to win it! Thanks for the fun contest.

[laura s]

thanks for the chance to win!

[Michelle]

I'd like to thank both Diedre and Don for going out on a limb and being advocates for our children! We will get through this, there is another side - it HAS to happen hopefully sooner than later!

[Tim Welsh Tanners Dad]

Just starting the biomedical treatments for my son. Had to wait two years to get into see a DAN doctor in my area. I think he felt sorry for us because my sons Doctor committed suicide. I wondered if his doctor realized what he had done to all the children he had poisoned. We have a long way to go to get green out here in the country. Thanks for the contest.

[Angela Warner]

I saw this early today and thought about writing a comment, but have been so busy since hosting the premiere of Autism Yesterday that I've not even been able to write for that.

A short time ago I was outside enjoying the lovely "spring" weather here in the pacific northwest - rain, hail, and sprinkels of snow - and I was thinking about calling a girlfriend. I then started singing in my head the ringback on her phone.

SOMEBODY... ANYBODY!!!! We need to come up with a "ringback" for autism! Can you imagine??? Anyone who calls your phone will hear the stats of autism, that there is treatment, and that recovery from autism is most definitely possible and is happening for thousands of children with autism!

Anyone have connections to make this happen or available?

While I would love to have a signed copy of "Growing Up Green" (AWESOME)more importantly I just wanted to share this. Let's "green" our ringbacks and enlighten anyone who may call our phones about autism. Hell, if this is possible I may just have to forego my land line altogether. Cell phones do not cause autism, but autism can cause drinking :) LOL

Ang

[Molly]

Hooray for Deirdre and Don!! She looks adorable and love the green shirt. Thanks Kim for all that you do for us too!

[Michele Iallonardi]

I love Deirdre Imus! After I saw her speak at the NAA conference in November, I came home and threw out my microwave. She totally motivated me to green my environment as much as I can. :o)
She is an inspiration! (and you too!)
:o)
-michele

[Carrie Elsass]

Sounds like another great book to add to my repertoire of gifts:) I'll bet people are growing tired of receiving Stephanie Cave's book at baby showers:)
I am proud to announce that the new wellness center my husband will be directing will be built green. Yea! Wonder if "Growing Up Green" can tell me what the safest mattress choice would be for my son?

[Gatogorra]

Deirdre fills a niche which was gaping and had lonely tumble weeds blowing through it. Just her "Greening the Cleaning" campaign alone was enough to be grateful for. A few years ago, every time some daycare or playgroup attendant would swab my kids' toys with Chlorox wipes or open the facility with the just-napalmed-with-carpet-cleaner carpets still wet and reeking, part of me would wilt knowing I'd have to confront yet another hostile ignoramus (hey, sounds like "Ignore Imus"-- not a good idea for anyone with kids) to keep them from poisoning my children. Back then, I had nothing to point to as a positive alternative. Now we buy Deirdre's products when we see them and now we have a book to hand people.

[Charlie Hoover]

Deirdre for President!

Charlie

[Alexis]

Excellent, Deirdre is great! Thanks!

[Ali Hoffman]

It is truly amazing how much Deirdre and Don Imus have helped the cause of Autism as well as being strong advocates for healthy children in the US.

Thank you thank you thank you Deirdre and Don!

[Holly]

Gotta Love the "Sugar Bowl" in Darian, CT too. I just bought a copy of the book and a bunch of green cleaning stuff from Whole Foods for our speech therapist who just prior to our appointment cleaned the room with windex and clorox wipes. I watched my son go from alert and ready to go to spacey in a matter of minutes.

[Lisa Thompson]

Can't resist entering a contest, and for such a great prize! Thank goodness for you, Kim, and David Kirby, and Don and Deirdre Imus, and all the other people waking up the establishment. Kim, remember when I met you at the Flutie conference in Waltham, MA that Suzanne Wright and David Kirby spoke at? I think it was just three years ago, and I was a complete neophyte. Look how far we've come in those three years! I'll never forget that moment when you raised your hand, introduced yourself as the mother of three girls with autism, and implored Suzanne Wright to investigate the vaccine/autism link. As I recall, she gave you her word that it was as good as done! Not exactly ... but our progress in spite of that promise has been remarkable nonthehless.

Lisa

[Angela S.]

I'm thrilled about Deirdre's new book. Deidre was the one who caused me to "wake up" and take a look at what toxins I was bringing into my home. Just like another commenter said, I admire her guts and willingness to speak out about issues that so many others like to pretend don't exist.

[Lisa]

Kim - you are an amazing person and I always forward on your posts to my biomed group. You say what the rest of us are thinking!

Thanks for giving us the chance to win this book - Deirdre knows her stuff!

[nhokkanen]

Thanks, Kim, for the interesting play-by-play reporting. I'm looking forward to reading Deirdre's book. Yes, she is truly a gutsy and ethical person -- what a great role model. (As are you, uber-Mom!)

I'll omit my e-mail so someone else can win. I'll put the book on my "how-to-spend-that-economic-incentive-rebate-check" list.

[Jeanne]

Yeah Kim! Fun! A contest! :-)

[Jim Witte]

Jim Witte