AGE OF AUTISM

DEAN FULTON COMPLETES MARATHON FOR TACA

Dear friends, family, and community supporters:

I am proud to report that I finished The Tacoma City Marathon in 3:39 (which was 27 minutes faster than my first marathon that I did last September).  I placed 71st out of 347 marathoners (not too bad).  I have attached a picture of me that was taken at the 17 mile mark.  Please note my bloody nipple.  That is what you get when you wear a running jersey that is brand new and never been worn (oh well....it was for the kids).  The course was really difficult.  Miles 12-16 were pretty much all up hill (through Pt. Defiance Park).  There were a lot of rolling hills throughout the course as well.  Definitely different than the all flat course that I did last time.  I was proud to run for TACA and received a lot of supportive comments before, during, and after the race.

HOLLAND ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/19

By Mary Holland

Monday, May 19, 2008

Direct Examination of Dr. Brent

Dr. Brent reviews his qualifications as a medical toxicologist and his qualifications in other research, private practice and teaching.  He reviews that he testified before in legal cases, including the Cedillo hearing in this autism proceeding.

Q:  In your private practice, have you treated people for mercury toxicity?  Yes. 
[Discussion of bell curve in toxicological effects.]

Q:  Is there a known susceptible population for mercury toxicity?
A:  It’s fair to say there is no well-accepted hyper-susceptible population for mercury toxicity.

Q:  Are we all exposed to mercury in the environment?  Do we all have some brain retention of mercury in the brain?
A:  Yes.  We’re all exposed to mercury in fish; the average American person eats about 22 kilograms of fish per year, so most people are exposed to 11,000 mg of methylmercury from fish annually.  There are other populations where people eat much more seafood; for instance, in the Seychelles Islands, they eat about three times more seafood and their blood levels of mercury are much higher.

Q:  Please discuss the Hornig mouse study and Dr. Aposhian’s testimony about it.
A:  It showed the retention of mercury in the brain.

PEDIATRICIANS PROTECTING KIDS. SWEET!

By Kim Stagliano

Well it's nice to see pediatricians concerned about the health of their young patients. Abbot Labs has an organic Similac sweetened with sucrose, pure cane sugar. Pediatricians expressed their concern in NYT article today (HERE) about this choice of sweeteners. 

I realize American children are suffering from obesity at alarming rates and that's nothing to joke about. But when you're prescribing Prozac for kids, doling out antibiotics like Dots and injecting babies with mercury and aluminum, it seems a bit silly to worry about organic sugar. Don't you think?

HECKENLIVELY ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/15

The Child, the Parent, and the Saintly Doctor – The Omnibus Autism Proceeding – Second Set of Hearings (Thimerosal & Autism) – Day Four – May 15, 2008

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

Regardless of the side you find yourself on in the vaccine-autism controversy, some days are clearly more difficult for the government attorneys than others. 

In my opinion, the days when the parents (especially if their children have gotten significantly better as in the case of Jordan King and William Mead), and the treating doctor testify must be the times when those attorneys go home, have a good stiff drink, and start dusting off their resumes to find a more meaningful job.

Call me naïve, but trying to convince a court that parents can’t accurately describe what happened to their children after a vaccination, what came out of them during bio-medical treatments, and how they’ve improved since that treatment, can’t be something you want to be remembered for after you die.

STUDY RELEASED: LINK BETWEEN THIMEROSAL VACCINES AND AUTISM

From our friends at A-Champ and running in several media outlets. A new study (HERE) connecting Thimerosal in vaccines to neurodevelopmental disorders.

When comparing exposure differences of 100 micrograms of mercury, the study found the prevalence rates of autism, autism spectrum disorders, tics, attention deficit disorder, and emotional disturbances were significantly increased by 1.7 to 4.5 times. These increased prevalence rates were seen in both exposure periods of birth-7 months and birth-13 months.

AUTISM SPEAKS' HOLLANDER WANTS YOUR CHILD ON PROZAC

By Kim Stagliano

Is this what some folks at Autism Speaks have in mind for our kids? Powerful drugs for toddlers to control their autism behaviors? What about dietary and therapy interventions? Where's that push?

Dr. Eric Hollander, of Autism Speaks, owns the orphan drug patent for the generic of Prozac. I wrote about that HERE. So he dearly wants your autistic child to take the drug. Were he and Dr. Offit separated at birth, gaining riches on the backs of our children?

KATIE WRIGHT SAYS: "LET'S RALLY!"

By Katie Wright

I can’t wait to get to D.C. for the Greening the Vaccines rally! Washington needs to see how our community can mobilize and stand up for our kids. I am so happy that so many people who love my son and care about all of our kids are coming with me, Andreas and our two boys. Joining us will be my sister, my brother-in-law, my aunt, wonderful therapists, and my Mom, Suzanne Wright.

HOLLAND ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/16

By Mary Holland, Esq.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Continued Cross Examination of Dr. Mumper

Mr. Johnson, Respondent’s lawyer, asked questions about Dr. Mumper’s testimony in a previous civil case in Baltimore in 2007, the Blackwell case.  Dr. Mumper submitted a deposition and testified at an evidentiary hearing.  She did not specifically mention neuroinflammation in that case, although it was also related to TCVs.  She did cite to Dr. Zimmerman’s work, although it is Dr. Mumper’s impression that Dr. Zimmerman does not share her view that TCVs are linked with autism. 

HOLLAND ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/15

By Mary Holland, Esq.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Special Master Hastings repeated to new family members present how much the Court appreciates the family members being in court.  Even though the Special Masters didn’t meet William and Jordan, we have met other autistic children in the proceeding and have read the records carefully.  We have an idea what it’s like to be raising an autistic child, and we want to extend our sympathy to the family members.  It’s also obvious what an admirable job these families have done, along with other families of autistic children, to overcome these challenges and to bring these children along.  That comes through very clearly in the records of these two children.  We have great admiration for these two families.  And we are also very grateful that these cases are test cases in the proceeding.  We greatly appreciate your allowing your cases to be included.  I want to thank you very much.

I also want to clarify the difference between general causation and specific causation.  The Vaccine Act is set up to deal with individual cases.  The Special Masters have to resolve individual cases.  But because it doesn’t make sense to hear expert witnesses 5,000 different times, we’re hearing testimony now on general causation as well as on two test cases.  So this is a combination proceeding.  We’re taking general causation testimony for both sides – all three Special Masters will analyze that testimony – but individual Special Masters will decide individual cases.  I will decide Jordan King; William Mead is assigned to Special Master Campbell-Smith and Special Master Vowell will apply the general causation testimony to a third case that will be selected.

HECKENLIVELY ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/16

A Quivering Mass of Jello – The Omnibus Autism Proceeding – Second Set of Hearings (Thimerosal & Autism) – Day Five – May 16, 2008

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

The ideal of a good cross-examination is to reduce the witness to a quivering mass of Jello who can’t even tell you his own name.  It rarely happens.

Sometimes you can shake their story or expertise enough to sow doubt in the court’s mind.
At other times you make a mistake by engaging in extended cross-examination because the witness gets another chance to tell his story.  My opinion is that’s what happened in this day’s cross-examination of Dr. Mumper by the government attorneys.

Continued Cross-Examination of Dr. Mumper (Expert witness for the families)

There were some questions about Dr. Mumper’s testimony in a 2007 case and whether she had included information on neuro-inflammation.  In that case the child suffered cardiac arrest and a seizure after his 18 month vaccination.  The parents were told by their doctors that these conditions could not have been caused by the vaccination.

The child later died at the age of 18 years old from a seizure in his sleep.

PEDIATRIC VACCINES INFLUENCE PRIMATE BEHAVIOR: ABSTRACTS

POSTED WITH PERMISSION

This piece accompanies Dan Olmsted's "Sick Monkeys" piece.
- - - -
Pediatric Vaccines Influence Primate Behavior, and Amygdala Growth and Opioid Ligand Binding Friday, May 16, 2008: IMFAR

L. Hewitson , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA B. Lopresti , Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA C. Stott , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX J. Tomko , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA L. Houser , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA E. Klein , Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA C. Castro , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA G. Sackett , Psychology, Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA S. Gupta , Medicine, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA D. Atwood , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY L. Blue , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY E. R. White , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY A. Wakefield , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX

Background: Macaques are commonly used in pre-clinical vaccine safety testing, but the combined childhood vaccine regimen, rather than individual vaccines, has not been studied. Childhood vaccines are a possible causal factor in autism, and abnormal behaviors and anomalous amygdala growth are potentially inter-related features of this condition.

HECKENLIVELY ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/14

Turning the Tide – The Omnibus Autism Proceeding – Second Set of Hearings (Thimerosal & Autism) – Day Three – May 14, 2008

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

Memo to government attorneys:  When CBS News puts the expert report for the opposing side on their web-site you’re probably losing the public relations battle.

As reported by Mary Holland in her account that’s exactly what they did with Dr. Kinsbourne’s report and the rest of the day did not go much better for the defense.

"MERCURY MILITIA?" NO. RN.

By Kim Stagliano

THIS article was not written by a junk science junkie, a manic mom, a mercury militiaman or a mostly moronic measles-lover. It was written by an RN named Barbara Jamison and printed in that scandalous, liberal (LOL!) newspaper, The Fort Wayne Sentinel News.

You can register at the Sentinal News site and add your comments, as I'm sure the vaccinophiles will be there shortly ripping Nurse Jamison a new one. As soon as they scour Age of Autism with their morning's weak tea.

It is time to take a new look at the need for specific vaccinations. Vaccination is designed to benefit the public health. It is a one-size-fits-all approach. Thus, the rural Midwestern baby receives the same treatment as the crowded inner-city baby. Surely, the needs of these babies are not the same.

DODGING THE CAUSAL QUESTION ON ADHD-TV

By Nancy Hokkanen


When Laura Kasemodel calculated that her home state of Minnesota led the nation in autism prevalence for several years, she logically concluded that local media would be interested in finding out why. Unfortunately a medium that epitomizes attention deficit disorder gave Laura's information a rather different treatment than she desired.

Laura knows numbers; she uses them daily at her job. She and husband Tim, a volunteer lobbyist, have two sons; one is autistic. For years Team Kasemodel has monitored IDEA data listed on the state Department of Education's website. This spring Laura tracked, graphed and plotted each year's birth cohort not only for autism, but for all IDEA categories.

In April the Kasemodels sent Minneapolis/St. Paul newspapers, TV and radio stations a document compellingly titled "Minnesota – Unfortunately, Still Number One." Cited were the MDE figures, and Fighting Autism's incidence rate of 1 in 81 based on the 2006 IDEA data. The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" also has that many children identified with autism – 9,929 in 2006, then 11,314 in 2007 – for a total gain of 1,385. or an increase of 13.9%.

OFFIT TARGETS THE POLINGS: TOUTS VACCINATIONS FOR MITO DISORDER

Dr. Paul Offit goes after the Poling decision in The New England Journal of Medicine.  Dr. Offit makes money from vaccines. His career is predicated on vaccines.  In the article, he says:

Unfortunately, in recent years the VICP seems to have turned its back on science.

Like the Werderitsh decision, the VICP's concession to Hannah Poling was poorly reasoned. First, whereas it is clear that natural infections can exacerbate symptoms of encephalopathy in patients with mitochondrial enzyme deficiencies, no clear evidence exists that vaccines cause similar exacerbations. Indeed, because children with such deficiencies are particularly susceptible to infections, it is recommended that they receive all vaccines.

Read the full the article HERE.

OLMSTED, THE AMISH AND AUTISM: PART TWO

By Mark Blaxill (Part 2 of 2)

The Clinic for Special Children has been operating in Lancaster County for nearly 20 years. They describe themselves as “a community-supported, nonprofit pediatric medical practice for Amish and Mennonite children who have genetic disorders.” Since 1998, Dr. D. Holmes Morton and his colleagues report having documented 39 distinct heritable disorders in the Amish and 29 in Mennonites.  Behind the humanitarian impulse that certainly inspires their work lies a basic and rather stark reality: the recognition that the greater degree of inbreeding among the small Amish population promotes a greater incidence of genetic disease. One part pediatric missionary, one part research scientist with a target rich study population, Morton has spent most of his life providing health services to the Amish while also doing research and writing about them.

HOLLAND ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/14

By Mary Holland, Esq.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Note:  The experts testify before the Special Masters with Powerpoint presentations.  It is difficult to comprehend their testimony without reference to their visual materials.  Experts’ Powerpoint presentations will be available at the A-CHAMP website at [http://www.achamp.org].

Direct Examination of Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne, M.D.

Here’s a link to his expert report, posted by CBS News: (HERE)

Dr. Kinsbourne is a pediatric neurologist with significant professional credentials.  Although Dr. Kinsbourne previously practiced medicine, he now is engaged primarily in research and writing.  Dr. Kinsbourne is testifying only on general causation, not about the two boys in the test cases. 

WELCOME LEE SILSBY PHARMACY'S "OUR KIDS ASD"

Please join us in welcoming and supporting our newest advertiser, Lee Silsby compounding pharmacy in Cleveland, Ohio. Alan Israel and Robert Wright are two of the top compounding pharmacists in the autism world.

Their innovative online store called Our Kids ASD offers supplements from all of the companies you rely on to help your children, in addition to their own products.  So do click into their site from the ad in the sidebar and take advantage of their sale!

CONTACT INFO FOR DR. HEALY

By Anne Dachel, Media Editor

I received word that anyone wishing to contact Dr. Healy at US News and World Report where she is Health Editor can send email to Dr. Healy to letters@usnews.com with the subject
line "Attn: Dr. Bernadine Healy."

HECKENLIVELY ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/13

Beating up the Burglar – The Omnibus Autism Proceeding – Second Set of Hearings (Thimerosal & Autism) – Day Two – May 13, 2008

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

I’ve often tried to imagine what it must be like to be an attorney bringing one of those frivolous law suits we hear about so often in the news. 

You know, like the burglar who surprises some sleeping homeowner who beats the heck out of him before calling the police, then turns around and sues the homeowner for assault and battery.

OLMSTED, THE AMISH AND AUTISM

By Mark Blaxill

(Part 1 of 2)

One of the defining contributions to autism journalism in recent years has been our colleague Dan Olmsted’s pioneering work with the Amish. Dan made the simple observation that, given the controversy over autism and vaccines, it would make sense to compare autism rates in vaccinated populations with populations in which vaccination was less common. If autism was less common among less vaccinated populations, that would lend support to the concerns of many parents over the link between their child’s regression and the intensive early childhood vaccination schedule now recommended by the CDC.

HOLLAND ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/13

By Mary Holland, Esq.

Note:  The experts testify before the Special Masters with Powerpoint presentations.  It is difficult to comprehend their testimony without reference to their visual materials.  Experts’ Powerpoint presentations will be available at the A-CHAMP website HERE.

Continued Cross examination of Dr. Aposhian

Ms. Renzi continued with questions about methyl vs. ethyl mercury exposures; can methyl mercury exposures lead to autism?  Dr. Aposhian said these are important questions but that there are no certain answers.  No one looked at autism rates in the Seychelles or Faroe Islands after the methyl mercury studies there, although Dr. Aposhian thought that Dr. Clarkson was now looking at this issue.

UNAUTHORIZED IMUS TRANSCRIPT

The following is an unauthorized transcript of IMUS interview with CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson.

IMUS: Let's go to Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News, who had a report last night with Dr. Bernadine Healy about the possible link between thimerosal, a mercury based preservative, still in some vaccines, flu vaccines....and autism.  Good morning Ms. Attkisson

Watch the interview here:

SHARYL: Good Morning.

IMUS: I had Dr. Healy on about an hour ago.  The question I had for her is why did she want to get involved in this?

SHARYL: What did she say?

HECKENLIVELY ON THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: 5/12

Once More into the Breach! – The Omnibus Autism Proceeding – Second Set of Hearings (Thimerosal & Autism) – Day One – May 12, 2008

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

With the very able assistance of Professor Mary Holland of New York University School of Law, the two of us will be bringing you commentary on this second part of what David Kirby has aptly called the “Autism Trial of the Century”.

This should enable me to produce quicker reports as I will be concentrating mainly on commentary while the esteemed Professor Holland will be covering the details of each day’s testimony.

The opening of a legal proceeding is supposed to be a preview of the fight to come and neither side disappointed.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DR. HEALY AT CBS NEWS

Click HERE to post your comments on the CBS News BLOG about the story by Sharyl Attkisson of Dr. Healy's thoughts on autism and vaccines, won't you? 

And please leave a COMMENT HERE that will go directly to CBS NEWS to tell them how much you appreciate Sharyl's work!  We need to support the journalists who stick their necks out on behalf of our children.

RE-RUN: WE KNEW ALL ALONG? YES, WE REALLY DID.

BY DAN OLMSTED

Bernadine Healy's comments to CBS (and Imus) today are a landmark in the long, painful slog toward the truth about vaccine damage. Be excited -- be very excited. But believe me, it will take a while longer for the "mainstream" media to realize what a catastrophically mediocre job they've done -- and fix it. Too many egos (Dr. Nancy, Dr. Tim, "Dr." Harris...), too many careers, too much credibility are at stake. CBS's Sharyl Attkisson has been way ahead for a long time.

Meanwhile, I'm struck by Sharyl's remarks that brain injury from vaccines has been well documented since 1991 -- but that calling it autism has been a taboo.

Here's an article I wrote for UPI in 2005 about clear warnings to the CDC and FDA as early as 1991 from doctors linking autism and vaccines. Most chilling: The California doctor who reported in 1994 "there are currently 10 cases of autism in children who received DPT/OPV/MMR at 15-18 months." Isn't that a cluster? The response? Dismissive. In my view, most of the tens of thousands of autism cases since then are the responsibility of the CDC, the FDA, the AAP -- as well as Big Media for enabling them.

THEORIES AND HYPOTHESES ABOUT AUTISM

(NOTE: Dr. Schaffner may have to "reconsider" his words after Dr. Bernadine Healy stated today that doctors have purposefully ignored and disparaged research that points a causal finger at vaccines. Anne Dachel provides proof here.)

By Anne Dachel

On May 12, 2008 ABC News put out the story, Court to Hear Families on Vaccine-Autism Link by Dan Childs.  In it we hear (click here to listen) that it's only a theory that thimerosal or the MMR vaccine cause autism and that these theories are opposed by mainstream medicine. 

Dr. Boyd Haley from the University of Kentucky is cited by Childs and described as "a vocal proponent of a vaccine-autism link" who thinks that "the current studies are flawed."  Dr. Haley tells us that these cases being heard in the special court "are indeed the result of an underlying genetic vulnerability being triggered by the mercury."

Dr. William Schaffner, professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., challenges Dr. Haley and refers to his claim as "one of many hypotheses behind the development of autism in some children.  Some of these hypotheses. . . are being investigated. But none so far. . .  have the weight of scientific proof. "

OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING: Monday, May 12, 2008

Summary of Monday, May 12, 2008 proceeding.

By Mary Holland, Esq.

Test Cases of Jordan King and William Mead for Petitioners’ Second Theory that Thimerosal Alone Causes Autism

Opening Statements:

Special Master Hastings:

Special Master Hastings opened the evidentiary hearing by introducing himself and Special Masters Vowell and Campbell-Smith.  He said that the proceeding has two purposes:  to hear the claims of Jordan King and William Mead about autism and other medical issues and to hear testimony that this autism is vaccine-related on the theory that thimerosal alone can cause autism.  All three Special Masters will evaluate general causation evidence; individual cases will be decided by one Special Master using evidence from the general causation hearing.

TUNE INTO IMUS NOW! HEALY AND ATTKISSON

CBS was tipped off to cases as far back as 1991 where the gov't is paying families for brain damage for vaccine cases - the gov't is not tracking which of them would be called autism. Healy was shocked.

Tune in this morning to www.abcradio.com to listen to Don Imus live. He is having Dr. Bernadine Healy and Sheryl Atkisson from CBS on to discuss vaccines. Tentative time is 7:30am.

Points brought up right now live by Dr. Healy:

The Poling case is so important.

The principle of herd immunity drives vaccine thinking because of that there's a fear in public health community that people will stop getting vaccines.

Public Health officials feel: We are challenging something too important let's not do the studies or the science."

BILL CLINTON IN JB HANDLEY COUNTRY

Sounds like Bill Clinton was talking to JB Handley while stumping for his wife in the Pacific Northwest.  Click HERE.

The point is that Bill Clinton is in Oregon and uttered the word autism. Nothing more.  Certainly nothing related to Bill Clinton using the term "born with..." which to him may have little difference from "diagnosed with" in terms of his knowledge of autism. 

President Bill Clinton on KTVZ in Central Oregon: You do not want to bring your children into the world where we go on with the number of children who are born with autism tripling every 20 years, and nobody knows why," he said.

DR. HEALY: GOV'T TOO QUICK TO DISMISS VACCINE LINK

We'd like to see how the Offits, Tayloes and Gerberdings attempt to impugn "loudmouth" Dr. Bernadine Healy who says, "the government has been too quick to dismiss the possibility of a vaccine-autism link" in THIS CBS report by correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

Today, a second round of autism test cases begins in federal vaccine court. Tonight on the CBS Evening News, we'll have exclusive interviews with the two families who are bringing the cases: two of nearly 5,000 autism cases that have been filed in this special court. The government and many scientists have consistently maintained for more than a decade that there is no link between vaccines and autism. The Institute of Medicine issued a report in 2004 that was intended to put the controversy to rest, saying that the weight of the body of scientific evidence does not show a causal link between vaccines and autism. However, other scientists and parents disagree.

For our report, we interviewed Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former head of the National Institutes of Health and a member of the Institute of Medicine who breaks with her colleagues in this exclusive CBS News interview: Dr. Healy says the government has been too quick to dismiss the possibility of a vaccine-autism link, and that it should be explored with renewed vigor.

DR. OFFIT'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHOULD DISALLOW HIM FROM COMMENTING

By Kim Stagliano

Below is a quote from Paul Offit about this week's Federal court case that is as condescending as anything we've read recently. And is especially galling to parents of vaccine injured children, as it comes from a man whose own vaccine, RotaTeq, just killed a child (Read more HERE) and has injured many others. "Endearing?" Surely a man with his education could have chosen a less patronizing word? 

Dr. Offit has a financial conflict of interest with vaccines. He holds the co-patent on RotaTeq, Merck's vaccine which made a half a billion dollars last year. And he has a book coming out in September aimed at all of us who believe autism is treatable and that vaccines play a role in the epidemic. Funny how the article neglects to mention that.

"I think that what's so endearing to me about the anti-vaccine people is they're perfectly willing to go from one hypothesis to the next without a backward glance," said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Read the full Yahoo article by AP's Kevin Freking HERE.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism.

AUTISM OMNIBUS PROCEEDING: FAQ'S

By Mary Holland, Esq.

I will be posting summaries of the thimerosal-autism test cases starting May 12.  Below, I provide some answers and links that may be helpful in understanding this unusual proceeding.  My goal is to provide short, objective summaries of testimony every day for those people who do not have the time or inclination to listen to the hearings.  You may still sign up to get audio access to the hearings (HERE).

What is the Omnibus Autism Proceeding?

In 2002, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims’ decided Leroy v. Secretary of HHS and  started the unprecedented “Omnibus Autism Proceeding.”  Read more HERE 

Parents of autistic children had filed thousands of lawsuits around the country in ordinary state and federal courts, in addition to “vaccine court,” arguing that thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, caused their children’s autism.   Lawyers in ordinary courts argued that they should be able to proceed there, rather than in “vaccine court,” because thimerosal is a vaccine “adulterant” or “contaminant” under federal vaccine law. 

In Leroy, Chief Special Master Golkiewicz decided that because thimerosal is “vaccine-related,” its injuries should be heard first in “vaccine court” according to Congress’ National Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensation Act of 1986. Read more HERE.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

By Kim Stagliano

My children aren't babies any longer. Are yours?  In the not too distant future, I will become the gray haired woman in this lovely painting by artist Sheldon Feuerstein.  And I'll kiss my girls with as much love as I did on the day they were born.

Happy Mother's Day.

Kim

GLUTEN FREE DIET? AS DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE.

By Kim Stagliano

Most of you know that Autism Speaks has partnered with a snack company to sell puzzle shaped pretzels. Isn't that clever? Rumor has it Hershey is coming out with a candy bar for Juvenile Diabetes too. 

Guess the fund raisers/publicity pros at Autism Selfpromotes don't fully understand the impact of the GFCF diet.  Here AS team, read and watch THIS.  From the CBS report:

Dr. Seshagiri Rao specializes in treating autistic children. He said that a gluten/cassein-free diet is useful in about one third of his patients who receive an early diagnosis, an alternative diet, a daily regime of vitamins in large doses, behavioral therapy and physical therapy. "Some children can recover completely," Rao said. "Other children can recover to a large extent."

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism. She just made her 23,434,099 GFCF meal for her children. Hold the pretzels.

THE ONE THING TWO PARTIES CAN AGREE ON

By Jack Russell

Given that politicians are as hungry for votes as big pharma is for dollars I keep waiting for the day when either the Republicans or the Democrats seize hold of our issue and run with it.  After all, we’re becoming not an insignificant portion of the electoral.  As the stakes get higher and higher with each election cycle, I would expect someone to want to grab for our demographic and pick up some loyal voters. Sure, we’ve seen some courageous politicians put forth our issues and we’ve seen encouraging signs from the remaining candidates for president.  But we have yet to see either party promote itself as the champion for vaccine safety and/or autism biomedical research.

BARON-COHEN: IT'S THE GOLDEN AGE OF AUTISM!

Can you imagine hearing someone say, "There's no better time for a soldier to get his legs blown off in Iraq because our ability to save mangled bodies and employ high tech prosthetics is at an all time high."  You'd pillory the person who said that, wouldn't you? 

How about the person who says this about autism? They may feel that the future is bleak for all of these newly diagnosed cases of autism. But I remain optimistic that, for a good proportion of them, it has never been a better time to have autism. Why? Because there is a remarkably good fit between the autistic mind and the digital age.

This is from an article that was published in January of 2007.  You can read it HERE.

"Simon Baron-Cohen Psychologist, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University; author, 'The Essential Difference'

The rise of autism:

Whichever country I travel to, attending conferences on the subject of autism, I hear the same story: autism is on the increase. Thus, in 1978, the rate of autism was four in 10,000 children, but today (according to a Lancet article in 2006) it is 1 per cent. No one quite knows what this increase is due to, though conservatively it is put down to better recognition, better services, and broadening the diagnostic category to include milder cases such as Asperger's syndrome.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

I’m currently reading the memoir, “All But My Life” by Gerda Weissmann Klein, an account of her survival as a Jewish woman in World War II Poland.  Maybe it’s an unusual choice for the dad of a daughter with autism but it has its attractions for me.

The New York Times praised it as “A moving personal testament to courage” while The Boston Globe wrote that the story was so moving because of “the passion with which she looked through the horror and found a heart-felt and basic goodness in humanity.”

World War II ended sixty-three years ago, eighteen years before I was born.  Ever since I became politically aware I have known the outlines of that conflict. The identity of the good guys and the bad were never in doubt.

The question then becomes, why read such stories at all, if you already know what it’s going to happen?

DAN! CONFERENCE SURPRISES

By Ronna Hochbein, OTR/L

This paper has been milling around in my sleep for a number of weeks now. But as I eat, sleep and breathe the disorder called autism, it often takes me awhile to chain myself to the computer and permit it all to spill out.

As I attended the Defeat Autism Now! In Cherry Hill New Jersey this year, several startling revelations occurred to me. In one lecture, they showed a colored map indicating the most polluted areas of the United States, and then superimposed clusters of autism over that map—and they correlated very well. Too well.

ARI APPLAUDS CAREGIVERS

SAN DIEGO - The Autism Research Institute (ARI) applauds caregivers and advocates nationwide for their commitment to secure appropriate, individualized medical and educational intervention for individuals living with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

"Many individuals with autism suffer from apparently related medical conditions; these conditions are often ignored, and so are left untreated by the medical community. These children can improve significantly, and in some cases recover, if their medical needs are met," said ARI Director, Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D.

A recent Harvard School of Public Health study by Dr. Michael Ganz estimates that the overall costs of caring for a person with autism are as much as $3.2 million over his or her lifetime.

Read more HERE.

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS FOR TACA

(NOTE: You can donate to Dean's team, info at the end of this post.)

By Dean Fulton

The Tacoma City Marathon this Saturday has special significance this year, although few in the crowd may realize it. A lone runner in a gaudy red jersey will be unapologetically moving his feet for one of the growing grassroots autism support organizations aimed at forwarding the agenda of providing active, meaningful ground support for families living with autism. 

That runner is me - Dean Fulton - a freshly minted Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) Dad in Washington State.

DAVID KIRBY: IF AUTISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH US...

By David Kirby

If autism has always been with us in the same high numbers that we see today -- as some scientists and academics contend -- then we should be able to identify the 1 in 150 adults currently living with autism in places like the US and UK.

With all of the media attention on autism these days, one would think that adults with the disorder would come forward in search of social services, adult education, job training programs, support groups, and other ways that would make their numbers be counted.

Of course, not all adults on the autism spectrum are aware that they have an ASD, and others may not be interested in social services, special education or job training. And of course, many of these services are woefully lacking or unavailable to adults with autism.

But still, by any currently available measure, there appear to be far more people under the age of 18 with autism than there are adults with the disorder.

AAP OHIO SEEKS INPUT ON AUTISM

To our Ohio readers, did you know about this project? The Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) meetings are today and tomorrow.

Autism Pilot Project - The Ohio AAP is looking for interested pediatricians, family physicians, early childcare instructors, parents or anyone with an interest in autism to take part in a first of its kind Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Project.

THE BRUNO'S

By Harry Hofherr

If you've had an email address for more than 24 hours, odds are you've been introduced to The Darwin Awards. These are the Oscars of stupid human stunts. The Darwin's are awarded to those among us who exhibit a monumental disregard for double digit I.Q.'s. These are creatures that should not be allowed to pass on their DNA. They pee in the gene pool.

I got a new list of nominations not long ago and it got me thinking.

Leo Kanner, the guy who first described autism, coined the term "Refrigerator Mom", but Bruno Bettelheim is more closely identified with the phrase. Bruno made the expression his. He gave refrigerator moms their day in the sun. He put his stamp on the term and reaps the well earned disdain.

CONGRATULATIONS, CAT!

Congratulations to our Parent Perspective contributor Cathy Jameson and her husband Steve on the birth of their baby daughter this week!

CHARGES DROPPED IN CHELATION ERROR DEATH

Charges have been dropped against Dr. Roy Kerry of PA in the death of a child undergoing chelation. Read more HERE.

CDC: SITTING ON AUTISM DATA?

By Dan Hollenbeck

The CDC has two ongoing projects to study autism prevalence: ADDM Network (1) and the MADDSP (2).

In 2003 the MADDSP program published a study pegging autism prevalence at 1 in 250, based on data recorded in 1996 (3). A short four years later, on Feb 7, 2007 the ADDM Network published two studies indicating autism prevalence at 1 in 150, using data from 2000 and 2002 (4, 5). The second of these studies showed that several states showed a statistically significant growth of autism prevalence between 2000 and 2002 (5). Therefore, the current CDC autism prevalence of 1 in 150 is based on six-year old data.

Autism Prevalence	Year Published	Year data recorded	Source
1 in 250	2003	1996	MADDSP
1 in 150	2007	2000 and 2002	ADDM Network and MADDSP

GET READY TO RUMBLE

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

I am grateful that Theresa Cedillo e-mailed me a few days ago to inform me of the latest Autism Update for the Autism Omnibus Proceeding.

As we get ready for the next round of hearings, scheduled to begin on May 12, 2008 and proceed until May 30 I thought I’d recap what has happened up to this point and what is anticipated in the next few weeks.

Three different theories of causation are being presented by the Petitioners Steering Committee in regards to vaccines and autism.  The first theory is that the MMR vaccine in combination with thimerosal can cause autism.  The second is that thimerosal alone can cause autism.  The third theory is that the MMR vaccine alone can cause autism.

VETERINARIAN WISDOM

By Twyla Ramos

Wisdom from Veterinarians – Vaccinations for Pets, Adverse Reactions, and Reformed Vaccine Schedules

Recently I came across several articles and books about adverse reactions to vaccinations among animals such as dogs, cats, horses and cattle.  The harm caused by over-vaccination is referred to as "vaccinosis".  Interestingly, pet owners and veterinarians report that vaccine-injured animals suffer from many of the same health conditions as people with autism, including inflammatory bowel disorders, seizures, encephalitis, auto-immune issues, hypothyroidism, eczema, susceptibility to infections, chronic ear infections, and behavioral issues. 

PEDIATRICS: MENTALLY ILL PARENTS AND AUTISM

By Julie Obradovic

Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe you're crazy. This week a new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics (HERE) says if you're the parent of an autistic child, there's a good chance you are.

The large scale population study done in Sweden attempts to conclusively link psychiatric conditions in parents with an increased risk for Autism in their children. Other studies on a smaller scale have suggested the link in the past.

My immediate reaction to the result was one of extreme anger. I'm not sure why this one made me so mad, whether it was the last straw on a pile of stupid studies being done to ultimately blame my child's Autism on my husband and I (you know, old dads and too much television), or the implication that when all is said and done, I am simply more likely to be insane (it's only the mom's, by the way). As a friend suggested, this is why it's good I don't have a gun in the house.