AGE OF AUTISM

Back To School Worries

By Anne Dachel

Earlier this month Fox News published the piece, 7 Reasons to Worry as Your Kids Head Back to School by Marrecca Fiore
(HERE)

The number one concern, according to Fox News, should be 'the anti-vaccination movement.'  Fox warned the public about the dangers we all face because of non-vaccinating parents who have been misled to believe that there's a link between vaccines and autism.  Fox featured medical consultant Dr. Marc Siegel who announced, 'The anti-vaccination movement is based on irrational fears and is absolutely destructive.'  Siegel can't understand parents who claim vaccines cause autism.  He told us that after all, 'Vaccines are pretty well regulated.' 

'Pretty well regulated'?

That will hardly end parents' anxiety over the lineup of shots at the next well-baby visit.

Historical Nationwide Walk for Autism to Pass Through Missouri

From our friends at The National Autism Association:

Jefferson City, MO – Mid-Missouri will be the next stop for two Massachusetts men taking a journey across America to raise money and awareness for children with autism. Bobby Genese and Robert Williams are expected to be in the Kansas City area this week, making their way to Jefferson City by next week.

Their walk began after the death of seven-year-old Elias Tembenis of Worcester, Massachusetts. Diagnosed with autism and epilepsy, Tembenis passed away two days before Thanksgiving from complications following a seizure. Friends of the Tembenis family, Williams and Genese approached the boy’s parents with an offer to walk across America in memory of Elias. Aptly named ‘The Elias Tembenis Walk for Autism,’ the journey began on San Francisco’s Route 50 in May and will end on the American Trail in Washington DC.

Read more HERE.

Dr. Jay Gordon Responds to Dr. David Gorski and the Anons

Editor's Note: Dr. Jay Gordon posted this in the comment section of JB Handley's piece, "The Worldwide Wanker of Woo" He was responding to a piece written by Dr. David Gorski (aka Orac) that you can read HERE. We thought it deserved its own post.

I WROTE THIS TO DAVE GORSKI AKA ORAC FOR HIS BLOG ANSWERING A "FEW" DETRACTORS. SOME OF IT WON'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE BECAUSE I WAS ANSWERING SOME OF HIS CLONES IN THE ORDER THEY HAD POSTED "AGAINST" US/ME.
JAY

So . . . you asked and I'll answer. I've been on staff at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for nearly thirty years in good standing. I attend in the nursery for a month at a time with med students, and residents and occasionally spend another month attending in the residents' continuity clinic. I review cases, compare and contrast what I do in my private office with what they're comfortable doing in a clinic setting or a large nursery setting.

A Note from the Editors

By Mark Blaxill

It has come to my attention that there has been a bit of uncertainty regarding my recent comments here regarding RJ Bates of Celgene. I'd like to take this opportunity to clarify any ambiguity that may have emerged in recent days. I'd like to cover four main points.

First of all, when I post comments on Age of Autism (AoA), I use the author name "Mark." Our regular readers know that this name refers to AoA Editor-at-Large, Mark Blaxill. My dual role as editor and commenter seems to have led to some confusion recently in a number of exchanges between "D's Advocate" or "RJ" and "Mark." In these comments "Mark" was, as always, Mark Blaxill, AoA Editor-at-Large.

Hurricane Evacuation Information for Autism Families

Managing Editor's Note: I sent out an email asking members of the autism community to share tips and resources for families in the path of Hurricane Gustav.  If you're with an agency, please email me at KimStagliano@gmail.com with any info you'd like to share with your community. I'll add it to this post. Readers, please feel free to add more information in our comments section. To our readers in The Gulf of Mexico region, we're thinking of you.  Kim

Update: I just got this from Scott Greeson, Training Officer /Assistant Director - OEP/Homeland Security Claiborne Parish Emergency 911: Our EOC is fully activated as others are throughout Louisiana.  My only recommendation is that they leave now.  From all reports traffic is moving well.  However, as the day progresses traffic will be slower when the evacuation becomes mandatory.  Also, all gas stations along the coast are recording out of fuel or low fuel supplies.  Those that are planning on leaving need to fill up ASAP while supplies last. If you need any type of information I will be checking my personal email account when time allows.  One further note, if people are unsure where to go there are evacuation/shelter information points stationed at intervals on the major highways and state tourist stops.   

Reducing Stress as You Pack and Travel/Evacuate

___1. Select one backpack to pack all-important papers. Keep together all medical info, maps, emergency numbers and other info you may need while on the road. Place the medical prescriptions in this bag so they are easily attainable during a long evacuation ride.

___2. Use children's school backpacks to pack individual packs for the road for each of them. This makes their bag easily identifiable to them.

Derek Kravitz on Measles in Washington Post

Derek Kravitz wrote a balanced piece in the Washington Post about the current spate of measles cases and the controversy surrounding vaccination. Mr. Kravitz is an intern with The Post. He's also a J-school graduate and has signficant experience. It's good to see a young writer look at and include all sides of the debate in the media.

Reports of measles are on the rise, with health experts attributing the increase to the decision by some parents to forego vaccinations for their children out of fears the shots could trigger diseases.

...Scientific research has found no link thus far between vaccinations and diseases such as autism, but some parents remain suspicious.
At the time, several researchers -- including Dr. William Schaffner, professor and chairman of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, and Dr. Ira Rubin of Naperville Pediatrics in Naperville, Ill. -- said legal action does not equate with scientific proof of a link between vaccines and autism. Still, Poling's case, and others like it, have left some experts asking questions. Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former head of the National Institutes of Health, told CBS News in May that a consensus opinion within the medical community over an autism-vaccine link has not been reached and that more study is needed. "I think that the public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the hypothesis as irrational," Healy said.

Read the full article HERE.

McCain Runningmate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin

By Kim Stagliano

John McCain has just selected Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his runningmate. She's 44 years old and the mother of five children, the youngest of whom has Down Syndrome.

By the way, if you want to continue the political conversation, I've written a piece about Governor Palin at Huffington Post called, "Gov. Palin: Is Not Taking Maternity Leave a Conservative Value?"  You can click HERE to read it. Come on over to comment, won't you? The link loads slowly. HuffPo is busy!

Kim

Autism Research Institute Announces Autism TV

Our sponsor Autism Research Institute announces, "Autism TV: Stories of Intervention and Recovery" and invites you to submit your story HERE.

At ARI, we are very careful about giving false hope to parents; but it is a far greater error to offer no hope, when recovery or near-recovery is possible. ARI strives to give realistic hope, by stating: "Autism Is Treatable, and Recovery is Possible."

Merck's Clark Responds to NYT Questioning of Gardasil

From The New York Times letters to the editor. The head of Merck responds to criticism of Gardasil, the billion dollar revenue generator recently criticized in both the media and professional journals, including NEJM.

Re “Drug Makers’ Push Leads to Vaccines’ Fast Rise” (front page, Aug. 20):

Gardasil, Merck’s vaccine against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, has received nearly universal support from medical associations, regulatory bodies and policy-making groups because the vaccine is highly effective to help prevent cervical disease, including cancer. Indeed, “A Necessary Vaccine,” your Feb. 26, 2007, editorial, endorsed a vaccination mandate.

We believe that your news article minimizes the risks of HPV to American women.

You Tube Video: Indiana Bully Punches Boy with Autism

Managing Editor's Note:  This story turns a mother's stomach. My three beautiful girls start school today. Two are in middle school. I worry about bullies... and worse. I'm sure you do too. How do you think this Indiana mother feels?

MISHAWAKA — A 16-year-old with autism was punched in the face, and someone posted video of the attack on YouTube. Now the family wants the teen attacker to face charges.

Click HERE to watch the news story from WSBT in Indiana.