AGE OF AUTISM

The List Keeps Growing: David Kirby on the Autism Vaccine Connection

Managing Editor's Note: Who thinks this list is naughty and who thinks it's nice?

By David Kirby

It’s getting harder to keep up with the list of scientists, doctors, public health officials and government leaders who now believe that a vaccine-autism connection is at the least possible, and should be researched further.

Earlier this week, Dr. Peter Fletcher, former Chief Scientific Officer at the UK Department of Health was added. Now, eight more prominent researchers have joined the group. (See list below – they are the last eight names added).

12/1: 2nd National Stakeholder Meeting. Review of Priorities in the National Vaccine Plan.

Managing Editor's Note: The meeting starts at 8am Pacific time on Monday, 12/1 (tomorrow.) The public is able to listen via webcase. Details within the post.

2nd National Stakeholder Meeting. Review of Priorities in the National Vaccine Plan

Event Date:   December 01, 2008 at 8:00am Pacific.

The workshop will focus on topics related to Goal 1 of the update to the National Vaccine Plan (Research and Development), and on draft portions of the update currently being developed by federal agencies with coordination by NVPO. The draft plan will be posted to the project website when it is given to the committee by NVPO (approximately two weeks before the meeting).

Antibiotics and Autism

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

It’s been part of the autistic canon for so long that it often gets overlooked in our discussions of autism.

That is the observation that prior to the development of autism, many of our children had multiple ear infections, which were then treated with antibiotics.  Many parents believe the antibiotic treatment in some way set the stage for their child’s autism.  I know that my own daughter had several ear infections in her first year of life which were treated with antibiotics.

One of the problems in nailing down the extent to which antibiotics may affect the gut flora is that we really haven’t had a full understanding of the bacteria which live in a typical human digestive system.

CT Autism Speaks and Bow Tie Cinema Hosts Sensory Friendly Showing of Madagascar!

Managing Editor's Note: So, do you remember the hell I raised over the jewelry fund raiser for Autism Speaks here in Connecticut?  Well, Autism Speaks' Diana Yeisley has put together an event (not a fund raiser) that I think is just fantastic.  And I'm a big believer that while we can disagree within the community, we can also celebrate great ideas. Diana has organized movie theaters to have "sensory friendly" showings of Madagascar. No previews to bore our kids to death. The volume is a little bit lower. The lights are up a bit. And we can bring in our own GFCF snacks! The event was such a success in Simsbury, CT she's added a showing at the Bow Tie Theatre in Trumbull.  Mia, Gianna, Bella, Mark and I will be there with bells on! 

Thank you to Diana for the wonderful idea. I won't have on fancy jewelry (sigh...) but an easy movie with the kids is a good as 18K gold! If you're in the area, join us!  I'll live blog it too. Here's Diana's note to the CT autism groups with details below:

Hello Everyone -

Due to the OVERWHELMING response that I got from the 2 showings that were done in Simsbury last weekend, I contacted another theater and will be bringing the same thing to Trumbull on December 6th!

Giving Thanks

By Wendy Fournier

At this time of year, many of us pause to reflect on the good things in our lives.  This pause in itself is a good thing.  It slows down the treadmill that so many of us live on from day to day, focusing on the short term goal of just making it to bedtime without a major meltdown, without an episode of pain that cannot be expressed or made better by a hug from Mom, without the terror of a child slipping out of the house or school unnoticed, without scrubbing carpets or walls artfully decorated with things that should never be there.

Sometimes, when it’s quiet, we bravely look toward the future and wonder what it may hold for our families.  Will my baby find her way back to me?  Will she ever call me “Mommy”?  Will she be able to live on her own, go to college, get married?  Will she have someone to love her and care for her when I’m gone?  And then we quickly go back to focusing on those short term goals that aren’t quite so overwhelming to face.

Adventures in Autism: History of Eli Lilly's Thimerosal and Autism

Click HERE to read "History of Thimerosal and Autism" over at Ginger Taylor's Adventures in Autism.

Invented in the 1920’s by Eli Lilly, thimerosal is 49.6% ethlymercury by weight, a neurotoxin known to be more than a hundreds times more lethal to tissue than lead.

Eli Lilly’s safety testing of the product consists of a 1930 study of 22 patients dieing from mengiococcal meningitis in an Indiana hospital. Patients are injected with the solutions and followed until their death, which is within days. Because the patients die of meningitis, they are declared to show no adverse reaction to thimerosal and the product is declared safe for use. Thimerosal is subsequently introduced for use in vaccines and in over the counter remedies as a preservative to kill bacteria in the product.

Elie Ward and the AAP Fighting for the Rights of Vaccine Makers

Managing Editor's Note: Katie, perhaps you should have told Elie you were the daughter of Bob and Suzanne Wright? I'll bet she'd have picked up the phone.  Or you could have called yourself "Miss Tayloe Merck." Or a nice Russian/Italian girl named "Ivana Varicella." That surely would have done the trick.  Thank you for fighting for our kids, Katie.

By Katie Wright

I tried to have this discussion with Elie Ward in private.

I left three messages at her office. I identified myself as a parent of a sick autistic child and a typically developing child. I said I am pro vaccination, but pro safe vaccination and that I would like to speak with Ms. Ward about some of the claims she made in her recent letter to my congressperson, Rep. Carolyn Maloney. (HERE)

No response…

I guess it is far easier to throw one’s weight around in letters to government officials than it is to return parents’ phone calls. Ellie, you feel so strongly about your beliefs yet are unwilling to discuss them with the families you purport to serve? I wonder why?

A New Inquisition?

By Louis Conte

In June of 2005, I was stuck in traffic on I-287 in Westchester, New York. I put on the radio and heard Don Imus interviewing David Kirby about his book – Evidence of Harm. Mr. Kirby was explaining the possible connection between vaccines, mercury and autism. As the father of two boys with autism, I listened. I was impressed with Mr. Kirby’s logical, journalistic presentation.  He presented the vaccine-autism question as a question that needed further serious study. What I learned that day started a process that changed my life and my world view. More importantly, it put my family on a course that changed the way we approached treating our son’s autism. Three years later, my sons are improving.  There is a long way to go, but both boys are living better, healthier lives.

David Kirby triggered this by getting me to think about autism as an environmentally induced disorder.  None of the pediatricians, neurologists or autism service professionals provided my family with this perspective.

For all of you....  ;)

A of A Contest: T-shirt Tagline

We're designing Age of Autism t-shirts and you're invited to submit your idea(s) for the tagline. We're looking for a pithy, "so that's what they're all about" sentence to run under our logo.

Submit your ideas in the comments section. Have fun. Be creative. (But remember, your kids will read the t-shirt too.)  We'll announce the winner in a couple of days.

Happy Thanksgiving

From all of us at Age of Autism, Happy Thanksgiving! We're grateful for your wonderful comments and your daily readership.  Can you believe we've run over 1400 posts in the last year and you've provided over 14,000 comments?! We're averaging over 160,000 page views each month, and growing!  All thanks to you.

If you're grateful to have Age of Autism, we hope you'll consider making a year-end donation to support our efforts and to keep the posts coming.  Thank you!

The Beginning of the End?

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

A decision in the first three cases of the Autism Omnibus Proceedings, Cedillo, Hazlehurst, and Snyder will be released in either December of this year, or shortly after in January of 2009.

I recently spoke with Gary Golkiewicz, the chief Special Master for the proceedings, who gave me permission to talk with Thomas Powers, the lead attorney for the families who allege a link between vaccines and the development of autism in their children.

According to both Golkiewicz and Powers, the Special Masters are now hard at work preparing their decisions.  The decisions will be much longer than the typical vaccine court decision as the court is wrestling with an enormous amount of evidence, including more than 900 scientific articles submitted by both sides.  They are hoping to release all three cases at the same time, but if not, then the decisions will closely follow one another.

Jenny McCarthy on Sesame Street!

By Kim Stagliano

Well imagine my surprise! It's 6:37am. There's no school today so my kids slept in until 5:00am. I'm working on my computer, and I have yesterday's Sesame Street playing in the background. I record it every day. For the girls, that's right. (I adore Sesame Street, I confess. I watch it more than they do.)

Well whose voice do I hear but Miss Jenny McCarthy! She's talking about insects (not parasites....)  Check her out HERE! There's a 30 second intro before she comes on screen.  She does a fine impression of a butterfly!

Don't forget to buy a copy of Jenny's best selling book Mother Warriors for someone on your holiday list!  Give hope for the holidays!

President Elect Obama: A Military Autism Mom Reaches Out

By Angela Warner

Dear President Elect Obama,

Congratulations on your election. As the 44th President of the United States of America, and the Leader of our Country, you have a huge job ahead of you. I have always been an optimist. If one has no hope, then what do they have? I am inspired by our country, and I have confidence that your actions will impact our great nation with desperately needed positive change.

A friend of mine, Mark Blaxill, Board Member of SafeMinds and Editor at Large for Age of Autism , wrote to you recently. Mark stated that you are also the First Father of the Autism Generation HERE. Indeed, you are. Mr. President, you are the First Father to a generation of children who are physically sick with autism, and who desperately need your help and immediate action.

Kids, Say Du"Bye" To Your Health: AAP Heads to the Middle East

Thank you to Ginger Taylor of Adventures in Autism for sharing this post with us.  God help America if this foray into the middle east turns into an "Autism for Oil" program.

New AAP President Shows Us His Priorities, And It Is Not The Health of American Children

Last month David 'no such thing as vaccine injury' (HERE) Tayloe, was sworn in as the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Naturally, on day one of his new job, he laid out his priorities for his tenure (HERE):

'Tayloe said that he intends to focus on 5 main areas this coming year -- "Medicaid payments, vaccine financing issues, fair payment of pediatricians, retail-based health clinics and funding medical students' education." "

As Anne Dachel notes in her piece, there are no actual children's health issues on his list of priorities. What is important to Tayloe, is getting pediatricians paid.

His priority is money.

Minnesota and the CDC Confer on Somali Autism Situation: CDC’s Office of the Director: Autism May Result from “Chemical Exposures”

Managing Editor's Note: Welcome Huffington Post readers.  David referenced the post below on HuffPo HERE.

By David Kirby

On Saturday, November 15, I attended a daylong forum in Minneapolis on autism in the Somali immigrant community there, where the rate of autism among Somali children in the public schools had been reported at 1 in 28 kids.

At the forum, Dr. Judy Punyko, an epidemiologist for the State Department of Health, was expected to present at least preliminary findings on the prevalence of autism among Somali schoolchildren in Minnesota. The 80 or so Somali parents who attended were disappointed, by all accounts, that Dr. Punyko had no way to tell them if autism among their children was, as they strongly suspect, more common than among non-Somalis the same age.

Dr. Punyko said she had conferred with officials at the CDC on how to best measure the rate of autism in this particular population, but that she was still waiting for data requested from Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), even though she had put together a panel of experts to examine the issue back in August. She said that MPS would get her the data sometime in December, and that a report on the prevalence issue should be ready in March, 2009.

A few days after the forum, I discovered two things.

Out of Africa and Into Autism: More Evidence Illuminates the Somali Anomaly in Minnesota

By Mark F. Blaxill

Amidst the furor over autism in America, some very simple facts are getting lost in the rhetorical fog of medical denial, corporate self-dealing and civic irresponsibility. They’re worth repeating. Autism was once very rare in the United States and required “discovering” by Leo Kanner among a small group of children born in the 1930s. When researchers first measured American autism rates, they were lower than surveys coming from other parts of the developed world, sometimes less than 1 in 10,000. Today, it’s nearly impossible to find an American who doesn’t know a family touched by autism and rates are over 1 in 100 in some areas of the country. It doesn’t take a genius to derive a short list of broad-based environmental exposures that have changed rapidly enough to give us some pretty good ideas about causation.

Meanwhile, the moral cowardice of the American scientific community has been on full display in the midst of the obviousness of this scourge and its likely causes. Scientists, academics and public health officials get this pained expression on their faces when the subject of the autism epidemic comes up, as if someone has passed gas audibly in the middle of a tea party. “Can’t we talk about something more civilized?” their faces seem to say. “There must be an explanation for all these pesky numbers that won’t force me to change my beliefs or behaviors. Why can’t all you autism advocates just go away?” After years of seeing these faces, I’ve learned to recognize the look and have gotten better at managing my own frustration over the incoherence of the denialist impulse. Still, the stark reality of these simple facts needs reinforcing and like any stubborn problem new facts constantly emerge to provide new reinforcement.

David Kirby to Dr. David Tayloe, President American Academy of Pediatrics

1:00PM EST - UPDATE: Dr. Tayloe, who is visiting the Middle East on AAP business, has written to David to thank him for the note and to let him know that the Academy will issue a formal reply soon. Stay tuned here for further developments.

Managing Editor's Note: David Kirby sent this letter to Dr. David Tayloe, new president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

November 22, 2008

David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP
President, American Academy of Pediatrics

Dear Dr Tayloe,

It has been seven months since I had the pleasure of meeting you in Los Angeles at the “Larry King Live" studio. Allow me to congratulate you on your inauguration as President of the Academy.

I am writing because I have just received a copy of a letter from Elie Ward (HERE) Co-Chair of the NYS Immunization Coalition, a project of the AAP. The letter was sent to Rep. Carolyn Maloney in regards to the Congressional briefing on vaccines and autism that she sponsored on Capitol Hill in September.

In the letter, Ms. Ward accuses me of presenting “misinformation” as well as “unscientific, irrational proposals” to staff members of more than 90 House and Senate offices, as well as two US Representatives who were in the room.

If You Let the Idiots Talk They’ll Tell You What You Want to Know

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

I’m still trying to get my mind around the 452 page government report recently released on Gulf War illness and its implications for the vaccine/autism controversy.

For those keeping score, two years ago the National Academy of Sciences released a report asserting there was no such thing as Gulf War illness.  (“VA-Funded Report Unable to Find Evidence of a Complex of Symptoms”, www.msnbc.com, September 13, 2006).

The congressionally mandated report entitled “Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans” is devastating in its findings.  As reported in the November 17, 2008 of USA Today (“Gulf War Syndrome is a Real Illness, Study Finds”), “The illness resulted from exposure to chemicals and anti-nerve-gas vaccinations received, and no effective treatment has been found.  It affects 25% of the 695,000 U.S. Gulf War vets (author’s note - approximately 173,000 service members) and perhaps 55,000 British veterans.”

Child Warrior: Ceydon

Meet Child Warrior, Ceydon, so named for Jenny McCarthy's book, Mother Warriors.  Wow, someone call GQ, here's another handsome boy!

Kevin Conway, Attorney for Vaccine Claims on Autism One Radio

Dear Friends,

We will be having Attorney Kevin Conway as a guest on our Radio Show "The Candy Store" on "Autism One Radio" on Monday, November, 24th 2008 @ 10 a.m. EST.  Kevin Conway, a Boston-based lawyer who represents more than 1,200 families with autism vaccine injury claims.  4,800 families of autistic children are plaintiffs claiming that their child's autism was caused by a vaccine in the United States.  Kevin explains this sometimes confusing topic for all to understand.  Also, Mr. Conway was in David Kirby's book "Evidence of Harm" and featured in People Magazine.  Do not miss this fascinating show.  And, if you do it will go in the archives so anyone can listen at anytime.  The links to our Radio Show are below.  Thank You!!

Faith, Love & Hope,

Robert & Sandy Waters

Hosts of "The Candy Store" on Autism One Radio

rwaters@autismone.org
http://www.autismone.org/radio/
http://www.autismone.org/radio/?radio=schedule&archive
http://www.autismone.org/radio/default.cfm?radio=family#robertw   

Suze Orman on Autism One Radio

Dear Friends,

We will be having the Internationally Acclaimed Personal Finance Expert "Suze Orman" as a guest on our Radio Show "The Candy Store" on "Autism One Radio" in early 2009.  If any parent who has a child with autism would like to ask "Suze Orman" a question about their finances please e-mail Robert & Sandy Waters Host's of "The Candy Store" on "Autism One Radio" at  rwaters@autismone.org.

We need your questions no later than the end of December 2008.  Depending on the amount of questions we receive, we will try to ask most of them on air with your name and state where you live.  Or, Suze might even e-mail the answers back if we can not get to the question on the air.  The links to our Radio Show are below.  Thank You!!

Faith, Love & Hope,

Robert & Sandy Waters
Host's of "The Candy Store" on Autism One Radio

rwaters@autismone.org
http://www.autismone.org/radio/
http://www.autismone.org/radio/?radio=schedule&archive
http://www.autismone.org/radio/default.cfm?radio=family#robertw   

The Grim Future for the Avalanche of Autistic Adults

Managing Editor's Note:  Jan Randall is a tireless advocate for people with autism. She lives in Massachusetts, which happens to have fairly good services. And yet, there's still very little for her adult son with autism. How is a parent of an adult with autism supposed to earn a living outside of the home, when their child needs assistance? How do we prevent aging parents from burning out completely? The link to the article is HERE.

All grown up — now where to go?

Autistic kids are quickly turning into autistic adults, and the growing population is straining social services and posing new challenges for parents who have to arrange care for them 24/7.

By Jim McGaw

SEEKONK — Andrew Randall swishes the swirls his paint brush around a canvas set up on the kitchen table. Heavy globs of golds, greens and whites blend into a dark, monochromatic work that may end up on his family’s wall — maybe even a gallery. Andrew stays busy as his large frame hunches over the canvas; his arms move quickly and his gaze is rarely diverted.

Working equally as hard is his mom, Jan, who calls herself Andrew’s “apprentice.” Ms. Randall is busy opening new jars of paint, cleaning up drips that have formed at the edge of the canvas and making sure Andrew’s clothes stay reasonably clean. Occasionally, she has to chase her son down when he tries to leave the room, wet brush still in hand.
“More white in green,” says Andrew, as his mom mixes some paint. After about an hour of painting, Andrew stops.

“I’m all done with the canvas. Get out of the canvas,” he says.

Autism United Sponsors Meeting for NY Autism Legislation

On Saturday, December 6, 2008 Autism United is sponsoring a meeting to develop a state-wide agenda for the 2009 legislative session. The meeting will be held at the Albany Clarion Hotel, 3 Watervliet Avenue Extension, Albany, New York, 12206 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

This is an open invitation to leaders and activists within the autism community in New York who are interested in bringing positive change to people and families with autism. A quick list of the issues to be addressed are:

Philosophical Exemption from mandatory vaccines
Enhanced Religious and Medical Waivers from mandatory vaccines
Improving education services for children and people with autism

The AAP NY Immunization Coalition Targets David Kirby and Age of Autism

Managing Editor's Note: David Kirby will be blogging about this letter from the AAP's NY Immunize to Representative Carolyn Maloney, where they target both David Kirby and "Age of Autism" which is clearly Mark Blaxill, who spoke at Rep. Maloney's meeting.  I've provided the details of the meeting at the bottom of this post, after the AAP letter. As you can see, the AAP/NY Immunize group is working hand in glove with Dr. Offit.  It seems his book is not a labor of love designed to protect families with autistic children from bad treatments, but a marketing tool for the AAP. You can see the .pdf of the letter HERE.

September 24, 2008

Congressperson Carolyn Maloney
1651 3 Avenue, Suite 31 1
New York, NY 101 28-3679

Dear Congressperson Maloney

We are concerned about misinformation you may have heard at a recent briefing presenting the non-scientific, irrational proposals espoused by David Kirby, and the Age of Autism with regard to a supposed link between autism and vaccines. Vaccines save lives.  Study after study has shown absolutely no link between vaccines and autism.

Dr. Sears on Growing Vaccination Concerns

"Parents are concerned. Doctors are divided."

Click HERE to see a report on ABC Channel 10 in San Diego on using an alternative vaccination schedule, including an interview with Dr. Bob Sears.  Thanks to Lisa Ackerman of TACA for sending us the link. TACA always has our kids' health in mind. Always.

Vaccine Injury Compensation: A Failed Experiment in Tort Reform?

Managing Editor's Note: Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center spoke in front of the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines last Tuesday. Here is her follow up, and a link to her statement.

By Barbara Loe Fisher

On Nov. 14, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 into law, instituting first-time vaccine safety reforms in the U.S. vaccination system and creating the first no-fault federal vaccine injury compensation program alternative to a lawsuit against vac cine manufacturers and pediatricians. Twenty-two years later, on Nov. 18, 2008,I made a statement (Barbara Loe Fisher, Nov 18, 2008 — Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines) to the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV) and questioned whether the compensation program is fatally flawed and so broken that it should be repealed. Many parents are wondering whether it would be better to return to civil court without restrictions to sue vaccine manufacturers and doctors for injuries and deaths their children suffered after receiving federally recommended vaccines.

During its two-decade history, two out of three individuals applying for federal vaccine injury compensation have been turned away empty-handed even though to date $1.8B has been awarded to more than 2,200 plaintiff's out of some 12,000 who have applied. Today, nearly 5,000 vaccine injury claims are sitting in limbo because they represent children, who suffered brain and immune system dysfunction after vaccination but have been diagnosed with regressive autism, which is not recognized by the program as a compensable event. There is $2.7B sitting in the Trust Fund which could have been awarded to vaccine victims.

Click HERE to read Barbara's statement on 11/18.

Age of Autism Birthday Winners!

Congratulations to our birthday contest winners (see below!)  Email me at kim stagliano @ gmail with your mailing address please. 

By Kim Stagliano

It was our birthday, but the gifts were for you! Thank you so much for supporting Age of Autism! Please don't forget you can help us keep the posts coming by making a donation via PayPal. Nicole, Ben's Dad and Dolores, your items are in the mail. KS

1) Jamie Manning's "What Remains" CD (Music that chronicle's the Lives of Parents Raising Children with Autism. Click the link to listen to samples.) Three lucky winners! Maria, Barbara Rodriguez, Dolores Goneau

2) Chantal Sicile Kira's "Autism Life Skills: From Communication and Safety to Self-Esteem and More. 10 Essential Abilities Every Child Needs and Deserves to Learn" Book. Four lucky winners! Erica in Alabama, Nicole Bryant, Roger, Ben's Dad

3) Watch Me Learn's "About Me and You ...and my friends too!" Evidence-based social skills training DVD. One lucky winner!  Dr. Jon

Listen Live Friday to the Federal Plan for Autism Research

Perhaps the most important meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee HERE will take place in Washington on Friday, November 21 from 9am - 4pm.  Six of its 18 members HERE represent the community.  You can attend in person or listen live on 888-455-2920 (access code 3857872) and watch the powerpoint slides via a webinar (registration required HERE). 

Location and registration information information can be found HERE.  The morning session will be devoted to a discussion of the strategic plan for autism research required by the Combating Autism Act, basically the plan for how to spend about $645 million over the next three-five years.  Public input was requested last January, summaries can be read HERE. 

On Autism, Somalis Feel the Chill in Minnesota

By Anne Dachel

In the early 1990's, they first came to the Twin Cities.  Thousands of refugees fled from civil war in Somalia and settled in Minnesota, believing that they had left tragedy behind them in Africa.  What they never expected to find in their new country was a mysterious disorder that would strike their children at an epidemic rate.

Last summer, stories about the explosion in autism among American-born Somali children got the attention of the U.S. autism community. 

The numbers are staggering.  July 25, Amelia Santaniello at WCCO-TV reported that autism was something unknown back in Africa.  Santaniello cited autism specialist for the Minneapolis schools, Anne Harrington.  'It's so glaring here in Minneapolis, I couldn't not see it.'

Harrington should know, she's been working with autistic students for over 20 years. 
Her numbers are scary. 

A Political Trial in London

By John Stone

By now everyone has forgotten what it is all about: all they need to know is that Andrew Wakefield (shown in the photo) has been "discredited", that there is no link between MMR and autism, and he is appearing before the General Medical Council with his colleagues Professors John Walker-Smith and Simon Murch in a protracted hearing, which may lead to them being barred from medical practice in the United Kingdom. And it is true that you find that even with people close to the events that their memories are by now somewhat hazy about what happened, and in what order. Moreover, if the charges themselves are obscure, no part of the defence has ever been reported in the mainstream UK media, let alone beyond Britain's shores. The trial, on the other hand, has been going on intermittently since July 2007 and will not conclude before summer 2009...

David Kirby on HuffPo: Tom Daschle Friend to Many Autism Families

David Kirby has written a piece over at HuffPo about Tom Daschle's selection as head of the Department of Human Services.  Click HERE to read the full post. Leave a comment at HuffPo won't you. I'm sure the designated ND commenter is already on duty over there.

By nominating Tom Daschle to head up the agency, President Elect Obama has selected a man who has demonstrated an unflinching willingness to question vaccine safety, and to fight for the rights of those people who believe they have been, or may be, seriously injured by certain vaccinations.

Senator Daschle is not anti-vaccine, but his record shows his willingness to question - and even oppose - vaccine makers and big pharmaceutical interests - when it comes to protecting the rights of American medical consumers.

Our Kids Somali or American

Managing Editor's Note: We are proud to share the correspondence between the Somali community and the Minneapolis Department of Health.

From: Hassan, Hodan M
Sent: Tue 11/18/2008 4:01 PM
To: Edit.french@state.mn.us
Cc: doug.schultz@state.mn.us; Sanne.magnan@state.mn.us

Subject: Our kids Somali or American

Hi Edith, Dr.Sanne and Doug.

Per our conversation this morning, you told me that Dr,Punyko is working really hard and putting allot of time in to this issue, and that it will be really irresponsible on her part if she just blurted out the numbers without making sure the numbers are right.

I would like to thank Dr. Punyko for putting all her time in to this matter, however its not changing anything. I for one are not convinced that MDH is going to do anything different for  us as a Somali community than they haven't done for the American people in this state.

An Open Letter to the Somali Parents of Minnesota

By J.B. Handley

Courageous Somali Parents:

I have had the pleasure of getting to know a number of you via phone and email over the past few months and you have my deepest respect and admiration. You remind us all that parental love and commitment to our kids is universal.

I have chosen to refrain from commenting publicly about autism in your community until after the November 15th meeting you had with the Minnesota Department of Health, because I wanted to give the MDH the benefit of the doubt that they would offer real information and real solutions to your community's overwhelming challenge with autism.

As we all know, the MDH's response to the crisis of your community was underwhelming. As such, I wanted to share with you my advice for what to do now.

Lee Silsby Introduces Enhansa Curcumin Supplement for Autism

Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy, the leader in custom compounded medications for autism, announces its newest product, Enhansa, Enhanced Absorption Curcumin Supplement. Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid found in the popular Indian spice turmeric. Enhansa was created by Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy. To date, several hundred patients on the spectrum are using Enhansa.  Current product order rates indicate a high level of both patient and physician satisfaction.

Enhansa is clinically proven to increase intracellular Glutathione, reduce levels of nearly every elevated inflammatory cytokine found in autistic patients and improve liver detoxification. In addition, Enhansa acts as an anti-viral and anti-fungal agent and is a potent PPAR Gamma Agonist and NF-Kapp B inhibitor. Patient benefits include improved digestion, detoxification and antioxidant support.

The Only Thimerosal Free Vaccination Schedule

Managing Editor's Note: There's an update to this post at the end. The CDC had incorrect info available to the public.

By Julie Obradovic

Question:

If I used to smoke 25 cigarettes a day and now I only smoke 3, am I “smoke-free”?

I think most people would agree the answer is “no”. Sure, I may be taking a step in the right direction. And sure, I’m being exposed to substantially less toxicity than previously.

But “smoke-free”? Not a chance.

So how is it that the CDC can consider a thimerosal containing vaccine with 3 micrograms of thimerosal or less “thimerosal-free”? This is their definition, and they even site studies to support it (JAMA 1999; 282(18) and JAMA 2000; 283(16)). According to them, 3 micrograms of thimerosal has “no biological effect” and is therefore the same as not having been exposed to it at all.

Somali Gloves Come Off: Autism in Minnesota

SOMALI GLOVES COME OFF – A mother’s letters to the Minnesota Department of Health

By David Kirby

When I first wrote about the Somali situation in Minneapolis, back in August, I was contacted by a young mother named Idil, who told me she had been trying for more than a year to get Minnesota officials to pay attention to all the sick kids in the local Somali community.

Idil, like a few other Somali parents in Minnesota, is “taking off the gloves,” as they have put it.

(NOTE TO THE TIM PAWLENTY ADMINISTRATION: These Somali parents are smart, tough, media savvy, and very primed for a fight – I for one would not like to have them as adversaries).

What follows is a series of letters between Idil and the Minnesota Department of Health. I asked Idil if they could be published online at AoA, and this is what she wrote back to me:
“David - Yes, from now on you can forward anything I write to you to anyone.  I am done waiting for them to take us seriously.  Please go ahead and post it on the site.  I would be honored. 

Idil”
________________________________________

Here is Idil’s letter to MPH Commissioner Magnan, as well as Judy Punyko and Patricia Adams, also of the health department, sent on Sunday:

Minnesota Tracked Down Pig Brain Disease, Ignores Autism?

By Kim Stagliano

Do you recall last winter when a handful of people in Minnesota contracted a rare neurological disease that was tracked to their job blowing pigs' brains out of their skulls at a meat processing plant?  State officials couldn't act fast enough to solve the problem. So why is it that Somali parents who've watched their children collapse into autism aren't getting the same rapid fire answers? Racism? Or Autism?   We know they are reading Age of Autism - we can see them on our stat counter.  Look:

From the NYT article about the pig disease last year: AUSTIN, Minn. — If you have to come down with a strange disease, this town of 23,000 on the wide-open prairie in southeastern Minnesota is a pretty good place to be.

Paul Offit's Lies: I got me a lawyer.

By J.B. Handley

There's probably not a lawyer on the planet who wouldn't agree that blogging publicly about a legal proceeding is a bad idea. And, they’d probably be right.

But, Paul Offit is a lying jerk and offends our entire community, so I wanted to bring you along for the ride. Consider this my "public legal journal."

Moreover, I have nothing to hide. Offit lied blatantly in his book, and I'd like a little justice. He did it to try and make me look bad. I think he succeeded, and he had to lie to make it happen. That makes me unhappy. And, it's a pattern from him that we have seen for a long time on many issues related to vaccines and autism.

Someone needs to stand up to this jerk, and I'm happy to do it. As you may have figured out, it's not often I back down from a fight.

Autism Strikes 1 in 28 Somali Children in Minnesota

By Nancy Hokkanen

In Minnesota, an estimated 1 in 28 Somali children have autism spectrum disorders. In response many Somali families, advocacy groups and government agencies organized “A Forum on Developmental Delays and Autism in the Somali Community,” held in Minneapolis on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The forum’s primary objective was to raise awareness in the Somali community about developmental delays in children, with specific emphasis on autism, and to engage the community. Presentations were translated into Somali and English.

Shaikh Saad Musse stated in his introduction, “Our children are the foundation of our life.” Saeed Fahia of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota (CSCM) acknowledged that “we are all worried, and we would like to have a solution to this.”

Child Warriors: Georgia and Levi

Meet Child Warriors, Georgia and Levi, so named for Jenny McCarthy's book, Mother Warriors. Gorgeous smiles and I'm guessing that's a very busy Mom!

Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines PUBLIC Meeting 11/18

Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV)

Next Meeting: November 18, 2008

* Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST). The public can join the meeting via audio conference call.

* Call-in number 1-888-324-9432 and provide the following information:

Leader's Name: Dr. Geoffrey Evans.
Password: ACCV

The ACCV (HERE) advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on issues relating to the operation of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). There are nine voting members who provide oversight of the VICP and recommend ways to improve the VICP.

Somali Parents Give the Autism Forum a "C+"

By David Kirby

The daylong Somali autism forum on Saturday in Minneapolis was a wonderful experience, mostly because I got to meet so many smart, dedicated, passionate parents who are fighting for their kids in a place that could not be more different than their homeland.

Like most of the people I spoke with, I think the meeting was a mixed bag – the organizers are to be commended for pulling off a complicated day – in two languages no less – that clearly required great planning and coordination.

They also provided detailed information on a number of autism-related services available to families in the Twin Cities area.

On the other hand, many parents felt like the forum was more show than substance – and several expressed disappointment and frustration that public officials did not take their concerns – especially about vaccines – more seriously.

 

(l to r) Parent and organizer Hodan Hassan, David Kirby, Age of Autism's Anne Dachel and Patti Carroll.

What follows is a summary of my own notes, plus reactions from a few of the parents who took part in the forum.

Dr. Sanne Mangan, Minnesota’s Health Commissioner, kicked off the proceeding with a brief statement that reassured the 80 or so Somali parents at the meeting that, “Today is the start of a dialogue, of listening to your concerns and frustrations, and looking for solutions together.”

That sounded nice, of course, but most parents in the room wanted to know what was making their kids so sick, and they wanted to know why so many children had seemingly regressed into severe autism, directly after being vaccinated.

Feckless IOM Does Agency's Bidding: Sound Familiar?

By Dan Olmsted

A harsh new report is blasting the relationship between a federal agency and the Institute of Medicine -- saying costly reports the IOM produced were worthless and failed to connect a widespread but baffling epidemic with its true causes.

No, it's not about autism. This criticism relates to the Veterans Administration and studies it commissioned from the Institute of Medicine to look into Gulf War Illness. The Congressionally mandated independent review of Gulf War Studies, in a report to be officially released Tuesday, calls the VA-IOM effort a diversion from the search for the truth.

It says that Saddam Hussein didn't cause Gulf War Syndrome -- we did. The most likely suspects, it concludes, are a nerve gas antidote used protectively (there was never an attack) and widespread exposure to pesticides. And it says multiple vaccinations given to the troops cannot be ruled out.

Talk About Curing Autism Reaches Out to CA Wild Fire Victims

Managing Editor's Note: Our sponsor TACA is reaching out to members affected by the wild fires in California. From their site:

Help for Families Affected by California Wild Fires

TACA Families: If you have lost your home or been evacuated (or know a family affected by autism that has) please CONTACT US if you need a place to stay or any other help! 

If your child is a REGIONAL CENTER client, be sure to contact your caseworker for information about emergency housing and food allowances. Find your regional center.

How can you help?

It's Our Birthday but the Gifts are for YOU!

Congratulations to our winners (see below!)  Email me at kim stagliano @ gmail with your mailing address please. 

By Kim Stagliano

To celebrate our first birthday, we have presents for you!  CD's, Books and a DVD! Just leave a comment - and if you have a preference as to which item you'd like, let us know!  Thank you so much for supporting Age of Autism! Please don't forget you can help us keep the posts coming by making a donation via PayPal. (Do you like my new hat?)  KS

1) Jamie Manning's "What Remains" CD (Music that chronicle's the Lives of Parents Raising Children with Autism. Click the link to listen to samples.) Three lucky winners! Maria, Barbara Rodriguez, Dolores Goneau

2) Chantal Sicile Kira's "Autism Life Skills: From Communication and Safety to Self-Esteem and More. 10 Essential Abilities Every Child Needs and Deserves to Learn" Book. Four lucky winners! Erica in Alabama, Nicole Bryant, Roger, Ben's Dad

3) Watch Me Learn's "About Me and You ...and my friends too!" Evidence-based social skills training DVD. One lucky winner!  Dr. Jon

Email Ideas to Arianna Huffington for the Rachel Maddow Show

Arianna Huffington is hosting the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC on Monday, November 17th.  She is seeking topic ideas.  Do YOU have a topic idea?  I'm sure you do. Please click HERE to leave your idea in the comments section of her post.  It's worth signing into Huffington Post to make your request.

NJ Vaccination Choice Rally On Autism One Radio

Managing Editor's Note:  From our friends at Autism One.  You'll see some familiar faces including Bob Krakow in Part 1 at 53 minutes, John Gilmore in Part 1 at 56 minutes, Kim Stagliano in Part 2 at 5 minutes, Sandy Gottstein of Vaccination News in Part 2 at 20 minutes and Kevin Barry in Part 2 at 10 minutes.

THE VACCINATION CHOICE RALLY OF OCTOBER 16TH IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ON AUTISM ONE RADIO HERE!

CLICK THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THE INFORMATION BOX ON THE AUTISM ONE RADIO HOME PAGE.

Thanks to Manette Loudon, Gary Null & Assoc. 

Thanks to Louise Kuo Habakus and the NJ Coalition for Vaccination Choice (www.njvaccinationchoice.org) for organizing this huge and important rally.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

WSAV Savannah Georgia Allows Autism Vaccine Discussion

By Kim Spencer

It all started with a promo.  You know, it's Sweeps.  News stations want your attention.  The promo shouts out, "Do plastic water bottles cause cancer?" I jumped.  "Do vaccines cause autism?" I froze.  "Busting Medical Myths, Wednesday at 6."  I've never run faster to the phone.

Surely they would not report the same old WRONG information.  There's no more thimerosal in vaccines and the rate hasn't dropped.  It may just be better diagnosis anyway.  The CDC says to vaccinate your children according to their schedule.  A clip of the same local pediatrician that called my friend cruel for not giving her 4-year-old five vaccines in one day talking about how 14 studies have shown there is no link.  Not on my watch!

Where are the FDA & AAP on Food Dyes? Commerce Before Calm.

The UK has just banned six artificial food additives for their connection to behavioral issues in humans (it's not just children.)  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the FDA and AAP choose to appease chemical companies and pharma friends who make hyperactivity drugs.  What? Remove food dyes and help kids sit still in school? No! We need to ply American children with drugs!  And make sure they are all coated in pretty colors!

Most of us who read Age of Autism do not feed our kids artificial colors. But the average American consumer doses her child with chemicals from the rainbow colored morning cereal, to the neon pink yogurt snack through the bright blue bedtime toothpaste. Parents need to effect change with their pocketbooks.

Read the full article from The Daily Mail HERE.

Ministers have backed a ban on six food additives linked to hyperactivity in children.
The decision follows a call from the Food Standards Agency earlier this year for the food industry voluntarily to remove the chemicals.

The news is a major breakthrough for the Daily Mail's 'Ban the Additives' campaign.
It follows research that found children became hyperactive when fed a cocktail of additives used in hundreds of products.

Scientists argued many could be protected from developing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder  -  which can blight entire school careers  -  if the chemicals were removed from food.