AGE OF AUTISM

Dr. Peter Bearman, Autism and the House of Nonsense

Bearman answers: “genes, old parents and possibly a virus.” This is the best he has got? The NIH gave this guy millions to come up with that?

By Katie Wright

Dr. Peter Bearman, a professor of sociology at Columbia University, recently released a research paper alleging that half of the meteoric rise in ASD cases is an artifact. You know- “better diagnosis” and “greater awareness.” A blind, non-medical professional, could have diagnosed my son. Nevertheless in the case of HF ASD and aspergers (which comprise a small % of overall ASD) certainly greater awareness has played a role in the increasing number of those diagnoses. Still- 50%? Ridiculous.

After reading Bearman’s strange paper I was thinking, “who is this guy anyway?” A friend sent me 2 very interesting videos. The first video involves Bearman being interviewed by Dr. Tom Insel, NIMH director. Insel comes across as a super progressive, environmentally friendly scientist compared to this guy. Believe me, you have to see this. It is Insel the whole time pushing the discussion of the environment. After Dr. Bearman concludes that 50% of the increase cannot be attributed to greater awareness Insel asks what Bearman believes is driving the other 50%. Bearman answers: “genes, old parents and possibly a virus.” This is the best he has got? The NIH gave this guy millions to come with that?

OK, I want to know more about this mystery virus. Is it infectious, sexually transmitted, native grown or foreign born? Did this virus travel from Europe of Africa? Does this virus involve the use of drugs or alcohol? I am fascinated. Yes, Bearman does acknowledge the possible role of some kind of toxin. Bearman is not sure what that toxin is but he is sure what it isn’t. Take a guess.

Meet Mark Blaxill and Dan Olmsted on The Age of Autism Book Tour

From Mark Blaxill and Dan Olmsted: We're heading to New York this weekend for stops including Mount Kisco on Friday and Yonkers on Saturday -- click on our book at left to see details, and if you can join us, please do. Last Friday, we had a good crowd at the Brown University Bookstore in Providence, sponsored by the National Autism Association (that's us with NAA President Wendy Fournier). We've already started making waves -- David Sheffield, a columnist for the Brown student paper, says HERE we should never have been allowed to speak! Banned at Brown -- has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Click on over and let the author know your feelings if you're so inclined. Next week we're back in New York to do the Leonard Lopate radio show, then to California at the end of the week for multiple events. Stay tuned and see you on the road.

Go to The Age of Autism for more details and info on where to order.

October 1st 
Mt. Kisco, NY
SafeMinds & Bedford Autism Spectrum Support (BASS)
7:00-9:00 pm
Mt. Kisco Public Library—Community Room
100 East Main St. Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
 
October 2nd
Yonkers, NY
Navigating the Spectrum/SafeMinds
10-noon
35 E. Grassy Sprain Rd. (Hudson Valley Bank Building)
Yonkers, NY 10710

October 8-10
Long Beach, CA
ARI/Defeat Autism Now Conference
All day event Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Long Beach Westin
333 East Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802

October 12th
San Diego, CA
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) Chapter
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church
17010 Pomerado Road
San Diego, CA 92128

The Age of Autism Mercury Medicine and a Manmade Epidemic Interviews

Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill discuss their book Mercury Medicine and a ManMade Epidemic in two radio interviews with: Coy Barefoot and Gary Null.

 

 

Another Child with Autism Maimed By Distraught Parent

CBS 13 Modesto, CA reports on a brutal stabbing of a child with autism. By his mother, who once served on the Council of Developmental Disabilities. Take a long, hard look at Christmas future, and every other day for that matter, if America doesn't wake up to the need for treatment, prevention, services and support for families facing the growing crisis of autism.  Can we really just accept this? K

MODESTO (CBS13) ―  Neighbors of the mother accused of repeatedly stabbing her autistic son say they had only known the suspect as a devoted mother and autism activist who loved her son more than anything.

Anitra Hankins, 36, is under suicide watch in Stanislaus County custody on charges of torturing, tying up and viciously attacking 13-year-old Miles Hankins on Sunday night.

"He had stab wounds all over him," said next-door neighbor Christopher Tooze. "A big stab wound in the head."

Acquaintances were at a loss to describe how the incident could have happened. Anitra Hankins was regarded as a great mother who once served on the state Council on Developmental Disabilities.

In her 2004 resignation letter to the board, Anitra stated, "My health and that of my special needs child will not permit me to continue fulfilling my responsibilities as I would prefer." Read the full story HERE.

 

Join Jenny McCarthy Today for "Love, Lust & Faking It" Her New Book from Harper

Guys, I'm sure Jenny would never fake it with you.... Congratulations to our friend Jenny McCarthy. Today is release day for her new book, Love, Lust & Faking It: The Naked Truth About Sex, Lies, and True Romance .  Available in hardcover (no giggling) and on Kindle.  Give yourself a break from autism and buy a copy.  Place your launch day order today! Kim

New York Times bestselling author Jenny McCarthy returns to her comic roots in this candid, wise, and witty look at women, men, sex, romance, heartbreak, love, and how (not) to fake it.

In Belly Laughs, Jenny McCarthy told you what you could really expect when you're expecting. In Baby Laughs and Life Laughs, she gave you the unfiltered ups and downs of motherhood and marriage. Now, in Love, Lust & Faking It, the inveterate truth teller turns the lights on for a funny, often poignant, and no-holds-barred look at the essence of relationships: love and sex.

Jenny explores the intensity of first love, introducing us to Tony, the boy of her teenage dreams, and Tubby, her dirty, sexy stuffed teddy bear. She takes us on a whirlwind tour of the world of aphrodisiacs and fetishes, explains the importance of playing doctor and other nice and naughty fantasies, and gives thanks for the pleasures of chocolate. And she sets the story straight on STDs, man junk and lady bits, why we really cheat, why women are master manipulators, the virtues of sex with the lights off, the power of a "loving no," the satisfaction of the perfect booty call, and so much more.

Filled with humorous stories about her own out-rageous exploits—from becoming a Playboy Miss October to the pain of getting a discount boob job to meeting Brad Pitt—as well as the lessons she's learned from family, friends, and fans, Love, Lust & Faking It takes on a subject the sex symbol, mother, television star, comedian, and divorcÉe can be trusted to examine with nothing but unvarnished honesty and earthy humor. Throughout, Jenny reminds us to aim higher, believe in true love, and, most of all, be kind to ourselves. And to have lots of fun and sex—without faking it.

Signing Events & Media Air Dates

Tuesday, September 28 

• “LOVE, LUST & FAKING IT” --- On Sale
• Oprah Airs

Wednesday, September 29 

• New Jersey Book Signing
  • 7:00pm
  • Bookends
  • 232 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

A ‘Medical Nightmare’—Refrigerator Mothers

By Anne Dachel
 
How could doctors have gotten it SO WRONG FOR SO LONG?   Recently I heard about a PBS Point of View program called Refrigerator Mothers, produced in 2002.  The segments I found showed how autism was viewed going back to the 1950s, when cold, unaffectionate mothers were blamed for causing autism. 
 
Most interesting was the commentary by the filmmaker, J.J. Hanley, the mother of an autistic son.   She recounted that in 1996, when her son was three years old, she was also told by his doctor that she caused him to be autistic.
 
1996?  (Definitely a doctor of the old school.)  It’s important to note that 1996 wasn’t that long ago.
 
Four years later, in 2000, when my son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, the doctor (one of the top pediatric developmental specialists in the area) told my husband and me that we were genetically mismatched and that’s why John had autism.  I wanted to know why no one else had autism among our relatives.  The doctor asked about any people in our families who acted eccentric or seemed withdrawn.  He said that they were probably autistic too. 
 
The medical establishment, which has never been alarmed over autism, has taken credit for the explosion in the numbers, trivialized its devastating effects on a child, and pretended that somehow this epidemic is the result of defective genes.  It’s clear that doctors have failed to understand autism FROM THE BEGINNING.
 
Only recently has testimony in a U.S. Senate hearing acknowledged the obvious: Autism is increasing among our children and it’s linked to environmental toxins.  The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention don’t seem to have been informed about the experts who testified in Washington. They remain baffled about a disorder affecting one percent of our children.  Neither has ever officially called autism A CRISIS.
 
While I can’t include a link to all of Refrigerator Mothers, (I haven’t seen the whole broadcast myself) I’ve found some interesting segments.: HERE#

David E. Simpson (film maker): “Refrigerator Mothers is a portrait of seven women who represent thousands like them who during the 1950s, 60s, and early 70s, were blamed by the medical establishment and by society at large for causing the autism in their children.  It’s about the role of the expert in society and the often unequal relationship between the medical professional, the psychological professional, and the people they treat.” 

Sex!

Break out the "good panties", ladies. Guys - charge up that ManGroomer. Tuesday we have sex, love and lust. And we're not faking it.  KS

Fox News Airs Segment Asking about "Vaccine Autism Correlation Coverup?"

Thank you to Rebecca Estepp and SafeMinds for coordinating this media coverage of the state of the Autism Vaccine coverage.  Mary Holland speaks to Fox News.  If the embed does not work for you, go to Media Matters HERE.

Fox asks: "Autism Correlation Coverup? Vaccine claims rarely compensated by gov't"

Observations from UPENN's "The Science, Ethics and Politics of Vaccine Mandates"

The Science, Ethics and Politics of Vaccine Mandates (When you assume that vaccines are safe)

By Louise Kuo Habakus

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

This is a long post but I encourage you to read my remarks.  Compulsory vaccination represents a severe limitation of our human, civil, individual and parental rights.  It is very important to understand the arguments and justifications for vaccine mandates offered by doctors and public health officials.  While the public health system usually appears anonymous and impersonal, a conference like the one I attended this week is an opportunity to see the individuals behind the system.  The people who participated in the program are among the leaders upholding vaccine mandates in our country. 

On Tuesday, September 21, 2010, I attended a full day conference on the Science, Ethics and Politics of Vaccine Mandates.  The event took place on the University of Pennsylvania campus, in the Biomedical Research Building.  Conference sponsors were the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the University of Pennsylvania Health System (HUP), the Society for Health Care Epidemiology of America, and the Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy.  Click HERE for the program HERE.  Organizers and participants included including Paul Offit (CHOP), Arthur Caplan (Director of the Center for Bioethics), Dan Salmon (DHHS, Vaccine Safety) and Eddy Bresnitz (former New Jersey Health Commissioner, now head of adult vaccines at Merck).

Although there was a “waitlist,” the room was not full; there were fewer than 100 people in attendance.  They reserved the first row for press and none came, as far as I could tell.  With the exception of some panel members, a friend who joined me, and Susan Kreider - an RN who was crippled (Guillain-Barre) by the vaccines she was mandated to receive while in nursing school twenty years ago - I didn’t recognize anyone there.  I sat in the second row.  

OBSERVATIONS

The Presumption of Safety

The most striking feature of the conference was the assumption on the part of the Center for Bioethics that vaccines are safe.  With a presumption of safety, they would not address many of the significant concerns underlying vaccine mandates. 

Yet, on its website (click HERE), the Center for Bioethics describes its mission as:

The field of bioethics… provides a practical language… and a means for our society to talk about its deepest moral concerns, fears and hopes. The Center employs this language to promote scholarly and public understanding of the ethical, legal, social and public policy implications of advances in the life sciences and medicine. It fosters informed dialogue about these issues across a broad spectrum of opinions that not only are the right questions addressed, but that the answers given rest upon solid facts and cogent arguments… [We] engage in careful analysis, thoughtful reflection, and foster public discussion about the critical biomedical questions that put our traditions and values to the test.  [Emphasis is mine]

Legally, vaccines are “unavoidably unsafe.”  A vaccine “is a product that is incapable of being made safe for its intended and ordinary use.”  This is the reason that Congress created the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) in 1986; the intention was to protect vaccine makers from most legal liability when vaccines injure or cause death.  I am not sure how they can claim to address “the right questions” and society’s “deepest moral concerns” with “informed dialogue… across a broad spectrum of opinions” when they affirmatively choose to ignore the nearly $2 billion paid out to over 2,500 families in the VICP.  The fact that vaccines are unsafe for many people is a legal given, and yet completely denied by The Center for Bioethics.  At the conference, I observed that neither the “tradition” of cradle-to-grave vaccination, nor the societal “value” of compulsion was put to the test.

A Word About Herd Immunity

The validity of herd immunity undergirds all compulsory vaccination policies.  The theory of herd immunity posits that when a sufficiently high threshold of people in a community is immune to a specific disease, it creates a protective effect, a barrier of sorts.  Society achieves herd immunity when this protective cordon prevents a resurgence of the disease and, as a result, protects vulnerable individuals who cannot receive vaccines (or whose vaccines failed).

Video: Don Imus Interviews Mark Blaxill and Dan Olmsted on Autism's Toxic Origins

Watch Mark Blaxill and Dan Olmsted on Imus on Fox Business channel as they discuss their new book, The Age of Autism Mercury Medicine and a Manmade Epidemic. Thank you to Don and Deirdre Imus (check out the HuffPo post HERE she wrote that now has over 1100 comments) - for their unwavering support for the autism community. (Thanks to Ginger Taylor for the links.)


Part 2