Drafted into The Autism Wars

By Anne Dachel

April 7, 2012, The New York Times, published the story, The Autism Wars by Amy Harmon.  The title was intriguing.   Just what would The Times consider an autism war? After reading it, I gathered that the fight is over the definition: Are the current criteria too board?  Are we still missing kids?  Is it over-diagnosing or under-diagnosing?   

 Amy Harmon is described here as “a national correspondent for The New York Times who has written extensively on autism.”  Extensively on autism?  I’m curious why someone who supposedly has a lot of background on autism is content to open her article with this paragraph:   

“THE report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that one in 88 American children have an autism spectrum disorder has stoked a debate about why the condition’s prevalence continues to rise. The C.D.C. said it was possible that the increase could be entirely attributed to better detection by teachers and doctors, while holding out the possibility of unknown environmental factors. “

Over the last twenty years, as the autism rate exploded, the CDC has had no answers.  The definition of autism was broadened in 1994, but with every stunning increase, it was explained away as “better diagnosing.”. In 2002, the rate was one in every 250 kids. In 2004 it was one in 166. In 2007, it became one in 150. In 2009, it soared to one in 110, and now it's one in every 88 children, one in every 58 boys.  Why, after 18 years, are doctors finding still more children with autism?  Shouldn’t the rate have stabilized years ago if, as many claim, there’s been no real increase?  This doesn’t bother Harmon.  She’s not asking why officials still can’t tell us a thing about a disorder that is now so common that everyone knows someone with an affected child.  She seems satisfied to tell the public that there’s may be “the possibility of unknown environmental factors.”

This is it parents.  If a top autism reporter at The New York Times can’t give us anything definite about autism, who can?  There isn’t even a projection of when someone at the agency that gets billions to run health care might actually know something for sure.  A new mother with a healthy, normally developing baby needs to be aware there’s nothing she can do to prevent her child from ending up on the autism spectrum.  If, at eighteen or twenty-four months, her baby suddenly stops talking and making eye contact, and at the same time starts rocking and lining up toys, doctors are helpless.  Whenever they finally agree on a definition of autism there still won’t be any real answers.   (And this is what Autism Awareness Month should really be about.)

It seems no one at The Times or anywhere else is worried. “The Autism Wars” is really about playing with the diagnosis and making the epidemic go away.  I would have posted a comment explaining my viewpoint, but comments ‘weren’t allowed on this story. 

I do like the idea of an autism war, or more correctly, A WAR ON AUTISM.  We’re had lots of national efforts on very critical things labeled like this.  We’re familiar with the phrases, “War on Poverty,”  “War on Crime,” “War on Terror,” and “War on Drugs.”  Why not an official War on Autism?  Surely something affecting an overwhelming number of our children deserves some national recognition.  Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks, the foremost autism advocacy organization in the country, recently called autism “a national emergency.”  That would put autism on a par with terror, drugs, and crime.   I can see the President of the United States holding a press conference and declaring that we must make a national effort to find the cause of autism.  We have to prepare for all the autistic adults who are coming.  We have to provide for the children.  It would rival President Lyndon Johnson’s State of the Union Address in 1964 when he declared a War on Poverty,” or George W. Bush’s speech to Congress in 2001 calling for a War on Terror.  

Still, no one seems that interested in doing anything about autism.  Health officials, mainstream medicine, and the media are all happy leaving autism merely a mystery or a puzzle.

In truth, autism is the enemy.  It’s the enemy that’s going to conquer us if we don’t do something to stop it.  Autism has invaded this country and openly attacked citizens in full view of everyone.  This adversary is most diabolical because it selectively strikes our most vulnerable population, our children.   The first line of defense--the medical establishment and the CDC--has tried to make friends with the enemy.  They claim there’s been no invasion.  They say that the enemy has always been here, we just didn’t notice.  The casualties may be mounting, but no one is declaring war.  It seems that officials and doctors are actually in league with the invader.  They’ve taken credit for the casualty count, calling it “better diagnosing.”  There is no front in this fight.  Sporadic attacks can come at anytime, anywhere, striking any child at will.  There is no defense against the enemy.  We’ve been given nothing with which to arm ourselves against autism.

The invasion has been ongoing for more than twenty years, but recently the enemy has stepped up the action.  We’re seeing more wounded, but still the medical front is unable to advance and the injured are left lying in the field.  The invaders look like they’re going to defeat us.  We seem quite willing to surrender without putting up a fight.  I can’t see an end to the bombardment as the enemy is well-armed and shows no sign of retreating.  They’re just going to keep on the offensive until none are left standing.  

In the end, maybe someone will ask why our side never waged a War on Autism.

Amne Dachel is media editor for Age of Autism. You can subscribe to her newsfeed at AnneDachel.com

Comments

[Benedetta]

Nick:
This organization you have put a blog on; DOES NOT believe those with autism are less than human?
Is this what you have observerd for yourself; after reading a lot here, or what have you just been told that?

My son's last psychologist - When my son turned 24 and one of the top psychs in our state says that - with autism - my son thinks he is just fine, thank you very much to the rest of the world; there is nothing wrong with him. That is just the way it is, the way they think.
That is a blessing as far as I am concern; because there is a lot right with him, HE IS GREAT!

I can see though that if it is typcial that they think this way --- how they typically view the world then of course there would be those that ban together in a group claiming neurodivisity.

But aside from social issues; PUT THEM ASIDE FOR A MINUTE PLEASE, because there have always been straight forward types, social awkard types, blunt types, silver tongue types, and so forth. That is not the issue here at all.

The main thing here is health.
Health -- my son is so very pleased with his in the last five years and says that for the past five years he has felt great since the low carb diet he has gone on, and supplements I give him, and his seizure meds that he takes twice a day works so very well. Also he has not had a vaccine since he was five.
Nick;
I am glad you are well.
I am curious if you have always felt well?
When you were a child, you felt well or ill?

My son was a very sick child. Running periodic fevers after three reactions from DPT shots.
I witness him have a stroke.
he ran periodic fevers, happening once a month and then slowing starting to to become further apart.

Have you not heard that many have very painful bellyaches?

My son also had absentee seizures growing up, and once he hit puberty - they became grand mal.

My daughter had her own immune problems from the DPT shot.
Again Kawasasis, periodic fevers, acid reflux, stiffness as in arthritis, mood disorders, sleep problems, mannias, depression, bipolar.

If you are perfectly healthy? - If you are not on some kind of daily medication? - No to both of those questions, then consider yourself blessed, happy, find another cause to champion. This is not worth you time.

You are talking to parents here on this website that have very sick children.

Thanks for reading this and considering this point of view.

[Nick]

Neither this article nor the article it was a reaction to have even considered the viewpoint held by most autistics themselves, including myself: that of neurodiversity, the view that autism is not a disorder, but a different way of thinking that shouldn't be feared. In fact, Temple Grandin, another autistic, has stated the opinion that whoever domesticated fire was probably autistic. And I noticed that you quoted Autism Speaks. You probably didn't know that many autistics bear resentment against that organization for portraying us as less than human, merely victims. So, let us not have a War on Autism. Let us have a War on Hatred.

[Cherry Sprelin Misra]

These people will never do anything about autism. Did they do anything about Azheimers, which began about 50 years ago? It is clear that if anyone wants to avoid Alzheimers, they will have to figure it out on their own. Fortunately, prevention of AD is not so difficult in many cases. The information is on the internet- Its just that THEY are not going to tell you about it. Similarly, parents can figure out how to avoid autism in their children. What saddens me is that treatments for those already made autistic could be developed and they simply will not be . Parents are left to flounder around on their own with the various biomedical treatments and where I live, in India, most of the parents do not have the knowledge or financial means to pursue those.

[Mercy]

Brent Rooney
Thank you
I read your post last night, and thought about not responding but years of not responding has lead me to the inability to no longer not respond.
I did yesterday in the Vocational Rehabilitation office with a son that will need their support - how ever stronge (??) that support will be..
I told them that a dignosis was not that hard when the first, second and third grade teacher asked the parent if their kid does talk. That is was not the 10 minute doctor visit that brought on the dignosis, but an eight year old in a school system usually in the third if not fourth grade.
So I suggest we start getting the data of special ed and the numbers of the retarded "now" before it is hidden away in the next three or four years.
Yes, do they want to go there - what are the new numbers now up from 1 in 6 to 1 out of 2 has a learning disabilty. Is that correct?

Eileen: I am grateful for your persistance, I can feel your pain and your frustration. What ever you do, do not ever give up. They are pigs and at the very least you are making sure they are not a very comfortable pig.

Also,to all a foot note to fill away into your brains when your kids age out of the school system and you are lucky enough the SSI - with 5000 dollars a year is deemed not nessacary for your child.
My son will graduate this May with an AA degree; has four diplomas and 11 certificates all involving electronic and electricity.
Vocational Rehabilitation thought maybe he could return to school and get training in being a lineman for the county. They are getting hired the day they graduate for that job. They climb poles, operate a bucket lift, go out in the middle of the storms to restore electricity, has a good retirement plan with good benifits. Exciting! We came home and looked at it - Yes they do have a 16 week course in this at the community college . But it is a job of were low aniexty is needed. Plus a commercial drivers license is required and they will not give a commercial drivers license to someone that has ever had a seizure long time ago and not on medications -- and certianly not someone who is now on and will always be on seizure medications. Do you see how it is going here.
Changing name because I don't want to make these people mad- We are at thier mercy .

[veritas]

The number of killed policemen are growing.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57413954/number-of-police-officer-deaths-growing/
I suspect that the current pandemic of autism has a lot to do with it. Autistic adults (who are often aggressive) go into fights with autistic policemen, and neither site can read the body language. This is disaster in making. The whole society is being destroyed by toxic vaccines and by the criminal people responsible for pushing them on children.

[Pam]

I keep thinking of the movie Network and the phrase: "We're mad as hell, and we're not going to take this anymore!" My son is 20, at the edge of this autism epidemic, and his recent need for hospitalization in a behavioral medicine department has made me furious that essentially NOTHING has been done to help these children and their parents. What is going to be done with this lost generation?!

[Eileen Nicole Simon]

I received an email from Senator Scott Brown (Massachusetts) in response to the email we were encouraged to send to the president, our senators, and representative. He clearly did not understand my intent, and informed me that he had co-sponsored the Combatting Autism Act, recognizes the barriers for obtaining services, and supports several research initiatives.

I sent Senator Brown a follow-up communication, beginning with a request to require changes to the non-responsiveness of federal agencies and members of the research elite:

"Since 2003 I have tried to engage in discussions with members of the Interagency Autism Coordination Committee (IACC), but their response is complete silence. . . The focus of research on autism should be the brain. . . What is the cause of damage that prevents normal language development?"

I asked him to look at my website, conradsimon.org for my ideas about invasive and dangerous obstetric procedures, which have become standard protocols since the mid-1980s.

I asked him to amend the Combatting Autism Act to require that the IACC engage in conversations with the public, and to openly discuss the viewpoints of those of us most affected by autism. It is not time to change the conversation about vaccines. I posted a vaccine research strategy on my website submitted to the IACC 3 years ago.

I probably said too much again. Thanks, Anne, for applying your excellent writing skills to this controversy, which has in turn led to so many thoughtful responses from AOA readers.

[Brent Rooney]

Regards: The New York Times Autism Wars article

Hello Anne Dachel,

Try this little 'thought experiment': Assume for the
moment (i.e. 2 minutes) that none of the escalation in
Autism rate between 1960 and 2012 is real. Instead of
1 in 88 U.S. children having Autism, they all really have
a form of MENTAL RETARDATION, but NOT Autism. Under this
premise, then the mental retardation rate between 1960 and
2012 has very markedly increased. So, how do the enlightened medical 'experts' explain this escalation in
MENTAL RETARDATION rate? Methinks the 'experts' can not handle this 'scenario'.

Cordially,
Brent Rooney (MSc)
Research Director, Reduce Preterm Risk Coalition
3456 Dunbar St. (Suite 146)
Vancouver, Canada V6S 2C2
web: http://www.jpands.org/vol13no4/rooney.pdf
email: fullterm40@gmail.com

[Jeannette Bishop]

The deflection in this article is insidious. Yes, there is a war going on, between raising healthy children vs. raising "healthy" profit margins, social agendas, ...

But those not affected enough to understand what is happening around them, or perhaps not affected enough to be motivated to understand, which is where I was for too long, might just be placated by such an article, possibly to the severe detriment of their own health or their loved ones.

[Matt]

At some point, possibly a parent in the ranks of the 1 in 88 will have the funds to Study Vaccinated vs. Un-vaccinated children. Hell, why don't we start a Lottery that would fund such a study and just get it done rather than wait for our Government to to this? Maybe Trump could put his money where his mouth is. I for one cannot wait any longer.

[Bill Crumpler]

I am in the trenches. My wallet and car glove box have an inventory of business cards I made up on publisher. Below is the text:

Vaccines ARE NOT “One Size Fits All"
Do your homework before you vaccinate anyone
Bill Crumpler, Parent Advocate
My Contact Information
Useful internet sites:
National Vaccine Information Center NVIC.org
Daily web autism newspaper AgeOfAutism.com
Adverse vaccine accounts FollowingVaccinations.com

I give this card to as many people as I can especially expecting mothers and parents with young children. These cards are really easy to construct and print on a PC/printer. I came up with the idea after saying to myself over and over "I wish I had said something to that couple" or " If only they had some way to contact me if they need to talk ". I also use the cards to give to people I know as a contact information piece- with my beliefs.

[Benedetta]

Been to the vocational rehabiltation thingy today.
1 out of 88 according to the people that work there is better dignosis.
The autism rate is going to go down the next time.
Why?
So glad you ask.
Because through paper work and new psych test - they are going to make it go away.

Mark Blaxill was smart not to answer that question when they asked him to predict future autism rates.

Our goose is cooked - it is already in the works.

[Angus Files]

The reporters are just ..middle men/woman,,."The best bits are in the cutting desk"..as we all know....

Controlled..

Angus

[Angie]

This is just so nuts. I do what I can, but I have to say that I'm beginning to feel defeated as well. I am so tired of talking till I am blue in the face to people with that glazed over look with the smile and nod. The way I figure it, if we keep going the way we are, in about 20-30 years parents of typical kids will have to find "special" social support groups in which to discuss their childs typical behavior (look at the way he pushed that car instead of just looking at the wheels-odd!) and socialize their child with other "typicals". Their child will have to eat thier gluten bread and peanut butter lunch slone at the "gluten table" in the cafeteria. The rest of the world will be autistic.This really may be the idea that the CDC is going for.....

@wewillwinn;
I agree that we should be focused on just getting and gathering our own research. The government has been hijacked by these A-holes and that leaves us to ourselves and the institutions that do support research that we can really use to heal our kids and prevent others from becoming ill.

[Janice]

I am afraid a "War on Autism" would be just like all of the other Wars on poverty, drugs, etc. In the words of Rahm Emanuel "Never let a crisis go to waste!" To government, every event, every issue, every moment of the day is an excuse to wrangle more power and more money away from the people. The last thing we want to do is look to the government to solve the problem. I believe it is going to take completely abandoning the medical paradigm, walking away from your allopathic doctor and looking to alternative health practitioners who see health as balancing the body's natural systems. Ten years ago, when my vaccine crisis occurred, this seemed almost impossible, but I have to say that (sadly, due to the epidemic increase of poor health) more and more people are being driven to take this step. While surveying the medical establishment landscape is deeply depressing, I really believe that there is a movement afoot back towards health. Truth always wins in the end.

[CT teacher]

Maybe a Million Mom march or a Million Mom and Dad march is a good idea. If it is too difficult to pull off in Washington, it could happen in every state capital on the same day.

[wewillwin]

Two things:

1. First, the government will never do the right research. Ever. Forget about it. But I just looked over the research ARI is funding and it is pretty much spot on in terms of what we're seeking. Maybe we should divert some of our time and energy into getting behind ARI and funding their research!

2. We are so not alone. As many know, the CFS crowd and Lyme disease population are in the same boat. I just viewed "Under Our Skin", which you can watch on hulu for free. The similarities to the autism epidemic and how everything has been mishandled by the medical establishment and government are eerie. Worth a watch!

[Sarah]

The absence of concern over the autism increase by this NYT reporter is apalling. In drastic contrast to the NYT's hohum rehash. The Salt Lake Tribune reported this:

Utah’s alarming autism rate
By brian moench
First Published Apr 07 2012 01:01 am • Last Updated Apr 07 2012 01:01 am

"Warning to prospective parents: Living in Utah means your baby boy will have a 1 in 32 chance of being autistic, the highest risk in the nation. A new federal study confirms that Utah is the epicenter of an accelerating epidemic of autism.

Even though that diagnosis can include people within a broad range of disability, there is no way to avoid this conclusion: This is a steadily expanding public health emergency and it deserves the highest level of engagement from local, state and federal authorities."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/53862628-82/autism-utah-autistic-environmental.html.csp

Time magazine's Judith Warner wrote a similar price to Amy Harmon. They definitely seem to be on the same page. Their page. So, did they talk? or were they talked to? As in this is how you will report on this increase...

"What to make of the autism numbers"- Time ttp://ideas.time.com/2012/04/06/what-to-make-of-the-new-autism-numbers/

I agree with Bob Moffitt..

[ConcernedMom]

"We’re familiar with the phrases, “War on Poverty,” “War on Crime,” “War on Terror,” and “War on Drugs.” Why not an official War on Autism?"

The government hasn't 'won' any of the wars on poverty, crime, etc. They won't win a war on autism, either. The government has no interest in solving the problem. They don't even see autism as a problem to solve. The parents are going to solve the autism problem, not the government.

[Elizabeth]

The first time I was ever vaccinated I was 15 and going to Mexico. Tetanus was all I needed but the nurse (from another country) decided to take matters into her own hands. She gave me a cocktail against my will (I almost punched her when I found out), and when I got home I felt so sick, like I had been poisoned. I vowed never to do that to my children. I started reading whatever I could get my hands on about the subject. And let me tell you, it is a war. It's moms against greedy politicians. And the culture of this country has years and years behind it of making common-sense mothers look insane to the world, and even worse to each-other.
I would challenge parents that if they believe so strongly in the vaccines, they should take the shots too, every time their baby gets one. See how you feel and ask yourself if it's really in a baby's best interest to be so heavily drugged before the skull has even hardened.
My baby girls are vaccine free and healthy. And if you don't want your vaccine filled child playing with my "natural" kids, that's just fine by me. I'd rather be forced to search out like-minded mothers than be around the ignorant. Vaccine injured families have my support and prayers.
I do propose that some day soon we do a million mom march to show this country what it looks like to witness an entire generation of poisoned children on the senate steps. That would be something.

[Tara McMillan]

I will be on the front lines. I am ready to fight!

[Rachael]

I think they may be running scared. The autism spectrum is actually based upon degrees of introversion. They may just have finally realized that introverted children may be more vulnerable to vaccine-induced brain damage/injuries of all kinds - (autism, allergies, asthma, autoimmune illnesses) because of a biological difference found in the brain; the canaries in the coal mine so to speak. This makes introverted children more sensitive to all kinds of stimuli, including damage from repeat vaccinations. So, they can't just keep pointing out the fact that introverted, highly sensitive, sometimes gifted children are more likely to be on the ASD because that might lead us to think that introverted children are more vulnerable to vaccine induced brain damage, of all kinds.

[Kapoore]

Young women who want to have children are terrified. About two years ago a woman whom I am very close to said she wanted to have kids but she was afraid because so many kids had... and she couldn't find the word. I said, "autism?" What is that she wanted to know. I said, "just don't vaccinate your baby until after the blood brain barrier closes and you'll probably be safe." She had the baby and he is fine and she didn't vaccinate yet, but even she sometimes says, "I have to be nuts because I haven't vaccinated." Plus, she has found that her girlfriends sometimes won't let her amazingly healthy little boy around their babies because he might be spreading horrible and primitive diseases. Probably out there in this information wasteland there are other mothers following in the brave footsteps of this heroic woman. There are other mothers who catch on to that subterrean flow of the real cause of this epidemic and skip the medical rituals; and their babies are thriving.

[Benedetta]

You know that someone that writes and gets their words published does have a responsibility to the public like ordained ministers.

I could write, email, phone, visit and tell her about the vaccine reactions all three of my family has had over the years --- but their eyes glaze over at the first two words vaccine reaction, and they have tagged the name to it called ancedotal. Amazing!

[Louis Conte]

Our national response has been awful. The face of failure in this war is Thomas Insel. He was in the chair of leadership at IACC and could have lead the fight. Thomas Insel could have been the person who stood up years ago and commanded the army to fight back. Instead he worried "about the optics", un-voted environmental research and allowed the disaster to continue. Now he has brought in an entire new crew of do-nothing people who will do nothing but preach "acceptance."

We are the only ones fighting. And now we fight this disorder and our own government.

We will eventually win the autism war. Insel will go down in history as the new Benedict Arnold.

[Bob Moffitt]

Anne writes: "This is it parents. If a top autism reporter at The New York Times can’t give us anything definite about autism, who can?"

With all due respect .. there is a great distinction between a top autism reporter who "can't" give us anything .. and .. a top autism reporter who "won't".