AGE OF AUTISM

DAN! CONFERENCE SURPRISES

By Ronna Hochbein, OTR/L

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

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

THE FUTURE OF BRAIN TREATMENT?

You have got to read THIS post over at John Robison's blog about brain plasticity and some science-fictionesque research he's been participating in at Harvard.  John, as you may already know, is the author of LOOK ME IN THE EYE, his memoir about growing up with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome.

John is undergoing crazy, insane, you'll never believe it kind of testing that could change the world for millions. Including our kids. It's like something from Ray Bradbury. But it's here. Holy Martian Chronicles....

He'll share more with us soon. Get ready.

THIS CHILD DOESN'T DESERVE SPEECH THERAPY

By Kim Stagliano

We have new health insurance. It's just like our old health insurance. A lot of money for very little return. Let's see, we've had "Aetna, If you have autism we'll forget ya."  We've had "InHumana." We've had "Useless Healthcare." And now we have "Stigma."

Speech is not covered for my children. Why? Because the insurance companies have already decided that our children, including the beautiful girl you see here, will never catch up in speech. They don't believe Bella or your son or daughter even deserves speech. I spoke about this travesty on Good Morning America (watch here.)  Here's the insurance company's take on our kids.

Speech therapy is generally not appropriate for use in prelingual children when there is no identified underlying medical condition or there is no possibility  of the child reaching an age-appropriate level of speech (e.g., speech therapy for learning disabilities, autism, developmental delay or mental retardation; therapy provided for aversion to food, the inability to construct sentences, stuttering or tongue thrust) (Johnson, 2005; Bressmann, 2005; Kroll, 2005).

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism.

MERCURY, TESTOSTERONE AND AUTISM - A REALLY BIG IDEA!

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University Research Center created a firestorm of controversy a few years ago with his claim that autism was the result of an “extreme male brain”. 

Dr. Mark Geier and his son David believe Baron-Cohen may be exactly right.  I recently spoke with David Geier about these issues.

According to David Geier, the father-son team first became interested in this question after viewing a poster in which Dr. Boyd Haley showed how the addition of even a small amount of testosterone greatly enhanced the destructive power of mercury.

REVIEWS OF AUTISM YESTERDAY SCREENINGS

Please let the world know about the Autism Yesterday movie screening you hosted or attended in our comments section.  Thank you.

WATCH THE "AUTISM YESTERDAY" TRAILER

This is the trailer for the movie Autism Yesterday. You can purchase a copy of the DVD at Amazon.

BETWEEN A VIRUS AND A HORMONE

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

I’m really very ecumenical when it comes to trying to figure how to help my daughter, Jacqueline.  All I want is something that works.

The gluten/casein free diet worked for my son Ben after he went mute for twelve days following the vaccinations at his eighteen month check-up.  He’s seven-years-old now, completely neuro-typical and at the top of his second grade class.  It was this experience which radicalized me on the issue of vaccines and negative neurological reactions.  He has received no further vaccinations.

The gluten/casein free diet didn’t work for my daughter, though, who was already three and a half years into seizures and autism.  That experience taught me there was so much more I need to learn and as a result I’m always interested in new ideas.  What works for one child may not work for another.  But something should work for every child.

MY FUNNY VIROLOGIST

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

My daughter’s new virologist is a charming man and I think we’re going to be great friends.  He also thinks I’m completely wrong about vaccines and autism, and in my daughter’s case, seizures.

Between the opposing poles of these two statements is the hazy outline of what I believe is an evolving dynamic which is not yet fully understood.

Let me back up a little so you can fully appreciate the story.

About six weeks back I was given the name of a woman who had approached Generation Rescue.  She has a foundation which is working on the theory that the Human Herpes Virus #6 (HHV-6) is the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome.  This woman’s foundation often talked with the world’s top virologists who privately tell her their belief that HHV-6 is also implicated in multiple sclerosis, autism, and seizures.  She didn’t have time to pursue HHV-6 in regards to autism, but thought we should be made aware of the theory.

NEW AUTISM FILM: BEAUTIFUL SON ON PBS

In 2003, Hawaii filmmakers Don and Julianne King realized something was wrong with their three-year-old son, Beau. Around age two-and-a-half, Beau started losing his ability to speak, his coordination, and was becoming disconnected from the outside world. Determined to help Beau, his parents brought him to the best doctors in the U.S. and took along a video camera to document the results. Two months later, Beau was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

In BEAUTIFUL SON, Don and Julianne take us on their journey through the landscape of this debilitating neurological disorder as they attempt to recover Beau from autism.

AAP TO WORK WITH DEFEAT AUTISM NOW! ON TREATMENT

This isn't an April Fool's Day joke. AAP has announced that they plan to work with with the Autism Research Institute's Defeat Autism Now! program in an effort to provide treatment for our kids.  I wonder if they will be sending a team to the DAN! conference this weekend?  Here's their press release:

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS RECOGNIZES WORLD AUTISM DAY

For release: APRIL 1, 2008

AAP media contacts:  Susan Stevens Martin  Debbie Linchesky
847-434-7131   847-434-7084
ssmartin@aap.org  dlinchesky@aap.org

CHICAGO – The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports World Autism Day (April 2) as a way to bring together groups that are committed to finding the causes of, and successful treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders, which now affect an estimated 1 in 150 children in the United States. Thousands of children, parents and families are coping with what can be a devastating diagnosis with lifelong consequences.

DENTIST. AUTISM. PANIC?

By Kim Stagliano

Think about taking your child with autism to the dentist. Did a cold sweat just break out on your forehead? Cleanings are difficult, let alone major dental work!

I met Dr. Bob Porper in January, at an autism event here in Connecticut. When I explained I have children on the spectrum, he reached into his sportcoat pocket and pulled out a crazy looking, two headed toothbrush. My eyes popped out of my head! My father is a retired orthodontist. "Open. Bite. Close." was common dinner table talk when I was a kid.  My girls now use the Twinbrush. It's pretty cool!  And I get to pretend I'm the Two Headed Monster from Sesame Street every time they brush!

I'm pleased to announce that Dr. Porper will be writing about oral health care for Age of Autism.  He is generously donating 5% back to the autism community to NAA.  At the end of this post is info on where to order a Twinbrush for your family, and a 10% savings for our readers.  Here are a few words from him.

Hello, my name is Dr. Robert Porper.  I am a retired Oral Surgeon.  In my practice, I specialized in the treating of special care patients, including those with autism. And I understand fully the challenges you face bringing your child to the dentist for care.

DOUBLE BIG MAC ATTACK: USS GERBERDING TAKES ON WATER!

By J.B.Handley

I hope CDC employees have life vests underneath their sailor suits because the mighty USS Gerberding is taking on a hell of a lot of water right now.

David Kirby provided a blueprint for battle. Deirdre & Don Imus began running solo bombing missions. Jenny McCarthy dropped an atom bomb, and our favorite war hero just went thermo-nuclear!

AUTISM RECOVERY VIDEO: BIOMEDICAL TREATMENT WORKS

By Ronna Hochbein, OTR/L

Know what may be my least favorite sentence in the English Language?

"I don't believe in biological interventions for autism." Um, ok. Did I miss something? Last time I checked, the deluge of scientific information continues to mount on the chemical and physiological deficits in autistic children; and the subsequent therapy models are working.

This is not a construct that one can choose to believe in….or not. It is like saying, "I don't believe in the periodic table of the elements."

AUTISM: FROM ADDERALL TO ZOLOFT SURVEY RESULTS

Click HERE to see the results the Autism Research Institute Parent Ratings of Behavorial Effects of Biomedical Interventions.

We are proud that ARI is an Age of Autism sponsor. Their commitment to our children is unwavering.

AUTISM ONE CONFERENCE MAY 21 - 25

By Kim Stagliano

Are you planning to attend the AUTISM ONE 2008 CONFERENCE?

Jenny McCarthy is giving the key note address.  Dr. Amy Yasko is presenting. Even better? Dan Olmsted, Mark Blaxill and I are presenting on Saturday morning the 24th.  (Don't tell Jenny and Dr. Y. I said, "even better!" OK?) And did I mention, that the AAP headquarters is darn close? Maybe we'll shoot over there and inject our presence?  And the kicker? A1 offers babysitting so you can bring your children.

5 Days That Will Change Your Child's Life
The Sixth Annual Autism One Conference Returns to Chicago
Wednesday, May 21 – Sunday, May 25, Chicago, Illinois

THE REALITY OF RECOVERY Autism is a whole-body condition with many causes and many roads to recovery. Some children develop autism from vaccines, other children from exposure to molds, pesticides, and a host of environmental toxins.

The pioneering efforts of parents and practitioners have brought new appreciation about the underlying causes that create the conditions of autism. Understanding the causes has led to
safe and effective treatments that are helping our children get better.

Main Conference: Friday, May 23 – Sunday, May 25

BRILLIANCE IN ACTION Learn at the breakthrough presentations highlighting over 100 of the most eminent autism experts across five tracks:

1. Biomedical Treatments
2. Behavior and Education Therapies
3. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
4. Adolescence and Adulthood
5. Government and Legal Issues

JENNY McCARTHY CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO RAISE HELL

WHO: Jenny McCarthy and our sponsor TACA Now.

WHAT: "The biggest largest rally ever done in front of the Centers for Disease Control"

WHERE: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA

WHEN: June 28, or 29, 2008 (tentative)

WHY: Jenny will tell you here. (You need Apple Quicktime)

IN CASE YOU HADN'T HEARD: RECOVERY FROM AUTISM IS POSSIBLE

Managing Editor's Note:  This post is the result of a fortuitous combination of two wonderful women, both of whom I am proud to know.

Blogger/author/Asperger's Mom Michelle O'Neil posted a piece on her blog Full Soul Ahead about Julia Berle, mother of a recovered child named Baxter, and the movie about his journey called "Waking Up Baxter."

First, from Julia Berle: Almost three years ago my son Baxter lost his diagnosis of autism.  He was repeatedly re-tested by the various (5) sources that originally diagnosed him and was no longer considered by any to be on the autistic spectrum.  Since that time we have tried to share his story in earnest effort to provide hope for other families.

Through a variety of interventions, biomedical as well as traditional, Baxter has recovered from autism.  Julia and Baxter have shared his success story on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, DATELINE NBC as well as other local Los Angeles news programs and in numerous printed publications.   Because autism can often be an exhaustive and potentially isolating battle with seemingly little hope; supporting parents and caregivers through the journey is of paramount importance to Julia.   She is the mother to three children; Baxter 8yrs, Peter 6 and Eliza 3.   Baxter is currently a joyful, social little dude -he attends a typical classroom with no supports or therapy of any kind.

DR. ANDREW WAKEFIELD'S RESPONSE TO BAIRD G. ET AL

Thank you to Dr. Andrew Wakefield, of Thoughtful House Center for Children for sending us this important piece:

Response to Baird G. et al. Measles vaccination and antibody response in autism spectrum disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Published 5th February 2008.

In a case-control study of 10 to 12-year-old children with either autism, special-educational needs, or normal development, the authors examined measles-antibody responses (plaque reduction neutralization assay) and the presence of measles virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction). The study apparently sought to identify autistic children relevant to the original MMR/autism hypothesis, i.e., those who regressed and those with bowel symptoms.

The study is severely limited by case definition in the context of the crucial ‘possible enterocolitis’ group. For inclusion in this group they required the presence of two or more of the following five current gastrointestinal symptoms:

• current persistent diarrhea (defined as watery/loose stools three or more times per day >14 days),
• current persistent vomiting (occurring at least once per day, or more than five times per week),
• current weight loss,
• current persistent abdominal pain (3 or more episodes [frequency not specified by authors] severe enough to interfere with activity);
• current blood in stool;
plus:
• past persistent diarrhea >14 days’ duration, and excluding current constipation.

PIG BRAINS, AUTISM AND THE DISPARITY IN TREATMENT

By Kim Stagliano

The NY Times REPORTS that a handful of people who blow pigs brains' out of the skull in a Minnesota pork processing plant contracted a neurological disorder. Panic ensues. Tests run. Specialists called in. State epidemiologists on high alert.

Read this! "Steroids did nothing for Ms. Kruse, so doctors began to treat her every two weeks with IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin, a blood product that contains antibodies. “It’s kind of like hitting the condition over the head with a sledgehammer,” Dr. Lachance said. “It overwhelms the immune system and neutralizes whatever it is that’s causing the injury.”

Sound familiar my autism friends?

PEDIATRICIANS DEMAND CENSORSHIP FROM ABC

Managing Editor's Note: Last week we told you about a program from ABC called, "Eli Stone" in which the character questions pharmaceutical companies and vaccine safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics has sent a letter to ABC demanding that they censor this program. We got a copy of the letter (see below in red) and are sharing it you, our readers.  JB Handley, Co-founder of Generation Rescue and the driving force behind Age of Autism since it's inception as Rescue Post last Spring, puts his unique voice into the story below.   

I believe that pediatricians are hearing from more and more parents that there is an unease, a mistrust regarding vaccination safety.  Instead of allaying our fears via true studies on the safety of dozens of vaccines for infants and toddlers, the American Academy of Pediatricians wants to censor a TV program to shut down the story.

I also want to point out the I have had several wonderful pediatricians over the years - all of whom were genuinely interested in the health of my three girls. And I know more parents than I can count who have "medical vaccine exemption" written in their kids' charts by their doctor.  Individually they respect a parent's wishes. Here's the story.

By J.B. Handley

American Academy of Pediatrics, we’ve had it with you. Generation Rescue, an international autism organization, is officially declaring war on you for inexplicable complacency, complicity, and bureaucratic arrogance.

Most parents and autism organizations are extremely frustrated with the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC. They have been the target of attack ads, parent protests, and an entire website chronicling their misdeeds. Yet, at least with the CDC, we all see the conflict clearly: their #1 job, their raison d’être, is to administer vaccines.

With the AAP, the crime against our kids is actually more insidious, and in many ways more morally reprehensible. You are the people who are supposed to have our kid’s backs. And you don’t, not remotely.

Pouring salt in a growing wound is an absurd letter the AAP has written to the ABC television network protesting an upcoming TV show which they will be releasing to the press tomorrow, a complete copy of which you can read down below.

The letter, which I encourage you to forward to as many people and reporters as possible, takes the wildly predictable path of trying to guilt ABC into pulling a fictional TV show that lends credibility to the autism-vaccine link. The AAP writes:

“ABC will bear responsibility for the needless suffering and potential deaths of children from parents' decisions not to immunize based on the content of the episode.”

TIME TO RAIN ON THE MEDIA PARADE

By Dan Olmsted

The sad state of American journalism's coverage of the autism epidemic is on display today in tens of millions of Sunday newspapers, probably including yours. Parade magazine's cover story is titled: "With Children Struggling, Parents Ask: Is There Hope for Autism?"

Looking out from the cover is a child identified as "Nick Furth, 9, (who) attends a school for autistic children in New Jersey." When I saw that, my jaw dropped all the way to Beijing. This is the same Nick Furth who in May 2006 was on the cover for Time magazine's “New Insights Into the Hidden World of Autism” (caption: "Nick Furth, 8, of Mine Hill, N.J.").

Good heavenly days, as my mother might have put it. Out of thousands and thousands of children with autism, you're telling me Parade couldn't find one other child suitable for its cover? There's a technical term for this in my journalism dictionary. It's spelled l-a-z-y.

In the interest of full disclosure -- and also to make my point -- I need to say that I used to work for Parade's main Sunday supplement competitor, USA Weekend. Coming from this small universe, I can tell you these mega-circulation magazines have all the time and money they need to find and photograph anyone they want.

Both these photos were taken by the same photographer -- are they even new? I wonder. But here's what really sucks: After putting young Nick on the cover, both Parade and Time drop him like a hot potato. There's no mention of Nick, his family, his challenges and triumphs, that special school he attends and whether it helps, why his parents think he has autism, whether living in New Jersey, the state with the highest autism rate in the world, might conceivably have anything to do with it -- nothing. Two national magazine covers, and he's still a cipher. 

This is the commoditization of children with autism.

ARE WE THAT FAR AWAY FROM MAINSTREAM MEDICINE?

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

In preparation for my daughter Jacqueline’s yearly neurology appointment she had eight vials of blood drawn a few weeks ago.  (She has seizures as well as autism.)

It’s our second year with this neurologist and she wanted to do a number of tests she thought the previous neurologist had neglected to do, such as testing for Angelman’s Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome. 

When we arrived I asked the doctor if the tests had revealed anything new.  Jacqueline came back negative for Angelman’s and Fragile X as I’d expected, and this brilliant physician shrugged her shoulders and said, “Well, we didn’t find out anything new.”  Our doctor is board-certified in pediatrics and child neurology, as well as being Chief of the Northern California Kaiser Child Neurology Group.  It’s difficult to get much more main-stream.

I then asked if there were any additional tests or therapies which had come about in the last year which she thought might help.  Again, the answer was negative.

PARENT DRIVEN TREATMENT WHEN DOCS DENY ILLNESS

Autism is regularly disregarded as a medical condition by mainstream doctors, forcing parents to forge their own path for their children.

Here's another example of a parent taking her child's health and treatment into her own hands. From the Shreveport Times you can read the article HERE.

Take note of the negative reaction by the pediatric GI doc interviewed.

G'DAY MATE: TOXIC MOMS AND AUTISM

Well THIS report from Australia is interesting.

"WOMEN thinking of becoming pregnant can greatly reduce the danger of having an autistic child by undergoing toxicity tests, a Geelong scientist has claimed."

AUTISM IS TREATABLE.

If you have a recently diagnosed child, we invite you to click HERE. Autism is treatable. You should know that. 

Our sponsor, Autism Research Institute was founded over 40 years ago with the goal of helping the children who are living with autism right now. Not fifty or a hundred years hence when genetics becomes usable. Now. Today.

COCKTAIL TREATMENTS: A NEW HOPE AND CHALLENGE

By Pramila Srinivasan

Every morning, I wake up to my overflowing cabinet. This morning it is GABA, 5HTP to keep him calm, fish oil, Phosphotidylserine, an antifungal rotation, Kyolic, a prescription antiviral, Acyclovir, and a puff of Oxytocin to help his anxiety. He has a couple of muffins made of amaranth, his grain of the day, and drinks cultured vegetable juice fermented with the probiotic of the daily rotation. Off he goes to school.

Three times every day, his meals, his supplements, his medications, are carefully tailored to careful observations of his functioning and well-being. This is my one child, who suffers from gastrointestinal disease, toxic overload, adrenal stress, immune dysfunction, and neurological dysfunction. Some people call it autism.

TACA's NEW DIET "HOW TO"

READ THIS.

There. Now you have no excuse for not starting your child on the GFCF diet.

Thank you to our wonderful sponsor (see that logo over to your right?) TACA for using their dollars to help parents today. Now. What a concept.

NO "KRaP" IN WCPO CINCY STORY ON AUTISM CHELATION

By Kim Stagliano

Yes, the headline was a stretch. And if you're under 35 you have no idea what we're talking about. WKRP in Cincinnati was an old TV show... Oh, nevermind.   

Just read an interesting story out of Cincy HERE about chelating a child for LEAD and watching his autism disappear.

"Chelation treatments, used to remove metals from the body, have reduced noah's lead levels and have made a huge impact.

"It was really powerful and amazing for us to watch. It was literally watching a miracle right in front of our eyes," said noah's father, Rob Breakiron.

"We have a child here who is virtually indistinguishable from his peers and that's certainly not what he was a year or two years ago," added Pediatrician David Berger, MD."

DRUGS NO BENEFIT IN CURBING AGGRESSION

The New York Times reported yesterday that Risperdal and Haldol worked no better than placebo drugs among intellectually disabled people. There is a "Concerta'd" effort to push more drugs into people with autism. This trend will skyrocket as the males with autism flourish from adorable boys to full grown men who need to be managed and controlled by their families and ultimately, their caretakers, whoever that may be.

This report will be disheartening to parents who have looked to these drugs to help their loved ones.  Especially as children are taking these drugs from ever younger ages.  (Take a look at the Risperdal Lego's used to promote the drug.)

Doctors have few real treatment options for people with autism. As long as psychiatrists are running the ASylum why should we expect anything other than more drugs and more studies of drugs?

We go back to needing more studies on the causes of autism in order to learn how to treat it.

Here's the full article:

The drugs most widely used to manage aggressive outbursts in intellectually disabled people are no more effective than placebos for most patients and may be less so, researchers report.

The finding, being published Friday, sharply challenges standard medical practice in mental health clinics and nursing homes in the United States and around the world.

In recent years, many doctors have begun to use the so-called antipsychotic drugs, which were developed to treat schizophrenia, as all-purpose tranquilizers to settle threatening behavior — in children with attention-deficit problems, college students with depression, older people with Alzheimer’s disease and intellectually handicapped people.

A of A Q&A: PEDIATRICIAN ON AUTISM, VACCINATION & RECOVERY

By Dan Olmsted

Editor's note: This is the first of a three-part interview. I first met Dr. Julie Buckley of Ponte Verdra Beach, Fla., at the NAA convention in Atlanta. The formal sessions had ended for the day, but as usual some interesting discussions were going strong at the hotel bar. It was too crowded and noisy to have much of a conversation, but I picked up enough nuggets from Dr. Buckley that I wanted to hear more. So the next day we sat down in an empty conference room and had a proper talk. She touched on many key topics, from the relative health of never-vaccinated kids to the struggles of DAN! doctors helping children with autism recover. Sometimes, those children are their own.
--
AOA: How did you get started down this road?

Buckley: I had a very small and growing neurotypical practice when my daughter regressed, and then I figured out what we needed to do for her and then began working with other children and working with kids with autism. And very quickly my autism practice really outstripped my neurotypical practice. But the people who stayed in that neurotypical practice were those who were already very interested in not vaccinating, or who had siblings of children with autism, or parents in the community who for whatever reason didn't want to vaccinate their children, and knew that I was not going to scream at them at the top of my lungs – that if that was their wish, I was going to abide by it.

AOA: That sounds a lot like Homefirst, the medical practice in Chicago that welcomes people who choose not to vaccinate, and says it has seen almost no autism in never-vaccinated kids who were born at home. So what are your observations, given the diversity of kids in your practice? What do you see in terms of health outcomes for vaccinated versus non-vaccinated?

AGE OF AUTISM AWARD: TREATMENT CENTER

Editor's Note: The centers and practitioners below, nominated by our readers, offer a glimpse into the key issues facing families trying to help their children recover, from cost to individualized attention to expertise.
--
Treatment Center of the Year: Autism Solutions Center, nominated by Judy Hart

There is a facility that provides bio-medical interventions for autistic children in Cordova, Tenn., that is struggling to help these families, at no charge, The Autism Solutions Center. After speaking to Laura Corby, the Center Director, I made an appointment for my son. We were greeted by a volunteer staff that made us feel at ease, understanding what we as parents go through, having walked in our shoes themselves. It is a wonderful place where hope, encouragement, and treatment of the whole child, the entire family for that matter, come together.

AUTISM RECOVERY: IT'S NOT JUST FOR JENNY McCARTHY

Merry Christmas from all of us at Age of Autism. Our gift to you? HOPE.

By Ronna Hochbein, OT

Tales from the Pediatric Frontlines: Once upon a time, a fantastically beautiful little girl arrived into the world. Her parents were thrilled with their firstborn child. Then, something happened. (This ain't Mary Higgins Clark. Bet you all can quote what's ahead.)

She came to the world as an emergency C-section, as the little darling was breech. She developed severe allergic colitis, had bloody stools, GERD, and everybody say it together now---:frequent sinusitis and ear infections!" With tubes!

Therapists came in droves to her aid; PT, OT and Speech and wraparound galore. Upon seeing my little friend for the first time, she wandered aimlessly, had no words. Cried to express her needs and transition tantrums were ahem, frequent. She couldn’t sit for more than ten seconds, and did not respond to her name. She responded to changes in head position with death-like fear (i.e. fight or flight response due to postural insecurity.)

Her warrior mom did not accept her daughter's fate.

AUTISM TREATMENT SURVEY

Have you filled out an Autism Research Institute parent treatment survey yet?  Find it HERE.

AUTISM'S "RACE FOR A CURE"

By Kim Stagliano

This article from FOX 11 makes me want to sip a mint julep, don a large, over-embellished hat and eat a "Kentucky Hot Brown" sandwich for lunch today.  As soon as I figure out what's on one.

It appears that a mother convinced a large children's hospital to look into using Glutathione to treat autism and the docs were shocked by the results. So shocked that they are admitting autism is treatable and pursuing a study.  Sure, they're years behind the DAN! doctors - but I have a saying, "Don't punish progress."

"Kosair Children's Hospital and the University of Louisville are planning a study of that therapy. It comes after a local mom reached out to Kosair for help.

This is not a cure for autism but it is a rare glimmer of hope for parents of autistic kids. The medical director of Kosair Children's Hospital tells me this treatment could be life changing."

Here's the link to FOX.  Thank you. Dr. Wright for your open mind.

BERNIE RIMLAND: THE MAN WHO ICED THE REFRIGERATOR MOM THEORY

By Kim Stagliano

Bernard Rimland, founder of the Autism Society of America and The Autism Research Institute passed away one year ago on November 21st. Dr. Rimland is the person you have to thank for putting the "refrigerator mother" theory of autism to rest.

Thank you, Dr. Rimland. And thank you to Stan Kurtz, Executive Director of the Children's Corner School and father of a recovered son for the video.

CLICK HERE for the video. Dr. Rimland dispels the fridge theory in the first 4 minutes of the 29 minute tribute.

TAKE ME AWAY!

By Sargent L. Goodchild, Jr.

The kids have gone to bed and now it is time to get some things done around the house.  There is laundry that needs to be folded, dishes to be cleaned, GFCF lunches to prepare, and you have a deadline to meet for work.  The little stressors in life are mounting up and you feel as though you cannot hold it all together for much longer.  More than anything you wish that ad you remember from years ago was true and you could simply have Calgon take you away.  You realize that you need to manage your stress, but how?  You don’t have the time, money or inclination to join a gym and having a martini and settling down in front of the television doesn’t seem like a regular routine that would make anyone truly happy.  You talked to your medical doctor and he suggested something for anxiety, but how different is that from a martini anyway?

Now imagine that you have the ability to restore and rejuvenate yourself from an entire day of stress in 22 minutes.

US AUTISM AND ASPERGER ASSOC. NAMES NEW CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Salt Lake City, UT – US Autism and Asperger Association (USAAA), one of the largest voluntary autism and Asperger organizations in the United States and a world leader in providing education for interventional treatment options, today announced the appointment of Phillip C. DeMio, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer.

This position is the Association's most senior clinical advisor, providing management oversight of the organization's research, surveillance, epidemiology and international programs. The Chief Medical Officer frequently serves as chief spokesperson regarding medical and scientific policy issues for this global nonprofit association.

Is Autism an Infection?

By J.B. Handley

During Jenny McCarthy’s historic interview with Larry King, she said something that has stayed with me ever since. Here’s the excerpt:

LARRY KING: What is autism?.

JENNY MCCARTHY: Wow! Well, it differs for a lot of people. But -- or opinions. But I believe that's -- it's an infection and/or toxins and/or funguses on top of vaccines that push children into this neurological downslide which we call autism.

Can someone rewind that? Autism is an infection? What the hell does that mean? Even for a parent like me, deeply steeped in the biomedical approach to autism recovery, this was a paradigm-shifting comment.

GFCF DIET? TACA Talks, Autism Speaks Whispers

For many years, learning about the GFCF diet has been like learning about sex.  You hear things. Rumors. Whispers.  You ask yourself, "Can this be true?"  You're excited, intrigued and a little scared too.

One parent tells you that her child is sleeping through the night after removing dairy from the diet. You're at the CVS refilling yet another scrip for Clonidine, the high blood pressure drug your doc prescribed off label for your child because its main side effect is drowsiness.  You're an exhausted parent, whose child still drinks 6 glasses of milk a day and eats mac and cheese for lunch and dinner, and sleeps no more than four hours a night. Your ears perk up.  "Sleep?" You ask your doctor about this diet. The doctor, who knows next to nothing about the GFCF diet and who thinks the only "treatment" for the sleep disorder is Clonidine says, "Mrs. Smith. There are no studies proving this diet works. Don't waste your time." 

I've heard over and over from Moms who say their doc pooh-poohed the diet. Of course! No pharma rep ever walked into a pediatric practice offering a can of Dari-Free milk substitute and a Namaste GF chocolate cake mix as an autism treatment for the dozens of ASD kids the docs see.