AGE OF AUTISM

AUTISM SPEAKS' HOLLANDER WANTS YOUR CHILD ON PROZAC

By Kim Stagliano

Is this what some folks at Autism Speaks have in mind for our kids? Powerful drugs for toddlers to control their autism behaviors? What about dietary and therapy interventions? Where's that push?

Dr. Eric Hollander, of Autism Speaks, owns the orphan drug patent for the generic of Prozac. I wrote about that HERE. So he dearly wants your autistic child to take the drug. Were he and Dr. Offit separated at birth, gaining riches on the backs of our children?

"MERCURY MILITIA?" NO. RN.

By Kim Stagliano

THIS article was not written by a junk science junkie, a manic mom, a mercury militiaman or a mostly moronic measles-lover. It was written by an RN named Barbara Jamison and printed in that scandalous, liberal (LOL!) newspaper, The Fort Wayne Sentinel News.

You can register at the Sentinal News site and add your comments, as I'm sure the vaccinophiles will be there shortly ripping Nurse Jamison a new one. As soon as they scour Age of Autism with their morning's weak tea.

It is time to take a new look at the need for specific vaccinations. Vaccination is designed to benefit the public health. It is a one-size-fits-all approach. Thus, the rural Midwestern baby receives the same treatment as the crowded inner-city baby. Surely, the needs of these babies are not the same.

DR. OFFIT'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHOULD DISALLOW HIM FROM COMMENTING

By Kim Stagliano

Below is a quote from Paul Offit about this week's Federal court case that is as condescending as anything we've read recently. And is especially galling to parents of vaccine injured children, as it comes from a man whose own vaccine, RotaTeq, just killed a child (Read more HERE) and has injured many others. "Endearing?" Surely a man with his education could have chosen a less patronizing word? 

Dr. Offit has a financial conflict of interest with vaccines. He holds the co-patent on RotaTeq, Merck's vaccine which made a half a billion dollars last year. And he has a book coming out in September aimed at all of us who believe autism is treatable and that vaccines play a role in the epidemic. Funny how the article neglects to mention that.

"I think that what's so endearing to me about the anti-vaccine people is they're perfectly willing to go from one hypothesis to the next without a backward glance," said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Read the full Yahoo article by AP's Kevin Freking HERE.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

By Kim Stagliano

My children aren't babies any longer. Are yours?  In the not too distant future, I will become the gray haired woman in this lovely painting by artist Sheldon Feuerstein.  And I'll kiss my girls with as much love as I did on the day they were born.

Happy Mother's Day.

Kim

HUFFINGTON POST ON SPEECH AND AUTISM

By Kim Stagliano

Hi, friends. I really appreciate your response to my piece on speech therapy and insurance coverage yesterday here at Age of Autism. I expanded the piece for a more general audience and ran it at Huffington Post. You can read it HERE. 

As always, I'd appreciate your comments over at HuffPo. Thanks!

Kim

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.

WIN A SIGNED COPY OF DEIRDRE IMUS' GROWING UP GREEN!

By Kim Stagliano

One lucky Age of Autism reader is going to win a signed copy of Deirdre Imus' newest book, Growing Up Green!  Contest details at the end of this post.

I think you'll especially like the chapter on Green pediatrics. (Someone needed to tell the docs that "green" doesn't end with the poop chart we all got in the hospital when we had our babies!) 

We took a family ride down the road to New Canaan, CT to Elm Street Books to meet Deirdre at a signing. As you can see from the photo I snapped, she looked beautiful, with a snazzy new haircut and perfectly green shirt. Her husband Don was there, as was their son Wyatt, a handsome kid. I thanked Don for his work on behalf of kids with autism. After all, he helped put David Kirby's Evidence of Harm on the map three years ago. (Feels like a lifetime, doesn't it?) 

SOMEDAY I'M GONNA DIE. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY KIDS?

By Kim Stagliano

Ray Gallup, a dedicated autism dad, sent out an email this week with the obituary of a 74 year old woman who left behind a disabled son. 

Leila Simon's obituary moved me to write a piece for Huffington Post titled, Obituary: Kim Stagliano, 86, Leaves Three Autistic Children Behind.  I think people need to know how we inside the autism epidemic look at the future.

You can read the piece HERE. I'd appreciate your comments over at HuffPo.

Thanks.

Kim

GOOD MORNING AMERICA: STAGLIANO FAMILY ON AUTISM EXPENSES

By Kim Stagliano

Last Thursday, Mark, the girls and I taped a segment for Good Morning America NOW (which airs on the cable channel ABC News Now.) The piece is about the expense of autism as it relates to tax time. Cameron Mathison interviewed us. (You "All My Children" fans will recognize him as Ryan.) He has two young children and was most kind to the girls.  (The links follow.)

We drove 60 miles/2 hours and 45 minutes into Times Square (love that NY traffic!) and were met by a delightful producer named Matt Drake. By "met" I mean he was standing on the street corner waiting for us outside the studio door. How's that for service? I've NO idea how he recognized us lurching up the street with me shrieking, "HOLD MY HAND!" to three pretty girls.

FOUR AUTISM ONE PRESENTERS IN ONE NEW BOOK!

By Kim Stagliano

Robert Parish, documentary film maker, has gathered many writers for a new book about working with the autism population called: Embracing Autism: Connecting and Communicating with Children in the Autism Spectrum.

Four of us, including Robert, will be presenting at Autism One this spring: Autism/Asperger expert Stephen Shore/, Autism Risk and Safety Management expert Dennis Debbaudt, and I. 

NEWEST STUDY JOKE: DRINKING WHILE PREGNANT CAUSES AUTISM

By Kim Stagliano

I realize today is a holiday for many of us. So I apologize for making you want to spit out your jelly beans with this post. A new study (by a psychiatrist, of course) has been released linking autism to maternal drinking while pregnant.

Now I ask you: "Did you drink while pregnant?"  Did your mother or your grandmother? Which one of you has a child with autism and knows dozens or more mothers with affected children?  Heck, I didn't even sniff vanilla extract while pregnant.

Maybe we can write a play, a murder mystery about autism, and call it "Alcohol and Old Sperm."

As this study was flying around the lists last night, most people concurred these researchers have it backwards. Drinking doesn't cause autism. But autism can cause drinking.

Read about the study HERE.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism.

HAPPY EASTER

By Kim Stagliano

Here's to a season of hope, renewal and faith for our children. I thought you'd get a kick out seeing the GFCF Easter cake I made for Mia, Gianna and Bella.

Of course, the M&M's are not GFCF and they have food dye in them, so I'll have to eat them all myself. Ah, the sacrifices a mother makes for her children.

From all of us at Age of Autism, Happy Easter, friends.

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.

CHANTAL SICILE-KIRA INTERVIEWS KIM STAGLIANO ON AUTISM ONE RADIO

Today, Tuesday, March 18th, Chantal Sicile-Kira interviews Age of Autism Managing Editor Kim Stagliano on Autism One Radio (click HERE) from 1:30 - 2:00pm Eastern Daylight Time.  (The program is in the archives for six months.)

"Join Chantal and Kim as they discuss all of Kim's various activities." (To which Kim says, "All? Oh dear.)

Kim Stagliano is Managing editor of Age of Autism, a Huffington Post blogger and a writer. She and her husband Mark have three girls with autism. Mia is 13. Gianna is 11. Bella is 7. Kim lives in CT outside of NY City. Kim contributed a chapter entitled THREE SPECIAL KIDS. NO APOLOGIES NECESSARY to the book Embracing Autism: Connecting and Communicating with Children in the Autism Spectrum available at Amazon now.

You can see Kim, Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill at the Autism One 2008 conference in May.

MISDIAGNOSED?

By Kim Stagliano

Is Miss Hannah Poling patient #1 in the new paradigm for "The disorder formerly known as autism?"   Perhaps we'lll come up with a really funky sign like Prince did?  Was Hannah misdiagnosed with autism, when she actually had a mitochondrial disorder that was triggered by her childhood vaccines? If so, there may be tens of thousands of children who have been misdiagnosed.  That opens up rather a large can of wigglers, doesn't it?

KIM STAGLIANO IS NOT DRINKING THE KOOK AID!

By Kim Stagliano

No, that's not a typo. I meant Kook Aid.

In the words of Mary Chapin Carpenter, "Some days you're the windshield. Some days you're the bug." This week I was the bug.

And the autism world (those of us who care about helping kids feel better that is) have been "the bug" for a long time. So today I took off the gloves on HuffPo. I might have even taken off my bra and panties.....   Read it HERE and please do comment on the HuffPo site.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism and still putting bandaids on her thorax.....

FINALLY! A VACCINE WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND!

By Kim Stagliano

Who says medical miracles can't happen! Run to your doc! Make sure your child gets this vaccine! It's too late for me. (Hanging head in shame.) I'm covered in them. But for the love of God and all that is sacred - please vaccinate your own child today. Don't forget to drink a glass of ZAREX and eat a Sky Bar when you leave the doctor's office. Makes the shot work better.  WATCH HERE.

DOUG FLUTIE, TONY BRAXTON: AUTISM AND VACCINES

By Kim Stagliano

Are the autism Luddites, genetics only, epidemic deniers going to bash NFL quarterback (and my fellow Boston College classmate) Doug Flutie the way they have Jenny McCarthy for saying our vaccination protocol is behind the autism epidemic?

These words from Doug Flutie talking about the MMR and autism on Larry King Live right now:  "I draw a parallel. The Gov't would be afraid to admit it. At least spread them out."

Tony Braxton said she points the finger at vaccines. Is Autism Speaks going to disown her tomorrow on their site? Stay tuned. Jenny McCarthy and Katie Wright opened the door. Now a crowd is bursting through it.

You can send an email to Larry King Live HERE.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism, Mom to three beautiful girls with autism and yes, a Boston College Eagle.

BOB AND SUZANNE WRIGHT (BUT NOT KATIE) IN WESTPORT MAGAZINE

By Kim Stagliano

Addendum, Katie Wright just sent us a copy of the letter to the editor she sent to Westport Magazine.  It appears she was never asked to participate in the article.  Makes it rather hard to "decline an interview" if you weren't asked.  You can see her letter at the end of this post. She questions whether someone at Autism Speaks declined on her behalf, without her knowledge.

Bob and Suzanne Wright are featured in the February issue of Westport Magazine.  Westport is a well to do community in Fairfield County Connecticut. Paul Newman and many other celebrities live in Westport.  The Imus' are nearby too. I live up the road, er, on the other side of the tracks..... 

Here's a taste:

Despite the Wrights’ optimism, there have also been bumps in the road. Relations have been strained between Bob and daughter Katie, who declined to be interviewed for this article. Katie, Christian’s mother, has said that Thimersol, a preservative in mercury-based vaccines, causes autism and defends alternative treatments, which she says have benefited Christian. She has also criticized Autism Speaks for not supporting more families who believe likewise.

Her parents and the organization are reserving judgment on vaccines, saying they have yet to see scientific proof that they are behind the rise in autism. “We’re the 500-pound gorilla,” says Bob, “and we’re doing all of this research work and worrying about genetics, and she’s saying, ‘I’ve got a little sick boy here, and I’m only interested in dealing with him right now.’ That’s okay. I understand that.”

HERE's the entire article.  And Katie's letter is below.

DR. MINSHEW: TODAY'S AUTISM IS YESTERDAY'S SCHIZOPHRENIA

By Kim Stagliano

Dr. Nancy Minshew says that in the "old days" autistic people were called schizophrenic, because the two conditions are so much alike.  Today they are called autistic. Et voila! There's your epidemic!

Does your child, or do you (if you are an adult with autism) appear schizophrenic*? Has any doctor or therapist ever uttered the words schizophrenia and autism in the same sentence to you?

This declaration of Dr. Minshew's is repulsive and offensive to all people with autism. All people with autism, regardless of what you think of cause or treatment.

THE SHAMING OF THE MINSHEW

By Kim Stagliano

Studies raise questions about increase in autism cases

I am nauseous reading this article.  I have three daughters with autism. No epidemic? Just a genetic blip that happened to hit us? You couldn't miss us from 5 paces. Strangers on the street whisper, "Do they have autism?" They know. The lack of speech. The gorgeous eyes turned away. The lack of sociability.

On Saturday night we took the family to a local restaurant. We had to wait in line for a bit. Two families came in behind us with girls who couldn't have been more than three years old. Within seconds, the girls were trading dolls and chatting amiably. One said, "Can you eat with us?" And they looked at my three girls with funny faces. They could tell within seconds my girls are different. And it freaking broke my heart. Damn. Now I'm crying and about to puke.

Read the article here.  Here's an excerpt from our friend Nancy Minshew.

Nancy Minshew (Read about her HERE) the director of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Excellence in Autism Research, said last week, "I used to think there were more cases [than in past years], but I don't think so any more." She is now convinced that the higher numbers are "not an increase in the number of cases, but are an improvement in recognition."

The epidemic deniers are now at the highest echelons of the "autism experts."   Meanwhile, they rake in the money from the epidemic that doesn't exist.  Disgusting.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism.

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?

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE VACCINE FRIEND.....

By Kim Stagliano

This REPORT from SUNY Buffalo reports that scientists are working on vaccination via the mucus membranes, in this case, the nose. This application makes sense in outlying areas of the globe, given lack of sanitation, refrigeration and potable water. But having watched enough of Scarface to know that sniffing/snorting/spraying stuff into your nose can affect your brain I have to wonder about the ramifications of snortable vaccines. I'm sure FDA will make sure they are perfectly safe though.

"If I want to immunize somebody in Uganda with a vaccine that must be injected, for instance, I have to bring needles, everything must be sterile and everything must be kept cold, which means we need refrigeration.

"But if I can vaccinate through the nose, all I have to do is dry the antigen and my adjuvant. When I get to the middle of Uganda, I boil some water, pour in the antigen and adjuvant, stir it up, put it in an atomizer and 'sniff.' The mixture doesn't even have to be sterile, because the nose isn't sterile."

When they figure out how to put Gardasil onto tampons, I'm leaving the country.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor for Age of Autism.

Hey, AAP, need a doc?

The LADY doth protest too much, methinks.

CRUMBLING TRUST

By Kim Stagliano

Why are parents, particularly those of us in the autism world, skeptical of the AAP, CDC, FDA, and LMNOP?  Remember the reports that Hurricane Katrina survivors were getting sick from their FEMA trailers due to formaldehyde filled materials heating to extreme temps during the day, outgassing and then being breathed in by residents? FEMA fudged the data to prove "NO EVIDENCE OF HARM."  Sound familiar?  (By the way, formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is in vaccines. But just a skosh, so don't worry.)

ABC DOESN'T CAVE TO PEDIATRIC GROUP

By Kim Stagliano

From Reuters: "The ABC network said on Monday it will go ahead with plans to air an episode of its new legal drama "Eli Stone" despite objections from pediatricians who say the show may discourage parents from having their children immunized."

Read the complete story HERE.

Do doctors demand censorship of programs where fictional characters engage in unsafe sex? Do doctors demand censorship of programs where underage drinking is shown? 

I think the AAP realizes they have a huge problem on their hands. Parents do not believe that over the counter drugs, prescription drugs or vaccines are 100% safe for 100% of children 100% of the time. Instead of mounting studies to prove that administering dozens of vaccines to infants and toddlers is safe, the AAP screams, "IT'S NOT TRUE! LIES! CRAZY PARENTS!"

Pass the popcorn. I've got a program to watch. Thursday night at 10pm. Eli Stone.

(PS)  Who can tell me why I chose that headline? Tell me in the comments.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism, a Huffington Post blogger and blogs HERE. She and her husband have three daughters with autism.

AUTISM SPEAKS IN AMER-REE-CAH!

By Kim Stagliano

Autism Speaks seems to have accomplished the impossible, bringing together autism's "Jets and Sharks" (The "Curebies" and the "ND's") in a moment of agreement.   

Here's another analogy for those of you who might not be familiar with 50 year old Broadway plays....  Think of observant Jews who keep kosher and observant Muslims who also do not eat pork.  Two fairly disparate groups, yes? Autism Speaks is often considered a slab of ham wrapped in bacon smothered in sausage gravy by both groups.

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."

AUTISM SPEAKS TO TRUMP: YOU'RE FIRED!

By Kim Stagliano

(Added 12/29: I wrote a slightly different version of this for Huffington Post. More background. Please go over and add a comment there, won't you?  You can find it at http://tinyurl.com/2ozdt7.  Thanks.  Kim)

Will Autism Speaks "fire" billionaire fund raiser Donald Trump for telling the world he believes vaccinations may be at the heart of the autism epidemic like they did their own daughter, Katie? (HERE is the Sun Sentinal Story.) Do you think the Wrights showed their wealthy friend their letter to the world where they disassociated themselves from her? Mr. Trump, HERE it is. (Ooooh! I'm talking to Donald Trump!)

Remember this touching line? "Many of Katie's personal views differ from ours and do not represent or reflect the ongoing mission of Autism Speaks."  That's right, Mr. Trump, the young woman whose child launched a multi-million dollar charity, the daughter of the founders, doesn't represent the ongoing mission of said charity. (Somebody get me a sweater to ward off the chill!)  Makes you and Rosie look like a lovefest.

ROTENBERG! STOP AVERSIVE TREATMENT OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN

By Kim Stagliano

"Advocates for the mentally disabled are lobbying the world’s largest psychologists’ group to ban the practice of electroshock therapy that is currently being used on D.C. children in a Massachusetts clinic, The Examiner has learned."  Read the full article  HERE.

Our children are human beings. No matter how violent their behavior toward themselves or others. They are human beings and do not deserve to be stunned with shock treatment. Period.

Tell us, Rotenberg Center, are your young charges (if you'll pardon the atrocious pun) on the GFCF diet or a fistful of pills? Are their foods free of dyes and chemicals or are they S.S. Pierce's cheapest victuals?  Do they breathe toxic cleaners day in and day out and sit under fluorescent lights?

The behaviors of people with autism are often the result of decimated GI tracts. Think colic times a thousand. By pounding migraines alleviated only by head banging and arm biting. By rage induced by profound chemical imbalances and even heavy metal poisoning.  Look up lead and mercury poisoning for yourselves. You think shock treatment is helping them? It's not a treatment at all. It's a war crime. STOP.

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism, a writer and the mother of three daughters with autism. She blogs here.

NEWEST NEW JERSEY JOKE: SPARE THE CRIMINALS, SACRIFICE THE KIDS

By Kim Stagliano

New Jersey politicians are voting to end capital punishment.

NewJersey public health officials are about to mandate the flu vaccine for children tossing 250,000 new "customers" to the lions called flu vaccine manufacturers. That's 6,250,000 micrograms of mercury going into New Jersey Children.  (25 micrograms per shot.)

"The Public Health Council, an advisory group, passed the new rules despite objections from parents fearful of side effects. The rules require yearly flu shots for children ages 6 months to 59 months (4 years and 11 months) as well as three other vaccines, including two for sixth-graders."

In 2001 - 2006, 400 New Jersey teenagers died in highway related accidents. How many died from the flu?

When New Jersey raises the driving age to 19, outlaws prom night and homecoming weekend for high schoolers to save the lives of hundreds of teens each year who die in car crashes, then I'll know New Jersey cares about kids at least as much as criminals. 

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of Age of Autism. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three beautiful daughters who each have autism.

FDA ALLOWS BISPHENOL A IN BABY FORMULA

By Kim Stagliano

This article ties in with Dan Olmsted's piece today that the FDA is putting your childrens' lives at risk.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online reports: "A study released Wednesday found that all liquid baby formula tested by a consumer health group contained bisphenol A, a hormone-mimicking chemical that has been found to cause hyperactivity, sexual development abnormalities and pediatric brain cancer in laboratory animals."

Until the FDA bans these plastics from infant formula, Mead Johnson and other formula manufacturers will turn a blind eye to the potential hazards because by LAW they are not toying with the health of your child.  The chemical is in the packaging and leaks into the powder. How hard would it be to change the packaging? Might it cost a few pennies per can and affect the bottom line? Perhaps. But then Mead Johnson would just raise the price to the consumer.

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.

DRUG COMPANY TRIAL RESULTS? MMM, TASTY!

By Kim Stagliano

Reuters reports that drug company sponsorship of randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses results in data skewed in their own favor.

Gosh, I hope you didn't bump your head when you fell over in disbelief! In other breaking, yet unrelated news, bear excrement was found in the woods.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Studies have shown that randomized controlled trials funded by drug companies are more likely to generate results and conclusions that favor the sponsor's drug. New research suggests that this is also the case for meta-analyses.

(5 points from Kim if you can tell me in the comments why I ran that photo....)

Jenny McCarthy Bares All in CDC Call!

By Kim Stagliano

I knew that headline would encourage you to read the article....

The beautiful, funny, autism Mom/best selling author/actress named Jenny McCarthy called the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) LIVE during her presentation at the National Autism Association Conference last weekend in Atlanta.

Age of Autism has the five minute phone call on videotape! CLICK HERE! 

You'll need the free Apple Quicktime software to watch the clip.The clip takes a few seconds to download and the audio synch is a bit off, but you'll get the jist of her call. 

Jenny is NOT letting the CDC off the hook when it comes to vaccines and the autism epidemic.  She has the brains, the beauty and a platform that's even higher than her heels to get her message out. 

A couple of weeks ago, an autism Mom sort of rolled her eyes when I mentioned Jenny's book Louder Than Words and asked me, "Do you think she's the real deal?" Yes I do. She spent three days at the conference, meeting parents, signing books and DVD's and made time for the many kids with autism who were there with their parents.

You know, another big name in autism likes to say, "Autism knocked on the wrong door." But Jenny McCarthy has put her MOUTH where her money is. (And what a mouth it is!) My money (what little is left after caring for my three children with autism) is on Jenny McCarthy.

Go, Jenny, go! And thank you, "Sweetie."

CLICK HERE for weekly updates on Jenny's media tour. You'll want to meet her when she's in your area.

(Thank you to the folks at Life is My Movie Entertainment Company for creating the file for Age of Autism.)

Schools Policing Vaccination Rates

By Kim Stagliano

Here's my take on the Prince George's County situation.

If you think reproductive healthcare is a hot topic, check out THIS STORY on a court in Prince George's County, Maryland calling in parents of children whose vaccination records are incomplete and who do not have exemption paperwork.

No matter what your opinion on the safety of our national vaccine program, do you want your school district or a judge telling you which medical decisions you must make for your child? 

The school district sent these parents to court. It's rather ironic that the schools, who are so often out of compliance on our children's IEP's and the basic tenets of IDEA, are sending parents to court for being out of compliance on their vaccine policy.

There IS an Autism Epidemic

I wrote this piece for the general audience at Huffington Post in response to the media claims that there is no autism epidemic. Just better diagnosis. And smarter doctors. I disagree. My three girls with autism disagree.

Please comment at the Huffington Post site.

Thank you.

Kim Stagliano

The Crapisode. Part Doo.

It's a good day at Rescue Post!  We have new piece from the dedicated Dan Olmsted.  Jenny McCarthy was fabulous on Oprah.  And I have a new piece on Huffington Post called, "The Crapiside. Part Doo."  I felt that the original piece, "The Crappy Life of the Autism Mom" needed a follow up.

Kim Stagliano, RP Editor and proud mom to Mia, Gianna and Bella

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/_64903.html

Suzanne Wright Promised Autism Speaks will Study Mercury and Autism

By Kim Stagliano

This has been a difficult post for me to write. I have a two and a half minute video clip of Suzanne Wright making a serious promise at the end of this post.

I have no intention of embarrassing or disparaging Suzanne Wright, founder of Autism Speaks.  But she promised me, and hundreds of others, that Autism Speaks is going to study vaccines, mercury, Thimerosal and autism over a year ago. 

You'll need the latest version of Quicktime to run the clip. Download it free from www.apple.com/quicktime/player