AGE OF AUTISM

Another Child with Autism Wanders. Drowns. Where is the Outcry?

Managing Editor's Note: This story below brings into focus the reason AofA exists. For the children (of any age) with autism and their parents, families, who live with a reality few Americans acknowledge having been fed an ever increasing diet of happy blue stories that skirt the very real hardships of autism. Often I've seen the comment, "Well you can't compare autism to (insert serious medical diagnosis here) because it's not life threatening.  Really? Autism kills from the outside in. I encourage everyone to support National Autism Association's Big Red Safety Box wandering safety program.  Our prayers go out to the Lynch family.

By Anne Dachel

Are we all aware now? I have no words.

Searchers found the body of a missing 9-year-old San Francisco girl in a creek near her family Lake County vacation home Wednesday, authorities said.

Mikaela Lynch, who had autism and the mental capacity of a 1-year-old, was last seen in the backyard of the home on Harbor Drive in Clearlake on Sunday around 1:30 p.m. She had been playing on a trampoline with her younger brother but was left alone briefly when he ran inside to avoid a bee, police said.

Her body was found in nearby Cache Creek by dive team members just before noon, said Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen. Foul play is not suspected. Clausen said it appears she wandered into the creek.

"It's really tragic," said police Sgt. Nick Bennett, adding that Mikaela was "a sweet little girl. We had hopes it might turn out differently."

Searchers had looked in the marshes near the home because Mikaela, who did not speak but could communicate through basic hand signals, was "attracted to water," police said.

Dachel Media Update: Purdue, DSM-5, NVIC

By Anne Dachel

May 15, 2013, WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN: Purdue seeks infants for child autism study

May 14, 2013, TV8 Grand Rapids, MI: More autism, less special education--Fewer kids in special ed despite rise in diagnoses

May 14, 2013, Albert Einstein Medical College: Autism Community Awaits DSM 5 Changes

May 10, 2013, NVIC: Desperate Times for Vaccine Risk Denialism

 

Columbia Journalism Review Casts Eye on Vaccine Safety Writers

By Anne Dachel

May 1, 2013, the Columbia Journalism Review published the story, Sticking with the truth--How 'balanced' coverage helped sustain the bogus claim that childhood vaccines can cause autism by Curtis Brainard
 
From the title of the article, it was clear that Brainard was on the attack against those who would give equal coverage to the idea that vaccines can cause autism.  He criticized the 1998 Lancet article by Andrew Wakefield because it added to parents' fears about vaccines and autism.  Brainard also said that the increase in the number of vaccines in the childhood schedule and the stunning increase in autism was "only coincidental."
 
According to Brainard, media sources covering the controversy were "squandering journalistic resources on a bogus story."  And not only that, "there is evidence that fear of a link between vaccines and autism, stoked by press coverage, caused some parents to either delay vaccinations for their children or decline them altogether."  
 
What seemed most disturbing to Brainard was the fact that this subject just won't go away. "Those who never bought the vaccine-autism link-in the press and elsewhere-have been waiting for the proverbial nail in the coffin on this story for years, and it never seems to come."  It's clear to him that the reason this nagging theory is still around has to got be because the media continues to cover it. 
 
"'Concern about adverse events, particularly related to media reports of a putative association between vaccinations and autism and of the dangers of thimerosal, appeared to play a major role in the decision of these families to decline vaccination,' according to a 2006 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine."
 
Brainard seemed baffled that the public continues to doubt the safety claims. "Major reports from the Institute of Medicine...in 2001 and 2004, rejected the link and drew a lot of coverage, but the level of concern among the public remained on the rise."
 
The reason why the controversy lingers on must be because the press keeps bringing it up.  Brainard cited Robert Kennedy Jr's Deadly Immunity along with other examples.  He was especially upset by what David Kirby and Dan Olmsted have written.
 
"But it was the work of two veteran journalists, not Kennedy's shameful piece, that really kept the story simmering. In February 2005, St. Martin's Press published Evidence of Harm by journalist David Kirby, in which Kirby didn't reach any specific conclusions about a link but presented a litany of parental suspicions that suggested one. And that winter, Dan Olmsted, a senior editor at United Press International, turned out a series called 'Age of Autism,' for which he conducted an admittedly unscientific survey that found lower autism rates among ostensibly unvaccinated Amish communities."

Dachel Media Update: Screenings, Services

By Anne Dachel Read

Anne's comments after the jump:

May 13, 2013, Wayne County (NY) Post: Wayne ARC leads the way in autism services

May 13, 2013, Wall Street Journal: Autism Center Is Set to Target Need---A New Mental-Health Campus Is Opening in Westchester Campus


May 13, 2013, Washington Post: Kennedy Krieger offers free screenings to infant siblings of children with autism

May 13, 2013, New York Times: A Trudge to the Roots of Autism

Dachel Media Update: Mother's Day, DSM-V

By Anne Dachel Read

Anne's comments after the jump.

May 14, 2013, Telegraph (Australia): Crackpot crusaders putting our kids at risk

May 12, 2013, Rock Hill (SC) Herald: Mother's Day difficult for SC mom with autistic son

May 12, 2013, New York Times: Why the Fuss Over the D.S.M.-5?

May 11, 2013, U of Houston-Victoria Advocate: UHV to offer new autism concentration for educators

May 10, 2013, Seattle Times: Oregon lawmakers wade into vaccination debate

May 10, 2013, WFTV Orlando FL: Outgrowing autism

May 10, 2013, HLN-TV: Autism becomes the new normal for five moms

Did Paul Offit Link Vaccine Exemption Rights To Pedophilia?

By Anne Dachel

I was angry to see Paul Offit's name under the May 9, 2013, Philadelphia Inquirer headline , "End religious exemption." 
 
I was furious to realize that there was a subtle implication that exempting parents are on a level with the actions of Jerry Sandusky. 

"The Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State generated a public outcry for stronger laws against child abuse and neglect. Several bills have been introduced that purportedly provide a 'complete overhaul' of Pennsylvania's child-protection laws.

"For example, Senate Bill 20 makes it clear that any adult who 'causes serious bodily injury,' either by 'kicking, biting, stabbing, cutting, or throwing a child,' or "'orcefully shakes or slaps a child under one year of age,' or 'causes serious physical neglect,' or 'causes a child to be near a methamphetamine lab,' or 'operates a vehicle in which a child is a passenger while driving under the influence of alcohol,' has committed child abuse.
"Unfortunately, one group of children has been left behind.

"The bill states that 'if a child has not been provided needed medical or surgical care because of seriously held religious beliefs of the child's parents ... the child shall not be deemed to be physically or mentally abused.' In other words, if parents decide not to give their children antibiotics for meningitis, or insulin for diabetes, or chemotherapy for cancer, or surgery for intestinal blockage, they won't be held accountable. According to the bill, parents are abusive if they slap their 1-year-old child, but not if they withhold lifesaving therapies."

Offit talked about parents who didn't have children vaccinated during a measles outbreak 1991.  He also gave examples of parents who refused various medical treatment because of their religious views.

By Anne Dachel

May 10, 2013, Toronto Globe and Mail: Here's an autism statistic: family

May 9, 2013, WCSH-TV Portland ME: Autism training preparing first responders

May 9, 2013, WLBZ2 Bangor ME: Keeping people with autism safe

Dachel Media Update: Men Falling Behind

By Anne Dachel

May 8, 2013, Fortune Magazine:  6 reasons why men are falling behind women

May 7, 2013, New York Times: Autistic and Coming (Reluctantly) of Age

Dachel Media Update: Outgrow Autism?

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments after the jump.

May 8, 2013, Rochester (NH) Times: Autism awareness 911 registration event May 15 in Rochester

May 7, 2013, Jacksonville FL News4: New study suggests some kids can outgrow autism

May 7, 2013, Cleveland Plain Dealer: Self-taught beer historian visits Strongsville on way to accepting autism 
 

Dachel Media Update: Teen on Highway on Trike, Diagnosis Changes

By Anne Dachel

May 7, 2013, WISTV Columbia, SC:  More kids diagnosed with mental health disabilities

May 7, 2013, News 12 Yonkers, NY: Boy with autism from Ferncliff Manor founding riding tricycle on busy road

May 7, 2013, New York Times: Maurice Hilleman, M.M.R. Vaccine's Forgotten Hero

May 6, 2013, 14News, Evansville, IN: Major changes coming to way Autism is diagnosed

May 6, 2013,  CBS Philadelphia: Adults With Autism Look for Programs To Help Them Adjust To World

May 6, 2013, WCTV-TV Tallahassee, FL: Special Report: Our Kids & Autism

Dachel Media Update: Rates, Definition, Help

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments after the jump.

May 5, 2013, Salem (OR) Statesman Journal: UO seminar offers facts on autism

May 5, 2013, NJ.com: Opinion: Expanded definition of 'autism' goes astray

May 5, 2013, Green Bay Press Gazette: Schools respond to growing number of autistic students

May 3, 2013, Canadian TV News: Public cry for help: Telford family not alone in dealing with autism challenges

May 3, 2013, National Post (Canada): Anti-vaccination fraud: Health officials get tough as dormant diseases returning

May 3, 2013, WBOY-TV, Morgantown, WV: State of Autism Pt. 4: The Road Ahead

May 3, 2013, Wall Street Journal: Studies Suggest Environmental Link to Autism

April 29, 2013, Bangor (ME) Daily News: Sanford lawmaker wants doctors to disclose vaccine ingredients

Heartbreaking Story: Adult Son with Autism Left to State

Managing Editor's Note: Below is a sobering look at the future for many familes as exhaustion of mind, body and savings in conjunction with intense care for an autistic adult child becomes untenable. The moderate to severe autism population has few options in our current disability systems.  Competitive employment might be a stretch, day programs are often "daybysitting" at best, and housing options are limited, if available at all. The media is starting to wake up to the flood of children headed toward age 22 and the ramifications for state and Federal budgets alike. Not to mention the very real human toll of pain, heartache and worry.

"I'm no longer able to provide supervision."  Listen to this Mother - she is decribing the autism so often overlooked - intentionally - by organizations and the media alike.   Really listen to her - she is knowledgeable, up to date on how to care for her son and broken hearted. She is us.

Light it up true. 

By Anne Dachel

A Tragic story out of Canada
 
It started with this story on April 26, 2013, Canadian TV: Decision to drop off autistic son gut wrenching says Ottawa couple.
 
Watch the video here:  Exclusive: Couple leaves autistic son in care of the state
(Her adult son with autism functions on the level of a two year old.)
 
"Decision to drop off autistic adult son 'gut-wrenching', says Ottawa couple:


Watchi this video and listen to the mother talk about how Philippe recently wandered away. He is in need of constant supervision.
 
"Philippe requires nursing care for his diabetes as well as his bathing, toileting and personal care. His food intake also has to be strictly managed because of his diabetes."
 
"Parents of autistic adult son not alone in their desperation, say advocates"

Dachel Media Update: Big Babies and More Brains

By Anne Dachel

May 1, 2013, UK Daily Mail: Babies born weighing more than 9lb 14oz or under 5lb 5oz have a higher of developing autism

May 1, 2013, Boston Globe: New autism brain bank to help replace samples lost in McLean Hospital freezer malfunction

Dachel Media Update: Swell of Autistic Preschoolers, Nothing for Young Adults

By Anne Dachel

April 30, 2013, ABC News: Children With Autism 'Fall Off the Cliff' After Graduation

April 28, 2013, PARADE Magazine: Your Autism Questions-Answered!

April 27, 2013, Express Tribune, Karachi, Pakistan: Measles outbreak: City hospitals continue to receive new cases

April 25, 2013, Provo (UT) Daily Herald: Special preschools take in swell of autistic students

Dachel Media Update: Goodbye April

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments after the jump.

April 29, 2013, ABC7 Chicago: For Your Family: Autism Awareness

April 28, 2013, Augusta (GA) Chronicle: Autism month was mixed

April 28, 2013, NY Daily News: Genetic research is on its way to unlocking the remaining mysteries of autism

April 28, 2013, UPI: Parents noticing toddler regressive behavior, check for autism

April 28, 2013, 1011-TV Lincoln, NE: Group to Celebrate Autism Awareness Month at Children's Zoo

April 28, 2013, Providence (RI) Journal: Record-setting autism walk at Goddard Park

April 28, 2013, NorthJersey.com: Spreading the word: Memorial Middle School shares autism awareness

April 28, 2013, KCRG-TV9 Cedar Rapids, IA: Autism Walk 2013: Hundreds Take Action for Autism 

April 28, 2013,  Eugene (OR) Register-Guard: New options emerge for young students with autism

April 27, 2013, Fox 11 Green Bay, WI: Thousands join in on Walk for Autism

April 27, 2013, Madison.com: Autism on rise for school-age children in Erie (PA) 

April 27, 2013, UK Daily Mail: Children at private schools face greatest risk from measles epidemic, warns leading doctor

April 27, 2013, Madison.com: Autism on rise for school-age children in Erie

April 26, 2013, Boston Globe: Red Sox lend a hand for autism awareness

April 26, 2013, TACA: Dr. David Berger on A Vaccine for Autism?

April 26, 2013, San Luis Obispo (CA) Tribune: UCLA to test drugs for autism in weeks not years

April 22, 2013, CNN Money:

Dachel Media Update: More Awareness, Services, MMR

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary after the jump.
 
April 25, 2013, The Province: YouDocs: Absolutely no link between vaccines and autism, so get you and your children inoculated

April 25, 2013, NBC 6 South Florida: Miami-Dade County Public Schools Throw Massive Prom for Students With Autism

April 25, 2013, Union (SC) Times: Creating awareness of Autism

April 25, 2013, WHEC Rochester, NY: Autism Awareness Month

April 25, 2013, UK Telegraph: Mother of autistic boy still fears MMR vaccine

April 24, 2013, Boston Globe: Parents applaud autism study recommendations Autism study suggests new model for providing services

Dachel Media Update: Placenta and Pills

By Anne Dachel

Two stories are interesting.  One is the Fox News report on detecting the risk for autism in a child by examining the placenta at birth.  The other is from the Wall Street Journal.  It's on research to find markers for autism in a child's blood.  Put those stories along side the New York Times piece on drug companies seeking to come up with drugs to treat autism, and it's pretty clear, autism is here to stay and we are adjusting to the disorder.  Imagine the possibilities for investments in methods for detecting autism and medicating those with the disorder---for life.  The stories about using the placenta and blood to detect autism reinforce the claim that children are born with autism.  In the end, it's always going to blamed on the parents.
 
April 25, 2013, Fox News: Abnormal placenta may reveal newborn's autism risk

April 25, 2013, New York Times: Public-Private Effort Seeks to Expedite Discovery of Autism Drugs -

April 24, 2013, Madison.com (WI): Dr. Zorba Paster: Link between shots and autism is a myth : 77-square

April 24, 2013, CBS Baltimore: Roar For Autism Event Will Be This Sunday

April 23, 2013, The Oregonian: Portland-area pediatricians split ranks over vaccine skeptics |

 April 23, 2013, Wall Street Journal: Blood Test Aims to Detect Autism

 

A Vaccine to Treat Vaccine Damage

By Anne Dachel

From Science Daily.

"A first-ever vaccine created by University of Guelph researchers for gut bacteria common in autistic children may also help control some autism symptoms.  The groundbreaking study by Brittany Pequegnat and Guelph chemistry professor Mario Monteiro appears this month in the journal Vaccine.

"They developed a carbohydrate-based vaccine against the gut bug Clostridium bolteae.
"C. bolteae is known to play a role in gastrointestinal disorders, and it often shows up in higher numbers in the GI tracts of autistic children than in those of healthy kids.

"More than 90 per cent of children with autism spectrum disorders suffer from chronic, severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Of those, about 75 per cent suffer from diarrhea, according to current literature. Little is known about the factors that predispose autistic children to C. bolteae,' said Monteiro. Although most infections are handled by some antibiotics, he said, a vaccine would improve current treatment.

"'This is the first vaccine designed to control constipation and diarrhea caused by C. bolteae and perhaps control autism-related symptoms associated with this microbe,' he said. 

"Autism cases have increased almost sixfold over the past 20 years, and scientists don't know why. Although many experts point to environmental factors, others have focused on the human gut.

"Some researchers believe toxins and/or metabolites produced by gut bacteria, including C. bolteae, may be associated with symptoms and severity of autism, especially regressive autism."

So I guess all those experts at the Mayo Clinic and at the AAP who just four years ago said , there is no association between bowel disease and autism have egg all over their faces.

Dachel Media Update: Drugs and Autism

By Anne Dachel

April 24, 2013, KARE-TV Minneapolis MN: Raising autism awareness in Minnesota

April 23, 2013, Chicago Tribune: Epilepsy drug valproate may lead to autism in infant

April 23, 2013, Fox 6 TV (Waukesha, WI): Students at Horning Middle School "go blue" for autism awareness

April 23, 2013, (MA) Commonwealth: Doctor: Possible Links Between Antidepressants, Pregnancy And Autism

 

Dachel Media Update: Bursting the April Bubble

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary below the jump.

April 22, 2013, Cedar Falls (IA) Patch: Autism Speaks: An Interview with an Autism Expert

April 22, 2013, NPR: Young Adults With Autism Can Thrive In High-Tech Jobs

April 22, 2013, NJ.com: Union students blow bubbles for autism awareness

April 21, 2013, Miami Healthy Living: Some doctors choose not vaccinate their children

April 21, 2013, UK Sunday Times: Clinic fuels false MMR fears

April 20, 2013, Phillies: Phillies recognize Autism Awareness Month, invite autistic children to Saturday's game

April 20, 2013, UK Guardian: Totally untrue facts about Andrew Wakefield

April 20, 2013, NJ.com: Autism Awareness Month -- Treating Autism takes a community

April 19, 2013, MS Press: Mississippi needs better ideas for comprehensive autism services

April 19, 2013, UPI: Up to 10 percent of the population is affected by specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia and autism, British researchers say.

April 19, 2013, UK Telegraph: Measles epidemic claims first death

April 18, 2013, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Alderman rips health officials over vaccination grant proposal

Dachel Media Update: Wales Measles

NEWS VIDEOS FROM WALES---Coverage on the measles outbreaks.

ITV made an attempt at covering both sides of the MMR controversy, although it's clearly NOT BALANCED. Here a mother, seen with her severely autistic son, refuses to vaccinate her youngest child because of the vaccine damage she witnessed in her son, Eddie.

Mother's autism fears despite debunked MMR theory - ITV News

Up against what the mother said is everything else from ITV.

Endless reports from the press in Wales have one strong message: measles has reached an epidemic level because parents didn't vaccinate over fears about side effects.

Dachel Media Update: April Continues

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary after the jump.

April 17, 2013, East
Central IL News Gazette: Learning to 'embrace the challenge' of autism

April 16, 2013, CBS
Pittsburgh: New Study Focuses On Environment & Autism

April 15, 2013, American
Medical News: Study debunks a common autism worry about vaccines

Dachel Media Update: April Blur of Same Old

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary after the jump.

April 16, 2013, CNN: Autism: What we know right now

April 15, 2013, Delmarva Daily Times: Full vaccine schedule safe for kids, no link to autism
 
April 15, 2013, Wilmington (NC) News Star: Area family discusses life with autistic child

April 15, 2013, Chicago Daily Herald: Join the fight for autistic children
 
April 15, 2013, U.S. News: Study: Autism Has Strong Genetic Link in Mice

April 15, 2013, Huffington: This Is Autism: Parents Share Pictures Of Children With ASDs (PHOTOS)
 
April 14, 2013, NY Times: Think Those Chemicals Have Been Tested?

Dachel Media Update: Climbing Numbers, Enough Awareness

By Anne Dachel

April 15, 2013, U.S. News: Parents Who Veto Vaccinations Often Seek Like-Minded Opinions

April 15, 2013, TIME: How Social Networks Influence Parents' Decision to Vaccinate
 
April 14, 2013, WAFF-TV Huntsville AL: 'Walk for Autism' raises awareness for disorder

April 14, 2013, Connecticut Post: Schools' autism programs increase along with numbers of cases

April 14, 2013, Concord (NH) Monitor: Autism Book Offers Holistic Strategies

April 13, 2013, KFDA-TV--Amarillo (TX) News: Thousands raise awareness during 'Autism in Action' 5K and walk
 
April 13, 2013, Chippewa Herald (Chippewa Falls, WI): CDC: Autism affects 1 in 88 children

April 13, 2013, Columbus (OH) Dispatch: Autism a disorder begging to be understood

April 12, 2013, StatenIslandLive.com: Saturday's Autism Resource Fair a godsend for Staten Island families struggling to cope

April 12, 2013, UK Independent: Editorial--Andrew Wakefield's baleful legacy
 

Dachel Media Update: Grandin, Awareness, Gardasil

  By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments after the jump.

April 12, 2013, New York Times: Temple Grandin on Autism, Death, Celibacy and Cows

 
April 11, 2013, MassLive.com: Autism expert Michelle Garcia Winner calls for greater understanding of autism in the classroom

April 11, 2013, MyFoxBoston: Autism awareness comes to Mass. statehouse

April 10, 2013, Washington Times: US court pays $6 million to Gardasil victims
 
April 8, 2013, The Missoulian (MT) Op Ed: It's time to move beyond the autism/vaccine debate
 

Dachel Media Update: Beef Candles and Abuse

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary after the jump.

April 11, 2013, Australian TV: Sarah Wilson's apparent support of the 'anti-vax' movement irresponsible, writes Caroline Marcus

April 10, 2013, Parade: How My Kids' Asperger's Diagnoses Turned Me Into an Autism Activist

April 10, 2013, New York Daily News: White Castle candles return for National Autism Awareness Month

April 10, 2013, Baltimore Sun: 'Autism is not disability'

April 10, 2013, Examiner.com: Autistic man beaten by caregiver highlights increasing safety issues 

Dachel Media Update: The Mystery of Autism

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary after the jump.

April 10, 2013, Youngstown (OH) News: Autism still shrouded in mystery

April 9, 2013, Northern Virginia Daily: Finding hope for children with autism

Dachel Media Update: Funding for Autism Programs

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary after the jump.

April 9, 2013, Clinton (IA) Herald: Living with autism

April 9, 2013, Asbury Park (NJ) Press: Autism: Howell family navigates life with diagnosed teen twins

April 8, 2013, The Cavalier Daily (U of VA, Charlottesville): Autism Awareness Month kicks off 

April 8, 2013, LA Times: Stephen Stills aims to Light Up the Blues for Autism Speaks

April 8, 2013, Hartford (CT) Courant: Delivering A Long-Awaited Message About Autism To Legislators: We Need Help

April 8, 2013, NBC 4 Washington, DC: Program Help Kids Understand Life With Autism

April 8, 2013, NJ.com: Menendez calls for new federal funding for adult autism programs

April 8, 2013, Rock Hill (SC) Herald: Same Problems in "New" Research on Autism and Vaccines

 

Dachel Media Update: Balloons and Fun for Autism?

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary after the jump.

April 8, 2013, Myrtle Beach SC, WBTW-TV: Darlington County to host Autism Fun Day

April 8, 2013, PennLive.com: As autism diagnosis rise, here are 5 important things to know

April 6, 2013, Salt Lake City, UT Fox 13: Balloon launch event raises autism awareness

April 5, 2013, Springfield (MO) News-Leader: Parents can get help with autism issues

 

Autism By The Numbers

By Anne Dachel

On April 4, 2013, I found a news report from WZZM 13, a TV station in Grand Rapids, MI.  The title of the story was "Autism by the Numbers."  And the numbers are stunning in Michigan.  I read, "More than 15,000 children in Michigan are currently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

"Michigan actually has the fourth largest autistic population in the United States."

Although the report didn't have the rate update of one in every 50 children, there was no real concern over one in 88. 

"Nationwide, one out of every 88 children has autism. The Centers for Disease Control closely tracks the condition and says the number of cases has gone up 78 percent in the last five years.

"A couple of reasons for that are better screening processes and screening at earlier ages."

There was a video from WZZM on the story that made it clear no one really cares what autism is doing to our children. 

The reporter started by telling us that the Mackinac Bridge, which connects upper and lower Michigan, is lit up in blue for April autism awareness.  She defined autism as something that "affects people's ability to communicate and socialize."   

Dr. Michael Wolff was interviewed about autism and sadly, he pretty much typifies the attitude of the medical profession when it comes to autism.

Wolff: "Pediatricians do a good job at asking parents and looking at developmental progression."

Wolff told parents what signs to look for.  He went on to talk about the loss of skills as if it's a normal and acceptable part of childhood.

Dachel Media Update: Bird Flu, Insurance Ordeal, Early Signs

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and commentary after the jump.

April 5, 2013, San Francisco Chronicle: Weighted Comforter for Autism and Special Needs Designed by Weighted Wearables Now Offered by Rehabmart.com

April 5, 2013, Fox News: Bird flu spreading, brain-mapping plan, vaccine-autism link?

April 4, 2013, Prestonburg KT, Floyd County Times: Families face 'ordeal' trying to get autism coverage

April 4, 2013, Salem (MA) Gazette: Showing the faces of autism

April 4, 2013, National Geographic: Fact Checking 6 Persistent Science Conspiracy Theories

April 3, 2013, Fox 4 Kansas City, KS: Early warning signs of Autism

Dachel Media Update: Dare to be Aware!

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and commentary after the jump.

April 4, 2013, Yahoo Business: New Thinking Moms’ Revolution Book Offers Parent’s Perspectives on Autism

April 4, 2013, Boston Globe: It's Autism Awareness Month: how aware are you?

April 3, 2013, HLNtv.com: Holly Robinson Peete: Autism awareness matters

April 3, 2013, The Oregonian: More Oregon students have attention deficits, autism and developmental delays

April 3, 2013, (USA Today)  N.J. elementary recognizes World Autism Awareness Day

April 2, 2013, AZFamily.com: Study: Autism risk not increased by 'too many vaccines too soon'

April 2, 2013, KFSM-TV Fort Smith AR

Dachel Media Update: Blue for You and You and You Too

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and commentary after the jump.

April 2, 2013, MSNBC: Autism awareness rising as world 'lights it up blue'

April 2, 2013, Fox News: Dr. Manny: The future is brighter than ever for children with autism

April 2, 2013, Catholic News Agency: Recognize Risen Christ in those suffering autism, Vatican says : Catholic News Agency (CNA)

April 2. 2013. NorthJersey.com: 14-hour dance-a-thon in Verona to benefit Autism Speaks 

April 2, 2013, CBS Pittsburgh: Family Shares Story Of Three Sons With Autism

April 2, 2013, CBS News: Empire State Building Among Landmarks Going Blue For Autism Awareness

April 2, 2013, ABC News: Autism Families Fight for Insurance Coverage for Diagnosis and Treatment

April 2, 2013, Huffington: Bob and Suzanne--Wright Grown And Flown: World Autism Awareness Day 2013:

April 2, 2013, Fox News: 'What Color is Monday?' A look at life with autism

April 2, 2013, Huffington: Geraldine Dawson on 10 Things We Know About Autism That We Didn't Know a Year Ago

UN World Autism Day Day Day Day Day

By Anne Dachel

If anyone thinks things are different in other countries, the sad truth is they aren't. This is the annual message from the Secretary-General of the UN for April 2, 2013 Autism Awareness Day. 

(Ban Ki-moon is from South Korea and he's been the Secretary General of the UN since 2007.)

It should be noted that the sugar coated message is largely unchanged since 2008.  All we need is attention, inclusion, awareness, support, understanding, and commitment.  I wonder if Ban Ki-moon noticed that when he become Secretary-General in 2007, the autism rate was one in every 150 children and today it's one in 50 children.  There isn't any alarm over the ever-increasing numbers.  There's no call for answers.  No acknowledgement of how severely many children are impacted by autism and no mention of the cost.  It seems his message is scripted according to CDC guidelines: sound concerned, but never call autism a crisis.

Secretary-General's Message for World Autism Awareness Day,

2 April 2013 by Ban Ki Moon

"World Autism Awareness Day has succeeded in calling greater international attention to autism and other developmental disorders that affect millions of people worldwide.

"The current session of the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a new resolution on this issue, demonstrating a commitment to help affected individuals and families. The resolution encourages Member States and others to strengthen research and expand their delivery of health, education, employment and other essential services.

"The Executive Board of the World Health Assembly will also take up the subject of autism spectrum disorders at its forthcoming session in May.

"This international attention is essential to address stigma, lack of awareness and inadequate support structures. Current research indicates that early interventions can help persons with autistic conditions to achieve significant gains in their abilities. Now is the time to work for a more inclusive society, highlight the talents of affected people and ensure opportunities for them to realize their potential.

"The General Assembly will hold a high-level meeting on 23 September to address the conditions of more than one billion persons with disabilities, including those with autism spectrum disorders. I hope leaders will seize this opportunity to make a meaningful difference that will help these individuals and our human family as a whole.

"Let us continue to work hand-in-hand with persons with autism spectrum disorders, helping them to cultivate their strengths while addressing the challenges they face so they can lead the productive lives that are their birthright."

2012 Ban Ki-moon 

"Autism is not limited to a single region or a country; it is a worldwide challenge that requires global action."

"Reaching out to people with autism spectrum disorders requires global political commitment and better international cooperation, especially in sharing good practices."

Dachel Media Update: Holly Robinson Peete Speaks

By Anne Dachel

April 2, 2013, on Fox News, Holly Robinson Peete was introduced as "a board member of Autism Speaks." She described autism as a "global health crisis." She called for awareness.

FOX NEWS: Holly Robinson Peete raises autism awareness

Today, Ms. Peete ran a poignant HuffPo piece Autism Meet Adolescence about her son, now a handsome young man of 15, and the new fears puberty brings, especially for a male of color with autism.  We should also be aware that Holly has publicly talked about her son R.J.'s regression into autism following vaccination as a toddler.

2008 Huffington: Holly Robinson Peete:

"In 1999, I brought my typically developing toddler into my pediatrician's office and asked the doctor to consider postponing or perhaps breaking up the controversial MMR shot he was scheduled to have that day. Because my little guy just came off a round of antibiotics after an ear infection and I suspected his immune system was weakened, I worried that he wouldn't be able to assimilate this heavy viral load. (MMR shot contains no thimerasol or mercury but a cocktail of 3 potent live viruses). The doctor ignored my fears and belittled me for even questioning him. I felt humiliated and powerless. Despite my "inner mommy danger meter" on full tilt, I allowed my boy to be inoculated. Ms. Pipes, unless you have watched your son get this shot, have heard him cry and scream "no mommy!" (words I didn't hear again by the way until years later), held him through the night while he battled fevers for days afterwards, and then disappear into autism you could not begin to understand my position.

"I don't however, as you condescendingly suggested, use my suffering and testimony as an excuse for my convictions but as evidence of harm."

Autism Speaks' Geraldine Dawson on "The Diversity of Investment"

By Anne Dachel

On Friday, Feb 22, 2013, Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Geri Dawson, Ph.D., gave the opening talk at the world's first Autism Investment Conference and explained why now is the time to make a profit from a nightmare.  Autism Speaks' Geraldine Dawson: On the "diversity of investment opportunities that exist in the autism field"

Read more about this landmark Autism Speaks conference

I watched the 20 minute video of Geraldine Dawson's speech to the "autism investors."  First of all, she smiled throughout.  Maybe it's just me, but it's very hard for me to talk about autism and not sound tense and worried.  She also described herself as being "excited" about a number of topics.  Again, it seems totally out-of-place when talking about a lifelong disability like autism.  Her main purpose was to announce all the investment (money-making) possibilities out there because of the raging epidemic of neurologically damaged children.  She defined autism and said its prevalence is growing.  She didn't specifically tell us why, but the message was clear---it's a genetic disorder.  She never mentioned the word "regression," but she pointed out that the symptoms don't typically appear until around age two and she was quite interested in diagnosing it in babies.  She created her own fairy tale world about the advances being made in autism. 

One point she made was stunning.  Dawson said, "Of course the cost of autism has also increased. So as in 2005, we estimated that the cost of autism was about $35 billion a year, we now estimate that the cost of autism is ....about $37 billion annually, and most of that is for adult care."

What?  Autism costs $37 billion a year and the money is being used mostly for adults with autism?  How does that work when the vast majority of Americans with autism are under the age of 18?  Can someone explain that to me?  Furthermore, what's autism going to cost when the generation of children with autism reach adulthood?  No matter.  Dawson didn't go into details.  It was just a passing remark.

The real message here was: autism is happening more and more and there are lots of ways to make money from genetically defective children.  The time to invest is now.  Carpe diem all you for-profit companies.  Autism Speaks is here to show you how.

Here's what Dr. Dawson had to say about autism and why investors should be interested.

"There is a great need for new products."

"Because of the progress of science, I think there is greater opportunity right now to develop more effective diagnostic and treatment methods.... The moment is right for this kind of conference."

Dachel Media Update: Blah Blah Blah Blue Blah Blah Blah

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and commentary after the jump.

April 1, 2013, CBS Miami: Focus On South Florida: Autism Awareness

Mar 31, 2013, Health Impact News: (Brian Hooker) Can We Trust the CDC Claim that There is No Link Between Vaccines and Autism?

Mar 31, 2013, Holland (MI) Sentinel: Mackinac Bridge to be bathed in blue for autism

Mar 31, 2013, NJ.com: Union County officers confronting autism, filling a training gap 

Mar 31, 2013, NorthJersey.com: Autism-friendly shows

Mar 30, 2013, Albany (NY) Times Union: Special Needs Network Gears Up for Autism Awareness Month

Mar 29, 2013, Allentown (PA) Morning Call: Businesses, schools to light up in blue for autism

Mar 28, 2013, USA Today: Full vaccine schedule safe for kids, no link to autism

Mar 27, 2013, Fox News: Jim Carrey's antigun tirade

Mar 26, 2013, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Readers Writer (March 26): HPV vaccine, achievement gap, guns, solar storm

 

Dachel Media Update: Just In Time For Vaccines Don't Cause Autism Month

By Anne Dachel

Today's big news is the latest CDC study AGAIN showing that vaccines don't cause autism.  It's perfectly timed to remind everyone that while there'll be lots of stories about autism during April, there's no need to worry about vaccinating your child.  (And with the coverage it's getting maybe the name should be changed to "April--Vaccines Don't Cause Autism Month.")

Of course there'll also be no demand for answers and the press will AGAIN remind us that there's no known cause or cure for autism. 

I don't think this latest study will be more than a ripple in the autism discussion, however.  It's not going to matter.  It's happened so many times before. The autism community will keep on talking about vaccines and regression and sick kids.  The other side will continue to pretend that autism's not so bad and kids have always been like this.  They'll produce more and more dead end studies linking autism to bad genes, bad moms who were overweight, smoking and drinking while pregnant, and living too close to a freeway. 

In the midst of the THEY SAID...WE SAID battle, the public will be increasingly frightened of the disorder they see everywhere and that no official can reasonably explain. They want answers.  They want to make sure it won't happen to their child.  That's where mainstream medicine and our health officials fail us the most.  That's why parents are listening to us and they're challenging the one-size-fits-all vaccine program big time and that's only going to get worse.  Good luck trying to sell yet another study.

Here are the major sites that I've found so far.  I've posted the comments on the stories--except for CBS.  They rejected my comments and I'm blocked from posting. 

CBS: 

NBC: 

#comments

US News: 

CNN: 

NPR: 

The TIME story  is interesting.  The lead sentence is stunning: "Infants now receive dozens of shots at a time, but the latest study says that does not increase their risk of developing autism."

Dachel Media Update: Swine Flu Jab Wrecked our Kids, Autism Rates

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary below the jump.

Mar 28, 2013, Business Insider: Investigators Found Books On Autism And The NRA At The Home Of The Newtown Shooter

Mar 28, 2013, (UK) Daily Mail: Swine flu jab wrecked our children's health

Mar 27, 2013, YNN New York: Autism numbers in the U.S.

Mar 27, 2013, CBS Baltimore: Autism Rates Underestimated In U.S.

Mar 27, 2013, Fox2 St. Louis: Autism Safety Project

Mar 26, 2013, San Francisco Chronicle: The Global Autism Project Celebrates World Autism Awareness Day with Virtual Street Team 

 

The Really Big Lie About Autism Continues: One in 50

By Anne Dachel

In 2006 and in 2007, I wrote stories on "The Really Big Lie About Autism."  This is of course the insane claim that the autism epidemic is simply the result of an expanded definition and greater awareness. 

Back in 2006, the rate was one in every 166 children and in 2007, it became one in every 150 children.  Regardless, whatever the rate, it's always because of the same thing: No real increase--greater recognition.

It's just been announced that we now have an autism rate of one in every 50 children, one in every 31 boys.  The official disclaimer is unchanged as we can see in these reports:

ABC News: 1 in 50 School Kids Has Autism 

"Health officials say the new number doesn't mean autism is occurring more often. But it does suggest that doctors are diagnosing autism more frequently, especially in children with milder problems."

FOX News said exactly the same thing. Health officials: 1 in 50 school kids have autism 

WebMD: 1 in 50 School-Aged Children in US Has Autism

"The main reason for the increase in the prevalence of autism appears to be better diagnoses, especially in older children.

USA Today: Autism numbers rise in latest count

"The higher numbers recorded in the new study suggest that officials are getting better at counting kids with autism - not that more have the condition, several experts said."

 Forbes: Autism Prevalence Is Now At 1 In 50 Children

"Together, these findings suggest that the increase in prevalence of parent-reported ASD may have resulted from improved ascertainment of ASD by doctors and other health care professionals in recent years, especially when the symptoms are mild."

Reuters: U.S. autism estimates climb to 1 in 50 school-age children

"As many as one in 50 U.S. school age children have a diagnosis of autism, up 72 percent since 2007, but much of the increase involves milder cases, suggesting the rise is linked to better recognition of autism symptoms and not more cases..."

Dachel Media Update: Autism Awareness Assault

By Anne Dachel

Mar 27, 2013, Independent Collegian: Toledo [OH] sorority to don blue for autism awareness

Mar 26, 2013, Medicalxpress.com: State with one of highest rates of autism turns out to be in normal range

Mar 26, 2013, KMVT-TV Twin Falls ID: Learning How To Cope With Autism

Mar 26, 2013, Staten Island Advance: 'Light it Up Blue' for autism awareness on Staten Island and around the world

Mar 26, 2013, Gaithersburg, MD Patch: Gaithersburg To Mark Autism Awareness Month

Mar 26, 2013, Chattanoogan.com: Chattanooga To Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day On April 2

Dachel Media Update: Insurance Denials, Epidemic Grows

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's commentary below the jump.

Mar 26, 2013, The Augusta (GA) Chronicle: Autism can't be ignored

Mar 26, 2013, NJ.com: Assembly Republican leader, Jon Bramnick and Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa attend autism training

Mar 25, 2013, Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard: Autistic children denied therapy, despite new state law requiring insurance coverage

Mar 25, 2013, Aiken (SC) Standard: LETTER: More attention needed for autism epidemic

Mar 25, 2013, KSWT-TV Yuma AZ: New Rise in Autism Detection

Dachel Media Update: Millions in Cost, Funding, Injury

By Anne Dachel

Anne's comments and commentary on today's news are below the jump.

Mar 25, 2013, MSN Money: How autism can cost families millions

Mar 24, 2013, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Autism Speaks helps

Mar 24, 2013, Fox 59 Indianapolis, IN: Expo raises awareness about autism

Mar 24, 2013, NJ.com: Editorial: Autism research needs more funding

Mar 23, 2013, WICU12/WSEE Erie PA: Barber Center Celebrates Autism Awareness Day 

Mar 23, 2013, Columbus OH Inquisitor: Autistic Boy Injured During Body Sock Incident

Mar 23, 2013, AZ Daily Star: Vaccine billboard in Tucson misleads, health officials say

Mar 23, 2013, NorthJersey.com: Rise in autism rate is up for debate

Mar 23, 2013, TV New Zealand: Agony of vaccine choice

Mar 22, 2013, WI State Journal: Eric Uram: Research funds needed to fight brain drain of autism

Mar 22, 2013, USA Today: Report shows Autism rates may now be 1 in 50 kids

Dachel Media Report: 50 Isn't Nifty, Bus Driver Abuse, Abused Women

By Anne Dachel

Mar 21, 2013, Huffington: (Jay Gordon, MD) CDC: One in Every Fifty Children Has Autism

Mar 21, 2013, ABC7 Fort Myers, FL: Police: Bus driver kicked special needs student

Mar 21, 2013, TIME: Study: Women Abused As Kids More Likely To Have Children With Autism

Hear The Silence: A Film About Autism

The recent article about the TV movie, Hear the Silence, on Age of Autism was stunning.

It is the story of a mother's search for answers when her son regresses into autism, all the while facing overwhelming opposition from those she's forced to deal with. The mom, Christine Shields, comes to Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a British gastroenterologist, for help for her son---a story familiar to us in the autism community.

I was captivated by the passion Shields displays. She is the autism warrior mom. She has to be. People I've talked with about the film have told me that her role brought them to tears. Her story is also their story. Internationally known British actor, Hugh Bonneville, (The Gathering Storm with Albert Finney and the current PBS series, Downton Abbey) is ideal in the role of Wakefield.

I discussed the film with Dr. Wakefield. Here's what he had to say.

Question: How did this incredible film come to be made? How involved were you in the production?

Wakefield: I was interviewed for it. I believe that it was inspired by the fact that the writer, Tim Prager, has a son with CP. One day he was called to his son's school because another student had been bullying his son. The boy in question had autism.  Tim met the mother weeping in a corridor, at a loss to understand why her son had started behaving badly. After talking with her, he was moved to write the story.

Following this, Prager interviewed Wakefield, talked to parents and put the story together.

In the film, it seems that Dr. Wakefield is the only one concerned about the lack of research on the MMR vaccine. In response to the claim that the science doesn't support single vaccines, he says, "The safety studies don't support the MMR."

Later, Wakefield says, "How is it that this triple vaccine gets licensed? Why didn't the trials spot the Urabe meningitis consequence? Why didn't their trials show any of the results we found?

“They didn't do it. They've got a single license for mumps, a single one for rubella, a single one for measles. So they go to the licensing agency and they say, each of these is licensed, we'll just put them together. Give us a license."

My question for Dr. Wakefield: Is this really what happened? Did they really license a vaccine that was never tested in combination? Are they really giving three lives viruses together, something that would never happen in nature?

Dachel Media Update: Autism Mom Aghast at 1 in 50 Rate

By Anne Dachel

Mar 21, 2013, New England Cable News: Parent of autistic child: New CDC statistic shows autism is a crisis

"Autism is a crisis. That's according to our guest Alison MacNeil, who is a parent of a child with autism and co-author of an upcoming book called "The Thinking Moms' Revolution: Autism Beyond The Spectrum." MacNeil is calling autism a crisis in response to a new CDC statistic that says:

"The number of children in the United States with autism spectrum disorder has jumped dramatically since 2007, federal health officials reported Wednesday. As of 2012, one in 50 kids between the ages of 6 and 17 has some form of autism, compared with one in 88 only five years earlier, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"'I think the new number is staggering, I really do. What I also think is staggering is, where is the alarm? Where is the outrage?,' asks MacNeil.

"The CDC says the main reason for the increase in the prevalence of autism appears to be better diagnoses, especially in older children."

Alison: "I don't think the public is buying that anymore.  They might have a while back, especially when the criteria shifted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, but I think now, what we're seeing everywhere we go, we're seeing autistic children."

"Why do we have so many children descending into autism?  What is going on?  One in every 50 children is losing the ability to speak, becoming incredibly sick, detaching.  There's something behind this." 

Alison went on to describe the crisis we'll all be facing as the children with autism age out of school and childhood services.

It was wonderful to see this dedicated mother and autism advocate on such a public forum as one of the rare voices sounding an alarm over autism.

Dachel Media Update: Autism Climbs to 1 in 50 Kids

By Anne Dachel

The only story for today---NEW NUMBERS---HIGHER THAN EVER!!

In the wonderful world of autism news, the numbers just keep going up. Now it's one in 50. The whole country shares the official Utah rate.

We're cautioned that it's probably just due to more "increased awareness" and "greater services." Michael Rosanoff at Autism Speaks believes the new rate still UNDERESTIMATES the real number of affected kids. Stephen Blumberg from the CDC says that autism develops in the womb---the evidence says so. So we're all set here for April Autism Awareness Month. Be aware: More kids have autism, but it's still better diagnosing and no one is worried.

AP: Health officials: 1 in 50 school kids have autism

"Health officials say the new number doesn't mean autism is occurring more often. But it does suggest that doctors are diagnosing autism more frequently, especially in children with milder problems.

"The earlier government estimate of 1 in 88 comes from a study that many consider more rigorous. It looks at medical and school records instead of relying on parents.

"For decades, autism meant kids with severe language, intellectual and social impairments and unusual, repetitious behaviors. But the definition has gradually expanded and now includes milder, related conditions.

"The new estimate released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would mean at least 1 million children have autism.

"The number is important - government officials look at how common each illness or disorder is when weighing how to spend limited public health funds.

"It's also controversial.

Dachel Media Update: Big Job in MI, FL Support Center

By Anne Dachel

Mar 18, 2013, MLive.com: Lt. Gov. Brian Calley: Helping those with autism is a 'big, big job' for Michigan

Mar 18, 2013, TV8 Grand Rapids: MI Autism Spectrum Disorders State Plan

Mar 17, 2013, Florida Times-Union: Group hopes to build support center for autistic kids

Dr. Tom Insel on Autism: "If There Is a True Increase.." IF?

By Anne Dachel

For several years now I've been following Dr. Thomas Insel's work as head of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.  I've also looked at his lectures on autism.

In 2009, Insel spoke at MIT.  He talked about the environment and autism.  He admitted that there were endless possibilities but he was firm that vaccines had been looked into and they'd been exonerated.

Then in 2010, he spoke for an hour and a half at the National Institutes of Health.   Insel made the stunning statement, "Eighty percent of the people with a diagnosis of autism [in the U.S.] are under the age of eighteen."

In addition, Insel said, "We have responded to this as if it's a crisis. We see this as an enormous public health challenge.  If you look at those numbers, the increase and recognize how many of those kids will become adults, we ...also need to be thinking about how we prepare the nation for a million people who may need significant amounts of services as they are no longer cared for by their parents or as their parents are no longer around."

During his talk, he made it clear that better diagnosing could explain only a small portion of the stunning increase in autism.  He pointed to the environment, but was unable to provide any specific answers.  

Then on Dec 26, 2012, Insel put out the piece, Autism Progress, on the NIMH website.

So what does Insel consider progress in the area of autism?  He cited lots of things about the genetics of autism, early diagnosing using brain imaging and early intervention.  He made stunning statements like:

"According to PubMed, there were over 1,000 ASD papers related to genetics or brain imaging since January 2011 - more than three times the number of papers from the same interval a decade ago."

He was quick to tell us that he really doesn't know anything about autism's cause: "We still do not know enough about what causes ASD."

He went on to say this:

"What about environmental causes? Several environmental factors, such as exposure to air pollution, agricultural pesticides, and antidepressants, have been reported to increase ASD risk, mostly based on exposure during pregnancy. While most scientists assume that environmental factors interact with genetic susceptibility, we still know far too little about either genetic or environmental factors to make this link."

Dachel Media Update: Awareness, Caged Child, Lawsuit

By Anne Dachel

Mar 17, 2013, Lafayette LA Advertiser: Autism events to raise awareness, funds this weekend

Mar 17, 2013, The (Oshkosh WI) Northwestern: Family reaches beyond autism

Mar 16, 2013, ABC6 Columbus OH: Autism Lawsuit

Mar 15, 2013 Fox8 Cleveland: Autistic Child Found Living in Cage

Mar 15, 2013, Alex Jones continues with Shawn Siegel and Marcella Piper-Terry--The Vaccine Myth

Mar 15, 2013, Patheos Press: Yes, Autism is also Medical - The Story You Need to Read of Alex Spourdalakis

Mar 15, 2013, KSTP-TV Minneapolis/St Paul: MN Kids Store Caters to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Mar 15, 2013, Corvallis (OR) Gazette Times: Former CDC director to speak at OSU

Mar 14, 2013, Alex Jones Show