Secretary Sebelius Announces New Members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
“Today I am pleased to announce new members of the IACC, who will bring additional points of view and expertise to the committee”
The committee is composed of a diverse group of federal officials from HHS agencies and the Department of Education, as well as public members that include people with ASD, parents of people with ASD, and leaders of national ASD advocacy and research organizations.
In January 2009, the IACC released its first strategic plan for autism research. The IACC released a second edition of its strategic plan in January 2010.
“Today I am pleased to announce new members of the IACC, who will bring additional points of view and expertise to the committee,” Secretary Sebelius said. “I look forward to hearing from the committee members on important matters that affect people with autism and their families as we continue our efforts to address this urgent public health challenge.”
ASDs are a group of developmental disabilities that cause major social, communication and behavioral challenges with symptoms that present before age 3. ASDs affect each person in different ways and can range from very mild to severe. People with ASDs share some similar symptoms, such as problems with social interaction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an average of 1 in every 110 children in the United States has some form of ASD.
For more information on the IACC, visit http://www.iacc.hhs.gov/
New Members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D.
As chief science officer for Autism Speaks, Dr. Dawson works with the scientific community and stakeholders to shape and expand the foundation’s scientific vision. She also is a licensed clinical psychologist with a research focus on early detection and intervention, early patterns of brain dysfunction and the identification of biological markers for autism genetic studies. Dr. Dawson also serves as research professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, adjunct professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and professor emeritus of psychology at University of Washington.
Gerald D. Fischbach, M.D.
Dr. Fischbach is the scientific director for the Simons Foundation where he oversees the Autism Research Initiative. He has spent his career as a neuroscientist studying the formation and maintenance of synapses, the junctions between nerve cells which allow signals to be transmitted. Before joining the Simons Foundation, Dr. Fischbach served as the Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke from 1998 to 2001 and as the Executive Vice President of Columbia University Medical Center and Dean of the faculties of medicine from 2001 to 2006.
Ari Ne’eman
Mr. Ari Ne'eman is the founding president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, where he works to increase the representation of autistic people in public policy discussions. He is an adult on the autism spectrum and a leading advocate in the neurodiversity movement. Mr. Ne’eman has served on the New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force and the New Jersey Special Education Review Commission, where he authored a minority report advocating legislative action against the use of aversives, restraint and seclusion. He is a board member of TASH, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, and is involved with the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education.
Denise D. Resnik
Denise Resnik is the co-founder and board development chair of the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC). She is the mother of an 18-year-old son with autism. Ms. Resnik serves on the Autism Speaks Family Services Committee and Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) Steering Committee. She participated in the 2006 NIMH Autism Matrix Review and the IACC Scientific Workshops to develop the IACC Strategic Plan and subsequent updates.
Marjorie Solomon, Ph.D.
Dr. Marjorie Solomon is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis. She serves on the Faculty of the Medical Investigation of Neurological Disorders (MIND) Institute and the Autism Research Training Program where she conducts research on a social skills training intervention for high-functioning children with ASD, incorporating parents and siblings in the research. In addition to her clinical research work, Dr. Solomon studies cognition and learning in high-functioning individuals with ASD.
HA HA Gotogora;
It could be one of the IAAC meetings too, I suppose, but it is real close to my husband and me (it's what plants crave) as we kept up with the DPT schedule inspite of previous reactions because the peds kept saying (it's what plants crave)as I am sure the Medical Univerisity that trained the peds said (it's what plants crave), because the CDC said (it's what plants crave), and I am sure CDC thought this because NIH and HHS also said (it's what plants crave).
It is one of the best youtubes to describe the problem I have seen in a long time!
Posted by: Benedetta | May 01, 2010 at 09:57 PM
Benedetta-- LMAO! And here I was thinking it was a tape of the first meeting of the new IACC.
Now I understand what Frontline meant by the evil of Youtubes.
Posted by: Gatogorra | May 01, 2010 at 01:55 PM
Each one of these people have no clue what causes or initiates autism. Geraldine did a study on eye contact for years, and never acknowledged mercury can ruin it. This is a hoax for feigned concern for this epidemic. The real researchers need to be funded and published, and after that is done, we should hold our own "vaccine safety" (no vaccine is safe) committe, and air it on all media/stations/newspapers/journals, and quit trying to please the murderers of our children. I won't hold my breathe that we have the guts/willpower and stamina for that strategy.
Posted by: kathy blanco | May 01, 2010 at 10:04 AM
I want to see immediate changes in the official output of this committee to demonstrate the appropriate amount of attention to metabolic processes that change brian functioning - and funding allocations to support it!
I am disappointed about the inclusion on the committee of Ari. The rest of the new members - well we will see.
I hope that mandatory attendance to the IACC meetings is part of the committment of the new members!
Posted by: Really - get moving now | May 01, 2010 at 10:01 AM
Re: Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D.
"As chief science officer for Autism Speaks, Dr. Dawson works with the scientific community and stakeholders to shape and expand the foundation’s scientific vision."
Since the Autism Speaks research budget regarding vaccines is a whopping 2%, we can see where that leaves us. S.O.L.
"Dr. Dawson also serves as research professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, adjunct professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and professor emeritus of psychology at University of Washington."
As we all know, psychology and psychiatry has never cured one child of autism. Unfortunately it is not possible to counsel anyone out of brain damage, and psyche meds do not improve brain damage, but instead often make the problems worse.
Gerald D. Fischbach, M.D.
"He has spent his career as a neuroscientist studying the formation and maintenance of synapses, the junctions between nerve cells which allow signals to be transmitted."
I wonder if this guy knows that mercury and aluminum and chronic brain inflammation interferes with nerve cell communication. And I wonder if he will ever figure out where the brain chemistry issues originated from in the first place. If he has figured it out or does have any suspicions regarding the vaccines, he will have to keep his mouth shut or they will kick him out of their clubhouse.
Ari Ne’eman
"Mr. Ari Ne'eman is the founding president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, where he works to increase the representation of autistic people in public policy discussions."
This guy advocates for himSELF and those who are high functioning and hangs out in the clubhouse with those on the spectrum who "don't want a cure and don't need recovery". He doesn't have an ounce of compassion for the majority of severely autistic children who desperately need recovery therapies. Perhaps Dr. Dawson will diagnose him with egomania and prescibe some psyche meds for him.
Denise D. Resnik
"Ms. Resnik serves on the Autism Speaks Family Services Committee and Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) Steering Committee. She participated in the 2006 NIMH Autism Matrix Review and the IACC Scientific Workshops to develop the IACC Strategic Plan and subsequent updates."
Uh oh, another S.O.L. candidate I fear, since she "worked to develop the IACC Strategic Plan", which so far their primary agenda is to entirely ignore the vaccines issue and sweep it under the rug. Since her child was diagnosed with autism prior to Defeat Autism Now era, she probably doesn't know anything about that, and if she is like the rest of them, she probably doesn't want to know. (I am making an assumption here based on the agenda of the person who appointed her)
Marjorie Solomon, Ph.D.
"Dr. Marjorie Solomon is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis."
Uh oh another doctor trained in psychiatry that believes that drugs are the answer. Why am I not suprised.
"...she conducts research on a social skills training intervention for high-functioning children with ASD, incorporating parents and siblings in the research. In addition to her clinical research work, Dr. Solomon studies cognition and learning in high-functioning individuals with ASD."
Nothing in this description sounds hopeful in the least, and all of her experience with "high functioning" children doesn't do a thing to understand what is really needed for all of these children who can't even communicate or even be potty trained.
OHHHHH I FEEL SICK
Posted by: Autism Grandma | May 01, 2010 at 09:38 AM
This is so obviously a group to cover up the autism epidemic caused by vaccines and they know it.
But, the word is out. My sister just registered her daughter for kindergarten with a waiver that I taught her how to get. She also informed the woman behind her in line her how to get a waiver because she was complaining about the chicken pox vaccine. These people should just admit defeat before they make bigger fools of themselves.
Posted by: Maggie | May 01, 2010 at 07:14 AM
What I want to know is if there is anyone on the IACC who actually recovered a child from autism, and why not?
Posted by: Heidi N | April 30, 2010 at 09:29 PM
I used this analogy about Frontline - expecting anything different from the IACC or anything within HHS in any administration is like being Catholic and then being disappointed when your Mom doesn't prepare a Seder on Passover. Or being Muslim and being disappointed that there aren't presents under a shiny tree on 12/25. It hasn't happened to date - and yet we are recovering our kids, treating their medical problems, pulling them along as best we can DESPITE the avalanche being thrown in our direction. Let them look at genetics all day and all night. None of us have sat back waiting for their scraps - we've acted. I'm proud of us and if IACC produces something of value, I'll be pleased - but I'll never expect it.
Posted by: Stagmom | April 30, 2010 at 08:14 PM
maybe next time we need to do reverse psychology and tell them WE LIKE .....
so that way they won't pick them
Posted by: DAD2vaccineinjured | April 30, 2010 at 07:52 PM
BIG DEAL!!!!
Same old crap.
Who cares???
The people who run the IACC are pharmaceutical lap dogs along with Sebelius......I wouldn't be surprised if the drug companies bribe all these people.
So what else is new???
You were expecting something different???
Posted by: Raymond Gallup | April 30, 2010 at 07:24 PM
Dadadvocate; Sounds good!
I am going to think good things are going to happen here. On the spiritual level 1986 is when Denise started her bussiness (not sure what that bussiness was) but that was the year my son was born. It is a sign!!!
Gatogorra I do not approve of you video taping myfamily and me and putting us on YouTube. Electrolites is what plants crave, and vaccines no matter how many are good too.
Posted by: Benedetta | April 30, 2010 at 07:11 PM
Denise Resnick and SARRC strikes me as a very good choice. She has been very involved in lifespan issues like housing and employment, which really need interagency coordination. The current coordination is next to nothing and we need federal initiatives put in place to trump many ineffective (some horrible) state level responses to the current and coming boom in adults with autism who need services.
Ne'eman? Meh. I'm guessing it's a consolation prize for the hold on his nomination to the Disability Committee. He must have a lot of friends in high places in NJ to get this (although he's way over his head and will have no impact here).
Dawson finally gives AS a voice on this body that was hijacked by Singer so that's a really good thing IMHO.
MIND having a seat is a good thing too.
Simons? Well, whatever.
This body is slated to go out of business in 2011 anyway and I don't pay all that much attention to them.
My takeaway is that if Resnick can get adult lifespan issues prioritized and Dawson and MIND get together on environmental issues it'll be a huge win in my book.
Posted by: Dadvocate | April 30, 2010 at 06:23 PM
This Gerald Fischbach? The one having what appears to be an intense conversation with Ari Ne'eman at an event held by Alison Singer's tobacco science foundation?
http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/sciencesandwiches.html
No way.
Posted by: Jake Crosby | April 30, 2010 at 05:54 PM
Simons Foundation is firmly blindfolded in genetic research. Reading their website is like reading a horror story of genetics-only stupidity. So we can expect more useless banter from IACC in decades to come. Business as usual.
Posted by: Natasa | April 30, 2010 at 05:36 PM
Todays news makes we wish for the days of simple incompetence and greed of the Gerberding administration. This new kind of calculated obstruction of meaningful work is so much worse than what we had before.
Posted by: Sylvia | April 30, 2010 at 05:09 PM
I meant FELL on deaf ears...I need a nap.
Posted by: rileysmom | April 30, 2010 at 05:06 PM
So the petitions I signed and the letters I wrote to keep Ari off of this committee feel on deaf ears??? Hmmmmppppfff. I would have never guessed that.
This committee is now a complete joke. I just didn't find the bunch line very funny.
Posted by: rileysmom | April 30, 2010 at 05:05 PM
Hey kerbob. I'm as disappointed with Obama's handling of this crisis as anyone, but let's get real. Do you honesty think we'd have been one iota better served by the other guy? The government doesn't care. Period.
cheers, d.
Posted by: Daniel Park | April 30, 2010 at 05:05 PM
God bless Lyn Redwood for her ability to sit in these meetings, represent our families, and not lose her mind. I don't know how she does it...but I'm grateful that she does. These new appts are ridiculous.
Posted by: Sunny | April 30, 2010 at 04:26 PM
So can anyone tell me what Denise Resnik is like?
Posted by: Benedetta | April 30, 2010 at 04:23 PM
How sad.....3 steps back.
Posted by: Ralph Toddre | April 30, 2010 at 04:23 PM
I'm not pasting in Geraldine Dawson or Ari Ne'eman - we talk quite a bit here re: Autism Speaks and the Neurodiversity movement.
If Autism Speaks will even agree to even think about looking into our issue (1% or 2% of funding)... that is HUGE. I really think we need to lay off Autism Speaks.
Of course the neurodiversity movement is just bunk and we should just ignore them.
Why aren't we addressing? The following (I'm sure there is more out there too):
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative?
https://sfari.org/
The Autism Science Foundation?
http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/
Offord and/or CAIRN?
http://www.cairn-site.com/en/index.html
http://www.offordcentre.com/people.html
The big-wig above at Offord/CAIRN just got nearly 9 million more to study ASD genes.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2010/29/c6940.html
The many hats (that I can't untangle) of the genetic studies (mostly under the Autism Genome Project - but poke around, this is HUGE and includes many partners/investments):
http://www.autismgenome.org/
The news about the nearly $9 million is also below, but you cannot access it if you don't have an account:
SickKids Wins $8.8M Grant for Autism Genomics
GenomeWeb Daily News
... million) grant from the Ontario Research Fund's Ministry of Research and Innovation to conduct genomic sequencing studies of autism spectrum disorders.
http://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing/sickkids-wins-88m-grant-autism-genomics
The Hospital for Sick Children receives $8.9M grant for autism ...
News-Medical.net
... which is part of the Ontario Research Fund (ORF) by the Ministry of Research and ... are studying the genomic basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
http://www.news-medical.net/error404.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/news/20100430/The-Hospital-for-Sick-Children-receives-2489M-grant-for-autism-research.aspx
Posted by: Henderson | April 30, 2010 at 03:50 PM
Got to be the best April Fools Joke ever!...a bit late...but still pretty damn good. Thanks for the laugh Kim.
Posted by: Charlie | April 30, 2010 at 03:34 PM
Look this is an all out effort to stifle any truth in this debate. Apparently Dr. Buttar is now speaking out about his interview with Frontline being left on the editing room floor.
http://www.i-newswire.com/doctor-accuses-pbs-frontline-of/34333
RFK junior needs to step up again, along with David Kirby and call this what it is pure and simple, a propaganda machine.
Posted by: Nora | April 30, 2010 at 03:26 PM
To hell with the IACC, the whole thing needs to be disbanded and rebuilt from the ground up with Congress actually designating the people on the board. What a joke.
Posted by: Kevin | April 30, 2010 at 03:26 PM
Comments?
Marjorie Solomon, Ph.D.
From her website from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis MIND Institute:
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/psychiatry/ourteam/faculty/solomon.html
Dr. Solomon is a licensed psychologist whose primary clinical work is focused on high functioning children with autism spectrum disorders. She studies and implements school and clinical intervention programs to help such children. Her current research efforts involve studies about social skills, parent-child interaction therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders, and friendship and attachment in high functioning children with autism spectrum disorders.
Posted by: Henderson | April 30, 2010 at 03:22 PM
Comments?
The Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)
http://www.autismcenter.org/
Denise Resnik's bio from her marketing and PR firm:
http://www.resnikpr.com/bio_resnik.htm
Denise, a native Phoenician, formed the agency in 1986. Prior to that, she was director of investor relations and marketing for four subsidiaries of the NYSE-listed Del Webb Corporation, now Pulte. The boutique agency has earned a reputation within the industry for its professionalism, results and community service.
Denise co-founded and served as board chairman (1997 – 2007) of the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), which today is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to autism research, education and community outreach (www.autismcenter.org).
Denise is also a board member of Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a camp and retreat facility for children with chronic illnesses and physical and developmental challenges (www.whisperinghoperanch.org). In addition, she serves as a board member of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Urban Land Institute’s Arizona District Council, The Nature Conservancy, Phoenix Community Alliance and the Arizona Community Foundation; and as a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership and the Anti-Defamation League's Development Committee.
Her list of accomplishments includes being named 2008 Woman of the Year by Valley Leadership; 2008 Volunteer Executive of the Year by The Business Journal; 2007 Human Relations Award recipient by the Arizona Chapter of the American Jewish Committee; 2007 Evening of Champions Award recipient by the Autism Society of America; 2006 Woman of Worth by L’Oreal of Paris; 2005 Golden Heart of Business recipient by Arizona Woman magazine; 2001 Athena Award by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce; 2001 Small Businessperson of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce; 2001 World of Well-Being recipient by the Arizona Cactus-Pine Girl Scout Council; and 1998 Arts Advocate of the Year by the Business Volunteers for the Arts of Phoenix.
She graduated cum laude from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in business.
Posted by: Henderson | April 30, 2010 at 03:16 PM
Comments?
Gerald D. Fischbach, M.D. of the Simons Foundation and Columbia University?
https://sfari.org/web/sfari/
Found this off of Columbia University's site:
Gerald D. Fischbach, M.D.
Bio Sketch
Gerald D. Fischbach is Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences; Dean of the Faculties of Columbia University Medical Center and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. Dr. Fischbach received his M.D. degree in 1965 from Cornell University Medical School and interned at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle. He began his research career at the National Institutes of Health, serving from 1966 - 1973. He subsequently served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, first as Associate Professor of Pharmacology from 1973 - 1978 and then as Professor until 1981. From 1981 - 1990, Dr. Fischbach was the Edison Professor of Neurobiology and Head of the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Washington University School of Medicine. In 1990, he returned to Harvard Medical School where he was the Nathan Marsh Pusey Professor of Neurobiology and Chairman of the Neurobiology Departments of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital until 1998. He served as Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health from 1998 - 2001.
Dr. Fischbach is a past-President of the Society of Neuroscience and he now serves on several medical and scientific advisory boards. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, and he is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a non-resident Fellow of the Salk Institute. He is the Scientific Director of the Simons Foundation Autism Project.
Throughout his career, Dr. Fischbach has studied the formation and maintenance of synapses, the contacts between nerve cells and their targets through which information is transferred. He pioneered the use of nerve cell cultures to study the electrophysiology, morphology, and biochemistry of developing nerve – muscle and inter-neuronal synapses. Beginning in the 1970's, Dr. Fischbach embarked on a search for proteins released from motor nerve terminals that regulate the number of acetylcholine receptors and other components of the postsynaptic membrane in target muscle cells. This work culminated, in 1993, with the purification of ARIA (Acetylcholine Receptor-Inducing Activity), a protein that stimulates the synthesis of acetylcholine receptors by skeletal muscle cells. This molecule was subsequently shown to be a member of a large family of proteins now called neuregulins that have numerous trophic actions on neurons and glia in the brain. His current research is focused on roles that members of the of neuregulins family play in determination of neural precursor fate, synapse formation, and neuronal survival.
Posted by: Henderson | April 30, 2010 at 03:09 PM
I began to be curious about Sebelius, so I looked at her official bio.
The reason she is so clueless about autism (and probably a lot of other medical, biochemistry, etc type things) -- she is not a doctor. Not a Ph.D. in any science. Nada.
She is a political appointee, to the max. BUT think about what "Health and Human Services" means in today's world in the US -- paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork.
She has LOTS of experience in all the aspects of billing, coding, fees, fraud -- everything you could possibly want, if you believe that paperwork = health.
So the point I'm getting at is . . . if you wondered why Sebelius seems so clueless, it's because she is.
Main points from bio -- she was:
Governor of the state of Kansas from 2003 to 2009
Insurance Commissioner of the state of Kansas, from 1995 to 2003
Member of Kansas House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995.
Has a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas and BA from Trinity Washington University
Posted by: Nonnymouse | April 30, 2010 at 03:00 PM
It's all the SOS. People with psychiatry backgrounds, people who only want to fund genetic research, people who don't believe autism is really a disability, apparently one person who's publicly spouted the usual CDC fear mongering about the importance of vaccines for your own child and for the community.
It's as tho she's deliberately trying to piss us off.
Posted by: Robin Nemeth | April 30, 2010 at 02:45 PM
I just puked in my mouth.
Can you just see the future of the country under these clowns? Third world country isn't the half of it. Try fourth world-- what happens to a formerly first world country that blew out its children's brains and can't raise an army that won't wander off base and drown in a drainage ditch.
Here's a clip of Lyn at the next meeting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1fKzw05Q5A&feature=related
Posted by: Gatogorra | April 30, 2010 at 02:39 PM
From my perspective this is much worse than A.N. being the sole voice for Autism on the Disability Council. Here he will influence actual treatment and research priorities and we know where he stands on those: children and adults with REGRESSIVE Autism lose. Interesting how his first appointment is so controversial that his nomination gets stalled, yet the govt still sees fit to appoint him here?
The government has made their position clear: they don't want the root causes for REGRESSIVE AUTISM identified or treated. Ya know what.....fine, then they had better expect to pay financially for the recurrent tidal waves of Autistic people, born and yet to be born....many of whom could recover a good deal of their functioning were research beneficial to them done.
Posted by: AnaB | April 30, 2010 at 02:27 PM
LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I heard her say inluding people with ASD, I jokingly thought, yeah, maybe someone like Ari Ne'eman! But there he was! Actually it's not funny, though. What a horrible decision.
Posted by: jen | April 30, 2010 at 01:30 PM
Better yet, let's start a petition to remove all but a couple of them(like Lyn)
Maurine
Posted by: Maurine Meleck | April 30, 2010 at 12:52 PM
What did people actually think of Obama?
Change? You just got your change.
Posted by: kerbob1 | April 30, 2010 at 12:21 PM
They are just making things uglier.
For themselves.
Posted by: A Mom | April 30, 2010 at 12:20 PM
This Gerald Fischbach?
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/35821
"As was noted to the JCI by Gerald Fischbach, Scientific Director of the Simons Foundation, an organization that seeks to fund research in basic sciences and mathematics, including autism research, 'There is no epidemiological evidence of a link between vaccination and the development of autism, and it is exceedingly unwise not to have your child vaccinated, as the consequences of this can be devastating, not just for the unvaccinated child but also others in the community.' "
Posted by: Anne McElroy Dachel | April 30, 2010 at 11:49 AM
We need to start a new petition to remove Ari Ne'eman from the IACC.
Posted by: Jake Crosby | April 30, 2010 at 11:46 AM