I am tired of researchers that don't research politically sensitive material. I'm tired of big pharm which is no different than big tobacco of yesteryear. And I'm tired of doctors who refuse to ever speak of causality as if everything in the world is a giant mystery and accidental happenings are everywhere---you know things just happen and we don't know why. But what if they do know why and they are just not sharing that information. Isn't that evil?

Just watched an Australian documentary ("The Autism Enigma") about autism clusters in Australian Somalian refugees. So it is not just in the U.S. There was a very biomedical-cure-literate Somalian former-refugee mother who was interviewed and she put a lot of it down to the fact that their natural diet in Somalia would have included whole foods and fermented foods. She didn't mention pharma or pesticides but it was mentioned in the documentary. Her knowledge about the benefits of the GFCF diet and other biomedical interventions was a lot better than some parents I've met and than other official autism bodies (.....not mentioning any names CDC or Autism Speaks).

Is it possible that these people, I mean the researchers charged with the task of finding the reason for autism clusters in Minneapolis, are simply unable to do what they are asked to do? Are they like ostriches sticking their heads in the sand or it it that they are working for the CDC and are really the victims of too many flu shots and other vaccines they believe in so fervently? Are they gradually losing their ability to perform mental tasks that in the past would have been child's play to perform? I sure hope that it not the case. Old Rome also did not know how to protect itself from lead and mercury. Those metals brought down the Roman empire. Are we in danger in this country? Oh, but I must be exaggerating. I do that all the time.

How about someone who is good with numbers figure out what percentage of yearly income taxes goes to autism "research". Then everyone respectfully petition the government for a tax exemption for that percentage on the grounds that government appointees have squandered funding, failed to produce results and their activities do not provide the least slightest public benefit. Then put those funds toward independent research, primarily focused on environmental causes, and effective treatments.

Letting them know that we don't want to pay for this anymore would send a strong message.

March 12, 2012, the story, Ongoing study examines rates of autism among Somali children in Minneapolis, was published.
It showed that FOUR YEARS LATER, officials were still clueless about a higher prevalence of autism among MN Somalis.
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2012/03/12/ongoing-study-examines-rates-autism-among-somali-children-minneapolis
“Is there a higher prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders among Somali children in the Twin Cities? In a word: maybe. According to a study published by the Minnesota Department of Health in 2009, there might be a higher incidence of autism, but the evidence is not complete.
“Now researchers at the University of Minnesota are trying to help find the answer to the question. With funding from the CDC, the National Institute on Health, and Autism Speaks, they began conducting the Somali Autism Surveillance study in July of 2011.

“According to the CDC, autism spectrum disorders occur on average in 1 of 110 children in the United States. The MDH study focused on the ASD programs through the Early Childhood Special Education Citywide programs that are part of the Minneapolis Public Schools. Researchers examined the percentage of three and four-year-old children participating in the ASD programs. This percentage, which they called “administrative prevalence,” was significantly higher for Somali children than non-Somali children."

So, it’s now 2013, where are the results of the study? Is the generation of Somali children with autism just more better diagnosing?

As always, the key to Autism research is to walk in circles and carry balloons and then send in the funds for more research.

The following year, the balloons are the same... but the walking is done in the opposite direction.

"Action steps", as opposed to real action, must be action that takes place only in the mind. It's clear that these agencies do not want answers. They don't even want to ask the questions and we all know why. There is no stopping their procrastination and obstruction. In order to get anything done, independent scientists will have to do the research. Unfortunately, those taking taxpayer funds to do this work will not do it. Waiting for them, trying to push them, is a waste of time. Even if they did start to move, their work couldn't be trusted.

So frustrating. Makes me think of Congressman Patrick Meehan's questions at the recent congressional oversight committee hearing:
"Who's in charge of this?!? Who wakes up every morning and says, 'This is my priority. I am going to drive this train and make sure something happens today?'" And he asks where is the dynamism in using emerging evidence to hurry to a discovery? The CDC and NIH folks respond with pathetic pablum. Dr. G. says there has been an "acceleration" in recent years.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/309672-1
starting at 01:15:46

They could make headway if they wanted to. They are stalling and fudging. And nobody outside of the autism-vaccine-injured community seems to be paying attention. Where are the investigative reporters? Snowed in by govt spin and pharma ad money.

Thank you Katie and Lyn Redwood and Idil Abdul for being there! Your advocacy takes tremendous patience and persistence. Thanks for writing about this Katie - otherwise it wouldn't see the light of day.

Would love to see the congressional oversight committee question the IACC members.

I remember reading a news story a while back about Dr. Wakefield meeting with Somali families and offering to coordinate research into their astonishing autism rate. My recollection is that shortly thereafter BMJ published Brian Deer's hit piece on Wakefield.

Coincidence?

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE......

"The Minnesota Somali Autism Study: That and a dollar will buy you a hot dog."

http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/04/the-minnesota-somali-autism-study-.html

From the article four years ago:

"The Commissioner of Health Dr. Sanne Magnan started her media briefing with the basics of the study, moving on to a series of shameless self-congratulatory remarks about how the hard work and sincere efforts of many agencies combined into a collaborative effort to get to the bottom of the concerns of the Somali community. She mentioned that the MDH had met with “members of the Somali community” the day before, as if she was implying that the whole community was happy with the study. Then she ended it with the unbelievable clarification that the study means essentially nothing at all, no real conclusions were established. In the end, the answers to the questions from the Somali community were never answered.

I wondered how the MDH could ever expect the Somali families to believe they sincerely want to help when the MDH can look at this study and say it does not mean anything. A representative of the Somali organization Parents United Against Autism was in attendance. He left early in part because he was upset about the comment where the MDH met with “members of the Somali community”. He knows that that community only includes those Somalis who step in line behind the “It can’t be vaccines” mantra. If the MDH were being sincere, they certainly would have invited the group at the frontlines of the Somali autism cluster – those who answer the phone calls from scared parents begging for answers to help with a child so difficult to understand."

Thanks Katie for the synopsis of yet another meeting full of "shameless self-congratulatory remarks".

The "hardest" part of Yeargin-Allsopp's job is conjuring up explanation after explanation .. for not doing her job in the first place.

There is no doubt the CDC has the expertise, data and resources to conduct this critical study of "regression" in Somali children .. they lack only the WILL to do it.

Their lame excuse is .. "its just too darn hard to do". Obviously, by their own "self-admission" they are not qualified to "do the job" they were hired to do.

An honorable person would "do the right thing" .. and voluntarily resign if they cannot do their job

If they were plumbers or electricians .. they would .. rightly so .. be FIRED if they told the boss their job is "too hard to do".

So, it begs the question: Who in god's name do these people ANSWER to?

Where is the President? Where is Congress? Where is the Senate? Shame on the lot of them.

I think the problem starts at the top of HHS and works its way down. Get rid of Sebellus and put Dave Weldon in charge. Then we would see some results.

Katie, great article as always. I always appreciate your honest take on the complete incompetence of the IACC. The CDC continues to drag their feet for one basic reason --- they are wholly complicit in the autism tragedy. What will it take for someone in a position of power to have the balls to make the changes required to get answers to these long overdue questions?

Katie:

Thank you for the report on how inept our federal agencies are in the matter of autism research and investigation. As the Dean in "Animal House" in the clip states 0.0, that is the grade given to the CDC by the public. Correction, in regard to Simpsonwood and Poul Thorsen that would be -0.0!