Dachel Media Update: Rising Autism in Boston, Autism in Public
May 30, 2013, CNN: Let's talk about autism in public spaces
May 29, 2013, New Scientist: Rise of the autistic workforce
May 28, 2013, CNN: March Against Monsanto
May 28, 2013, Boston Globe: Boston schools seek $6m more for special ed--Rise in students with autism helps prompt increase
CNN
"The incident at M Spa Salon has brought a much larger issue to the public eye than merely the allegedly nasty behavior of one business owner: Parents of children on the autism spectrum struggle with public judgment on a daily basis.
"Sometimes kids with autism exhibit behaviors that draw attention to themselves, ranging from self-soothing repetitive motions to a full-blown meltdown in an overwhelming situation. The reaction of the bystanders can go a long way toward defusing panic or exacerbating it, which is what happened when Mott reportedly yelled at Ashley and Grayson Bays until they both left the salon in tears."
I agree. Let's talk about autism is public spaces. Let's ask why autism is showing up everywhere. Let's ask why we currently have to train teachers, school bus drivers, airline workers, EMTs, fire fighters, police, librarians and even doctors about autism. Why don't we know how to handle an autistic child? What better proof is there that autism is a new and serious health care crisis that we aren't addressing? I posted a comment.
New Scientist
"ARE we on the cusp of an autistic revolution? German software giant SAP has declared that it intends to gain "a competitive advantage" over its rivals by actively employing people with autism spectrum disorder.
"We are seeing the rise of autism, says Ari Ne'eman, president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in Washington DC and a member of the US National Council on Disability. Indeed, while conditions like autism have historically hindered jobseekers, several global companies have now caught on to the idea of utilising the particular skill set this section of society can offer....
"While the move is a positive one for many, it is important to note that autism exists on a spectrum, and a large number of people who have the condition would not find such jobs suitable. Neither should it diminish the need for more research. It does however signal a greater acceptance of autism within society."
Don't you love the phrase "the cusp of an autistic revolution"? Revolution?
How about the "rise of autistic workforce"?
Where am I? How does this possibly relate to the real world?
AUTISM...the disorder that's crippling a generation of children that no one can sensibly explain has to have some redeeming values, right? There's now a 'competitive advantage' to having autism. Employ those high functioning, OCD adults with autism.
HEY....while a small minority of Americans with autism (excuse me, "this section of society") might be employable, a massive part of "this section of society" will be dependent for life and ---WE'LL ALL BE PAYING FOR THEM.
Employing autistic adults seems to "signal a greater acceptance of autism within society"???? No comments were allowed here.
CNN
CNN tells us that Monsanto once produced Agent Orange, but also pesticides, and GMO seeds.
"Over the weekend, millions marched against Monsanto."
I love Michael Moss's comments about FDA oversight. "As of right now, there are no studies linking GMO to health problems. The flip side is that no one is really looking hard at that and doing that kind of research. And the agency in charge of GMOs, is another three letter acronym, the FDA, which has a real spotty record on food safety, which concerns people."
It's very similar to CDC oversight when it comes to vaccines. I could say the same thing about the CDC and their real spotty record on vaccine safety.
Boston Globe
"An increase in students being diagnosed with autism or other disabilities is driving up special education spending in Boston, prompting the School Department to request $6 million in ¬supplemental funding."
"By April, 747 students with disabilities, including 158 on the autism spectrum, were enrolled in preschool, compared with 482 four years ago."
"Overall, 489 students across all grade levels this year are working with behavioral ¬specialists, up from 205 last year...."
"But she also stressed the need for the state and federal governments to send local ¬districts more money to cover the growing costs of special ¬education.:
It's very troubling. You have to be a subscriber to comment, but look at the message here........
This is about special education costs--more specifically, it's about the cost of autism.
Like everywhere else, Boston is watching the numbers increase without asking why.
It is their "OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES."
If I understand correctly, Monsanto already destroyed the huge global market for US corn, and the US public has been, largely unknowingly, paying to prop up that industry responsible for that loss ever since. I don't think there are enough funds to continue covering up the destructive effects of such corporate-government collusion, but I wonder, if instead of stealth, will they move to force their use further on the US (and perhaps the globe), kind of like what is happening with vaccines?
Also, if understand correctly, we do already have studies and a lot of "anecdotal" observations of GMO harm. And similar to vaccine safety efforts, careers attacked, media embargoed information, and the like.
Posted by: Jeannette Bishop | May 31, 2013 at 11:24 AM
This morning I noticed one of those banner headlines rolling across the screen during the morning newscast. Apparently Japan is stopping US wheat imports after detecting genetically modified grains. Apparently they're not alone.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2333381/GM-wheat-crops-America-facing-wheat-export-crisis-Europe-Japan-lead-way-rejecting-genetically-modified-crops.html
Not only is Monsanto risking your health, they're risking the stability of your agricultural economy. The EU has told Monsanto to shove their GMO's, and now they're telling the US to keep their "contaminated" exports.
In all fairness to the pro-GMO legislators, it must he hard to hear your constituents when your head is jammed up Monsanto's ass, but how bad does it have to get before you finally pull out? Maybe now that its starting to look like it could hit hard in the wallet...?
Posted by: Shiny Happy Person | May 31, 2013 at 10:43 AM
I love Michael Moss's comments about FDA oversight. "As of right now, there are no studies linking GMO to health problems.
***************
Which clearly means the fox is guarding the hen house.
Marching on Monsanto make a lot of sense, but marching on the FDA makes even more sense to me.
Followed at some point by a march on main stream media outlets, who have been facilitating ALL of the criminals in the articles that you bring to us. Like seriously...."the cusp of an autistic revolution"???? I'm still teaching my ten year old how to tie his shoes! Im sorry, but that's DE-volution, and the vaccines he was given are 100% responsible for it.
The day i celebrate autism, is the day that authorities admit that autism is really just another name for vaccine injury. And then use that knowledge, to put arseholes like Ari Ne'eman behind bars.
Posted by: Barry | May 31, 2013 at 07:41 AM
Thanks, Anne, for posting the link to the CNN report on the March Against Monsanto. I don't know about Moss' statement that there are no studies linking GMOs to health problems. Check out this quote from The Institute of Responsible Technology, in response to the question, "Are GMOs Safe?"
"The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) doesn’t think so. The Academy reported that “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. The AAEM asked physicians to advise patients to avoid GM foods.
Before the FDA decided to allow GMOs into food without labeling, FDA scientists had repeatedly warned that GM foods can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects, including allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems. They urged long-term safety studies, but were ignored.
Since then, findings include:
Thousands of sheep, buffalo, and goats in India died after grazing on Bt cotton plants
Mice eating GM corn for the long term had fewer, and smaller, babies
More than half the babies of mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks, and were smaller
Testicle cells of mice and rats on a GM soy change significantly
By the third generation, most GM soy-fed hamsters lost the ability to have babies
Rodents fed GM corn and soy showed immune system responses and signs of toxicity
Cooked GM soy contains as much as 7-times the amount of a known soy allergen
Soy allergies skyrocketed by 50% in the UK, soon after GM soy was introduced
The stomach lining of rats fed GM potatoes showed excessive cell growth, a condition that may lead to cancer.
Studies showed organ lesions, altered liver and pancreas cells, changed enzyme levels, etc.
Unlike safety evaluations for drugs, there are no human clinical trials of GM foods. The only published human feeding experiment revealed that the genetic material inserted into GM soy transfers into bacteria living inside our intestines and continues to function. This means that long after we stop eating GM foods, we may still have their GM proteins produced continuously inside us."
(more at link: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers)
Posted by: Linda | May 31, 2013 at 12:12 AM
GMO's are strictly banned in all European Union countries because they have not been proven to be safe for human (and animal) consumption. What a refreshing idea! Americans on the other hand are forced to consume GMO's because (1)they have not been proven to be harmful, (2)they are not even mentioned on food labels and (3)they yield huge profits for the seed industry. Farmers have to purchase new seeds every year because genetically modified cereals do not reproduce.
Posted by: Marie-Anne Denayer | May 30, 2013 at 09:41 PM