By Dan Olmsted

The matching fund drive for AOA that began last week ended Thursday night, and Kim, Mark and I are pleased to report that we (meaning you) met and exceeded the goal. An anonymous donor put up $3,000 and challenged readers to match it, which you did and more. We will put this to good use in meeting operating expenses and developing new projects.

We had about 60 donations that ranged from $5 to $500. The number who gave in just 10 days really amazed us -- we've never come close to that figure before. We are mindful that this is a community without a lot to spare after confronting the costs of a major disability AND working to help their kids recover, and so I think we tend to hold back, not unreasonably.

Our A.D. had no such qualms in urging us on, and is over the moon with the response:

"Thank you for sharing the GREAT news, Dan!  The amount raised is indeed wonderful, and it was my pleasure to help out. An honest, truth-seeking, truth-spilling blog like this is so important in this age of bought-and-paid-for media and wealth-over-health "medicine"…and Age of Autism makes it happen, day in and day out.  I eagerly log in to AoA every day to read some REAL news, news that is important and encouraging to me.  A heartfelt thank you to each of you." And to all of you.

Senseless: The sad news this week about the death of Chandler Webb, 19, after a flu shot is a reminder of the reality of what the medical professionals call an idiosyncratic reaction. (He also got either a TB test or shot, depending on the account.) With no evident risk factors in this young Utah man who was heading off on a Mormon mission, there was no predicting he would suffer a reaction. So why take the risk at all? A flu shot for a 19-year-old does not qualify except in the CDC's fevered imagination .

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 28, 2013, Washington Times: Golden Hammer: Autism research gets federal aid not once, but twice

Nov 27, 2013, Columbia (SC) Metro: One in 88--The odds of having a child with autism

Nov 27, 2013, Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate: New service for autistic children could cost $30 million
Nov 27, 2013, Middletown (NY) Record: Schumer: Autism doesn't 'age out' at 22

The United States of Autism is available for pre-order now -  US of Autism DVD Combo Pack.  Below is Dan Olmsted's review of this movie.  Order today!




By Dan Olmsted

I had my guard up this week when I sat down with Cat Jameson and her husband, Steve, to watch The United States of Autism. Let's face it, there are a lot of autism movies, and a lot more in the pipeline. I'm interested in causation, not awareness, and I don't view autism as something we just need to get up close and personal with and all shall be well. And really, how good can something be that sprang to life thanks in part to a $50,000 grant from Pepsi?

My guard started dropping partway through the amazing opening credit sequence. I leaned over to Cat and whispered, "That's $50,000 worth of animation right there."

Well, it could have been, but as I learned later, the director and executive producer, Richard Everts, sat down and taught himself to do it after an a professional wanted a couple of thousand dollars for just the first few seconds. I learned that from Richard's wife, Sugey Cruz-Everts, also an executive producer, who attended the screening in Arlington, Va.

But on to the film itself. The gimmick is some guy taking reluctant leave of his wife and son and running around the country for 40 days, dropping in on lots of families with autism and a few experts, interacting, popping questions, shaking hands, hugging, and heading on down the road. At one level, it's like a bunch of Love It or List It episodes on HGTV jammed together: Host and (unseen) camera crew arrive at the door, family greets them, they go inside and chitchat for a few seconds about their difficult circumstances (two kids in one bedroom, etc., if we're talking HGTV). Once over lightly, but from a darker place.

Managing Editor's Note:  Thank you to Laura for this beautiful video of her son. We are grateful for all of our readers, supporters, contributors this Thanksgiving.   And we'd like to thank you for  the generous support you have shown during our matching gift campaign. Use the donate button on the right or send an email to KimStagliano@gmail.com for a  mailing address.  (Reminder, there is a matching campaign underway through midnight on Thanksgiving.)  Enjoy a safe, happy holiday.

By Laura Hayes

Hi All,

By Cathy Jameson

This picture of my boys was taken a year ago.  Ronan, in the green sweatshirt, stopped moving long enough to sit down and look straight into the camera.  Sitting proudly next to Ronan is his younger brother, Little Buddy.  Little Buddy, who was also injured by his vaccines but has recovered, plays more of a big brother role than Ronan is capable.  

Little Buddy prays daily for Ronan hoping he too will be free of his vaccine injury.  He hopes that Ronan will be healed so that he can talk and so that they can play together.   With a heart bursting with pride, love and devotion, Little Buddy has enlisted his classmates to pray also.  Together, they offer special intentions for Ronan’s health and healing.  I need to take a lesson in Little Buddy’s devotion and perseverance because lately, I am having a hard time seeing too many positives in Ronan’s situation.

I certainly have some things to be thankful for today, but I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that I feel much more worry than thanks.  We’ve had to handle some uncomfortable issues lately:  wandering, an increase in seizures, stagnation of skills and negative behavioral concerns.  

I have been less than thankful for the many reminders of what’s making Ronan’s life more difficult.  Those difficulties, and the reality of Ronan’s vaccine injury and autism diagnosis, have me riding an emotional roller coaster.  Time heals all wounds, though, right?  

If I give it a few days…

If I shake the worry while looking for a bright side…

If I let some of the nagging go…  

If I hope for the best…

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 26, 2013, KatieCouric.com: The HPV Vaccine Controversy & Rosie Perez (Dec 4)

Nov 26, 2013, 4-traders.com: JPMorgan Chase Adds Autism Benefits to Employee Health Plan

Nov 25, 2013, NBC News: Whooping cough vaccine may not halt spread of illness

Dear Readers, we ask if you could take some time this holiday weekend to please assist ARI with this important survey. It might be more fun than spending an hour with Aunt Edna and Uncle Frank! And you can win an iPad for your time.  Thanks.

Help Research That Makes a Difference: Complete Updated ARI E-2 Survey to Identify Autism Subtypes by Nov. 30 

Who: Chief Investigator Steve M. Edelson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Autism Research Institute.

What: Comprehensive, consent-based online survey. The survey is lengthy and may take up to two hours to complete - you can start the survey and then save it, and return and complete it another time. The survey is online at: www.AutismResearchSurvey.com.  

Purpose: (1) To corroborate previous research on subtyping autism and (2) to determine, based on parent responses, possible underlying causes and the effectiveness of various interventions in relation to each subtype.

Compensation: Participants who complete the entire survey will receive a complimentary one-year subscription to ARI's science newsletter, the Autism Research Review International.  

Complete the survey this month for a chance to win

In addition, participants will be entered in a contest to win an Apple iPad. Must complete the form by 10 p.m., PST Nov. 30th. Note: one entry per individual with ASD. Drawing is Dec. 1, 2013.

Where: International - this study is open to participants worldwide.  

When: Starts November 1, 2013 - data collection is ongoing, but the iPad drawing will take place on December 1st, 2013. The winner of the drawing will not be announced publicly.

Take the survey here.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY this Thanksgiving to show your thanks and appreciation for how the "Age of Autism" blog has helped, educated, and encouraged you and countless others! 

Dear Fellow Age of Autism Readers,

Your $20 becomes $40! Your $50 becomes $100! Your $250 becomes $500!  

All you need to do is click on the "Donate" button in the top-right corner of AoA, which takes you directly to PayPal, and make your donation today!  If you prefer to send a check, send an email to KimStagliano@gmail.com for the mailing address.

Don't put it off until tomorrow.  Bite the bullet and do it now!  Let's shoot for the stars and raise more than $6,000, and keep AoA going strong!

A Thankful and Appreciative Age of Autism Reader

This story is almost too crazy to be true.  Sick kids with true psychiatric illness and who need a hospital bed can't find one, and this young woman has been admitted for 9 months?  If you Google the girl's name, Justina Pelletier, there are no first page hits in mainstream American media except for FOX CT. Nothing from Boston at all.

The parents of a 15-year-old girl who has a long history of medical problems have lost custody of her to a hospital.

Justina Pelletier was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, a genetic disorder that can cause loss of muscle coordination and weakness, several years ago.

The teenager from West Hartford, Connecticut, however was able to live a normal life until coming down with the flu in February.

Justina was admitted to Boston Children's Hospital to receive treatment from a specialist she has known since her diagnosis.

Upon admission however a team of new doctors allegedly swooped in on the teen and came up with a different conclusion about her condition.

They also cast doubt on whether she had ever had mitochondrial disease, suggesting she in fact suffering from Somafotorm disorder - a psychological condition that manifests itself in physical symptoms.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2510404/Justina-Pelletier-trapped-hospital-sends-hidden-notes-parents-origami.html#ixzz2loA5s7G3

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 25, 2013, New York City Pix11: Half of all kids with Autism engage in wandering behavior

Nov 24, 2013, Reuters: Sanofi sued in France over Gardasil vaccine

By Kim Stagliano

I ran this photo of my daughter's math homework on FB last week and the comment trail kind of blew up.   Note the photo of the smiling doctor holding a syringe. Not a stethoscope.  A syringe. Frankly, I'd have laughed at a speculum, instead of the gag I felt when I saw this and realize the bitter irony.  Thought I'd share with you, AofA readers who do not spend your days in the FB vortex.  Kim

STATUS: Mia's math. Nice image for an 18 year old counting preschool math thanks to her Vaccine/mercury induced autism. Whiskey in my coffee looks good. See the evolutionary gift of autism - what a crock of elephant shit.

That image sucks a$$.
9 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

 You said it sister
9 hours ago · Unlike · 1

A newly-launched “Lost in Public” video, produced by the Autism Research Group, demonstrates how to use rules, role playing, and praise to teach children what to do if they get lost.

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 21, 2013) – The Autism Research Group (ARG)  this week launched “Lost in Public,” a five-minute video that instructs children and guardians how to use rules, role playing, and praise to teach children what to do if they become lost in a public setting.

ARG is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using science to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). “We study ways to improve the lives of children with autism. One way is by teaching them safety skills, such as what to do when they get lost. We also study the art of teaching – what works, what doesn’t,” says ARG Associate Scientist Ryan Bergstrom, M.A., BCBA.  

”Lost in Public” was filmed on the streets of Los Angeles with Bergstrom as the interviewer and instructor. Bergstrom asks random people what they would teach children to do if they got lost and how they would teach it. The unscripted responses are humorous anecdotes. However, Bergstrom says the video and its lesson are, by no means, a laughing matter.

We often receive emails from companies offering products that might be of interest to the autism community. This hands-on gaming platform from Digital Dream Labs piqued our curiosity and so, we are sharing it with you.   Some of our kids might go to work for companies like Digital Dream Labs one day. As programmers -  or maybe for some of our kids, as the nice guy or gal or helps tidy up at night. Let us know what you think in the comments. And check out their KickStarter fundraising page too.

cloudBoard is a new gaming system that brings together the play patterns of real-world toys, like Lego and Lincoln Logs, and modern videogames, such as Angry Birds or Super Mario Bros. This connection of real and digital play is achieved by using toy puzzle blocks to play videogames.

We apologize, the blog software is having issues with commenting. Thank you for your patience.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 24, 2013, Sensitive Santas are back--Three stories 

Nov 22, 2013, UK Mirror: Miriam Stoppard on autism: Each new revelation is a step towards understanding autism

Nov 22, 2013, NBC 7 Panama City Beach, FL: Gulf Coast School of Autism Gets New Facility

Nov 19, 2013, MyCentralJersey.com: Mother fights for autistic son's education

Nov 19, 2013, Utah Desert News: My view: Access to insurance coverage for autism treatment makes sense

By Louis Conte

US Representative Darrell Issa, one of the most powerful men in the country, a man who can call cabinet secretaries in for hours of interrogation in front of the Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee has been forced to table a hearing on the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP). What kind of pressure might have caused Issa to make this choice? We don’t know for sure, but there is one obvious candidate.

Pharma.

Working through their not-for profit pro-vaccine advocacy allies, pharma exerted enormous influence and likely created the pressure (either direct or indirect) that forced Congressman Issa to pull the plug. Every Child By Two and Voices for Vaccines, two organizations with strong drug industry ties, slammed all the buttons and, as usual, threatened to lay any “vaccine preventable deaths” at Congressman Issa’s doorstep. Pharma used fear because they were afraid. What is it that drug industry supporters are so afraid of?

Autism.

What the NVICP really knows about autism is terrifying to people like Paul Offit, Dorit Reiss and Amy Pisani. These folks can spout the decisions of the Special Masters in the Omnibus Autism Proceedings (OAP) all they want. It won’t do anything to cover up the truth about what doctors like Geoffrey Evans and Vito Casserta in the Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation already knew years ago; sometimes vaccines tragically cause brain injury - an encephalopathy. A consequence of that injury, what the program calls a sequela, often includes the behavioral disorder known as autism.
The people in the NVICP know this to be true. A recent paper I co-authored, Unanswered Questions From the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: A Review of Compensated Cases of Vaccine-Induced Brain Injury (Holland, Conte, Krakow, Colin, ), documented this clearly. While not getting access to the vast majority of the 1,300+ cases compensated for brain damage, we still found 83 cases where the vaccine injury included autism. This would have been very difficult to explain – or deny – under oath.  

Since publication of Unanswered Questions, more compensated cases have emerged (US Court of Claims, Case Number: 06-227V) and more families have stepped forward with the same pattern of vaccine injury – encephalopathy featuring autism. It would have been really awkward for those in the program to explain why twenty-five years of these kinds of cases had nothing to do with the rulings in the Omnibus Autism Proceedings. Rolf Hazelhurst’s statement at a recent Congressional Briefing about the curious behavior of government officials involved in the OAP must really have raised anxiety in the Office of the Special Masters and the Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation.

The sad truth is that all of the petitioners who filed claims that ended up being dismissed under the Omnibus Autism Proceedings were victims of the same injustice that was visited upon the OAP test case families. There are 5,000 OAP cases that may be like Michele Cedillo and Yates Hazelhurst. And there are thousands and thousands more who never had a chance to file in the NVICP. People denied justice because of a label, such as “autism”, are the victims of discrimination. And discrimination, even in the name of protecting public health policy, is still discrimination.
This is why Darrell Issa needed to drag people from the NVICP in front of a room full of mystified US Representatives and disgusted families.

Managing Editor's Note:  Below is a sobering reminder that vaccination is a medical intervention, and not a mass market, dime store purchase. Our heartfelt condolences to Chandler's family. We hope they get answers from authorities and that Chandler's death is not in vain.

By Anne Dachel

A recent tragedy in Utah should make the public ask what health officials actually know about vaccine reactions.  It also raises the question of just how far are they willing to go to protect the vaccine program.  A number of news outlets in Utah reported that a healthy 19 year old young man went to his doctor for a physical on October 15.  He received a flu vaccine and a test for TB and by the next day he was seriously ill with vomiting and a severe headache.  Twenty-four hours later he was in a coma and 28 days later, after life support was removed, he died.
 
In a story in the Salt Lake Tribune on November 24,  the subheading read: "Doctors can't explain the brain swelling that led to his death; mom says autopsy isn't needed."  
 
"Chandler Webb's direct cause of death was swelling of the brain, his mother said."
 
"Though scientists nationwide staunchly support vaccines and their important role in public health, they have become a topic of some controversy in recent years. Lori Webb said she was aware of such concerns before her son became ill, though she chose to get a flu vaccine two years ago.

"One of her son's doctors said a reaction like her son's was possible after a flu vaccination, and he attempted unsuccessfully to treat it, she said."

At the same time the Utah Desert News published their story about Chandler Webb's death, Utah woman claims flu shot caused teenage son's death,  in which health officials denied that a vaccine can cause encephalopathy.

"Utah Department of Health officials did not go into specifics about the case, though a spokesman said the department was aware of the case.

By Cathy Jameson

My husband and I rearranged Ronan’s school, therapy and medical appointments as well as our own personal schedules in order for me to be available to go to the upcoming Congressional Hearing.  This Hearing was to address the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program  (VICP), its history as well as the waste, fraud and abuse stemming from that program.  Having taken part in the VICP on behalf of my son, it was important for me to make plans to be at that Hearing.

Since that announcement of the cancellation, in national news about vaccines I read that a healthy young man, who was battling for his life after getting the flu shot, died  this week.  I also read that the US is scampering to get a hold of an unapproved vaccine to students at an Ivy League college.  Personally, since the Hearing was cancelled, I learned that a friend’s mom landed in the hospital after getting a flu shot and that another friend’s son reacted negatively to a 3-in-1 vaccine. 

While the personal stories may not be earthshattering news for many, all of those stories frighten me.  They frighten me because another life has been senselessly lost, another life is in jeopardy and another person’s health has been changed forever.  Where are they to go when they link their ill health, that vaccine injury, or worse, death?  They’ll discover the VICP and how it proposes to help.  They’ll think they have answers, assistance and maybe some hope.  Too bad that the VICP is so broken. 

I know I am not the only one feeling worry, sadness or disappointment.  Many of us in the community were depending on some good news to finally come.  So, while we wait to get word about when the VICP Hearing will be rescheduled, because you know that people in our community are actively working to make that happen, I’d ask you to do a few things.  No need to sit and wallow in this disappointment, right?  It’s time for some action.

First, I want to ask you to review the video of the November 29, 2012 Hearing.   I think it’s important to do this because those people we heard last year are some of the same ones we’ll expect answers from when the VICP is rescheduled. 

You’ll recall that the Hearing last year saw a great many discussions about autism, including the role that childhood vaccines played in that diagnosis.  You’ll also remember that we saw Chairman Issa, who is also slated to oversee the VICP Hearing, lead a long-overdue discussion about what else needs to be done about autism.  Listen to everything that was revealed.  Think about how you felt when those Representatives’ words tumbled out of their mouths.  Keep those words in mind as you get ready for the next step. 

By Dan Olmsted

We are nearly at the halfway point in our $3,000 matching fund drive to support Age of Autism's mission to, well, end the age of autism. A kind anonymous donor has offered to match any donations up to that cumulative total, ending Thanksgiving night. That means anything you give by then will be worth exactly twice as much, unless you give a million dollars, in which case it will be worth about $1,001,500. We will worry about it when it happens.

A more reasonable approach was suggested by our regular commenter Twyla: "If: 2 dozen readers give $25, and 2 dozen readers give $50, and 1 dozen readers give $100, the goal will be met! C'mon people, give what you can!"

"Anonymous Donor" chimed in: "Twyla is correct! Please, give as generously as you can to keep AoA going strong, especially in today's extremely hostile climate towards those with 'autism' and vaccine injuries of all sorts. If you appreciate a truthful, timely, and intelligent news source, then please help keep Age of Autism alive and running!"

Thanks Twyla and A.D., thanks to our entire AOA community, and happy Thanksgiving week.


--

A few years ago I was at a small dinner hosted by a lovely retired psychoanalyst. She had invited an interesting mix of folks. But like a potluck, you never quite know what you'll get. One woman was a real annoyance. She kept introducing strange topics and expounding on them at clueless length.

No one said anything, but when the hostess and I were at the sink doing dishes, she used the cover provided by running water, and another language, to lean over and whisper conspiratorially, "Ces idees sont fou!" My French ended in freshman year, but it was enough to get her meaning -- These ideas are crazy! We smiled. Enough said.

There are a number of crazy ideas rolling around the autism world right now, and like hydroponic lettuce that doesn't require dirt to grow, they are not grounded in anything. One instance that makes the point involves a video we posted of Rolf Hazlehurst at the recent congressional briefing. After a few days, some glitch In the video caused our home page to take readers to that post rather than the top of the home page.

As we told readers, we had to take the post down and find a different video link, which we did. It is now back up.

But oh the ideas that get into some people's heads! Supposedly we "deleted" the video for some obscure reason having to do with the Canary Party, which sponsored the briefing and is also a sponsor (I confess! Shoot me now) of AOA. I tried explaining what really happened to one web conspiracist, saying I "just want to make sure you hear that personally from me."

No luck: "Given the circumstances, I cannot take your word for why the video was taken down." (What circumstances?) That's what made me think of the dinner party and my host's quiet comment: Ces idees sont fou.

Enough said.
--

Dan Olmsted is Editor of Age of Autism.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 22, 2013, DisabilityScoop.com: Concerns Raised About Overlapping Autism Research

Nov 21, 2013, New Haven Register: Yale researchers find genetic links to autism

Nov 21, 2013, St. Louis Today: Giant Steps offers specialized school for children with autism

Nov 21, 2013, Albany (GA) Herald: Autism spectrum disorders subject of Albany workshop

Nov 21, 2013, Fox News: People with autism more likely to hear colors, see sounds

Michelle Cedillo was our Child of the Year in 2007. Precious little has changed since that time for her or those who have followed in her footsteps. Read more HERE. Below is a letter to Chairman Issa from her Mother.

By Theresa Cedillo

It was with great disappointment that I learned of congressional hearings looking into the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program being delayed by Chairman Issa.  I am even more disappointed to say that this news does not come as a surprise.
 
The “others” are reluctant? That’s one of the reasons to delay? Why not subpoena them to appear? This hearing and a congressional investigation into the program, the Omnibus Autism Proceedings and the Department of Justice are long overdue.
 
As a parent of a severely vaccine injured child, who was the first test case in history in the Omnibus Autism Proceedings in 2007, I speak from personal experience.  Justice was not served in Michelle’s hearing in 2007.  She was used as a pawn in the ugly game of pretend that was orchestrated by the other side to shut down any further claims of vaccine injury and autism, belittle any experts who were willing to come forward on behalf of vaccine injured children and to further attack Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his research. It was a public show used to give an illusion of her “day in court”.  She was used to deny.
 

Michelle is living proof of Dr. Wakefield’s theory of MMR/autism/chronic illness via vaccine injury.  Michelle regressed profoundly following administration of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination. She has tested positive for the vaccine strain measles virus RNA in her intestinal biopsies.  She has been diagnosed by pediatric specialists at top medical facilities on the West Coast with severe autism, severe static encephalopathy, a life threatening intractable seizure disorder, Crohn’s disease, stage III liver disease, arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gastro esophageal reflux disease, an oral aversion, osteopenia, bi-lateral foot deformities from arthritis, a 2 inch leg length discrepancy,  and she is legally blind. She has tested positive for mitochondrial dysfunction. She has a feeding tube. She does not talk. Michelle requires 24 hour care and assistance with all daily living skills. Her life has been ruined and irreversibly changed by her vaccinations.



 
The same court that made a mockery of claims of autism following vaccination and denied the thousands of autism claims in the Omnibus, has awarded others outside of the Omnibus who have brain injury resulting in autism. The 1322 Project found 83 confirmed awards where the injured also has autism. Just recently, a child was awarded for brain injury (resulting in autism) following the MMR. Why should Michelle and the other claimants be punished for using the “A” word?  Does this come down to semantics?
 


Discussions of filing complaints for fraud with the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility have taken place amongst the lawyers and petitioners directly involved in the process.

We are disappointed to announce the postponement of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) hearing scheduled for December 4, 2013.  EBCALA, along with several other like-minded advocacy organizations, worked diligently with Chairman Darrell Issa’s Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee staff for nearly a year to make this critical hearing occur.

Chairman Issa remains committed to holding the VICP hearing and has asked for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a thorough investigation and issue a report on the VICP. The GAO has not investigated the VICP since 1999.  He has also asked the Department of Health and Human Services to update its strategic plan for the VICP.

Chairman Issa stated at the Autism One Conference last May that it is critical to “crowd support” this issue.  EBCALA encourages you to take a few moments to express your support for the future VICP hearing. Please call OGR and your member of Congress to respectfully request that the VICP be thoroughly investigated and reschedule the VICP hearing as soon as possible.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Phone: (202) 225- 5074

Find Your Representative

EBCALA’s letter to OGR:

Dear Representative Issa:

I am writing to you with a heavy heart, having just learned that the hearing on the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) has been postponed indefinitely from its tentative date of December 4, 2013. Staff members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) let us know yesterday that you viewed the VICP subject matter as “overly divisive” and premature for hearings. We learned that you favored delay until a Government Accounting Office report and a Health and Human Services strategic plan could be updated.

Please help fight for freedom of health information in Australia by signing  THIS PETITION.

By John Stone

On Wednesday morning I signed an Avaaz petition Do not give the NSW HCCC powers of censorship over public and individuals opposing moves to silence criticism of the New South Wales health department. New South Wales is the most populace state of Australia. Within minutes my moderate and reasoned political statement which I had reposted to Facebook was being blocked, deemed “offensive or unsuitable”. It read:

“It is simply the end of liberal democracy when government bureaucrats decide what the truth is and enforce a policy based on it. If people think their health is (a) marginal issue - that there are other matters of more political substance - they are in error. You will find there are not only bigger and bigger areas on which you cannot decide for yourself there are bigger and bigger areas in which the state is no longer accountable and can do anything it wants.”

Meryl Dorey of the Australian Vaccination Network tells me that her Facebook posts are often disrupted in this way or with the enigmatic message "It looks like you were misusing this feature by going to fast. You've been blocked from using it."

It is quite obvious that if anyone was spreading false information about health matters in New South Wales there would already be legal sanction: the problem is saying things the government does not like.

The petition itself reads:

Why this is important

“The NSW Parliament has formed a committee to investigate giving the Health Care Complaints Commission wide sweeping powers that could effectively allow the HCCC to censor public and individuals, and to shut down debate with that questions medical common consensus.

“Science is never absolute. Debate in a free society allows for the common scientific consensus and dogma to be questioned. If the science is robust then it will stand up to any scrutiny, science does not need censorship to protect it from being questioned. The public of NSW do not need the HCCC to adjudicate over what science or other information is permissible to discus and promulgate.”

Please support freedom of speech and our friends in Australia  by signing the petition today and circulating.

John Stone is UK Editor for Age of Autism.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 20, 2013, KCTV Kansas City, MO: The dangerous attraction of water to children with autism
Nov 20, 2013, Newsday: Letter: Autism is too little understood

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Committee members
2157 Rayburn House Office Building,
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5074 Fax: (202) 225-3974

By Cathy Jameson

Upon reading the Canary Party’s announcement that the Congressional Hearing, which was scheduled to discuss the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, was cancelled with no postponed date announced, I penned Mr. Issa, Chairman of The Oversight and Government Reform Committee, this note.
--

Dear Mr. Issa,

This is Ronan.  This is Ronan post seizure.  His seizure were brought on by vaccine injury.  Today, his seizures are gaining in duration, frequency and intensity.  I fear what they will do to his health and possibly his life.  
 
Ronan is my ten-year old son.  He was injured by his childhood vaccines.  Thankfully we learned the devastating effects of vaccines when we did, but it wasn't before serious harm was done.  Ronan lost his voice, lost skills he was building and was left with seizures, severe developmental delays and other secondary illnesses that physically drain and affect his energy.  

When we discovered that the vaccines were responsible for the damage done, we enrolled in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.  We had high hopes that the program would recognize what was so apparent--that they did something to my beautiful, healthy baby boy.  


We fought for eight years, EIGHT YEARS.  We jumped through every bureaucratic hoop.  We provided documentation after documentations.  Medical records, expert testimony and more.  We believed in the system, but when a system was created by the government for the government's gain, of course people like my son can never get what was supposedly promised them.  After devoting years to this cause, Ronan's case was dismissed in July 2013.  Disappointed doesn't even begin to describe how we felt when we learned his case could go no further.

Fast forward to now.  In two weeks I was planning on being at the Congressional Hearing that would discuss the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.  I already know about the major flaws that program has but remained hopeful that your committee was going to finally call them out on the flaws, the waste, the fraud and the abuse.  How incredibly disappointing it was to receive news that the Hearing was cancelled with no new date announced.  

Don't you think enough time has gone by?  

Don't you realize the dangers lurking if the VICP is not remedied?  

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY this Thanksgiving to show your thanks and appreciation for how the "Age of Autism" blog has helped, educated, and encouraged you and countless others! 

Dear Fellow Age of Autism Readers,

Your $20 becomes $40! Your $50 becomes $100! Your $250 becomes $500!  

All you need to do is click on the "Donate" button in the top-right corner of AoA, which takes you directly to PayPal, and make your donation today!  If you prefer to send a check, send an email to KimStagliano@gmail.com for the mailing address.

Don't put it off until tomorrow.  Bite the bullet and do it now!  Let's shoot for the stars and raise more than $6,000, and keep AoA going strong!

A Thankful and Appreciative Age of Autism Reader

From SafeMinds.

Unfortunately for those waiting for justice, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has been postponed (likely until next year) due to the Chairman’s desire to obtain more official information and background from CDC and HHS prior to the hearings.

This delay in the hearing timing gives everyone a few more days to send SafeMinds your stories.  Make sure you tell Congress your experiences with the VICP, even if you never filed a case.  In addition to those who filed vaccine injury cases, SafeMinds is interested in knowing what prevented or deterred people from filing cases.  We know from conversations with parents of autistic children, that many of you have not filed but have vaccine injured children.  Be sure to include things like a lack of information on what to do from your doctor, lawyer or health department; discouragement from anyone – including medical staff; or concerns including failure to provide timely information or to document or corroborate your child’s problems from physician’s offices, staff or insurance companies.

BUT FIRST — Please let your member of Congress know you still want to see these hearings happen as soon as possible. Phone: 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to them.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 20, 2013, NorthJersey.com: Ramsey complex for adults with autism wins praise from state

Nov 19, 2013, AM 590 Kalamazoo MI: Kalamazoo College professor writes book on raising child with autism

Nov 19, 2013, BBC News: 'Unacceptable' autism diagnosis delays in North Yorkshire

Nov 18, 2013, Fox 29 Lake Charles, LA: House teaches autistic adults independence

Yesterday The Canary Party and her partners who have worked for a year on getting hearings on vaccine injury in Congress were informed that the hearing on the VICP that was set for December 4th has been postponed until next year.  We had a call this morning with the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government to get more clarity on their decision, and were informed that while the community of vaccine injured families is eager to testify, they were finding "reluctance" from others to participate in the hearings. 

Our response?  Of course they don't want to participate in these hearings!  Those both inside and outside of government who are involved in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and the monumental injustice that is being inflicted on untold thousands of vaccine injured children do not want to have to show up and explain what they have done under oath!

One thing is clear... Vaccine interests have been fighting this hearing in a way we have never seen before. 

Boiling down the message we received from OGR... they still want to work with us on things, and they might reschedule the hearings for next year.  Do they mean it or is it just a stall tactic?  We don't know.

We STRONGLY encourage you to take time today and call the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and let them know how disappointed you are with their decision to pull the plug on hearings for our injured children a mere two weeks before the event.  Feel free to share with them your story.

Phone: (202) 225-5074

And call your Congressional representatives and tell them you want hearings on vaccine injury.

Chairman Darrell Issa
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
2157 Rayburn Building
Washington DC

Dear Chairman Issa,

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss recent developments with your staffers. On behalf of the many dedicated advocates who have been working so hard on the VICP hearing, we must express our great disappointment over your decision to defer hearings into the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP).

When you first raised the prospect of hearings with some of us last April, you raised the hopes of thousands of families who have experienced vaccine injury, many of whom have encountered mistreatment, abuse and outright fraud at the hands of the NVICP. As we discussed privately on numerous occasions, comprehensive hearings into the many faces of malfeasance within the VICP offer a unique opportunity to shine a light on how wildly the reality of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 has veered from the original intent of Congress. We believe the path forward you have chosen--delaying the hearing into 2014 in order to receive an update of the 1999 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the VICP as well as an update of the 2006 NVICP strategic plan from HHS—is well-intentioned. But for the community of vaccine injured families, it represents a retreat into more of the same and only delays a true investigation of the failures of the NVICP. These involve the neglect, abuse and suffering of thousands of American families, including painful injury, lifelong disability, economic devastation and death. Congress’1986 Act and its VICP are what enable these tragedies to continue every day. “Strategic plan updates” prepared by HHS officials will only give the NVICP the opportunity to stonewall, while the kind of GAO report that would really hold the NVICP accountable would take more than a year not just a few months. As we said to your staffers, we’re interested in providing input to the scope of a GAO project, but we’re pessimistic at what it can accomplish in the time available.

Note: Below is testimony from last week's IACC meeting in Washington, DC. It takes tremendous effort for autism Moms and Dads to travel to make our children's plight known and voices heard.  Bookmark Michelle's blog, This is Autism. Thank you, Michelle.

By Michelle Guppy

My son Brandon is 19 years old.  He was born perfectly healthy and is now severely affected by regressive autism from vaccine injury.  He cannot read, write, or speak.  He needs assistance with the most basic of life skills.  He must have constant supervision because he has no sense of danger and will wander off given the slightest of opportunities.  He has bowel disease, auto-immune disorder, allergies, & the list goes on.  He suffers from uncontrolled seizures that cause him great harm. I am unable to work outside the home because it takes all my time to research how to help him, advocate for him, and care for him.  At times he endures such pain.  The frustration of not being able to communicate what hurts, - causing him to bite his own hands to the point of bleeding.  

My autism advocacy journey began right here in Washington 13 years ago.  In all those years I have not seen any real strategy or actions to address the crisis that is the epidemic of autism.  I have only seen the number of those affected increase.  Any help I have received has been from other parents, or from doctors who themselves have a child with autism, or if not, who have actually listened to parents and dedicated their lives to truly helping them.  I live 30 minutes from a major medical center, yet they have given me little to no usable help.  When I meet with those doctors, it is I who educate them.  It was years before I found medical help 2 hours away for my son to be scoped in evaluation of and treatment for his GI Issues.  I believe my son would be dead had I not found a doctor 16 hours away who I now consult with for treatment of issues traditional doctors would never acknowledge.

There is something wrong with a system where  insurance covers doctors who do not help, but not a dime for the few who actually do help.

There is something wrong with a prescription program that covers Pharma's drugs that do not help, but not those vitamins, supplements, and herbs prescribed by my doctor that very much have helped heal my son.   

There is something wrong with funding studies that  produce the same conclusions yet take no action to address them. I can summarize them all with this:  My "Life with Autism" is harder than anyone could ever fathom.  My marriage does suffer. My typical son does get ignored. I am stressed beyond oblivion.  I am bone tired and I am desperate for respite.  My son needs recreational programs appropriate for him.  I want him to live in our home, be a part of his community.  He needs services and supports that I cannot afford, - given everything else like a lifetime of care for him that I must somehow provide for.  

There is something very wrong with funding study after useless study about what might cause autism; except for the one study that CAN prove a major cause of autism.

We need medical centers that partner with researchers and holistic practitioners -- for a whole body approach to treating autism.  "Autism is Medical" did a survey where  89% replied that they sought healthcare through alternative practitioners or managed their own child's health problems, because they could NOT get adequate healthcare for their child in mainstream medicine.  85% replied that mainstream physicians are NOT familiar with the health problems their child has.  71% feel their child's medical needs are IGNORED and are told that their autism is psychological and therefore their symptoms do NOT need to be investigated.  87% feel their child has less access to appropriate healthcare across all settings than a child without an autism diagnosis.

Action must begin with those sobering percentages.

To even begin to address the needs of the adult population is something that should have been started a decade ago.  There's an entire generation like my son who will "age out" and have nowhere to go that their parents can afford -- for them to continue to learn, work, or further develop life skills.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 18, 2013, CaliforniaHealthLine.com: Innovation, Policy Outlook for Autism

Nov 18, 2013, U.S. News Bedroom TV, Video Games Linked to Less Sleep in Boys With Autism

Nov 16, 2013, Sydney Morning Sun: Kennedy family tree scarred by tragedy, scandal

By Julie Obradovic
 
There’s a theme playing out in our society, and it’s not a good one: white suburban moms are the enemy.
 
It started a few months ago with a tweet from Dr. Nancy Snyderman. She was addressing the fact that studies have shown the parent most likely to refuse or question vaccinations for her children is a highly-educated white mom.
 
She wanted everyone to know that we are a well-meaning bunch, but that we are wrong.
 
It was ridiculously condescending and reeked of racism. Are we seriously to believe mothers of color don’t have questions about vaccines either?
 
But for the most part the tweet and what it implied…that we stereotypical silly little college-educated white moms are seriously misguided and endangering our children and society…went unnoticed outside of the vaccine-safety movement.
 
But it has happened again, and this time, not in the form of a tweet most people will never see or pay attention to. This time, it came from the federal government; specifically from the mouth of Department of Education head, Arne Duncan.
 
While addressing criticism of the Common Core, he speculated what was behind it:

 “It’s fascinating to me that some of the pushback is coming from, sort of, white suburban moms who — all of a sudden — their child isn’t as brilliant as they thought they were and their school isn’t quite as good as they thought they were, and that’s pretty scary,” Duncan said.
 
Now I’ve been an outspoken advocate in perhaps one of the nastiest controversies out there for almost ten years. I’ve heard and read an awful lot of insults during that time, Dr. Nancy’s not withstanding. Anything from being a “flat-earther” to being so stupid it’s no wonder my special-needs child has problems.
 
I try not to pay attention to those things anymore, but every once in a while something catches me off guard. Mr. Duncan’s comments did just that.
 
It wasn’t just that as a teacher with 17 years experience and two master’s degrees in education that I know first hand what the real concerns are from both sides of the desk, and that it has absolutely nothing to do with worrying about the perceived brilliance of a child or value of a school. It was that his comment is so far off from reality that it’s not just insulting, it’s frightening: he’s apparently completely disconnected from what teachers and parents are actually worried about.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 18, 2013, (Australia) Special Broadcasting Service Corporation: Should there be prenatal screening for autism?
 
Nov 17, 2013, RenewAmerica.com: Why VAERS is a passive reporting system that the FDA loves to quote
 
Nov 17, 2013, Miami Herald: South Florida social entrepreneurs aim to solve society's big challenges
 
Nov 16, 2013, Shreveport (LA) Times: Autism 24/7: Siblings learn to cope, appreciate
 
Nov 16, 2013, Louisville (KT) Courier-Journal: Festival brings autistic, non-autistic children
 
Nov 16, 2013, Orange County Register: Thousands walk to highlight autism

Nov 16, 2013, The Arc: An Open Letter to Suzanne Wright, Co-Founder, Autism Speaks
 
Nov 16, 2013, Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate: Autism treatment still a mystery, psychiatrist tells EBR educators
 
Nov 15, 2013, Fox News: Vaccination advice from almost-Dr. Gutfeld
 
Nov 15, 2013, PRWeb.com: Autism Speaks and Washington Listens
 
Nov 15, 2013, LA Jewish Journal: What's wrong with Wright?  

Nov 15, 2013, Fox News: Young man with autism still seeking higher education after appeal to Obama
 
Nov 11, 2013, Patch.com: Disney World, "Autism-Style"

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY this Thanksgiving to show your thanks and appreciation for how the "Age of Autism" blog has helped, educated, and encouraged you and countless others! 

Dear Fellow Age of Autism Readers,

Your $20 becomes $40! Your $50 becomes $100! Your $250 becomes $500!  

All you need to do is click on the "Donate" button in the top-right corner of AoA, which takes you directly to PayPal, and make your donation today!  If you prefer to send a check, send an email to KimStagliano@gmail.com for the mailing address.

Don't put it off until tomorrow.  Bite the bullet and do it now!  Let's shoot for the stars and raise more than $6,000, and keep AoA going strong!

A Thankful and Appreciative Age of Autism Reader

Managing Editor's Note: In other Autism Speaks news, John Robison, Aspergian author and advocate resigned his position on the science board at Autism Speaks last week with THIS explanation.  I've known John since before Look Me In The Eye was published and I consider him a friend. And while John and I differ on neurodiversity, I can agree that every American deserves acceptance and kindness and a full life.  And I am encouraged by these words from him, "I also support the idea of developing therapies, treatments, and tools to relieve suffering and disability from both autism and the conditions that accompany it for some people.  I know how hard life is for some on the spectrum, but I also see the gifts other autistics bring. " I do not see my girls' autism as bestowing gifts upon them - autism hobbles them 24/7. I do love them 100% and if they never make one iota of progress I will always love and care for them. Society, however, will not - unless we work toward treatment, therapies and a huge amount of social services. I do not have autism or Asperger's, so I don't think like someone who does. I think like an NT Mom. It's a distinction we sometimes ignore as we point fingers and choose sides. I'm moving past that - I have too much work to do for my kids. I have found AS to be as effective as a fish on a bicycle, disingenuous and and counterproductive to everything that darling boy in the photo (who is much older today) needs. My $.02.  Thank you, Anne for this open letter.

By Anne Dachel

On Nov 11, 2013, Autism Speaks put out an announcement---their "Call for Action."

Suzanne Wright wrote there was to be a "first-ever national policy and action summit" starting Nov 12 in Washington.  She sounded an alarm about the lack of response and the need for action regarding the autism crisis in the U.S.  
 
I carefully read what she said and I have a lot of questions about what this summit proposes to do.  I decided to write. . .
 
MY OPEN LETTER TO SUZANNE WRIGHT:

Dear Suzanne,
 
I don't really see what you mean by a national plan and I can't imagine America waking up to the autism crisis.
 
Just what would a "national plan" entail?  So far, when it comes to autism, no one anywhere is doing anything.  Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the people who get billions of dollars to run health care in the U.S., have barely noticed autism.  
 
You refer to autism as "a monumental health crisis."  No one at the CDC has ever called autism a "crisis."  "Serious health care concern" is the strongest language they've used.  In fact, regardless of the soaring rate increases that no one can reasonably explain, they regularly announce that they don't know how much, if any, of the increase is real or how much is still more of the better diagnosing that's been going on for years.  Maybe some of your efforts should be spent educating the experts at the CDC.

"If three million children in America one day went missing - what would we as a country do?"
"If three million children in America one morning fell gravely ill - what would we as a country do?"
Seriously, we'd be moving mountains to STOP IT.  We'd find out who took our children.  We'd find out what was making our kids so sick.

We never do that when it comes to autism.  Doctors can't explain it and we pour millions of dollars down a narrow, dark hole looking for a solely genetic cause or some strange association.  We ignore the hundreds of thousands of parents who gave birth to perfectly healthy babies and then watched as they suddenly and dramatically got sick and regressed into autism following routine vaccinations.

Where was Autism Speaks in 2008 when the late Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of the National Institutes of Health, was on CBS News?  She said we need to look at the children who got sick, the ones who were thriving and happy but who suddenly and inexplicably regressed into autism. Five years later, that still hasn't been done. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4088138n
"So let's dial back a minute and consider the babies being diagnosed with autism every day in this great country."

So why are children being diagnosed like this on a daily basis?  When I was young, I never knew a single child who displayed the symptoms of autism.  Not one.  I never knew kids who couldn't talk or who wandered away or who rocked and banged on things continually.  I sure know lots of them today.

With all the money Autism Speaks raises, why hasn't AS funded that one study that could really shed some light on what's causing autism?

By Cathy Jameson

For years we’ve been bombarded with multimillion dollar advertisements promoting the HPV vaccine known as Gardasil.  Commercial after commercial, whole page magazine ads and posters at subway stations sent more fear than facts to the public about the human papilloma virus (HPV) and its role in cervical cancer.  

Even though I do not care for this particular vaccine, I make an effort to stay updated whenever news comes out about it.  I do this because my oldest falls into the age category for which the vaccine is recommended.  The vaccine, originally designed and heavily pushed on the teenage population, can be administered as early as 9-years old.  After a rather hasty vaccine “safety” study period, the 3-series Gardasil vaccine became available in 2006.  Cervarix, also marketed as a cervical cancer prevention vaccine, debuted in 2009 is an alternate to Gardasil.  

Like every vaccine that came before these two, reactions post-vaccination were documented and reported in the VAERS database (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System).  Currently, almost 32,000 adverse reactions have been reported as well as 144 deaths.  Despite growing concerns about Gardasil and Cerivax, and about the increasingly serious and fatal reactions young girls have had from them, it was suggested in 2011 that boys as young as 11-years old also receive the 3-shot series.  

During the campaign to sell, sell, sell this product, we were told that the HPV vaccine would be an answer—an answer to help prevent cervical cancer.  We were told those who got the vaccine would be One Less:  One Less to chance it.  One Less to catch the disease.  One Less cancer victim.  We were also told that 3 doses were recommended for the series to be effective.  Reports are now saying 3 vaccines may be two too many though.

Good news for less jabs, right?  

What, then, should we tell the girls, and now possibly the boys, who got sick from their 2nd dose of the vaccine?  Who tells them, “Oops, sorry.”

By Dan Olmsted

Age of Autism started as a blog six years ago this week, and our signal accomplishment, to quote Sondheim, is that we're still here. A number of other publication have come and gone, changed venues and editors and formats and focus. We at Age of Autism remain committed, somewhat paradoxically, to ending the age of autism. But until that day comes, you can count on Kim and Mark and me and our valued Contributing Editors and sponsors to keep up our daily pirate radio broadcasts, so to speak, to our fellow members of the rebel alliance. You know who you are, and you know why we're here.

I've often said that "the glory" of Age of Autism is the community that has grown up around it, a community visible every day in the comment section that accompanies each story. Recently your voices seem louder and stronger than ever, reflected not only in the daily "hits" on our site, but in the hard-hitting, thoughtful and revealing comments.

Of course, strong comments follow strong content, and a number of posts recently have stirred fascinating response threads. The Canary Party's Not a Coincidence video on Gardasil Vaccine injury, Rolf Hazlehurst's eloquent explanation of the vaccine court catastrophe, Cat Jamison on bullying parents over vaccine concerns, Julie Obradovic on Jon Stewart's casual cruelty, Laura Hayes on questions to ask vaccine injury deniers have tapped into a deep vein.

That's kind of a theme lately. I must say that the festering nastiness (many of you will recognize that phrase) of the so-called skeptics -- those who believe their superior access to the Great God Science entitles them to hurl Old-Testament style damnation upon heretics who witnessed their child's vaccine injury and want to alert fellow parents -- is a continuing astonishment, even six years on.

Newcomers, like the coldly vile Doris Reiss and execrable Emily Willingham, pop up to replace flameouts like former cupcake writer, now formally employed pharma shill Trine Tsouderos. Reliable goofs like David "I'm an assistant professor, don't cross me" Gorski soldier on. Dave has been complaining lately that AOA, which he calls "the anti-vaccine crank blog," has been ignoring his puerile logorrhea, so let me throw him a namecheck: I've been working on a piece that will blend post-modern deconstructionist literary criticism with neo-Freudian analysis, with the working title: "Scatology as Signifier: Fecal Imagery as Impacted Self-Loathing in the Work of David Gorski."

I'm loathe to highlight individual comments by our readers, but for our anniversary I'll make an exception and end with this observation from Cia Parker about Little Dorit on Emily Willingham's blog about the execrable, coldly vile Vaccine Injury Compenstion Àct:

"So this law is saying that it's all right to damage children with vaccines, that causing a high percentage of vaxed children to get asthma, allergies, ADHD, seizure disorders, bowel disease, and/or autism, is all right as long as very few get measles or chickenpox. That parents are ignorant if we refuse the vaccines, that we're deluded if we see our children react to vaccines with severe damage and report what we saw, like hundreds of thousands of others are doing. ...

On Thursday, November 14th, I was a lucky member of an intimate audience, marveling, crying and cheering during the world premiere of Joint Attention the first play  ever to tackle the issue of vaccines causing autism.  Not an easy topic in real life, I wondered how it would ever do as a play, while I skeptically drove from suburban Chicago to Sheridan Road on the cold, lake front. 

My best friend since age 7, Sue, a witness to the devastating health effects my daughter Megan has endured since vaccinations and regressive autism, accompanied me.  We both thought there was no way any play could capture how “a young couple struggles with their son’s autism diagnosis.”  It turns out, we were so wrong.  

Pat Curtis, the author of this play, “Joint Attention,” did an exquisite job showing us the effects of

Pat Curtis and Teresa Conrick

an autism diagnosis while the actors, music and directing were brilliant, bringing it to life.  But Pat did more than simply show what it looks like on the outside.  She took us into the home of Claire and David, whose precious son had begun to regress.  He had stopped having joint attention, lost eye contact, begun to scream, had diarrhea, was barely eating, developed rashes and - stopped talking -  the regression that is increasingly part of an autism diagnosis.  We are to hear from David that it was after vaccines, “many” in one day at fifteen months that his son changed and became ill.

 Thimerosal, the vaccine mercury, a known neurotoxin and immune system monster, was a prime culprit. It was then that I realized I had forgotten to bring tissues. This familiar and horrific event happened to my own daughter eighteen years ago and it keeps happening still.  Life and fiction, both strange yet real.

Pat then takes us into the hope and fear.  David has hope.  He reads on the internet about biomedical treatments and even finds a doctor who medically treats children with an autism diagnosis.  He and Claire start the usual early interventions like, Speech and OT but it is the ABA and biomed, the diet, the vitamins and supplements, the probiotics, the hyperbaric oxygen, the detoxing and glutathione that brings back the eye contact, and begins to heal their child.  Claire though, is fearful and her fear erupts into doubt, doubt about biomedical treatments and an allegiance to her pediatrician who denies the vaccine connection and subsequent success with biomed treatments.  For those of us in the trenches of ill children diagnosed with DSM autism, this is our lives.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 14, 2013, Fox 13, Salt Lake City: Center aims to aid those with autism spectrum disorder
 
Nov 14, 2013, CBS 19 WA: Autism cases continue to skyrocket

Nov 14, 2013, Wall St. Journal: After Avonte, Schools to Change Training, Consider Panic Buttons

NOTE: Below is Lisa Goes' testimony to at the 2013 IACC Strategic Plan Update Workshop today.  Thank you, Lisa.

Good Morning.  My name is Lisa Joyce Goes.   I am co-author of The Thinking Moms’ Revolution book,  co-founder of The Thinking Moms’ Revolution, social thought movement,  a contributing editor to Age of Autism, and a human rights panelist for The Academy of Excellence in Learning in the south suburbs of Chicago.  Most importantly, I am a wife and mom to three kids, one of whom suffers the tragic effects of iatrogenic autism.  

My friend Megan is here today, like many of my colleagues, to deliver testimony about my son, NOAH Patrick Goes.  But unlike them, she will be sharing his life from the perspective of my father-in-law. Unorthodox I know but, his observations need to be documented for the public record, so that all American citizens may be privy to the reality of iatrogenic autism and how it directly impacts our society and culture.  

As a deacon in our community, my father-in-law was tasked with the job of writing a homily about what it means to be a true disciple; a man of honor and integrity, who puts the welfare of others before himself and truly serves his fellow man in the present.  

After thoughtful reflection, he decided to speak about our dear family friend, the good Dr. Andrew Wakefield.  Dr. Andy has been instrumental in helping us find proper medical care for our son Noah, who, upon receiving the correct diagnosis of autistic enteritis and esophagitis and receiving appropriate gastrointestinal care for his illness, was finally potty trained in a matter of weeks. This normal milestone for most families experienced during the toddler years came with much celebration in ours.   Not just because we were a household that no longer had to pay the monthly cost of diapers, but, also because after 6 long years of searching for answers to the painful yellow grainy, hot liquid that would pour from our sons bowels, at times, 20 times a day, leaving large raised painful rashes in their wake—we finally had a real diagnosis that lead to viable treatment, rather than the repeatedly documented, untreated and ignored “toddler diarrhea associated with autism.”  

So, along with my immediate family, my parents and in-laws journeyed with us through Noah’s treatment, and grew to know the Good Doctor Andy quite well.  Now, I knew the huge risk my father-in-law took deciding to speak about Dr. Wakefield in this manner.   I asked him, repeatedly, if this was something he really wanted to address from the pulpit.   But he stood firm, knowing Dr. Andy to be a man of character.  So, I sat in the congregation the day he delivered our family’s truth, and spoke to a church that serves over 7,000 parishioners, about the Good Doctor and his extraordinary sacrifice, from a Catholic perspective.  My heart quite literally felt as though it might pound out of my chest as he recounted the litany of facts that lead us to meet Dr. Andy in the first place.  Tears began streaming down my cheeks when he spoke of autism as a “scourge” and told the very real unpopular truth about how incredibly difficult our lives have been since our precious Noah was diagnosed. 

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 14, 2013, CBS Philly: More Support Needed For Adults With Autism

Nov 13, 2013, NBC5 West Palm Beach, FL: "The look" parents of children with autism don't want to see

Nov 13, 2013, Fox News: Dr. Manny: We must stop bullying people with autism

By Allison Chapman

Today The Canary Party is launching their new “Not a Coincidence” campaign through the release of a compelling video of stories involving girls, and Mothers of girls, whose  lives have been shaken after  receiving Merck’s HPV Vaccine, Gardasil.  To date there have been an astounding 31,741 adverse events, 10,849 hospitalizations and 144 deaths following HPV vaccines.  We are honored to be able to help these beautiful girls in any way we can and we thank all of them for taking the time to share their accounts, their feelings and their needs with us through this video. Gardasil Not A Coincidence Video from The Canary Party



How can you help?

Please take time to watch and share this video with everyone you know.  Share it with your Congressional representatives and ask them to attend the Vaccine Injury Compensation program hearing in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee in December. Tell them that the system is broken and these girls should not be left behind.  They are our future mothers and they are worthy of being heard, worthy of funding for treatments and worthy of action.  Also ask them to push for individual HPV vaccine hearings.

“Not a Coincidence” is a campaign started by The Canary Party to address the medical community’s repeated excuse that the symptoms,  too many experience after vaccination, are just coincidental.   Seizures, fainting, rashes, allergies, GI dysfunction, loss of speech, etc, etc, all labeled a coincidence.  It’s time to end the excuses and start to listen to the injured and the parents of the injured.  They deserve a forum to be heard, they deserve a voice, respect, attention, hearings and answers.  They need a medical discovery process that uses their symptoms and their progression, of illness in the process of finding treatments.  All injured are worthy of being treated individually instead of disregarding their many medical maladies because of a vaccination program that is not allowed to be questioned.  It’s time for the government, the medical community and the media to start taking into account the many affected.  Please take the time to hear from these beautiful, well-spoken girls and Moms tell their stories of injury after Gardasil. And share far and wide!

Allison Chapman is the Mother of 2 girls and 1 son who has regressive autism, seizures, apraxia and gastrointestinal dysfunction. She currently is on the board of the Canary Party

Help Research That Makes a Difference: Complete Updated ARI E-2 Survey to Identify Autism Subtypes by Nov. 30 

Who: Chief Investigator Steve M. Edelson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Autism Research Institute.

What: Comprehensive, consent-based online survey. The survey is lengthy and may take up to two hours to complete - you can start the survey and then save it, and return and complete it another time. The survey is online at: www.AutismResearchSurvey.com.  

Purpose: (1) To corroborate previous research on subtyping autism and (2) to determine, based on parent responses, possible underlying causes and the effectiveness of various interventions in relation to each subtype.

Compensation: Participants who complete the entire survey will receive a complimentary one-year subscription to ARI's science newsletter, the Autism Research Review International.  

Complete the survey this month for a chance to win

In addition, participants will be entered in a contest to win an Apple iPad. Must complete the form by 10 p.m., PST Nov. 30th. Note: one entry per individual with ASD. Drawing is Dec. 1, 2013.

Where: International - this study is open to participants worldwide.  

When: Starts November 1, 2013 - data collection is ongoing, but the iPad drawing will take place on December 1st, 2013. The winner of the drawing will not be announced publicly.

Take the survey here.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 12, 2013, Rhode Island Public Radio: Vaccines: Are You Hiding In The Herd?

Nov 12, 2013, My Fox New York: First responders learn about dealing with persons with autism
 

Managing Editor's Note: Thank you to Lori McIlwain and all of our friends at National Autism Association for this urgent message to the American public about wandering, autism and tragedy.

By Lori McIlwain

The Day My Son Went Missing Wandering Is a Major Concern for Parents of Children With Autism

NOW in its sixth week, the search for Avonte Oquendo, a 14-year-old boy from Queens with autism, is shining a light on the issue of wandering among people with autism. On Oct. 4, Avonte managed to slip away after lunch from his school in Long Island City — even though he was known to wander during classroom transitions.

While most people associate wandering with elderly sufferers from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics found that 49 percent of children with autism were prone to the behavior. Given the prevalence of autism — at one in 88 children, or one in 50 school-age children — it’s clear this is an everyday concern for many thousands of parents.

The day Avonte went missing, a Friday, a 12-year-old boy with autism was in a medically induced coma in Oakland, Calif. According to reports, he had wandered from his mother in a parking lot and entered eastbound traffic on I-580, where he was struck by at least one vehicle. By Sunday, another child with autism had gone missing: 5-year-old Devonte Dye wandered from his grandparents’ home in southeast Missouri. Tragically, he was found the next day, drowned, in a slough near the St. Francis River.

Since 2011, 41 American children with autism have died after wandering, or “bolting,” from caregivers. Water is often a fatal draw for these children. Since April of this year, 14 out of 16 deaths were from drowning.

Even as a campaigner, I did not appreciate the full magnitude of the issue until my own child went missing in 2007. Connor was 7 years old when he left his schoolyard, unnoticed, through an unlocked gate and made his way toward a four-lane highway.

Many children with autism have particular fascinations, and Connor’s is with highway exit signs. For our family, driving up and down the interstate was a fun day out. We never suspected he’d attempt to get there on foot.

Luckily, a passing driver noticed our son; the driver turned around, just in case. When Connor failed to answer a few basic questions, he was taken to another nearby school. That school called the police. The police had no idea how to deal with Connor: An officer mistook our mostly nonverbal child for a defiant rule-breaker who needed some “tough love.”

Finally, a staff member at the school reached me, but exactly how long Connor had been missing by the time I got to him, no one could tell me. Connor was hysterical, shaking. I scooped him up in a hug, whispering through my own tears, “You’re O.K.”

That was our big wake-up call, but it didn’t end there. Connor’s wandering had started in day care and continued through school. He slipped out during classroom transitions, as Avonte did. We found ourselves keeping Connor home on days we feared it might be easier for him to slip away. Here I was, an advocate for others, yet I could not keep my own child safe.

Autism One has weighed in on an important case in the appeals courts because of the manifest injustice worked by the Court in limiting a child’s legal rights.
 
Download Carson Amicus for Autism One as Filed

The Court, in which all vaccine injured have to make their claim for vaccine injury, imposes, inexplicably, the shortest and most inflexibly applied time limitation on filing a claim. In the so-called vaccine court, a child has only three years from the onset of symptoms of an injury to file a claim. In other kinds of injury claims, children usually can file up to the time they are 21 years old.

In the case in which Autism One has filed an Amicus Curiae (“friend of the court”) brief, Carson v. Health and Human Services, the child, Kit Carson, filed a claim more than three years after he supposedly experienced a speech delay. The Court found that Kit’s filing was untimely since the onset of symptoms of his autism - the supposed speech delay - occurred more than three years prior to the filing of his claim. The Court dismissed the case even though none of Kit’s doctors felt that the speech delay was related to or signaled the onset of Kit’s injury, later diagnosed as autism, among other diagnoses. A judge who dissented from the opinion finding Kit’s claim untimely, noted that none of Kit’s doctors identified autism as beginning with a possible speech delay, also finding that speech delay is not necessarily part of the onset of autism. As the dissenting judge wrote. Kit Carson lost his right to bring a claim before he or his parents could have known he had a claim. Autism One believes this circumstance is manifestly unjust.  As stated in the dissent in Carson v. HHS, “A limitations period cannot start to run before the existence of the cause of action that it limits.”


We thank Robert Krakow, Esq. (quoted above), founder of EBCALA, who filed and coauthored this brief (with coauthors Susan Lee and Helen Sturm), for this work on an important legal issue on behalf of children and families.  “Thank you” also to Bob for working from the beginning of the process preceding the Chicago 2013 conference to bring together politicians for the discussion on information key to vaccine-injured children.

Who:
                
Co-hosts Louise Kuo Habakus and Alison MacNeil are parents and published authors. Habakus was a Bain consultant and a C-level executive. MacNeil has been a psychotherapist for 20 years.
 
What:
            
Gutsy parent’s NPR,” the new weekly show Fearless Parent Radio delivers fresh social media perspective on parenting and wellness.
 
Show topics include a book in praise of admitting ignorance, boys and our failing schools, going pediatrician-free, and sex and parenting. Monthly segment “Fearless Medicine” hosted by mom and holistic psychiatrist Kelly Brogan, MD.

Where:
            
NYC, airing on PRN.fm and available on iTunes
 
When:
            
November 13 at 11 a.m. ET and live every Wednesday
 
Why:
            
Social media is exploding with extraordinary conversations about parenting on the front lines today. Refusing to be manipulated by fear, parents are reading the science, sharing knowledge, and building powerful networked communities.
            
“Alison and I will be holding a microphone up to the exceptional conversations taking place on social media and in our social circles. These are the stories, more real than Reality TV, that tell about parenting today,” said Fearless Parent co-founder, Louise Kuo Habakus. “Over-focusing on things that have currency in the world, like money and titles, interferes with our ability to parent effectively. We’d all do better to “Lean In” a bit more to our parenting.”

About Fearless Parent: Fearless Parent is an innovative online media platform covering the new parenting espoused by today’s thinking parent. The site offers news, commentary, and original content on the pulse of social media, through our blogs, radio show, and community-based programming. The reporting is provocative, honest, and hopeful. Our audience is the savvy and resourceful parent who is willing to question authority and make decisions based on both instinct and research.

By Anne Dachel

Read Anne's comments and view the links after the jump.

Nov 11, 2013, The Daily Pennsylvanian: New program addresses adult care for autism

Nov 11, Reno Gazette-Journal:  Temple Grandin to speak on 'The New Autism' in Reno

Nov 11, 2013, CBS Minneapolis: Local Charity Helping Adults With Autism

Note: We invite readeres to learn more about vaccination injury in this piece by Bob Krakow, Bachmann Vaccine Injury.

By Julie Obradovic

Dear Jon Stewart:

I love you.

No really, I mean that. You make me laugh all the time.  As a working mother of three (a high school teacher, mind you) with bills to pay, a marriage to maintain, and children to raise I truly appreciate people who can make me laugh. You are one of them.

Even though we don’t always agree on serious political issues, I can always count on you to find the humor and ridiculousness in them. Making things simple to understand is a form of genius. Making them funny at the same time is a gift. You have the ability to do both. I am a huge fan.

But sadly, there was nothing funny about one component of last Monday night’s episode of The Daily Show. It was during your monologue while you were pointing out the latest technique of news programs to simplify debates into a “good thing” or a “bad thing” that I unexpectedly had my breath taken away.

You may remember. While using a clip of a conversation between Wolf Blitzer and Rep. Michelle Bachman to make your point, you paused it to emphasize the stupidity of Ms. Bachman. You did so by reminding everyone that she believes vaccines can cause brain damage.

As the mother of a vaccine injured child, you get used to being bullied. You learn quickly that no one really gives a crap if your child was hurt or not; that most people will never believe she actually really was injured because vaccines are great, and they save lives, and that wouldn’t happen, and they “proved” it didn’t happen, and maybe you’re mistaken, and you just need someone to blame, and on and on and on.

You learn that you can’t talk about it outside of certain groups of friends and family, or hell, even with certain friends and family, without risking an uncomfortable debate or conversation. You learn that doing so very well might result in the loss of those friends, get you blocked on Facebook, and often launch a bunch of strangers on the Internet into a frenzy.

You sit by while an ignorant neighbor suggests the loss of your child’s brain and her physical suffering are all acceptable things for the greater good, because hey, things happen, and it’s better than everyone having polio. Everyone except for her of course, but again, they don’t care. And they’ll tell you right to your face. Quit complaining. At least she’s not dead. Be thankful for that, they say. Or think.

I could keep going, but you get the idea. Ten years of being told your child’s life doesn’t matter in the greater scheme of things, and that hey, by the way, you’ll likely never see a dime for her loss, pain and suffering anyway, and well…you tend to grow a thick skin.