Interview with Dara Berger Author Preventing Autism from Skyhorse Publishing
By Anne Dachel
What you will never hear from mainstream doctors, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to discussing AUTISM is the word PREVENTION.
According to all the officially accepted medical dogma out there, autism just happens, no one knows if there’s been a real increase, it’s probably highly genetic, and there’s nothing you can do to prevent your baby from being the next child on the spectrum.
Considering that autism now affects two percent of kids, that possibility should send shock waves through every new parent. And just because your baby starts out fine is no guarantee. Part of the mystery of autism is how normally developing children can inexplicably lose learned skills—even speech, and suddenly start lining up their toys, walking on their toes and flapping their hands endlessly.
Doctors have noticed that kids with autism often come with concomitant conditions like seizures, bowel disease, and serious allergies, but the debate is still ongoing as to the link to autism.
The incredibly destructive impact of autism has been going on for decades and the medical community is still scratching their collective heads over it. You will never find anyone from the CDC who has ever called autism even a “crisis,” let alone a health care emergency. We’ve been so brainwashed by years of blue lights every April, that we celebrate autism as a normal and acceptable part of childhood today.
In the real world parents are scared.
There are kids with autism EVERYWHERE. You can’t get together with even six parents and not hear about whose child has
the disorder.
But someone somewhere has to be able to tell us something about preventing autism.
That’s where Dara Silverman Berger’s wonderful book, How to Prevent Autism, takes center stage.
It’s about hope. Hope that you won’t stand helplessly by as your child descends into the clutches of a neurological disorder that can rob them of a normal, healthy childhood and a bright independent future. No mainstream doctor can do this.
My son is 30 years old. I watched him change from a bright, happy baby to a child who didn’t speak and who looked in photos like he survived the fire bombing of Munich.
When John was finally diagnosed at age 7, after multiple attempts of labeling him, I was told, by a psychologist they brought in from Minneapolis, a hundred miles away, that autism “was such a RARE DISORDER, he was probably among only one or two other kids in my little town of 12,000 with the disorder.”
BIG SURPRISE. Autism is no longer rare in Chippewa Falls, or anywhere else. I can go into any of the grade schools or the high school here and find lots of kids on the spectrum.
Yet somehow we’re all supposed to believe that everything is fine. More and more and more kids with autism are really nothing new. It’s always been like this, we just called it something else.
To any thinking person, that is completely absurd.
We’ve had to train everyone who deals with CHILDREN about autism. There are NO NURSING HOMES FOR THE AUTISTIC ELDERLY. However, there are more and more schools exclusively for children on the spectrum. (They’re now building 19 for the most severe cases across Britain.)
Pediatricians do routine checks for autism at those well-baby visits (as they pump more and more vaccines into toddlers). And when the signs appear, all they can do is advise parents to check into early intervention and ABA therapy.
NOT ANYMORE.
How to Prevent Autism is your guidebook to insuring that your child is healthy from the start and protected from not only autism, but a host of childhood chronic illnesses that are turning our schools into kiddie nursing homes. I’m talking about life-threatening allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures, and arthritis, along with a host of learning disorders.
What is especially troubling to me is that fact that no one in mainstream medicine is alarmed over the massive numbers of chronically ill children who fill our schools. Doctors’ waiting rooms are full and they routinely see kids developing lifelong autoimmune conditions that never existed in children until just a few years ago. Still, no one demands answers.
Dara Berger is out to challenge all those making a living off of this disabled generation. She’s telling us that we don’t have to accept sicknesses in children as a fact of life.
Dara’s message is that something is wrong and we can do something about it.
Dara started out like most of us, trusting her doctor, getting her son vaccinated, and then watching him have a horrific vaccine reaction. As a result and totally on her own, she took charge of the situation. When doctors offered no hope, she educated herself in order to save her son. She became the expert and changed her whole family’s lifestyle. She learned about GFCF diets, homeopathy, chelation, herbal supplements, hyperbaric treatments, organic food and how to detox her life. (She did what I and thousands of other parents have done—she changed everything.)
Dara learned how genetics predisposes many of us to damage from the increasingly toxic world we live in. And what she did, anyone can do.
It all boils down to educating ourselves and taking charge. How to Prevent Autism is really about how to make your whole family healthy and thriving. The doctors with the waiting rooms full of sick kids aren’t in the business of doing that. They’re dealing with the damage. That’s how they make their living. As the mother of three vaccine-injured children, I can tell you the medical profession isn’t looking for answers. When my daughter went into convulsions after the HepB series at age 10 and almost died in my arms, I asked her pediatric neurologist how much of her practice is children with seizures, (I hadn’t know a single child with epilepsy growing up) and she said it was her whole practice. She had no idea where all the seizure disorders were coming from.
After reading Dara’s book, I interviewed her on Skype. It was like sitting down to coffee with her as she explained what her book is all about.
I have the Skype videos separated. In the first one Dara tells her story.
“I’m Dara Berger, I live in New York City, and I’m the author of the new book, How to Prevent Autism.
“It’s been a long journey leading up to writing this book. My son Dylan who is thirteen years old, was diagnosed with autism when he was about two years old, but what I didn’t know [was] that the signs were there way before and unfortunately his pediatrician missed all these signs.
“Dylan was born a very, very healthy baby. He was born five and a half weeks early, but he was breathing on his own, he had an Apgar of 8/9, which was great. He needed no assistance, and they actually sent us home 36 hours later.
“He came home, he was a beautiful, happy, loving baby. I didn’t vaccinate him right away because I was very nervous. He probably got the vitamin K shot in the hospital because everybody gets that. They don’t even ask you.
“When I started to vaccinate him at about five months old, all of a sudden, these little problems started creeping in. He was spitting up large chunks of formula, which I didn’t know at the time was an overt sign of food allergy.
“He had a red face. It looked like someone slapped him, and the pediatrician kept telling me over and over again, ‘Keep putting Aquaphor on it.’ But again, another very obvious sign of food allergy.
“Then he developed a yeast rash around his penis that wouldn’t go away, no matter how many times I put [on] the prescription cream that the doctor gave me.
“Then he developed eczema—and I didn’t know it at the time, a lot of people think eczema is no big deal, just use the steroid cream even though it thins the skin over time and it doesn’t really get to the root of the problem. It’s a sign already that his immune system is totally off kilter, and I had no idea that adding vaccinations on top of all that was going to be a recipe for disaster.
“Unfortunately, I learned that the really hard way.
“I was doing a really alternative schedule with Dylan. I was that pregnant woman reading books about vaccines because somehow I had a sixth sense—that mommy intuition. I knew something didn’t seem right. Why does my baby need to have all these things injected into him? And at the time I didn’t even understand that they were filled with carcinogens, neurotoxins, DNA from aborted fetuses and all different animals. But I still just thought, this just doesn’t seem right. I didn’t have this many when I was younger.
“So I vaccinated him on a very alternative schedule, and let me tell you, it was very hard to find a pediatrician who would allow me to do it.
“When Dylan was born, I went to three pediatricians before I actually found one who would see him. And this was thirteen years ago. Now, it’s become much more vicious and much more difficult to find a pediatrician if you’re not going to vaccinate with the CDC schedule exactly as it’s laid out.
“I did one every couple of months and I started to notice that every time I vaccinated him, I’d be back at the pediatrician’s office within a day or two. There’d be like a golf ball size lump on a lymph node next to his groin. One time he was breathing funny after a Prevnar vaccine that I actually made the pediatrician—I sat behind her and I said, ‘Put vaccine reaction in his record because this doesn’t seem normal to me.’ And she did. She put, ‘Possible vaccine reaction.’ So I settled with that.
“I took a long break from vaccines because I was really starting to notice one side of his face was asymmetrical too. It started to get much bigger. We had to go to a plastic surgeon. We had to go to a neurologist.
“Why was one side of his face growing?
“At the time, I didn’t know that that was neuro inflammation. I learned that many years later. Again, missed by his pediatrician. Everything is no big deal unless your child is like dying or anaphylactic.
“So after six months I went back to vaccinating. I was about to apply to preschools and I thought to myself, ‘How am I going to get into preschools when I’m so behind?’
“I had no idea that you had the ability to write exemptions.
“So I started to vaccinate him again. I went and did another DTaP, but I had already done one so I wasn’t so concerned. He was okay, kind of starting to spiral slowly even though it was very hard to detect.
“But then I went in for a Hib shot, and that was not hard to detect what happened. I went into the pediatrician at 6 pm at night, She gave my son the shot, and I don’t why the nurse left the vial and the box on the bench, and I don’t know why I decided to pick it up, and I put both of those items in my pocket. Dylan just looked white as a ghost, like he had had a stroke. Right then and there, in the pediatrician’s office. I walked home to my house which was like six blocks away, and every half block I literally stopped. I was so nervous. I walked in front of his stroller. I just looked at him, and it’s etched in my memory forever—how he looked, what he was wearing. It was like seeing a ghost. We went home, I fed him quickly, put him to bed, and the next morning—you know my biggest concern after vaccines was always SIDS—I knew way back then.
“It’s so ridiculous to think that babies dying a day or two after all this junk is injected in them has anything other than to do with those vaccines, those shots.
“I went in in the morning; I was so happy. He was alive, but I didn’t know until moments later, he wasn’t right. He wasn’t making sounds.
“I kind of just went about my day thinking, ‘Okay, I’m overreacting, there’s nothing wrong with him. He’s fine.
“And no, he was not fine.
“He never spoke again for seven years. He couldn’t make a sound. The most seasoned speech therapist said he was the most apraxic child they had ever met.
“Then subsequently we did an MRI, and it showed two ischemic strokes.
“And I thank God everyday when I look at him, that he didn’t die that night, because he so easily could have died.”
In this video, Dara tells us why she credits her son’s vaccine injury with saving her life and the lives of everyone in her family.
“When I talk about, in the book, how Dylan’s autism saved my life, it really saved my entire family’s life. I was really sick at the time with terrible allergies called multiple chemical sensitivities when Dylan was born. I didn’t understand, at the time, that I wasn’t healthy enough to get pregnant. It would be many, many years later that I would grasp this concept.
“But I did get pregnant, and lucky for me, it happened on the first try.
“And I had had what I believe led to the multiple chemical sensitivity was my own vaccine reaction to a tetanus shot and mercury poisoning from a filling that was removed unprotected.
“Then I had to get myself better because as soon as Dylan was diagnosed, I jumped in headfirst into trying to heal him with …supplements, chelation, hyperbaric chamber, B12 shots, vitamin C IVs, specific carbohydrate diet—all of these things that I did to Dylan, I did to myself. And I have to tell you [that] within nine months I had completely recovered my health. And it’s because of Dylan’s autism.
“But I didn’t just stop there. I remember on that very first visit with Dr. Nancy O’Hara, when I brought Dylan in, she talked about all of Dylan’s issues: which was the gut dysbiosis, the immune dysfunction, all his problems—food allergies. I noticed at that very moment that I had all the same things, and I asked her if I could come see her. She said they were starting an adult department and I would have to wait a couple of months. I did end up going, and like I said, I spent three years doing everything to myself that I did to Dylan.
“And it was because she had talked on that very first visit, cleaning out before I have my next child. At the time I just remember thinking, ‘Wow,’ like a light bulb went off in my head. ‘That’s incredible. Cleaning out before I have another child.’
“And I did it. I did it for three straight years. I did the specific carbohydrate diet for three years. You can’t eat anything that comes from a bag or a box from the store. You have to make all your own meals, home cooked.
“We got really into a healthy home. It completely changed everything I did. Obviously I stopped eating out at many of the unhealthy enjoyable restaurants. I stopped eating chips. I was never a big soda drinker, but I stopped drinking juice. And we got really healthy. Even my husband, who loved—he was addicted to pizza. He literally ate pizza seven days a week. He went on a specific carbohydrate diet and lost 30 pounds. His cholesterol went down like 20 points. So we all got healthy.
“But really what this was in the back of my mind: I wanted another baby. I was scared to death to have another baby because we all know, your chances of having another baby with autism when you already have one are so high, but I desperately wanted one. All my friends around me were getting pregnant with ease, having their babies, feeding them Gold Fish [crackers] and junky food.
“I just remember thinking, ‘I can’t that. I don’t have the right genes for this.’ I have these genetic predispositions. We knew we had double copies of MTHFR. We knew all these gut dysbiosis that we had. I’d been working on my gut for years. I just knew I’m going to do everything I possibly can, and if it happens anyway I’m not going to beat myself up because I’m going to know I tried so hard.
“And I cleaned out for three years, and I did everything different with my daughter from the moment she was born. I had a natural childbirth. I didn’t do the vitamin K shot, I didn’t do the HepB shot in the hospital. I brought her home and when I couldn’t breastfeed, I started making the homemade Weston A. Price Foundation baby formula.
“So everything was different. I put probiotics, vitamin D, B12 in her homemade baby formula from day one. Everything was different.
“Then I started to really watch her. When I started to see little signs of food allergy, I knew something was going on in her gut. I knew there was inflammation. Maybe there was yeast. We started to do stool tests. We started to do B12 injections.
“I was seeing a nutritionist when I was pregnant, which I highly recommend to anyone who wants to prevent not just autism, but any childhood chronic illness. Jessica had functional medicine doctors and nutritionists from the day she was born. Like I said, we did everything different, and I believe it’s been everything that we did that has led to her not to suffer from autism.”
Finally, Dara talks about PREVENTING AUTISM and protecting your child from chronic, debilitating illnesses.
“Moms can do so much to prevent autism. You will be preventing almost every childhood or adult chronic illness that there is.
“It starts with preconception wellness. We talk a lot about that in my book—if it’s possible, But don’t worry if you already find that you’re pregnant or you’ve had your child, don’t think that you can’t do anything to try to prevent it.
“If you’re pregnant, it would be great to get tested. Obviously, it’s best to clean out prior to pregnancy, …getting tested if you suspect any food allergies or any sort of autoimmune condition. Trying to treat that holistically rather than with a prescription that just suppresses the symptoms that might make it get worse over time is not the best idea.
“Eating an anti-inflammatory diet while you are pregnant—I mean diet is paramount. People can’t say this over and over enough. Just stay away from the processed food. Right there that would be a humongous change for the better.
“Try to eat as many organic fruits and vegetables, nuts, seed meats, but organic couldn’t be more important. Hey, the average potato has like 50 pesticides on it right now.
“Imagine that many chemicals! Your body has no idea what to do with that.
“You know, an environmental working group did a study in 2005 where they tested the cord blood of babies, and they found that they had over 100 chemicals in there. And that could come from only one place. That comes from the mom.
“So don’t forget, when you give your microbiome to your baby, which is your germs, your good and bad bacteria that helps them built a healthy immune system, you want to give them the best microbiome. So you want to feed yours with fermented food, the right types of food, and that way, they can built a healthy immune system. And cleaning out—you give all your toxins too to the baby. So don’t forget that.
“Changing over your personal care products, your cleaning products—all these things are so important.
“If you already have a child on the spectrum, you’re probably going to do a lot more. You’re probably going to make sure [to] get tested for MTHFR. You’re going to get tested for food allergies. You’re going to get tested for a lot more to see what might have contributed to your first child.
“Once the baby is born, stay away from genetically modified foods. We know they’re not safe. Stay away from pesticides. And again, keep all the products in your home as green as possible.
“And when you state to see the little signs, let’s say the colic, the reflux, the chronic constipation, don’t just settle for a symptom suppressing prescription from your pediatrician, get yourself to a nutritionist, an integrative physician—someone who is going to be able to read those symptoms from what they are: something’s going on in the gut; it is changing the immune system.
“We know from all the yogurt commercials, 70 % of your immune system is housed in your gut. It’s one of the most important things. I mean a lot of integrative physicians say it’s the second brain. Some even call it the first brain.
“It’s so important to make sure your gut is healthy. So what you put in your mouth, just know, it alters your gut.
“So that is first and foremost: nutrition, staying away from toxins, controlling what you can control, and building up the immune system, whether you do that by herbs, fermented food, certain supplements.
“If you find out you have a genetic predisposition such as MTHFR, you know you’re going to have to take the right type of folate. You might have to take B12.
“So I think working with a nutritionist or an integrative physician while you’re pregnant or after the baby is born, that would be one of the best things you could possibly do for your child.”
Part II will follow.
Technical assistance: John Dachel
Great post, Thomas Petrie. Thank you
Posted by: susan welch | September 05, 2017 at 01:18 PM
Thomas Petrie, well said. You're absolutely right. A recent court case ruled that a baby died of SIDS as a direct consequence of a vaccine (if that in itself isn't a contradiction). One of the matters that swayed the court was the fact that no other credible explanation had been offered by the defendants (ie. none had been offered to the defending lawyers by their medical experts.) I realized a few years ago that no alternative explanation had been offered for my 64 years of autism/ME/mercury poisoning symptoms (other than, you're imagining it/making it up/it's all in your mind - which are obviously not explanations). It seems that now the courts agree. If B follows A and there is no other explanation then A caused B. And now we're hearing about thousands and thousands of cases of the exact same outcome, so they can no longer deny the link.
Posted by: Grace Green | September 05, 2017 at 07:10 AM
The word "pedantic" is not used very much these days and that's too bad. Basically, it boils down to common sense. In old school philosophy, what would be commonly used in problem solving was called "Occam's Razor".
[Wikipedia: Occam's razor (also Ockham's razor; Latin: lex parsimoniae "law of parsimony") is a problem-solving principle attributed to William of Ockham (c. 1287–1347), who was an English Franciscan friar, scholastic philosopher, and theologian. His principle states that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected.]
So, here's some pedantry in action:
- Exercise makes you healthier!
- Vegetables are good for your health!
- Drinking alcohol is bad for your brain
- Driving recklessly can cause accidents
- Too much sunshine can cause sunburn.
So why is it that the most OBVIOUS cause of autism--vaccines--can't be mentioned? I'm sorry, but "Occams Razor" applies here: The most OBVIOUS cause of an effect, is usually the cause! IF my child was healthy on one day and the day AFTER his vaccine he WASN'T, I don't need t Ph.D. in elementary logic to know that the vaccines were the cause of his/her troubles.
ONLY with vaccine injuries, do we say, "Gosh, jolly wiz, we just don't know why this happened!"
This is a polite blog, so I can't use bad words, but what ever happened to pedantry? My son/daughter WAS healthy BEFORE vaccinating and NOT healthy AFTER!
I once met with a patient who's next door neighbor suffered a terrible tragedy: The day after her 5 year old daughter received a flu vaccine, she died. I asked, "well, did that mom sue her doctor?" "No!", she exclaimed, she talked to the pediatrician and he said the flu shot had nothing to do with her daughter's death."
You see? The universal rules of logic are universally suspended for vaccines.
So the next time we run into someone who has a child with a vaccine injury, it would NOT be out of order to say, "I"m sorry to sound pedantic, but was your child vaccinated?"
The problem is not with accepting what's right in front of our eyes, the problem is that in certain arenas (vaccines/environmental toxins)l, we're just not allowed to bring those words into our conversation.
And that is how propaganda works.
Let me give you an example from current affairs: The recent (alleged) test of a nuclear weapon by North Korea.
I'm sorry to sound pedantic, but didn't WE kill 25 percent of their population from 1951-1953? Didn't we test nuclear weapons regularly over the Marshall Islands--the equivalent of 1..5 Hiroshima bombs DAILY for twelve years? Don't we have 900 military bases all around the world surrounding Iran, Russia and all our "enemies"? Haven't we invaded or toppled seventy countries since we invaded the Phillipines in 1898?
So I bring up international affairs to make a point: Sometimes propaganda is not just what is twisted, but by what is left out of the conversation. Details matter.
And the problem is not just that Americans don't like to think. They just can't see what's right in front of their eyes.
Propaganda has so warped our brains that what's right in front of our eyes can't be seen. And no amount of carrots will solve this "visual" problem!
Posted by: Thomas C Petrie | September 05, 2017 at 05:46 AM
@ Aimee Doyle - No, I was not being sarcastic in the least. That is just plain evil what they are doing. Mind you, I am describing those who have masterminded this PR campaign, not the lay people who lap it up without critical thought, much like the vaccine propaganda in general.
Posted by: David Weiner | September 01, 2017 at 11:59 AM
Cherry Misra, I myself have been through that transition from believing in "neurodiversity", to "Aspergers is genetic and autism is when an Aspie gets brain poisoning", to "I'm brain poisoned too, just not so badly". That difficult journey was largely thanks to the information on this blog, and others. The only thing I would disagree with in your comment is, it's not all in the past, the misery continues throughout life! Those NDs who claim they're just different are trying to make themselves feel better, and to stop the attacks from society. We shouldn't blame the victims, it's the fault of those who, as you say, invented the concept. I wonder who they might have been?!
Posted by: Grace Green | September 01, 2017 at 06:13 AM
@David Weiner
Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not. : - ) I wouldn't use the word "diabolical" to describe the neurodiversity movement. However, just a little research online reveals that the neurodiversity movement is anti-cure and pro-vax (because according to them, autism is solely genetic). My personal experience with people in the movement has not been positive. And it makes me sad and angry that the movement has been very effective at directing research and policy away from prevention/cure. It's all about supports and services - which are necessary, I agree -but I've noticed that generally the better services, employment opportunities, and most effective supports seem to go to the top 10% of the spectrum.
Posted by: Aimee Doyle | August 31, 2017 at 08:53 PM
For families like myself with an adult son with autism it's way too late to be talking about prevention. What we need now is RESEARCH to find the elusive CURE that will reverse the tragic vaccine damage that was done to our children. We can never stop the RESEARCH to find the only thing that will save our children and that is a CURE for the autism damage they have suffered. RESEARCH and CURE no matter how long it takes must be the top priority!
Posted by: Gayle | August 31, 2017 at 07:56 PM
The get un-well clinic I remember all the visits too well 17 years on.I guess we should have asked more questions but back then like a mug we trusted Pharma`s Dr Quack, in the white coat as you do.
Well done great advice and comments.
Pharma for Prison
MMR RIP
Posted by: Angus Files | August 31, 2017 at 03:21 PM
Dara is a boss. Enough said.
Posted by: David Weiner | August 31, 2017 at 02:58 PM
@ Aimee Doyle - the neurodiversity movement that you describe sounds positively diabolical. And I thought the plain old diversity movement was bad.
Have many parents of autistic kids used bovine colostrum? From what I can tell, it is a champ for leaky gut and GI issues.
Posted by: David Weiner | August 31, 2017 at 02:57 PM
https://jonrappoport.wordpress.com/2017/08/30/exclusive-mind-boggling-fda-confession-about-the-smallpox-vaccine/
Exclusive: mind-boggling FDA confession about the smallpox vaccine
Aug 30 by Jon Rappoport
Exclusive: FDA confession about smallpox vaccine
And yet…during the years 1966-1980, a massive smallpox eradication campaign was carried out in Africa, under the auspices of the World Health Organization. Roughly 100 million doses of the smallpox vaccine were given to Africans, MANY OF WHOM ALREADY HAD COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.
How much devastation was wrought by this vaccination campaign?
The World Health Organization, in 1980, celebrated the eradication of smallpox on the African continent—but was that what really happened?
Or was it this? The visible signs of smallpox receded, but people with already-compromised immune systems began dying in large numbers.
The FDA has just unwittingly implied what researchers have known for decades; the so-called smallpox eradication campaign in Africa was one of the most dangerous medical interventions in history.
In the late 1980s, a respected biologist with close knowledge of the Africa eradication campaign, told me, off the record, that after the World Health Organization celebrated their “victory,” they held a very secret meeting in Geneva.
At this meeting, it was decided that the smallpox vaccine they deployed in Africa would never be used again.
I asked him why.
Posted by: Hans Hitten | August 31, 2017 at 12:16 PM
@ Rebecca - glad to hear that there's been good success with chelation under the Andy Cutler protocol. I'm curious to know more about the success rate - how many kids have been cured. Is it effective with adolescents and adults with autism? We have tried chelation (there wasn't much we didn't try over the last 25+ years) without much result. I'd really love to see more research toward effective treatment and therapy for adolescents and adults. Even our autism doctor said that biomedical intervention has pretty much "flatlined' over the last decade or more....in that there's nothing new that's had great results.
@Cherry - I see your point, and I thought that would have happened, too. The generation of kids that was poisoned via vaccination starting in the 90's has pretty much grown up. But I haven't really seen the kind of reflection that you're talking about on the neurodiversity blogs. There are a few adults with autism (e.g. Jonathan Mitchell, Jake Crosby) who write about the importance of cure, but they seem to be a very small minority. Generally, on the Internet, in the media, in books (Neurotribes, anyone?), in legislation and disability advocacy, it's all autistic pride...."difference" rather than disability. This is coupled with a ferocious antagonism toward parents and siblings who have "curebie" views.
And, among young autistic adults, I have yet to meet one who wants to spend any time with or be a friend to someone who is lower functioning. There doesn't seem to be much empathy (or at least not of the hands-on variety) for what parents and siblings or even low-functioning individuals with autism, go through. I've read blog posts where neurodiversity advocates say that "curebie" parents are "whiners" and are "self-pitying" and that they "hate their children." And even worse - that if these parents had just provided a "safe place to be autistic," then their children would be high-functioning and could express the gifts that autism supposedly brings.
Aargh.
Posted by: Aimee Doyle | August 31, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Great interview! Thank you, Anne and Dara 😊.
Posted by: Laura Hayes | August 31, 2017 at 10:03 AM
Keep your baby away from pediatricians. I don't understand this compulsion to take them to "well child visits," which have turned into "poison your child visits." Take them to a chiropractor is you need a doctor. Or if it's an emergency to an urgent care facility and lie about their vaccines.
If it is too late, and your child has already been poisoned, consider chelating with the Andy Cutler protocol. We have an astounding success rate. Fight Autism and Win Detoxin Kids Facebook group.
Posted by: Rebecca Lee | August 31, 2017 at 09:48 AM
On the topic of "neurodiversity" ( Wow, who coined that clever term. ?) - I predict that we may hear some different songs one day as these autistic young adults age and do some thoughtful, self- honest thinking about their condition. Maybe we wont hear those songs. Maybe they will just be the little whispers in the back of the mind when one lies down to sleep :
Maybe it would have been nice to be popular like my sister
It would have been nice to be able to look people in the eye.
It would have been nice to be able to enjoy the school music concerts. (I hated them- It was torture)
It would have been nice to have friends
My parents were always worried about me. They couldnt figure out how to treat me.
I always felt that I was different. The neighbours always thought I was an odd kid.
I was so shy , I thought I would never get married
I wouldnt really want my own child to suffer as I did.
Posted by: cherry Misra | August 31, 2017 at 09:34 AM
I was honored to be asked to contribute a chapter to this book because as a pediatric RN & the former coordinator of the Defeat Autism Now! Conferences ~ preventing autism has been my battle cry for almost 20 years! If cancer, or dementia or autoimmune disease runs in your family, do you just sit around and wait for these conditions to descend upon you? Or do you take action- clean up your diet, eat all organic, exercise, take specific nutrients etc? I know our current pharmaceutically-dominated medical system would have you believe there's nothing you can do to prevent or reverse these conditions - but that is total BS! Plenty can be done to tip the scales in favor of having a healthy child unincumbered by autism or the other illnesses currently affecting 52% of our children. But we have to educate ourselves, be proactive with our health (especially prior to conceiving) & reject the notion that these conditions are normal & inevitable!
Posted by: Maureen McDonnell,RN | August 31, 2017 at 08:53 AM
I think prevention in the US equates to abortion.......absolutely horrifying! Great article! I can't wait to read the book!
Posted by: Janet Presson | August 31, 2017 at 08:25 AM
"What you will never hear from mainstream doctors, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to discussing AUTISM is the word PREVENTION."
You will also never hear talk about prevention (or God forbid, cure) of autism from anyone in the neurodiversity movement. The perspective promoted by the movement is that autism is a "difference" not a "disability" and that all we need are acceptance, accommodation, supports, and services. I don't understand why the impact of this movement isn't discussed more. The vocal neurodiversity movement has significant power. It has co-opted almost every autism organization (no one, with the exception of TACA, is talking about a cure any more). Members of the neurodiversity movement such as Ari Ne'eman have sat on the President's Disability Council and shaped policy and perspective. The lobbying of the neurodiversity movement resulted in in Congress changing the name of the Combating Autism Act to the Autism Cares Act (when the legislation was renewed) . Anti-cure activists sit on the IACC and determine where research money goes. Note too that the neurodiversity movement opposes the idea that vaccination causes autism.
I wouldn't force a cure on anyone who didn't want it - but I think the parents and adults on the spectrum who want a cure should be given that choice. And for those who don't think autism is a "gift" or "a superpower" there should be ways to prevent it. For the majority of those on the spectrum, autism is a significant disability. For example, my son will need lifelong care and supervision 24/7.
The AMA, the CDC, NIH and Pharma have dropped the ball on prevention and cure. But the role of the neurodiversity movement should not be ignored.
Posted by: Aimee Doyle | August 31, 2017 at 07:47 AM
"What you will never hear from mainstream doctors, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to discussing AUTISM is the word PREVENTION."
Can't talk about PREVENTION .. because ... THAT discussion would have to begin with vaccines .. and .. we all know THAT discussion will never be allowed. PERIOD. END OF CRITICAL DISCUSSION THAT WAS NEVER HAD.
Posted by: bob moffit | August 31, 2017 at 06:21 AM