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[Super Dad]

*** REMINDER ***

North Shore ASBC Lecture Series

The North Shore ASBC Support Group proudly presents:

An Evening with Dr. Davies
at
7:00pm, February 17
in the
West Vancouver Seniors' Activity Centre

We are very pleased to have Dr. Glen Davies of the ABLE Development Clinic as our guest speaker. Dr. Davies is by far the most respected child psychologist within the autism community, not only because of his work with autistic children, but also because of his advocacy for their rights.

Instead of a presentation, we will have a question-and-answer session, for topics such as:
* why autism treatment differs from those of other developmental disorders;
* why ABA works;
* in what ways does ABA help (aside from IQ);
* which children will benefit from ABA (e.g. age, functioning level);
* how ABA is relevant to the school classroom;
* evaluating current fads in autism treatment;
* using other treatments in conjunction with ABA (e.g. biomedical).

DATE: Tuesday, February 17, 2009
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
LOCATION: West Vancouver Seniors' Activity Centre (695 21st St, West Vancouver).

For those going north/west on Highway #1: take exit 10 (for 21st St/Westhill Dr) and then turn left at 21st St. For those going east on Highway #1: take exit 10 (for 22nd St), merge onto Orchard Way, turn right at 22nd St, turn left at Queens Ave and then turn right at 21st St.

Coffee/Tea provided.
Donations are greatly appreciated.

Please RSVP to Carol at colemanmoser@hotmail.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Carol and Tony

[J.Graham]

On the contrary, there is no new evidence and this is just a last ditch attempt to smear Andy Wakefield's name.
For those of you who are not familiar with Dr. Andrew Wakefield, he is fighting for our kids.
He has been dealt harsh critism in an attempt to discredit his reputation, endured many death threats to himself and his family, has had to leave his home country because of this and through it all, has stood by my child, your child and all the other children with autism in the search for the truth.
I have had the honour of meeting Andy and these allegations could not be further from the truth.

Please read the links at the bottom of this post to bring yourself up to date.

Jen

Five years after launching a campaign to discredit the work of Dr Andrew Wakefield, freelance journalist Brian Deer and the Sunday Times in the UK made additional allegations on Sunday 8th February 2009. Three pages of articles while offering no new evidence accused Dr Wakefield of having 'fixed' research data. These allegations have no basis in fact and have been fully addressed during Dr Wakefield's response to the GMC prosecution, now well into its second year.

This petition will bring attention to the scientific evidence in support of Dr Wakefield's position and demand a formal enquiry into the activities of Brian Deer, the Sunday Times and their connection and co-operation with the vaccine industry.

Throughout the 1990's Dr Andrew Wakefield, a research scientist at the Royal Free Hospital and his colleagues, were contacted by parents of a large number of children suffering from a form of inflammatory bowel disease with a regressive developmental disorder. Many of the parents who brought these children to the hospital reported that their children had become seriously ill after receiving the MMR vaccination.

In February 1998, a press briefing was organized by the Dean of the medical school at the Royal Free Hospital to coincide with the publication of a peer-reviewed case series in the The Lancet. At the press briefing, Dr Wakefield suggested the precautionary alternative that there could be a return to single vaccines whilst concerns regarding MMR were investigated. This signalled the beginning of an orchestrated and oppressive campaign to discredit Dr Wakefield.

In 2004, Brian Deer lodged a complaint against Dr Wakefield, with the General Medical Council (GMC) of the UK. Since that time Deer has been supported in his drive to discredit Dr Wakefield by influential lobbyists and lobby groups supported by major pharmaceutical companies. No parent has ever complained to the GMC about Dr Wakefield, or the other doctors whose cases are only now being heard.

The GMC took more than three years to frame their charges against Dr Wakefield, Professor Simon Murch and Professor Walker-Smith, none of which questioned the underlying scientific and medical findings in the original paper.

The 'trial' of these three doctors – all co-authors of The Lancet paper – began in July 2007 and although this hearing was due to finish within four months, it is still continuing, almost two years later.

In the attempt to discredit Dr Wakefield and the other defendants, the prosecution, employed and paid for by the GMC, has suggested that none of the children referred to the Royal Free Hospital were actually ill. In order to support this suggestion, they have had to ensure that none of the parents of vaccine damaged children appear at the hearing. Meanwhile, in the background, Brian Deer has mounted significant attacks on these parents, accusing them of manufacturing information about the illnesses suffered by their children, and about its cause.

The GMC panel finished hearing the evidence and, at the time of writing, has been in recess awaiting the closing speeches of counsel, due to begin in March. The prosecution, during presentation of evidence from ‘witnesses to fact’ and the cross examination of the three defendants, has consistently failed to make a case out of Deer's allegations. In the last weeks of the hearing, it became clear that this failure was disturbing Deer. As his case collapsed, he resorted to writing to the GMC re-affirming his views about Dr Wakefield's unproven guilt and instructing the GMC in how they should have conducted the prosecution.

So upset was Deer by the evidence of Professor Murch who claimed that Deer might have breached the Data Protection Act and gained access to patient records, that he allegedly confronted and attempted to intimidate the professor in the foyer of the GMC hearing rooms while Professor Murch was giving evidence.

In the new attack on Dr Wakefield that appeared in the Sunday Times on February 8th 2009 Deer cited no new evidence. Furthermore, if allegations relating to ‘altered records’ held any merit at all, they would have been included in the hundred odd original GMC charges that the prosecution pored over for three years, whilst preparing its case.

The current attack comes five years – almost to the day – after Deer first began his campaign against Dr Wakefield in February 2004. It also comes as a clear indication that the government, the vaccine industry and the Sunday Times are fearful of losing 'their' case at the GMC. There is a transatlantic aspect to this fear, as more legal and medical decisions are made public in the US, which endorse the clinical and research positions taken by Dr Wakefield and his colleagues in Britain.

This fear of losing is generated by the fact that if the GMC do not find the three doctors guilty of the charges against them, the voice of the parents will finally be heard and the scandal of over one and a half thousand unrecognised vaccine damaged children in the UK and many, many thousands worldwide will be brought to the attention of the public.

Deer's new attack on Dr Wakefield is equally an attack on the parents and children who sought treatment at the Royal Free Hospital and represents a new low for British journalism. The parents of vaccine damaged children will not be silenced and research into possible causes and treatments will continue. Members of the public, parents, doctors and scientists worldwide are now calling for a formal enquiry into the activities of Brian Deer, the Sunday Times and their connection and co-operation with the vaccine industry.

In the following weeks, the organisations endorsing this statement will join together in providing clear documentation in support of the science to date. Please follow the links given in the right hand panel for a progress update.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/wakefield/

Here is Dr. Andy Wakefields response to Brian Deer's attacks –

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/pdf/Deer%20response.pdf

You can catch up here at hese links –

http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/documents/vaccines/Dr%20Richard%20Horton%20and%20the%20Wakefield%20Affair.pdf

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deirdre-imus/on-vaccinations-consider_b_165347.html

A preview from Andy's presentation at the AutismOne 2008 conference – the true story explained in his own words (the entire presentation can be purchased from http://www.zenworksproductions.com and well worth it) –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkWngIWLHsI&feature=PlayList&p=809E975C60D5C3ED&index=33

[Joanne Siu]

Don't know if you read this news over the weekend. There is evidence apparently confirming that Andrew Wakefield who first hypothesized that the MMR shot was causally related to autism, made up data! Official figures showed that ",348 confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales were reported last year, compared with 56 in 1998. Two children have died of the disease."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5683671.ece

[Lisa Hruda]

Does anyone know of a good speech pathologist in the Vancouver (west side) area? Any info would be great. Thanks!

[Luke’s mama]

Dear Adrienne,
I am not sure if you have done testing for food allergies at the proper clinic. The local ones we found have not been as detailed. Both of my kids have this and since we have changed some of their diet it has not reappeared. Good to keep a diary and log what they have been eating. We find that other than ear getting red, his legs (esp. thighs) hurt. Not the "growing pains" as most say because he certainly has not grown physically as most in his peer level. So worth a try. Besides eating more healthier can benefit the whole family. We do ABA and a dairy free wheat free diet. We find the diet helps him to benefit more from his ABA. Talk to your ocnsultant but do also see a dietician or nutrionist or naturopath to see if this diet is for your child before switching over. Some people do fine with just ABA and that is their personal success story. I am positive about our path. If you need help or more info, please email me at : abatherapy@live.com. Hope this helps.

Luke's mom

[Dione Costanzo]

Hi

re/red ears

After reading Tony's post I will be doing more research. Our son has had bright red ear or ears on a daily basis for years (he is 6 now).

Most commonly, kids having bright red ears indicates some kind of food allergy. We have never been able to identify a food causing this (by keeping journals and trying to identify a "trigger") and we have had him tested for allergies (found none).

It has also been suggested to test for food "sensitivities" through a naturopath which we have not done.

Keep us posted.

Cheers,
Dione

[Super Dad]

Hi Adrienne,

The "red ear syndrome" is thought to be a neurological disorder, or more precisely, a nerve-related dysregulation of blood flow around the ear. You can read about the possible causes if you do a Google search.

The ears generally do not hurt. If they do, then it may be something more serious, such as cartilage inflammation. You may want to ask your doctor about both possibilities.

Tony

[Nancy Walton]

Hi Adrienne,

Interesting. My son could not tell us what was bothering him, but he used to get extremely red ears (one or both) and they were very hot too. He was usually cranky when this happened. But it would come and go and so we never followed up on it. Hasn't happened since he was about 8 years old. So, maybe they grow out of the problem.

[Adrienne Muller]

Hello all!
My son is having an issue that I am wondering if anyone has ever encountered before…it is a little strange, so thought it might be sensory related??

He complains of his ears being sore. THis happens intermittently and usually lasts for a few minutes to an hour. Sometimes it is just one ear, sometimes both. His ears turn red during this time. He is not good at describing the sensation, but does explain that it is the outside of the ear that "hurts". He often touches his ears when this happens too, so not sure if they are turning red because of that.

The other day this happened after we had been out at the store, he said that his ear hurt from the lights at Save On Foods.

I'm taking him to the doctor next week to look into it, but was just wondering if anyone else has experienced something like this with their kids….

[Norm Tailless]

Registered Disability Savings Plan

I did a little Google search and found that Royal Bank will also have this type of account from Monday Feb 16th. I don't know if any others will soon or not. We need choices.

For more info:
http://rdsp.wordpress.com/

http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/2009/0209-plan.html

[Author]

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