[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Jenny Obando]

I have been reading with great interest the last few days about the conference on February 2nd .
I was at the conference and would like to add my opinion.
Specificly about speaker# 2. If I remember correctly one of the first things she said was: "ABA therapy is your first line of defence against autism",and although she experimented with diets and chellation, which she said one would need a Dr to try chellation and that chellation was not to be done on your own as it had it's risks. At no time do I remember her saying to stop ABA, as a matter of fact she said it wasn't until 3 years after she had first heard of the diet that she actually started cheking into it.

I realized as a new parent of an autistic child that we do get desperated and we all want a magic cure and that we don'g have the experience which makes me wonder if this other parents that so strongly oppose to a diet or vitamin treatment and that are more experience in autism , how experience are they in this other methods ,?have they tried it ?, and if they have how do they know it will not help another child at all ?, specially since we all know there are not two children with autism that are the same . I also realized that ABA is our best chance, not the cheapest or the easiest .
At the same time I think is important to bring awarenes to this other aids, yes they are not scientificly proven to work, but why not allow parents to inform themselves and they can decide on their own .
When my children are sick the first thing I do is taking them to the Dr and buy the prescription , but I also look in the pharmacy for a decongestant and some tylenol and just because this other aids seem to be working , that does't meant I stop the antibiotics .

I hope that my opinion does not offend anyone as that was not my intention, my intention was simply to share other point of view.
Thank you Jenny (Tristen'mom)

[Deleted User]

Dear FEATBC Members, Parents and Professionals,

I would like to make a statement on behalf of the Early Autism Project regarding our conference held on February 2nd, 2002.

There have been some concerns based around the presentation of Lynn Hamilton, primarily about the mercury detoxification. I think it is best if I clear up our position on this matter.

The Early Autism Project was established on the foundation that we are an ABA Lovaas trained clinical staff and our objective is to provide high quality services for families here in B.C. Although Lynn shared her thoughts on biomedical intervention and we highly respect her as a parent and author, our work with her son was done only in Applied Behavioural Analysis. We had the honor of working with Ryan, and are proud of the young man that he has become.

We, at EAP are not able to endorse anything but ABA, as this is where our formal training lies. We appreciate the support that we have received from families here in Canada and will dedicate ourselves towards working with your children.

Sincerely,

Bohdanna Popovicwz-Kvam,
Clinical Director,
Early Autism Project

[Deleted User]

Hello,

I am a second year psychology student at UBC hoping to become an ABA therapist. I currently don't have any experience, but I am looking for a family who is willing to train someone like me. Ideally, I would like to work a few shifts a week, until May when classes end and I would be available for a lot more hours. If you live in Vancouver (not greater Vancouver…I don't have a car) and are interested in training a new therapist, please either call me at 225-2221 or email me at orangeflame@telusplanet.net

Kristin Szklarz

[Mike & Jean]

FEAT Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder – the next FEAT meeting is on Wednesday Jan. 16th at 7:30pm at St Francis-in-the-Wood Anglican church. (map available on this site to download if req'd).

Our guest speaker is Behavioutal Consultant Rachel Russell.

Her topic will be:

"Optimizing the role of the school aide in support of the child's ABA programme"

This is sure to be a very informative evening.

See you there.

Jean Lewis

[Diana Sabbagh]

I think it's especially hard at Christmas time, because we are
"supposed" to be feeling happy. Families "become whole" again by
going on trips to visit each other. They can go away and forget their
worries for a day or two.
But with autism, it is present at ALL times. Or perhaps I should say,
many children have a "lack of presence" at ALL times. So it hurts
even more on this special day when we are all supposed to be "tuned
in" to one another.
This is a point well worth reminding the those of you who work with
our children. As much as you think you understand what parents are
going through, and as much as you may think you are empathizing,
unless you have walked a mile in our footsteps, you just can't
possibly know what it is like for us. That's because you ALWAYS HAVE
THE OPTION OF WALKING AWAY. You may never do that, but the option is
always there for you. And believe me, it makes a BIG difference.
I've been on both sides of this, and I can tell you that before I had
a child with autism, I thought I understood, but I didn't really. So
please try to be careful about making judgments about why parents do
or react to things in the way they do. And try to understand that
although you may think you are under stress because of the work you
do, until you've lived with a child like this, you haven't experienced
anywhere near the amount of stress that parents do.

[Deleted User]

In regard to the posts on MMR vaccines.

First, Doctors can advise but have no authority to order parents to do anything in regard to vaccination.

Second there is ample evidence that current vaccination policies are doing harm throughout North America.

The MMR vaccine has been singled out as a catalyst triggering the onset of autism by many parents whose children were typical in development until receiving the vaccine, however experts in the vaccine controversy point not only to the MMR but the many vaccines repeatedly administered proceeding it.

Many of the vaccines given contain mercury as a preservative but the mercury is labelled as Thimersol (Thimersol is 50% mercury). The Rho Gam shots given for RH blood incompatibility also contain Thimersol. As a childs blood brain barrier is not complete until after 6 months of age it is not difficult to imagine the health implications of injecting one of the most neurotoxic elements known to man into infants. Many "experts" believe that it is an aggressive schedule of thimersol and non thimersol containing vaccines that preceed the MMR (which does not contain thimersol) that damages the immune system and neurological system and overwhelms it upon the administration of the MMR thus triggering the onset of autism.

This has received so much attention in the USA that the US FDA looked at the evidence and ordered that all thimersol containing vaccines be removed from vaccination schedules permanently by January 1st, 2003. The date they set was to prevent the companies who manufacture vaccines from sustaining major financial loss.

I have heard of no such order by our Canadian governments which should be cause for concern. In many parts of the USA local health care jurisdictions have already taken steps to remove these neuro-toxic vaccines from use. Non-Thimersol containing vaccines are available.

A very active website on this issue is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Mercury

As this is a large newsgroup it has some controversial opinions and non- sccientific proven treatments discussed. Specific info on which vaccines contain thimersol can be found on this website under the "FILES" heading or try the address shortcut to go directly to the file:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Mercury/files/Thimerosal%20Content%20in%20Some%20U_S_%20Licensed%20Vaccines.htm

This list of Thimersol containing vaccines is also available through:
Immunization Action Coalition1573 Selby AvenueSt. Paul MN 55104
E-mail: admin@immunize.org Web: http://www.immunize.org/
Tel: (651) 647-9009Fax: (651) 647-9131

Scientific evidence of the role mercury plays in causing neurodegenerative disease is available at this university of Calgary site in the form of an excellent streaming quicktime video, a must see:

http://commons.ucalgary.ca/mercury/

Lastly there has been a roughly 700% increase in autism (diagnosed) in the last 15 years in all areas of North America. We have also seen the number of vaccinations a child receives increase to 22 from 8 in that same period.

It is unfortunate that our Provincial Health care system is blind to the harm it may be inflicting upon our children as well as refusing to play a role in remedy through the only proven effective treatment, ABA.

If you wish to contact me in regards to this post feel free to contact me at – thujalog@home.com – instead of continuing this thread on this site.

[Jenny Obando]

Hello , this in regarding the message posted on the 11th about getting the MMR vaccine separated in 3 doses.
I talked to my Doctor who send us to the health unit , theysaid that it can not be done separate because they come in a package of 10 and if no body else is interested in doing this way they loose the other 9 .

I was told that we may be able to purchase them directly from a drugstore such as London drugs or shoppers , but we have not yet check it out .

Sorry I don't have more possitive information , but I hope this help.
Jenny (Tristen's mom)

[Karen Anthony]

Dear Barbara:

Your reply to the editor regarding H. Beaugrand's submission was concise in perception and eloquent in delivery.

We hope, if justice is to be served, it is printed.

Thank-you!

Karen and Andre Anthony
(Parents of Ryan)

[Barbara Rodrigues]

Hello Everyone:

Our paper printed this article last Wednesday concerning our story. It was a letter to the editor…my response follows I am not sure it will get printed.

Help for many, not just one

Dear Editor,
We can all sympathize with the Rodriguez family and their autistic child(Herald, Dec.7, Pg.A3) but at the same time, how can they expect the government to fund treatment at $4,000 per month ($48,000 a year) knowing that funds are not unlimited?
The SOS Medical Foundation in its annual report for 2001 show relative costs of various types of equipment, for example:
A Merlin event recorder for the Cardio Pace Maker Clinic costs $18,355.23, but many hundreds of persons are helped. Some $12,697.73 for a monitor defibrillator benefits scores of people and a patient lift for extanded care costs $15,154.49.
Can one individual be allowed to soak up a high percentage of available dollars when the same dollars can help innumerable patients?
Yes, it's a hard choice to make, but this has become an unfortunate fact of life.

H. Beaugrand,
Penticton

Dear Editor:

I am writing due to a very serious misconception in a letter you printed by H. Beaugrand (Letters to the Editor -December 12, 2001) regarding autism treatment and our son Jeremy.

First, let's make it clear -the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that autism treatment for our son, for all autistic children, is as medically necessary for his health and well-being as cancer treatment or cardiac treatment is for someone stricken with those diseases.

Also it should be noted that the taxpayer WILL pay for these kids regardless. Without treatment the vast majority of autistic children end up in expensive life-long institutionalized care costing into the millions of dollars. We are all currently paying for costly ‘supports' that do not treat nor help these kids in anyway. What we are fighting for is to have that money put into ‘science based' ‘court ordered' medically necessary treatment – which at best can recover an autistic child so that they may live fully independent, go on to college, hold a job, have a family. At least, it will help many others to learn, grow and develop and live with only minimal supports and even still hold down a job, contribute to society and have a brighter quality of life.

I also want to point out that by helping give autistic children medical treatment for their disorder – you are not taking away medical equipment from the rest of British Columbia! The fact that H. Beaugrand suggests that we are is reminiscent of the bias and discrimination of Nazi Germany.

Perhaps autistic or disabled children don't deserve health dollars for medical treatment? Maybe they are not worthy? Does H. Beaugrand know how much it costs to save a premature infant? To treat cancer? To support someone in the intensive care unit? Is it alright for those individuals to ‘soak up a high percentage of available dollars'? Are our autistic children not entitled to the same rights as every other child or person in British Columbia, in Canada?

Maybe H. Beaugrand doesn't think so. What shall we do with them then? They will cost the system more money without treatment….should we maybe set up a gas chamber? Have them all march in? Problem solved…one Merlin event recorder bought. Oops! Not enough money yet. Well, who else should we choose to get rid of. Let's see number one was disabled autistic children – who's number two? Maybe the drug addicts – a huge cost on the health system…then let's see what about the elderly, the physically disabled – what about H. Beaugrand? If a disabled little boy isn't worthy of treatment – what makes them worthy?

Luckily – for all of us – we are all entitled to health care – it's our constitutional right, it's my right, it's your right and yes, it's my little boy's right.

My son's great-grandfather was one of the many who fought to ensure that right for all of us.

Barbara Rodrigues
Mother & Advocate to Jeremy

[Deleted User]

http://www.amazon.com

Making a Difference : Behavioral Intervention for Autism
by Catherine Maurice, Gina Green, Richard Foxx

Published in 2001, available through the publisher, Pro-Ed and I saw it on Amazon.com.

Alex

[Author]

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