[J.Graham]

Thanks Dave for sending the article. It's nice to know that some research on this is being done in Canada too. It's been long overdue.

take good care,

Jen

[J.Graham]

Hi Dave,

Upset, not at all. I respect your opinion and I know you have done your research – by the many informative posts I've read of yours. Thank you for them.
As I have said before, NOT every child is mercury toxic and so chelation should not be performed. That decision is based on extensive testing by a "qualified" MD who KNOWS what to look for. Unfortunately, not a one in BC (big gripe of mine). Even then, there are many tests to pass first.
I would love to send you the literature you are looking for, and will. My computer crashed a couple of months ago and most info was lost.
I will dig it up.
For now though, I have a sick child to tend to and school/home progams to get rolling.
Stay tuned.

take good care,

Jen

[J.Graham]

Wow…

I just got back from taking my son to the ER again for that darn virus that's been coming back every 2 months since his diagnosis 5 years ago… the one that most Dr.'s (lost count) roll their eyes at as if I was nuts. 'Gotta be that autism' they would say. Well, Thank God for my 'mommy instincts', love and determination and my very caring DAN! Dr. of 5 years down south because they finally found a name for it and we'll be on the antivirals within the week.
ROLL THAT! WOO HOO!!
Ahh… then I came across Laurie's post.

Thanks Todd for saving me from having to write one of those drawn out posts talking about all the great research going on outside of BC and updating those that should probably be doing their own homework/research, (late into the night, like we do) anyways. If they did, then they would understand what Jenny's trying to do and that it may even benefit your child someday.

I remember what JB said…"if a mouse farts in the basement…"

If autism is a medical condition then where the hecks the Doctor??
Hmmm…

As the 'Director of the ASBC' do really think that post was necessary on an ABA ONLY board. Come on Laurie, you have just shown how much you don't know and your one of the places new parents are supposed to go for help? Yikes.
This is exactly what Jenny is trying to get across. Have you been to http://www.tacanow.org?
Wouldn't that be great to have something like that here in BC? Alan…?
Well of course it would. Parents of kids with autism need that support. They need to know EVERYTHING and MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES.

Actually, I have read Jenny's book (preordered it) and it's actually about what it's like to be a parent of an autistic child and how alone it can feel, relationships lost, etc. Light reading, but one we all can relate too.
Jenny's a spokesperson for NAA too, of which I am a member and I know first hand that she did all of the ABA,OT,VB, speech etc., too.
She is now doing RDI with Evan. She mentions all of this in her book.

Dave, the death of that little boy last year doing chelation was Dr. error for the gazillionth time. He was given Sodium EDTA instead of Calcium EDTA. Pharma made the bottles look the same. Google it. By the way, Evan didn't chelate because he wasn't metal toxic. He was an immune compromised kid.
Come on people, do your research. Not all kids with autism are mercury toxic! Some have viral, bacteria, immune, candia and the list goes on.

For those interested in watching Jenny go… she is also on:
20/20 on the 21st
Good Morning America on the 24th
The View on the 25th
Larry King Live on the 26th

Thanks Jenny.

Enough said,
off to bed knowing I have found another piece of my sons little puzzle and liking it.

Jen

ps… go jenny go

[J.Graham]

We are looking for an experienced Behavioral Interventionist for our 6.5 year old son’s home team in North Burnaby – The Heights.
.
He is in Grade 1 and we need a therapist to join our home team to not only help him with the transition, but someone who is eager to work with his consultant, supervisor, SEA and school team and to integrate his learning between his classroom and home. He has been in ABA/VB therapy for 5 years.

Shifts are 2 hours after school 4 – 5 days per week.

Qualifications include:

– At least 1 – 2 years experience working on a home team with ABA or VB experience

– A good sense of humor and as well, success in developing good playful relationships with children on the spectrum

– are dedicated, self-motivated, extremely reliable, enthusiastic, creative, energetic and possess excellent communication skills

– Highly committed and are able to apply good judgment and problem solving skills

– should be able to work independently and as a team player, eager to learn and able to take continuous constructive performance feedback and implement it immediately in order to improve quality of work and outcome for the child.

– are available for 3 -4 shifts/week after school (2 hrs/shift). In addition, you will be asked to attend mandatory bi-weekly team meetings and consultant visits once a month. We will also ask for at least 1 year of commitment.

– must be at least 19 years of age with clear criminal check

Training will start in early September under the guidance of Consultant Richard Stock and Team supervisor Stephanie Jull.
Pay will be based on experience.

If interested in this position or have further questions, please send your resume and availabilities with the subject title “Home Therapist” to magnolias@telus.net

Thanks,

Jen Travers

[J.Graham]

We are looking for an experienced Behavioral Interventionist for our 6.5 year old son’s home team in North Burnaby – The Heights.

He is entering Grade 1 in September and we need a therapist to join our home team to not only help him with the transition, but someone who is eager to work with his consultant, home supervisor, SEA and school team and to integrate his learning between his classroom and home. He has been in ABA/VB therapy for 5 years.

Shifts are 2 hours after school 4 – 5 days per week.

Qualifications include:

– At least 1 – 2 years experience working on a home team with ABA or VB experience

– A good sense of humor and as well, success in developing good playful relationships with children on the spectrum

– are dedicated, self-motivated, extremely reliable, enthusiastic, creative, energetic and possess excellent communication skills

– Highly committed and are able to apply good judgment and problem solving skills

– should be able to work independently and as a team player, eager to learn and able to take continuous constructive performance feedback and implement it immediately in order to improve quality of work and outcome for the child.

– are available for 3 -4 shifts/week after school (2 hrs/shift). In addition, you will be asked to attend mandatory bi-weekly team meetings and consultant visits once a month. We will also ask for at least 1 year of commitment.

– must be at least 19 years of age with clear criminal check

Training will start in early September under the guidance of Consultant Richard Stock and Team supervisor Stephanie Jull.
Pay will be based on experience.

If interested in this position or have further questions, please send your resume and availabilities with the subject title “Home Therapist” to magnolias@telus.net

Thanks,

Jen Travers

[J.Graham]

We are having problems with Revenue Canada and I'm looking for some advice.

They are stalling on accepting our parent portion of our therapy receipts… and this goes back to 2004!
They now want us to prove to them that we ONLY received $20,000 for our child and not any more for the year of 2005… I wish.
They are asking for copies of our contracts with MCF to prove this.

Has anyone ever had to do this?
Any advice is appreciated.
Please email Jen at magnolias@telus.net or answer on the board.

Thanks,

Jen

[J.Graham]

Hi all,

I had a call from the Greater Vancouver Community Living office last week (I live in Burnaby) and apparently my son was put on a list for more services by his new Social Worker last year.
They are coming by my home tommorrow afternoon to speak about what I might need fo my son in the way of services.
I was wondering if someone could give me a heads up on what to expect and what best to ask for.

Normally, I have had to chase down/beg for services for my son and I guess I'm a little out of my element and a tad leery on this one.

Thanks,

Jen

[J.Graham]

Yes, I will be 1 of 2 parents attending to represent GABA. We need to be a huge part of this to voice our ideas and concerns so that if this does take flight, it is done right.

Jen

[J.Graham]

Hi Nicole,

Sorry if I have misunderstood, but why would you revaccinate your child if he has already been vaccinated?
If you email me at magnolias@telus.net I will be glad to send you some information that will hopefully give you some better insight in order to make a decision.

take good care,

Jen

[J.Graham]

STAFF WRITER
<letters@uniontrib.com>
November 22, 2006
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061122/news_1m22rimland.html

Bernard Rimland, a psychologist whose unremitting quest for answers to
autism opened a new era of treatment and hope for victims of the brain
disorder, died of cancer yesterday. He was 78.

Dr. Rimland, executive director and founder of the Autism Research
Institute in Kensington, died at Victoria Special Care in El Cajon, said
Jean Walcher, a spokeswoman for the family.

In challenging the once-prevailing theory that the condition stemmed from
a mother's subconscious rejection of her child, Dr. Rimland found that
autism was a biological disorder. His evidence was outlined in his seminal
book, "Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural
Theory of Behavior," published in 1964.

"Dr. Rimland will go down in history as the person who ended the dark ages
of autism and spearheaded the fight to bring hope and help to autistic
children," said Dr. Stephen M. Edelson, his successor at the helm of the
Autism Research Institute.

As the father of an autistic son, Mark, born in 1956, Dr. Rimland began to
exhaustively research what at the time was a mystery to parents as well as
the medical profession.

In so doing, he once noted, there is "not a shred of evidence" to support
the hypothesis that indifferent parenting caused the disorder.

In 1967, while employed as a Navy psychologist, Dr. Rimland founded his
nonprofit institute a block from his home to create an international
source of research and information for biomedical treatments. When he
retired from his Navy job in 1985, he devoted the rest of his life to
autism research.

"Now I spend 80 hours a week on autism," he told The San Diego
Union-Tribune in 1998.

"He was the pioneer who changed everything about the way autism is viewed;
parents and professionals owe him everything," said Chantal Sicile-Kira,
an autism author and activist who has a 17-year-old son with the disorder.

"Bernie was like a god to parents like me," Sicile-Kira said. "He's
revered all over the world for moving forward biomedical interventions
through research."

Dr. Rimland created the National Society for Autistic Children, now known
as the Autism Society of America, to bring together parents of children
with autism and to promote a treatment known as Applied Behavior Analysis.
The latter, pioneered by psychologist Ivar Lavaas, has proved successful
as the educational treatment of choice for autistic children.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as
many as one in 166 Americans 21 or younger is afflicted with autism, which
affects children in different ways.

The variety of symptoms include withdrawal from human contact, sensory
confusion, parrotlike speech, a compulsion for sameness and a repetitive
self-stimulating behavior such as tapping teeth.

Sometimes the symptoms are accompanied by extraordinary talents, as in the
case of the autistic savant portrayed by Dustin Hoffman in the 1988
Academy Award-winning movie "Rain Man," for which Dr. Rimland was a
technical adviser.

In the 1990s, Dr. Rimland expanded his influence by co-founding Defeat
Autism Now!, widely known as DAN!, which brought together dozens of the
world's leading researchers in diverse fields to define research goals and
pursue a state-of-the-art treatment plan.

The effort spawned annual conferences on both coasts, major research
projects, a treatment manual and hundreds of DAN!-trained physicians.

Dr. Rimland also reached parents and professionals as editor of a
newsletter, Autism Research Review International, updating readers on
treatments and research.

He was at the forefront of the controversial concept of vitamin therapy to
address autism, particularly high doses of B6. More than 20 studies show
that B6, typically combined with magnesium, benefits a large percentage of
autistic children, according to the Autism Research Institute.

Equally controversial was his suggestion that child vaccines containing
thimerosal, a preservative that is nearly 50 percent mercury, could
promote autism. His suspicions grew when he discovered that symptoms of
autism bear many similarities to the symptoms of mercury poisoning.

"Bernie wasn't afraid to have people say, 'Gosh, this guy's nuts; it's a
crazy idea,' " Sicile-Kira said. "He felt that if it could be validated by
research it's worth trying so long as it's not going to hurt somebody."

Dr. Rimland, a San Diegan since 1940, was born Nov. 15, 1928, in Cleveland.

In the early 1950s, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in
experimental psychology at San Diego State College. He received a
doctorate in the discipline in 1954 from Pennsylvania State University.

As a research psychologist in the Navy, he designed tests to measure a
recruit's aptitude for various jobs. In 1955, he became an adjunct
professor in psychology at San Diego State.

When he became a first-time father in 1956, he began to seek solutions and
answers to his son's behavior.

"Mark was a screaming, implacable infant who resisted being cuddled and
struggled against being picked up. He also struggled against being put
down," he later wrote.

After finding no psychological basis for the disorder in his research, he
devoted his free time to studying neuropsychology in an effort to
understand the physiological factors. His quest led to the manuscript for
"Infantile Autism," which received the Award for Distinguished
Contribution to Psychology before it was published as a book.

Once the book was published, he was inundated with letters and calls from
parents.

"I will never stop until I have found the answer or die, whichever comes
first," he told The San Diego Union in 1988. "I will find the answer, and
if living to be 150 is what it takes – I'll do that, too."

In recent months, as he fought cancer that originally was diagnosed in the
prostate, Dr. Rimland was forced to reduce his workload. By the end of
July, he was doing what work he could from his home.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria; sons, Mark Rimland and Paul Rimland,
both of San Diego; daughter, Helen Landalf of Seattle; and two
grandchildren.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Greenwood Memorial Park, 4300
Imperial Ave., San Diego.

Donations are suggested to The Autism Research Institute, 4182 Adams Ave.,
San Diego, CA 92116.

Jack Williams: (619) 542-4587; jack.williams@uniontrib.com

[Author]

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