[J.Graham]

sorry if this is posted twice… it didn't come to my email so I thought I would try it again.

Parents of Children with Complex Developmental Disabilities;
Language and Communication Disorders;
Including Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Do you have children with special needs in a school system that is not benefitting them?

Do you spend time and money on trying to get an effective education for your child?

Is your child getting the education you feel they need?

or

Do you have children that will be entering the school system?

Are you afraid what will become of your child's education or your child once your child starts school?

Are you interested in starting an alternative school for children with complex developmental disorders, including children with autism spectrum disorder?

If you answered yes to any of the above, please come to an informational meeting on:

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 @ 7:00 PM (free validated parking)

Century Plaza Hotel

1015 Burrard Street, Vancouver

RSVP number attending to achoice@telus.net

[J.Graham]

Parents of Children with Complex Developmental Disabilities;
Language and Communication Disorders;
Including Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Do you have children with special needs in a school system that is not benefitting them?

Do you spend time and money on trying to get an effective education for your child?

Is your child getting the education you feel they need?

or

Do you have children that will be entering the school system?

Are you afraid what will become of your child's education or your child once your child starts school?

Are you interested in starting an alternative school for children with complex developmental disorders, including children with autism spectrum disorder?

If you answered yes to any of the above, please come to an informational meeting on:

Tuesday, August 1, 2006 @ 7:00 PM (free validated parking)

Century Plaza Hotel

1015 Burrard Street, Vancouver

RSVP number attending to achoice@telus.net

[J.Graham]

I haven't had a chance to attend any candidates meetings for Burnaby. Does anyone know if any trustees in Burnaby are willing to go to bat for our children?

[J.Graham]

I haven't had a chance to attend any candidates meetings for Burnaby. Does anyone know if any trustees in Burnaby are willing to go to bat for our children?

[J.Graham]

Posted with permission.

Just a touch of grey…

The tragic incident of the child from Pittsburgh who died during a
chelation treatment has had an effect that has reverberated
throughout the autism community. It has created an even greater rift
than existed before between those who believe in biomedical
treatments, and those who don't. Those somewhere in the middle, such
as myself, are more torn than ever about the issue of biomedical
treatments for autism.

Somewhere on the side of the biomeds are vociferous parents and
advocates who adamantly believe that their children are mercury
damaged and that chelation is a treatment that can sometimes have
profound and lasting effects on their children. Some even say that
they have "recovered" their children from using these treatments.
Somewhere on the other side are the more conservative parents and
advocates who believe that these treatments don't work, they are not
proven, and are sometimes even dangerous.

Personally, I am somewhere in the middle. Would I use IV chelation
with my own two children with autism spectrum disorder? No. Call me
"chicken" and I'll plead guilty. Some have said I'm "dancing on the
blade of a sword." Guilty again. Do I think it works? Well, the
theory really makes sense. I have been asked by members of the media,
and have answered that I feel it is too dangerous for my personal
taste. Does that mean that it should be stopped and that parents
should have no right to seek chelation therapy, if they so choose?
No. AutismLink advocates for parents to have the ability to make
their own informed choices.

Chelation has been used since the 1940's as a treatment for lead
poisoning. Does it work on mercury poisoning? Who knows? Do children
with autism even have mercury poisoning? Some experts say no, some
experts say yes. Some parents say no, some parents say yes. But
parents should have THE CHOICE TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES. Nobody
thought that the parents in the story of Lorenzo's oil were in their
right minds, either, until they made a significant discovery.

As I stated in a recent article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the
medical community needs to step up to the plate and help parents who
choose alternative therapies in lieu of turning their backs on them,
calling them "crazy". Not all alternative medicine is quackery, nor
is it good. Not many things in this world are as simple as black and
white. There are millions of shades of grey in between.

As for the use of the word "desperate," I stand by that
characterization. We are all desperate. We're desperate to find
something to help our children, otherwise we wouldn't even be
considering procedures like IV chelation. I know I am. If I saw solid
scientific evidence that chelation would help my children come out of
the fog of autism, would I do it? You bet. If I saw evidence that
bowing three times to the sun at noon would help my kids, I'd do that
too.

So who is right? We really don't know, because we need more
research. But I do know one thing — this issue is dividing an
already divided community of parents and advocates who have more in
common than not. This issue needs to be discussed, but what we don't
need is people who start publishing things accusing others of
"exploiting" the situation. Just because someone is asked for their
opinion on a situation doesn't mean that they are "exploiting" the
situation. If anyone is exploiting the story, it's the press. The
telvision media, newspapers, magazines, and the like.

Maybe something good will come of this tragedy — maybe we'll find
some truth in the matter of mercury poisoning. Maybe someone will
finally say.. "Hey, this needs to be researched."

Immediately following the news story of young Tariq, folks from both
sides were pointing fingers at one another. "This was bound to
happen," say some. Those on the biomedical side of the issue
immediately raised their backs, expecting the "we-told-you-so"
attack. And, rightly so, because they're getting it now. Ironically,
those attacks are coming, once again, from the medical community that
turned their backs on this in the first place.

In conclusion, I'm just asking that the autism community keep their
emotions in check during this difficult time. We will get through
this — together. We need to discuss it, express our opinions, cry
about it, but we need to remember that the issue is not black or
white. A friend of mine said something so true, "if one person were
right about every autism treatment, we'd have the cure." At least I
know that one person sees a touch of grey, and I'm hoping that you
will too.

Warm regards,

Cindy Waeltermann
AutismLink Director

[J.Graham]

Dave –

Why did you feel the need to say that???

As Nancy and Michelle have so nicely and professionally put it, this board is for ABA discussion only. Period.
That does not mean you cannot talk about other treatments other parents choose to pursue, BUT you CAN keep slamming the crap out of them in no less than 6 paragraphs!

What treatments we as parents research and ultimately decide to do to salvage our own childrens childhoods is our choice.
It is hard enough everyday living with the sadness and the rollercoaster of emotions with sometimes no hope in sight. Then to see your own little one in pain and not be able to do a damn thing about it.
This board is not for judging others decisions.

Do us all a favor and take your anger out on something or someone else.
Stick to the rules of the board Dave, anger doesn't belong here.

Jen

[J.Graham]

In all due respect to the FEAT Board Admin, the comment made about chelation therapy being a scientifically UNsubstantiated treatment is incorrect. This treatment is indeed scientifically based with much documentation and studies to support it.

In keeping with and respecting the rules of this chat board, yet without leaving any parent high and dry without an avenue to further research these topics most recently discussed – if anyone is in need of anymore info, please feel free to email me.

Jen

magnolias@telus.net

[J.Graham]

You beat me to it Alan… good work.
Just remember if you must vaccinate – "educate before you vaccinate". I wish I had…

Here's a few more:

http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/thi-table.htm
http://www.cogforlife.org/fetalvaccines.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/contraindications.htm
http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/ingredients.htm
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/ingredients.html
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/ingredients1.html

Jen

[J.Graham]

From The Schafer Report:

NBC Attacks Autism With “Autism: The Hidden Epidemic?”
A Week Long Series On The Networks of NBC News

“Today,” “Nightly News with Brian Williams,” CNBC, MSNBC, NBC Owned and Operated Stations, Telemundo and MSNBC.com will spend the week of February 21 – 26, 2005 looking at autism from all angles.

8:10 A.M. EST and 9:10 A.M. EST The Today Show Monday, February 21 and continuing each day through Friday, February 25, NBC will air a 10-part series on autism spectrum disorders.

TODAY will cover the signs and causes of autism, how it is diagnosed, what educational programs exist, how it affects families, and how parents of autistic children can better advocate for their children.

On Friday, February 25, the week long series will conclude with NBC Universal Chairman and CEO Bob Wright and his wife, Suzanne, appearing on “Today” to launch Autism Speaks, a new foundation created to raise awareness of and find a cure for autism. The Wrights will discuss how autism has touched their family since their eldest grandson was diagnosed a year ago at age two; and how they've been inspired by the determination of the autism community. Check “Today's” website for more details at http://www.today.msnbc.com.

Twice each day that week, MSNBC will re-run the Today Show segments, adding interviews about Autism with live guests. MSNBC will also air segments on autism throughout its news broadcasts all week long.

Nightly News With Brian Williams examines the science of autism: How much more we know about it today and what has changed in the past 50 years in diagnostics and treatments. NBC's chief Health and Science correspondent Robert Bazell revisits a family he profiled five years ago, and reports on
how a daughter's autism has affected the entire family; and “Nightly News” goes to Yale, to take a look at cutting-edge experiments aimed at figuring out the mysterious components of autism, how autistic people experience everyday life and why.

CNBC: At 12:30 p.m eastern time on “Power Lunch,” and 4:45 p.m eastern time on “Closing Bell.” Tuesday through Friday, February 22 – February 25, and also at 1:30 on Friday Feb 25, CNBC will air new pieces focusing on the enormous financial burden on families, funding and research, the rising demand for services, and job training for autistic teenagers. Hosted by “Power Lunch” co-anchor Sue Herera, the series will also discuss autism in the workplace, featuring a profile of a well-known person in business with
Aspergers Syndrome.

MSNBC.com will offer a series of original articles, including an introduction to autism, the latest theories about what has caused the dramatic increase in the disorder, what treatments are available and how
families can cope with a diagnosis. In addition, MSNBC.com offers multiple interactive features, ranging from a comparison of the different treatment options to what signs and symptoms parents should watch for in their
children. NBC's Robert Bazell will discuss the latest news in autism research in an audio Q&A available on line. All of MSNBC.com's coverage and the scripts and interviews from the “Today” show and “Nightly News” will all be available at http://www.autism.msnbc.com.

7 – 8 p.m. EST the weekend of February 19 & 20 (Viewers should check their local program listings for individual airdates), the 14 NBC owned and operated stations on the NBC Universal Television Stations group will focus on the rising autism epidemic.

Produced by KNBC in Los Angeles and hosted by anchor Michele Ruiz, the program will help educate viewers about the disorder and provide important information on possible causes, warning signs, treatments and therapies. The show also examines the enormous impact autism has on the entire family and
documents one family's personal struggles, frustrations and triumphs as they care for their autistic son.
In addition, many NBC affiliates will join this effort by producing local reports on aspects of autism in their own communities and running additional stories on this topic produced by NBC News.

7 – 8 p.m. Saturday, February 26, Telemundo will present “Autismo: Epidemia Silenciosa?” The show will provide viewers with important information on the disorder and explain how families can seek treatment for
their autistic children. KVEA anchor Lucia Navarro will serve as host of the program, which will also explore how the Hispanic community deals with autism and the social stigma that is often associated with mental illness.

Additional information about programming and when viewers can tune in for specific information can be found at http://www.autism.msnbc.com.

Autism statistics are alarming: the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is reporting that as many as one in 166 (60 in 10,000) children in the United States will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. A decade ago, the figure was 1 in 2,500. On February 9, 2005, the CDC announced that autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States.
Currently, it is estimated that 1.77 million Americans are affected by
autism.
And while it is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States, with no known cure, autism is very responsive to early intervention. Awareness of its symptoms is vital information for parents,
and can literally change the lives of the children and families affected by autism.

During the week of February 21, a national campaign led by the CDC and partner organizations will be launched called “Learn the Signs: Act Early.” It aims to educate parents of young children about developmental milestones, signs of developmental delays such as autism and the need to discuss concerns with their child's doctor or nurse. http://www.cdc.gov/actearly

[Brief commentary: The tragic irony about the CDC programs as mentioned above is that the CDC itself may be the leading suspected source of the autism epidemic. If mercury poisoning is the assault that leads to autism, then it has been the CDC’s mandatory mercury-laced vaccine program for infants and toddlers that is the agency of the epidemic. The CDC has increased the amount of resources for research that agency has committed to finding the cause of autism. None of it, of course, investigates their own vaccines. Unlike the NIH, the CDC does not require their scientists to divest their financial interests with pharma. As long as those conflicts persist, very little coming from the CDC should be taken at face value.

Also, there is a question to how deep NBC will go into the controversies surrounding the cause(s) of autism, promotional headline “NBC Attacks Autism” notwithstanding. Since there has been no signs of the CDC or the FDA scrambling to do media damage control – reactions one would expect to see from them as a result of any serious examination of the issues, one should not get one’s hope raised too high that these matters will not get glossed over – otherwise mention of the CDC would be at the head of this press release, where it should be, not at the end. Silent epidemic, still? We’ll see. –L.S.]

[J.Graham]

NBC Series Focusing on Autism

Beginning February 21, 2004 (see specific dates/times in program description)

The description of this series was excerpted from the URL http://www.autismcoalition.org/index.asp

NBC's Today show is preparing a 10-part series that will run the week of February 21 airing at 8:10 AM and 9:10 AM. The series will look at autism from a variety of angles, with segments exploring topics such as etiology, diagnosis, treatment, educational programs, affect on siblings, and how to be an advocate for your autistic child. Be sure to tune in for the "How to be the Best Advocate For Your Child" segment airing on February 24 featuring Autism Coalition board member, Gary Mayerson. He will be interviewed on his new book, "How To Compromise With Your School District Without Compromising Your Child."

In conjunction with the Today show series, CNBC is airing a four-part series from Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 22-25. Segments will air at 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM during CNBC's Power Lunch program. Titled "Autism: Paying the Price," the CNBC series will focus on the financial implications of the disorder, with segments on the financial impact on families, the roles of government and private funding for research, the opportunities in healthcare and pharmaceuticals and autism in the workplace. Both the NBC and CNBC series will feature interviews with leading members of the autism community, from researchers and physicians to activists, educators and parents.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one's thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. Frederick Douglass

The primary role of the grassroots is to send a message to policy-makers that an issue is critical to them. Bobby Silverstein

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