New York, NY (PRWEB) December 27, 2005 -- Jetti Katz Labs (NY,NY) and LookForHealth announce a licensing agreement for the technology developed by Look For Health for its proprietary test panels for gastrointestinal dysfunction in children wih Pervasive Developmental Disorder including those with ADD, ADHD and Autism. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We are more than excited to have a lab of such prestige and renown” come aboard to perform the stool testing” states Dr. Joan Fallon, CEO of Look For Health. “Jetti Katz lab and its medical director Dr. John Asher are well known in the GI community, and Dr. Asher’s presence in this project is an honor” further states Fallon.
Jetti Katz Lab best known for its tropical medicine work has an 80 year history of performing the very testing that is necessary to examine the gastrointestinal health of the children with PDD. Utilized by many fortune 500 companies, its director Dr. John Asher is a nationally recognized expert in the field of tropical medicine, and gastrointestinal health who regularly appears as a expert on TV and radio. His expertise is regularly sought by the medical community both nationally and internationally.
LookForHealth’s proprietary and patented work has demonstrated that children with PDD including ADD, ADHD, and autism have gastrointestinal dysfunction. Questions regarding the gastrointestinal health of children with PDD and other conditions have been placed into question over the last few years. These test panels which include a screening panel and more definitive panels will allow the practitioner a unique window into the gastrointestinal health of the child.
Undigested protein and fat can potentially become allergens and cause substantial problems for the child. Further, these problems can create an environment where pathogens can begin to flourish and these test panels are designed to detect the antigenic presence of pathologic bacteria and viruses which can cause illness in the child.
“This agreement allows the child with autism, ADD and ADHD and others access to the finest laboratory in the US for detecting GI pathogens and functional changes in the gastrointestinal tract.” states Fallon "Dr. Asher’s expertise will no doubt be a value to the thousands of children with these disorders. If a parent or physician are interested in learning more or ordering a testing panel further questions can be addressed by calling: Jetti Katz Labs 212-207-4923 or Look For Health 914-779-9300.
# # #
LOOK FOR HEALTH 914-779-9300
E-mail Information _LFHealth@aol.com_ (mailto:LFHealth@aol.com)
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Article: How Autism Feels
By Kate Goldfield
December 20 2005
Courant.com
People with Asperger's Syndrome, or AS, I learned, have trouble reading social cues and understanding nonverbal language. They have trouble knowing what to say in conversations, when to start speaking and when to stop speaking. They fail to notice subtle conversational cues like change in tone of voice or body posture. In fact, they have trouble with social language in general.
They are often highly intelligent, especially with special interests that they pursue, but have trouble conversing. Because of this, they have trouble making friends and many will go through all of high school and college without having ever really made a good friend.
Sensory issues are very prevalent in people with AS. They can hear the sound of a person tapping their pencil from across the room. The smell of cigarette smoke or cleaning agents will drive them crazy. Lights are either too bright or too dim and they often have a difficult time finding clothes that they can bear wearing because of the way they feel on their skin. Often, they will have sensory overloads and need some time out from an activity to process all that is happening to them.
For this reason, eye contact can hurt. Social interactions for someone with AS can be like trying to put together a 500-piece puzzle before the time is up. We even speak differently; our conversational manner tends to be quite genuine. We say what we're thinking.
It is this genuineness, though, that endears us to many people. We don't play guessing games with people; we say what we mean. As employees and friends, we are loyal. We have the ability to focus completely on tasks of interest for hours at a time and also to remember huge amounts of facts related to our interests quite easily.
Excerpts from full article available at:
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-autism1220.artdec20,0,3741561.story?coll=hc-headlines-oped
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
December 20 2005
Courant.com
People with Asperger's Syndrome, or AS, I learned, have trouble reading social cues and understanding nonverbal language. They have trouble knowing what to say in conversations, when to start speaking and when to stop speaking. They fail to notice subtle conversational cues like change in tone of voice or body posture. In fact, they have trouble with social language in general.
They are often highly intelligent, especially with special interests that they pursue, but have trouble conversing. Because of this, they have trouble making friends and many will go through all of high school and college without having ever really made a good friend.
Sensory issues are very prevalent in people with AS. They can hear the sound of a person tapping their pencil from across the room. The smell of cigarette smoke or cleaning agents will drive them crazy. Lights are either too bright or too dim and they often have a difficult time finding clothes that they can bear wearing because of the way they feel on their skin. Often, they will have sensory overloads and need some time out from an activity to process all that is happening to them.
For this reason, eye contact can hurt. Social interactions for someone with AS can be like trying to put together a 500-piece puzzle before the time is up. We even speak differently; our conversational manner tends to be quite genuine. We say what we're thinking.
It is this genuineness, though, that endears us to many people. We don't play guessing games with people; we say what we mean. As employees and friends, we are loyal. We have the ability to focus completely on tasks of interest for hours at a time and also to remember huge amounts of facts related to our interests quite easily.
Excerpts from full article available at:
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-autism1220.artdec20,0,3741561.story?coll=hc-headlines-oped
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Senate-passed Budget Reconciliation Bill Devastates Programs/Services For People with Disabilities
Disability Policy Colloboration
Vice President Cheney broke a 50-50 tie vote in the Senate this morning to pass one of the worst bills in our nation's history affecting people with disabilities and their families. The bill will provide states license to cut Medicaid services and supports to very low-income Medicaid recipients. It reauthorizes TANF with onerous work requirements that make it almost impossible for TANF recipients with disabilities or those caring for family members with disabilities to meet these requirements while putting states in a financial predicament for maintaining these individuals in the TANF program.
Forty-four Democrats, one Independent and five Republican Senators voted against the report while 50 Republican Senators voted for the report. Find out how your Senator voted by visiting: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00363#position.
During the bill’s debate, Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) raised a “Point of Order” on medical liability and two reports that were required under the bill. Senator Conrad’s point of order was permitted because the Republican leaders were unable to muster the 60 votes necessary to defeat it.
Next Steps
Since the Senate bill now varies from the House-passed version, the Budget Reconciliation Conference Report must go back to the House of Representatives for a final vote on the amended version. This report will now require the House to return to session to pass the revised Reconciliation bill, which could happen later this week or next week.
An Action Alert on the pending House vote on the revised Budget Reconciliation Conference Report will be distributed when the timing of the vote is determined.
What’s The Potential Impact On Our Constituents?
The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy can truthfully say this could be the darkest day in national public policy for people with disabilities due to the scaling back of critical services and supports now serving our constituents. Most low-income people with disabilities rely on Medicaid for their health and long-term care and Congress has now given Governors unprecedented flexibility to raise co-payments on Medicaid’s prescription medicines and therapies. States could also decide to deny certain medical care and long-term supports to those who needed it the most.
Finally, this bill would require some Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries to wait as long as an additional year to receive back benefits owed them by the Social Security Administration.
Passage of this bill represents a huge setback for services and supports for our constituents and their families. If this bill becomes law, State chapters of The Arc and UCP affiliates will now have to work within their states to protect Medicaid programs for our constituents, since implementation of the new policies in the Budget Reconciliation bill will be in the hands of governors and state legislatures.
The Disability Policy Collaboration is extraordinarily appreciative of the leadership of The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy for a tremendous grassroots advocacy effort in the fight against the Budget Reconciliation bill. More information will be provided as the DPC analyzes the bill’s impact.
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
News and Information Bulletin
December 21, 2005
Vice President Cheney broke a 50-50 tie vote in the Senate this morning to pass one of the worst bills in our nation's history affecting people with disabilities and their families. The bill will provide states license to cut Medicaid services and supports to very low-income Medicaid recipients. It reauthorizes TANF with onerous work requirements that make it almost impossible for TANF recipients with disabilities or those caring for family members with disabilities to meet these requirements while putting states in a financial predicament for maintaining these individuals in the TANF program.
Forty-four Democrats, one Independent and five Republican Senators voted against the report while 50 Republican Senators voted for the report. Find out how your Senator voted by visiting: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00363#position.
During the bill’s debate, Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) raised a “Point of Order” on medical liability and two reports that were required under the bill. Senator Conrad’s point of order was permitted because the Republican leaders were unable to muster the 60 votes necessary to defeat it.
Next Steps
Since the Senate bill now varies from the House-passed version, the Budget Reconciliation Conference Report must go back to the House of Representatives for a final vote on the amended version. This report will now require the House to return to session to pass the revised Reconciliation bill, which could happen later this week or next week.
An Action Alert on the pending House vote on the revised Budget Reconciliation Conference Report will be distributed when the timing of the vote is determined.
What’s The Potential Impact On Our Constituents?
The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy can truthfully say this could be the darkest day in national public policy for people with disabilities due to the scaling back of critical services and supports now serving our constituents. Most low-income people with disabilities rely on Medicaid for their health and long-term care and Congress has now given Governors unprecedented flexibility to raise co-payments on Medicaid’s prescription medicines and therapies. States could also decide to deny certain medical care and long-term supports to those who needed it the most.
Finally, this bill would require some Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries to wait as long as an additional year to receive back benefits owed them by the Social Security Administration.
Passage of this bill represents a huge setback for services and supports for our constituents and their families. If this bill becomes law, State chapters of The Arc and UCP affiliates will now have to work within their states to protect Medicaid programs for our constituents, since implementation of the new policies in the Budget Reconciliation bill will be in the hands of governors and state legislatures.
The Disability Policy Collaboration is extraordinarily appreciative of the leadership of The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy for a tremendous grassroots advocacy effort in the fight against the Budget Reconciliation bill. More information will be provided as the DPC analyzes the bill’s impact.
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Action Alert - National Vaccine Information Center
Action Alert - National Vaccine Information Center
As the holidays approach and Congress gets ready to adjourn, some Senators and Representatives in Congress with financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry are trying to pull a fast one on you and your family. These same politicians did the same thing in 2002 when they tried to sneak in liability protection for Big Pharma by inserting the thimerosal rider into the Homeland Security Bill.
Last night, legislators writing the Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations Bill slipped in language in the Conference Report AT THE LAST MINUTE giving vaccine manufacturers TOTAL LIABILITY protection if experimental vaccines injure or kill citizens whenever the Secretary of Health declares an "emergency." That "emergency" could include everything from a "potential" bioterrorism attack to a potentially bad flu year.
And you may not have a choice about whether or not to take those experimental vaccines if your Governor follows the lead of the Secretary of Health, declares an "emergency" in your state and trots out the state militia to arrest, quarantine and forcibly vaccinate you and your family. Laws passed at the state and federal level since September 11, 2001 allow all of this to happen (go to www.nvic.com and read a letter to Col. Robert P. Kadlec, M.D., a staffer to Senator Burr which summarizes state and federal legislation since 9-11.).
But YOU can stand up TODAY and CALL YOUR OWN SENATOR AND CONGRESSPERSON and make your voice heard before it is too late. CALL NOW AND PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM BEING VICTIMIZED BY DRUG COMPANIES AND THEIR ALLIES WHO WANT TO ESCAPE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR VACCINE INJURIES AND DEATHS.
To find out who your Senator is, go to www.senate.gov
To find out who your Representative is go to www.house.gov .
CALL YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE by dialing 202-224-3121. Capitol Switchboard Toll-free number is 800-839-5276.
Every call or fax makes a difference. DON'T GIVE UP! OUR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD!
http://search.csmonitor.com/search_content/1215/p13s02-uspo.html
The Christian Science Monitor
December 15, 2005 edition
A measure to shield drug manufacturers from lawsuits in an effort to encourage them to develop new vaccines is likely to be quietly attached to a "must pass" defense appropriation bill within the next few days.
"It looks like the liability-protection language is in [the defense bill], which will be very difficult for [members of Congress] to vote against," says Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center, a consumer watchdog group in Vienna, Va. Backers of the liability shield, led by Senate majority leader Bill Frist (R) of Tennessee, "were very smart in that strategy," says Ms. Fisher, who calls it "a threat to civil rights, to access to the judicial system, and to human rights."
The possibility of an avian flu epidemic, as well as the use of biological weapons, have spurred interest in stepping up production of new vaccines. Shield-law proponents has argued for years that the world's giant drugmakers, so-called Big Pharma, would never take much interest in that arena until they were given strong protections against lawsuits.
You "want to harness" Big Pharma "to really kick this thing off," says Christopher-Paul Milne, assistant director of the Center for the Study of Drug Development at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. "They have the resources and the expertise and the manufacturing capacity to get [development of new vaccines] done in a short period of time."
Today, five or six big companies are making vaccines compared with more than 20 several decades ago, Dr. Milne says. "Some of that is because of the consolidation of the companies," he says, but some is the result of the high risk. To attract Big Pharma, "the potential rewards are going to have to be high," he says. In a national emergency, vaccines might have to be produced quickly, and perhaps without sufficient testing. In that kind of high-risk scenario, "you're talking about the need for liability protection," he says.
Excerpts from full article available at: http://search.csmonitor.com/search_content/1215/p13s02-uspo.html
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
As the holidays approach and Congress gets ready to adjourn, some Senators and Representatives in Congress with financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry are trying to pull a fast one on you and your family. These same politicians did the same thing in 2002 when they tried to sneak in liability protection for Big Pharma by inserting the thimerosal rider into the Homeland Security Bill.
Last night, legislators writing the Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations Bill slipped in language in the Conference Report AT THE LAST MINUTE giving vaccine manufacturers TOTAL LIABILITY protection if experimental vaccines injure or kill citizens whenever the Secretary of Health declares an "emergency." That "emergency" could include everything from a "potential" bioterrorism attack to a potentially bad flu year.
And you may not have a choice about whether or not to take those experimental vaccines if your Governor follows the lead of the Secretary of Health, declares an "emergency" in your state and trots out the state militia to arrest, quarantine and forcibly vaccinate you and your family. Laws passed at the state and federal level since September 11, 2001 allow all of this to happen (go to www.nvic.com and read a letter to Col. Robert P. Kadlec, M.D., a staffer to Senator Burr which summarizes state and federal legislation since 9-11.).
But YOU can stand up TODAY and CALL YOUR OWN SENATOR AND CONGRESSPERSON and make your voice heard before it is too late. CALL NOW AND PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM BEING VICTIMIZED BY DRUG COMPANIES AND THEIR ALLIES WHO WANT TO ESCAPE ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR VACCINE INJURIES AND DEATHS.
To find out who your Senator is, go to www.senate.gov
To find out who your Representative is go to www.house.gov .
CALL YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE by dialing 202-224-3121. Capitol Switchboard Toll-free number is 800-839-5276.
Every call or fax makes a difference. DON'T GIVE UP! OUR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD!
http://search.csmonitor.com/search_content/1215/p13s02-uspo.html
The Christian Science Monitor
December 15, 2005 edition
A measure to shield drug manufacturers from lawsuits in an effort to encourage them to develop new vaccines is likely to be quietly attached to a "must pass" defense appropriation bill within the next few days.
"It looks like the liability-protection language is in [the defense bill], which will be very difficult for [members of Congress] to vote against," says Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center, a consumer watchdog group in Vienna, Va. Backers of the liability shield, led by Senate majority leader Bill Frist (R) of Tennessee, "were very smart in that strategy," says Ms. Fisher, who calls it "a threat to civil rights, to access to the judicial system, and to human rights."
The possibility of an avian flu epidemic, as well as the use of biological weapons, have spurred interest in stepping up production of new vaccines. Shield-law proponents has argued for years that the world's giant drugmakers, so-called Big Pharma, would never take much interest in that arena until they were given strong protections against lawsuits.
You "want to harness" Big Pharma "to really kick this thing off," says Christopher-Paul Milne, assistant director of the Center for the Study of Drug Development at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. "They have the resources and the expertise and the manufacturing capacity to get [development of new vaccines] done in a short period of time."
Today, five or six big companies are making vaccines compared with more than 20 several decades ago, Dr. Milne says. "Some of that is because of the consolidation of the companies," he says, but some is the result of the high risk. To attract Big Pharma, "the potential rewards are going to have to be high," he says. In a national emergency, vaccines might have to be produced quickly, and perhaps without sufficient testing. In that kind of high-risk scenario, "you're talking about the need for liability protection," he says.
Excerpts from full article available at: http://search.csmonitor.com/search_content/1215/p13s02-uspo.html
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Text remarks of Dr. Kenneth Stoller to NM Bd of Pharmacy
PR Web (press release), WA
November 10, 2005
New Mexico Board of Pharmacy to Hear Petition to Limit Exposure to Aspartameand Thimerosal
Dr. Kenneth Stoller, Santa Fe Pediatrician and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, has released the text of his remarks to be made on November 14th 2005, at the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy's next meeting.Santa Fe, NM
(PRWEB) November 10, 2005 -- Dr. Kenneth Stoller, Santa Fe Pediatrician and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, has released the text of his remarks to be made on November 14th 2005, at the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy's next meeting.
He is requesting that the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy issue an immediate advisory so that all New Mexicans who desire to receive the current flu vaccine receive information about what is being injected in terms of the amount of neurotoxic mercury in the vaccine, which is a labeling omission, and thus a violation of the New Mexico Drug Act (NMSA 2-1-9). Stoller further requests that the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy prohibit the use of this flu vaccine containing thimerosal to all New Mexico pregnant woman and children under 50 lbs.
Speech to new mexico pharmacy board on november (Advance copy):
"There is an acute public health issue that very few understand even though several states have banned or limited the use of vaccines containing Thimerosal. In the months and years to come this iatrogenic poisoning of Americans and New Mexicans will be fully understood; what you decide to do here today will be noted in the not too distant future.
The mercury-based preservative, Thimerosal (49.6% ethyl mercury), has been used in killed bacterial vaccines since the 1930's without ever having undergone adequate testing for toxicity. In the past two decades, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have added many more vaccines containing Thimerosal to the routine vaccination schedule for all children and states have mandated these vaccines, children have been exposed to much higher levels of mercury through vaccination. During this same time period, childhood developmental disabilities have dramatically increased to the point where today the CDC estimates 1 in 6 American children is developmentally delayed with a diagnosis of autism, learning disabilities, attention problems or other learning or behavioral problems. The CDC estimates that 1 in 166 American children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (the incidence in boys is more like 1 in every 100). Clinical and scientific evidence is now emerging which is linking mercury-containing vaccines to the regressive type of autism in some children. There has been a 2000% increase in reported cases of autism in New Mexico in the last decade.
Mercury is an in controvertibly proven neuro-toxin that has been proven to cause brain damage in the developing fetus as well as to children and adults exposed to it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed guidelines for limiting mercury exposures to humans from many different sources, including air and water pollution; contaminated foods, such as tuna; as well as in products sold over-the-counter, such as contact lens solution.
In 1999, the AAP and the Public Health Service (PHS) asked that Thimerosal be eliminated in childhood vaccines, and the EPA and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed the vaccine manufacturers to remove mercury from childhood vaccines. This did not occur immediately, and six years later, has still not yet been fully realized.
Since 1999, vaccine manufacturers have been reducing the amount of mercury preservatives in killed bacterial vaccines (live virus vaccines such as MMR and chicken pox do not contain Thimerosal) and some now only contain trace amounts, depending upon the vaccine manufacturer, type of vaccine and whether the vaccine is being packaged in multi-dose or single-dose vials. Single-dose vials of killed bacterial vaccines usually only contain trace amounts of mercury.
The thimerosal vaccines were never recalled and lots of the thimerosal vaccines didn't expire till September of this year. So, it has only been in the last two years that most children stopped receiving most of the thimerosal laden routine vaccinations.
In 1995, a 10 pound two month old infant who got the CDC and AAP recommended DPT and HIB vaccines could have been 110 times over the EPA limit and an 18 pound six month old given the recommended DPT, HIB, and Hep B vaccines could have been 76 times over the EPA limit, depending upon the manufacturers of the vaccines.
Ten years later, in 2005, a 10 pound two month old baby who receives the recommended DTaP, HIB, IPV, and pneumococcal vaccines may or may not be at all over the EPA limit for single mercury exposure, depending upon the manufacturers, while an 18 pound six month old who got these vaccines as well as a dose of flu vaccine, could be 31 times over the EPA limit.
A 125 pound teenager or adult, who gets a recommended flu and meningococcal vaccination, could be 4-8 times over the EPA limit for a single mercury exposure, depending upon the manufacturers. A teen or adult who got a mercury-containing flu vaccine would have to weigh 551 pounds to be under the EPA limit for a single mercury exposure.
On January 14, 2005, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR from the HHS/CDC printed a white paper entitled "Case Definitions for Chemical Poisoning." On page 12, the definition for organic mercury toxicity is defined as >10 mcg/L in whole blood. In other words, aside form the EPA, we now have the CDC stating what their definition of a chemical toxicity is for organic mercury.
All the flu vaccine destined for children three years old and older in New Mexico contain thimerosal, which means they will be receiving 25 mcg of organic mercury per dose.
A rough estimate of total blood is 16% of body weight. So, for a 30 lb.child (13.64 kilograms or liters, which is the average weight of a 3 year old), this would be 13.64 X 0.16 = 2.18 liters of blood.
All the ethylmercury moves thru the blood initially at 25mcg/2.18L or 11.48mcg/liter. This meets the definition of a chemical toxicity by the CDC. However, ethylmercury doesn't stay in the blood long and is assimilated into the body where it does the damage to the brain and potentially other organs as well, such as the heart.
Giving a three year old child the flu vaccine will raise their blood levelof organic mercury beyond what the CDC has defined as a chemical poisoning.
Furthermore, the MMWR toxicity level of 10mcg/liter is based on mercury inhalation of older factory workers and also on individuals with normalability to excrete mercury. This does not represent the subsets, such as autistic children, that are deficient in their ability to excrete mercury.
Therefore, the current flu vaccine will deliver a dose of organic mercury to 3 year old that meets the definition of a chemical poisoning by the MMWR, CDC and HHS. Furthermore, the recommended schedule requires that this dose be given twice (one month apart).
It is of interest to note that the EPA considers any material that has greater than 200 ppb of mercury to be hazardous waste. The flu vaccine, as well as tetanus booster, has thimerosal levels that exceed this value by 250 times or 50,000 ppb mercury.
The Manufacturer's inserts, the package labeling, do not address nor do they warn about the dangerous levels of organic mercury being given. This omission is in violation of the New Mexico Drug Act, section 26-1-9.
Given that most New Mexicans have yet to receive this year's flu vaccine, thanks to delivery delays, there is still time for the Board of Pharmacy to issue an advisory that informs the public of this labeling oversight if action is taken immediately. The violation of the Drug Act was not caught before now, but having so come to the fore, the Board of Pharmacy must take immediate action to defend the health and welfare of the citizens of our state, and uphold the integrity of the existing statues of the NM Drug Act itself.
Even though I have just presented the cold facts about thimerosal (facts that can be backed up with references) - we all wonder, "How can this be? How did it come to this? How was this allowed to happen?" We must leave the answers to these questions to others. Perhaps the State Attorney General's office?
Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to perform here and the Board of Pharmacy has the regulatory power to perform it. As the truth about Thimerosal and Aspartame becomes better know to our state's citizens, New Mexicans will expect no less of their Board of Pharmacy.
Proposed Additions to New Mexico Administrative Code that permanently bans the use of the neurotoxins thimerosal and aspartame have been presented to you to act upon. Giving neurotoxins to children, pregnant woman, and the rest of us under the guise of improving our health is a violation of human rights as well as numerous New Mexico Statutes. Certainly, there is absolutely no need for you to capitulate to industry's demands of acquiescence and capitulation to the FDA and its sloppy industry-manipulated substandards, both in the case of Aspartame and in the case of Thimerosal.
Please schedule the necessary evidentiary hearings before the Board of Pharmacy at your earliest convenience.
I am requesting that you issue an immediate advisory so that all NewMexicans who desire to receive the current flu vaccine receive informationabout what is being injected as there has been a labeling omission(violation). And lastly, I request that you prohibit the use of this fluvaccine that contains thimerosal to all pregnant woman and children under 50lbs.
Thank you."
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
November 10, 2005
New Mexico Board of Pharmacy to Hear Petition to Limit Exposure to Aspartameand Thimerosal
Dr. Kenneth Stoller, Santa Fe Pediatrician and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, has released the text of his remarks to be made on November 14th 2005, at the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy's next meeting.Santa Fe, NM
(PRWEB) November 10, 2005 -- Dr. Kenneth Stoller, Santa Fe Pediatrician and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, has released the text of his remarks to be made on November 14th 2005, at the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy's next meeting.
He is requesting that the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy issue an immediate advisory so that all New Mexicans who desire to receive the current flu vaccine receive information about what is being injected in terms of the amount of neurotoxic mercury in the vaccine, which is a labeling omission, and thus a violation of the New Mexico Drug Act (NMSA 2-1-9). Stoller further requests that the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy prohibit the use of this flu vaccine containing thimerosal to all New Mexico pregnant woman and children under 50 lbs.
Speech to new mexico pharmacy board on november (Advance copy):
"There is an acute public health issue that very few understand even though several states have banned or limited the use of vaccines containing Thimerosal. In the months and years to come this iatrogenic poisoning of Americans and New Mexicans will be fully understood; what you decide to do here today will be noted in the not too distant future.
The mercury-based preservative, Thimerosal (49.6% ethyl mercury), has been used in killed bacterial vaccines since the 1930's without ever having undergone adequate testing for toxicity. In the past two decades, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have added many more vaccines containing Thimerosal to the routine vaccination schedule for all children and states have mandated these vaccines, children have been exposed to much higher levels of mercury through vaccination. During this same time period, childhood developmental disabilities have dramatically increased to the point where today the CDC estimates 1 in 6 American children is developmentally delayed with a diagnosis of autism, learning disabilities, attention problems or other learning or behavioral problems. The CDC estimates that 1 in 166 American children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (the incidence in boys is more like 1 in every 100). Clinical and scientific evidence is now emerging which is linking mercury-containing vaccines to the regressive type of autism in some children. There has been a 2000% increase in reported cases of autism in New Mexico in the last decade.
Mercury is an in controvertibly proven neuro-toxin that has been proven to cause brain damage in the developing fetus as well as to children and adults exposed to it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed guidelines for limiting mercury exposures to humans from many different sources, including air and water pollution; contaminated foods, such as tuna; as well as in products sold over-the-counter, such as contact lens solution.
In 1999, the AAP and the Public Health Service (PHS) asked that Thimerosal be eliminated in childhood vaccines, and the EPA and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed the vaccine manufacturers to remove mercury from childhood vaccines. This did not occur immediately, and six years later, has still not yet been fully realized.
Since 1999, vaccine manufacturers have been reducing the amount of mercury preservatives in killed bacterial vaccines (live virus vaccines such as MMR and chicken pox do not contain Thimerosal) and some now only contain trace amounts, depending upon the vaccine manufacturer, type of vaccine and whether the vaccine is being packaged in multi-dose or single-dose vials. Single-dose vials of killed bacterial vaccines usually only contain trace amounts of mercury.
The thimerosal vaccines were never recalled and lots of the thimerosal vaccines didn't expire till September of this year. So, it has only been in the last two years that most children stopped receiving most of the thimerosal laden routine vaccinations.
In 1995, a 10 pound two month old infant who got the CDC and AAP recommended DPT and HIB vaccines could have been 110 times over the EPA limit and an 18 pound six month old given the recommended DPT, HIB, and Hep B vaccines could have been 76 times over the EPA limit, depending upon the manufacturers of the vaccines.
Ten years later, in 2005, a 10 pound two month old baby who receives the recommended DTaP, HIB, IPV, and pneumococcal vaccines may or may not be at all over the EPA limit for single mercury exposure, depending upon the manufacturers, while an 18 pound six month old who got these vaccines as well as a dose of flu vaccine, could be 31 times over the EPA limit.
A 125 pound teenager or adult, who gets a recommended flu and meningococcal vaccination, could be 4-8 times over the EPA limit for a single mercury exposure, depending upon the manufacturers. A teen or adult who got a mercury-containing flu vaccine would have to weigh 551 pounds to be under the EPA limit for a single mercury exposure.
On January 14, 2005, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR from the HHS/CDC printed a white paper entitled "Case Definitions for Chemical Poisoning." On page 12, the definition for organic mercury toxicity is defined as >10 mcg/L in whole blood. In other words, aside form the EPA, we now have the CDC stating what their definition of a chemical toxicity is for organic mercury.
All the flu vaccine destined for children three years old and older in New Mexico contain thimerosal, which means they will be receiving 25 mcg of organic mercury per dose.
A rough estimate of total blood is 16% of body weight. So, for a 30 lb.child (13.64 kilograms or liters, which is the average weight of a 3 year old), this would be 13.64 X 0.16 = 2.18 liters of blood.
All the ethylmercury moves thru the blood initially at 25mcg/2.18L or 11.48mcg/liter. This meets the definition of a chemical toxicity by the CDC. However, ethylmercury doesn't stay in the blood long and is assimilated into the body where it does the damage to the brain and potentially other organs as well, such as the heart.
Giving a three year old child the flu vaccine will raise their blood levelof organic mercury beyond what the CDC has defined as a chemical poisoning.
Furthermore, the MMWR toxicity level of 10mcg/liter is based on mercury inhalation of older factory workers and also on individuals with normalability to excrete mercury. This does not represent the subsets, such as autistic children, that are deficient in their ability to excrete mercury.
Therefore, the current flu vaccine will deliver a dose of organic mercury to 3 year old that meets the definition of a chemical poisoning by the MMWR, CDC and HHS. Furthermore, the recommended schedule requires that this dose be given twice (one month apart).
It is of interest to note that the EPA considers any material that has greater than 200 ppb of mercury to be hazardous waste. The flu vaccine, as well as tetanus booster, has thimerosal levels that exceed this value by 250 times or 50,000 ppb mercury.
The Manufacturer's inserts, the package labeling, do not address nor do they warn about the dangerous levels of organic mercury being given. This omission is in violation of the New Mexico Drug Act, section 26-1-9.
Given that most New Mexicans have yet to receive this year's flu vaccine, thanks to delivery delays, there is still time for the Board of Pharmacy to issue an advisory that informs the public of this labeling oversight if action is taken immediately. The violation of the Drug Act was not caught before now, but having so come to the fore, the Board of Pharmacy must take immediate action to defend the health and welfare of the citizens of our state, and uphold the integrity of the existing statues of the NM Drug Act itself.
Even though I have just presented the cold facts about thimerosal (facts that can be backed up with references) - we all wonder, "How can this be? How did it come to this? How was this allowed to happen?" We must leave the answers to these questions to others. Perhaps the State Attorney General's office?
Nevertheless, we have a responsibility to perform here and the Board of Pharmacy has the regulatory power to perform it. As the truth about Thimerosal and Aspartame becomes better know to our state's citizens, New Mexicans will expect no less of their Board of Pharmacy.
Proposed Additions to New Mexico Administrative Code that permanently bans the use of the neurotoxins thimerosal and aspartame have been presented to you to act upon. Giving neurotoxins to children, pregnant woman, and the rest of us under the guise of improving our health is a violation of human rights as well as numerous New Mexico Statutes. Certainly, there is absolutely no need for you to capitulate to industry's demands of acquiescence and capitulation to the FDA and its sloppy industry-manipulated substandards, both in the case of Aspartame and in the case of Thimerosal.
Please schedule the necessary evidentiary hearings before the Board of Pharmacy at your earliest convenience.
I am requesting that you issue an immediate advisory so that all NewMexicans who desire to receive the current flu vaccine receive informationabout what is being injected as there has been a labeling omission(violation). And lastly, I request that you prohibit the use of this fluvaccine that contains thimerosal to all pregnant woman and children under 50lbs.
Thank you."
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Surprising autism finding
Medical Research News
Published: Tuesday, 13-Dec-2005
New brain imaging research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates that when people with autism look at a face, activity in the brain area that responds is similar to that of people without autism.
The finding is surprising, as it is widely known that autistic individuals tend to avoid looking directly at faces. The research also counters previous published reports that the face-processing area at the back of the brain is under-responsive in people with autism, and it suggests that specific behavioral interventions may help people with autism improve their ability to interact socially.
They propose that the use of behavioral interventions aimed, perhaps, at de-sensitizing autistic individuals to the anxiety triggered by looking at faces may help to improve the quality of social interactions, at least from the perspective of caregivers and others involved with them. "The idea is that maybe behavioral methods can help a child with autism approach facial stimuli without anxiety. This is strictly conjecture, but it is a tantalizing possibility," Dichter said.
Excerpts from full article available at: http://www.med.unc.edu/
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com
Published: Tuesday, 13-Dec-2005
New brain imaging research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates that when people with autism look at a face, activity in the brain area that responds is similar to that of people without autism.
The finding is surprising, as it is widely known that autistic individuals tend to avoid looking directly at faces. The research also counters previous published reports that the face-processing area at the back of the brain is under-responsive in people with autism, and it suggests that specific behavioral interventions may help people with autism improve their ability to interact socially.
They propose that the use of behavioral interventions aimed, perhaps, at de-sensitizing autistic individuals to the anxiety triggered by looking at faces may help to improve the quality of social interactions, at least from the perspective of caregivers and others involved with them. "The idea is that maybe behavioral methods can help a child with autism approach facial stimuli without anxiety. This is strictly conjecture, but it is a tantalizing possibility," Dichter said.
Excerpts from full article available at: http://www.med.unc.edu/
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com
Monday, December 12, 2005
New Clinical Trial for Gastrointestinal Problems in Autistic Children in Baton Rouge
Gulf Coast Research, LLC Opens Clinical Trial Site in Baton Rouge to Research an Investigational Medicine for Gastrointestinal Problems in Autistic Children
BATON ROUGE, La., December 08, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Gulf Coast Research, LLC has begun accepting candidates for a research study to evaluate an investigational medication for persistent gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in autistic children. Gulf Coast Research, LLC is one of only 12 sites in the nation to be selected to participate in this medical study.
The study aims to determine the impact on GI function through treatment as well as assess the effect of GI symptoms on physical or emotional behavior.
To be considered for participation in the study, a child must be between 2 and 17 years of age; be diagnosed with autism, and experience some of the following symptoms:
* Chronic diarrhea or constipation
* Bloating
* Gas
* Abdominal pain
Research volunteers will receive study medication and medical care at no cost to the family.
For more information contact Michelle Hurst (225) 757-1084, email: michelle@gulfcoastra.com.
Full article available at: http://www.medadnews.com/News/Index.cfm?articleid=297386#
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
BATON ROUGE, La., December 08, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Gulf Coast Research, LLC has begun accepting candidates for a research study to evaluate an investigational medication for persistent gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in autistic children. Gulf Coast Research, LLC is one of only 12 sites in the nation to be selected to participate in this medical study.
The study aims to determine the impact on GI function through treatment as well as assess the effect of GI symptoms on physical or emotional behavior.
To be considered for participation in the study, a child must be between 2 and 17 years of age; be diagnosed with autism, and experience some of the following symptoms:
* Chronic diarrhea or constipation
* Bloating
* Gas
* Abdominal pain
Research volunteers will receive study medication and medical care at no cost to the family.
For more information contact Michelle Hurst (225) 757-1084, email: michelle@gulfcoastra.com.
Full article available at: http://www.medadnews.com/News/Index.cfm?articleid=297386#
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
The Age of Autism: 'A pretty big secret'
By Dan Olmsted
UPI Senior Editor
CHICAGO, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- It's a far piece from the horse-and-buggies of Lancaster County, Pa., to the cars and freeways of Cook County, Ill.
But thousands of children cared for by Homefirst Health Services in metropolitan Chicago have at least two things in common with thousands of Amish children in rural Lancaster: They have never been vaccinated. And they don't have autism.
"We have a fairly large practice. We have about 30,000 or 35,000 children that we've taken care of over the years, and I don't think we have a single case of autism in children delivered by us who never received vaccines," said Dr. Mayer Eisenstein, Homefirst's medical director who founded the practice in 1973. Homefirst doctors have delivered more than 15,000 babies at home, and thousands of them have never been vaccinated.
The few autistic children Homefirst sees were vaccinated before their families became patients, Eisenstein said. "I can think of two or three autistic children who we've delivered their mother's next baby, and we aren't really totally taking care of that child -- they have special care needs. But they bring the younger children to us. I don't have a single case that I can think of that wasn't vaccinated."
The autism rate in Illinois public schools is 38 per 10,000, according to state Education Department data; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the national rate of autism spectrum disorders at 1 in 166 -- 60 per 10,000.
"We do have enough of a sample," Eisenstein said. "The numbers are too large to not see it. We would absolutely know. We're all family doctors. If I have a child with autism come in, there's no communication. It's frightening. You can't touch them. It's not something that anyone would miss."
No one knows what causes autism, but federal health authorities say it isn't childhood immunizations. Some parents and a small minority of doctors and scientists, however, assert vaccines are responsible.
This column has been looking for autism in never-vaccinated U.S. children in an effort to shed light on the issue. We went to Chicago to meet with Eisenstein at the suggestion of a reader, and we also visited Homefirst's office in northwest suburban Rolling Meadows. Homefirst has four other offices in the Chicago area and a total of six doctors.
Eisenstein stresses his observations are not scientific. "The trouble is this is just anecdotal in a sense, because what if every autistic child goes somewhere else and (their family) never calls us or they moved out of state?"
In practice, that's unlikely to account for the pronounced absence of autism, says Eisenstein, who also has a bachelor's degree in statistics, a master's degree in public health and a law degree.
Homefirst follows state immunization mandates, but Illinois allows religious exemptions if parents object based either on tenets of their faith or specific personal religious views. Homefirst does not exclude or discourage such families. Eisenstein, in fact, is author of the book "Don't Vaccinate Before You Educate!" and is critical of the CDC's vaccination policy in the 1990s, when several new immunizations were added to the schedule, including Hepatitis B as early as the day of birth. Several of the vaccines -- HepB included -- contained a mercury-based preservative that has since been phased out of most childhood vaccines in the United States.
Medical practices with Homefirst's approach to immunizations are rare. "Because of that, we tend to attract families that have questions about that issue," said Dr. Paul Schattauer, who has been with Homefirst for 20 years and treats "at least" 100 children a week.
Schattauer seconded Eisenstein's observations. "All I know is in my practice I don't see autism. There is no striking 1-in-166," he said.
Earlier this year we reported the same phenomenon in the mostly unvaccinated Amish. CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding told us the Amish "have genetic connectivity that would make them different from populations that are in other sectors of the United States." Gerberding said, however, studies "could and should be done" in more representative unvaccinated groups -- if they could be found and their autism rate documented.
Chicago is America's prototypical "City of Big Shoulders," to quote Carl Sandburg, and Homefirst's mostly middle-class families seem fairly representative. A substantial number are conservative Christians who home-school their children. They are mostly white, but the Homefirst practice also includes black and Hispanic families and non-home-schooling Jews, Catholics and Muslims.
They tend to be better educated, follow healthier diets and breast-feed their children much longer than the norm -- half of Homefirst's mothers are still breast-feeding at two years. Also, because Homefirst relies less on prescription drugs including antibiotics as a first line of treatment, these children have less exposure to other medicines, not just vaccines.
Schattauer, interviewed at the Rolling Meadows office, said his caseload is too limited to draw conclusions about a possible link between vaccines and autism. "With these numbers you'd have a hard time proving or disproving anything," he said. "You can only get a feeling about it.
"In no way would I be an advocate to stand up and say we need to look at vaccines, because I don't have the science to say that," Schattauer said. "But I don't think the science is there to say that it's not."
Schattauer said Homefirst's patients also have significantly less childhood asthma and juvenile diabetes compared to national rates. An office manager who has been with Homefirst for 17 years said she is aware of only one case of severe asthma in an unvaccinated child.
"Sometimes you feel frustrated because you feel like you've got a pretty big secret," Schattauer said. He argues for more research on all those disorders, independent of political or business pressures.
The asthma rate among Homefirst patients is so low it was noticed by the Blue Cross group with which Homefirst is affiliated, according to Eisenstein.
"In the alternative-medicine network which Homefirst is part of, there are virtually no cases of childhood asthma, in contrast to the overall Blue Cross rate of childhood asthma which is approximately 10 percent," he said. "At first I thought it was because they (Homefirst's children) were breast-fed, but even among the breast-fed we've had asthma. We have virtually no asthma if you're breast-fed and not vaccinated."
Because the diagnosis of asthma is based on emergency-room visits and hospital admissions, Eisenstein said, Homefirst's low rate is hard to dispute. "It's quantifiable -- the definition is not reliant on the doctor's perception of asthma."
Several studies have found a risk of asthma from vaccination; others have not. Studies that include never-vaccinated children generally find little or no asthma in that group.
Earlier this year Florida pediatrician Dr. Jeff Bradstreet said there is virtually no autism in home-schooling families who decline to vaccinate for religious reasons -- lending credence to Eisenstein's observations.
"It's largely non-existent," said Bradstreet, who treats children with autism from around the country. "It's an extremely rare event."
Bradstreet has a son whose autism he attributes to a vaccine reaction at 15 months. His daughter has been home-schooled, he describes himself as a "Christian family physician," and he knows many of the leaders in the home-school movement.
"There was this whole subculture of folks who went into home-schooling so they would never have to vaccinate their kids," he said. "There's this whole cadre who were never vaccinated for religious reasons."
In that subset, he said, "unless they were massively exposed to mercury through lots of amalgams (mercury dental fillings in the mother) and/or big-time fish eating, I've not had a single case."
Federal health authorities and mainstream medical groups emphatically dismiss any link between autism and vaccines, including the mercury-based preservative thimerosal. Last year a panel of the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies, said there is no evidence of such a link, and funding should henceforth go to "promising" research.
Thimerosal, which is 49.6 percent ethyl mercury by weight, was phased out of most U.S. childhood immunizations beginning in 1999, but the CDC recommends flu shots for pregnant women and last year began recommending them for children 6 to 23 months old. Most of those shots contain thimerosal.
Thimerosal-preserved vaccines are currently being injected into millions of children in developing countries around the world. "My mandate ... is to make sure at the end of the day that 100,000,000 are immunized ... this year, next year and for many years to come ... and that will have to be with thimerosal-containing vaccines," said John Clements of the World Health Organization at a June 2000 meeting called by the CDC.
That meeting was held to review data that thimerosal might be linked with autism and other neurological problems. But in 2004 the Institute of Medicine panel said evidence against a link is so strong that health authorities, "whether in the United States or other countries, should not include autism as a potential risk" when formulating immunization policies.
But where is the simple, straightforward study of autism in never-vaccinated U.S. children? Based on our admittedly anecdotal and limited reporting among the Amish, the home-schooled and now Chicago's Homefirst, that may prove to be a significant omission.
This ongoing series on the roots and rise of autism welcomes comment. E-mail: dolmsted@upi.com
© Copyright 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
UPI Senior Editor
CHICAGO, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- It's a far piece from the horse-and-buggies of Lancaster County, Pa., to the cars and freeways of Cook County, Ill.
But thousands of children cared for by Homefirst Health Services in metropolitan Chicago have at least two things in common with thousands of Amish children in rural Lancaster: They have never been vaccinated. And they don't have autism.
"We have a fairly large practice. We have about 30,000 or 35,000 children that we've taken care of over the years, and I don't think we have a single case of autism in children delivered by us who never received vaccines," said Dr. Mayer Eisenstein, Homefirst's medical director who founded the practice in 1973. Homefirst doctors have delivered more than 15,000 babies at home, and thousands of them have never been vaccinated.
The few autistic children Homefirst sees were vaccinated before their families became patients, Eisenstein said. "I can think of two or three autistic children who we've delivered their mother's next baby, and we aren't really totally taking care of that child -- they have special care needs. But they bring the younger children to us. I don't have a single case that I can think of that wasn't vaccinated."
The autism rate in Illinois public schools is 38 per 10,000, according to state Education Department data; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the national rate of autism spectrum disorders at 1 in 166 -- 60 per 10,000.
"We do have enough of a sample," Eisenstein said. "The numbers are too large to not see it. We would absolutely know. We're all family doctors. If I have a child with autism come in, there's no communication. It's frightening. You can't touch them. It's not something that anyone would miss."
No one knows what causes autism, but federal health authorities say it isn't childhood immunizations. Some parents and a small minority of doctors and scientists, however, assert vaccines are responsible.
This column has been looking for autism in never-vaccinated U.S. children in an effort to shed light on the issue. We went to Chicago to meet with Eisenstein at the suggestion of a reader, and we also visited Homefirst's office in northwest suburban Rolling Meadows. Homefirst has four other offices in the Chicago area and a total of six doctors.
Eisenstein stresses his observations are not scientific. "The trouble is this is just anecdotal in a sense, because what if every autistic child goes somewhere else and (their family) never calls us or they moved out of state?"
In practice, that's unlikely to account for the pronounced absence of autism, says Eisenstein, who also has a bachelor's degree in statistics, a master's degree in public health and a law degree.
Homefirst follows state immunization mandates, but Illinois allows religious exemptions if parents object based either on tenets of their faith or specific personal religious views. Homefirst does not exclude or discourage such families. Eisenstein, in fact, is author of the book "Don't Vaccinate Before You Educate!" and is critical of the CDC's vaccination policy in the 1990s, when several new immunizations were added to the schedule, including Hepatitis B as early as the day of birth. Several of the vaccines -- HepB included -- contained a mercury-based preservative that has since been phased out of most childhood vaccines in the United States.
Medical practices with Homefirst's approach to immunizations are rare. "Because of that, we tend to attract families that have questions about that issue," said Dr. Paul Schattauer, who has been with Homefirst for 20 years and treats "at least" 100 children a week.
Schattauer seconded Eisenstein's observations. "All I know is in my practice I don't see autism. There is no striking 1-in-166," he said.
Earlier this year we reported the same phenomenon in the mostly unvaccinated Amish. CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding told us the Amish "have genetic connectivity that would make them different from populations that are in other sectors of the United States." Gerberding said, however, studies "could and should be done" in more representative unvaccinated groups -- if they could be found and their autism rate documented.
Chicago is America's prototypical "City of Big Shoulders," to quote Carl Sandburg, and Homefirst's mostly middle-class families seem fairly representative. A substantial number are conservative Christians who home-school their children. They are mostly white, but the Homefirst practice also includes black and Hispanic families and non-home-schooling Jews, Catholics and Muslims.
They tend to be better educated, follow healthier diets and breast-feed their children much longer than the norm -- half of Homefirst's mothers are still breast-feeding at two years. Also, because Homefirst relies less on prescription drugs including antibiotics as a first line of treatment, these children have less exposure to other medicines, not just vaccines.
Schattauer, interviewed at the Rolling Meadows office, said his caseload is too limited to draw conclusions about a possible link between vaccines and autism. "With these numbers you'd have a hard time proving or disproving anything," he said. "You can only get a feeling about it.
"In no way would I be an advocate to stand up and say we need to look at vaccines, because I don't have the science to say that," Schattauer said. "But I don't think the science is there to say that it's not."
Schattauer said Homefirst's patients also have significantly less childhood asthma and juvenile diabetes compared to national rates. An office manager who has been with Homefirst for 17 years said she is aware of only one case of severe asthma in an unvaccinated child.
"Sometimes you feel frustrated because you feel like you've got a pretty big secret," Schattauer said. He argues for more research on all those disorders, independent of political or business pressures.
The asthma rate among Homefirst patients is so low it was noticed by the Blue Cross group with which Homefirst is affiliated, according to Eisenstein.
"In the alternative-medicine network which Homefirst is part of, there are virtually no cases of childhood asthma, in contrast to the overall Blue Cross rate of childhood asthma which is approximately 10 percent," he said. "At first I thought it was because they (Homefirst's children) were breast-fed, but even among the breast-fed we've had asthma. We have virtually no asthma if you're breast-fed and not vaccinated."
Because the diagnosis of asthma is based on emergency-room visits and hospital admissions, Eisenstein said, Homefirst's low rate is hard to dispute. "It's quantifiable -- the definition is not reliant on the doctor's perception of asthma."
Several studies have found a risk of asthma from vaccination; others have not. Studies that include never-vaccinated children generally find little or no asthma in that group.
Earlier this year Florida pediatrician Dr. Jeff Bradstreet said there is virtually no autism in home-schooling families who decline to vaccinate for religious reasons -- lending credence to Eisenstein's observations.
"It's largely non-existent," said Bradstreet, who treats children with autism from around the country. "It's an extremely rare event."
Bradstreet has a son whose autism he attributes to a vaccine reaction at 15 months. His daughter has been home-schooled, he describes himself as a "Christian family physician," and he knows many of the leaders in the home-school movement.
"There was this whole subculture of folks who went into home-schooling so they would never have to vaccinate their kids," he said. "There's this whole cadre who were never vaccinated for religious reasons."
In that subset, he said, "unless they were massively exposed to mercury through lots of amalgams (mercury dental fillings in the mother) and/or big-time fish eating, I've not had a single case."
Federal health authorities and mainstream medical groups emphatically dismiss any link between autism and vaccines, including the mercury-based preservative thimerosal. Last year a panel of the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies, said there is no evidence of such a link, and funding should henceforth go to "promising" research.
Thimerosal, which is 49.6 percent ethyl mercury by weight, was phased out of most U.S. childhood immunizations beginning in 1999, but the CDC recommends flu shots for pregnant women and last year began recommending them for children 6 to 23 months old. Most of those shots contain thimerosal.
Thimerosal-preserved vaccines are currently being injected into millions of children in developing countries around the world. "My mandate ... is to make sure at the end of the day that 100,000,000 are immunized ... this year, next year and for many years to come ... and that will have to be with thimerosal-containing vaccines," said John Clements of the World Health Organization at a June 2000 meeting called by the CDC.
That meeting was held to review data that thimerosal might be linked with autism and other neurological problems. But in 2004 the Institute of Medicine panel said evidence against a link is so strong that health authorities, "whether in the United States or other countries, should not include autism as a potential risk" when formulating immunization policies.
But where is the simple, straightforward study of autism in never-vaccinated U.S. children? Based on our admittedly anecdotal and limited reporting among the Amish, the home-schooled and now Chicago's Homefirst, that may prove to be a significant omission.
This ongoing series on the roots and rise of autism welcomes comment. E-mail: dolmsted@upi.com
© Copyright 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Autism Speaks Participate in Final Two Episodes of NBC-TV show The Apprentice
Autism Speaks, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Both Winners in Apprentice Finale Contestants to Raise Awareness and Funds to Support Charities
(New York, New York - December 6, 2005) Autism Speaks and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation today announced that they will participate in the final two episodes of the hit NBC-TV show The Apprentice. In the final task, to be assigned by Donald Trump on Thursday's program and concluding with the season finale December 15, one set of contestants will be assigned to produce an event to benefit Autism Speaks and the other an event to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorder and its effect on individuals and families, and is committed to raising money to fund scientists who are searching for the causes, treatments, prevention and cure. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is the worldwide leader in the fight against pediatric AIDS and other serious and life-threatening illnesses affecting children. Mark Burnett Productions selects the charities that participate in The Apprentice, and Mr. Trump makes all decisions about contestants.
"Both Donald Trump and I strongly believe that investing in charitable causes is just good business," said Mark Burnett, executive producer of The Apprentice, and board member of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
"Building awareness of this devastating and prevalent disorder is among our top priorities," said Alison Singer, Senior Vice President of Autism Speaks. "We hope the large audience that tunes in to The Apprentice will learn a good deal about autism and the terrible toll it takes on families".
"The Foundation is very appreciative of the support we receive from both Mr. Trump and Mr. Burnett, as they share our concern about doing all we can to help children with HIV/AIDS all over the world," said Pam Barnes, COO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
"Philanthropy has been given an important role on The Apprentice, and for that we are all winners."
The Apprentice airs on NBC-TV on Thursdays from 9 PM ET/PT.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is committed to aggressively funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism. It is devoted to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families and society, and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of the disorder. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit its web site at www.autismspeaks.org
Today, one in 166 individuals is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines.
About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is the worldwide leader in the fight against pediatric AIDS and other serious and life-threatening illnesses affecting children. The Foundation's innovative research programs, collaborative training initiatives, advocacy efforts, and rapidly expanding international programs are bringing dramatic changes to the lives of children worldwide. To learn more, please visit the Foundation's Web site at www.pedaids.org.
AIDS is the result of damage to the immune system after infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). AIDS involves the diminished function of the immune system as critical immune cells are infected and destroyed. The immune system is no longer able to guard against illness, making the person vulnerable to other infections and cancers. Each day 1,900 children around the world become newly infected with HIV.
About Mark Burnett Productions
Mark Burnett Productions (MBP) is one of the world's leading television production companies. MBP revolutionized television with hits such as Eco-Challenge, Survivor, The Apprentice, The Contender, Rock Star: INXS, MARTHA and The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. MBP also successfully reintroduced product placement as an integral part of each of its shows and has garnered a total of 33 Emmy nominations since 2001. Mark Burnett was listed as the #1 Most Valuable Player by TV Guide and also in Time's Top 100 most influential people in the world today.
Press Contacts:
Autism Speaks: Adam Pockriss, (212) 843-8286, adam.pockriss@rubenstein.com
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Darin Dusan, (310) 314-1459, ddusan@pedaids.org
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
(New York, New York - December 6, 2005) Autism Speaks and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation today announced that they will participate in the final two episodes of the hit NBC-TV show The Apprentice. In the final task, to be assigned by Donald Trump on Thursday's program and concluding with the season finale December 15, one set of contestants will be assigned to produce an event to benefit Autism Speaks and the other an event to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorder and its effect on individuals and families, and is committed to raising money to fund scientists who are searching for the causes, treatments, prevention and cure. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is the worldwide leader in the fight against pediatric AIDS and other serious and life-threatening illnesses affecting children. Mark Burnett Productions selects the charities that participate in The Apprentice, and Mr. Trump makes all decisions about contestants.
"Both Donald Trump and I strongly believe that investing in charitable causes is just good business," said Mark Burnett, executive producer of The Apprentice, and board member of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
"Building awareness of this devastating and prevalent disorder is among our top priorities," said Alison Singer, Senior Vice President of Autism Speaks. "We hope the large audience that tunes in to The Apprentice will learn a good deal about autism and the terrible toll it takes on families".
"The Foundation is very appreciative of the support we receive from both Mr. Trump and Mr. Burnett, as they share our concern about doing all we can to help children with HIV/AIDS all over the world," said Pam Barnes, COO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
"Philanthropy has been given an important role on The Apprentice, and for that we are all winners."
The Apprentice airs on NBC-TV on Thursdays from 9 PM ET/PT.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is committed to aggressively funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism. It is devoted to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families and society, and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of the disorder. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit its web site at www.autismspeaks.org
Today, one in 166 individuals is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines.
About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is the worldwide leader in the fight against pediatric AIDS and other serious and life-threatening illnesses affecting children. The Foundation's innovative research programs, collaborative training initiatives, advocacy efforts, and rapidly expanding international programs are bringing dramatic changes to the lives of children worldwide. To learn more, please visit the Foundation's Web site at www.pedaids.org.
AIDS is the result of damage to the immune system after infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). AIDS involves the diminished function of the immune system as critical immune cells are infected and destroyed. The immune system is no longer able to guard against illness, making the person vulnerable to other infections and cancers. Each day 1,900 children around the world become newly infected with HIV.
About Mark Burnett Productions
Mark Burnett Productions (MBP) is one of the world's leading television production companies. MBP revolutionized television with hits such as Eco-Challenge, Survivor, The Apprentice, The Contender, Rock Star: INXS, MARTHA and The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. MBP also successfully reintroduced product placement as an integral part of each of its shows and has garnered a total of 33 Emmy nominations since 2001. Mark Burnett was listed as the #1 Most Valuable Player by TV Guide and also in Time's Top 100 most influential people in the world today.
Press Contacts:
Autism Speaks: Adam Pockriss, (212) 843-8286, adam.pockriss@rubenstein.com
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Darin Dusan, (310) 314-1459, ddusan@pedaids.org
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Study: The prevalence of teachers who bully students in schools with differing levels of behavioral problems
1: Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Dec;162(12):2387-9
The prevalence of teachers who bully students in schools with differing levels of behavioral problems.
Twemlow SW, Fonagy P.
the Menninger Clinic, P.O. Box 809045, 2801 Gessner Dr., Houston, TX 77280-9045.
stwemlow@aol.com.
OBJECTIVE: This study looked for a relationship between the prevalence of teachers who bully students and school behavioral problems reflected in suspensions from school. METHOD: A convenience sample of 214 teachers answered an anonymous questionnaire about their perceptions of teachers who bully students and their own practices. Teachers were grouped into whether they taught at schools with low, medium, or high rates of suspensions. Analyses of variance were used to analyze continuous variables, and chi-square statistics were used to study categorical variables. RESULTS: Teachers from schools with high rates of suspensions reported that they themselves bullied more students, had experienced more bullying when they were students, had worked with more bullying teachers over the past 3 years, and had seen more bullying teachers over the past year. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that teachers who bully students may have some role in the etiology of behavioral problems in schoolchildren.
PMID: 16330608 [PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16330608&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=2
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com.
The prevalence of teachers who bully students in schools with differing levels of behavioral problems.
Twemlow SW, Fonagy P.
the Menninger Clinic, P.O. Box 809045, 2801 Gessner Dr., Houston, TX 77280-9045.
stwemlow@aol.com.
OBJECTIVE: This study looked for a relationship between the prevalence of teachers who bully students and school behavioral problems reflected in suspensions from school. METHOD: A convenience sample of 214 teachers answered an anonymous questionnaire about their perceptions of teachers who bully students and their own practices. Teachers were grouped into whether they taught at schools with low, medium, or high rates of suspensions. Analyses of variance were used to analyze continuous variables, and chi-square statistics were used to study categorical variables. RESULTS: Teachers from schools with high rates of suspensions reported that they themselves bullied more students, had experienced more bullying when they were students, had worked with more bullying teachers over the past 3 years, and had seen more bullying teachers over the past year. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that teachers who bully students may have some role in the etiology of behavioral problems in schoolchildren.
PMID: 16330608 [PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16330608&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=2
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Voucher plan revived, with focus on autistic students
IndyStar.com
November 24, 2005
Proposal would let state pay for private education of children with autism
By Staci Hupp
staci.hupp@indystar.com
"There's a moral imperative of assisting these families in the way that they believe is best and, second, it has the added benefit of being a very fiscally sound program," said House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, one of four Republican lawmakers who met this week with a legislator from Ohio, where school voucher programs have mushroomed. "I'm certain if we do this, some schools will choose to concentrate in this, which will bring the cost to educate students down for the state."
Voucher advocates say some private schools, hospitals and therapists are better equipped to meet the special needs of children with autism, a developmental brain disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others.
The plan's financial details haven't been worked out. Lawmakers estimate it costs up to $40,000 a year to teach one child with a severe form of autism.
Excerpt from full article available at: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051124/NEWS01/511240447/1006
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
November 24, 2005
Proposal would let state pay for private education of children with autism
By Staci Hupp
staci.hupp@indystar.com
"There's a moral imperative of assisting these families in the way that they believe is best and, second, it has the added benefit of being a very fiscally sound program," said House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, one of four Republican lawmakers who met this week with a legislator from Ohio, where school voucher programs have mushroomed. "I'm certain if we do this, some schools will choose to concentrate in this, which will bring the cost to educate students down for the state."
Voucher advocates say some private schools, hospitals and therapists are better equipped to meet the special needs of children with autism, a developmental brain disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others.
The plan's financial details haven't been worked out. Lawmakers estimate it costs up to $40,000 a year to teach one child with a severe form of autism.
Excerpt from full article available at: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051124/NEWS01/511240447/1006
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
FDA Discusses Tamiflu Adverse Events in Children
Committee Discusses Tamiflu Adverse Events in Children
On Nov. 18, the FDA Pediatric Advisory Committee met to discuss adverse events reported in children taking Tamiflu and seven other flu treatment drugs. In conjunction with the meeting, FDA has posted questions and answers that give background on several reported cases of skin reactions, neuropsychiatric events, and deaths in Japanese children who took Tamiflu.
Questions and answers about pediatric Tamiflu use: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/tamiflu/QA20051117.htm
General Tamiflu information: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/tamiflu/default.htm
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
On Nov. 18, the FDA Pediatric Advisory Committee met to discuss adverse events reported in children taking Tamiflu and seven other flu treatment drugs. In conjunction with the meeting, FDA has posted questions and answers that give background on several reported cases of skin reactions, neuropsychiatric events, and deaths in Japanese children who took Tamiflu.
Questions and answers about pediatric Tamiflu use: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/tamiflu/QA20051117.htm
General Tamiflu information: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/tamiflu/default.htm
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Post Schaffer: New Era
By Bob Witanek
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org
Indeed, she said, "there is reason to believe that a great deal is already spent on IDEA administration, and Congress has repeatedly amended" the law "to reduce its administrative and litigation-related costs." Washington Post quoting Sandra Day O’Connor’s majority opinion
Jerry B. Weast, superintendent of the Montgomery County Public School System, called the court's decision "a victory for special education teachers in Montgomery County and across the nation who work hard everyday to provide the best possible education for students with disabilities."
He added, "We defended this case for one simple reason -- we didn't want our teachers and staff spending more time in the courtroom instead of the classroom."Washington Post quoting Superintendent Weast.
The impact of today’s announcement of a Supreme Court decision in Brian Schaffer et al v. Jerry Weast could have dire consequences for millions of current and future special education students across the United States. The impact will be felt not only by those parents who are forced to or choose to file for due process but for all parents whose opinions might differ with school district personnel at the IEP table. For some, the impact will be swift and immediate. For others, the impact will creep into the IEP process for years to come. For all of us – the results will be that districts are further empowered to override and disregard our concerns. A process already warped in favor of school districts and state departments of education will tilt ever further in that direction.
Bob Witanek
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org
908-881-5275
Read full article at:
http://www.studentadvocate-nj.org/post_schaffer.htm
Brian Schaffer et al v. Jerry Weast
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14nov20051045/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-698.pdf
Washington Post article:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/14/AR2005111400690.html
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org
Indeed, she said, "there is reason to believe that a great deal is already spent on IDEA administration, and Congress has repeatedly amended" the law "to reduce its administrative and litigation-related costs." Washington Post quoting Sandra Day O’Connor’s majority opinion
Jerry B. Weast, superintendent of the Montgomery County Public School System, called the court's decision "a victory for special education teachers in Montgomery County and across the nation who work hard everyday to provide the best possible education for students with disabilities."
He added, "We defended this case for one simple reason -- we didn't want our teachers and staff spending more time in the courtroom instead of the classroom."Washington Post quoting Superintendent Weast.
The impact of today’s announcement of a Supreme Court decision in Brian Schaffer et al v. Jerry Weast could have dire consequences for millions of current and future special education students across the United States. The impact will be felt not only by those parents who are forced to or choose to file for due process but for all parents whose opinions might differ with school district personnel at the IEP table. For some, the impact will be swift and immediate. For others, the impact will creep into the IEP process for years to come. For all of us – the results will be that districts are further empowered to override and disregard our concerns. A process already warped in favor of school districts and state departments of education will tilt ever further in that direction.
Bob Witanek
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org
908-881-5275
Read full article at:
http://www.studentadvocate-nj.org/post_schaffer.htm
Brian Schaffer et al v. Jerry Weast
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14nov20051045/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-698.pdf
Washington Post article:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/14/AR2005111400690.html
For information, resources and practical strategies on autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Friday, November 18, 2005
ALERT: EPA TO ALLOW PESTICIDE TESTING ON ORPHANS & MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
Public comments are now being accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its newly proposed federal regulation regarding the testing of chemicals and pesticides on human subjects. Earlier this year, Congress had mandated the EPA create a rule that permanently bans chemical testing on pregnant women and children, but the EPA's newly proposed rule actually creates gaping loopholes for the chemical industry. The rule allows for government and industry scientists to treat children as human guinea pigs in chemical experiments in the following situations:
1) Children who "cannot be reasonably consulted," such as those that are mentally handicapped or orphaned newborns may be tested on. With permission from the institution or guardian in charge of the individual, the child may be exposed to chemicals for the sake of research.
2) Parental consent forms are not necessary for testing on children who have been neglected or abused.
3) Chemical studies on any children outside of the U.S. are acceptable.
You can learn more and take action here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa6.cfm
For information, resources and practical strategies related to autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
1) Children who "cannot be reasonably consulted," such as those that are mentally handicapped or orphaned newborns may be tested on. With permission from the institution or guardian in charge of the individual, the child may be exposed to chemicals for the sake of research.
2) Parental consent forms are not necessary for testing on children who have been neglected or abused.
3) Chemical studies on any children outside of the U.S. are acceptable.
You can learn more and take action here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa6.cfm
For information, resources and practical strategies related to autism please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
New Web-Based Tool Helps People with Developmental Disabilities Transition From Medicaid To Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Ensuring Continuity of Care for Dual Eligibles: A Guide to Transition From Medicaid to Medicare's Prescription Drug Coverage is now available at http://www.theDesk.info/PartD. This guide was developed by the Disability Policy Collaboration, a partnership of The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy and the Web-based tool was developed by TheArcLink Incorporated.
Visit the Web site at http://www.theDesk.info/PartD, download the PDF copy of the guide, and develop an understanding of this information, which is vital to transitioning dual eligibles from Medicaid to Medicare's new prescription drug coverage.
This Web-based tool has a downloadable PDF copy of the guide, a timeline of key dates, a glossary of terms, and additional resources to guide users. The Disability Policy Collaboration will continue to update the website with additional information about this critical issue.
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit www.AutismConcepts.com.
Visit the Web site at http://www.theDesk.info/PartD, download the PDF copy of the guide, and develop an understanding of this information, which is vital to transitioning dual eligibles from Medicaid to Medicare's new prescription drug coverage.
This Web-based tool has a downloadable PDF copy of the guide, a timeline of key dates, a glossary of terms, and additional resources to guide users. The Disability Policy Collaboration will continue to update the website with additional information about this critical issue.
For information, resources and practical strategies please visit www.AutismConcepts.com.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Study: Thimerosal induces neuronal cell death
"Thimerosal Induces Neuronal Cell Apoptosis By Causing Cytochrome C AndApoptosis-Inducing Factor Release From Mitochondria"
International Journal of Molecular Medicine 2005 Dec;16(6):971-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed
Yel L, Brown LE, Su K, Gollapudi S, Gupta S.
Immunology/Medicine, C240 Med Sci I, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. lyel@uci.edu.
There is a worldwide increasing concern over the neurological risks of thimerosal (ethylmercury thiosalicylate) which is an organic mercury compound that is commonly used as an antimicrobial preservative. In this study, we show that thimerosal, at nanomolar concentrations, induces neuronal cell death through the mitochondrial pathway. Thimerosal, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, decreased cell viability as assessed by calcein-ethidium staining and caused apoptosis detected by Hoechst 33258 dye.
Thimerosal-induced apoptosis was associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, generation of reactive oxygen species, and release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria tocytosol.
Although thimerosal did not affect cellular expression of Bax at the protein level, we observed translocation of Bax from cytosol to mitochondria. Finally, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were activated in the absence of caspase-8 activation. Our data suggest that thimerosal causes apoptosisin neuroblastoma cells by changing the mitochondrial microenvironment.
PMID: 16273274 [PubMed - in process]
For information, resources and strategies related to autism please visit: www. AutismConcepts.com
International Journal of Molecular Medicine 2005 Dec;16(6):971-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed
Yel L, Brown LE, Su K, Gollapudi S, Gupta S.
Immunology/Medicine, C240 Med Sci I, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. lyel@uci.edu.
There is a worldwide increasing concern over the neurological risks of thimerosal (ethylmercury thiosalicylate) which is an organic mercury compound that is commonly used as an antimicrobial preservative. In this study, we show that thimerosal, at nanomolar concentrations, induces neuronal cell death through the mitochondrial pathway. Thimerosal, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, decreased cell viability as assessed by calcein-ethidium staining and caused apoptosis detected by Hoechst 33258 dye.
Thimerosal-induced apoptosis was associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, generation of reactive oxygen species, and release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria tocytosol.
Although thimerosal did not affect cellular expression of Bax at the protein level, we observed translocation of Bax from cytosol to mitochondria. Finally, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were activated in the absence of caspase-8 activation. Our data suggest that thimerosal causes apoptosisin neuroblastoma cells by changing the mitochondrial microenvironment.
PMID: 16273274 [PubMed - in process]
For information, resources and strategies related to autism please visit: www. AutismConcepts.com
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
How Will the New Medicare Drug Benefit Impact African Americans?
ADVISORY FOR: Monday, November 14, 2005
The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged and The Kaiser Family Foundation to Hold Nov. 14 Telephone Briefing for Journalists to Highlight What Seniors Need to Know
In just a few short weeks, Medicare will undergo big changes that will have a major impact on nearly 4 million African American seniors and younger people with permanent disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health coverage. More than four in 10 African Americans with Medicare lack coverage for their prescription drugs for at least part of the year. Many others will need to make decisions about their existing coverage and the new Medicare benefit.
Starting Jan. 1, Medicare will cover outpatient prescription drugs, but many seniors don’t even understand the basics about what the new benefit offers or how it works. Helping African Americans who rely on Medicare to understand how this program will work is critical to ensuring they make good decisions about this coverage. Why is this important for African Americans?
African Americans suffer more from certain illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, than their white counterparts. Medicare’s drug coverage can help these people afford the drugs they need to manage these diseases.
Compounding these health problems, African Americans on Medicare are far more likely than whites to have low incomes. In fact, six in 10 African American beneficiaries have incomes below 150 percent of poverty, which means they are more likely to qualify for additional help paying for their drugs – but only if they know how to apply for it.
This year, more than one in three African Americans with Medicare rely on state Medicaid programs for their drug coverage. That will end Jan. 1, when Medicare instead will cover their drugs. Understanding this change will help ensure a smooth transition for these beneficiaries.
To raise issues and answer questions about how the Medicare drug benefit affects African American Medicare beneficiaries and their families, the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged and the Kaiser Family Foundation will hold a conference call for journalists on Monday, Nov. 14, 2005 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
Moderated by Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, the discussion will focus on the way this change affects African American Medicare beneficiaries, highlight ongoing community efforts to help beneficiaries understand their options, and offer some practical advice for those making decisions about this new Medicare coverage. Panelists include Daniel R. Wilson of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, and Michelle Kitchman Strollo and Linda Elam of the Kaiser Family Foundation. The panel will also take questions from the participants.
To participate in the conference e-mail Sarah Carkhuff at scarkhuff@kff.org or by calling (202) 347-5270. For more information e-mail Craig Palosky at cpalosky@kff.org or by calling (202) 347-5270.
For autism information, resources and practical strategies
please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged and The Kaiser Family Foundation to Hold Nov. 14 Telephone Briefing for Journalists to Highlight What Seniors Need to Know
In just a few short weeks, Medicare will undergo big changes that will have a major impact on nearly 4 million African American seniors and younger people with permanent disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health coverage. More than four in 10 African Americans with Medicare lack coverage for their prescription drugs for at least part of the year. Many others will need to make decisions about their existing coverage and the new Medicare benefit.
Starting Jan. 1, Medicare will cover outpatient prescription drugs, but many seniors don’t even understand the basics about what the new benefit offers or how it works. Helping African Americans who rely on Medicare to understand how this program will work is critical to ensuring they make good decisions about this coverage. Why is this important for African Americans?
African Americans suffer more from certain illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, than their white counterparts. Medicare’s drug coverage can help these people afford the drugs they need to manage these diseases.
Compounding these health problems, African Americans on Medicare are far more likely than whites to have low incomes. In fact, six in 10 African American beneficiaries have incomes below 150 percent of poverty, which means they are more likely to qualify for additional help paying for their drugs – but only if they know how to apply for it.
This year, more than one in three African Americans with Medicare rely on state Medicaid programs for their drug coverage. That will end Jan. 1, when Medicare instead will cover their drugs. Understanding this change will help ensure a smooth transition for these beneficiaries.
To raise issues and answer questions about how the Medicare drug benefit affects African American Medicare beneficiaries and their families, the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged and the Kaiser Family Foundation will hold a conference call for journalists on Monday, Nov. 14, 2005 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
Moderated by Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, the discussion will focus on the way this change affects African American Medicare beneficiaries, highlight ongoing community efforts to help beneficiaries understand their options, and offer some practical advice for those making decisions about this new Medicare coverage. Panelists include Daniel R. Wilson of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, and Michelle Kitchman Strollo and Linda Elam of the Kaiser Family Foundation. The panel will also take questions from the participants.
To participate in the conference e-mail Sarah Carkhuff at scarkhuff@kff.org or by calling (202) 347-5270. For more information e-mail Craig Palosky at cpalosky@kff.org or by calling (202) 347-5270.
For autism information, resources and practical strategies
please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Monday, October 31, 2005
MMR: the unanswered questions
By Melanie Phillips
Daily Mail, 31 October 2005
Since Dr Andrew Wakefield first triggered the furore over a possible link between autism, bowel disease and the measles, mumps and rubella triple jab in 1998, the controversy has never died away. Now a study by the respected Cochrane Library has said, on the basis of 31 pieces of research into the possible side effects of MMR, that it found no association between MMR and autism.
Cue a frenzy of gloating by Wakefield’s enemies, ripe denunciations of those like this newspaper who took his concerns seriously and demands that we apologise for creating a scare that left children unvaccinated and at risk of measles, mumps and rubella. The Cochrane Library study, they shrieked, had found MMR to be ‘safe’, given it the ‘all clear’ and declared all such fears to be ‘unfounded’.
This is a load of old baloney. These people should start by reading the actual study rather than lazily recycling the press release.
For the study didn’t say anything like this at all. Certainly the lead Cochrane reviewer Vittorio Demicheli said in that press release: ‘We conclude that all the major unintended events, such as triggering Crohn’s disease or autism, were suspected on the basis of unreliable evidence.’
But Wakefield never suggested a link between MMR and Crohn’s disease, a disorder of the bowel. Wakefield reported instead the discovery of an entirely new syndrome, autistic enterocolitis, which produced distressing bowel symptoms along with a number of developmental problems resembling autism — but which the Cochrane report did not even mention.
Moreover, it did not conclude that Wakefield’s evidence was unreliable. On the contrary, it said that no fewer than nine of the most celebrated studies that have been used against him were unreliable in the way they were constructed. As a result, it said, their conclusions that MMR was ‘safe’ or ‘well-tolerated’ need to be ‘interpreted with caution’.
Next, the press release said: ‘There was no credible evidence behind claims of harm from the MMR vaccination.’ But the study did not say that. It did not even examine those claims of harm, which arose not from the epidemiological studies of patterns of disease which Cochrane investigated, but from clinical investigations of actual children.
What the report did say but was not mentioned in that extremely odd press notice was this: ‘The design and reporting of safety outcomes in MMR vaccine studies, both pre-and post-marketing, are largely inadequate’. And just as significant, this: ‘We found only limited evidence of the safety of MMR compared to its single component vaccines…’
In other words, far from saying MMR was safe the study said explicitly that the evidence for its safety was not good enough. Yes, it also said the evidence it looked at did not support any association between MMR and autism. But that does not mean it said the vaccine was safe. It was rather that it didn’t find anything to suggest that it was not.
And that was because the epidemiological studies that it examined are intrinsically unlikely to reveal the truth about the effects of MMR. For a start, they rely on medical records. But the parents complained that their children’s doctors dismissed all their concerns about autistic symptoms or bowel disease. So they never entered anything out of the ordinary on their medical records.
Furthermore, for the vast majority of children, the vaccine poses no problem at all. Only a very small proportion are said to have been badly affected, possibly through a combination of environmental or genetic factors. But population-wide studies are considered too large and insensitive to pick up small numbers like this.
It is the evidence that Cochrane did not examine that is the only material worth studying. This is the clinical evidence obtained not just by Wakefield and his associates but by others, which has posed alarming questions that have never been answered.
Wakefield’s discovery of autistic enterocolitis as a completely new syndrome has now been replicated in studies around the world as a new and so far unexplained disease in patients with autism.
It has also been discovered that autistic symptoms have got far worse in a number of children after they received booster jabs — and such booster jab evidence has been accepted by the American Institute of Medicine, at least, as an indication of cause and effect.
Most explosively of all, vaccine-strain measles virus has been found in the cerebro-spinal fluid of some autistic children — which suggests that in those cases the vaccine may have had a catastrophic effect on the brain.
None of this proves that MMR has caused autism in some children. But it does raise questions which need to be resolved as a matter of urgency. The only way to do so is to conduct large-scale clinical trials, which the government has consistently refused to do.
Hopes of examining the existing clinical evidence were pinned on the legal case being brought by parents claiming compensation on behalf of children said to have been damaged by the vaccine. But this case foundered when the parents’ legal aid was abruptly withdrawn.
Now Wakefield himself is being arraigned before the General Medical Council on eleven counts of serious professional misconduct, including an alleged conflict of interest over receiving funding from the parents’ lawyers, which he has strenuously denied.
Compare this with the Cochrane paper, where under the rubric ‘potential conflict of interest’ Dr Tom Jefferson, who is listed as the study’s second author, acknowledges that in 1999 he acted as a consultant for a legal team advising the MMR vaccine manufacturers.
Another researcher who helped with the Cochrane paper was one of the authors of a prominent study which rubbished Wakefield’s research -- a study which the Cochrane report itself then investigated.
And a number of epidemiological studies which the government has used to state that MMR is safe have been written by researchers with links to drug companies or to governmental bodies with an interest in disproving Wakefield’s concerns.
Are these not real conflicts of interest which should be investigated, rather than hounding the doctor whose discoveries have raised concerns over public health which have never been addressed?
Read full article at: http://www.melaniephillips.com/articles/archives/001468.html
For information, resources and practical strategies related to autism, please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Daily Mail, 31 October 2005
Since Dr Andrew Wakefield first triggered the furore over a possible link between autism, bowel disease and the measles, mumps and rubella triple jab in 1998, the controversy has never died away. Now a study by the respected Cochrane Library has said, on the basis of 31 pieces of research into the possible side effects of MMR, that it found no association between MMR and autism.
Cue a frenzy of gloating by Wakefield’s enemies, ripe denunciations of those like this newspaper who took his concerns seriously and demands that we apologise for creating a scare that left children unvaccinated and at risk of measles, mumps and rubella. The Cochrane Library study, they shrieked, had found MMR to be ‘safe’, given it the ‘all clear’ and declared all such fears to be ‘unfounded’.
This is a load of old baloney. These people should start by reading the actual study rather than lazily recycling the press release.
For the study didn’t say anything like this at all. Certainly the lead Cochrane reviewer Vittorio Demicheli said in that press release: ‘We conclude that all the major unintended events, such as triggering Crohn’s disease or autism, were suspected on the basis of unreliable evidence.’
But Wakefield never suggested a link between MMR and Crohn’s disease, a disorder of the bowel. Wakefield reported instead the discovery of an entirely new syndrome, autistic enterocolitis, which produced distressing bowel symptoms along with a number of developmental problems resembling autism — but which the Cochrane report did not even mention.
Moreover, it did not conclude that Wakefield’s evidence was unreliable. On the contrary, it said that no fewer than nine of the most celebrated studies that have been used against him were unreliable in the way they were constructed. As a result, it said, their conclusions that MMR was ‘safe’ or ‘well-tolerated’ need to be ‘interpreted with caution’.
Next, the press release said: ‘There was no credible evidence behind claims of harm from the MMR vaccination.’ But the study did not say that. It did not even examine those claims of harm, which arose not from the epidemiological studies of patterns of disease which Cochrane investigated, but from clinical investigations of actual children.
What the report did say but was not mentioned in that extremely odd press notice was this: ‘The design and reporting of safety outcomes in MMR vaccine studies, both pre-and post-marketing, are largely inadequate’. And just as significant, this: ‘We found only limited evidence of the safety of MMR compared to its single component vaccines…’
In other words, far from saying MMR was safe the study said explicitly that the evidence for its safety was not good enough. Yes, it also said the evidence it looked at did not support any association between MMR and autism. But that does not mean it said the vaccine was safe. It was rather that it didn’t find anything to suggest that it was not.
And that was because the epidemiological studies that it examined are intrinsically unlikely to reveal the truth about the effects of MMR. For a start, they rely on medical records. But the parents complained that their children’s doctors dismissed all their concerns about autistic symptoms or bowel disease. So they never entered anything out of the ordinary on their medical records.
Furthermore, for the vast majority of children, the vaccine poses no problem at all. Only a very small proportion are said to have been badly affected, possibly through a combination of environmental or genetic factors. But population-wide studies are considered too large and insensitive to pick up small numbers like this.
It is the evidence that Cochrane did not examine that is the only material worth studying. This is the clinical evidence obtained not just by Wakefield and his associates but by others, which has posed alarming questions that have never been answered.
Wakefield’s discovery of autistic enterocolitis as a completely new syndrome has now been replicated in studies around the world as a new and so far unexplained disease in patients with autism.
It has also been discovered that autistic symptoms have got far worse in a number of children after they received booster jabs — and such booster jab evidence has been accepted by the American Institute of Medicine, at least, as an indication of cause and effect.
Most explosively of all, vaccine-strain measles virus has been found in the cerebro-spinal fluid of some autistic children — which suggests that in those cases the vaccine may have had a catastrophic effect on the brain.
None of this proves that MMR has caused autism in some children. But it does raise questions which need to be resolved as a matter of urgency. The only way to do so is to conduct large-scale clinical trials, which the government has consistently refused to do.
Hopes of examining the existing clinical evidence were pinned on the legal case being brought by parents claiming compensation on behalf of children said to have been damaged by the vaccine. But this case foundered when the parents’ legal aid was abruptly withdrawn.
Now Wakefield himself is being arraigned before the General Medical Council on eleven counts of serious professional misconduct, including an alleged conflict of interest over receiving funding from the parents’ lawyers, which he has strenuously denied.
Compare this with the Cochrane paper, where under the rubric ‘potential conflict of interest’ Dr Tom Jefferson, who is listed as the study’s second author, acknowledges that in 1999 he acted as a consultant for a legal team advising the MMR vaccine manufacturers.
Another researcher who helped with the Cochrane paper was one of the authors of a prominent study which rubbished Wakefield’s research -- a study which the Cochrane report itself then investigated.
And a number of epidemiological studies which the government has used to state that MMR is safe have been written by researchers with links to drug companies or to governmental bodies with an interest in disproving Wakefield’s concerns.
Are these not real conflicts of interest which should be investigated, rather than hounding the doctor whose discoveries have raised concerns over public health which have never been addressed?
Read full article at: http://www.melaniephillips.com/articles/archives/001468.html
For information, resources and practical strategies related to autism, please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Alive and Well: The MMR-Autism Connection
Zero x 31 is still zero
and if it is not the MMR,
then what was it that damaged our children?
By Red Flags Columnist, F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP
(tlautstudy@aol.com)
Many parents believe that one or more of their children regressed after receiving the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. No one knows exactly the number of these children, but they probably constitute 10 to15 percent of children with regressive autism. The majority of children appear not to react unfavorably to the triple vaccine. Obviously, for a couple whose only son is fascinated with garage doors, or makes strange whirling noises all day, or hits his head against the wall to keep entertained or answers by pointing to pictures in a book, the percentage jumps to 100 percent.
The poor parents of affected children, particularly those living in England, woke up on Oct. 18 to the news that yet another "definitive" epidemiological study - the most thorough survey of MMR vaccination data - had concluded that there is no credible evidence behind claims of harm from the MMR vaccine. The news had been carefully leaked with an impressive notice that it should be "strictly" embargoed until 00:01 hours (BST), Oct. 19, 2005. This was the most effective way to guarantee that it would spread like a California wild fire on Tuesday the 18th. After all, with everything happening around the world, from earthquakes to hurricanes, wars, elections and bird flu, it was not safe to take a chance that some new calamity would distract people on Wednesday from appreciating the important findings of the study.
It was Tuesday when I received the embargoed press release. It started, "There was no credible evidence behind claims of harm from the MMR vaccination. This is the conclusion drawn by the Cochrane Review Authors, an international team of researchers, after carefully drawing together all of the evidence found in 31 high quality studies from around the world."
The lead author of the study, Vittorio Demicheli, MD, of the Servizo Sovrazonale di Epidemiologia, Alessandria, Italy, promptly tempered the initial sweeping statement by adding, "In particular we conclude that all the major unintended events, such as triggering Crohn's disease or autism, were suspected on the basis of unreliable evidence."
He then was quoted as saying, "Public health decisions need to be based on sound evidence. If this principle had been applied in the case of the MMR dispute, then we would have avoided all the fuss."
The fuss!
Is that what it was all about?
Is that what regressive autism is? A fuss!
Now Demicheli had my attention.
What was not mentioned in the widely circulated embargoed press release was the actual first conclusion listed by the authors in their abstract: "The design and reporting of safety outcomes in MMR vaccine studies, both pre- and post-marketing, are largely inadequate."
Full article at: http://www.redflagsdaily.com/yazbak/2005_oct28.html
For more information, resources and practical strategies on autism, please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
and if it is not the MMR,
then what was it that damaged our children?
By Red Flags Columnist, F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP
(tlautstudy@aol.com)
Many parents believe that one or more of their children regressed after receiving the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. No one knows exactly the number of these children, but they probably constitute 10 to15 percent of children with regressive autism. The majority of children appear not to react unfavorably to the triple vaccine. Obviously, for a couple whose only son is fascinated with garage doors, or makes strange whirling noises all day, or hits his head against the wall to keep entertained or answers by pointing to pictures in a book, the percentage jumps to 100 percent.
The poor parents of affected children, particularly those living in England, woke up on Oct. 18 to the news that yet another "definitive" epidemiological study - the most thorough survey of MMR vaccination data - had concluded that there is no credible evidence behind claims of harm from the MMR vaccine. The news had been carefully leaked with an impressive notice that it should be "strictly" embargoed until 00:01 hours (BST), Oct. 19, 2005. This was the most effective way to guarantee that it would spread like a California wild fire on Tuesday the 18th. After all, with everything happening around the world, from earthquakes to hurricanes, wars, elections and bird flu, it was not safe to take a chance that some new calamity would distract people on Wednesday from appreciating the important findings of the study.
It was Tuesday when I received the embargoed press release. It started, "There was no credible evidence behind claims of harm from the MMR vaccination. This is the conclusion drawn by the Cochrane Review Authors, an international team of researchers, after carefully drawing together all of the evidence found in 31 high quality studies from around the world."
The lead author of the study, Vittorio Demicheli, MD, of the Servizo Sovrazonale di Epidemiologia, Alessandria, Italy, promptly tempered the initial sweeping statement by adding, "In particular we conclude that all the major unintended events, such as triggering Crohn's disease or autism, were suspected on the basis of unreliable evidence."
He then was quoted as saying, "Public health decisions need to be based on sound evidence. If this principle had been applied in the case of the MMR dispute, then we would have avoided all the fuss."
The fuss!
Is that what it was all about?
Is that what regressive autism is? A fuss!
Now Demicheli had my attention.
What was not mentioned in the widely circulated embargoed press release was the actual first conclusion listed by the authors in their abstract: "The design and reporting of safety outcomes in MMR vaccine studies, both pre- and post-marketing, are largely inadequate."
Full article at: http://www.redflagsdaily.com/yazbak/2005_oct28.html
For more information, resources and practical strategies on autism, please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
A Guide To Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
New Web-Based Tool Helps People with Developmental Disabilities Transition From Medicaid To Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
In less than three months an estimated half a million people with developmental disabilities will transition from Medicaid prescription drug coverage to Medicare's new prescription drug coverage. Now, there is a way to find the answers to the many complex questions.
Ensuring Continuity of Care for Dual Eligibles: A Guide to Transition From Medicaid to Medicare's Prescription Drug Coverage is now available at http://www.theDesk.info/PartD. This guide was developed by the Disability Policy Collaboration, a partnership of The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy and the Web-based tool was developed by TheArcLink Incorporated.
What you should do: Visit the Web site at http://www.theDesk.info/PartD, download the PDF copy of the guide, and develop an understanding of this information, which is vital to transitioning dual eligibles from Medicaid to Medicare's new prescription drug coverage.
Please forward this bulletin to constituents and encourage affiliated organizations to post a link to http://www.theDesk.info/PartD on their Web sites.
In less than three months an estimated half a million people with developmental disabilities will transition from Medicaid prescription drug coverage to Medicare's new prescription drug coverage. Now, there is a way to find the answers to the many complex questions.
Ensuring Continuity of Care for Dual Eligibles: A Guide to Transition From Medicaid to Medicare's Prescription Drug Coverage is now available at http://www.theDesk.info/PartD. This guide was developed by the Disability Policy Collaboration, a partnership of The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy and the Web-based tool was developed by TheArcLink Incorporated.
For more than six million dual-eligibles, their Medicaid prescription drug coverage will end as of December 31, 2005 and be replaced on January 1, 2006 by the new Medicare Part D coverage, provided by private prescription drug plans (called PDPs). The new Web-based tool addresses complex questions, such as:
- Who is a Dual Eligible? Find the answer by clicking here.
- Is Medicare prescription drug coverage voluntary? Can a dual eligible decide not to participate in it? Find the answer by clicking here.
- What are the key differences between Medicaid prescription drug coverage and the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs)? Find the answer by clicking here.
- What are the key things to think about when choosing a PDP? Find the answer by clicking here.
What you should do: Visit the Web site at http://www.theDesk.info/PartD, download the PDF copy of the guide, and develop an understanding of this information, which is vital to transitioning dual eligibles from Medicaid to Medicare's new prescription drug coverage.
Please forward this bulletin to constituents and encourage affiliated organizations to post a link to http://www.theDesk.info/PartD on their Web sites.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
HELP IMPROVE THE COMBATING AUTISM ACT 2005
Dear Parents,
This is vitally important. Please read.
The Combating Autism Act (S. 843 and H.R. 2421) will determine:
1. The amount of research money spent on autism for the next five years.
2. Where the money is spent
3. What types of research we can expect to see for our children
The bill is a good start but falls far short of what the autism community needs to help our children suffering now.
The bill allocates a total of approximately $900 million for 5 years (or $180 million per year). Currently autism gets $93 million per year.
Considering that autism is at epidemic proportions and is the largest public health disaster ever to occur among children, this figure is pitifully below the amount needed. (AIDS affects roughly the same number of people in America, yet receives over $900 million for ONE year (or $4.5 BILLION for 5 years). Juvenile diabetes also gets more money than autism as well even though there are more autistic children than children with juvenile diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer combined.) We don’t want to take away money from others. We just want our fair share! We need to stand up for our kids now—or wait another five years.
RE: The Combating Autism Act—Of the $900 million over five years, the CDC will get over $550 million for epidemiology studies, early detection, and early intervention. (Intervention in the bill is described as, “Intervention includes referral to schools and agencies, including community, consumer, and parent-based agencies, and organizations and other programs mandated by part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which offer programs specifically designed to meet the unique needs of children with autism.” (In other words, the CDC will count our children and diagnose new children with hundreds of millions of dollars, give the new children they find very little or no intervention and have practically nothing left for treating the children suffering now.)
Furthermore, there is no mechanism for oversight stated in the bill. We’ve seen some questionable maneuvering from the CDC in the past, and must have transparency and accountability built into this legislation before giving them any more autism-related funding.
Only $36 million per year (3% of all the money) goes to actual biomedical research. $30 million is to be split among the 10 NIH STAART (Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment) centers. And even this inadequate figure includes more screening and data collection activities that already dominate this legislation. There is another $6 million for 3 NIEHS centers. And, there is an additional $14 million allocated to 10 CPEA’s (Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism) centers but sadly this money is earmarked for coordination and data sharing between centers – not actual research. Averaged among 23 centers, this means that each center will get LESS than $2.17 million a year to develop treatments for an epidemic of children. If any of this money is used for salaries and overhead, even less will go to help our children. This is just not enough to address the immediate medical research our kids must have if they are to reach their full potential!!
Also, studies by experienced researchers regarding the effects of ethyl mercury / thimerosal exposure are already being turned away by the NIH. We are quite concerned that if the bill doesn’t spell out that research must be done to examine these toxic exposures, such studies will not be done at all. The scientists whose work has shown the most promise for devising real treatments for our injured children are currently receiving NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING to further this most critical research.
What can you do:
Contact the current co-sponsors. Tell them these four things:
1. We need amendments in the bill to provide more money for biomedical research, services and treatments. Less than $36 million earmarked for biomedical research and $14 million for the collaboration/coordination that goes with it – split among 23 centers for 5 years ($2.17 million / autism center/year) is just not acceptable. Even more of an insult is the provision stating that research addressing environmental concerns will start AFTER July 2008. With proposed CDC/HRSA funding at 18 times higher than research funding geared towards developing treatments, we think the scales are overwhelmingly tipped away from what is most promising for our children.
2. We need research in these areas now: developmental neurobiology, immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, epigenetics (the study of heritable changes in gene function that occur without the change in sequence of the DNA, i.e. DNA methylation) and toxicology (with emphasis upon researching the environmental factors / mercury / thimerosal connection). Those at US health agencies in a position to help our children must follow the truth—no matter where it leads.
3. We must fund biomedical research of treatments that are actually helping our children. (Methylation protocol, chelation, diet, supplements, etc.) Why are they helping? Is there more we can do in this fruitful area?
4. Current services for autistic individuals are not enough in communities, schools, districts and states to meet the needs of our population. We need help. 80% of all autistic individuals in America are 16 years old and younger. Current housing is inadequate. What are we going to do with all of these children as they get older?
5. We must pass the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2005 – Bills HR 881 and S 1422. The House bill has 70 co-sponsors. The Senate has ZERO.
The list of sponsors and co-sponsors of the Combating Autism Act (S. 843 and HR 2421) are below. Contact information is available by going to http://capwiz.com/a-champ/dbq/officials/ and typing in the legislators’ last names.
S. 843
Sponsor: Sen. Rick Santorum (PA)
Co-Sponsors:
Sen. Akaka, Daniel (HI)
Sen. Cantwell, Maria (WA)
Sen. Clinton, Hillary (NY)
Sen. Cochran, Thad (MS)
Sen. Coleman, Norm (MN)
Sen. Collins, Susan (ME)
Sen. Corzine, Jon S. (NJ)
Sen. Dayton, Mark (MN)
Sen. Dodd, Christopher (CT)
Sen. Isakson, Johnny (GA)
Sen. Jeffords, James (VT)
Sen. Johnson, Tim (SD)
Sen. Kerry, John (MA)
Sen. Landrieu, Mary (LA)
Sen. Lautenberg, Frank (NJ)
Sen. Leahy, Patrick (VT)
Sen. Leiberman, Joseph (CT)
Sen. Pryor, Mark (AR)
H.R. 2421
Sponsor: Rep. Mary Bono (CA)
Co-Sponsors:
Rep. Bishop, Sanford (GA)
Rep. Boswell, Leonard (IA)
Rep. Butterfield, G.K. (NC)
Rep. Calvery, Ken (CA)
Rep. Crowley, Joseph (NY)
Rep. Davis, Tom (VA)
Rep. DeGette, Diana (CO)
Rep. Fortuno, Luis (PR)
Rep. Fossella, Vito (NY)
Rep. Gordon, Bart (TN)
Rep Issa, Darrell (CA)
Rep. Kennedy, Patrick (RI)
Rep. Langevin, James (RI)
Rep. Lantos, Tom (CA)
Rep. Lowey, Nita (NY)
Rep. Lynch, Stephen (MA)
Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus (MI)
Rep. Mollohan, Alan (WV)
Rep. Moore, Dennis (KS)
Rep. Price, David (NC)
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana (FL)
Rep. Rothman, Steven (NJ)
Rep. Sanders, Bernard (VT)
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice (IL)
Rep. Schiff, Adam (CA)
Rep. Strickland, Ted (OH)
Rep Van Hollen, Chris (MD)
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie (FL)
Additionally, if your Senator or Representative isn’t on the list, send them a copy of your concerns. Their contact information is available at http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/congress.php
Please help now by asking co-sponsors and others to add amendments that will go to the heart of need in the autism community. Otherwise this bill may go into effect and it could take another five years to get another opportunity to make such a positive difference in the research, service and treatment allocations needed for our children.
Our community needs to prove once again that we are, as the New York Times said earlier this year, a “potent national force.” Let’s get those Capitol Hill phones and fax machines working overtime! Make your phone calls and write your letters today!
National Autism Association
A-CHAMP
Autism One
Autism Research Institute
Dads Against Mercury
Generation Rescue
Moms Against Mercury
NoMercury
TACA - Talk About Curing Autism
For information, resources and practical strategies,
please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
This is vitally important. Please read.
The Combating Autism Act (S. 843 and H.R. 2421) will determine:
1. The amount of research money spent on autism for the next five years.
2. Where the money is spent
3. What types of research we can expect to see for our children
The bill is a good start but falls far short of what the autism community needs to help our children suffering now.
The bill allocates a total of approximately $900 million for 5 years (or $180 million per year). Currently autism gets $93 million per year.
Considering that autism is at epidemic proportions and is the largest public health disaster ever to occur among children, this figure is pitifully below the amount needed. (AIDS affects roughly the same number of people in America, yet receives over $900 million for ONE year (or $4.5 BILLION for 5 years). Juvenile diabetes also gets more money than autism as well even though there are more autistic children than children with juvenile diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer combined.) We don’t want to take away money from others. We just want our fair share! We need to stand up for our kids now—or wait another five years.
RE: The Combating Autism Act—Of the $900 million over five years, the CDC will get over $550 million for epidemiology studies, early detection, and early intervention. (Intervention in the bill is described as, “Intervention includes referral to schools and agencies, including community, consumer, and parent-based agencies, and organizations and other programs mandated by part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which offer programs specifically designed to meet the unique needs of children with autism.” (In other words, the CDC will count our children and diagnose new children with hundreds of millions of dollars, give the new children they find very little or no intervention and have practically nothing left for treating the children suffering now.)
Furthermore, there is no mechanism for oversight stated in the bill. We’ve seen some questionable maneuvering from the CDC in the past, and must have transparency and accountability built into this legislation before giving them any more autism-related funding.
Only $36 million per year (3% of all the money) goes to actual biomedical research. $30 million is to be split among the 10 NIH STAART (Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment) centers. And even this inadequate figure includes more screening and data collection activities that already dominate this legislation. There is another $6 million for 3 NIEHS centers. And, there is an additional $14 million allocated to 10 CPEA’s (Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism) centers but sadly this money is earmarked for coordination and data sharing between centers – not actual research. Averaged among 23 centers, this means that each center will get LESS than $2.17 million a year to develop treatments for an epidemic of children. If any of this money is used for salaries and overhead, even less will go to help our children. This is just not enough to address the immediate medical research our kids must have if they are to reach their full potential!!
Also, studies by experienced researchers regarding the effects of ethyl mercury / thimerosal exposure are already being turned away by the NIH. We are quite concerned that if the bill doesn’t spell out that research must be done to examine these toxic exposures, such studies will not be done at all. The scientists whose work has shown the most promise for devising real treatments for our injured children are currently receiving NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING to further this most critical research.
What can you do:
Contact the current co-sponsors. Tell them these four things:
1. We need amendments in the bill to provide more money for biomedical research, services and treatments. Less than $36 million earmarked for biomedical research and $14 million for the collaboration/coordination that goes with it – split among 23 centers for 5 years ($2.17 million / autism center/year) is just not acceptable. Even more of an insult is the provision stating that research addressing environmental concerns will start AFTER July 2008. With proposed CDC/HRSA funding at 18 times higher than research funding geared towards developing treatments, we think the scales are overwhelmingly tipped away from what is most promising for our children.
2. We need research in these areas now: developmental neurobiology, immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, epigenetics (the study of heritable changes in gene function that occur without the change in sequence of the DNA, i.e. DNA methylation) and toxicology (with emphasis upon researching the environmental factors / mercury / thimerosal connection). Those at US health agencies in a position to help our children must follow the truth—no matter where it leads.
3. We must fund biomedical research of treatments that are actually helping our children. (Methylation protocol, chelation, diet, supplements, etc.) Why are they helping? Is there more we can do in this fruitful area?
4. Current services for autistic individuals are not enough in communities, schools, districts and states to meet the needs of our population. We need help. 80% of all autistic individuals in America are 16 years old and younger. Current housing is inadequate. What are we going to do with all of these children as they get older?
5. We must pass the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2005 – Bills HR 881 and S 1422. The House bill has 70 co-sponsors. The Senate has ZERO.
The list of sponsors and co-sponsors of the Combating Autism Act (S. 843 and HR 2421) are below. Contact information is available by going to http://capwiz.com/a-champ/dbq/officials/ and typing in the legislators’ last names.
S. 843
Sponsor: Sen. Rick Santorum (PA)
Co-Sponsors:
Sen. Akaka, Daniel (HI)
Sen. Cantwell, Maria (WA)
Sen. Clinton, Hillary (NY)
Sen. Cochran, Thad (MS)
Sen. Coleman, Norm (MN)
Sen. Collins, Susan (ME)
Sen. Corzine, Jon S. (NJ)
Sen. Dayton, Mark (MN)
Sen. Dodd, Christopher (CT)
Sen. Isakson, Johnny (GA)
Sen. Jeffords, James (VT)
Sen. Johnson, Tim (SD)
Sen. Kerry, John (MA)
Sen. Landrieu, Mary (LA)
Sen. Lautenberg, Frank (NJ)
Sen. Leahy, Patrick (VT)
Sen. Leiberman, Joseph (CT)
Sen. Pryor, Mark (AR)
H.R. 2421
Sponsor: Rep. Mary Bono (CA)
Co-Sponsors:
Rep. Bishop, Sanford (GA)
Rep. Boswell, Leonard (IA)
Rep. Butterfield, G.K. (NC)
Rep. Calvery, Ken (CA)
Rep. Crowley, Joseph (NY)
Rep. Davis, Tom (VA)
Rep. DeGette, Diana (CO)
Rep. Fortuno, Luis (PR)
Rep. Fossella, Vito (NY)
Rep. Gordon, Bart (TN)
Rep Issa, Darrell (CA)
Rep. Kennedy, Patrick (RI)
Rep. Langevin, James (RI)
Rep. Lantos, Tom (CA)
Rep. Lowey, Nita (NY)
Rep. Lynch, Stephen (MA)
Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus (MI)
Rep. Mollohan, Alan (WV)
Rep. Moore, Dennis (KS)
Rep. Price, David (NC)
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana (FL)
Rep. Rothman, Steven (NJ)
Rep. Sanders, Bernard (VT)
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice (IL)
Rep. Schiff, Adam (CA)
Rep. Strickland, Ted (OH)
Rep Van Hollen, Chris (MD)
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie (FL)
Additionally, if your Senator or Representative isn’t on the list, send them a copy of your concerns. Their contact information is available at http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/congress.php
Please help now by asking co-sponsors and others to add amendments that will go to the heart of need in the autism community. Otherwise this bill may go into effect and it could take another five years to get another opportunity to make such a positive difference in the research, service and treatment allocations needed for our children.
Our community needs to prove once again that we are, as the New York Times said earlier this year, a “potent national force.” Let’s get those Capitol Hill phones and fax machines working overtime! Make your phone calls and write your letters today!
National Autism Association
A-CHAMP
Autism One
Autism Research Institute
Dads Against Mercury
Generation Rescue
Moms Against Mercury
NoMercury
TACA - Talk About Curing Autism
For information, resources and practical strategies,
please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
UPDATE: Free AWARES.org Online Autism Conference now till 11/11/05
** NOW OPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER 11th- DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND **
Please visit the first free AWARES.org Online Autism Conference (available until Nov. 11, 2005).
http://www.awares.org/conferences/
There are some very useful and informative articles available to read, and interesting posts on the discussion groups.
For information, resources and practical strategies,
please visit: http://www.autismconcepts.com/.
Please visit the first free AWARES.org Online Autism Conference (available until Nov. 11, 2005).
http://www.awares.org/conferences/
There are some very useful and informative articles available to read, and interesting posts on the discussion groups.
For information, resources and practical strategies,
please visit: http://www.autismconcepts.com/.
NY Times Article, Modern Love - Adolescence, Without a Roadmap
October 16, 2005
By Claire Scovell LaZebnik
At least he's good-looking," I say to my husband whenever the subject of our oldest son's dating future comes up. And he is good-looking, our son, with his blue eyes, wavy hair, broad shoulders and warm smile. He's also got a deep voice (he works at it) and a gentle manner. It's hard to believe girls won't fall in love with him. And maybe they will.
But he also has autism. When he's tired or sick, he forgets words or uses them incorrectly; often it requires enormous effort just for him to maintain a conversation. It's as if he has no native tongue and essentially has had to memorize our language word by word.
Now he's working on our customs. You see him eagerly watching other kids, looking for clues and lessons, signs he can follow into the world of the average teenager. It's a world he's desperate to be part of. He dresses like them, adopts their gestures, mimics their rudeness and even douses himself, as they do, with Axe deodorant body spray. ("Look at the other kids," we're always telling him. "Watch them, play like them.")
He'll be in the middle of a group of kids and they'll laugh. Then he'll laugh, a second too late and too loud. He knows he needs to laugh to fit in; that much he's learned from observation. What he can't seem to learn is what made the joke funny and why everyone gets it but he.
For a long time our son was a little boy with autism, which was a certain kind of challenge. Now that he's a teenager with autism - and a teenager who notices girls - we're faced with something else altogether.
Full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/fashion/sundaystyles/16LOVE.html?pagewante=d=3Dall&oref=3Dlogin#
For more information and resources on autism, please visit:
http://www.autismconcepts.com/
By Claire Scovell LaZebnik
At least he's good-looking," I say to my husband whenever the subject of our oldest son's dating future comes up. And he is good-looking, our son, with his blue eyes, wavy hair, broad shoulders and warm smile. He's also got a deep voice (he works at it) and a gentle manner. It's hard to believe girls won't fall in love with him. And maybe they will.
But he also has autism. When he's tired or sick, he forgets words or uses them incorrectly; often it requires enormous effort just for him to maintain a conversation. It's as if he has no native tongue and essentially has had to memorize our language word by word.
Now he's working on our customs. You see him eagerly watching other kids, looking for clues and lessons, signs he can follow into the world of the average teenager. It's a world he's desperate to be part of. He dresses like them, adopts their gestures, mimics their rudeness and even douses himself, as they do, with Axe deodorant body spray. ("Look at the other kids," we're always telling him. "Watch them, play like them.")
He'll be in the middle of a group of kids and they'll laugh. Then he'll laugh, a second too late and too loud. He knows he needs to laugh to fit in; that much he's learned from observation. What he can't seem to learn is what made the joke funny and why everyone gets it but he.
For a long time our son was a little boy with autism, which was a certain kind of challenge. Now that he's a teenager with autism - and a teenager who notices girls - we're faced with something else altogether.
Full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/fashion/sundaystyles/16LOVE.html?pagewante=d=3Dall&oref=3Dlogin#
For more information and resources on autism, please visit:
http://www.autismconcepts.com/
Monday, October 17, 2005
Study: Administration of secretin for autism alters dopamine metabolism in the central nervous system.
1: Brain Dev. 2005 Sep 14; [Epub ahead of print]
Administration of secretin for autism alters dopamine metabolism in the central nervous system.
Toda Y, Mori K, Hashimoto T, Miyazaki M, Nozaki S, Watanabe Y, Kuroda Y, Kagami S.
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima-shi, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
We evaluated the clinical effects of intravenously administered secretin in 12 children with autism (age range: 4-6 years, median age: 9 years, boy:girl=8:4). In addition, we investigated the association between improvement in symptoms and changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homovanillic acid (HVA),5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), and 6R-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (BH(4)) levels after administration. After administration of secretin, the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) score improved in 7 of the 12 children. However, the score deteriorated in 2 of the 12 children (in the item of 'restricted and repetitive, stereotyped interests and behaviors'). The HVA and BH(4) levels in CSF were increased in all children with improvement in the ADI-R score. In contrast, no patient without the elevation of the BH(4) level showed improvement in the score. These findings suggest that secretin activated metabolic turnover of dopamine in the central nervous system via BH(4), improving symptoms.
PMID: 16168596 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
For information and resources on autism, please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com.
Administration of secretin for autism alters dopamine metabolism in the central nervous system.
Toda Y, Mori K, Hashimoto T, Miyazaki M, Nozaki S, Watanabe Y, Kuroda Y, Kagami S.
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima-shi, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
We evaluated the clinical effects of intravenously administered secretin in 12 children with autism (age range: 4-6 years, median age: 9 years, boy:girl=8:4). In addition, we investigated the association between improvement in symptoms and changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homovanillic acid (HVA),5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), and 6R-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin (BH(4)) levels after administration. After administration of secretin, the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) score improved in 7 of the 12 children. However, the score deteriorated in 2 of the 12 children (in the item of 'restricted and repetitive, stereotyped interests and behaviors'). The HVA and BH(4) levels in CSF were increased in all children with improvement in the ADI-R score. In contrast, no patient without the elevation of the BH(4) level showed improvement in the score. These findings suggest that secretin activated metabolic turnover of dopamine in the central nervous system via BH(4), improving symptoms.
PMID: 16168596 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
For information and resources on autism, please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Training parents aids autistic kids' language
Last Updated: 2005-10-13
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Training parents to better communicate with their autistic preschoolers can spur children's language development, according to a study of one such training program.
Though parental training courses are a growing part of managing autism spectrum disorders, there has been little evidence from clinical trials that the approach aids children's language, behavior and social skills.
"The evidence base has been very limited, so our study is a major contribution," Dr. Helen McConachie, of the University of Newcastle in the UK, told Reuters Health.
Specifically, she and her colleagues found that a program known as More Than Words helped parents build their 2-, 3- and 4-year-old children's vocabularies. The program, which was developed by Canadian doctors, teaches parents how to interact with their autistic children in a playful way-using "fun" words, games, musical speech and other tactics to aid their language development.
The findings are published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Read article at:
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2005/10/13/eline/links/20051013elin002.html
For information and resources on autism, please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Training parents to better communicate with their autistic preschoolers can spur children's language development, according to a study of one such training program.
Though parental training courses are a growing part of managing autism spectrum disorders, there has been little evidence from clinical trials that the approach aids children's language, behavior and social skills.
"The evidence base has been very limited, so our study is a major contribution," Dr. Helen McConachie, of the University of Newcastle in the UK, told Reuters Health.
Specifically, she and her colleagues found that a program known as More Than Words helped parents build their 2-, 3- and 4-year-old children's vocabularies. The program, which was developed by Canadian doctors, teaches parents how to interact with their autistic children in a playful way-using "fun" words, games, musical speech and other tactics to aid their language development.
The findings are published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Read article at:
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2005/10/13/eline/links/20051013elin002.html
For information and resources on autism, please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
High Court Upholds Ruling School Programs Must Meet Needs of Children with Autism
Oct. 11, 2005 -- The United States Supreme Court today refused to hear the appeal of the Hamilton County (Tennessee) Department of Education in a landmark "autism" case that had been brought under the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA").
This decision will effect how children with autism, as well as those with other disabilities, receive educational services in public schools. The decision makes clear that parents must be meaningfully included at their child's IEP meetings, that educational decision must be personalized and individually tailored to meet the child's needs, that educational programs may not be "predetermined" or the result of an official or unofficial policy by the school district, and that cost cannot be the driving factor in deciding what kind of program a child should receive. The Sixth Circuit also held that educational programs must be "meaningful".
Hamilton County Schools had filed a petition for a writ of certiorari seeking permission from the Supreme Court to appeal a unanimous decision that the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals had rendered in favor of a Chattanooga boy diagnosed with autism, Zachary Deal.
Gary Mayerson, of Mayerson & Associates and a member of the Autism Speaks board of directors, represented the Deal family. "Hamilton county took the position that a 'meaningful benefit' standard was too much to expect from a school district," said Mayerson. "We disagreed and took the position that a meaningful benefit test is what is required pursuant to earlier Supreme Court precedent in order to individualize a child's IEP. As a results of this decision, parents across the country are able to invoke the Sixth Circuit decision for its important principles to secure appropriate intervention programs for their children."
Mayerson added that parents should not hesitate to bring a copy of the Sixth Circuit's decision to their IEP meetings if they believe that their school district is not upholding the letter and spirit of the IDEA statute. A copy of the decision is available at: http://www.mayerslaw.com/<http://www.mayerslaw.com/> .
Read full article at: http://www.autismspeaks.org/inthenews/supreme_court_hamilton.php
Wrightslaw website:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/04/6th.deal.hamilton.tn.htm
For information and resources on autism, please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com.
This decision will effect how children with autism, as well as those with other disabilities, receive educational services in public schools. The decision makes clear that parents must be meaningfully included at their child's IEP meetings, that educational decision must be personalized and individually tailored to meet the child's needs, that educational programs may not be "predetermined" or the result of an official or unofficial policy by the school district, and that cost cannot be the driving factor in deciding what kind of program a child should receive. The Sixth Circuit also held that educational programs must be "meaningful".
Hamilton County Schools had filed a petition for a writ of certiorari seeking permission from the Supreme Court to appeal a unanimous decision that the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals had rendered in favor of a Chattanooga boy diagnosed with autism, Zachary Deal.
Gary Mayerson, of Mayerson & Associates and a member of the Autism Speaks board of directors, represented the Deal family. "Hamilton county took the position that a 'meaningful benefit' standard was too much to expect from a school district," said Mayerson. "We disagreed and took the position that a meaningful benefit test is what is required pursuant to earlier Supreme Court precedent in order to individualize a child's IEP. As a results of this decision, parents across the country are able to invoke the Sixth Circuit decision for its important principles to secure appropriate intervention programs for their children."
Mayerson added that parents should not hesitate to bring a copy of the Sixth Circuit's decision to their IEP meetings if they believe that their school district is not upholding the letter and spirit of the IDEA statute. A copy of the decision is available at: http://www.mayerslaw.com/<http://www.mayerslaw.com/> .
Read full article at: http://www.autismspeaks.org/inthenews/supreme_court_hamilton.php
Wrightslaw website:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/04/6th.deal.hamilton.tn.htm
For information and resources on autism, please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
A New Distinct Website For Families Living With Autism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2005
CONTACT:Wanda Brown
ASD Concepts, LLC
info@autismconcepts.com
www.autismconcepts.com
A NEW DISTINCT WEBSITE FOR FAMILIES LIVING WITH AUTISM
Middletown, NY (BlackNews.com) - With 1 in 166 children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and 1 in 6 children diagnosed with a developmental disorder and/or behavioral problem, many families may not know what to do or where to go for help. A new website AutismConcepts.com created by an African American family raising an adolescent child with autism, shares credible and relevant information with other families.
The Internet is an easy and convenient way for parents to meet, share their experiences and other information. In addition to the usual facts found on autism-related websites, AutismConcepts.com also shares information, research and resources related to African Americans, directly linking to the source.
Research has revealed disparities in early detection of autism, treatment and special education:
-- African American children with autism are diagnosed nearly two years after children of all other ethnic groups. Black autistic children received more misdiagnoses than Whites. Early diagnosis and intervention leads to a better way of life for children with autism. Excerpts from Race Differences in the Age at Diagnosis Among Medicaid-Eligible Children with Autism, David S. Mandell, Sc.D., John Listerud, M.D., Ph.D.
-- Minority children with disabilities all too often experience inadequate services, low-quality curriculum and instruction, and unnecessary isolation from their nondisabled peers. Moreover, inappropriate practices in both general and special education classrooms have resulted in overrepresentation, misclassification, and hardship for minority students, particularly black children.
-- African American and Latino students are about twice as likely as white students to be educated in a restrictive, and separate educational setting.
-- Among high school students with disabilities, about 75% of African Americans are not employed two years out of school. Three to five years out of school, the arrest rate for African Americans with disabilities is 40%. Minority disabled students also have much higher rates of school disciplinary action and placement in correctional facilities. Excerpts from Racial Inequity in Special Education, 2002, Daniel J. Losen & Gary Orfield, Editors, Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.
"Serious changes for reform must be made so that all people with autism can live up to their fullest potential. Autism is not hopeless and parents are not helpless. We can learn about important issues and how to advocate for our loved ones to make immediate changes for a better outcome," says mother, Wanda Brown.
AutismConcepts.com is a large collection of basic information of vital interest to families to help empower, support, network and inform.
For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, contact Wanda Brown at 845-978-3182 or visit www.autismconcepts.com
About ASD Concepts, LLCASD Concepts, LLC is a new business formed by a sibling of an individual diagnosed with autism, after identifying a need in minority communities for parent and sibling support, networking, information and practical strategies to help manage day-to-day living with autism, by way of AutismConcepts.com, a non-commercial website.
-END-
October 5, 2005
CONTACT:Wanda Brown
ASD Concepts, LLC
info@autismconcepts.com
www.autismconcepts.com
A NEW DISTINCT WEBSITE FOR FAMILIES LIVING WITH AUTISM
Middletown, NY (BlackNews.com) - With 1 in 166 children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and 1 in 6 children diagnosed with a developmental disorder and/or behavioral problem, many families may not know what to do or where to go for help. A new website AutismConcepts.com created by an African American family raising an adolescent child with autism, shares credible and relevant information with other families.
The Internet is an easy and convenient way for parents to meet, share their experiences and other information. In addition to the usual facts found on autism-related websites, AutismConcepts.com also shares information, research and resources related to African Americans, directly linking to the source.
Research has revealed disparities in early detection of autism, treatment and special education:
-- African American children with autism are diagnosed nearly two years after children of all other ethnic groups. Black autistic children received more misdiagnoses than Whites. Early diagnosis and intervention leads to a better way of life for children with autism. Excerpts from Race Differences in the Age at Diagnosis Among Medicaid-Eligible Children with Autism, David S. Mandell, Sc.D., John Listerud, M.D., Ph.D.
-- Minority children with disabilities all too often experience inadequate services, low-quality curriculum and instruction, and unnecessary isolation from their nondisabled peers. Moreover, inappropriate practices in both general and special education classrooms have resulted in overrepresentation, misclassification, and hardship for minority students, particularly black children.
-- African American and Latino students are about twice as likely as white students to be educated in a restrictive, and separate educational setting.
-- Among high school students with disabilities, about 75% of African Americans are not employed two years out of school. Three to five years out of school, the arrest rate for African Americans with disabilities is 40%. Minority disabled students also have much higher rates of school disciplinary action and placement in correctional facilities. Excerpts from Racial Inequity in Special Education, 2002, Daniel J. Losen & Gary Orfield, Editors, Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.
"Serious changes for reform must be made so that all people with autism can live up to their fullest potential. Autism is not hopeless and parents are not helpless. We can learn about important issues and how to advocate for our loved ones to make immediate changes for a better outcome," says mother, Wanda Brown.
AutismConcepts.com is a large collection of basic information of vital interest to families to help empower, support, network and inform.
For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, contact Wanda Brown at 845-978-3182 or visit www.autismconcepts.com
About ASD Concepts, LLCASD Concepts, LLC is a new business formed by a sibling of an individual diagnosed with autism, after identifying a need in minority communities for parent and sibling support, networking, information and practical strategies to help manage day-to-day living with autism, by way of AutismConcepts.com, a non-commercial website.
-END-
To Stretch Their Attention: UO professor's exercises show possibility of
By Greg Bolt
The Register-Guard
Published: Saturday, October 8, 2005
Teachers may one day be able to train youngsters to pay better attention,and in a way they'll have space monkeys to thank for it.
But it was University of Oregon psychology professor Michael Posner who adapted exercises once used by NASA to train monkeys for space travel to show that young children can strengthen the attention centers of their brains. In recently published research with colleagues at Cornell University's medical school, he showed that attention improved after just a few training sessions.
The improvement was slight, but given the short period the children spent on the exercises Posner said it's clear that the therapy has potential.
"This is a feasible idea," he said. "I think we have shown pretty convincingly we can train attention in this way."
Read full article at:
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/10/08/d1.cr.attention.1008.p1.php?section=cityregion
For more information and resources on autism, please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com
The Register-Guard
Published: Saturday, October 8, 2005
Teachers may one day be able to train youngsters to pay better attention,and in a way they'll have space monkeys to thank for it.
But it was University of Oregon psychology professor Michael Posner who adapted exercises once used by NASA to train monkeys for space travel to show that young children can strengthen the attention centers of their brains. In recently published research with colleagues at Cornell University's medical school, he showed that attention improved after just a few training sessions.
The improvement was slight, but given the short period the children spent on the exercises Posner said it's clear that the therapy has potential.
"This is a feasible idea," he said. "I think we have shown pretty convincingly we can train attention in this way."
Read full article at:
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/10/08/d1.cr.attention.1008.p1.php?section=cityregion
For more information and resources on autism, please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com
Controversy over vitamin jab for autism
By Rachelle Money
A CONTROVERSIAL vitamin injection claimed to help autistic children recoveris to be promoted in Scotland by its American developer.
Dr James Neubrander, who will discuss the injection at a conference onautism in Edin burgh this week, has a private clinic in New Jersey where he says he has given more than 75,000 shots of methyl cobalamin B12 since May 2002, with, he claims, 94% of children showing improvement.
Methylcobalamin B12 is a type of vitamin B12 produced naturally by bacteriain the colon and then absorbed. Some scientists believe that people withautism are unable to absorb this material.
Neubrander said one injection is given every three days and the effects canbe seen within five weeks. "My kids can lose their diagnosis [as autistic]within a year and a half to two and a half years and be in a normalclassroom where nobody would know they had autism. When they stop the shotsthey regress in the same manner a diabetic who stops taking insulin would regress.
"When we first see these kids they can't talk and now they are totally recovered. This is to the autism world what antibiotics was to the modern world."
Read full article at: http://www.sundayherald.com/52157
For more information and resources on autism, please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com
A CONTROVERSIAL vitamin injection claimed to help autistic children recoveris to be promoted in Scotland by its American developer.
Dr James Neubrander, who will discuss the injection at a conference onautism in Edin burgh this week, has a private clinic in New Jersey where he says he has given more than 75,000 shots of methyl cobalamin B12 since May 2002, with, he claims, 94% of children showing improvement.
Methylcobalamin B12 is a type of vitamin B12 produced naturally by bacteriain the colon and then absorbed. Some scientists believe that people withautism are unable to absorb this material.
Neubrander said one injection is given every three days and the effects canbe seen within five weeks. "My kids can lose their diagnosis [as autistic]within a year and a half to two and a half years and be in a normalclassroom where nobody would know they had autism. When they stop the shotsthey regress in the same manner a diabetic who stops taking insulin would regress.
"When we first see these kids they can't talk and now they are totally recovered. This is to the autism world what antibiotics was to the modern world."
Read full article at: http://www.sundayherald.com/52157
For more information and resources on autism, please visit:
www.AutismConcepts.com
Thursday, October 06, 2005
New Vocational Website For Adults On The Spectrum
New Vocational Website For Adults On The Spectrum
From Donna Williams, author of several autism books.
I am writing to you all to please ask you to tell your members about our new website www.auties.org.
This website is very exciting because it has been made by people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
It has been made to help all people on the Autistic Spectrum all over the world to find work and employment.
The website lists people for free if they are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Condition.
It allows people to find and support the work and skills of people with Autism Spectrum Conditions around the world.
There are categories of work for those with ALL levels of skills.
The website is not just for the most able people on the Autistic Spectrum. It is for all people on the Autistic Spectrum.
The website is not political and provides equal opportunity to all people on the Autistic Spectrum around the world.
The site is also open to businesses which consider themselves 'Autie Friendly' as part of us trying to make the mainstream world more accessible to people on the autistic spectrum.
Please do come and visit us at www.auties.org.
From Donna Williams, author of several autism books.
I am writing to you all to please ask you to tell your members about our new website www.auties.org.
This website is very exciting because it has been made by people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
It has been made to help all people on the Autistic Spectrum all over the world to find work and employment.
The website lists people for free if they are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Condition.
It allows people to find and support the work and skills of people with Autism Spectrum Conditions around the world.
There are categories of work for those with ALL levels of skills.
The website is not just for the most able people on the Autistic Spectrum. It is for all people on the Autistic Spectrum.
The website is not political and provides equal opportunity to all people on the Autistic Spectrum around the world.
The site is also open to businesses which consider themselves 'Autie Friendly' as part of us trying to make the mainstream world more accessible to people on the autistic spectrum.
Please do come and visit us at www.auties.org.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Study: The Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions on Dropout for Youth with Disabilities
Study: The Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions on Dropout for Youth with Disabilities
Abstract
The relationship between cognitive-behavioral interventions/therapies (the intervention) and dropout outcomes and violent verbal or physical aggression (the outcomes) for secondary aged youth with disabilities was explored in this systematic review. A total of 16 studies intervening with 791 youth with behavioral disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, and learning disabilities were reviewed. The findings of this review strongly support the efficacy of the use of cognitive-behavioral interventions across educational environments, disability types, ages, and gender in the reduction of dropout and correlates of dropout. A series of more detailed implications for practice are suggested as well as directions to the reader to locate more detailed descriptions of how these interventions might be implemented in their secondary educational environments.
Read full Text at: http://www2.edc.org/ndpc-sd/cognitive/report.pdf
For more information and resources on autism,
please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Abstract
The relationship between cognitive-behavioral interventions/therapies (the intervention) and dropout outcomes and violent verbal or physical aggression (the outcomes) for secondary aged youth with disabilities was explored in this systematic review. A total of 16 studies intervening with 791 youth with behavioral disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, and learning disabilities were reviewed. The findings of this review strongly support the efficacy of the use of cognitive-behavioral interventions across educational environments, disability types, ages, and gender in the reduction of dropout and correlates of dropout. A series of more detailed implications for practice are suggested as well as directions to the reader to locate more detailed descriptions of how these interventions might be implemented in their secondary educational environments.
Read full Text at: http://www2.edc.org/ndpc-sd/cognitive/report.pdf
For more information and resources on autism,
please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Autism Epidemic Continues...
Latest Totals for 2004/2005 from the U.S. Department of Education Compiled by the Autism Autoimmunity Project
These partial listings will be the figures submitted to the US Dept of Education for 2004/2005 (end of December 2004) and will be online as of October 2005.
For a full review of all the state listings in tables, visit: http://www.taap.info/epidemic.asp
For more information and resources on autism,
please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
These partial listings will be the figures submitted to the US Dept of Education for 2004/2005 (end of December 2004) and will be online as of October 2005.
For a full review of all the state listings in tables, visit: http://www.taap.info/epidemic.asp
For more information and resources on autism,
please visit: www.AutismConcepts.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
