| by Scott Campbell |
| Oct 28, 2008 |
| 1. FCPS workshop on IEP Training for Parents. Do you want to know more about the IEP process; including writing goals, choosing appropriate accommodations, participation in assessments, and more? Then register for this training. It is on October 22, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Dunn Loring Administrative Center, Room 11, 2334 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA 22027. Students with disabilities and parents participate in the annual IEP process during each school year. To ensure that parents have the knowledge needed to be an active member of the IEP team the Office of Special Education is offering an IEP Training Session for parents that will cover the completion of IEP forms and the IEP process, including writing goals, choosing accommodations, participation in assessments, least restrictive environment, services, placement and consent. Seating is limited and registration is required. Please call 703-204-3941 or email prc@fcps.edu (and type “IEP Training” in the subject line) to register.
2. Eddie's Club Teen and Young Adult Social on Wednesday, Oct 22 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at the MaGill's Famous Pizza, 7201 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA. A special evening of fun, food, and camaraderie for our 13 and older Eddie's Club members. All Eddie's Club teens and young adults welcome. No need to call ahead, just come out and enjoy the fun. More info is at http://www.eddiesclub.org. 3. Health, Community Support, & Craft Fair 2008 sponsored by the FORT MYER MILITARY COMMUNITY ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER Exceptional Family Member Program and the ARMY NATIONAL GUARD READINESS CENTER Health, Safety, and Promotion Council. It is on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. at the ARNGRC, 111 South George Mason Drive, Arlington, VA. ADMISSION: Free following SECURITY CHECK-IN. NOTE: Since there is NO visitor parking, shuttle service will be available from the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel (across from the PX) from 7:30 AM to 2 PM. For general/disabled-access information, contact Mrs. O’Connor, (703) 696-3510. This event is only for military families. 4. Children Together Fall Workshops. Thursday, October 23, 2008 at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, 2932 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 - (703) 684-3720. Registration: 3:30- 4:00 p.m. - Full Session: 4:00-7:00 p.m. – or - Session One: 4:00- 5:15 p.m. Session Two: 5:45-7:00 p.m. Break for all Sessions: 5:15-5:45 p.m. Upon arrival you will have the option of choosing the extended workshop that continues after the break or choosing two shorter workshops. Please arrive early. Seating will be first come, first serve until each workshop reaches capacity. Full Session Workshop 4:00-7:00 p.m. Parent Tool Box: Four steps to reaching your goals for you and your child - Susan Keightley, M.Ed. Session Workshops 4:00-5:15 p.m. and 5:45-7:00 p.m. The Serious Work of Play - Moshe Shtuhl, Ph.D - Licensed Clinical Psychologist - Alison Gardner, Psy.D. - Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Nutrition and The Child’s Brain Development - Elizabeth Holm, DrPH, RD. All Children Can Observe: How to Easily Bring Local Butterflies into Your Classroom - Peggy Ashbrook - Early Childhood Science Educator and Writer. Handwriting Without Tears (HWT): Incorporating HWT Into Your Preschool Classroom - Allison Tracey, M.A., HWT certified. Watch Your Step! Crossing Boundaries - Alma Tovar, LCSW - Fairfax County Public Schools - Elaine Barker, Ed.D. - Preschool Special Education Coordinator - Alexandria City Public Schools. Inclusion Helps All Children Soar: Setting Up Your Classroom for Success - Kathy Harris, Head Teacher - Lana Sonoda, Assistant Teacher - Resurrection Children’s Center - Lisa Woodruff-Sanford, M.A. - Early Childhood Special Education Specialist - Alexandria City Public Schools. For more info, see the brochure at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/prc/20081023.pdf. 5. Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services' F.A.N.tastic Fridays FREE Family Autism Night on Friday, 24 October. F.A.N.tastic Fridays are a free drop-in program for families who have a son or daughter (between the ages of 3-22) on the autism spectrum. A variety of planned leisure activities for families to enjoy together. Games, arts & crafts, sports, and a special program each month. A great opportunity for families to socialize, network, and learn about the resources available throughout Northern Virginia. Cost: Free! No registration required. They are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at various locations around the County. For more information, contact Katelyn Murdock at 703-324-5517 or katelyn.murdock@fairfaxcounty.gov. Topic for October is Healthy Meals for Your Family by the Virginia Cooperative Extension at the Mott Community Center, 12111 Braddock Road. Fairfax, VA 22030. 6. The Sixth Annual OAR Applied Autism Research and Intervention Conference is scheduled for October 24-25 at the Westin Arlington Gateway, Arlington, VA. This year's conference will be another high quality offering featuring keynote addresses by Dr. Ami Klin from the Yale Child Study Center, Dr. Joanne Gerenser from the Eden II programs, and Dr. Roy Richard Grinker, author of the book Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism. Tracks will include OAR Sponsored Research, Research into Effective Practice, Social Skills/Adaptive Behavior, and Life Outside the Classroom. I do believe that this year's roster of speakers is one of the best we have ever assembled and I am looking forward to a record turnout. Not only is this the only national autism conference focused solely on current research leading to evidence-based and effective intervention, at $125.00 for two full days it is among the least expensive. For more info, go to http://www.researchautism.org/news/conference/index.asp. Please contact (703) 243-9710, toll free (866) 366-9710, or e-mail conference@researchautism.org for more information. 7. The 4th annual Walk for Autism-Virginia will take place on October 25, 2008 at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas. The money raised by the Walk will be used to fund mini-grants to help families in Northern Virginia help cover the costs some therapies commonly used to help children on the autism spectrum. The applications for the 2008 Walk for Autism-Virginia Mini-grants are now available. There have been a few changes for this year. First of all, we have changed the name from scholarship to mini-grant. Secondly, in addition to ABA and RDI, the mini-grant can be used to help cover expenses from speech, occupational, and physical therapy, social skills, auditory integration therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and therapeutic horseback riding. Thirdly, the number of mini-grants awarded may be limited this year. In years past we were able to fund all applications that were submitted. Concerns over the economy which may impact the amount of money we raise combined with the number of applications which are likely to be received as more people learn about us is the reason we may need to limit how many we award. If you are interested in receiving an application for a mini-grant, please send me your address so I can put it in the mail to you. You can email it to me directly at info@walkforautismva.org. If you have more than one child on the spectrum you would like to apply for a grant for, please let me know how many applications to send you. The completed applications are due back by Sept 15. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or call Barbara Wagner, Walk Coordinator at (703)859-0030 or go to www.walkforautismva.org. 8. Assistive Technology Services will be sponsoring the Real Assistive Technology for Everyone (R.A.T.E.) conference for staff and parents on Saturday, October 25 from 8:00 to 1:00 at Rachel Carson Middle School, 13618 McLearen Road, Herndon, VA 20171. This conference will feature presentations on a wide variety of assistive technology topics with a special focus on the integration of software programs and devices into the instructional setting. For additional information about the R.A.T.E conference, descriptions of available sessions, and to learn how to register, go to http://www.fcps.edu/ss/its/rate/index.htm. Questions? Contact Mary Beth Fleming at marybeth.fleming@fcps.edu or Betsy Komoniewski at betsy.komoniewski@fcps.edu. 9. Play Time: Exploring Play Techniques and Toy Options for Children with Disabilities workshop on Saturday, October 25 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Arc of Greater Prince William, 13505 Hillendale Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22193. Preregistration required by calling Jan Russell at 703-730-3124 or emailing her at jrussell@arcgpw.org. Childcare is also available by preregistration as are interpreter services. It is sponsored by The Arc of Greater Prince William and the Prince William County Special Education Parent Resource Center. There is no charge for the workshop, but donations are encouraged for childcare. For more info, go to http://www.arcgpw.org. 10. The Arc of Northern Virginia's Annual Meeting, An Evening with the STAaaaRS on October 26, 2008 from 4 to 7 pm at the State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church, VA. Celebrating all the STARS we know we are having a red carpet evening for you and your group to attend. Join us to celebrate and build our message for the coming year!! Remember, The Arc of Northern Virginia is a membership organization and our voice is YOURS! Get more info at http://www.thearcofnova.org. 11. NEW! The St. Elmo's Group, a get-together of parents of children with special needs, will meet on Monday. October 27, 2008 from 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, 2300 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria (at the corner of Del Ray Ave.) Guest resource Amy Parks, educational consultant and counselor, will discuss, "Educational Assessment: When, why, and what in the world does it mean, and how can it be used to develop good IEP goals?". As always, there will be plenty of opportunity for questions. Join us for an informative and useful presentation and discussion. RSVP's are definitely not required, but it would be helpful if you could please let me know if you are planning to attend so we will have enough handouts. Call Anne Lipnick at 703-706-4552 (office) or 571-274-2866 (work cell), or email alipnick@acps.k12.va.us. 12. The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities October 2008 Voices and Visions newsletter is at http://www.vaboard.org/downloads/vvOct08.pdf. 13. I am writing a piece on how parents, students and teachers are using ABA therapy to treat Autism. I am looking at how successful (or not) new programs have been in Northern Virginia. Fairfax County will be just one example. I am also trying to include the parent perspective for this piece - which is critical. Right now, I have only spoken to advocates, doctors, administrators and educators. I am a graduate student at Georgetown University studying feature writing under Kim Hart, a professor at GU and a staff writer for the Washington Post. There is a possibility that the piece could be published. Once I finish my reporting, I will be pitching it to local publications, like Northern Virginia Magazine. Please contact me if you are interested in helping me understand the parent perspective when it comes to ABA and educational therapy in Northern Virginia. For more info, contact Jamie Rich at O: 703 417 9384, C: 404 867 8222, or jsr56@georgetown.edu. 14. The IBIS Network at UNC is looking for participants! The Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) Network is examining the very early features that may be characteristic of infants at risk for autism. Their goal is to study the developing brain in infancy, before a possible diagnosis is determined. To do this, they are actively seeking to enroll families who have a child with an autism spectrum disorder and an infant sibling 6 months old or younger. At the University of North Carolina, researchers are studying the brain development of children from 6 to 24 months of age. Developmental evaluations and MRI scans of your child’s brain will be completed at 6, 12 and 24 months of age. These services are provided at no charge to your family. Compensation for participation and the arrangement of your travel to Chapel Hill will be provided. The data gathered in this study will provide important information regarding early brain development in autism, which may in turn provide clues that will eventually result in early interventions (e.g., early behavioral or medication treatments) to improve outcomes for children with autism. To learn more about participating in this study, please contact the UNC IBIS Network site by email at ibisnetwork@gmail.com or by phone (800) 793-5715. Also, to learn more about this research project please visit www.ibis-network.org. 15. The new Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) guide on "Insurance Coverage for Biomedical & Traditional Treatments" is now available at http://www.tacanow.org/resources/autism-insurance/insurance-coverage-for-biomedical-traditional-treatments.htm. 16. "Kids' Flu Shot Largely Ineffective Over Past Few Years- Study finds it didn't keep them from hospitals, doctors' offices" dated 6 October 2008 from the U.S. National Library of Medicine at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70107.html. "Over the past two flu seasons, vaccinating children five and younger did not reduce the number of child hospitalizations or doctor's visits linked to influenza, according to results of a new study. Given the poor match between the flu vaccine and circulating strains during the last two years, "this finding is not surprising," said Dr. Robert Belshe, a professor of medicine and pediatrics and director of the Center for Vaccine Development at the Saint Louis University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. "We know that the inactivated vaccine -- the flu shot -- doesn't work real well in children, particularly when the virus has evolved and drifted away from the type that is put in the vaccine," he said. In contrast, the live attenuated vaccine given as a nasal spray is far more effective, Belshe contended. "A recent study showed that it is 50 percent more effective at protecting against flu, including these drifted viruses that don't match," he said. Another study, this time in the October issue of Pediatrics, found that deaths caused by flu-linked staph infection are climbing among U.S. children, so the flu shot may still be important. In June 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended for the first time that all children 6 months of age or older receive annual flu shots. The new report was published in the October issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. In the study, a team led by Dr. Peter G. Szilagyi, from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., looked at 414 children aged five and younger who developed flu in the 2003-2004 or 2004-2005 flu seasons. Among these children, 245 were seen in hospitals or emergency departments, and 169 were cared for in a doctor's office or clinic. The researchers compared the vaccination status of these children with more than 5,000 children from the same area who did not get the flu. Szilagyi's group found that children who got the flu were less likely to have been vaccinated, compared with children who didn't get sick. However, after they adjusted for flu risk factors -- such as a child's location, sex, insurance status, chronic health conditions or timing of the vaccine -- the effectiveness of the vaccine could no longer be shown. The effectiveness of the flu shot ranged from 7 percent to 52 percent for 6- to 59-month-old children who had been fully vaccinated, the researchers found. The less-than-perfect match between the strain of flu in the vaccine during the two seasons studied and the flu that was actually circulating may have contributed substantially to the poor effectiveness of the vaccine, Szilagyi's team speculated. …" 17. "Half of Bipolar Children Become Bipolar Adults, Study Says" dated 6 October 2008 by Elizabeth Lopatto from Bloomberg.com at http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aP3yayOegmV0&refer=home. "Bipolar illness in children leads to severe mood swings in 44 percent of adults and drug and alcohol abuse in about a third, according to an 8-year study. Diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children is controversial, because doctors had previously thought that children couldn't get severely depressed or severely elated, said Barbara Geller, the study's lead author and a professor of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis. If bipolar children become bipolar adults, doctors should treat more aggressively to prevent the disease from getting worse, Geller said. The reported rate of substance abuse in the study population is similar to numbers previously found in bipolar adults, the authors said. "`It's hard to imagine that children can have this severe illness,'' Geller said in a telephone interview on Oct. 10. Symptoms of mania in adults are similar to what's seen in normal children, she said: ``You're asking people to believe children can be too happy, too grandiose, and that's what kids are like normally. At what point are they impaired?'' The researchers followed 108 children diagnosed with bipolar disorder and studied them for eight years. The kids were an average age of 11 when they were diagnosed. Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness, causes extreme mood swings. Mania makes patients irritable or excitable, after which patients may feel depressed. People may feel normal between the cycles. Treatments can include therapy and medications such as lithium, Abbott Laboratories' Depakote, Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal, and Eli Lilly & Co.'s Zyprexa. Periods of No Symptoms. About 87 percent of the children had periods of no symptoms after being treated, though about three-quarters relapsed, Geller's team found. The bipolar kids spent about two-thirds of the study period with mood disturbances. About a third of the patients' time was in a manic episode. Manic children may commandeer a classroom, correct their own papers, or think they're entitled to tell their principals which teachers ought to be fired, Geller said. Patients who had mothers who were more understanding and compassionate toward them were less likely to relapse after recovery, Geller's team found. It wasn't clear why, Geller said. She pointed to data in depressed children that showed if their mothers were treated for depression, the children improved. ``Regardless of medication, you must pay attention to the mother-child relationship,'' Geller said. ``That's the practical clinical implication.'' About half of the 108 children were 18 when the study ended. Geller said the percentage of the children who would relapse may be conservative, since half the study population isn't adult yet." 18. "Nemours aims to give dyslexic preschoolers a bright start" dated 7 October 2008 by Linda Shrieves from the Orlando Sentinel at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/health/orl-nemours0708oct07,0,6097366.story. "If you have dyslexia, it's hard to read, and it's nearly impossible to keep up in school. That's why Nemours Children's Clinic Orlando is unveiling a pilot program aimed at helping preschoolers in Orlando with dyslexia and other reading disabilities -- before they head to elementary school. Based on Nemours' 3-year-old BrightStart Dyslexia Initiative in Jacksonville, the pilot program will begin screening students today at Nap Ford Community School, a charter school in Orlando's Parramore neighborhood. The team will roll into the Nap Ford parking lot in a bright-blue mobile classroom, where Nemours staffers will screen the school's pre-kindergarten students, looking for any signs of potential reading problems. Then the Nemours staff will teach the Nap Ford teachers how to boost reading skills for those children. In Jacksonville, the same approach has yielded impressive results. In the 2005-06 school year, 69 percent of the children who participated in the program as 4-year-olds met the county's reading benchmarks by the end of kindergarten. "As a research scientist, I can tell you the results are remarkable," said Laura Bailet, executive director of the Nemours BrightStart Initiative. "But there is no magic bullet. This takes hard work and diligence." Nemours takes a different tack than other programs by screening children before they enter kindergarten. In addition, the team screens all the children at a preschool, not just children who are struggling. "Dyslexia is pretty subtle," Bailet said. "Most children with dyslexia are quite bright, so it's easy to overlook kids who may have it." …" 19. "Breaking Down Barriers: The right high school welcomes disabilities" dated 8 October 2008 by Tina Calabro from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08282/918131-53.stm. "When family and friends ask about high school plans for our eighth-grade son, who has cerebral palsy, I hear some concern in their voices. They know he has done well in school so far, but they wonder -- understandably -- how he will handle algebra, foreign language, and other academic requirements of high school, not to mention the social milieu. They realize it's uncomfortable for teenagers to stand out because of their differences. So the answer we give may come as a surprise. Our son -- who has many strengths as well as significant disabilities -- is considering several interesting options. As my husband and I explore these prospects with him, we're hopeful that we will find a high school where our son will thrive, not simply survive. We are fortunate to live in the Pittsburgh school district, where parents have choices among high schools and where support for inclusive education has a long history. We are also considering one parochial and one charter school. Many of our son's classmates will move on to Pittsburgh Brashear, a large, comprehensive high school, so this school has a special appeal for our son. Also on our radar screen is Pittsburgh Schenley, a magnet school for international studies. This school's new location in the former Reizenstein Middle School is absent the character of its former historic building, but is exceptionally accessible for a wheelchair user. In addition, Schenley would offer the opportunity to focus on the Spanish language, a subject our son has enjoyed at the middle school level, with the support of a speech-output device programmed for a Spanish-speaking user. Our son's interest in music composition leads us to consider Pittsburgh's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, also known as CAPA. Likewise, his proficiency with computers draws us to City High, a charter school focusing on technology and work readiness. …" 20. "Study: Most depressed kids get antidepressants but no therapy" dated 8 October 2008 by Marilyn Elias from USA TODAY at http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-08-kids-antidepressants-therapy_N.htm. "At least half of U.S. children who take antidepressants aren't in therapy, a large study suggests, and that delays recovery while greatly increasing the number of kids on the medication who are suicidal. "Therapy with antidepressants is the standard of care. But is it what's going on in the real world? No," says Sheila Marcus, child and adolescent psychiatry chief at the University of Michigan Medical School. The report tracks insurance claims for antidepressants from a database of 6.8 million children and teens from 2002 to 2006. The analysis was done by the health care business of Thomson Reuters, a research firm. In the six months after getting at least one new prescription for antidepressants in 2006, just over 40% of children had insurance claims for one or more therapy sessions, says Tami Mark, the Thomson study leader. The Food and Drug Administration has put the strongest safety warning on antidepressants, saying they could increase suicidal behavior in people 24 or younger. A government study last year found that depressed kids recover most rapidly with antidepressants and counseling that teaches problem-solving and stress management. Also, 15% of children on Prozac only were suicidal — either thinking about killing themselves or trying to — compared with 8% on Prozac plus therapy and 6% receiving therapy alone. The low therapy-claim rates in the new study could be partly a result of some parents paying out-of-pocket or not taking children for counseling because of poor insurance coverage, Mark says. …" 21. "For Students With Special Needs, a Vow Of Assistance" dated 8 October 2008 by Bill Turque from The Washington Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/07/AR2008100702921.html?sub=new. "District officials, under mounting pressure from a federal judge to overhaul special education services in public schools, promised significant improvements over the next year, including the return of some children now in private schools because the city could not meet their needs. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, joined by Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee and other top officials on the steps of a Northwest D.C. middle school yesterday, said that two pilot programs underway this academic year will begin to make the school system a more welcoming place for some of the 11,000 children with learning disabilities or behavioral challenges. Rhee also expressed confidence that starting next year the District will be able to begin bringing back to the public schools some of the 2,300 special education students placed in private schools -- at an annual cost of more than $200 million. "Each and every child should have the opportunity to succeed," Fenty said. At a hearing last month, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman admonished the District for its failure to meet the terms of a 2006 consent decree settling Blackman v. District of Columbia, a class-action suit brought by parents protesting delays in providing special-ed services. A report by a court-appointed monitor said efforts by D.C. schools and the Office of the State Superintendent of Schools were disorganized and lack clear lines of accountability. …" 22. "An Estate Plan Built for Special Needs" dated 9 October 2008 by RACHEL EMMA SILVERMAN from The Wall Street Journal at http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122351155944317491-lMyQjAxMDI4MjAzOTUwMTkxWj.html. "Gabe Molitor is no ordinary trust-fund kid: He has epilepsy and Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. His mother, Shelby Valentine, recently set up what's known as a special-needs trust, which will provide funding to pay for some of her 30-year-old son's expenses when Ms. Valentine and her husband are no longer able to care for him. Ms. Valentine and her husband, who live in Calistoga, Calif., are serving as the trustees while they are alive and have named their two daughters as successor trustees. "It was such a relief," says Ms. Valentine. "It gives him a better quality of life after we are gone." Parents of children with special needs often face years of expensive care for their children. Now a growing number of financial-services companies, lawyers and financial planners -- often calling themselves "special-needs planners" -- are springing up to help parents provide for kids with disabilities, especially when parents are no longer alive to provide care. These professionals guide families through the intricate maze of federal and state programs for disabled individuals, and help set up trusts, insurance policies, retirement plans and estate-planning documents. Families with special needs have been in the spotlight recently with the vice-presidential candidacy of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose infant son has Down syndrome, a chromosomal disorder. The financial crisis has also added urgency to families' concerns about how their children's money will be managed when they're not around to oversee it. More than 41 million Americans, or almost 15% of the population age 5 and older, have some type of disability, according to 2007 Census survey data. Some 6.2% of children ages 5 to 15, or 2.8 million kids, have disabilities, the Census Bureau found. And individuals with disabilities are living longer than ever before. …" 23. "Measles not worth the risk- Prevention from diseases outweighs MMR side effects" dated 9 October 2008 in an oped article by JOHN LAWRENCE KIELY from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2008/10/09/kielyed_1009.html. "I’m in a hospital bed, gasping for breath. Through the clear plastic of an oxygen tent, I see my Mom. Her face is red and she’s crying and crying. I feel hot. Every few hours a nurse opens the oxygen tent and gives me a shot. It hurts. It’s 1959. I’m in second grade. I’d caught the measles, just like my brothers and sisters and friends. Except unlike them, my measles didn’t go away. It got worse and turned into something I’d never heard of: pneumonia. I spent a month in the hospital, survived, and spent a few more months recovering at home. But more than four million children got measles in the United States in that year and 385 died. Most Americans don’t remember those days. Why? Because four years after I got sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began a mass measles immunization program. By 2000, the number of reported cases of measles had decreased to 86 and the number of deaths to one. So it is distressing to see that this year measles is on the upswing. As of July, there were 131 measles cases reported to CDC, the highest number since any comparable period since 1996. Most pediatricians and public health officials believe that’s because fewer parents are bringing their young children in to get vaccinated. And why is that? Because since 1998 the idea that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism has scared them away. This is not just shameful. It’s scandalous. The entire phenomenon was spawned by a few studies by one research team with results that nobody else has able to replicate and publish in the peer-reviewed medical literature. …" 24. "Driving risks for teens dealing with ADHD" dated 9 October 2008 by Dr. Peter Nieman from The Calgary Herald at http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/reallife/story.html?id=75959887-8874-4fff-88da-216dc7519f72. "Q: My teenage son who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will be driving our car very soon. I have read that teenagers with this diagnosis are at risk of car accidents. Is that true? How concerned should I be? A: It is indeed true that patients with the diagnosis of ADHD are more prone to automobile accidents. They are also more likely to get speeding tickets and other traffic citations. That is the bad news; the good news is that with the correct interventions, one can reduce these risks. The World Health Organization designated 2004 as the Road Safety Year, in recognition of an epidemic of motor vehicle collisions; the motto for the year was "Road safety is no accident." That same year, Health Canada and Transport Canada made a decision to work toward reducing serious injury and fatalities by 30 per cent by 2010. Car accidents are the main cause of death among children, adolescents and young adults; they are a major cause of premature death and long-term disability. Patients with ADHD are prone to being impulsive and easily distracted; they also are more likely to take risks such as speeding, following too closely, driving while under the influence of alcohol and not using seatbelts consistently. These patients also are more likely to have issues with anger, aggression and antisocial behaviour; so-called co-morbid conditions such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorders are also more frequent in patients with ADHD. All of these mental health challenges add up and put these patients at risk. And some experts argue that boys, more so than girls, with ADHD do even worse. …" 25. "Overhaul Special Education Teaching, Consultant Tells West Hartford" dated 9 October 2008 by VANESSA DE LA TORRE from the Hartford Courant at http://www.courant.com/news/local/hr/hc-whdspecial1009.artoct09,0,694708.story. "A firm the school board hired to review the district's special education program has recommended an overhaul of the way students with disabilities are taught. The proposed changes from the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative, a consulting arm of the nonprofit Education Development Center Inc. in Massachusetts, would place special education students — including those with autism and speech and behavioral disabilities — in mainstream classrooms. They also would require teachers in every school to work directly with special education instructors. The district now has several specialized programs within its special education system, and they are expected to rack up $8.4 million in costs this budget year. Students with special needs are often taught in separate classrooms. In a report presented to the school board Tuesday night, researchers with the firm said the division between general education instruction and special education programs stretches financial and staff resources; consumes special education administrators' time on issues such as compliance, rather than program improvement; and deprives students with disabilities who may benefit from learning in an integrated classroom. About 12 percent of the district's 9,821 students in the last school year qualified for special education. Board member Bruce Putterman said the report, which is available on the district's website, www.whps.org/whps, begins a community conversation about how the school system approaches learning for all students. Although the report lauded West Hartford's teaching efforts, it said that the district has a problem with "over-identifying" members of minority groups as having disabilities. …" 26. "APIC seeks mandate for flu shots in health workers" dated 10 October 2008 by Robert Roos from the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy at http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/oct1008apic.html. "In the face of chronic low influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers, the leading US society of infection control professionals says it's time to require medically eligible workers to either get the immunization or sign a form saying they understand the risks to patients if they skip it. "As part of a comprehensive strategy, we recommend that influenza vaccine be required annually for all healthcare personnel with direct patient care," the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) said in a policy statement released yesterday. "Organizations should adopt a system in which an informed declination is obtained from employees that decline for other than medical reasons," the statement continues. "This information should be utilized by the facility to develop improvement strategies for the following vaccine season." APIC urges vaccination for all medical and nonmedical personnel in contact with patients or patient samples, including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, dieticians, religious workers, and cleaning, kitchen, and laboratory personnel. Voluntary programs haven't worked. Recent national survey data show that only 42% of healthcare workers receive an annual flu shot, and the rate has not risen significantly in the past decade, the APIC statement notes. Long-standing recommendations from APIC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other national organizations have made little difference. "Voluntary efforts are clearly not effective—it's time for hospitals and other healthcare facilities to require influenza immunization," said Linda R. Greene, RN, MPS, CIC, lead author of APIC's position statement, in a press release. The policy statement notes that health workers can transmit the flu virus to others before they have any symptoms. Further, it says multiple studies show that 70% of health workers continue to work even when sick with the flu. …" 27. "Special education teachers needed: Services for autistic kids hampered" dated 10 October 2008 by JAMES HAUG from the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL at http://www.lvrj.com/news/breaking_news/30829879.html. "Todd Yocum's autistic 8-year-old son has had six teachers since he started pre-school at age 3. Only two of them were licensed to teach autistic children, Yocum said, and the rest were substitutes. As an assistant principal at Scherkenbach Elementary School, Yocum is sympathetic to the school system's plight: "They can't give you what they don't have." Autistic children constitute the district's fastest growing population of special education students, growing 2,298 percent since 1996 — from 83 autistic students then to 1,990 last year. The district's overall enrollment grew 72 percent in the same time period. Autism, which predominantly affects boys, is a developmental disability that curtails a person's ability to communicate and interact socially. It's considered the second-most serious developmental disability after mental retardation, but is also known as a "spectrum disorder" because it affects people differently and to different degrees. On Friday, the state Board of Education provided the district some help when it voted to provide extra funding to offset the salaries of 18½ teacher positions for autism programs. Clark County got $38,763 per position, which will pay for roughly more than half of an average annual salary for a special education teacher. The school district wanted salary help for up to 26 teachers, but Charlene Green, deputy superintendent for student support services, was not surprised by the lesser funding. "We never get the full amount we ask for," she said. The state board is distributing discretionary funds for special education programs across Nevada, and the Clark County district is trying to increase funding to reduce class sizes and add more programs for autistic children. By law, class sizes for autistic children are limited to eight or fewer for grades K-6, but a recent review by Rutgers University suggested the district keep such classes at two or three students per teacher. …" 28. "Did your child suffer a severe side effect from a vaccine?" dated 10 October 2008 from KSPR News at http://www.kspr.com/news/local/30808289.html. "KSPR reported two weeks ago about the death of 1-year old Madyson Williams from the MMR vaccine. Garry and Rachel Williams will receive $250,000 from the government for the death of their daughter. The Williams claimed the Mumps, Measles, Rubella Vaccine or MMR killed their daughter. Madyson got the vaccine at the Pediatric Center in Springfield on May 12, 2006. Her parents submitted medical evidence that the MMR vaccine is the reason Madyson died 6 days later. Attorneys for the Department of Health and Human Services Friday settled with the family for liability. Since this story we've heard from many people who've seen their children suffer adverse effects from vaccines. If you are one of those families KSPR wants to talk to you. We are interviewing members of the Federal Health and Human Services department about why it requires some vaccines. If you are willing to talk about your experience on camera and share with the Ozarks why you believe vaccines should not be required, please contact Christine Daues at cdaues@kspr.com." 29. "New playground opens for kids with autism" dated 10 October 2008 by Bethany Chambers from Hometown News at http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=50201. "Although members of the Kiwanis Club of Ormond Beach "figured it would be years" before they could fund and build their playground-of-dreams, it ended up taking only a few months. Last week, that playground, which has features specially suited to attract and help autistic children, opened at Central Park thanks to a partnership between the city, the local Kiwanis members and the Florida Kiwanis Foundation. "This is an idea whose time has come," said Dr. Robert Stroud, the former president of the Ormond Beach club who started the project. "The Kiwanis support a lot of projects with children, but after we had a speaker talk about autism, it struck me that this is a more common condition than you might think." The playground was designed to accommodate the growing population of autistic children. The city already has a playground for special needs children - namely the physically disabled - on Nova Road. Nearly 1 in 150 children in the United States have an autism spectrum disorder, a variety of developmental disabilities that may impair them socially, physically and emotionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The new playground, made of coated metal for safety and durability, replaces older wooden equipment that was removed from the park on Hammock Lane this summer as part of an annual city renewal and replacement program. John Miskell, who finished the playground as his last project before retiring as the city's facilities maintenance manager, said the project was a team effort. "This is an example of the city and a community group working really well together," he said. …" 30. "Womb RaiderDo future health problems begin during gestation?" dated 10 October 2008 by Darshak Sanghavi from Slate.com at http://www.slate.com/id/2201788. ""The fault," writes Shakespeare in Julius Caesar, "is not in our stars, but in ourselves." According to Harvard Medical School researchers, though, Shakespeare's statement of free will was all wrong—at least with respect to fat toddlers. Recently, a study of 1,044 mother-child pairs found that 3-year-olds born to mothers who gained too much weight during pregnancy had increased odds of becoming overweight. Somehow, it seemed, these women metabolically programmed their kids to get fat. The New York Times Magazine observed, "We may come to view pregnancy not as a ninth-month wait for the big event, but as the crucible of a major health problem." The notion that children's futures are foretold early in life has strong narrative appeal (consider the stories of Aladdin, the Lion King, and Harry Potter, who were all destined for greatness). Increasingly, however, even reality-based researchers and media say that events in the womb and early infancy are critical developmental opportunities with irreversible consequences when mishandled. These notions form the backbone of modern parental anxiety (heaven forbid, for example, that a mother is unable to exclusively breast-feed her newborn). More worrisome, pinning complex public-health problems, like childhood obesity, on failed gestation has a blame-the-victim undercurrent. Though the supporting research is often weak, this view may encourage inaction: More support for kids, the thinking goes, might not alter the fate set in motion by irresponsible wombs. …" 31. "Special Education Teacher Faces Cruelty Charges" dated 10 October 2008 from NBC30 News at http://www.nbc30.com/news/17686111/detail.html. "A special education teacher in New Britain turned herself in on Thursday after a warrant was issued for her arrest. Michelle Campbell, 36, was acting as a special education teacher employed by the New Britain Board of Education when the incidents took place at Chamberlain School during the 2007-2008 school year, New Britain police said. Campbell was charged with seven felonies, including three counts of risk of injury to children and four counts of cruelty to persons. The incidents happened in a self-contained, special education classroom of about 10 autistic students in grades K-2. Police said there are three victims, between the ages of 5 and 7. She was given a $5,000 bond and is due to appear in court on Oct. 23. The warrant served has been sealed by order of the court." 32. "Arrested New Britain Teacher Remains On Payroll" dated 11 October 2008 by David Owens from the Hartford Courant at http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-nebteach1011.artoct11,0,777352.story. "A special education teacher arrested Thursday on seven felony charges remains on the New Britain school district's payroll and continues to teach, a school official said Friday. Michelle Campbell, 36, of Rocky Hill, turned herself in Thursday after learning a warrant had been issued for her arrest. She posted $5,000 bail and was released. She is to be arraigned Oct. 23 on three counts of risk of injury to a minor and four counts of cruelty to persons. The incident for which Campbell was arrested occurred last May at Chamberlain School, where Campbell taught a special education class with about 10 children who have autism, according to officials familiar with the investigation. The students were in kindergarten through second grade, police said. The children she is accused of abusing are boys age 5 to 7, police said. Following an investigation by school officials and the state Department of Children and Families, Campbell returned to the classroom, said Jon Walek, New Britain's director of pupil personnel services. Walek would not reveal what the investigation found, although he said the district took action and developed a "plan for return" to the classroom for Campbell. The alleged abuse was reported by Campbell's co-workers, Walek said, and in accordance with state law officials immediately contacted DCF. An official familiar with the investigation said the abuse was characterized as inappropriate disciplining of the children. Campbell allegedly slapped a child and splashed water in another's face. …" 33. "To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate for the Flu" dated 11 October 2008 by Pharmacist Suzy Cohen from Dear Pharmacist.com at http://dearpharmacist.com/fluvaccine.html. "Dear Pharmacist, My grandson is 8 months old, and the pediatrician wants to vaccinate him for the flu. My daughter and I are at odds because she wants to vaccinate him, and I don’t think she should. She reads your column, so what is your opinion? A.H., Memphis, Tennessee ANSWER: It’s a personal decision, but my children never got it. Since the 2003-2004 flu season, the Center for Disease Control has tracked the number of children under age 18 who die from flu complications. Since then, the annual number of confirmed child flu deaths has ranged from 44 to 153. As a result, the CDC recommends that we increase the number of shot$ by about 30 million and vaccinate our entire next generation, all kids 6 months old to 19 years of age. There are no long-term safety tests, and some of the vials (multi-dose vials) contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. Kids who get sick with the flu are more susceptible to other bad bugs like deadly MRSA or pneumonia, so vaccinating them sounds fair enough. Vaccinations only contain a few different strains of influenza, even though about 200 strains circulate. And worse yet, the decision regarding which strains of flu go into the vaccine are determined almost a year in advance. So the scientists are really just guessing. Some years they get it right, but sometimes they miss it altogether. In February of 2008, the CDC said that the circulating B strains of influenza didn’t even match the vaccine. …" 34. "HOLLYWOOD TAKES ON THE MMR JAB" dated 12 October 2008 by LUCY JOHNSTON from the Sunday Express (UK) at http://www.sundayexpress.co.uk/posts/view/66053/Hollywood-takes-on-the-MMR-jab. "WHEN Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and actress Jenny McCarthy hosted a fundraising gala in California recently for families convinced that MMR caused autism in their children, a debate that has never really gone away was thrown to the fore once more. The star-studded event in aid of Ante Up For Autism highlighted the fact that the controversy surrounding the triple vaccine is now becoming a celebrity issue. Meanwhile, in Britain, last week saw the 20th anniversary of the controversial triple jab. High-profile critics of MMR now include actor Jim Carrey, his girlfriend Jenny McCarthy and the all-girl rock group the Dixie Chicks. McCarthy and Carrey were recently given an hour on the Oprah Winfrey Show to promote her new best-selling book, Mother Warriors, which maintains that vaccines can trigger autism in infants. She says her six-year-old son Evan developed the symptoms following his triple jab. "After the MMR Evan started having seizures, " she said. "After I treated his medical issues, which the medical establishment continues to ignore, my son recovered from autism and he is not the only one. I talked to 60,000 mothers and kept hearing the same story. "Vaccines are safe for some children and not for others. We want to reduce the number of vaccines, we want the toxic ingredients removed and independent safety studies carried out." Few parents questioned the use of the combined vaccine when it was introduced into the UK in October 1988. However, things changed irrevocably in 1998 when Dr Andrew Wakefield, then a gut specialist at London's Royal Free Hospital, published an explosive article in The Lancet linking autism with MMR. The medical establishment and Government turned on Dr Wakefield. He was forced out of his job and has been blamed for the significant drop in uptake of MMR, leading to fears over the widespread return of the diseases the jab is designed to protect against. Last week a Health Protection Agency spokesman pleaded with parents to give their children the MMR, pointing to new figures that revealed an increase of 231 cases of measles from 2006 to 2007, bringing the total number to 971. Overall vaccination rates are currently running at 85 per cent across the country but some areas such as London have rates as low as 49 per cent. …" 35. "Bringing Special-Needs Schools Closer to Home" dated 12 October 2008 by WINNIE HU from The New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/education/13autism.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin. "Tom Holohan, a 16-year-old with autistic symptoms, grew up paralyzed by fear and anxiety about leaving his family’s home. But for the last two years, Tom has had to commute to a Connecticut boarding school that specializes in treating his disability, returning on weekends to his home in Farmingdale, N.Y. “There’s always this thing inside you that you want to be home,” said Tom, who attended five day schools here on Long Island and tried home schooling before his local school district sent him to the Connecticut school, Devereux Glenholme. “I mean, I got used to living there, but every day I think about what’s going on at home. It’s really difficult.” Next year, Tom is hoping to attend Westbrook Preparatory School, a $2.5 million institution that will be New York State’s first residential school for students with high-functioning autism and that was founded after intense lobbying by parents, including Tom’s mother, Maureen Holohan, 48, who is on the school’s governing board. The new school, to serve 24 middle and high school students with average or above-average intelligence but in need of significant emotional and social support, is part of a statewide push to bring special education students back from out-of-state private schools by creating publicly financed alternatives closer to home. Since 2005, out-of-state placements by school districts and social service agencies have dropped to fewer than 650 from more than 1,200, even as the number of special education students has risen slightly to 410,000, or 12 percent of the total student population. Besides Westbrook Prep, a half dozen New York City schools for the disabled are planning to add residential programs in the next few years. “New York is a great state. Why should our children have to be sent out of state for services?” said Lester Kaufman, executive vice president of Birch Family Services, a nonprofit agency that runs a network of schools for students with special needs, which is starting a residential program for 12 high school students in Flushing, Queens, next year. …" 36. "Who should pay for treating children with autism?" dated 12 October 2008 by DEBBIE CAFAZZO from the News Tribune at http://www.thenewstribune.com/492/story/506299.html. "A popular method of therapy isn't covered by most insurance plans, putting families in a financial bind. A proposed state law would mandate coverage, but the insurance industry says the therapy is educational, not medical. Grant Fulton is a busy boy. Seated at a child-sized table in his family’s Lacey living room, the 5-year-old kneads a ball of soft, claylike material. He talks about its colors, shapes and textures. Laurie Waguespack, his therapist, subtly switches between play and learning. Her goal is to help Grant, who has autism, gain cognitive skills. Waguespack grabs a deck of picture cards, and asks Gran t to name the colors and shapes as she flips through them. “Pentagon. Octagon. Diamond. Black. Circle. Rectangle. Yellow,” says Grant, building speed as he identifies 34 of 35 cards correctly. Eight months ago, says Denise Fulton, Grant’s mother, it would have been difficult to get him to name shapes and colors. Two years ago, it would have been impossible. Grant has mastered this only through daily, step-by-step therapy administered by Waguespack and others. “It’s hard trying to rewire the brain,” says Fulton. It’s also expensive, with in-home therapy costing anywhere from $15 to $25 per hour. None of it is covered by the family’s health insurance plan. Insurance industry representatives such as Susan Pisano, spokeswoman for the national industry trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans, say some autism treatments aren’t really medical treatments but are more educational in nature. They argue that education is the responsibility of public schools, not private health insurance. But Susan K. Malmquist, a Shoreline educational consultant who works with children with autism, says schools can’t go it alone. …" 37. "Woman's autism took years to diagnose- Despite having a master’s degree in education, Deborah Lipsky spent years unable to hold down a job." dated 12 October 2008 by Karen Kemp from the Carroll County Times at http://www.carrollcounty.com/articles/2008/10/12/news/local_news/newsstory5.txt. "It was her lack of social skills, not her job performance, that she said made her unfit to carry out her duties as a case worker, retail clerk, gas station attendant and other positions during the 1970s and 1980s. She frequently corrected her bosses when she thought they were wrong, gave out too much information to customers and had a hard time relating with her co-workers, she said. She and her husband eventually moved to the small town of Linneus, Maine, where she worked on a farm for nearly two decades, having little social interaction. “I had to get away from people,” Lipsky said. Knowing something was wrong, Lipsky saved up money to undergo a neuropsychological exam three years ago. She learned that she has high-functioning autism. The term applies to people who have the social interaction difficulties of autistic individuals but average or above average intelligence. On Thursday, she will be visiting McDaniel College to share her story. Now, 47 years old, Lipsky has become a national speaker on high-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome. The two disabilities are distinguished only by the onset of speech development, Lipsky said. Carole Waddell, a learning specialist at McDaniel, said she first heard Lipsky speak at a seminar on Asperger’s syndrome in Baltimore last year. Lipsky was entertaining and informative, and she gave the best presentation Waddell had ever attended. She asked Lipsky to speak at the college, hoping that her firsthand experiences would help teach students about the challenges of having an autism disorder and about strategies for communicating with an autistic individual. …" 38. "City schools mum on child abuse details" dated 12 October 2008 by David Andreatta from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle at http://democratandchronicle.com/article/20081012/NEWS01/810120344&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL. "Parents of eight third-graders with special needs were thrust into a nightmare in April when they received a confidential letter from the Rochester School District stating that their children may have been abused at School 43. Nearly six months later and well into a new school year, parents say they still don't know what exactly may have happened to their children at the Lyell Avenue school, except that the alleged abuse was not sexual. The terse, two-sentence letter from the district offered no details of the alleged abuse except that it occurred two months earlier "on or about February 5." The letter then directed parents' attention to three enclosed pages spelling out the section of state education law pertaining to child abuse in schools. "I was shaking," said Chavonna Thomas, 28, the mother of a 9-year-old girl who the district indicated may have been a victim. "It was so disturbing to open a letter like this that I didn't know what I was going to do, but I was afraid of what I was going to do," she said, describing her outrage. Georgeanna Coffman, 38, the mother of an 8-year-old boy with behavioral problems who the district indicated may have been a victim, also expressed anger at the district's handling of the matter. "They give you as little as they have to," she said. "All I know is that a teacher has been implicated with my son for some kind of abuse, and that's it." Coffman and Thomas have each filed a notice of claim against the district, a precursor to a lawsuit, and maintain that their efforts to extract a more thorough explanation have hit dead ends in a school system that they say is more sympathetic to protocol than parents. But their situation also highlights the ethical dilemma school districts face when confronted with an allegation of child abuse and forced to balance their obligations to the law, families and the accused. …" 39. "State finds special ed woes continue at cited Bed-Stuy school" dated 12 October 2008 by RACHEL MONAHAN from the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS at http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/10/12/2008-10-12_state_finds_special_ed_woes_continue_at_.html. "The special-education students at a Bedford-Stuyvesant school cited last year for problems still aren't getting their services, the state Department of Education has found. Even a whistleblower lawsuit against Principal Marion Brown filed this summer didn't get the school into gear, teachers union officials said. The school, Frederick Douglass Academy IV on Lafayette Ave., had the same problems. "That's why I am so angry," said teachers union district representative Ronald Mailman. "It's really an injustice to the students." Teacher and union chapter leader Kimani Brown was sent to the rubber room last spring after he informed the state about the school's neglect of special-education students, according to a lawsuit he filed. Brown charged the special-education students weren't getting mandated services or the proper number of teachers in inclusion classes - where general education and special-education students are taught together. City Education Department officials acknowledged the school continued to have problems at the beginning of the school year but insisted they had since been corrected. "The school is now in compliance," said city Education Department spokeswoman Ann Forte. "The issue has been resolved." The school hadn't hired another special-education teacher before two weeks ago, but has since brought one on staff, said Forte. She cited an increase this year in the number of children with learning disabilities - from 47 last year to 80 - as the reason for a delay. But state Education Department of Education officials told a different story. They reinspected the school as recently as last Wednesday and found the same problems they identified last year. Teachers were not receiving information on the needs of their special-education students. "More followup is needed," said state spokesman Jonathan Burman. Informed about the state's finding, the city Education Department spokeswoman declined to comment further. "We haven't seen the report," said Forte." 40. "More vaccine skeptics seek exemptions" dated 12 October 2008 by Candice Ferrette from The Journal News at http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008810120378. "Michelle McCoy doesn't go to a church or a temple or any house of worship to practice her religion. Her religion doesn't have an official name. She says she believes in God or "some other higher being." But when it comes to vaccines, or other medical practices she calls "unnecessary," McCoy follows a very specific doctrine. "We believe that the body has an innate ability to heal itself and by injecting live viruses into our child we are interfering with that divine process," said McCoy, 39, of Cold Spring. McCoy has refused all vaccines for her 5-year-old son, Matthew, who attends a private pre-K in the area. When he enrolls in kindergarten next year, McCoy plans to join the ranks of parents in the Lower Hudson Valley who claim vaccinations violate their religious beliefs. This small but growing number of parents are telling school districts that their religion exempts them from a law that requires school-age children to be vaccinated against diseases like measles, mumps, polio, whooping cough and chicken pox. In New York, the number of applications for religious exemptions doubled between 1999 and 2006 for children entering schools including pre-K and some day care centers, data from the state Health Department indicates. The number of children granted medical exemptions rose slightly. While some parents like McCoy say they have strongly held beliefs, they also represent an expanding population of vaccine skeptics just as vaccine proponents are trying to pass legislation to add more to the school required list like the flu shot and Gardasil, a vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer. Some say they are concerned that a vaccine preservative causes autism or other chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes. Others say there are too many shots - nearly 60 - that a child must receive throughout his or her school career. The mandates are also an issue - few parents want the government to interfere with their child rearing or deny their children an education if they don't comply. Parent advocates like Rita Palma, who runs a Web site, www.mykidsmychoice.com, say there's "a pro-choice vaccine movement" happening in the state. …" 41. "The People We’ve Become" dated 12 October 2008 by Kent Heckenlively, Esq. from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/the-people-weve.html#more. "When you’re a man and you get married you lose your female friends. I know it goes the other way as well. And maybe it’s for the best. But now that I’m closing in on my fifteenth year of marriage, maybe it’s not such a bad thing that a few old female friends have started popping back into my life. The first woman I’ll call Sue. I first met her when I was seventeen years old, and last saw her when I was twenty-nine. When I first met her she had a boyfriend she didn’t like, and I was, well, her confidant, and yes, I fell in love with her. We talked for years about what might happen if we were together, but she never gave me the chance. The last time I saw her she was twenty-nine, married to a guy she didn’t love, and I found myself wondering, “What the heck am I doing giving the same advice I gave when I was seventeen?” But aside from the fact we were never together as a couple, from the age of seventeen to twenty-nine, there was nobody I saw on a more regular basis, or looked forward to seeing more than Sue. The torch I carried burned for a good twelve years, but it went out when I met my wife. I can still recall the last time we parted at the Montgomery Street BART station. She’d been crying as she told me how unhappy she was with her weird husband and I had fallen back into my usual comforting mode. But I just didn’t feel it any more. When she got into the train and it pulled away I remember thinking to myself, “I’m never going to call you again. Good luck, my friend.” And so it was that sixteen years passed before I heard her voice again on the phone. She’d recently run into a mutual friend, asked about me, and realized we lived only a few miles apart. She was in the midst of getting a divorce from husband number two and had two children. Her son appeared to be on the autistic spectrum and she wanted my advice. She had gone onto Age of Autism and read all my articles. It seemed I was back in the advice business. …" 42. "Connections Between Vision And Movement, As They Relate To Perceived Threats, Autism" dated 13 October 2008 in a press release from Rutgers University at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081008184828.htm. "A hand moves forward, but is it a friendly gesture or one meant to do harm? In an instant, we respond -- either extending our arm forward to shake hands or raising it higher to protect our face. But what are the subtle cues that allow us to interpret such movement so we can properly respond to others? In research projects designed to assist the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and to provide deeper insight into how autistic individuals perceive others, Maggie Shiffrar, professor of psychology at Rutgers University in Newark, is examining how our visual system helps us to interpret the intent conveyed in subtle body movements. While most autism research has focused on the difficulties in face perception, Shiffrar is one of the first researchers to examine autism as it relates to connections between visual analysis, body movement and our ability to interact with others. …" 43. "Flash of Hope – Why the Georgia Supreme Court Case is Important. (American Home Products Corp. v. Ferrari)" dated 13 October 2008 by Kent Heckenlively, Esq. from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/flash-of-hope-w.html#more. "The pharmaceutical companies and government health authorities don’t want the “vaccine-autism” theory in civil courts. It is so important you understand this idea, I’ll say it again. The pharmaceutical companies and government health authorities don’t want the “vaccine-autism” theory in civil courts. That’s why the recent unanimous Georgia Supreme Court decision allowing plaintiffs to sue for vaccine injuries in civil court if the damage is due to a “design-defect” is so important. Because if the parties are in civil court then the advantage shifts significantly to the plaintiffs. For example, in civil court there is the right of discovery, meaning you can ask for relevant documents, and unless there’s a compelling reason not to produce it, the other side has to turn it over. In vaccine court, the plaintiff families had to request the court for documents from the other side and the court was under no obligation to produce them. As many of us who follow this issue believe the pharmaceutical companies and government health authorities currently hold documents which substantiate many of the claims being made by plaintiff families, this is a significant change. I also believe there’s likely to be a significant philosophical difference in how these cases would be viewed in the civil courts. In your typical civil trial the jury hears the testimony and reviews the evidence. They ask themselves, is the testimony and evidence credible? Consider the situation if your humble correspondent and his wife were on the witness stand. I am an attorney who during law school was a writer and editor on the law review. Now I’m a science teacher. My wife has been a speech therapist for the past 20 years. It’s hard to peg us as radicals, or unstable in any way. The jury would be inclined to believe us. When they turned to the defense, they’d want a clear answer as to why we were wrong, and I don’t believe the pharmaceutical companies and the government health authorities would be able to provide it. As Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of the National Institute of Health recently said, the health authorities haven’t really examined the issue because they seem afraid of what they might find. …" 44. "Congressman Henry Waxman: Father of the Autism Epidemic" dated 13 October 2008 by J.B. Handley from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/congressman-hen.html#more. "Almost 22 years ago, on October 20, 1986, the Los Angeles Times ran a story regarding a controversial bill making its way through Congress, the headline shouted: REAGAN LIKELY TO VETO VACCINE COMPENSATION BILL. The story went on to explain the highly divisive nature of the bill, intended to shield vaccine makers from liability, and the Reagan administration was speaking out to express their opposition: In a strongly worded letter to House Speaker Tip O'Neil, the then secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Otis R. Bowen said, "The bill is likely to do little to assure the vaccine supply or to improve our childhood immunization efforts." Assistant Attorney General John R. Bolton, writing to the Head of the House Judiciary Committee on behalf of the Department of Justice, said the White House opposed the legislation because it was creating, "a major new entitlement program for which no legitimate need has been demonstrated." Ronald Reagan himself was troubled by the vaccine compensation bill and was quoted as saying, "Although the goal of compensating those persons is a worthy one, the program has…serious deficiencies." The Reagan administration seemed to be particularly concerned with two issues: who was going to pay for the compensation required for vaccine injury, and the precedent of the federal government indemnifying private companies from liability. The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act was actually part of a larger bill, the Omnibus Health Bill (S. 1744), that was introduced in the waning days of the 99th Congress in late 1986. Leading a four-year effort to pass the controversial legislation on vaccine liability was a Congressman from the 30th District of California, Henry Waxman. Waxman's bill was supported by vaccine manufacturers, who were lobbying very hard on its behalf, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. …" 45. "Henry Waxman's Letter to Colleagues about Autism and Vaccines" dated 13 October 2008 from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/henry-waxmans-l.html#more. "Dear Colleague, Since 1998 some people have been raising concerns that there may be an association between childhood immunizations and autism spectrum disorder. I am writing to let you and your staff know that there are a number of resources available to understand what the science says about whether vaccines could contribute to autism. Institute of Medicine report on vaccines and autism. In 1999 the Department of Health and Human Services contracted with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to review a number of different vaccine safety issues and to make recommendations about future research needs. IOM convened a committee of experts that was carefully vetted for conflicts of interest. The committee issued nine reports, all of which are available on line at: http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3793/4705.aspx. In 2004, the committee issued its final report, which analyzed the studies, published and unpublished, that looked at two theories: whether the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine could cause autism; and whether the mercury-containing vaccine preservative thimerosal could cause autism. The committee concluded that the “evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism” and the committee also concluded that the “evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship between MMR vaccine and autism.” This report is available at: http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3793/4705/20155.aspx. …" 46. "How My "Typical" Husband Wound Up On Autism Meds" dated 13 October 2008 by Barbara Fischkin from Spectrum Magazine at http://spectrumpublications.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=How-My-Typical-Husband-Wound-Up-On-Autism-Meds.html&Itemid=275&author=bfischkin. "Okay, I admit it. There may not be a soul on earth who could meet my husband Jim Mulvaney and describe him as "typical." Not in the generic sense, anyway. As a journalist my husband won a Pulitzer by investigating, of all things, fertility doctors. As a forensic investigator he will, on a moment's notice, call out the Gurkhas or, if the problem points north rather than east, the Canadian Mounted Police. He has friends everywhere. As an autism Dad, he dreamed up a massive surfing program for ours kids, even though he, himself, does not exactly surf. To put it bluntly, Jim Mulvaney is a character. In real life, as well as in the way people imagine him, which is why I based the protagonist of my two novels - Confidential Sources and Exclusive - on my very own husband. And yet, clinically, when it comes to autism Jim Mulvaney is considered "typical." He doesn't have a diagnosis, nor do I think any doctor would give him one. He might be a little weird but he doesn't have any of the obvious symptoms. He looks people in the eye, he doesn't- nor has he ever- lined up little railroad cars. He spoke early - and never stopped. I could go on but, readers, I think you get my drift. So why is my husband now taking almost the same bio-medical medications as my 21-year old son Dan who, best as we can tell, suffers from verysevere autism? The answer is one of the few things in autism that is that simple. Jim Mulvaney is taking these medications because a doctor looked in very specific ways at his blood and urine instead of looking at his symptoms. And in doing that this doctor found that when you look inside these two men, particularly when you look at their immune systems, Dan and his father appear to be startlingly alike. Jim has what Danny has, albeit less intensely. …" 47. "Pediatricians double vitamin D recommendations" dated 13 October 2008 by LINDSEY TANNER from The Associated Press at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081013/ap_on_sc/med_vitamin_d_kids;_ylt=Agxo2Qb22jKvMx. "The nation's leading pediatricians group says children from newborns to teens should get double the usually recommended amount of vitamin D because of evidence that it may help prevent serious diseases. To meet the new recommendation of 400 units daily, millions of children will need to take daily vitamin D supplements, the American Academy of Pediatrics said. That includes breast-fed infants — even those who get some formula, too, and many teens who drink little or no milk. Baby formula contains vitamin D, so infants on formula only generally don't need supplements. However, the academy recommends breast-feeding for at least the first year of life and breast milk is sometimes deficient. Most commercially available milk is fortified with vitamin D, but most children and teens don't drink enough of it — four cups daily would be needed — to meet the new requirement, said Dr. Frank Greer, the report's co-author. The new advice is based on mounting research about potential benefits from vitamin D besides keeping bones strong, including suggestions that it might reduce risks for cancer, diabetes and heart disease. But the evidence isn't conclusive and there's no consensus on how much of the vitamin would be needed for disease prevention. The new advice replaces a 2003 academy recommendation for 200 units daily. That's the amount the government recommends for children and adults up to age 50; 400 units is recommended for adults aged 51 to 70 and 600 units for those aged 71 and up. Vitamin D is sold in drops for young children, capsules and tablets. …" 48. "Puyallup parent protests special education- The father of a special education student has been picketing Puyallup High School and district headquarters" dated 13 October 2008 from The News Tribune at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008261061_apwaspecialeducation.html. "The father of a special education student has been picketing Puyallup High School and district headquarters. The man, Bernie Dalien, says the practice of having special education students pick up trash or recycle materials is demeaning and shouldn't be assigned without a parent's permission. The district says the work is vocational training. Dalien says he didn't find out his 17-year-old son was routinely collecting recycling paper until other students told him. A district spokeswoman, Karen Hansen, says children of all abilities, including gifted students, might collect recyling materials. Dalien told the Tacoma News Tribune his son has been harassed by classmates and hasn't received the instruction and speech therapy he needs." 49. "A 1983 Faux Pas by Cindy McCain, a Sunday Morning Bromide by Roy Blunt, and What Republicans Still Don't Get About Helping People" dated 13 October 2008 by Harold Pollack from The Huffington Post blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harold-pollack/a-1983-faux-pas-by-cindy_b_134131.html. "This year, I've been writing a lot about cognitive disability and about health reform. It goes with the territory that I come into contact with many people, usually mothers and sisters, caring for loved ones. Some of their missives are heartrending. Many express simmering anger about schools, medical and social service systems that fail to provide needed help. Some time ago, I met Nancy Skiver, a lovely woman who overcame many obstacles to raise her son Danny in a difficult time. She has been a strong advocate for children and adults living with disabilities. Ms. Skiver told me about the 1983 annual meeting of the Arizona Association for Retarded Citizens. The event included a ceremony honoring a woman named Renee Whaley as Parent of the Year. Now retired, Ms. Whaley spent her career working professionally and privately as an advocate for persons living with disabilities. In circumstances similar to Ms. Skiver's, she cared for her son David for many years. Both Danny and David have since passed away. That was about one year into John McCain's career in the House. John and Cindy McCain were on hand at the ARC event. Then-Representative McCain gave the keynote. Ms. McCain has an admirable history of helping children with special needs. She has a Master's in Special Education. She has been active in global philanthropy with Operation SMILE and CARE. She deserves a lot of credit for these activities. Ms. McCain is a good person, but she brings ideological blinders that, on this occasion, offended many assembled parents and revealed a basic difference between Democrats and Republicans about what we as a national community owe families who need help. …" 50. "Their golden years of anxiety- What ifs: Parents of disabled adults worry for children who can now outlive them" dated 13 October 2008 by Gracie Bonds Staples from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2008/10/13/downs.html. "For decades now, Marilyn Humphreys has lived two lives —- her own and her daughter Jenny’s. She makes Jenny’s breakfast. She feeds her breakfast. She brushes her teeth. If Jenny wants to wear earrings, she puts them in her daughter’s ears. She brushes her hair. And though it’s getting harder to do, sometimes she has to lift her —- Jenny weighs 90 pounds —- from the bath. “Everything I do for myself, I do for her,” Humphreys said. It has been this way since Jenny Humphreys, now 32 and physically and developmentally disabled, was an infant, and it’s not likely to change anytime soon. In increasing numbers and ways, their story is playing out with disturbing regularity in communities all over the country. At 62, Marilyn Humphreys, of Atlanta, is part of a generation of parents now facing old age and the prospect that their disabled children —- grown now, but still needing constant care and support —- will outlive them. “It’s an odd thing to be concerned about,” said Pat Nobbie, deputy director of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. “Most parents expect that their children are going to outlive them. It’s only those of us who have children with developmental disabilities who worry about it.” According to David Braddock, a psychiatry professor and director of the State of States Developmental Disability Project at the University of Colorado, more than 716,000 adults with developmental disabilities were living with caregivers over the age of 60 in the United States in 2006, the last year for which figures are available. In Georgia, an estimated 17,000 adults have developmental disabilities. Roughly 50 percent live in metro Atlanta. As aging caregivers become more frail themselves, Braddock said, they are less capable to provide support to family members with disabilities. In the three decades since Jenny Humphreys was born, the prospects for people like her have changed dramatically. Not only have laws been enacted to guarantee their rights to public education and timely state care, experts say that better health care has extended their lives far beyond what doctors once thought was possible. Jenny became ill at 13 months. To this day, doctors have been unable to make a definitive diagnosis of what happened. They predicted the child would die before her second birthday. …" 51. "1986: AP Article "The Immune Systems of Many Autistics may be Attacking Brain Tissue." dated 14 October 2008 by J.B. Handley from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/1986-ap-article.html#more. "In doing research for the background to the story I wrote about Henry Waxman and the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act from the 1980s, I actually had to do some research offline, because its hard to find newspaper articles from the time before Internet. Not surprisingly, there wasn't a lot of press in general on autism in the mid-1980s, but I did find some. This Associated Press article, written 22 years ago, certainly caught my attention, I have reprinted it in full: Possible link between autism, immune abnormalities found, October 7, 1986, SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - For new parents, autism is a word tinged with dread. It can mean a child who doesn't cuddle, may be mute and, in many cases, is retarded. Only four or five children out of each 10,000 born in the United States are autistic, but treating them causes significant problems for doctors. Dr. Reed Warren, a Utah State University immunologist, said he hopes that a three-year study he has conducted will lead to effective treatment for autism. What the scientist has found, assisted by colleagues and students at USU's Developmental Center for Handicapped Persons in Logan, is that about half of 35 autistic patients tested since 1983 have malfunctioning immune systems. Warren also has found that the mothers of the autistic children he's studied have the same kind of immune abnormalities, leading him to believe "there's a genetic component to this thing, too." Warren's interest in autism research has roots in the death four years ago of his 5-year-old son, Spencer, who suffered from the disorder. "I was doing research in cancer at the time and we happened to look at his immune system and found the disorders," he said. …" 52. "A Response to Sally Pipes" dated 14 October 2008 by Holly Robinson Peete from The Huffington Post blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/holly-robinson-peete/a-response-to-sally-pipes_b_134677.html. "Ms. Sally Pipes recently wrote an opinion piece for the New York Daily News - Celebs, Stop Taking Poisonous Shots At Vaccines - in which she wrote me off as a vacuous Hollywood type who has no right to express or share my opinion about my family's arduous journey with autism. Somehow I lack credibility because I happen to be on TV. Outside of the mindless, irrational Hollywood celebrity you want to depict me as, I happen to be more than just a veteran television actress. At 44 years old, I am also college-educated, married for 13 years, a mom of four, and for the last 10 years have run my own non-profit, HollyRod Foundation. Ms. Pipes, you dismiss way too easily my experience and presumably those of hundreds of other "non-celebrity" moms I have personally met over the last decade by writing me off as a "junk science" peddler. That is very typical of the rigid "my way or the highway" mainstream medical community... they don't want to hear my story nor do they really authentically want to study it. What is the medical community afraid to hear? Mostly I don't dignify these misrepresentations of my life experience with a response. I know that most of your kind view the issue of vaccine safety from one side only - especially those of you who proselytize from the cozy periphery on the outside the autism community. But your casual brush-off of my dreadful experience in 1999 inspired me to challenge you. First you must acknowledge that suffering in the autism community cannot be overstated. …" 53 "Web site lets kids report school bullies incognito" dated 14 October 2008 from THE ASSOCIATED PRESS at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110ap_bullies_internet.html. "Hoping to combat the "snitch" label that often leads to silent suffering, six Utah schools have introduced a Web site that allows students to anonymously report bullies. A Brigham Young University student, Justin Bergener, created the site, which also lets students post information about thefts, drugs and harassment. Bergener said he hopes students who might otherwise be too scared or shy to speak up will be willing to post on the site. "There really is this culture and code of silence that's particularly prevalent in middle schools and high schools," Bergener said. Many students may not want to be seen in the office talking to an authority figure, said Rosanna Ungerman, principal of Provo's Dixon Middle School. "It allows students to have an outlet and avenue to report things they might otherwise not have reported," Ungerman said. Nearly 50 schools in other states are also using the Web site. Here's how it works: School administrators are made aware of any tips either by e-mail or text message, Bergener said. For some schools, students have to create a logon and password to send a tip, but they still remain anonymous, though. But in most cases, schools allow anyone to send a tip with no need to give personal information. "They'd rather have 10 good ones and one false one than none at all," Bergener told The Associated Press on Monday. Bergener said his Web site is simply a third party that ships the tips along. SchoolTipline, which also has participating schools in Texas, Washington, California and Arizona, doesn't read the tips or reply to them. If a tip goes unread for a day or so, though, SchoolTipline reminds schools it's there. The six Utah schools using the Web site include elementary, middle and high schools. Even some parents have reported incidents anonymously, said Judy Runolfson, Lehi Junior High's assistant principal. "There's a greater awareness that it's a situation that needs to be looked into right away because we know it can lead from something that's not that bad to something much worse," Runolfson said." 54. "School Attendance Law 'Gone Awry'- 'No Child' Rule Vexes Md. Special-Ed Center That Raised Test Scores" dated 14 October 2008 by Daniel de Vise from The Washington Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/13/AR2008101302863.html. "Stephen Knolls School suffered the ignominy of failure under federal law in 2006 and 2007 for low test scores. This year, the Kensington school finally made the grade in reading and math -- only to be sanctioned for poor attendance. The challenge in this case is not truancy. Stephen Knolls serves medically fragile children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida and Rett syndrome. One student missed 119 days of school last year because of illness. An eighth-grade boy logged more than 80 absences before dying in January. When school health aides call home for routine matters, they take pains to begin each conversation by saying, "This is not an emergency," because parents generally prepare for the worst. "We know that there are legitimate reasons for [students] to be home," said Tina Shrewsbury, school coordinator. "They're going to [medical] specialists. . . . They're having lab tests done. They're being hospitalized." Stephen Knolls faces the stigma of three consecutive years on a state watch list of underperforming schools, due for release in coming weeks. Its dilemma highlights how students with disabilities can get caught in the politics of the federal No Child Left Behind law. Under the law, schools must show annual progress in test scores, attendance and graduation rates for all students and groups of students, including those who receive special education. State and federal officials say the Montgomery County school system could have exercised an option to exclude Stephen Knolls from the annual accountability exercise. Special education centers may be exempted from annual progress calculations, provided their students are counted somewhere else, ideally at each child's neighborhood school. Most of Maryland's 24 school systems make such exemptions. …" 55. "Autistic student strikes teacher- Campus police ticket 14-year-old boy after classroom outburst" dated 14 October 2008 by LESLIE WILBER from the Victoria Advocate at http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/847/story/337248.html. "When a 14-year-old autistic boy hit his teacher earlier this month, she called police, who wrote him a ticket for assault by contact. The teacher’s refusal to follow a plan for Shane Gregory’s education caused his outburst, and her reaction was unwarranted, his mother said. The ticket was merely a play to remove Shane from the classroom, she said. “He’s not violent,” the boy’s mother, Holli Gregory, said. “He’s not a real big kid.” Shane admitted to hitting his teacher lightly on the arm on Oct. 1, Gregory said. He was frustrated and trying to get her attention, not trying to hurt her. Teacher Lalla Schmidt would not talk about the case, and referred questions to the Victoria school district administration. Schmidt has worked for the district since 1993 and has taken several classes to train her for working with special education students, according to district records. Special education teachers are bound by federally mandated individual education plans, district spokeswoman Diane Boyett said. Those plans outline what a student needs and what the consequences should be if he behaves poorly. “The teacher has the same right to be safe in his or her place of employment as anyone,” Boyett said. The school and the district couldn’t prevent Schmidt from calling police if she felt threatened. The school resource officer can write students tickets if it seems appropriate, Deputy Police Chief Roy Boyd said. Usually, the officer will let administrators tell parents about their child’s behavioral problems. Shane isn’t always an easy student to teach, Gregory acknowledged. She described him as high-functioning. But his speech is poor for his age, he doesn’t control impulses well, and crowds and noises upset him, according to his educational plan. He dreams of being a businessman, but Gregory and her husband Ray Gregory understand they will likely care for Shane for the rest of their lives. …" 56. "People With Disabilities Question Candidates- McCain, Obama Campaigns Discuss Issues That Matter Most To Those With Disabilities" dated 14 October 2008 from CBS3 News at http://cbs3.com/politics/candidates.disabilities.issues.2.840266.html. "People with disabilities are interested in the same campaign issues as everyone else, but there are few others about which many people with specific needs feel strongly. CBS station WBBM-TV Disabilities Reporter Jim Mullen asked people with disabilities what they wanted to know from the candidates. He asked what the Barack Obama and John McCain's respective campaigns to supply written answers to questions on those issues. Typically, the candidates can be seen talking about the economy, foreign policy, and of course, each other. But disabilities issues rarely come up as a subject, and those affected by them want that to change. "We are a part of the mainstream community, and we should be factored in," said Gary Arnold. Among the most significant concerns for those with disabilities are jobs. Unemployment is estimated at 70 percent or more for the disabled. "I want to know what the candidates are going to do about employment issues and discrimination," said Sam Martarano. Both candidates are strong supporters of the new amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA protects the civil and employment rights of the disabled. Obama would also reinstate an executive order to require the federal government to hire more people with disabilities. Housing is also a major concern. "There's a lot of accessible, affordable housing for people," said Monica Heffner. …" 57. "Schools wrap up special ed study" dated 14 October 2008 by Phil Dunn from Today's Sunbeam at http://www.nj.com/sunbeam/index.ssf?/base/news-4/122395801253160.xml&coll=9&thispage=1. "Every five years, schools in New Jersey go through an extensive assessment of special education programs. The Pennsville School District has recently finished its Special Education Monitoring Self-Assessment which is governed by the Department of Education. The assessment looks at nine different sections of special education. The sections include subjects such as transition to adult life, discipline, and placement into the least restrictive environment. Supervisor of the Pennsville Child Study Team, Ann Murphy, has worked with teachers, parents and students to compile data to show the district's weaknesses and strengths when it comes to special education. "Our special education program is very good," said Murphy. "But where we are showing weakness, we have things in place to do it better." Some places that needed improvement by the school district were the dropout rates of those in the special education program. In the 2006-2007 school year, the percent of youth with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) graduating from high school with a regular diploma was 63 percent. The state's annual performance plan target was 77 percent. The percent of youths with IEPs dropping out of high school was 12 percent with the state's standards at about 5 percent. Both of these percentages were non-compliant with the state. Murphy felt these numbers to be distorted though. "The problem is that Pennsville has a great adult school and that is really good," said Murphy. "But students drop out of school and then finish at the adult school. This can make the rate inflated." The child study team does do work to track what the students do after school. In a survey done for the 2005-2006 school year, they tracked several graduates and school drop outs. …" 58. "N.J. Doctor Says Hyperbaric Chamber Cures Autism- Parents Of Patient Say Results Of Controversial Treatment Are Undeniable; Other Doctors Remain Skeptical" dated 14 October 2008 by Dr. Holly Phillips from WCBS TV News at http://wcbstv.com/topstories/autism.hyperbaric.chamber.2.840421.html. "For families struggling with autism finding the latest treatments is a top priority. Now a controversial approach is making headlines. Unfortunately, there is still no cure for autism, but therapies involving communication techniques, education and medications are the mainstays of treatment. Now, an alternative approach involving a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is getting attention and giving some patients hope. A year ago, Tommy Ellison, now 3 years old, couldn't interact at all. That ability was lost to autism. "It tore our lives apart. It tore it upside down," father Tom Ellison said. The family turned to New Jersey Dr. James Neubrander and his alternative treatments. They include a variety of supplements and vitamins, a gluten free diet and pressurized oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber. It's become part of Tommy's therapy. With his mom, and plenty of toys, he climbs into the chamber and is zipped in for the blast of oxygen. According to his father, the results were immediate and stunning. "He became a totally different boy," Tom Ellison said. "Each time we did the treatment something new happened," mother Polly Ellison added. It cost the Ellisons $21,000 to buy their own hyperbaric chamber. Tommy initially spent an hour and a half twice a day inside the machine. Now he uses it periodically. His parents say he's cured. "It's the closest thing to a miracle that I've ever seen in my life," Tom Ellison said. Neubrander says the oxygen increases blood flow, and decreases inflammation, changing brain chemistry that causes autism. "I have hundreds of kids that have had a benefit from this," Neubrander said. But not everyone thinks the treatment is legitimate. …" 59. ""Real" Firefighter Writes to Denis Leary" dated 15 October 2008 by Timothy Dwyer from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/real-firefighte.html#more. "Denis: Since you make your living off the backs of Firefighters, many of whom like myself have a child with autism which you have now chosen to make fun of, how about you be a man and come to Long Island and see my son’s school. Observe first hand my fat, lazy, stupid child suffering from autism. I bet you wouldn’t last 10 seconds with my son or on the fire floor. You wish you could walk in my shoes. I am a founding parent of the ELIJA School for children with autism spectrum disorders in Levittown, NY and a 20 year NYPD/FDNY veteran. There are many firefighters struggling with autism and all your foundation does is buy tools for the city, just more shit for them to carry. You do nothing for Firefighter’s real problems. So come on out, get your head out your ass and pry open that fat wallet of yours that was filled thanks to the real characters of the FDNY. We are a struggling school and your “humor” doesn’t help our cause. The only people who can make fun of autism are those whose lives are consumed by it. Between autism and fires, you got nothing. Last year we made $25K on our Guns and Hoses Comedy Event. This year we need to make $50K to survive. See what you can do brother." 60. "Hosed by Denis Leary" dated 15 October 2008 by Kim Stagliano from The Huffington Post blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-stagliano/hosed-by-denis-leary_b_134872.html. "Lordy be, sometimes it's exhausting having three children with autism. Oh, I don't mean my actual day to day life with Mia, Gianna and Bella. That's tiring of course, but parenthood wipes most of us mothers out by 9:00pm -- whether you're running to and from soccer practice or speech therapy, motherhood = tired. What's exhausting is this seemingly acceptable anger and bitterness toward parents of kids with autism, as evidenced by Michael Savage a few months ago and now by Denis Leary's rant (does he have another mode of communication?) in his new book titled... Nah, I'm not going to use the name of the book here. You can search Google for the title. Here's a quote from it: "There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can't compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don't give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer kid is NOT autistic. He's just stupid. Or lazy. Or both." Whattsamatta, Denis, my fellow Bahstonian, did you get a bad clam at Kelly's? When did we autism parents and our "junior morons" become the punching bag of the week? Or did you just include this particular rant because you know autism is prevalent in the news and it would generate publicity for you? That's what I think. I can see you sitting at your desk, well, maybe pacing anxiously back and forth, ruffling your hand through your thick hair, "I need a hook! I need to piss off people who will write about me. Autism! Those parents aaah crazy, rabid dahgs! I'm a freakin' GEEEN-ius! What a wicked awesome idea! Now, what the hell is autism? Who ce-ahs!" I care, Denis. I care that your words imply that my three girls aren't seriously disabled like your good friend Michael J. Fox or worthy of respect. I've always enjoyed your brash, in your face humor. I love that you're a Boston Irishman. I think firemen are hot. But Denis, don't turn the hose on me and my kids. Please." 61. "Denis Leary Responds to Criticism" dated 15 October 2008 by Denis Leary from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/denis-leary-res.html#more. "Denis Leary issued the following statement today in response to comments about his new book, "Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid." The people who are criticizing the "Autism Schmautism" chapter in my new book "Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid" clearly have not read it. Or if they have, they missed the sections I thought made my feelings about autism very clear: that I not only support the current rational approaches to the diagnoses and treatment of real autism but have witnessed it firsthand while watching very dear old friends raise a functioning autistic child. The point of the chapter is not that autism doesn't exist -- it obviously does -- and I have nothing but admiration and respect for parents dealing with the issue, including the ones I know. The bulk of the chapter deals with grown men who are either self- diagnosing themselves with low-level offshoots of the disease or wishing they could as a way to explain their failed careers and troublesome progeny. Of course, this entire misunderstanding can be easily avoided simply by doing one thing -- reading the book. Taking one or two sentences out of context -- especially when it involves an entire chapter devoted to the subject -- is unfair and ill-advised. Too often in this country, everything gets reduced to simple sound bites and very very often those sound bites are not truly representative of an author or artist's point of view. Please give me the benefit of the doubt by reading all of what I wrote before attacking me." 62. "Family split apart to care for autistic son" dated 15 October 2008 by Karen Longwell from The Bracebridge Examiner at http://www.gravenhurstbanner.com/muskokanews/article/119257. "Three-year-old Alec Nicholson runs in circles and yells in a high-pitched tone. At first glance, he looks like most three-year-olds but, in April of this year, Alec was diagnosed with a severe form of autism. His family – or the “A-team,” as they call themselves – mother Andrea Nicholson, father Aaron Nicholson and brother Ayden, five, were split apart soon after Alec’s diagnosis. Frustrated with their struggles, Andrea helped organize a meeting of the Medicare for Autism Now Society on Oct. 9 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 161 in Bracebridge. Medicare for Autism Now is a national campaign focused on initiating change to government policy to make autism treatment available for all Canadians. The urgent need to get Alec early treatment sent Andrea outside of Bracebridge in search of a place without a long waiting list. “If we leave it (the treatment) too long, it will be a lot less affective,” said Aaron. “He can become a productive member of society.” The only scientifically proven treatment for autism is difficult to access in Bracebridge and in many places in Canada. If he stayed here, Alec would be placed on a waiting list for two or three years. That would be too long for Alec. “There’s a window of opportunity for children with autism,” said Andrea, “before behaviours get locked in.” The treatment is called Intensive Behavior Intervention or IBI. To be effective, IBI must be started for children with autism as early as possible, Andrea explained. Before Alec turned two years old, the family knew something was different. He should have been talking but he wasn’t – he didn’t even say mom or dad, said Andrea. He also has repetitive behaviours like running back and forth and yelling. In hindsight, there were signs that Alec was different. When Andrea was nursing, she noticed he didn’t make eye contact the way his brother had. “I didn’t want to compare my two boys,” she said. However, there were differences. It took several months to get a diagnosis. “You can imagine the shock, the fear, the guilt and the many other emotions that just came sweeping over us at that time,” said Andrea. Since the diagnosis, there has been one appointment after another and long waiting lists for everything, she said. …" 63. "9-year-old arrested at school" dated 15 October 2008 from WINK News at http://www.winknews.com/news/local/31072219.html. "A 9-year-old girl was arrested at Royal Palm School on Tuesday and is now facing two felony charges for battery on an education employee. Her mother, Tarina Williams, tells us she's at her wits end, "I was really devastated about it." We are not naming the girl because of her age. In a report released to WINK News, the school resource officer says he was called to the school's time out room regarding an out of control student. The report says the girl purposely spit on her two teachers while they tried to control her. The girl told us, "They came up to me and said you have the right to remain silent...they had handcuffed me, they had em on real tight." The fourth grader was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Williams says she was out of the county when she got the call. "The lady was like she's been charged with two felonies and I was like...two felonies? For what??" recalled Williams, "That's kind of steep because she's only 9." Williams says her daughter suffers a mental illness, "She's incapable of knowing what she's done." She explained the illness is the reason why her daughter attends Royal Palm School, a school designed for special needs students. According to the arrest report, the 9-year-old has had a troubled past, accused of kicking and throwing chairs at teachers, and threatening to stab them. Williams says it's the illness and she doesn't know where to turn anymore. "She's been to several schools and I've lost several jobs because I have to be a stay at home mom to be on point at times for [her]," said Williams. "If only the person knew the things I go through, the depression 'm going through because I'm at my wits end," said Williams, "It's like my back is against the wall." …" 64. "Jenny McCarthy in US Weekly" dated 16 October 2008 by Kim Stagliano from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/jenny-mccarth-3.html#more. "Phew! I just got back in from the rally in Trenton. (Amtrak is a great way to travel, by the way.) I checked my email and we have a wonderful surprise to share with our readers, compliments of Jenny McCarthy, author of the best selling Mother Warriors and US Weekly! I don't know about you, but I don't have much time to read magazines outside of the Goofus and Gallant column with my kids once a month (good old Highlights magazine!) And when I do get a chance to indulge in a magazine, I'm either wearing a paper gown with no back or about to have my teeth cleaned. But tomorrow I'm running to my grocery store to buy US Weekly. Here's why! You want a copy, don't you? Go ahead treat yourself to a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a guilty pleasure as you read the Hollywood news and Jenny's story too. Buy a couple of spare copies too - if you're like me you'll be lending them out to friends and family. And I always like to have an extra copy or two of magazines that feature autism to use in Autism Awareness Month displays. Of course, you can see read the article online at US Weekly. Thanks as always to Jenny McCarthy for her tireless work and also to US Weekly magazine and to our friends at Generation Rescue." 65. "BitTorrent's Bram Cohen Isn't Limited by Asperger's- Bram Cohen has Asperger's, which makes it hard to deal with everyday life. Even so, he started his own company, BitTorrent" dated 16 October 2008 by Susan Berfield from Business Week at http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_43/b4105046863317.htm. "Bram Cohen's brain works differently from most people's. He has Asperger's syndrome, a condition that keeps him rooted in the world of objects and patterns, puzzles and computers, but leaves him floating, disoriented, in the everyday swirl of human interactions. When Cohen was in his late twenties he sat on a wooden chair with a Dell (DELL) keyboard on his lap for the better part of nine months writing a software program. In 2001 he introduced BitTorrent, an ingenious, disruptive, and controversial piece of technology that is available for free and lets people easily exchange huge amounts of digital information,from software upgrades to videos. Pirated movies have always been the most popular files shared. They, along with more legitimate files, now generate about half of all traffic on the Internet. BitTorrent brought Cohen fame and notoriety. It turned him into a folk hero and a Hollywood villain. Later, to reclaim the program for himself and possibly for some greater good, Cohen was obliged to become something else he had never considered: a boss. Four years ago, at age 29, he co-founded a company, BitTorrent, to build a business around his software. He got good money from venture capitalists but is still trying to find a convincing strategy. For Cohen, this has been a fraught journey into the sometimes bewildering world of the office. The social conventions that ease everyday interactions can still elude him. He doesn't like to shake hands or wear shoes or make small talk. He often plays with a Rubik's Cube. Sometimes when he is outraged, or more often when he is fatigued, he bursts forth with unwelcome candor. He can be oblivious, lecturing on solar cells or economic theory or euphemisms until someone stops him. Cohen's predicament is not so unusual. Asperger's, only formally recognized in the mid-1990s, is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Many psychologists view it as a mild form of autism, though that definition is controversial; some advocates believe it is simply a different way of being. In the coming years more people like Cohen will arrive in the workplace, and their presence will have significant consequences, perhaps most obviously in the way we communicate. …" 66. "Last Night's Autism Debate -- Who Will Win the Special Needs Vote?" dated 16 October 2008 by David Kirby from The Huffington Post blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/last-nights-autism-debate_b_135256.html. "The media may be transfixed on "Joe the Plumber" today, but the real winner of last night's debate was autism. I cannot recall a single disorder ever becoming so prominent in a national election as autism has been in 2008: Not cancer, not AIDS, not heart disease. Autism was raised on the campaign trail (when Obama, McCain and Hillary Clinton all said it was increasing, and the potential vaccine connection must be researched), it was raised at both conventions, it was raised duing a FOX News interview with McCain and Sarah Palin, and it certainly came up last night at Hofstra University. Tellingly, autism was brought up, unprompted and somewhat unexpectedly, by one of the candidates: John McCain, who was answering a question about why Sarah Palin would be qualified to step up to the Oval Office, should something terrible happen to him: …" 67. "My Autistic Son is Not a Political Pawn" dated 16 October 2008 by Janet Grillo from The Huffington Post blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janet-grillo/my-autistic-son-is-not-a_b_135421.html. "Here's the good news and the bad news; autism has become a "hot issue" in the presidential campaign. Bad news because our ranks have grown to a full 1% of the American population and counting. Good news because the crisis this epidemic poses to our society at large is, at last, apparent to our government. At least it is to our politicians. In tonight's debate, John McCain twice vaunted autism as one of the issues he would advocate if President. In fact, he held it up as one of the primary credentials of his running mate; Sarah Palin is the aunt of a child with autism (as well as the mother of a son with Down's syndrome). But here's the hitch. Being related to a special needs child does not automatically guarantee that a candidate will offer the best policies to meet that's child's needs. Any more than being a woman automatically assures that candidate will advocate women's rights. Any more than does running with one on a ticket. When Governor Palin made her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention this summer, I watched with rapt attention. When she looked into the camera and promised that those of us with special needs children would have a friend in the White House, I felt she was looking directly at me. I was moved to tears. But this is not a moment for sentimentality. Any more than when my son was diagnosed. Then, as now, I put my own emotional response on hold, in order to best analyze the problem, as well as the solutions. My son depended upon it. He still does. …" 68. "People with autism make rational decisions" dated 16 October 2008 from United Press International at http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/10/16/People_with_autism_make_rational_decisions/UPI-21011224179425 and http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081015110228.htm. "People with autism-related disorders are less likely to make irrational decisions and are less influenced by gut instincts, British researchers said. Ray Dolan of the Wellcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging at the University College London said decision-making is a complex process, involving both intuition and analysis: analysis involves computation and more "rational" thought, but is slower; intuition, by contrast, is much faster, but less accurate, relying on heuristics or "gut instincts." Participants in the study performed a task involving deciding whether or not to gamble with a sum of money. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found people with autism tended to be more consistent in their pattern of choices, their greater attention to detail perhaps helping them avoid being swayed by their emotions. "During social interactions a lot of information must be processed simultaneously, making this a very complicated computational task for the brain," Dr. Benedetto De Martino said in a statement. "To solve these complex problems we rely on simplifying heuristics -- gut instincts -- rather than extensive logical reasoning. However, the price that we seem to pay for this ability is that sometimes irrelevant contextual information leads us to make inconsistent or illogical choices." 69. "Protesting parents decry New Jersey policy of mandatory flu shots for preschoolers" dated 16 October 2008 by DAVID CRARY from The Associated Press at http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/ats-ap-flu-shot-fightoct16,0,7139275.story. "As flu season approaches, many New Jersey parents are furious over a first-in-the-nation requirement that children get a flu shot in order to attend preschools and day-care centers. The decision should be the parents', not the state's, they contend. Hundreds of parents and other activists rallied outside the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday, decrying the policy and voicing support for a bill that would allow parents to opt out of mandatory vaccinations for their children. "This is not an anti-vaccine rally — it's a freedom of choice rally," said one of the organizers, Louise Habakus. "This one-size-fits-all approach is really very anti-American." New Jersey's policy was approved last December by the state's Public Health Council and is taking effect this fall. Children from 6 months to 5 years old who attend a child-care center or preschool have until Dec. 31 to receive the flu vaccine, along with a pneumococcal vaccine. The Health Council was acting on the recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has depicted children under 5 as a group particularly in need of flu shots. But no other state has made the shots mandatory for children of any age. "Vaccines not only protect the child being vaccinated but also the general community and the most vulnerable individuals within the community," New Jersey's Health Department said in a statement. It has depicted young children as "particularly efficient" in transmitting the flu to others. Opposition to the policy is vehement. Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk, one of the speakers at the rally, said she now has 34 co-sponsors for a bill that would allow for conscientious objections to mandatory vaccinations. "The right to informed consent is so basic," she said in an interview. "Parents have a right to decide for their own children what is injected in their bodies." State policy now allows for medical and religious exemptions to mandatory vaccinations, but Vandervalk said requests for medical exemptions often have been turned down by local health authorities. She said 19 other states allow conscientious exemptions like those envisioned in her bill. …" 70. "Disability Mentoring Day- Students get hands-on job training during Disability Mentoring Day" dated 16 October 2008 by Linda Florea from the Orlando Sentinel at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-mentoring1608oct16,0,3963283.story. "Instead of attending Dr. Phillips High School on Wednesday as usual, Chris Casseus spent the day at the Animal Medical Clinic in Orlando, learning how to care for animals. The hands-on learning was part of Disability Mentoring Day, a nationwide event that pairs students and job seekers who have disabilities with professionals to learn about careers. More than 1,300 students and mentors are participating statewide; nationally, more than 17,000 students and job seekers participate. "The purpose is to have the students look at careers and career possibilities so they will start thinking about what they want to do when they graduate," said Marjorie Mickelson, postsecondary liaison for Orange County Public Schools. About 180 students from a dozen schools in Orange County will participate in the mentoring before the end of the month, Mickelson said. She said disabilities of the students run the gamut from dyslexia to hearing impairment to developmental disability. David Hale, national coordinator for the mentoring program for the American Association of People with Disabilities, said anyone with a disability can participate, although they do not have to prove or disclose their disability. "It was outstanding, and the students loved it," Mickelson said of Wednesday's kickoff. "I'm getting e-mail reports back on how good it was and how the students enjoyed it and how the people who hosted were glad they did. Some are asking to be hosts next year." …" 71. "Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification for genetic screening in autism spectrum disorders: Efficient identification of known microduplications and identification of a novel microduplication in ASMT" from BMC Medical Genomics at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1755-8794/1/50/abstract. "Abstract (Provisional): Background. It has previously been shown that specific microdeletions and microduplications, many of which also associated with cognitive impairment (CI), can present with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) represents an efficient method to screen for such recurrent microdeletions and microduplications. Methods. In the current study, a total of 279 unrelated subjects ascertained for ASDs were screened for genomic disorders associated with CI using MLPA. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and/or direct DNA sequencing were used to validate potential microdeletions and microduplications. Methylation-sensitive MLPA was used to characterize individuals with duplications in the Prader-Willi/Angelman (PWA) region. Results. MLPA showed two subjects with typical ASD-associated interstitial duplications of the 15q11-q13 PWA region of maternal origin. Two additional subjects showed smaller, de novo duplications of the PWA region that had not been previously characterized. Genes in these two novel duplications include GABRB3 and ATP10A in one case, and MKRN3, MAGEL2 and NDN in the other. In addition, two subjects showed duplications of the 22q11/DiGeorge syndrome region. One individual was found to carry a 12 kb deletion in one copy of the ASPA gene on 17p13, which when mutated in both alleles leads to Canavan disease. Two subjects showed partial duplication of the TM4SF2 gene on Xp11.4, previously implicated in X-linked non-specific mental retardation, but in our subsequent analyses such variants were also found in controls. A partial duplication in the ASMT gene, located in the pseudoautosomal region 1 (PAR1) of the sex chromosomes and previously suggested to be involved in ASD susceptibility, was observed in 6-7% of the cases but in only 2% of controls (P=0.003). Conclusions. MLPA proves to be an efficient method to screen for chromosomal abnormalities. We identified duplications in 15q11-q13 and in 22q11, including new de novo small duplications, as likely contributing to ASD in the current sample by increasing liability and/or exacerbating symptoms. Our data indicate that duplications in the TM4SF2 are not associated with the phenotype given their presence in controls. The results in PAR1/PAR2 are the first large-scale studies of gene dosage in these regions, and the findings at the ASMT locus indicate that further studies of the duplication of the ASMT gene are needed in order to gain insight into its potential involvement in ASD. Our studies also identify some limitations of MLPA, where single base changes in probe binding sequences alter results. In summary, our studies indicate that MLPA, with a focus on accepted medical genetic conditions, may be an inexpensive method for detection of microdeletions and microduplications in ASD patients for purposes of genetic counselling if MLPA-identified deletions are validated by additional methods." 72. "Palin has experience with special needs kids" dated 16 October 2008 by Anne Sutton from The Associated Press at http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hGcOUpWUgbLc_WRhu4sgV69OeCrgD93RVHB80 and http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hGcOUpWUgbLc_WRhu4sgV69OeCrgD93RRC5G0. "Sarah Palin is frequently seen at campaign stops cradling her infant son Trig, who has Down syndrome. Her decision to give birth to Trig even after learning her fifth child would have the condition has burnished her anti-abortion views with conservatives. So viewers of Wednesday night's presidential debate might have been somewhat taken aback when John McCain said his running mate understands "what it's like to have an autistic child." Not directly, perhaps, but Palin does have a 13-year-old nephew with autism. Palin's sister and brother-in-law, Heather and Kurt Bruce, have a 13-year-old autistic son, Karcher. >From a close knit family, the sisters often took turns caring for each others kids, especially when the children were younger, according to Taylor Griffin, a spokesman for the McCain-Palin campaign. McCain used that family background during the debate to bolster her credentials. Palin, he said, was "a role model to women, a reformer, understood special needs like autism" and understands special needs families better than "anyone in the country." Palin touted her own record supporting special needs children in an interview conducted via e-mail that was published Sept. 30 in her hometown newspaper, The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. "It is our hope that by providing the necessary funding support, we can touch more children with special needs who did not have opportunities before due to the prohibitive costs of providing the appropriate care," Palin wrote. That said, programs and spending for special needs children haven't been a highlight of Palin's 21 months in office as Alaska's governor, during which she has focused on cutting a deal for a natural gas pipeline. …" 73. "Stroudsburg officials admit school has a padded room" dated 16 October 2008 from The Pocono Record at http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081016/NEWS/81016013/-1/NEWS01. "Stroudsburg's school board acknowledged Wednesday night that the district used a "time-out" room for some of its special needs children, reversing claims made by the district's lawyers that no such room existed. “There is a time-out room that is serving the needs of the students in the Intermediate Elementary school," said Ray Williams, president of the school district's board. "That’s the one and only room of that nature that’s being used in the district.” The Intermediate Elementary School houses students in grades three and four. Parents of students with disabilities had been asking the district to clarify the policies governing the use of the room, which is reportedly a small space with a carpet and bean bag. The time-out room is attached to another room that is reserved for students receiving emotional support services. Emotional support students typically receive help in coping with social and behavioral issues. But a mother of two children with Asperger's, which is a mild form of autism, said that her daughter had been sent there so frequently that she referred to the room as "her office." Her son, whose disorder manifests itself in difficulty adjusting to changes in environment, spent frequent and long stretches there that caused him to miss chunks of class time, she said. "They've way overused that room," said Laurie Hilbert, mother of the twin fourth-graders, speaking of the school. "When kids are spending a lot of time in that room, it becomes a problem. "Parents have the right to know it exists." It is not known how many such rooms are in use in the county. Typically, the rooms are meant as safe spaces used to defuse students in volatile states, and to keep them from harming themselves or others. In an Oct. 3 letter to Mike Medici, a disability rights advocate, the district's lawyers wrote that, "There are no 'Time Out Rooms, -- Padded Rooms'" in the district." 74. "Reaching an Autistic Teenager" dated 17 October 2008 by MELISSA FAY GREENE from The New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/magazine/19Autism-t.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin. "On a typical Monday morning at an atypical high school, teenage boys yanked open the glass doors to the First Baptist Church of Decatur, Ga. Half-awake, iPod wires curling from their ears, their backpacks unbuckled and their jeans baggy, the guys headed for the elevator. Arriving at Morning Meeting in the third-floor conference room, Stephen, his face hidden under long black bangs, dropped into a chair, sprawled across the table and went back to sleep. The Community School, or T.C.S., is a small private school for teenage boys with autism or related disorders. Sleep disturbances are common in this student body of 10, so a boy’s staggering need for sleep is respected. Nick Boswell, a tall fellow with thick sideburns, arrived and began his usual pacing along the windows that overlook the church parking lot and baseball diamond. Edwick, with spiky brown hair and a few black whiskers, tumbled backward with a splat into a beanbag chair on the floor. “O.K., guys, let’s talk about your spring schedules,” said Dave Nelson, the 45-year-old founding director. He wore a green polo shirt, cargo shorts and sneakers and had a buzz haircut and an open, suntanned face. After his son Graham, 19, was given a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (A.S.D.) as a young child, Nelson left the business world and went into teaching and clinical and counseling work. On that Monday, he was instantly interrupted. “I had a very bad night!” Edwick yelled from the floor. “Nightmares all night!” “What was disturbing you, Edwick?” Nelson asked. “What do you think?” Edwick cried in exasperation. “It’s St. Patrick’s Day!” “What’s upsetting about that?” Nelson asked. Edwick dropped his shoulders to relay how tiring it was to have to explain every little thing. “Leprechauns,” he yelled. …" 75. "A shot against vaccines- At the Statehouse, hundreds protest new requirements" dated 17 October 2008 by CAROL ANN CAMPBELL AND SUSAN K. LIVIO from The Star-Ledger at http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1224216924298090.xml&coll=1. "Lisa Auletta of Hazlet clutched an 8- by-10-inch framed photo of her 4-year-old son, Alex, as she stood in front of the State House in Trenton yesterday. She refuses to allow her son to get a flu shot, as required by a law that took effect this fall for babies and children in preschool or day care. So Auletta said she will pull her son out of day care. "I just want a choice," she said. Auletta and some 300 others rallied in Trenton yesterday to push for a bill to allow them to skip some, or even all, the vaccines now mandated by New Jersey. A backlash over the four new vaccine mandates has fueled a long-simmering controversy over immunizations -- a controversy that erupted in the angry rally where some parents said vaccines harmed their children. "Governor Corzine," speaker Louise Kuo Habakus said as she addressed the crowd. "Are you the one with the courage to lead us through this health care crisis? If so, give us vaccination choice. The parents of New Jersey are moving ahead with or without you." Habakus is a member of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccina tion Choice, and she said she is the mother of two vaccine-injured children. State health officials and many physicians vigorously oppose any effort to weaken mandatory vacci nation rules, saying the densely populated state with a high number of recent immigrants is vulnerable to vaccine-preventable epidemics. State health officials cited outbreaks of measles in the early 1990s that killed several children. They also said many diseases prevented by vaccines cannot be effectively treated when children get sick. "We stand by our belief that vaccinations really are one of the great contributions to public health over the last century," said Tina Tan, acting state epidemiologist for the state Department of Health and Senior Services. "They are safe and effective. ... Allowing parents to pick and choose vacci nations puts the public welfare at risk." Four new vaccine requirements took effect this fall. The flu and pneumoccocal vaccine require ments apply to children ages 6 months to 5 years who attend child care centers and preschool. Two other requirements -- meningococ cal and diphtheria, Tetanus and pertussis -- apply to children in the sixth grade. …" 76. "N.J. Mandatory Flu Shots for Preschoolers Cause Outrage- First Preschool Flu Vaccination Rule Shocks Parents" dated 17 October 2008 by SHARYN ALFONSI from ABC News at http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdandFluNews/story?id=6051917&page=1. "New Jersey's Public Health Council stopped complaining last year about parents who don't vaccinate their children and took action. Now, New Jersey is the first state in the nation to require a flu shot for all children before they enroll in preschools and daycare centers. The compulsory vaccination for preschoolers is intended to promote public health, a move based on a recommendation from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which identified children under age 5 as a group particularly in need of vaccinations. But the mandate has infuriated many parents, hundreds of whom gathered in protest Thursday outside the statehouse in Trenton. Parents have formed advocacy groups and enlisted support online for fellow residents to sign their petition against the law. They've banned together to demand what they see as their right to choose what is injected in the bodies of their children. "I have a really big problem with mandatory flu shots in this country," said Louis Kuo-Habukus, a mother of three from New Jersey. "We need to have a choice." Parents flooded the statehouse, carrying signs with slogans like "Parent Power" and "My Child, My Choice," and chanting "No American should be forced to play vaccine roulette with their child." They rallied for support of a "conscientious objectors" clause, which they want added to the bill. It would grant exemptions for children and parents who have a moral objection to the vaccination. …" 77. "Autistic boy, 3, left for hours on NYC school bus" dated 17 October 2008 from Newsday.com at http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--leftonbus1017oct17,0,5121282.story. "A 3-year-old autistic boy has been reunited with his family after being left alone on a New York City school bus for more than six hours. It was only when Jose Gabriel Lopez' (Ho-ZAY' Gah-BREE'-el Low-PEZ') mother went to pick him up from the day program he attends at a Bronx elementary school that she learned he had been reported absent Thursday. Marisol Tirado says she went into a panic asking, "Where's my son?" Police found Jose on a parked bus. Police arrested the driver and a matron _ a professional who is certified to escort buses _ on charges including child endangerment. The bus company's telephone rang unanswered Thursday night, as did the matron's. No telephone number could be found for the driver. Police didn't know if they had lawyers." 78. "Parents press for autism insurance coverage" dated 17 October 2008 by Val Willingham from CNN at http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/10/17/autism.insurance/index.html?iref=newssearch. "Parents of children with autism often say it's like being on a roller coaster 24 hours a day. And the ticket for the ride is jaw-droppingly expensive. A family's lifetime costs for caring for a child with autism can reach as high as $5 million, according to the Autism Society of America. Each month, parents report they pay thousands of dollars for treatment and therapy. And in most cases, insurance, even good insurance, won't cover all of the fees. Many families are triple-mortgaging their homes, taking second and third jobs, even living with other family members, just so they can provide the care their children so desperately need. Some even have to choose between their child's development and keeping their homes. For Carol and Rick Nunez of Potomac Falls, Virginia, the stack of bills piled up on the dining room table is a brutal reminder of their reality. The Nunezes, parents of two boys, were introduced to autism when their younger son, Ethan, was found to have the condition two years ago. In order to provide the best care, Carol Nunez went to work full time and Rick Nunez stayed at home, providing 24-7 watch over Ethan. Although she has a good job in sales, the bills still amount to more than the family's monthly income. Costs for Ethan's applied behavior analysis, a relatively new therapy that has passionate advocates as well as critics, can run up to thousands of dollars a week, not including the cost for speech therapy, his medications and special schooling. Carol admits it's tough. "It's been extremely expensive," she said. "Between ABA therapy, the accommodations we had to make to the house, the special material we have to give him, it just adds up." But there is hope. A bill being considered by Virginia's General Assembly would require insurance companies to cover medical costs to treat autism. Just last month, Ethan, along with his parents and other Virginia families with autistic children traveled to Richmond, Virginia, to testify in favor of House Bill 83. The testimony was emotional, with parents, at times pleading from the podium for more financial relief. …" 79. "Experts say school time-out rooms are used excessively for children with behavior disorders" dated 17 October 2008 by MICHAEL J. CRUMB from The Associated Press at http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap-time-out-roomsoct17,1,7378418.story. "After failing to finish a reading assignment, 8-year-old Isabel Loeffler was sent to the school's time-out room — a converted storage area under a staircase — where she was left alone for three hours. The autistic Iowa girl wet herself before she was finally allowed to leave. Appalled, her parents removed her from the school district and filed a lawsuit. Some educators say time-out rooms are being used with increased frequency to discipline children with behavioral disorders. And the time outs are probably doing more harm than good, they add. "It really is a form of abuse," said Ken Merrell, head of the Department for Special Education and Clinical Sciences at the University of Oregon. "It's going to do nothing to change the behavior. You're using it as an isolation booth." Segregating children removes them from the positive aspect of the classroom and highlights that they're different from other children, said Stephen Camarata, director of the Kennedy Center for Behavioral Research at Vanderbilt University. And isolating an autistic child might be particularly counterproductive. "They don't like being around other people so they might increase their negative behavior because they view it a reward," he said. Though there is no data on the use of time-out rooms, Camarata speculates that they've become widespread as schools confronted a growing enrollment of children with behavior disorders. …" 80. "Aides Accuse Teacher Of Abusing Autistic Students- Woman Still Teaching Children" dated 17 October 2008 from WCVB5 TV News at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/education/17740036/detail.html?rss=bos&psp=news. "Parents and co-workers said that a teacher was abusing autistic children in her care. NewsCenter 5's Bianca de la Garza reported exclusively that while no charges have been filed, they wonder why she's still in the classroom. "I couldn't sleep. I was sick," Grant said. "I've witnessed it. I know she did these things to children," Ericson said. The alleged victims are six non-verbal autistic students who attended the South Shore Collaborative School. "If they were non-compliant, as she says, she would go and grab them. Put them into a restraint. 'I'm bigger. I'm badder, and I'm stronger than you.' Hello? You don't say that to a kid," Ericson said. "He started to go back into her stomach with his head, and she put her fist up, and when he came back again, she punched him -- the back of his head. Two days later he was doing the same behavior, and she said, 'Be careful, you might find a fist behind his head,'" Grant said. Besides autism, the students had other special needs, such as cystic fibrosis and obsessive compulsive disorder, which the aides said Gibbons preyed on. Grant, Ericson and a third aide reported the incidents to the school. The State Department of Child Services and Randolph police began investigating. "I was alarmed. I was frantic," parent Linda Auger said. Looking back, parents who spoke with NewsCenter 5 said there were red flags they wish they had documented. "He had some bruising on his arms," Auger said. "When we brought him home he was limping on his leg. By the end of his day he couldn't put any weight on it," another parent said. …" 81. "Guy who left kid on bus has booze raps" dated 18 October 2008 by JOE GOULD, KERRY BURKE and GREG B. SMITH from the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS at http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/10/18/2008-10-18_guy_who_left_kid_on_bus_has_booze_raps-1.html. "The driver charged with abandoning an autistic boy on a school bus has been ticketed six times in three years for public drinking, the Daily News has learned. And his employer, Pinnacle Bus Co. of Brooklyn, has been charged with covering up a spotty record of monitoring drivers' safety records. These shocking developments came to light Friday night as driver Terry Rocker, 26, and bus monitor Charlene Powell, 47, were arraigned on charges of reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. Both were released on their own recognizance pending a hearing Dec. 18. A defiant Rocker, who blamed Powell for failing to spot the boy on the bus, declined comment. Powell said only, "I'm sorry. Very, very, sorry." Defendants' statements read in Bronx Criminal Court last night indicated seven of eight kids on the bus were dropped off safely at Public School 168 in Parkchester before Rocker drove Powell to another school so she could hang out with friends then fell asleep on the bus. … 82. "Every Child By Two Wants to Get onto Oprah" dated 18 October 2008 by Kim Stagliano from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/every-child-by.html#more. "The vaccine group Every Child By Two is asking its mailing list to contact Oprah so that they can promote vaccines on national TV. Because apparently having the AAP, AMA and every pharmaceutical company in the world on your team isn't enough.... Here's the email: Please Take The Time To Contact The Oprah Winfrey Show. It has been quite some time since Every Child By Two (ECBT) has asked you to take action on an issue related to immunizations. I write to you today with an urgent request for your assistance in reaching out to the Oprah Winfrey Show to urge that she dedicate a show to the science behind the question of whether vaccines cause autism. More than fourteen credible studies have been conducted worldwide exonerating vaccines and yet the media and entertainment industry continue to frame this as a debate. ECBT and our public health partners have reached out to Oprah’s producers countless times without success. However, I recently had a lengthy conversation with one of the producers who recommended that we initiate a letter writing campaign by commenting within the Oprah.com feedback section of the website. This information is tabulated to determine whether there is enough interest to conduct follow up shows. I urge you to take five minutes to fill out the Oprah Winfrey Show online form by following the link below. In your comments, please request that Oprah invite credible scientists and/or physicians to explain the science of vaccines to her viewers. We also would like her to invite parents who have suffered the loss of a child from a vaccine-preventable disease, and a parent of an autistic child who can speak on behalf of the many families that are frustrated over the continued focus on vaccines and their supposed link to autism and the therapies that focus on “repairing vaccine damage”. Please relate any personal experiences you may have with vaccine-preventable diseases or autism. In addition, please refer the Oprah Winfrey Show to Amy Pisani, Executive Director of Every Child By Two, for any follow-up questions. My phone number is (860) 443-1166. And finally, please forward this to your family and friends and request that they also reach out to the Oprah Winfrey Show." 83. "Study Reveals Long-Term Effects Of Asperger's" dated 18 October 2008 from CBS4 News at http://cbs4.com/health/aspergers.syndrome.disorder.2.843504.html. "Daniel Sylvestre spent his childhood and teenage years feeling clumsy and different. "Growing up, I really felt like there was something that was a little bit off about me," he said. What's the first thing he remembers? How big of a role his senses played in his day to day life. "When I was little, the seam in my socks, every morning, if the seam wasn't sitting right in my socks that would be a really big deal to me," he said. In school, it became harder and harder for him to understand the nuances of communication, and he couldn't figure out why changes in routine bothered him, but no one else. "When everything kind of falls to pieces and that structure gets pulled out from under me, it really can be a big adjustment sometimes," said Sylvestre. Eventually, Sylvestre was hospitalized for depression. He said, "I felt like I wasn't getting heard by people. I felt like something was different, but I felt like no one believed me." It wasn't until he was diagnosed with Asperger's disorder in adolescence that the pieces of his life finally fit together. He said, "It was really a relief to get that diagnosis at age 15." "Dan said, 'It's as if people all my life were telling me I need to fly a plane, but now that I have the Asperger's diagnosis, it's like they gave me a flight manual,'" recalled Deb Sylvestre, Sylvestre's mom. More people are being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, including Asperger's, than ever before. People with Asperger's typically have average to above average cognitive skills, but difficulty communicating with others, maintaining eye contact, and picking up on social cues. "Because it's a relatively recently recognized disorder, we had very little information about long-term outcomes," said Kim Klein, a pediatric neuropsychologist at Fraser, one of the Twin Cities largest resources for families with kids on the spectrum. Klein and co-researcher Pat Pulice organized a study to learn more about how adults with Asperger's, like Sylvestre, compare to adults without the disorder. …" 84. "Cop tases autistic teen after punch in the face" dated 18 October 2008 by Susan Jacobson from the Orlando Sentinel at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-b3report18_508oct18,0,4103667.story. "A 6-foot-5, 250-pound middle-school student broke an Orlando police officer's hand Friday when the officer tried to get the boy to leave a school bathroom, investigators said. A teacher called police about 10:30 a.m. when the student, 16, who is autistic, refused to leave the bathroom at Glenridge Middle School, police said. The teen was washing his hands when he suddenly swung around, punched the officer in the face and then struck his hand, authorities said. The cop tased the student, who police said was uninjured. Police said they would ask the State Attorney's Office to prosecute the student on a battery charge." 85. "Age of Narcissism? Pop Stars Nancy Minshew and Denis Leary" dated 19 October 2008 by Katie Wright from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/how-fitting-tha.html#more. "How fitting that these two self-obsessed boneheads are in the news on the same day. I encourage all autism families to please check out the "Pop Star: Nancy Minshew" article (HERE.) But please, not if you are eating because you may become ill. Last January, Minshew made a number of outrageous and baseless claims, on the record, to a journalist during an interview. Regarding parents who saw their children regress or become ill after receiving multiple vaccines Minshew opines: "you want to blame something…some people are not logical…" Minshew implores readers to agree with a judge's verdict (I guess not the Polings' judge) finding for Wyeth and dismissing the claims parents who saw their child sicken and regress following vaccinations. Minshew argues that vaccines do not trigger autism, stating that "the facts are autistic genetic abnormalities occur before birth." I guess the first 2 years of my son's normal development were an hallucination? Then Minshew eloquently states that all autism/vaccine discussions are "crappola." Nice. This would be a lot more funny and a lot less sad if Minshew, so eloquent and open-minded, has not received $32 MILLION in federal grant money for her autism "research." Let's review Minshew's ground breaking research findings: "the brain is pre-wired and waits for experience to teach us things…With autism the brain is short-circuited…autistic people have strained social skills" And my favorite: early intervention is good! We will probably get some eye gazing studies thrown in there as well! Yes, that is correct, $32 million over the next 5 years, for redundant genetic research. This is not what I had in mind when I supported the Combating Autism Act. Autism Speaks assured us that this money would be well spent. I guess the joke is on me, or more accurately on Christian. I would also like to know more details about Minshew's involvement with Autism Speaks' scientific advisories bodies on which she serves. …" 86. "States Taking Pharma to Court for Risky Antipsychotic-Prescribing Spree- Certain antipsychotics are leaving legions of children and elderly in chemical straightjackets for treatment of conditions they didn't even have." dated 19 October 2008 by Martha Rosenberg from AlterNet at http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/103543/states_taking_pharma_to_court_for_risky_antipsychotic-prescribing_spree. "Some state legislators are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. They've seen state outlays for controversial antipsychotics like Zyprexa grow as much as twelvefold since 2000, with a corresponding growth in side effects like weight gain, blood sugar changes and cholesterol problems. In March, Alaska won a $15 million settlement from Eli Lilly in a suit to recoup medical costs generated by Medicaid patients who developed diabetes while taking Zyprexa. Last year Bristol-Myers Squibb settled a federal suit for $515 million charging that it illegally hawked the antipsychotic Abilify to children and the elderly, bilking taxpayers. Now Idaho, Washington, Montana, Connecticut, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Arkansas and Texas are taking pharma to court over its antipsychotic prescrib-athon that has left the poor and mentally ill in even worse health and legions of children and elderly in chemical straightjackets for treatment of conditions they didn't even have. The atypical antipsychotics Zyprexa, Risperdal, Seroquel, Abilify and Geodon can be thought of as the credit swaps of the pharmaceutical world. New with no track record, risky, barely understood and capable of making a lot of money before their long-term effects are apparent, atypical antipsychotics, like credit swaps, could only be sold with friends in high regulatory places and the help of the U.S. taxpayer. Though atypical antipsychotics were developed to treat schizophrenia and later approved for bipolar disorder (Risperdal is also approved for autism-related irritability in children), pharma lost no time in marketing them for non-FDA-approved uses like ADHD and conduct disorders, dementia, sleep disorders, depression and simple mood swings, netting $8,000 a year per person, usually from state coffers. …" 87. "Parents asked to study perils of vaccinations" dated 19 October 2008 by BOB GROVES from The North Jersey Record at http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/31244264.html. "Americans have a basic right to decide whether their children should be vaccinated, Barbara Loe Fisher, a veteran crusader against government-mandated immunizations, said Saturday. Parental informed consent is "a civil right, a human right to be free to make intelligent, rational decisions about using pharmaceutical products that risk their children's lives," Fisher told the Holistic Moms Network fifth annual Natural Living Conference. "What the entire debate comes down to is freedom" of choice, said Fisher, a mother, and president of the National Vaccine Information Center. Fisher co-founded the non-profit grass-roots group in Washington in 1982. More than 300 people, many of them young women with infants and toddlers, attended the conference at a Mahwah hotel, co-sponsored by mothering Natural Family Living Magazine, and Organic Valley Family of Farms. The event included workshops on parenting, ecological activism, managing stress and healthy home greening. Vendors exhibited organic food, holistic health and "eco-friendly" products. Fisher's group successfully lobbied Congress in 1986 to pass the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, "that confirmed for the first time that vaccines can injure and kill," she said. The law created a compensation fund which, to date, has paid out $2 billion to vaccine victims, she said. Still, health officials and physicians in the past three decades have tripled the number of shots that children are required to have, without adequately studying the possible long-term effects, Fisher charged. "So nobody knows the true background rates in an unvaccinated child population for seizures, learning disabilities, ADHD [attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders], asthma, autism, diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, peanut allergies, bipolar disorder and much more," she said. From birth to age 18, children currently receive 69 doses of 16 vaccines, including annual flu shots, she said. In 1982, 23 doses of seven vaccines were required, she said. "Today, twice as many children are chronically ill and disabled than in the 1970s and 1980s, when half as many vaccines were given," Fisher said. …" 88. "Job help for the mildly autistic comes from nonprofit- Disorder alone doesn't qualify for state services" dated 19 October 2008 by LIZ ELLABY from The Birmingham News at http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf?/base/news/1224404157198360.xml&coll=2. "As Allison Deibler talks about her struggles growing up, she speaks in a forceful monotone typical in people with autism-related disorders. But when she's at work reading a story to a classroom of toddlers, her voice rises and falls with drama, really drawing the children in. And that's not typical, say her boss and job advocate. Deibler, 25, is a teacher's aide at Creative Montessori School in Homewood, where she changes diapers, helps kids at recess, sings songs and reads aloud. Growing up was tough after being diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder that some family couldn't accept, she said. As an adult, she's flourished despite language and social impairments that could otherwise have landed her a job doing factory piecework, said Brooke Stephens, director of Triumph Services, a nonprofit job service for the disabled. Stephens and other advocates say more people like Deibler could be success stories if community-based services under the Alabama Medicaid Agency could be applied to disorders that fall within the autism spectrum. Right now, autism doesn't meet any of the state agency's six waiver programs that pay for services such as homemaking, employment and speech therapies. In Deibler's case, the part-time job is only one of the services that makes her solo life possible, Stephens said. She boards a morning bus in front of the Mellow Mushroom on 20th Street South, and receives help keeping her Southside apartment clean and her checkbook balanced. She's enrolled in art classes and is under the care of a doctor and two mental health specialists. She attends a support group to get along with other women her age. Rosalind Butts, director of the Montessori School, said she's glad Triumph persuaded her to hire Deibler in August. "The children really seem to respond to her," she said. "She reads with gusto and uses all the different characters' voices. I think this is something she practices. I think this is something that's helping her." Robin Rawls, spokeswoman for the state's Medicaid agency, said a person with autism must qualify with a diagnosis of mental retardation, and a number do. "However, the individual's mental retardation ... must be the primary reason the person needs waiver services," she said. It's unlikely there will be any expansion soon under the state's bare-bones Medicaid budget, she said. …" 89. "Lincoln's Krummel doesn't let autism slow him down" dated 19 October 2008 from WisInfo.com at http://www.wisinfo.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008810190428. "Rosemary Krummel can't keep from chuckling a little bit as she recounts watching her son, Quentin, in the final stages of the 2006 Manitowoc Lincoln Cross Country Invitational. Quentin, then a sophomore, was running up the final incline on his way to the finish and like every mother out there, Rosemary was shouting encouragement to her son. "Use your arms, Quentin," Rosemary recalled telling her son hoping to spur him on to the finish. But instead of pumping his arms up and down as most runners do, Quentin stretched them out away from his sides and started flapping them up and down — like he was trying to fly. "I'm sure everybody was wondering what he was doing," Rosemary Krummel said, still chuckling a little bit. "Certain terminology can be difficult for those with autism and with cross country, there was a whole new lingo." Autism is a brain-development disorder that will first appear during infancy or childhood and can affect social interaction, communication and the behavior of someone affected by the disease. Krummel was diagnosed as a young child and, as the oldest of Rosemary and Steve Krummel's three children, has grown up with autism as part of his everyday life. "I think every parent has dreams and envisions what their child is going to do," Rosemary Krummel said. "When Quentin was young and diagnosed, those dreams are kidnapped along with the person you thought he was going to be." …" 90. "Every Child By Two: Parasites, Graves, Wyeth, and Sanofi" dated 20 October 2008 by J.B. Handley from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/every-child-b-1.html#more. . "Every Child By Two is a three-person organization, housed out of a tiny office in a rough part of Washington, D.C. that happens to receive the majority of their funding from Wyeth, a vaccine maker. Recently, ECBT hit the radar screen of many autism parents by hiring a "celebrity", Amanda Peet, to help spread the message of vaccine makers that all vaccines are good for you and your babies. As everybody knows, Ms. Peet made her PR debut in Cookie Magazine, where she infamously stated that parents who do not vaccinate their children are "parasites." A few weeks later, ECBT hosted a press conference in New York City to kick off the "Vaccinate Your Baby" campaign that featured Amanda Peet, Rosalyn Carter, Paul Offit, and a bunch of pissed off parents from our side of the aisle. On their web site, Vaccinate Your Baby discloses that their campaign is funded by Sanofi, another vaccine maker. If you Google "Every Child By Two", the third link that comes up is a story that I wrote (HERE) for AoA back in August explaining the source of ECBT's funding (Wyeth). Perhaps it's coincidence, but that link was up BEFORE their press conference, and ECBT got no press. Even a vaccine-loving journalist may be a bit queasy covering a press conference of a vaccine-maker front group, I don't know. Recently, 33% of ECBT contacted AoA (one of three employees). Rich Greenaway, Director of Operations, apparently had a gripe that we had used an actual photo of the ECBT Board of Directors at the top of the piece I wrote, and he asked us to remove it. Our stellar Managing Editor, Kim Stagliano, obliged the request right quick, and put up an equally attractive alternative photo, which you can check out HERE. So what, you say? Well, I sort of agree with you and I can barely justify the time it takes to write about ECBT, but I was very, very struck by the email I saw from Mr. Greenaway himself to AoA asking to have this photo removed. You see, like many people, Mr. Greenaway has an automatic signature at the bottom of his emails, and I think I should just share his with you here, so you can see why I'm spending the time to write. So, I'm printing his entire signature for you, I'm not going to comment on the "666" in his street address, and I'm just going to direct you to the bottom of his signature, the part that I have chosen to bold: …" 91. "New Jersey To Require Mandatory Kidney Donation" dated 20 October 2008 by Kim Stagliano from The Huffington Post blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-stagliano/new-jersey-to-require-man_b_135752.html. "New Jersey has had it with the lack of participation in the organ donation program among its citizens. In an effort to save the lives of gravely ill men, women and especially innocent children in the Garden State, Governor Corzine has passed a law that requires all healthy citizens to donate one kidney by age 45. Yes, the Garden State plans to reap your kidney. The law is called "Kidney2Me." Citizens must display their scars to DMV employees within two months of their 45th birthday in order to retain a drivers license that will allow them to use The New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, Route 287 and Route 80. These highways will have express lanes for kidney donors. Non-compliants will be allowed to walk between the lanes, blindfolds will be provided. Anticipating great civic success with the "Kidney2Me" program, the Governor is also planning to tackle obesity within the Garden State. A new law is pending that will require all slender citizens to eat the first six forkfuls of food off the plate of heavy citizens. Failure to show appropriate weight loss among the heavy will result in a .05% property tax increase on the slender for each 5 pounds not lost per capita. There will be monthly weigh ins at every town hall. Bumper stickers are in production. They read, "Fork You, Fat." Finally, the State of New Jersey will now require that every child five and under receive a flu vaccine in order to attend daycare or preschool in an effort to protect the elderly and infirm around them. This program is called, "Don't be a turd. Protect the herd." Unfortunately, that last law is true. New Jersey is the first state in America to mandate the flu vaccine. On Thursday I participated in a rally in Trenton with The NJ Coalition for Vaccination Choice (NJCVC). The group opposes the four new vaccine mandates including an annual flu shot for children ages 5 and under, required for daycare and pre-school. NJCVC supports the passage of bill A260/S1071, a conscientious exemption to mandatory immunization which will permit parents to select all, some or no vaccinations for their children. A form of this parental right already exists in 19 other US states. …" 92. "Parents press states for autism insurance laws- Ask States To Require Coverage Of Behavior Therapy For Children" dated 20 October 2008 by Carla K. Johnson from The Associated Press at http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/10/20/parents_press_states_for_autism_insurance_laws and http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/31266514.html and http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1851962,00.html and http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081020/NEWS/81020008 and http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?n=1&neID=20081019140.6.24_c58e00b7c6ea2050 and http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_10766318?source=most_emailed and lots more. "In Washington state, Reza and Arzu Forough pay more than $1,000 a week for behavior therapy for their 12-year-old autistic son. In Indiana, Sean and Michele Trivedi get the same type of therapy for their 11-year-old daughter. But they pay $3,000 a year and their health insurance covers the rest. Two families. Two states. Big difference in out-of-pocket costs. If autism advocates get their way, more states will follow Indiana's lead by requiring health insurers to cover intensive and costly behavior therapy for autism. In the past two years, six states -- Texas, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana -- passed laws requiring such coverage, costing in some cases up to $50,000 a year per child. The powerful advocacy group Autism Speaks has endorsed bills in New Jersey, Virginia and Michigan and is targeting at least 10 more states in 2009, including New York, California and Ohio. Other states, including Illinois, have similar bills in the works but aren't working directly with Autism Speaks. "This is the hottest trend in mandates we've seen in a long time," said J.P. Wieske, a lobbyist for an insurance coalition that argues that these state requirements drive up insurance costs for everyone. "It is hard to fight them." For lawmakers, voting against these measures means voting against parents who are struggling to do the best for their children. Parents tell moving stories about how behavior therapy works better than anything they've tried. In two states, bills got nicknames like "Steven's Law" and "Ryan's Law," so voting against them was tough. Arzu Forough of Kirkland, Wash., who is pushing a bill in her state, credits behavior therapy for teaching her son Shayan, at age 3, to make a sound to ask for a drink of water. Now 12, he is learning to converse about his favorite food and music, and to talk about his frustrations rather than throw tantrums. …" 93. "A look at state laws forcing autism coverage" dated 20 October 2008 from The Associated Press at http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/10/20/ap5578058.html. "In 2006, Indiana's insurance commissioner ruled that a law adopted earlier required private health insurers to cover applied behavior analysis, a specific and costly type of autism therapy. In the past two years, other states have adopted their own laws ordering insurance coverage for this treatment. Arizona: Effective June 30, 2009. Covers therapy costing as much as $50,000 per year up to age 9, $25,000 per year up to age 16. Florida: Effective April 2009. Covers $36,000 per year, $200,000 lifetime up to age 18. Louisiana: Effective Jan. 1, 2009. Covers $36,000 per year up to age 17. Pennsylvania: Effective July 1, 2009. Covers $36,000 per year up to age 21, no lifetime cap. South Carolina: Effective July 1, 2008. Covers $50,000 per year up to age 16. Texas: Took effect Jan. 1, 2008. Covers children over age 2, up to age 6." 94. "Discovery Bay special-needs parent becomes advocate" dated 20 October 2008 by Paula King from the East County Times at http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10762608. "As an educator for more than two decades, Lisa McBride recognized the signs of autism in her youngest son. But as a mother, she was in denial until he was diagnosed at age 4. When the Discovery Bay parent faced the situation, she found that the East County community offered little support for special-needs families. McBride was surprised because more than 5,000 special-needs children live in this part of the county. "Having a special-needs child is a battle enough. It is challenge enough. Then on top of it, to add the battle to receive services to make your children successful, happy and healthy, it is ridiculous," she said. So the Antioch fifth-grade teacher began the work of establishing a nonprofit organization after her three children went to sleep at night. She started the nonprofit Special Kids Foundation in 2007 to serve children and families in similar situations. "I began this quest to save my son. I'm going to end this quest having saved my son and hopefully, the fallout will be that I save everybody else's sons and daughters in East County," McBride said. Special Kids plans to build a universal abilities playground and satellite offices at Oakley's Delta Family YMCA. Special-needs children will be able to access speech, occupational and physical therapy sessions and play with other kids in one convenient location. …" 95. "How Far Should Parents Go to Get the "Best" Public Education for Their Child with Autism?" dated 20 October 2008 by Lisa Jo Rudy from About.com at http://autism.about.com/b/2008/10/20/how-far-should-parents-go-to-get-the-best-public-education-for-their-child-with-autism.htm. "We tried hard to manage our son's experience in public school. But when push came to shove, the schools really couldn't provide a decent education for our child. At bottom, the reasons were fairly simple. Tom does poorly in a typical classroom setting, because he doesn't process language quickly enough to keep up with the group (and he tends to daydream while the teacher is talking at the front of the room!). Yet "special" classes designed for kids with autism provided little or no challenge in the way of academics. We pushed and shoved, asking for various changes to the program. We came to meetings armed with piles of paperwork, printouts from advocacy websites, and advice from consultants. We'd get good response in our parent/teacher meetings, but very little real action in the classroom. There were "scheduling" problems, "planning" limitations, and - I believe - lowered expectations that turned to self-fulfilling prophecies. For a long time I wondered whether we should have pushed and shoved even more, rather than pulling our child out to homeschool him. But I honestly believed (and still do believe) that there was nothing the schools would or could do to improve the situation significantly, for the long term. Unless the school was breaking the law (they weren't) or doing something truly inappropriate (they weren't) we felt ourselves to be more or less stuck. Other parents believe differently, and many are in the trenches - attending weekly meetings with highly-paid educational advocates, going to "due process," and even taking districts to court. In some cases, of course, kids are being truly abused or improperly educated. In other cases, though, it's tough for me to see exactly what the parents want for their children - or how the schools might provide a better public education given today's legal and budgetary restrictions. Meanwhile, as parents and districts battle, their children are living with the results of strained relationships and difficult situations. One teacher writes: …" 96. "JEAN FRAZIER, MD, appointed VICE Chair of PSYCHIATRY at UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial Medical Center- Expert in child psychopharmacology and child and adolescent neuropsychiatry also named to the Robert M. and Shirley S. Siff endowed chair to focus on autism" dated 20 October 2008 in a press release from the University of Massachusetts Medical School at http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Education_390/JEAN_FRAZIER_MD_appointed_VICE_Chair_of_PSYCHIATRY_at_UMass_Medical_School_and_UMass_Memorial_Medical_Center.shtml. "Jean A. Frazier, MD, an expert in child psychopharmacology and child and adolescent neuropsychiatry, has been appointed vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Medical Center. Frazier will also receive support from the Robert M. and Shirley S. Siff endowed chair to focus on autism, which help further her research collaborations with an interdisciplinary cadre of basic and clinical scientists throughout the Medical School and the nationally regarded UMass Shriver Center. Dr. Frazier will arrive in October. “Dr. Jean Frazier is not only a world-class clinical and translational researcher in child and adolescent mental illness, she is a caring clinician who puts patient care first and has demonstrated excellence in teaching and community partnerships,” said Douglas Ziedonis, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry. “She is an outstanding leader who will help the Department of Psychiatry achieve new heights in clinical and translational research, particularly in the areas of neuroimaging, genetics, and psychopharmacology. We are very fortunate to have Jean join our team.” Frazier joins UMMS and UMass Memorial from Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), where she was the Director of Child Psychopharmacology, Co-director of the Center for Child and Adolescent Development and Director of the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Research Program. Frazier received her medical degree at Dartmouth Medical School and served her residency in adult psychiatry at New England Medical Center. She completed a clinical fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Bradley Hospital, a major teaching hospital for Brown University. She also completed a research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health. Frazier, who is widely published and has received numerous honors for her work, has been appointed to several national committees and editorial boards. …" 97. "Autism group lobbies for more insurance coverage" dated 20 October 2008 by Isadora Lapowsky from the New York Daily News at http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2008/10/20/2008-10-20_autism_group_lobbies_for_more_insurance_.html. "At a time when an increasing number of states are requiring health insurers to pay for behavioral therapy for autism, the action group Autism Speaks is pushing for broader adoption of such coverage. The advocacy group reportedly is campaigning to have New Jersey, Virginia and Michigan enact laws guaranteeing coverage. If they do, they would join six states (Texas, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana) that have recently implemented the legislation. By the end of 2009, the group plans to push for similar action in at least 10 other states. J.P. Wieske, an insurance lobbyist, called the effort "the hottest trend in mandates we've seen in a long time. It is hard to fight them." In New York State, policies are prohibited from excluding coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of ASD, including autism. For many lawmakers, the personal experiences tied to the bills make it difficult to reject them. Parents tell about how well behavior therapy has worked for their children, giving certain bills nicknames like "Steven's Law" and "Ryan's Law." Lobbying for insurance coverage has now become one of Autism Speaks' top priorities. "It's the No. 1 thing we hear from parents," said Elizabeth Emken, the organization's vice president of government relations. "What's more difficult than knowing there's an effective treatment for your children, but you can't afford to offer it to them because it's not covered by insurance?" Researchers, however, say that therapy may only be really effective for young children. "You could make a decent case for the little kids of up to 6 or 7 that [insurance mandates] would be appropriate," said Tristram Smith of the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. Smith, who co-wrote a study on autistic children in 2000, said, "It would be hard to make that case for older kids." Despite opposition, Autism Speaks is continuing its drive with extra force in this election year. Recent economic bailout measures approved by Congress included a requirement that health insurance companies provide equal coverage, in general, for physical and mental health. Though that does not always include people with autism, Emken sees the law as a good sign. "We hope it sets the stage for the Congress and the next President to continue this effort to end discrimination in the health insurance marketplace," she said. "Whichever party is elected, autism will be on the table and be a major point of discussion. There may have to be a federal mandate." 98. "Hysteria serves no one" dated 20 October 2008 by Thurman Hart from The Star-Ledger at http://blog.nj.com/njv_thurman_hart/2008/10/hysteria_serves_no_one.html. "Godwin's Law says that you can tell who is losing an argument based on the first person to make a reference to Hitler and/or the Nazis. The basic premise is that increasingly desperate people will make increasingly desperate arguments that lead them further and further astray from the issue at hand. Once the facts no longer leave any room for a person to argue, they resort to distortions of character as a last-ditch effort to save their argument. If that's true, then Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk is guilty of fulfilling Godwin's law. Her comparison of immunizations with the Nuremburg Code and the despicable actions of Josef Mengele are a rhetorical bridge too far. It's too bad, really, because otherwise I might be inclined to advocate for her bill. At least, I would if it were reasonably limited. My opposition to mandatory immunizations is limited to the use of the flu vaccine in children as young as six months old. The problem is that it is, at best, a harmless vaccination that provides very little real protection. At worst, it makes children sick for no reason and builds a false sense of security that lets the flu go undetected longer than it otherwise might. The problem is that too many parents are falling into the trap of believing that vaccines cause autism. The logic is tenuous. Some vaccines used to contain trace amounts of mercury in the form of Thimerosal. Most vaccines removed the Thimerosal almost a decade ago, and yet the rumors persist. The problem can be summed up in the addage "correlation does not equal causation". People saw a dramatic increase in autism and thought, "What do these kids have in common?" Answer: Immunizations. While that was true, it is also true that these children also have such things in common as breathing various amounts of diesel soot in the air - yet no one jumped to that conclusion. The real reason for the spike is twofold. First, autism was moved to a spectrum disability. Prior to 1992, a person was either autistic or not. Now, it is possible to be "mildly autistic". Many of those who have such diagnoses now would simply not have been diagnosed with autism before 1992. …" 99. "Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report- Coverage & Access | Autism Advocates Push States To Require Insurers To Cover Autism Behavioral Therapy" dated 20 October 2008 in a press release from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=55084. "The advocacy group Autism Speaks in 2009 will target at least 10 states -- including New York, California and Ohio -- to push for legislation that would require health insurers to cover autistic behavioral therapy, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports. The group already has endorsed bills in New Jersey, Virginia and Michigan. Indiana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana already have approved such coverage mandates. Other states also have approved coverage mandates but are not working with Autism Speaks. Supporters of behavior therapy for autism say that it is supported by decades of research and that it will promote long-term savings by keeping afflicted children out of institutions. The therapy can cost up to $50,000 annually. The Council for Affordable Health Insurance, an industry lobbying group, estimates that autism coverage mandates will increase the cost of health insurance by less than 1%, but says that when combined with other requirements, the mandates would make coverage less affordable. America's Health Insurance Plans spokesperson Susan Pisano said that ordering coverage of a specific treatment can lead to problems because sometimes when new scientific information emerges, the mandates are frozen. According to the AP/Times, there also is an ongoing debate about whether behavioral therapy should be classified as a medical or educational treatment. The American Academy of Pediatrics includes behavioral therapy in its clinical report on autism but classifies it as an "educational intervention". 100. "Committee recommends separate department to deal with disabled" dated 20 October 2008 from NEWS TRACK India at http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/29688 and http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/committee-recommends-separate-department-to-deal-with-disabled_100109507.html. "There should be a separate department to deal with persons with disabilities, a parliamentary committee said in a report Monday while noting that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had not done enough for such people. The Estimates Committee of the Lok Sabha that studied programmes and schemes for Welfare of Persons with Disabilities came down heavily on the ministry for leaving "a wide gap between the policy and grassroot reality". In the final report, the committee said that it was "distressed that the National Trust (for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999) could not fully utilise the funds from 2001-02 to 2006-07" and was "astonished to note that the reason given by the ministry was the absence of NGOs working in the area". Talking about NGOs, the committee asked for appropriate legal action against the organisations that misuse the grants given by the ministry. The committee has recommended that the ministry devise a mechanism to associate Panchayati Raj institutions, local bodies, MLAs/MPs for the effective implementation of the National Policy for Persons with Disability, 2006. There is also emphasis to include people with other kinds of disabilities like thallassaemia, fluorosis, cochlear implant to be recognised among Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 1995, and mentally ill persons to be included in the National Trust Act. …" 101. "Denis Leary Defends Autism Comments" dated 20 October 2008 from The Post Chronicle at http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212180003.shtml. "Actor-turned-author Denis Leary has blasted the press for its coverage of his new lifestyle book, insisting comments he made about children with autism have been taken out of context. The Rescue Me star sparked outrage among activists for young autism sufferers when an excerpt from Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid was printed in a U.S. newspaper on Wednesday (15Oct08). In the book, Leary claims parents are using the brain development disorder as an excuse to explain their children's "laziness". According to the New York Post, in a chapter titled Autism Schmautism, he writes: "There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can't compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks... to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don't (care) what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer (sic) kid is Not autistic. He's just stupid. Or lazy. Or both." But Leary has hit back at his detractors, insisting the journalist has failed to read his book in full because he actually supports those suffering from autism. He says in a statement: "...If they have (read the book), they missed the sections I thought made my feelings about autism very clear: that I not only support the current rational approaches to the diagnoses and treatment of real autism but have witnessed it firsthand while watching very dear old friends raise a functioning autistic child." 102. "Spotlight on Autism- The mother of an autistic son reacts to John McCain's recent pledge to help families like hers. Was it just rhetoric?" dated 20 October 2008 by Claudia Kalb from Newsweek at http://www.newsweek.com/id/164790. "Autism, once unknown to most Americans, is now a media sensation, attracting the attention of celebrities and politicians alike. Last week, GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain shined a national spotlight on the brain development disorder while answering a question about his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, during the final presidential debate. Palin, whose son, Trig, has Down syndrome, "understands special-needs families," said McCain. "She understands that autism is on the rise, that we've got to find out what's causing it, and we've got to reach out to these families, and help them, and give them the help they need as they raise these very special needs children. She understands that better than almost any American that I know." But McCain's comments and his Palin pick have not been viewed positively by everyone in the autism community. His discussion of autism has even backfired among some parents who believe he is pandering for their vote. NEWSWEEK's Claudia Kalb talked to Kristina Chew, an assistant professor of classics at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, New Jersey. Chew writes a blog called AutsimVox. Her son, Charlie, 11, has autism. Excerpts: …" 103. "West Virginia's Tyler County Sheriff's Office Receives Funds From National Autism Association for Project Lifesaver Equipment" dated 20 October 2008 in a press release from the National Autism Association at http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/west-virginias-tyler-county-sheriffs,586048.shtml. "The National Autism Association (NAA) announced today that Tyler County, West Virginia, is the newest grant recipient of Project Lifesaver funding through NAA's FOUND Program. FOUND was developed by NAA to counter the rise in wandering-related deaths among children with autism. Project Lifesaver is a nationwide tracking program established to quickly locate and rescue missing persons with cognitive impairments and developmental disabilities. Counties were chosen by NAA based on need. "We learned that, due to a lack of funding, a few children residing in Tyler County were enrolled in an adjoining county's Project Lifesaver program," commented Lori McIlwain of NAA. "It's important that each county have its own tracking equipment since a quicker response time means everything to a missing child. We're pleased that Tyler County can now have its own equipment." Due to its 100% recovery rate, NAA hopes their FOUND Program will fund every county in the country. "More parents are calling us looking for ways to donate or hold their own fundraisers," said NAA Executive Director Rita Shreffler. "We hope to have at least ten more counties funded over the next six months." Fundraising tools were established by NAA for communities that wish to raise funds in their own counties for Project Lifesaver. "It can be something as simple as a spaghetti dinner, raffle, chili cook-off - there are a lot of small events that could potentially raise $5600 for the basic equipment needed to start the program in their county," stated NAA President Wendy Fournier. To download fundraising tools, visit www.nationalautismassociation.org/found.php. The FOUND Program relies heavily on donations. Donors have a choice to adopt an entire county or a partial county for any given amount by visiting www.nationalautism.org. To learn more about Project Lifesaver, visit www.projectlifesaver.org. Parents and caregivers can also find safety tips on NAA's site at www.nationalautismassociation.org/safetytoolkit." 104. "Project Lifesaver" dated 20 October 2008 by Karen Voyles from The Gainesville Sun at http://www.gainesville.com/article/20081020/NEWS/810200190/-1/MAGAZINE?Title=Project_Lifesaver. "The nation’s switch to all digital television in February means that some other changes need to be made, too, including a change for Project Lifesaver. Karen Voyles/The Gainesville Sun The Alachua County Sheriff's Office is among the agencies making a change to accommodate the nationwide transition to digital television, including replacing the Project Lifesaver units on the right with the device on the left to find area residents who may be unable to find their way home. Project Lifesaver is the nonprofit, international program used by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office to reunite families with those who may wander and not be able to find their way home, especially those with Alzheimer’s, autism and Down syndrome. Those enrolled in the program are outfitted with a bracelet or anklet containing a transmitter that emits a radio signal every second in the 215 MHz range. When someone wearing one of the devices is reported missing, the Sheriff’s Office is able to track the person by following the signal with a receiver tuned to the frequency of that person’s transmitter. Art Forgey, who coordinates the program for the Sheriff’s Office, said the devices must be converted to a 216 MHz range by mid-February to avoid interfering with digital TV transmissions. “This isn’t something that affects a lot of people, but it is one of those situations where one thing gets changed – the television stations go digital – and other things have to change, too,” Forgey said. Due to financial assistance from the Pilot Club of Gainesville, Forgey said the conversion to 216MHz transmitters is not expected to be a significant cost to participants’ families." 105. "More Autistic Students Integrating into Traditional Classrooms" dated 20 October 2008 by Elyse Miller from KESQ3 News at http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=9209372&nav=menu191_2. "An increasing amount of autistic students are leaving special education classes and integrating into mainstream classrooms. It's something that many schools here in the Valley are experiencing. Doctors are becoming more familiar with the signs of autism. Now, true cases of the disorder are on the rise. With this deeper understanding, many students are slowly moving out of specialized classes toward mainstream learning. "In the past we had children undiagnosed in general education, coping or diagnosed incorrectly without the support needed," says Palm Springs Unified Schools District's Autism Specialist Sally Talala. Entering into a traditional classroom isn't for every child with autism. Specialists say it takes a team approach to find out what is best for each individual. The assistance team is growing. Parents, schools and specialists work together to place each child in the right class for their specific needs. They take a look at social skills, communication and behavior, integrating those with more mild cases. "We have seen tremendous growth with children in general education if we are picking the right students," says Talala. Fifth grade teacher Kathy Ackley has seen many success stories when teaching autistic students. She says adapting to their needs is similar to adapting to a child struggling with reading or writing. "This is a wonderful opportunity to realize that we are all different we all have strength and we all have weaknesses," says Ackley. Ackley says with any student, the main goal is giving them the tools and attention to thrive. "The kids need to be successful in a classroom and need to be successful in our world," says Ackley." 106. "Autism groups warn of payout delays" dated 20 October 2008 from ABC News (Australia) at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/21/2396881.htm?section=australia. "Autism groups are concerned they will not have enough staff to help parents of autistic children access new federally-funded treatment programs. Autistic children under the age of six are eligible for $12,000 over two years for early intervention services and parents need to contact an adviser to access the funding. Autism Queensland chief executive Penny Beeston is warning parents there could be delays in accessing the programs. "Families need to be aware there's going to be a significant backlog initially," she said. "Advisory services around Australia in the first instance won't be able to cope with the initial backlog, because families haven't had access to this." Ms Beeston says parents will need to speak to an adviser first. "The autism adviser will be able to talk to them about the sorts of services that their child would be able to access and to provide the family with options," she said. "Then families can determine what services they want to buy into if you like. "They will need to choose from a range of approved providers." 107. "‘Doc’ Hollywood: Celebrity ‘experts’ need to know when to shut up" dated 20 October 2008 by Lauren Beckham Falcone from the Boston Herald at http://news.bostonherald.com/entertainment/lifestyle/view/2008_10_20_%E2%80%98Doc__Hollywood:_Celebrity_%E2%80%98experts__need_to_know_when_to_shut_up/srvc=home&position=6. "It’s cute, sometimes, when celebrities find a cause. George Clooney and the paparazzi. Madonna and kabbalah. Hayden Panettiere and the whales. But could the Tinseltown Brigade please leave their medical theories to actual scientists and stick to lunching at the Ivy or going to rehab? Case in point: our own Denis Leary, who shot to fame playing a ranting, chain-smoking grump on MTV. He’s taken on kids with autism and their parents in his new book “Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid.” Leary’s theory - when he’s not “rescuing” his career on FX - is that autism is nothing more than a made-up disorder to protect slothful mothers and fathers: “There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can’t compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don’t (care) what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - your kid is not autistic. He’s just stupid. Or lazy. Or both.” It’s doubtful the nearly 1.5 million children and adults in the United States living with autism appreciate his theory. When Leary took knocks in the press last week, he resorted to claiming his quotes were taken out of context. In fact, the chapter “Autism Shmautism” reveals even more of Leary’s ignorance about the disorder. His diatribe, which mirrors conservative talk show host Michael Savage’s comments in June, is not only untrue and unfunny, it’s dangerous. It piles blame on a group already holding too much baggage: parents. It allows for the misinformed “theory” that autism is simply behavioral and not a real cognitive disorder. Raising a child with a disability is challenging, but when a celebrity bully makes autism a punch line, the joke slithers into the ugliest side of the zeitgeist. “Is that man staring at my son because he understands? Or does he think my son is just a brat and it’s all my fault?” Speaking of brats, there’s Jenny McCarthy, the Playboy pinup who was last seen perching pantless on a toilet in ads for Candie’s sneakers. On the cover of this week’s Us Weekly - not exactly Scientific American - she’s announced that she’s cured her son’s autism by limiting his diet to wheat- and dairy-free foods. …" 108. "Mobile phone radiation fries sperm" dated 20 October 2008 by Tamara McLean from Consumer News (Australia) at http://www.consumernews.com.au/news/health/news/555/mobile-phone-radiation-fries-sperm/. "Men who talk for hours on their mobile phone could be jeopardising their chance of fathering a child, Australian research suggests. An experiment on semen has revealed evidence of DNA damage after 16 hours of exposure to radiation similar to the output of a mobile phone. The preliminary study, presented at a fertility conference in Brisbane today, is the first of its kind, and supports US research showing heavy mobile phone users have up to 40 per cent lower sperm counts than lighter users. Researchers at the University of Newcastle built a device to irradiate sperm at the same radio frequency as mobile telephone calls. Professor John Aitken, director of the university's Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, said they were able to accurately identify high levels of DNA fragmentation in the sperm. "After 16 hours exposure, there was clear evidence of DNA damage," Prof Aitken said. "This is a very early finding from our analysis, but it does raise concerns." DNA damage in spermatozoa has been associated with decreased fertility, increased risk of miscarriage and various kinds of disease in offspring, including childhood cancer, and a number of neurological disorders such as autism, bipolar disorder and spontaneous schizophrenia. In the study, damage was caused by oxidative stress, when the generation of free radicals exceeds the body's own anti-oxidant defence mechanisms. …" 109. "Why Couldn’t Autism be the Result of a Monkey Virus?" dated 21 October 2008 by Kent Heckenlively, Esq. from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/why-couldnt-aut.html#more. "Even when you’ve taken on a case as an attorney you keep investigating the claims of your client. Because there are few things worse than sitting across the table in arbitration when the other side makes an assertion you’ve never heard before. You start to sit back in your chair because you’re certain your client would’ve told you of such a fact, but then see your client starting to sweat. You call a recess, take your client outside to find out what’s going on, only to find a good deal of your case has now crumbled. It’s because I’ve had that happen a few times in my legal career that I continue to research the question of monkey viruses and autism, despite having spent many hours in conversation with Dr. Martin and various parents who are using his therapy with their children. It's a theory which keeps me scratching my head because it seems to come from so far out of left field. But you go where the evidence leads you. And the issue of monkey virus contamination of the vaccine supply is a controversy people besides Dr. Martin have been working on for years. The best written account of the contamination of the polio vaccine with monkey viruses is found in the book “The Virus and the Vaccine” by Debbie Bookchin, and Jim Schumacher. The book is based on an article they originally published in the Atlantic Monthly in 2000 and earned a selection in the Harper Collins book “Best Science Writing 2001.” I recommend the book to anyone interested in the controversy. According to the authors, between 1958 and 1963 (and possibly even until 2001), more than 98 million people received polio vaccines contaminated with a carcinogenic monkey vaccine, known as SV-40. (SV-40 stands for “simian virus #40”. That’s right, they’ discovered 39 previous monkey viruses in the vaccine before they got to #40.) …" 110. "Testosterone Not Increased in Autistic Children" dated 20 October 2008 by B. Martin from the Pathophila blog at http://bmartinmd.com/2008/10/testosterone-not-increased-in.html. "In their 2005 Medical Hypothesis article, which inspired their questionable 2006 Hormone Research study (background here), Mark and David Geier cited a 1997 French case series (really a letter to the editor by Tordjman et al in the American Journal of Psychiatry) to support their measurement of serum testosterone in children with autism. Geier and Geier wrote… In addition, Tordjman et al have reported on a case-series of 12 prepubertal autistic children (6-10 years old) in their inpatient child psychiatry department, four of whom the researchers observed to have precocious secondary sexual characteristics (growth of pubic hair, increase of testis volume) that suggest high androgenic activity in autistic disorders. What Tordjman et al actually did, on the basis of their observation of 4 autistic children with precocious secondary sexual characteristics in their practice, was to measure plasma testosterone and adrenal androgen (presumably DHEA or DHEA-S) in 9 pre- or postpubertal inpatients with autism and 62 matched control children. Because of the possible positive correlation between testosterone and aggression, the investigators divided the 9 autistic children into 3 groups according to their aggressive behaviors. Notably, they observed that autistic children who displayed aggression against others were less likely to demonstrate the typical core symptoms of autism (withdrawal, stereotypy, language dysfunction)—which suggests, perhaps, that these children may actually have an alternative behavioral disorder. Three of their 9 autistic subjects had abnormally high plasma testosterone levels (Table), given the study's matched reference values. These 3 children all showed aggression against others—meaning, according to the authors, they were less likely to demonstrate typical, core autistic symptoms. …" 111. "CVTC speaker shares thoughts on disabilities" dated 20 October 2008 by Cynthia Pegram from The News & Advance at http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/cvtc_speaker_shares_thoughts_on_disabilities/9615. "If you haven’t experienced disability from a family perspective, says Al Condeluci, wait awhile. You will. The experience might come with your own health or through an aging parent, uncle or aunt. Your perspective will change. For Condeluci, an author, teacher and human services professional, the experience that shaped his life began when he was a child and watched saw his cousin, Carol, cope with Down syndrome. Later, shortly after becoming a professional, he met David, a man with cerebral palsy. “Each of us has a story in our life that got us here, ” Condeluci said, speaking Monday at the two-day Fall Conference for human services professionals, sponsored by the Central Virginia Training Center. “When we look around and see someone being treated or mistreated,” he said, “you roll up your sleeves and jump in. There’s something in our core about injustice.” Condeluci, who holds a master’s in social work and a doctorate in education, is also CEO of a human services agency in Pittsburgh, Pa. As a child, Condeluci said he didn’t realize how devalued as a person his cousin was until he went to school, and she didn’t. As she got older and out in the community, people would make fun of her or play jokes on her, and she would cry. A self-described street kid, Condeluci learned that there was more than one way to fight — the other was through advocacy. “I knew I wanted to help people, like Carol, live full, useful lives.” Human services professionals go into the field to help, and not for the money, he said. Disabled people are often characterized as being unable to work, or in need of care or medicine. Some are made to believe they are being punished by God. He recalled recently hearing a woman whose son had been brain damaged in an accident. “I told (him) that if he continued to drink and drive, ‘God would get him.’” That is a centuries-old, still powerful notion that people struggle with, Condeluci said. Condeluci has lived in two group homes and didn’t like either — one was a college dormitory, and the other a barracks. “Group living is not fun, especially when you’re living with someone assigned to you,” he said. “This is not as good as it gets. It’s not what you want for yourself.” …" 112. "County budget erodes support for adults with severe disabilities" dated 20 October 2008 by MATTHEW DeFOUR from the Wisconsin State Journal at http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/310430. "Dane County continues to scale back funding for developmentally disabled people, angering some service providers and intensifying the debate about how the county's commitment to its most vulnerable citizens has changed over the years. "We're backpedaling. There's no question about it," said Richard Berling, executive director of Madison Area Rehabilitation Centers, which provides daytime services for adults with disabilities such as Down Syndrome or autism. Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Human Services Director Lynn Green maintain the county still has the best services for the developmentally disabled in the state, if not the country. The budget has increased from $60.1 million in 2000 to $76.5 million in 2007 — about a sixth of the total county budget. "We balance each year the dual goals of continuing to have (a higher) level of service than any other county in Wisconsin plus bringing on new clients to get service," Falk said. But as more clients enter the system, the dollars are being spread thin. On average, each adult client was allotted $49,196 in 2007 for housing, care, job assistance and other needs. Adjusted for inflation, the amount is down nearly $7,000 from seven years earlier. Less purchasing power means less staff care for each person and even, as parents such as Kathy Karklus of Madison fear, a greater risk of injury for the vulnerable population. …" 113. "County budget erodes support for adults with severe disabilities" dated 21 October 2008 by MATTHEW DeFOUR from the Wisconsin State Journal at http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local//index.php?ntid=310430. "Dane County's funding for developmentally disabled people is being spread thinner, angering some service providers and intensifying the debate about how the county's commitment to its most vulnerable citizens has changed over the years. "We're backpedaling. There's no question about it," said Richard Berling, executive director of Madison Area Rehabilitation Centers, which provides daytime services for adults with disabilities such as Down syndrome or autism. Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Human Services Director Lynn Green maintain that the county still has the best services for the developmentally disabled in the state, if not the country. The county budget has increased from $60.1 million spent in 2000 to $77.9 million proposed for 2009 — about a sixth of the budget. "We balance each year the dual goals of continuing to have (a higher) level of service than any other county in Wisconsin plus bringing on new clients to get service," Falk said. But as more clients enter the system, the dollars are being spread thinner, with $76.5 million spent in 2007, the last year for which complete spending is available. On average, each adult client was allotted $49,196 in 2007 for housing, care, job assistance and other needs. Adjusted for inflation, the amount is down nearly $7,000 from seven years earlier. Less purchasing power means less staff care for each person and even, as parents such as Kathy Karklus, of Madison, fear, a greater risk of injury for the vulnerable population. …" 114. "Olmsted on Autism: AAP, Feds Swap Cash. Why?" dated 21 October 2008 by Dan Olmsted from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/olmsted-of-auti.html#more. "Each year, the American Academy of Pediatrics gets several million dollars from the federal government. And each year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gets a very similar amount from the AAP. Weird. I learned this factoid from Mary Webster, the eagle-eyed BFF of AOA (see, you don’t have to be a government agency or trade group to toss initials around!). She learned it from going through the AAP’s 990 forms, as they’re called -- the tax filings it makes each year. On the 2006 return, the latest available, “The federal government's grant of nearly $5,000,000 (million) constituted 5.7% of the AAP's gross income,” Mary says. “But, you'll see on page 19 of the PDF that the AAP allocated $4,817,130 to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. Is this something like the even exchange of gift cards at Christmas. ..?” Well, search me! Or better yet, search for yourself HERE. The forms are listed from 1998 to 2006. On the 2006 form, the government’s contribution to the AAP is right near the top, under 1d of Part 1: Government contributions (grants) not included on line 1a: $4,866,716. The AAP money going to HHS is listed on Schedule 3, Line 22, Schedule of Grants and Allocations (trust me, it’s not hard to find or I couldn’t have found it, even with Mary’s eagle eye). If you go back through the 990s, the same pattern is evident -- the government giveth to the AAP, the AAP giveth to the government, and the amounts are pretty darn close as they spiral upward (or, since 2004, decline). Here is the year, the amount the government gave the AAP, the amount the AAP gave HHS, and the net difference accruing to one or the other -- in all but one year, to the AAP: …" 115. "Talking on mobile 'can damage your sperm'" dated 21 October 2008 from the Daily News and Analysis (Australia ) at http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1199907 and http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/$all/4B271BEE7259F191652574E900424B5B. "Men, beware! Talking for hours on the mobile can jeopardise your chance of fathering a child, for a new study has revealed that cell phone radiation damages sperm in males. An international team, led by researchers at Newcastle University, has based its findings on an experiment on semen which revealed clear evidence of DNA damage after 16 hours of exposure to radiation similar to the output of a mobile phone. In fact, they built a device to irradiate sperm at the same radio frequency as mobile calls for their study. Lead researcher Prof John Aitken said they were able to accurately identify high levels of DNA fragmentation in the sperm. "After 16 hours exposure, there was clear evidence of DNA damage. This is a very early finding from our analysis, but it does raise concerns." DNA damage in spermatozoa has been associated with decreased fertility, increased risk of miscarriage and various kinds of disease in offspring, including childhood cancer, and a number of neurological disorders such as autism, bipolar disorder and spontaneous schizophrenia. In the study, damage was caused by oxidative stress -- when the generation of free radicals exceeds the body's own anti-oxidant defence mechanisms, the 'news.com.au' reported. Prof Aitken said it was well known that sperm DNA fragmentation was predominantly triggered by oxidative stress which may arise from infection, smoking or older age, but there had been little research about the link with mobiles. "We also suspect components of acne treatment may give rise to potential free radical effects, but we've yet to find a dermatologist willing to participate in such a study," he was quoted as saying. The team said if oxidative stress caused DNA damage to sperm, anti-oxidant treatments might provide a cure." 116. "Long talks on mobile phones can fry up men's fertility" dated 21 October 2008 from Australian News at http://www.australiannews.net/story/420889 and http://news.smashits.com/308049/Long-talks-on-mobile-phones-can-fry-up-men-39s-fertility.htm. "Men should stay miles away from mobile phones if they don't want to screw up their plans of fathering a child, for a new research has shown that males who talk for hours on cellphones may damage their sperm. An experiment on semen revealed evidence of DNA damage after 16 hours of exposure to radiation similar to the output of a mobile phone. To reach the conclusion, researchers at the University of Newcastle built a device to irradiate sperm at the same radio frequency as mobile telephone calls. Professor John Aitken, director of the university's Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, said they were able to accurately identify high levels of DNA fragmentation in the sperm. "After 16 hours exposure, there was clear evidence of DNA damage," News.com.au quoted Prof Aitken, as saying. "This is a very early finding from our analysis, but it does raise concerns," the expert added. DNA damage in spermatozoa has been associated with decreased fertility, increased risk of miscarriage and various kinds of disease in offspring, including childhood cancer, and a number of neurological disorders such as autism, bipolar disorder and spontaneous schizophrenia. In the study, damage was caused by oxidative stress - when the generation of free radicals exceeds the body's own anti-oxidant defence mechanisms. Prof Aitken said it was well known that sperm DNA fragmentation was predominantly triggered by oxidative stress which may arise from infection, smoking or older age, but there had been little research about the link with mobile phones. Unsaturated fatty acids in foods such as margarine were also known to trigger free radicals and potential oxidative stress, he said." 117. "Eco homes: How to have a healthier home" dated 21 October 2008 by Sarah Lonsdale from the Telegraph (UK) at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2008/10/21/phealthy121.xml. "Young Billy Tommey has suffered sleep problems for all of his 12 years. Billy, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, has slept at best fitfully for a decade, regularly getting only a few hours' sleep each night. But this all changed five weeks ago, when the Tommeys bought an organic wool mattress for their son. The quality of his sleep is much improved. Billy seems calmer and more restored in the mornings and his gradual improvement in health and behaviour is being greatly helped. Before using the new mattress, his father Jonathan, a sports scientist who retrained as a clinical nutritionist in an attempt to help his son, asked for a hair analysis which showed that Billy was being exposed to high levels of antimony, a chemical element used in treating fabrics with flame retardant. It is restricted under EU directives aimed at controlling harmful substances and is suspected of causing digestive problems as well as affecting lung and liver function. "While we were struggling to keep Billy's diet organic and additive-free, we were exposing him to harmful substances in his home, particularly the toxic chemicals manufacturers put in mattresses," says Jonathan. "We ripped up his carpet, replaced his sheets with organic cotton ones and bought him a new wool mattress. From the very first night, his sleep improved dramatically." …" 118. "New Report Analyzes How Children Fare in Candidates' Health Care Plans" dated 21 October 2008 in a press release from Frist Focus at http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/new-report-analyzes-how-children-fare-in-candidates-health-care-plans,588476.shtml and http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/new-report-analyzes-how-children/story.aspx?guid=%7B634F1794-9E27-4256-B2C9-864B415496C8%7D&dist=hppr and http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-21-2008/0004908362&EDATE= and lots more. "A report (http://www.firstfocus.net/pages/3519/ ) released today has detailed how children are treated in the health care plans of the presidential candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. The analysis identifies both opportunities and concerns with the policy changes outlined by both presidential candidates, with an eye toward whether the plans would ensure access to comprehensive and affordable health care for every American child. The report takes into consideration the unique health care needs of children when analyzing the impacts of tax credits, purchasing private insurance across state lines, covering children through a mandate, and how public programs interact with private sector coverage. The report concludes the following regarding Senator McCain's plan: …" 119. "Bubbleologist teaches kids lessons about life" dated 21 October 2008 from KOAA News at http://www.koaa.com/aaaaaa_education_news/x1949200909/Bubbleologist-teaches-kids-lessons-about-life. "When you think bubbles, you think kids. Big kid Geoff Akins is making a life out of blowing bubbles. He performs over 300 "BubbleWonder" shows a year. "I call myself a bubbleologist, but you don't go to school for it. It's the school of life and practicing for hours in my bathroom -- good, clean fun," he said. Akins began his career in bubbles after an encounter in a special education class with a boy afflicted with autism. "For my own amusement, I found a jar of bubbles and started playing with them. This boy stopped what he was doing, sat down in front of me for the first and only time the whole summer," Akins recalled. On a recent day, he performed for the second graders at W. J. Murphy School in Round Lake, Ill. The kids had some ideas on how he does his signature trick, creating a white, square bubble. "He would put paint in the bubble," one kid surmised. "He uses a magic wand," and "He uses a paper towel and then makes a square" were other guesses. Akins said he goes beyond just blowing bubbles by taking the opportunity to teach kids lessons about life, telling them that anything is possible with determination and perseverance -- even square bubbles. "If you know you can do it, try it and keep on trying," second-grader Branden Gonka said." 120. "UMassOnline Graduate Behavioral Intervention in Autism Program Gains National Distinction with Sloan Consortium Annual Award" dated 21 October 2008 in a press release from the University of Massachusetts at http://www.pr-inside.com/umassonline-graduate-behavioral-intervention-r872486.htm and http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/umassonline-graduate-behavioral-intervention-in,587853.shtml and http://www.prweb.com/releases/umass_lowell/shriver_center/prweb1504474.htm and lots more. "UMassOnline Chief Executive Officer David Gray announced today that the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C), an institutional and professional leadership organization dedicated to integrating online education into the mainstream of higher education, has selected UMass Lowell's Online Graduate Behavioral Intervention in Autism Program for its annual award in the category of 'Most Outstanding Online Teaching and Learning Program' in the nation. This innovative online program, introduced in the Fall of 2005 and designed to better prepare families and professionals to respond to challenges presented by the growing population of children diagnosed with autism and related disorders, was collaboratively developed by UMass Lowell, the UMass Medical School-EK Shriver Center, and UMassOnline. "This national award distinction from Sloan-C, which has been supporting outstanding online learning implementations and research since 1992," said Mr. Gray, "is a tribute to the University of Massachusetts' unique ability to draw upon its broad-based, system-wide resources for the collaborative development of a much needed and very timely online program. The program draws its strength through combining our institution's tremendous academic expertise, the latest in scientific and medical knowledge, and our proven online technology development and adaptation for distance learning." In designating the UMass Lowell Online Graduate Behavioral Intervention in Autism Program for this tribute, making it one of only twelve online excellence and effectiveness award recipients this year, Sloan-C wrote that the distinction was being awarded "For creating a rigorous, high-quality online graduate program that meets the growing need for individuals with expertise in dealing with the challenges of autism." As confirmed by the Autism Society of America, in February 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued their ADDME autism prevalence report. The report, which looked at a sample of 8 year olds in 2000 and 2002, concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 150 American children, and almost 1 in 94 boys. …" 121. "Video: Libraries and Autism: We're Connected" dated 21 October 2008 in a press release from the Scotch Plains Public Library (NJ) and the Fanwood Memorial Library (NJ) at http://sev.prnewswire.com/education/20081021/NY4037621102008-1.html. "The Scotch Plains Public Library (NJ) and the Fanwood Memorial Library (NJ) produced a customer service training video to help library staff serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively. The video focuses on what you need to know about autism spectrum disorder and empowers the viewer with specific techniques to offer more inclusive and comprehensive customer service when interacting with this growing and underserved population. Nationally, autism affects one in every 150 individuals, and in New Jersey, as many as one in ninety-four. To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/librariesandautism/35436. The video was created by the two libraries as a part of the "Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community and Their Families" incubator project, which was made possible by a contract with Infolink: The Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative. The Cooperative and its services are funded by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network. This was one of six successful projects funded to meet the strategic need for libraries to provide services in proactive and creative ways to children and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. "We commend Infolink for choosing this important health topic for its pilot program," said Norma Blake, New Jersey State Librarian. "The project exemplifies the best work that libraries can do to help people -- to be a valuable resource for parents and families, making their lives easier and better" …" 122. "Autism Support Network Launches, Offers Free Online Support Community" dated 21 October 2008 in a press release from the Autism Support Network at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1502434.htm. "Autism Support Network today announced the launch of its free online support community available at www.AutismSupportNetwork.com. The online service -- rapidly growing with already thousands of members around the world -- connects families and individuals touched by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with each other, provides support and insight, and acts as a resource guide for treatments, strategies and therapies. Key features of the community include matching those members seeking similar support with one another, the ability to create appointments virtually or in actual locations between members, community groups for open sharing of information, user blogs, chat and capabilities for members to host and share personal photos and documents. The Autism Support Network also includes resource listings across the United States, Canada, England and India. "Parents frequently feel paralyzed and isolated when they discover their child has autism. Those adults who have autism themselves also frequently find it difficult to engage socially with others for support," said Brian Field, co-founder of Autism Support Network. "Whether you're a parent whose child has autism, a medical practitioner or someone with autism, our global community was created to facilitate an exchange of ideas, help and interactive discussion. Those dealing with ASD needn't have to 're-invent the wheel' -- they can find others here that have likely experienced what they're going through and can help provide personal guidance." Today 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism, with a new case diagnosed every 20 minutes and is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States today. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Males are four times more likely to have autism than females." 123. "Rainman character central to pleasant RockKwiz spin-off" dated 21 October 2008 by Dianne Butler from the Courier Mail (Australia) at http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24530343-5003422,00.html. "DO YOU remember a couple of weeks ago Spicks and Specks did a behind-the-scenes episode? Hopefully you don't, hopefully you have a small amount of protective amnesia, it's very helpful the way the brain does that for you after a traumatic incident, which in this case was the threat of seeing Adam Hills's scrotum appearing unannounced out of the side of his underwear. You turn on a music game show, you have every right to expect to see one. At least RocKwiz has had the manners not to use their regular Saturday night timeslot to run their backstage spin-off, Rainman Goes to RocKwiz. Instead it's the Inside Australia documentary tonight. Probably none of you have ever watched this series, because documentaries about bearded Tasmanian men who make their own knives or clinically depressed raspberry growers frighten and disturb you, but you're diddling yourself out of one of the more rewarding experiences television has to offer. There's nothing terribly glossy about it – take tonight's, for instance, it's just a sweet little story about a lonely guy and his RocKwiz audition. It probably cost about $27.50 to make, but there are laughs, sadness, shopping, a cliffhanger . . . everything you need. Mark, the rainman of the title, is a 39-year-old student in Sydney. He's on his fifth TAFE course, and it's one of his teachers and the teacher's partner who actually made this. Mark was born blind but now has 20 per cent sight after a series of operations when he was little. He's also got a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome, and has never had a paying job, and has always just felt like an outcast. He talks in this about how he dreams of having a friend, it'll kill you. But Mark has this amazing memory, and since his specialty is music from the late '70s through to about the late '80s, Russell Kilbey the TAFE guy and his girlfriend Amy Scully decide to try and get him on RocKwiz. They'll appreciate his talent, and it'll give Mark a bit of a confidence boost. …" 124. "Shire's Rainman ready to shine tonight" dated 21 October 2008 by Dianne Butler from The Leader (Australia) at http://stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/entertainment/shires-rainman-ready-to-shine-tonight/1339473.aspx, "SUTHERLAND music trivia buff Mark Boerebach will appear on SBS twice this week in two separate programs that will test and document his knowledge. Mr Boerebach's uncanny ability to remember music statistics is a result of Asperger's syndrome, an autism disorder that affects how the brain processes information. The condition was made famous in the Dustin Hoffman movie, Rainman. After The Leader told the story of Mr Boerebach's trouble finding work last year, Gymea TAFE music teacher and documentary maker Russell Kilbey and his partner, Amy Scully, met with him. They later encouraged him to enter the SBS music trivia show, RocKwiz. Mr Kilbey and Ms Scully captured Mr Boerebach's journey to Melbourne to audition for, and subsequently appear on the show, in the documentary Rainman Goes to Rockwiz. The documentary will be aired on SBS tomorrow night at 8pm. Rockwiz, featuring Mr Boerebach, will air on SBS on Saturday night at 9.20pm." 125. "Bug Bombs Outlawed in New York State for Causing Illness and Explosions - Be Careful About Spraying Any Chemical in Your Home" dated 21 October 2008 from Injury Board.com at http://cherryhill.injuryboard.com/defective-and-dangerous-products/bug-bombs-outlawed-in-new-york-state-for-causing-illness-and-explosions.aspx?googleid=249736. "The state of New York has decided to make “bug bombs” unavailable for public store purchase after a federal report revealed that misusing the indoor foggers can cause illness as well as devastating explosions. Last week, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis said that the agency will begin classifying the foggers “restricted-use” when their pesticide registrations come up for periodic review in the next few months. Under the new law, only certified pesticide applicators will be able to obtain the indoor foggers in New York State. One can’t help but conjure up images of disgruntled New Yorkers smuggling bug bombs in their cars across the New Jersey border. Don't do it, guys! They were banned for a good reason. Last week’s report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited 466 fogger-based illnesses and/or injuries in eight states, including 123 in New York, between 2001 and 2006. About 80 percent of the illnesses were minor (included coughs, burning eyes, and headaches) and required no medical treatment, but 18 percent were moderate (nausea, vomiting, cramping, shortness of breath) and required medical attention, and 2 percent were severe. 21 people had to be hospitalized for a day or more, and a baby died the night after her apartment was fogged. While many of the cases were attributable to people not following the directions on foggers and either using too many at a time or not leaving the room after igniting them, some occurred when foggers were set off in apartment buildings and the pesticides were circulated to other residents through the ventilation systems. Perhaps more shocking, foggers can also cause explosions when their pesticide clouds are ignited by pilot lights in stoves and water heaters. Bug bombs have been blamed for between four and eight apartment explosions in New York City over the past few years. In January, bug bombs blew off the roof of one Texas resident’s house. Though the CDC recommended instating warning campaigns about bug bomb safety rather than publicly banning their use, New York City's health commissioner, Dr. Thomas Frieden, praised the DEC for the ban, citing New Yorkers’ health as paramount. On a tangential note, recent studies have linked pyrethrins, the pesticides that the foggers release, to the development of autism in unborn children. …" 126. "Parents' forum to fight for services" dated 21 October 2008 by Dan Webber from the Telegraph and Argus (UK) at http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/3778397.Parents__forum_to_fight_for_services/=. "Parents of the district’s “forgotten” children are to come together to fight for improved services. Plans for the first of six new schools for special educational needs (SEN) children to be built by 2010 have been given the green light. But Councillor Carol Beardmore, who sits on the Council’s Young People and Education Improvement Committee, said parents of special needs children set to attend the schools had not been given chance to have their say during the design process. Coun Beardmore, who has an adult daughter with Down’s Syndrome, said parents were struggling to make their voices heard. In response, a parents’ forum dedicated to supporting parents of SEN youngsters will be launched at City Hall, Bradford, on Monday, November 24, at 6.30pm. Parents of SEN children in Bradford have had no official mouthpiece since the Parents Link, a group dedicated to supporting their needs, closed in March, 2006, due to a lack of funding. Coun Beardmore said: “Parents of SEN children in Bradford have been completely forgotten. Parents of SEN children in Bradford need support. “Parents were not consulted on the special school reorganisation at all. I wrote a White Paper saying we have to do something about this and the Council has agreed. “If parents have any issues or concerns about their child’s education or special school reorganisation they need to come along to the forum and raise them.” Coun Beardmore said many parents had specific knowledge of their children’s needs which planners and schools should have been made aware of. …" 127. "Psychologist avoids prison" dated 21 October 2008 by CATHY MORRIS from The Courier (Australia) at http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/psychologist-avoids-prison/1339752.aspx. "A FORMER Ballarat Health Services psychologist was yesterday spared an immediate jail sentence for indecently assaulting a teenage girl he was counselling. Nicholas Didenkowski, 32, treated the 17-year-old girl at the Queen Elizabeth Centre between November, 2007, and January, 2008, for an eating disorder and self-esteem issues. During that time he touched a scar on the girl's chest during one session to entice a memory of a car accident. On another occasion during a discussion about the girl's weight he placed a hand on her stomach before moving it beneath her underwear to her pelvic bone. The Ballarat Magistrates Court heard the teenager now had trouble trusting men and continued to have dreams related to the offending. Magistrate Peter Couzens yesterday said the girl had been vulnerable and struggling to cope. "Both she and her parents placed their trust in you and by your actions you have breached that trust," he said. Didenkowski had specialised in working with children and adolescents. Mr Couzens said he had received references for Didenkowski from parents of children with aspergers syndrome and autism. …" 128. "Mapping the neurone-behaviour link in Rett syndrome" dated 21 October 2008 in a press release from the Baylor College of Medicine at http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=08102128. "A link between certain behaviours and the lack of the protein associated with Rett syndrome - a devastating autism spectrum disorder - demonstrates the importance of MeCP2 (the protein) and reveals never-before recognised functions associated with aggression and obesity, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in a report in the current issue of the journal Neuron. 'This protein is critical for the proper function of majority of neurones,' said Dr Huda Y. Zoghbi, a BCM professor of paediatrics, neurology, neuroscience, molecular and human genetics and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator who is senior author on the paper. Zoghbi and her laboratory discovered the Rett gene. Rett syndrome affects between 1 in 10,000 females who express a wide variety of symptoms, most of them neurological. 'Observe a girl with Rett syndrome and you will see that she has most of the neurological symptoms you are familiar with,' Zoghbi said. 'There are movement problems, balance problems, tremor, seizures, autism, learning and memory problems, anxiety and even more.' Girls with Rett syndrome lack MeCP2 (found on the X chromosome) in as many as 50 percent of their neurones. The severity and breadth of symptoms they experience depend on the percentage of neurones that lack the protein. To determine which neurones affects which behaviours, Zoghbi and her colleagues engineered mice to lack MeCP2 in small populations of neurones in the hypothalamus, a command centre of the brain that controls several physiological states. When they eliminated the MeCP2 protein from one specific group of neurones in the hypothalamus, the animals showed one feature of Rett syndrome: increased levels of a stress hormone in response to stress. The animals also became aggressive when they were put into a novel situation. 'That meant that the few neurones that lacked MeCP2 govern this behaviour,' she said. 'It also suggested that we need this protein to temper the response of our neurones so we behave appropriately when we experience a new social setting.' People with autism frequently get frustrated in novel situations, she said. A colleague in Germany reported seeing aggression in patients with milder Rett syndrome. …" 129. "MP supporting autism sufferers" dated 21 October 2008 by Raeanne Nightingale from the Gazette & Herald (UK) at http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/3777275.MP_supporting_autism_sufferers. "An MP has pledged to help autistic residents by backing a draft Private Members’ Bill, launched by The National Autistic Society (NAS). With 40% of adults with autism living at home with their parents and over 60% relying on them financially, South Swindon representative Anne Snelgrove feels the new policy would give sufferers the support needed to become more independent. She said: “Autism is much more common than most people think and it is crucial that there is appropriate support at a local level. "This important bill has the potential to make a real difference to people living with autism in my constituency and provides me with a unique opportunity to take action.” NAS Chief Executive, Mark Lever, added: “We are delighted to have the support of Anne and strongly urge other MPs to follow her lead; the right support at the right time could transform thousands of lives. "It is simply unacceptable that individuals and families continue to struggle to get the help they so desperately need from health and social care agencies.” The Autism Bill aims to compel local authorities and NHS bodies to recognise and fulfil their responsibilities towards people with autism. Measures proposed include improving local information on the number of people with autism, providing effective support from child to adult services, appropriate staff training, and the promotion of appropriate packages of support to enable independent living for people with the disability. Pledge your support for the bill at www.autism.org.uk/autismbill." 130. "More school places for children with autism" dated 21 October 2008 by Tony Collins from the Birmingham Mail (UK) at http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/10/21/more-school-places-for-children-with-autism-97319-22080560. "A RADICAL shake-up of special needs provision in Birmingham could lead to more school places for pupils with autism to reflect an increase in the numbers of children with the condition. That is one of the likely outcomes following an 18-month consultation involving parents and staff into the future of special schools and other special education provision for vulnerable children throughout the city over the next decade. An initial report based on how to “build on and sustain best practice” in special provision is to go before tomorrow’s education scrutiny committee before heading for full cabinet on December 15. But, although detailed discussions with each of Birmingham’s 28 special schools are still to be carried out, a draft list of proposals which the Birmingham Mail published in January last year, appear to have been taken off the table. Those draft suggestions alarmed teachers and parents alike over fears of reduced pupil numbers and even school closures. Chairman of the city’s education scrutiny committee, Coun Jon Hunt, said: “I am hoping the final report bears no relation to the draft. As far as I am concerned, this has been an exercise from scratch on a blank piece of paper.” The report said “increasing numbers” of pupils with autism and behavioural difficulties are being identified within the city, with 1,700 children now having autistic spectrum disorder. …" 131. "Criminal charges won't be filed in near-drowning- Boy's family agrees with decision, while taking preliminary steps toward civil suit" dated 21 October 2008 by Anita Burke from the Mail Tribune at http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081021/NEWS/810210315. "The Jackson County District Attorney's Office has determined no criminal charges will be filed in the case of a 6-year-old Central Point boy who strayed from a special education class at Jacksonville Elementary School and was found, unconscious and not breathing, in a nearby irrigation ditch. District Attorney Mark Huddleston completed his review of police reports on the Oct. 7 accident involving Luke Baehne and announced his findings Monday. Separately, on Monday an attorney representing the boy's family sent out tort claim notices and notices of legal representation, necessary steps in any future civil suit. Medford attorney Michael Kellington said that the Baehne family, who remain at Luke's bedside at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, agreed that criminal charges weren't warranted. "Our position is that somebody is at fault," he said. Kellington sent notices of legal representation to Jacksonville Elementary and its principal, Rick Snyder, and to the Southern Oregon Education Service District, which operated the special education class Luke attended. Those legal notices preserve a plaintiff's right to sue and more could be forthcoming as details come out about who is responsible for the safety of the pupils, the school grounds and the irrigation canal, Kellington said. He also sent tort claim notices, a legal requirement before a civil suit can be filed against a municipality, to the cities of Medford and Jacksonville. The ESD has completed an internal investigation that found employees followed protocol and weren't negligent in the incident. That report has been forwarded to the district's insurer without being made public. …" 132. "URS expands opportunities as group marks 50 years" dated 21 October 2008 by CALEB SHEAFFER from The Standard~Speaker at http://www.standardspeaker.com/articles/2008/10/21/news/hz_standspeak.20081021.a.pg5.hz21_cvurs50yrs_s1.2017694_loc.txt. "For 20 years, Brian Applegate has worked for United Rehabilitation Services at the Hazleton location. He does various tasks, but his favorite job is when he goes into the community as part of the URS custodial staff. If it wasn’t for the nonprofit corporation, Applegate probably wouldn’t work because of his mental disability. Instead he would be at home with his mother in MacAdoo, struggling to find a job. “I love working here. I love the money and the people. I love helping these guys out,” said the 36-year-old Applegate excitedly during his lunch break at URS in Hazleton. Applegate also volunteers as the president of URS’s Aktion Club, an organization that does community service projects with the Hazleton Kiwanis Club. People like Applegate have benefited the most from URS during its 50 years in northeastern Pennsylvania. Through URS, people with disabilities, whether mental or physical, become a functioning part of society through employment and attend social events in the community. In May of this year, URS marked its 50-year anniversary and celebrated it with a dinner and dance at the East Mountain Inn and Suites in Plains Township on Oct. 4. URS formed in Wilkes-Barre in 1958, following United Way recommendations that employment opportunities and lives of those with disabilities needed to be improved. Since then, URS has assisted people with a variety of disabilities, including mental retardation, autism, mental illness, traumatic brain injuries, blindness, and hearing and speech problems. The goal of the organization is to find employment for people with disabilities, whether at one of three URS facilities in Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre and Tunkhannock or in the community. When the organization started in 1958, URS assisted only six clients, said Joe Pierangeli, chief executive officer of URS. Today, URS provides services to 500 clients daily, with 100 of those working in the community. People going through the URS programs become bank tellers, nurse aides, dishwashers, or food preparation and custodial workers. “If the person with a disability gets a job, we take people off the welfare rolls, and they become a taxpayer,” Pierangeli said. …" 133. "Missing Gerwyn turns up safe" dated 21 October 2008 from News Wales (UK) at http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Community&F=1&id=15430. "Missing 15-year-old Merthyr Tydfil boy Gerwyn Morgan has been found in apparent good health in London, say police. His disappearance caused particular concern because he has autism and needs medication. South Wales Police set up a voicemail service for people to pass on information about Gerwyn. And they thanked media support during the search, which included reports of sightings at a Bristol railway station. "We are very relieved that Gerwyn has been found this afternoon in the London area and appears to be in good health," said South Wales Police Chief Inspector Ian Bellshaw." 134. "Missing Asperger's boy found safe" dated 21 October 2008 from BBC News (UK) at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7682794.stm. "A teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome who went missing nearly a month ago has been found safe and well in London. The search for Gerwyn Morgan, 15, of Merthyr Tydfil, had led South Wales Police to set up a voicemail service for people to pass on information. There was particular concern because Gerwyn, who disappeared on 24 September, needs to take medication. Police thanked media support during the search, which included reports of sightings at a Bristol railway station. Police said their inquiries in to the teenager's disappearance were continuing. South Wales Police Chief Inspector Ian Bellshaw said: "We are very relieved that Gerwyn has been found this afternoon in the London area and appears to be in good health. "I want to thank the public and the media for their help and co-operation in trying to find him over the last four weeks. "We believe the media appeals in the south of England over the last few days have been instrumental in finding him." A poster campaign was launched in the Merthyr area as part of the search, and a youth worker said Gerwyn's classmates at Pen Y Dre school had become concerned for him. The last confirmed sighting of Gerwyn was the day after he went missing, when he was caught on CCTV in Merthyr town centre. Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism." 135. "Palin advocates for autistic children, unable to give plan specifics" dated 21 October 2008 from KVBC3 News at http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9216823&nav=15MV. "Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says autism is an issue "near and dear" to her heart and she can't wait to get to work helping more than 5,000 Nevada families affected by it. However, when pressed, she was unable to provide details on a plan to do that. "We want to give every child a chance," Palin told a reporter for the NBC affiliate in Reno, Shelby Sheehan, in an exclusive interview during a campaign stop on Tuesday. Palin's running mate John McCain said in the third and final presidential debate, "We must find out the cause of autism and help those families dealing with autism." McCain also promised to freeze all unnecessary spending in the federal budget. Palin says it's possible to do both. "It is a smart thing for John McCain to say we will have a federal freeze on spending except for those things that are vital for government," she said. "There are a lot of wasteful expenditures in the federal (government)," Palin said. "Let's get rid of those and put them into strengthening NCIH (National Council for International Health) and these other areas where we can help our kids with autism." Palin did not name any specific expenditure she wanted to cut in favor of funding for autism research or services, nor did she name what specific programs she'd like to fund in order to help those families. Palin has a nephew stricken with autism and a son with Down's syndrome. She often tells crowds she will be an advocate for disabled children in Washington. …" 136. "Parents home-school to avoid vaccinations" dated 21 October 2008 by Chris Joyner from USA TODAY at http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-21-home-school-vaccinate_N.htm. "Debra Barnes has a thriving chiropractic practice, a nice home and a family who loves living in the South, but she said she would leave Mississippi in a heartbeat if health officials tried to force her home-schooled children to be immunized. Barnes is part of a network of parents whose decision to home-school their children rests on their belief that mandated vaccinations for public and private schoolchildren are a dangerous overreach by state governments. While the mainstream scientific community maintains that childhood vaccines are safe, Barnes relies on the work of some scientists who argue that immunizations can bring on autism or weaken the natural immunities of children. "If you want to vaccinate your children, go ahead. But don't force me to vaccinate my children. These children are entrusted to us," she says. Some public health officials are concerned that the growing popularity of home schooling has created gaps in the vaccination safety net, leading to outbreaks of rare childhood diseases. In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported measles cases had spiked; 131 cases were reported nationwide for the first seven months of the year, compared with an average of 63 cases per year since 2000. Of the infected, 91% were unvaccinated, most because of "philosophical or religious beliefs," the CDC said. Home-schooled children accounted for 25 out of 30 cases in an outbreak of measles in suburban Chicago in May, according to the CDC. In Grant County in Washington, public health officials tied 11 of 19 measles cases to unvaccinated home-schooled children. Lance Rodewald, director of the CDC's Immunization Services Division, says the measles outbreaks show a problem with state policies allowing home-schooled children to escape vaccines. …" 137. "Is There A Dog-tor In The House?- A dog welfare charity is calling on GPs to prescribe the benefits of dog ownership to their patients" dated 21 October 2008 from SKY News (UK) at http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Dogs-Charity-Says-A-Canine-Pet-Can-Improve-Their-Owners-Health/Article/200810315125402?lpos=UK_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15125402_Dogs_Charity_Says_A_Canine_Pet_Can_Improve_Their_Owners_Health. "The Dogs Trust says it can prove that dogs are good for their owners' health. The charity compiled independent academic research from around the world to highlight nine areas in owning or which interacting with a dog can improve people's wellbeing. The trust launched the Canine Charter for Human Health to detail the benefits for doctors. Trust chief executive, Clarissa Baldwin, said: "Dogs Trust has always promoted the benefits of owning a dog, but it is clear to see that there is also strong academic support to show that there are serious health benefits as well. "Many dog owners are already aware of many of the benefits their dogs bring, but we want to take the message out further to the wider population." The charity will be distributing copies of the charter to GPs, counsellors and therapists for them to explain or display to the public. Channel 4's Dr Christian Jessen said: "I would ask that all GPs be aware of the importance of animals in promoting human health and happiness and call on them to proactively inform their patients of the diverse ways in which dogs can improve our lives." In a supporting survey of 1,000 UK individuals, 80% of dog owners and 61% of non-dog owners agreed a daily dose of dog can help reduce stress or blood pressure. About 95% of dog owners and 88% of non-dog owners believe that owning a dog increases the amount of exercise that you do. The Dogs Trust will be delivering a copy of the charter Health Secretary Alan Johnson and asking for his support in the promotion of the health benefits of owning a dog." 138. "Real 'Rain Man' speaks in Richmond" dated 21 October 2008 from In Rich at http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-21-0161.html. "The man known as the real "Rain Man" reminded a group of Virginia educators why they work with special education students. "You don't have to be handicapped to be different. Everybody's different," Kim Peek said this morning. Until he was 37, Peek was diagnosed as severely mentally retarded. He never attended a regular school and doctors had recommended that his parents place him in an institution. But he'd been reading and processing information since a young age. In the mid-1980s, he met screenwriter Barry Morrow, who based his character of Raymond Babbit in the Academy Award-winning "Rain Man" on Peek. Kim Peek and his father, Fran, spoke today at the Virginia Department of Education's Training and Technical Assistance Center at VCU conference on Topics in Autism. Fran Peek told more than 200 teachers and administrators that every human being has potential. With guidance and encouragement, can become productive members of the community. "This belies the myth that people don't change," said Fran Peek." 139. "Project Aims to Bridge Neuroscience and Schools" dated 21 October 2008 by Christina Samuels from Education Week at http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/10/08/07neuro_ep.h28.html?tmp=851665118. "When children with ADHD tackle a simple task—pressing a button when a green spaceship appears on a screen, but holding back when a red spaceship pops up—their brains react differently from those of their peers without the condition. Using imaging technology that can probe the deepest workings of the brain, researchers have found that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are using less of a certain part of their brains to hold back their itchy trigger fingers, compared with typically developing children performing the same task. The hypothesis scientists are testing is that the regions of the brain that control voluntary action function less effectively in children with ADHD. If those children are calling on other parts of their brains to compensate, the effort may leave less room for tasks like planning and organizing. That information was shared here recently with teachers as part of a Johns Hopkins University initiative aimed at forging direct and practical connections between neuroscience and schools, while avoiding the kind of overreaching that has sometimes strained the credibility of such efforts in the past. “These are kids for whom the very basic things don’t run on autopilot,” Dr. Martha Bridge Denckla, a neurology professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told the audience. “They may have to use all of their organization just to get their handwriting to stay on a line.” Dr. Denckla’s remarks at the Sept. 25 seminar here focused on “executive function”—the brain’s system for initiating, inhibiting, planning, and organizing activities—and its often-talked-about, and misunderstood, role in cognitive development. Mariale M. Hardiman, the assistant dean of urban school partnerships at Johns Hopkins’ education school and a co-director of its new Neuro-Education Initiative, said teachers are eager for the kind of information about brain development dispensed at the event. …" 140. "Dealing with autism- Learning center helps families adapt" dated 21 October 2008 by Samantha Hurst from the Shelby County Reporter at http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/news/2008/oct/21/dealing-autism. "Brooke McGill’s class at the Linda Nolen Learning Center can get boisterous when everyone’s in a foul mood — some students dash for doors, throw snacks in the floor or slap their hands on tables. On days like these, McGill celebrates the small steps her students make. “If we can get their behavior under control, it’s a lot easier to help them learn,” McGill said. “Picking up a spoon to feed themselves for the first time is such a huge accomplishment. Any small improvement I see is all worth it.” McGill teaches an elementary class of severely autistic students at the LNLC. Just last year, the number of students diagnosed with autism in Shelby County rose from 186 to 212. In the last five years, the prevalence of the disorder increased by 421 percent in the county. “Five years ago, we didn’t know what we know now,” said special education coordinator Dr. Marla Aldrich. “Before, we were placing kids inappropriately, but now we’ve gotten much better at recognizing the signs. Most autistic students have been integrated into general education classrooms, sometimes receiving one or two hours of personal instruction. About 50 must be placed in self-contained classrooms with just four or five other students. Conner Owens, 13, is one of those students. He doesn’t speak a word at school, but he’s not exactly the quietest kid in class. “My son sometimes communicates by throwing temper tantrums,” said Nancy Owens. “I just wish people in the community didn’t assume my child is bad or that I’m doing something wrong because of the way he behaves.” Conner, who is non-verbal, was diagnosed with autism when he was three. About a decade ago, his parents sought out better programming for him. “We specifically moved to Shelby County nine years ago because they have the center and such excellent resources for these children,” Owens said. Principal Michelle Shepherd said she gets calls from all over the country about LNLC’s programs. She believes that is because everything is specialized. “We go out to observe school classrooms when they recommend a child,” Shepherd said. “We only serve severe cases here because we want to make sure we give kids what they need in their regular classrooms.” …" 141. "Palin opposes tax to help developmentally disabled" dated 21 October 2008 by 9News.com at http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=102301&catid=188. "Republican Vice Presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) is speaking against a Colorado ballot initiative designed to help the state's developmentally disabled population by raising the sales tax. Palin made the comments Monday in Colorado against Amendment 51 which seeks to raise the sales tax by one cent on every $10 spent in each of the next two years. The money would go to help the roughly 12,000 kids and adults in Colorado who currently are on a wait list to receive state services such as home nursing care and job training. They suffer from autism, Down syndrome and mental retardation. Palin's son has Down syndrome and she has campaigned as an advocate for special needs families. "There's got to be an alternative to raising taxes," Palin said, while answering a question submitted by former Colorado First Lady Frances Owens, who describes herself as a "fiscal conservative," a supporter of the McCain-Palin ticket and as one of the spokespeople in favor of Amendment 51. "It's a matter of prioritizing the dollars that are already there in government. What I did as governor in Alaska is prioritize for a great increase in funding for students with special needs up there and I think Colorado can do that also. "It doesn't necessarily mean increasing taxes to meet those needs. It's all a matter of prioritization," said Palin. Supporters of the amendment have said there is no "extra money" sitting around state government to help people who deserve it. Owens says compassionate conservatives should support helping people with developmental disabilities because it's a moral issue as much as it is a fiscal one. "If they cannot get services that will help them get into the workforce then they are relegated to staying at home and they will never prosper in their own lives," said Owens in an interview the day after Palin spoke. "So, I think it's more of a human rights issue that we're just trying to help people that can't always help themselves." A group called End Colorado's Wait List is promoting the measure (http://endcoloradowaitlist.org/). There is no organized opposition to Amendment 51 although Colorado critics have articulated the point Palin made; that there has to be money available in state government to divert toward those with developmental disabilities." 142. "Non-credit online College course covers teaching students with autism" dated 21 October 2008 from The Douglas Daily Dispatch at http://www.douglasdispatch.com/articles/2008/10/21/news/doc48fe4ccd4edb2105647361.txt. "A course to provide teachers with effective strategies for teaching students with high-functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome is now available online through the Cochise College Center for Lifelong Learning. Teaching Students with Autism: Strategies for Success will help teachers to better understand autistic students, turn challenges into opportunities, and enjoy the rich perspective they bring to the classroom. The non-credit course is provided by Education To Go, which leads hundreds of short-term, online classes and certifications on topics ranging from computers and languages to healthcare and teaching. Through well-crafted lessons, expert online instruction, and interaction with fellow students, participants study at their own pace and have the structure and support to complete the course. New sessions begin each month. Each course lasts six weeks, with two new lessons released weekly. Courses are entirely web-based, with comprehensive lessons, quizzes, and assignments. A professional instructor facilitates every course, pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions. Search and register for Teaching Students with Autism and other courses at www.ed2go.com/cochise or call the Center for Lifelong Learning at (520) 515-5492." 143. "Autism Center Opens in Scotch Plains" dated 21 October 2008 by Rene Koenig from My Central Jersey.com at http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20081021/GETPUBLISHED/810210322. "SEARCH Consulting, LLC located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey is an independent organization working with children and their families living with autism and related disorders. Each day families come from near and far to our center for desperately needed services. Within a natural environment, our comprehensive ABA program teaches language, social interaction and behavior development. SEARCH takes great pride in the number of children we have helped progress. Typically, our program begins in the home with vital family involvement, and when ready, children are transitioned to group and school settings. The staff at SEARCH can shadow your child at school as well as in after school activities, so they may grow in all aspects of childhood. Carrie Magaletta Kahana established SEARCH, LLC in 2005. Carrie worked in special education teaching children with autism for 6 years before starting her own organization. Carrie witnessed great success with her students but saw the difficulties they had making the transition from home to school and the community. Beginning with one student and one employee, SEARCH has grown in both staff and students as we continue to help children with autism build their futures one piece at a time. Carrie and her staff are devoted to her students and their families. Carrie is an articulate speaker who has extensive experience speaking about autism spectrum disorders and is an excellent candidate to talk to the media. She can be reached at 908-490-0100." 144. "Should we want to cure autism?" dated 22 October 2008 by Cassandra Jardine from the Telegraph (UK) at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2008/10/22/ftautism122.xml. "Autism might have kept a low profile in the United States, if it hadn't affected Bob Wright's grandson, Christian. The chief executive of NBC Universal - the American television and film company - is not the kind of alpha male to take a problem in the family lying down. He's used to shaking trees, kicking ass, making things happen - and that is exactly what he has done in the five years following his grandson's regression into autism. Christian was doing just fine, he and his wife, Suzanne, tell me in between meetings at Downing Street and the House of Commons. "He was talking, he had met all his milestones and he was becoming potty trained. Then, shortly after his second birthday, he started to regress." Soon they no longer had a grandchild whom they could imagine becoming a world-beater like Wright himself, but a crisis. "The doctor told us it was normal to regress when a new sibling arrives," he says, evidently still furious. "We lost nine months." Once Christian was finally diagnosed, they were horrified to discover that they didn't know what to do next. "I had nowhere to go for advice," says Suzanne, "and Bob was running NBC so we thought we were well informed." When they discovered that one child in 100 is autistic they were even more enraged. "If a cancer struck one in 100," he continues, "that wouldn't be allowed." Wright set about raising awareness. Boy has he done so. In the three and a half years since he started the charity, Autism Speaks (whose British sister charity is chaired by Dame Stephanie Shirley), he has not just spoken but yelled. The contacts he acquired during 20 years as vice-chairman of General Electric, one of the world's biggest corporations and parent company of NBC, have been pressed into service. "We don't just know people," says his wife. "We don't take 'No' for an answer." …" 145. "Aside From Foregoing Medical Treatments, Sick Americans Now Cutting Back On Prescription Drugs" dated 22 October 2008 from AHN at http://www.gantdaily.com/news/35/ARTICLE/34336/2008-10-22.html. "The pill popping days of Americans will soon be over, another victim of the economic crisis. After a number of cancer patients in the U.S. have reported cutting back on medical treatments due to soaring costs, the next item in line for cost cutting are prescription drugs. Dr. James King, chairman of the American Academy of Family Physicians confirmed seeing patients who no longer buy Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, due to its high cost. "People are choosing among gas, meals and medication," King told the New York Times. Pfizer, which man manufactures Lipitor, confirmed the dip in the sale of the world's top-selling prescription drug in the U.S. by 13 percent for the third quarter of 2008. IMS Health, a research company that monitors prescriptions, added that for the first eight months of the year, number of all prescriptions filled out in the U.S. went down compared to last year. Physicians say that safety concerns over some popular medication and the shift of some prescription drug to over-the-counter sales have affected drug sales, but the major factor behind the decrease in sales is consumer belt-tightening. The plummeting prescription fill outs was the first time in a decade. According to IMS Health, from 1997 to 2007, prescriptions filled jumped 72 percent to 3.8 billion in 2007. On an individual level, the average number of prescription filled went up to 12.6 in 2007 from 8.9 in 1997. The drop in number of filled up prescription drugs has alarmed the medical community because it will not only affect the bottom lines of pharmaceutical firms, but more importantly may pose a health threat to patients who need regular medication to control a chronic medical condition or heal an ailment. Those who cut down on prescriptions either skip some days off or cut the tablet into half. Meanwhile, while a growing number of sick Americans are managing astronomical drug store bills by cutting down on medicine intake, some parents are avoiding mandated school immunizations by home-schooling their children. There is already a network of U.S. parents who prefer the home schooling method for fear that immunizations, forced in some schools, leads to autism or weakens the nature immunities of children. These parents would not hesitate to leave their county or state if forced by local government authorities to have their home-schooled kids vaccinated." 146. "It's raining political mud all over Ohio" dated 22 October 2008 in an editorial from The Plain Dealer at http://blog.cleveland.com/pdopinion/2008/10/its_raining_political_mud_all.html. "In the war waged for rule of Ohio's 99-member House of Representatives, November's tally will depend on the voters. But thanks to campaign crud, deciding how to vote, which used to be like leafing through Consumer Reports, is now more like spending a day in Jerry Springer's studio audience. Ohio House Republicans, for example, have accused Democrats of defending strip clubs (that is, the First Amendment) or supporting adoptions by gay people (legal in Ohio since 1990, thanks to a decision by a Republican-run Ohio Supreme Court). Democrats have returned fire, assailing Republicans for being "against" autistic children. Translation: The Republican-run House hasn't acted on a bill to forbid health insurers from excluding autism coverage. According to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, one estimate puts the "potential cost per [autistic] child . . . at $50,000 per year." Great as an autistic child's needs are, state insurance-benefit mandates drive up premiums. Democrats don't remind voters that Gov. Ted Strickland vetoed a GOP-backed Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program that would have offered school-choice vouchers to parents of K-12 special-needs pupils. Similarly, a Democratic mailing mocks Lake County Republican Rep. …" 147. "Autistic expression through art" dated 22 October 2008 by Jennifer Fong from The Edmonton Journal (Canada) at http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=9cea5a62-7eae-4f93-942c-52ef01f4487c. "Yvette Prefontaine thinks in pictures. "When something is unplanned, I see an empty frame," she says. The 27-year-old has autism and has trouble communicating. Understanding directions, for example, is a challenge. Prefontaine must be shown what to do, rather than told. But art is one thing that makes complete sense to her. "It's creative, a way to express oneself," she says. Art allows her to focus, and "understand where you're going." While not everybody with autism is automatically an excellent artist, most people with the disorder do tend to be very visual, says Deborah Barrett of the Autism Society of Edmonton Area. "It's a way they communicate something they might not be able to express in another way," says Barrett. The society celebrated the works of about a dozen autistic artists last week at its first Art of Autism fundraiser. Prefontaine, who had three pieces in the show, is highly articulate, a quality she and her family credit to art. She started drawing as a form of expressive therapy at age 10, even before she had been diagnosed with autism. "Yvette was quite quiet," mother Rose Prefontaine says. "When she was younger, it was very hard for her to talk to anybody outside of the family." School teachers always assumed she was just a shy girl, rather than linking her communication impairments to autism. …" 148. "Autism task force meets" dated 22 October 2008 by Nancy Huddleston from the Savage Pacer at http://www.savagepacer.com/news/activities/autism-task-force-meets-9121. "Parents and caregivers of individuals who have autism are invited to testify about the issues they face, including the availability and effectiveness of services, treatment and therapy. During the 2008 Legislative Session the Minnesota Senate passed a Senate Resolution which led to the creation of the Minnesota Autism Task Force made up of individuals designated by both the Senate and the governor. Parents and other caregivers of children on the autism spectrum are invited to attend the first public forum scheduled for Nov. 13 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 123 of the State Capitol Building in St. Paul. To provide input in advance, or for those who cannot attend, parents and caregivers are urged to contact the Autism Task Force directly at AutismTaskForce@senate.mn." 149. "Palin advocates for autistic children, unable to give plan specifics" dated 22 October 2008 from KVBC3 News at http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9216823&nav=15MUCBSd. "Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says autism is an issue "near and dear" to her heart and she can't wait to get to work helping more than 5,000 Nevada families affected by it. However, when pressed, she was unable to provide details on a plan to do that. "We want to give every child a chance," Palin told a reporter for the NBC affiliate in Reno, Shelby Sheehan, in an exclusive interview during a campaign stop on Tuesday. Palin's running mate John McCain said in the third and final presidential debate, "We must find out the cause of autism and help those families dealing with autism." McCain also promised to freeze all unnecessary spending in the federal budget. Palin says it's possible to do both. "It is a smart thing for John McCain to say we will have a federal freeze on spending except for those things that are vital for government," she said. "There are a lot of wasteful expenditures in the federal (government)," Palin said. "Let's get rid of those and put them into strengthening NIH (National Institutes of Health) and these other areas where we can help our kids with autism." Palin did not name any specific expenditure she wanted to cut in favor of funding for autism research or services, nor did she name what specific programs she'd like to fund in order to help those families. Palin has a nephew stricken with autism and a son with Down's syndrome. She often tells crowds she will be an advocate for disabled children in Washington. …" 150. "Time to give ill health the needle" dated 22 October 2008 by KAREN HAMBRIDGE from the Coventry Telegraph (UK) at http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/lifestyle-news/your-life/2008/10/22/time-to-give-ill-health-the-needle-92746-22092123. "NOBODY likes needles, but there are times when braving them is vital for our health. We normally associate early childhood with a busy immunisation schedule. But increasingly jabs are being given later in life to ward off health ills too. Feature writer KAREN HAMBRIDGE reports. VACCINATIONS are part and parcel of our modern lives. Ever since Edward Jenner came up with the smallpox vaccine in 1796 medical science has looked for ways to protect us against some of the world's most perilous diseases. Over the years vaccines have also been developed for chicken-pox, polio, rubella, measles, mumps and typhoid. We take these vaccines for granted and because they are so effective the fear once associated with crippling or fatal diseases like polio or typhoid is now a distant memory. John Forde, consultant in public health medicine for NHS Coventry, said: "The World Health Organisation quotes after clean water and sanitation, immunisation and vaccination has been one of the biggest single improvements to impact on the health of the world's population. "We do tend to take them for granted now and in some regards they have been so successful former fatal or debilitating diseases have now been almost totally eradicated. "How many children do we see today in callipers because of polio? Yet I remember not so long ago, when I was at school in the early 60s there were still kids in callipers and more than likely it was because of that disease." He added: "Thanks to childhood vaccination programmes and vaccines given later in life most people should be up-to-date with their immunity. "But sometimes vaccinations can be missed so if anyone is concerned they should see their GP who should be able to check patient records." …" 151. "Luke Baehne Fund organizer faces unrelated charges of theft and fraud- Gold Hill woman pleads not guilty to crimes, has history of legal problems" dated 22 October 2008 by Anita Burke from the Oregon Mail Tribune at http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081022/NEWS/810220328. "A Gold Hill woman who has spearheaded efforts to raise money for the family of a Central Point boy who nearly drowned in an irrigation ditch was arraigned Tuesday on fraud and identity theft charges unrelated to her fundraising efforts. In Jackson County Circuit Court Tuesday, Brenda R. Kessler, 29, pleaded not guilty to two counts each of identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. The charges stem from a Medford police investigation into a report about two instances of unauthorized use of a credit card last spring, court records indicate. Kessler said Tuesday she will fight to prove her innocence and she hopes her legal problems won't deter people from donating to the Luke Baehne Fund she helped set up at Washington Mutual. Bank officials confirmed the account exists, but couldn't provide additional details about it, such as who can access the money. Kessler said only Luke's parents, Phillip and Crystal Baehne, can tap from the account, although anyone can make deposits. As the mother of a child with epilepsy, Kessler said she felt compelled to help the Baehnes after Luke, who has autism, strayed from a special education classroom at Jacksonville Elementary School and fell in a nearby irrigation ditch. Kessler said she and her family collected $277 for the Baehnes at Ray's Food Place in Jacksonville over the weekend, but since the criminal charges she faces have come to light, she is scaling back such events. In addition to the charges she now faces, she pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree forgery in 2006, although a charge of attempted first-degree theft in the same case was dismissed as part of a plea deal. Charges of negotiating a bad check and second-degree theft filed in a case investigated by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department were dismissed in June. Kessler currently faces two open small-claims cases in Jackson County Circuit Court and has a string of civil suits, including money actions and evictions, dating back to 1999." 152. "Measles risk for Sussex" dated 22 October 2008 by Siobhan Ryan from The Argus (UK) at http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/3780544.Measles_risk_for_Sussex. "measles epidemic is poised to sweep the county, with the first recorded outbreak in a decade. Doctors have warned that 13,000 unvaccinated children are at risk in Brighton and Hove alone. So far this year there have been nine reported cases, the first to originate in the city for ten years. Three of those cases have left sufferers in hospital. Although there have been occasional measles cases in recent years, they have been isolated. Those infected have normally been abroad and returned with the infection. The city’s director of public health Dr Tom Scanlon said the increase was a wake-up call and there could be a mini-epidemic if people do not get the protection they need. Many parents decided not to vaccinate their children after research linked the vaccine with autism. If the take-up rate does not improve, the chances of the highly infectious disease returning and spreading will increase, Dr Scanlon said. It is believed almost 6,000 under-19s in the city have no protection from measles. A further 7,000 are only partially protected because they missed their second dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab. Dr Scanlon said: “It is shocking that, after many years, we’re once again seeing cases of measles in the city. The number of children and young people catching measles is rising locally and nationally because of low levels of uptake of the MMR vaccine in recent years. “For children aged two this fell to 66% in Brighton and Hove in 2003. “It is now going up slowly – the latest uptake figure for two-year-olds having their first vaccine is 78.4% – but the more children there are without protection, the more rapidly measles will spread. “I urge parents whose children missed one or both of their routine MMR jabs to have them vaccinated now. There have been so few cases of measles around that people have forgotten just how serious it can be. “People can become very ill with it. This is not about scaring people. It is about stating what the situation is at the moment and telling people to take up the offer of a vaccination that is effective and available.” The World Health Organisation suggests at least 95% of a local population should be vaccinated against measles to prevent an outbreak. MMR rates dropped sharply after research published in The Lancet in 1998 suggested a link between MMR and autism, a claim which has since been largely discounted by health experts, who insist the vaccine is safe. …" 153. "Special-ed students mourn loss of canine classmate- Abby, a golden retriever who for 12 years was both companion and calming presence for dozens of Shoreline students, is being remembered by students and faculty at three different schools." dated 22 October 2008 by Lynn Thompson from the Times Snohomish County Reporter at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008295457_abby22m.html. "Abby wasn't a trained, certified therapy dog. But her owner, special-education teacher Therese Russell, had a hunch the golden retriever would add a calming presence to her classroom in the Shoreline School District. For 12 years, Abby went to school with Russell, wore her own district I.D. badge, went down the slide at recess with her classmates and walked them to their buses in the afternoon. Abby, who died Oct. 10 of cancer, is being remembered by the teachers who sneaked her treats, the administrators who protected her from the district's no-animal policy and the families whose children she comforted and entertained. "She could be calm when she needed to be. She could be jovial when someone needed a pickup. There was something almost human in the way she could assess a situation," said Tamara Tikalsky, a parent at Brookside Elementary School in Lake Forest Park, the last of three Shoreline elementary schools where Abby and Russell worked. Russell's fifth- and sixth-grade classroom includes children with autism, Asperger's syndrome and emotional and behavioral issues. If a student was upset, Abby would go to his or her side, Russell said. Reluctant readers could stretch out beside her with a book and the dog would listen. She never fell asleep or wandered off. Russell's students have their own favorite memories. Abby's birthday each year involved presents the dog would open herself, often a crown, and cake and ice cream that she shared with the class. …" 154. "Flu shots are urged for all" dated 22 October 2008 by DEBORAH L. SHELTON and BRUCE JAPSEN from the CHICAGO TRIBUNE at http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081022/FEATURES08/810220335/1025/FEATURES. "With influenza season upon us, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for the first time that all children, not just the very young, be vaccinated. School-age children are most likely to get infected with flu and to spread it, recent studies have found. The new recommendation is part of a broader effort to achieve universal vaccination against the flu, meaning that everyone who can get vaccinated does so. Also this season, vaccine manufacturers are distributing a record number of shots with no thimerosal, a preservative that contains mercury. Some parents believe thimerosal is linked to autism, though science has not found a connection. …" 155. "101 ensures right to buy health care" dated 22 October 2008 by ROBERT ROBB from The Arizona Republic at http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/opinion/100245.php. "Proposition 101 stands for a simple and commendable principle: People should have the right to use their own money to purchase the health care they want. How the proposition would affect Arizona's health care system now and in the future isn't quite so simple. The proposition is intended to preclude the imposition of a government health care plan that would mandate that everyone participate and forbid the purchase of health care outside the plan. It is also intended to preclude government mandates that individuals purchase health insurance or that employers provide health insurance or pay a fine. These are not idle concerns. In 2006, Massachusetts passed a plan with both individual and employer mandates. Vermont adopted an employer mandate that same year. New Jersey has adopted a requirement that all children be insured. California is considering a Massachusetts-styled proposal. In Arizona, House Democratic Leader Phil Lopes has been touting a proposal in which a government commission would establish a standard benefit plan for the state and set reimbursement rates for health care facilities and practitioners. Private insurance would be forbidden for services covered by the government plan. The opposition to Prop. 101 is claiming that it could dramatically increase costs for the state's Medicaid plan, which is based on restricting choices regarding health care providers. That's nonsense. Proposition 101 confers a constitutional right on individuals to purchase health care services and coverage directly. It confers no rights on individuals with respect to health care purchased for them by others, either the government or employers. If individuals decide to enroll in the state's Medicaid plan, they have to abide by the rules of that plan. Proposition 101 doesn't change that at all. …" 156. "Parents push for protection: Board told to address autism specialist doubts" dated 22 October 2008 by Lisa Chamoff from The Stamford Advocate at http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_10782178. "Parents claiming an autism defrauded the school district confronted the superintendent and Board of Education Tuesday night at its regular meeting. The parents have said that Stacy Lore, owner of Carmel, N.Y.-based Spectrum Kids, was not certified as a behavior analyst as she had claimedand had charged the district for several therapy sessions that never took place. Margaret Bustell, whose son, Henry, worked with Spectrum Kids, asked the board to put the issue on the agenda for its next meeting and asked that the district release all documents related to the case. Corda addressed the issue at the start of the meeting, before parents spoke. He said the district has been taking the parents' allegations seriously. Parents brought the issue to the district's attention in August. They filed Freedom of Information requests with the district to get billing information tied to their children's therapy sessions, along with evidence that the district had checked Lore's credentials and documentation of those credentials. The district provided the billing records, and Corda said it is gathering more information. "I do want the community to understand that when issues arise that are serious, we take them very seriously," Corda said. State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal met with a parent representing those affected last week, and he is investigating. Bustell, whose husband and daughter also addressed the board, held up a picture of her son, who has autism. "This is the face of the child that was harmed by this fake therapist," Bustell said. "With the proper therapy from a certified behavior analyst, my son might be speaking today, but he's not. We can never get that time back." Ken Roberts, a neighbor of the Bustells, said the allegations were troublesome. "My question as a parent is who else is falling through the cracks?" Roberts said. He said he understood there were constraints on what can be said about the case, but the perception was the school board was not pursuing it. "Protecting our children starts before they set foot on school grounds," Roberts said. "It starts with background checks." Christine Ratcliff, chief operating officer of the Florida-based Behavior Analyst Certification Board, confirmed earlier this month that Lore does not hold certification from the organization. She said it is the only organization in the country that certifies behavior analysts. …" 157. "Program helps autistic students discover the joys of recess" dated 22 October 2008 by Pat Kossan from the Gannett News Service at http://www.stargazette.com/article/20081022/LIFE06/810220317. "It was Katy Donmoyer's habit to spend recess alone, circling the perimeter of her Scottsdale, Ariz., elementary school playground. Her sister, Leah, hovered silently near groups of playing children, who ignored her. Recently, however, the 9-year-old twins were taking turns jumping rope with classmates in the middle of Copper Ridge Elementary School's crowded and chaotic playground. To behavioral scientists, the change is more evidence that their new strategy to help autistic children fit into recess is working. To the twins' mother, it is hope that her daughters will have a social life despite a disorder that makes it difficult for them to understand the give and take of conversation, play and making friends. More schools across the country are training teachers and adding teaching assistants so more autistic children can learn in a regular classroom. But Copper Ridge is among the first to find ways for these children to successfully fit into the often-intimidating social mix of recess. In January, the school became an incubator for a new kind of recess in which students teach their autistic classmates about the joys of the playground. And the autistic children teach them a little compassion. The program being refined on the playground could help create a blueprint for schools across the nation. It has already attracted the attention of Scottsdale parents, who increasingly seek to enroll their autistic children in the school. Parents want to ensure their autistic children do not end up like many: isolated by their peers, bullied and, as they get older, depressed. …" 158. "Communing with the spirits" dated 22 October 2008 by LISA GRAY from the Houston Chronicle at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/6071174.html. "John Alexander, a painter who once cut a wide swath through Houston, was back in town last week, promoting a new vodka with one of his famous friends. Dan Aykroyd, signing posters and DVDs in a hotel bar, tells how he met Alexander in the late '70s: "Johnny," he says, "stole my girlfriend." Aykroyd, one of the original Saturday Night Live cast members, had been dating Rosie Shuster, a writer for the show. But she fell for Alexander, who'd just moved from Houston. "Rosie was a great woman," says Alexander glumly. (Their divorce was painful.) "Is," he corrects himself. "Is a great woman. She's still alive." "But where is she today?" responds Aykroyd. "I don't know. She's gone." Shuster seems to have dropped off the face of the Earth. The Writer's Guild refers callers to her lawyer, Linda Lichter. Lichter's office, though, has no way to reach Shuster and can't say what she's doing now. "She just shows up here sometimes," says the secretary. "We've both lost her now," says Alexander. "But we still have each other," says Aykroyd. As always, his face is straight and his voice remains somehow flat. You suspect that he's joking. But you're not entirely sure. A few years ago, Aykroyd told interviewer Terry Gross that he has Asperger's syndrome. Asperger's, a mild form of autism, can include intense preoccupations with narrow subjects, idiosyncratic use of language and a strange-seeming distance from human emotions. For Aykroyd, the condition isn't disabling — just part of his personality and comedy. …" 159. "Autistic teen found after police tip off" dated 22 October 2008 from Wales Online (UK) at http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/10/22/autistic-teen-found-after-police-tip-off-91466-22088254. "AN autistic schoolboy missing for almost a month has been found, police said last night. Gerwyn Morgan, 15, disappeared from his home in Merthyr Tydfil on September 24 without any money or spare clothes. The teenager, who has Asperger’s syndrome, is due to be reunited with his family after being found in Essex. Speaking yesterday his step-father Mike Curtis, 57, said: “It’s been four weeks so obviously we’re very happy and relieved he’s been found. With his disability, and the fact he’s not street wise at all, I did start to think the worst. “We had confirmation from the police in England at around 2pm that he’s been found in Basildon. They had a tip-off this afternoon that he was going to meet someone, and they turned up and saw it was him. “We don’t know if he’s going to be brought home today or if the police are going to keep him there for a debrief and bring him home tomorrow. They probably will keep him there to find out what it is he’s been doing for the past month.” Chief Inspector Ian Bellshaw, of South Wales Police, who has been involved in the search, said: “We are very relieved that Gerwyn has been found this afternoon and appears to be in good health. “I want to thank the public and the media for their help and cooperation in trying to find him over the past four weeks.” 160. "October Surprise: Autism Linked to Abortion" dated 22 October 2008 by Brent Rooney in a press release from the Christian Newswire at http://www.earnedmedia.org/broon1022.htm. "In the 15 October 2008 McCain/Obama debate AUTISM was mentioned at the beginning and at the end of the debate. Dr. Getahun (Darios.T.Getahun@kp.org) and colleagues have identified stressors for risks to newborns such as infection ('chorioamnionitis'), fetal distress, premature birth etc.[1] [URL: http://apha.confex.com/apha/136am/techprogram/paper_185396.htm ] One stressor listed by Getahun is a prior induced abortion. Three times as many families are affected by the serious behavioral problems of autistic children than the number of families affectedby Cerebral Palsy. Male infants have higher autism risk than females; gastrointestinal problems are a likely autism risk factor. Whether vaccinations elevate autistic risk is not a settled issue; http://www.thinktwice.com has general vaccination warnings. There is evidence that metal poisoning (e.g.s. mercury, lead) raises autistic risk. Autism prevalence estimates vary widely. In 2006 Judith Grether estimated prevalence at 6-7 per one thousand U.S. children with autism. Dr. Getahun never mentions AUTISM, but any risk factor that boosts the odds of premature birth, has raised the AUTISM risk of a newborn. Premature birth elevates risk for CP, mental retardation, epilepsy, blindness, deafness, respiratory distress, gastrointestinal problems, serious infections, AUTISM, etc. In 2008 Norwegian researchers led by Dag Moster reported that extremely premature newborns (under 28 weeks' gestation) had 9.7 times the autism risk as full-term newborns (at least 37 weeks' gestation).[2] In another 2008 study it was reported that newborn under 1,500 grams (i.e. 3 lbs. 5 ozs.) had an absolute 26% risk of autism. …" 161. "School choice a special pick parents make" dated 22 October 2008 by David Casas from the Journal-Constitution at http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/stories/2008/10/22/casased.html. "At a recent state Board of Education meeting, officials gave approval for almost 1,600 Georgia special needs students to earn scholarships to attend private schools —- an 80 percent surge over the 2007-2008 school year. While this is only the second year of the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program, 1,596 parents from throughout the state voted with their feet for more school choice. When their neighborhood school didn’t do the job, they snapped up scholarships and found a school more tailored to their child’s learning style. During the initial year of the program last year, most of the private schools that chose to participate were in metro Atlanta. But this year, there are 145 schools statewide from Winder to LaGrange, from Dalton to Albany. That has given parents of children with disabilities such as Marie Leon of Duluth the opportunity to shop around and take advantage of the program. Leon’s son Jonathan, 10, is a fifth-grader this school year at Integrity Christian in Lilburn. Jonathan, who has mild autism, earned a special needs scholarship to transfer from B.B. Harris Elementary to Integrity this fall. Leon couldn’t find a school last year where the scholarship would cover the entire tuition. But this year, there were more participating schools on the list, such as Integrity, where tuition was $5,645. There are seven private schools in Gwinnett County now participating in the special needs program. Leon said she was particularly attracted to Integrity because school officials said Jonathan could work toward a high school diploma. “It always disdained me that at his previous school they told me he would go to school for 14 years and would only get a certificate of attendance,” Leon said. “Here he is getting extra attention and seems to be doing very well.” Like many children, Jonathan is thriving because he is in a smaller school with smaller classes. The school’s director keeps an eye out for him. With the scholarship program, Leon has to pay for outside speech therapy, but she says it is worth it to get her son in a more productive environment. …" 162. "'Rain Man' inspires audience- Savant, his father speak to a group of Virginia educators" dated 22 October 2008 by LISA CRUTCHFIELD from the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH at http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-22-0137.html. "Kim Peek can't brush his teeth or shave. For more than three decades, he was diagnosed as severely mentally retarded. He never attended a regular school. Now, at age 56, he's known as a mega-savant. He has a photographic memory, knows every ZIP code in the country, and can recite a history of the British monarchy. He can open a book and, in about eight seconds, scan the left page with his left eye while scanning the right page with his right. Peek inspired one of cinema's most memorable characters, Raymond Babbit, in the 1988 film "Rain Man." He travels with an Oscar statuette won by the film's screenwriter, Barry Morrow. Peek and his father, Fran, were in Richmond yesterday speaking to a group of Virginia educators about the importance of recognizing and accepting differences in people. They talked about how those labeled as learningdisabled can contribute and function in society. Kim Peek repeated his message to the more than 200 special-education teachers and administrators. "Learn and respect the differences in others and treat them as much as you want them to treat you, so we can have a better world to live in," he said. "You don't have to be handicapped to be different. Everybody's different." The session was part of a daylong conference sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education's Training and Technical Assistance Center at VCU titled "Topics in Autism." Though Kim Peek has not been diagnosed with autism, his condition shares many traits. He's progressed to where he's comfortable roaming a room, talking and looking people in the eye, something he didn't do until he was 37. He was born with agenesis of the corpus callosum, or a lack of connecting tissue between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This results in his lack of some social skills but also may contribute to his unique mental gifts, his father said. Only in the past few years have MRIs been able to show clearly how Kim Peek's brain is different. Fran Peek is working with various foundations to fund an initiative to give every child labeled as having autism spectrum disorders the chance for a functional MRI, which could help diagnose and remediate problems. The Peeks also are participating in stem-cell research in hopes that it one day may help correct brain injuries or abnormalities. Conference attendees found the information interesting -- and I inspiring. Stefanie Johnson, a special-education teacher in the Cumberland County school system, was impressed with Fran Peek's persistence in advocating for his son, especially in the 1950s when disabilities were not discussed in public. "He put together a group of parents, and now it's the ARC [Association for Retarded Citizens]. "That pushes our parents to get more involved." 163. "Cell Division, Autism and Ultrasound" dated 22 October 2008 by Angela Warner from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/cell-division-a.html#more. "In the past several decades the axiom of “First Do No Harm”, has become an oxymoron. By that, I mean the state of what we refer to as “healthcare”, has become completely incompatible with nature. So let us discuss mitochondrial dysfunction, cell division, autism, and ultrasound. How about some fish, and healthcare practitioners too? When Nathan was being diagnosed with autism, I was in the process of applying to Midwifery College. I wanted to attend to women birthing in birth centers and especially to women who wanted to have their babies at home. Enter Autism; Exit Midwifery. This past week while preparing my statement for the Vaccination Choice Rally in Trenton, New Jersey, I had a conversation with a dear friend of mine who is a holistic practitioner in Portland, OR. I knew she was treating several prior military members who have been severely injured by vaccines. Of course we ended up talking birthing practices because she recently was accepted to the same Midwifery College I was in the process of applying to when Nathan was diagnosed. What does this have to do with autism you ask? My friend shared with me some research that has been out for several years, but ignored by most. Prenatal ultrasound impacts several generations of cell division within the body. I thought for sure I was going to have a difficult time finding research on this because in all my years of pre-nursing/midwifery studies I had never come across this particular information. I was wrong. The research is all over the internet. Sarah Buckley, who is a highly respected physician (especially so in the midwifery community), wrote about this back in 2000. You can read that (HERE). …" 164. "Biological Drugs Produce Side Effects But Vaccines Don't?" dated 22 October 2008 from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/rx-drugs-can-be.html#more. "Nearly a fourth of widely used new-generation biological drugs for several common diseases produce serious side effects that lead to safety warnings soon after they go on the market, the first major study of its kind found. Included in the report released Tuesday were the arthritis drugs Humira and Remicade, cancer drugs Rituxan and Erbitux, and the heart failure drug Natrecor. All wound up being flagged for safety. That might surprise some doctors who may have thought that these new treatments might be safer than traditional chemical-based medicines. Researchers found that most of the warnings came within five years after these biologicals won government approval in the United States and Europe between 1995 and 2007. Many traditional medicines wind up with safety warnings too after they go on the market. But experts said there were no similar studies of older medicines that made it possible to compare safety issues between the two groups of drugs. The new study, by Dutch researchers, is the first comprehensive examination of these newer medicines, a driving part of the biotech revolution. The drugs are known as biologicals because they're made from living material and they typically affect the body's disease-fighting immune system. Many relieve severe symptoms by suppressing that system. It's that same mechanism that can result in side effects often not seen with traditional chemical-based medicines, said Dr. Charles Bennett, a Northwestern University drug safety expert. These can include brain and fungal infections and cancer. Many are genetically engineered and Bennett said that because they typically resemble naturally occurring proteins, many doctors have assumed they were safer than traditional chemical-based medicines. But he said the study shows that's not necessarily true. "They have an important role," Bennett said. "They're really the next generation of pharmaceuticals." He said the results simply show that doctors and patients should be aware that the drugs have many potential side effects that may not be listed on the label. …" 165. "District funds moving special education students- Special-needs students will receive treatment from private services" dated 22 October 2008 by Aaron Sudholt from the Suburban Journals at http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2008/10/22/madison/education/1022cvj-unitt10brd.txt. "The Collinsville school board approved providing private education for 10 of its special education students at its Monday meeting. The students will be temporarily moved to private schools for more specialized education than the district is capable of providing on its own. "Our goal is to get the students back in to the public school system as quickly as possible," said Kelly Grapperhaus, director of special education in the district. The student's names were withheld for privacy reasons. Grapperhaus said that the district funds moving students to private special education schools monthly depending on a student's needs. As students find their needs met, they are often returned to their traditional classrooms. Each student cost the district $150 to move to the private school this month, she said. About 60 students are already in private special education facilities as funded by the district. Grapperhaus said that moving the students was a routine measure to make sure that they were educated properly. "If we want our kids to be successful, (the privatized education) is more centered on their needs," she said. Among the schools being utilized are the Illinois Center for Autism, which provides intensive instruction for students with autism who cannot be effectively educated in traditional classrooms or even special education environments." 166. "Rosemary’s baby: autism awareness" dated 22 October 2008 by Clarece Campbell from The MidWest City Sun at http://www.mwcsun.com/local/local_story_296123018.html. "Rosemary Greenlee, Mid-Del Vo-Tech cosmetology teacher, celebrated her 60th birthday in September by walking in a full marathon in Hawaii. Greenlee began fundraising last August to participate in the Maui Marathon to help bring awareness and raise money for autism, a condition that she has fought to bring attention to for the last 26 years. Greenlee’s son, Matt Greenlee, was diagnosed with low-functioning autism when he was a toddler. After this discovery she was given advice by her doctor not to let anyone at his schools know that he was autistic since there was no help for autism and that he would benefit from being around other kids. “Twenty-six years ago people thought autism was created by an unloving mother. Twenty-six years ago the concept of autism was so off and these professionals that I fortunately met knew that, and that is why they said, ‘Steer away from the autism diagnosis because they will basically tell you to lock him up and have a life’ and I wouldn’t do that,” Greenlee said. Now, autism is being diagnosed in one out of every 150 babies being born and the spectrum is a lot broader. Greenlee said that even though people aren’t blaming the mother as much for the diagnosis, there is still little funding for the condition. “It was a problem then and it is still a problem now for people with autism to get help,” Greenlee explained. She said that autism is growing so fast and is so misunderstood that there needs to be some help given to these families with autistic children. Throughout Matt’s school years, he was often treated or taken into programs because of the other disorders that he has been diagnosed with. …" 167. "Autism: The one tell-tale sign to look out for in your child" dated 22 October 2008 from What Doctors Don't Tell You at http://www.wddty.com/03363800369912785956/autism-the-one-tell-tale-sign-to-look-out-for-in-your-child.html. "There’s one tell-tale sign to look out for in your toddler if you want to know if he or she is autistic. Scientists have discovered that the autistic child won’t look at somebody’s eyes, but will instead concentrate on the lips and mouth. They made the discovery when they played 10 different videos to groups of two-year-olds, some of whom were autistic. The films all featured close-ups, and the autistic children were far more likely than the healthy controls to look at the lips, and not at the eyes, of the actresses. (Source: Archives of General Psychiatry, 2008; 65: 946-54)." 168. "Fear for autistic families" dated 22 October 2008 by Dennis Lendrum in a letter to the editor of the Midnorth Monitor (Canada) at http://www.midnorthmonitor.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1259123. "As a grandfather of an autistic child, who has been in the IBI Treatment Program and progressing very well with this therapy. Hopefully the treatment does not end before Alex reaches his full potential. I have read the proposed October 14th, 2008 document over & over: “The Developement of Benchmarks for the Delivery of Intensive Behavioural Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Ontario” I fear for what will happen to our grandson and the many other children diagnosed with autism in Ontario if the document is adopted by Ontario’s Government, let along what it will do to autistic adults in the future. After many years of frustration that the parents of autistic children have had in dealing with Ontario’s Queen’s Park, we all have our guard up and are suspicious. If I am wrong, please let me know how this document will help autistic children or adults. I sure hope that I am reading it wrong! But, to me, the present Ontario provincial leaders have just produced a document that will bail them out of their responsibility to be accountable and responsible for the best possible treatment for autistic children here in Ontario and what causes autism. It appears to me that this document will justify when a child is cut-off. Now instead of it being called “Age 6” it will be called “Benchmarks” in Ontario. I pray that all Ontario MPPs reject this document and request that Canada’s federal leaders come up with a National Strategy, so that all Canadian autistic children/adults get the best possible treatment that Canada can offer, no matter where they live. We know that IBI & ABA are the best possibly treatments at this time. The big question is: Can it be delivered in our present school system or do we need to make the necessary changes, so that all children/adults of Canada get the best possible education/treatment? …" 169. "Medical Experts Take Notice of Jenny McCarthy's Autism Message" dated 22 October 2008 by Lisa Jo Rudy from About.com at http://autism.about.com/b/2008/10/22/medical-experts-take-notice-of-jenny-mccarthys-autism-message.htm. "Up until now, outside of a heated debate on Larry King Live, the medical establishment has taken little notice of Jenny McCarthy's take on autism. Now, though, her message has become so prevalent - through a combination of television appearances, magazine articles and other media - that the medical profession is responding directly. According to Jenny, autism is caused by vaccines. But she's not just suggesting that vaccines may have an unintended impact on some children. In Jenny's mind, it seems, vaccines are quite literally a thief of souls (which, of course, suggests that people with autism are soulless). Here's what she said to Oprah, in describing her son's autism: “The nurse gave (Evan) the shot... and soon thereafter—boom—the soul’s gone from his eyes.” Jenny is not the first to suggest that a child with autism is a child without a soul. That same idea has been brought up by Jon Shestack and Portia Iversen (creators of Cure Autism Now), and was suggested by the controversial "ransom note" campaign last year. And, of course, if vaccines steal souls - and parents recover them through various biomedical means - then doctors, by implication, are acting for the Dark Side... and parents are fighting not only for their children's health but for their children's souls. This is heady stuff - and it's having a significant impact on the rate of vaccination in many countries, including the UK, Scotland, and the United States. Now, seeing a possibly significant impact on the public health, the medical establishment is taking on the autism/vaccine issue directly. Unlike Dr. Paul Offit, however, whose book False Prophets directly refutes an autism/vaccine connection, today's article in Newswise is much more carefully worded: …" 170. "Rett’s Littlest Angel" dated 22 October 2008 by Katie Miller from Baldwin County Now at http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2008/10/22/local_news/doc48fe06488dc1c328022242.txt. "One in every 10,000 to 23,000 girls are affected by Rett Syndrome (RTT), a rare neurological disorder. The developmental disorder is a mystery to most and little is known about the prevention and rehabilitation of RTT, a form of autism. Nationally there is a lack of awareness but a Baldwin County girl, and her parents, are telling their story to shed light on the life altering issue. Meet Avery. Blond-haired, blue-eyed Avery Akins was born in the Spring of 2006 with no indication of trouble. Happy and smiling, like Avery still is today, mom Carrie said she saw no red flags. Carrie, who was already raising an autistic son, Cole, said that Avery was developing as expected. But when Avery turned a year old and wasn’t talking or walking, the family pediatrician started to keep a close eye on her. At 15 months, Carrie suspected Avery had autism. “I’ve been there and done that, it’s autism,” Carrie said, speaking about her feelings of raising a second child with autism. “I can handle this.” A neurologist began genetic testing for autism, but all tests were negative. When Carrie stumbled across RTT symptoms online, she knew. With the positive results of a new RTT screening test in April of this year, Carrie and her husband Thad were given verification of what they already knew — their daughter had RTT. “All the dreams I had for her were crushed instantly. She will never get married, she will never have children — all of those things that you wish for your child. Just to hear your child say, ‘Mom, I love you.’” Carrie said. “Those things will never happen.” Avery was almost 2-years-old before she was properly diagnosed. What is Rett Syndrome? There are 4400 girls living with RTT in the nation, and according to Carrie, Avery is the only child in Baldwin County she is aware of that has been diagnosed with RTT. Usually symptoms begin appearing within six to eight months of birth. …" 171. "District Official Says Some School Staff Ignore Mandated Meetings" dated 22 October 2008 by Christina Samuels from Education Week at http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2008/10/district_official_says_some_sc.html. "For an observer of special education, the District of Columbia system is in a class by itself, unfortunately. It suffers from a "perfect storm" of education issues: not enough programs for students with disabilities, some demoralized staff, and a class-action lawsuit on behalf of underserved students looming over everything. The district spends millions of dollars a year on out-of-district placements for students with disabilities and is struggling to bring that figure down. Now, Richard Nyankori, the acting deputy chancellor for special education, has said what a lot of people already believe to be true: some staff members aren't paying attention to the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act because they just don't care: Richard Nyankori, acting deputy chancellor for special education, said the backlog of D.C. children awaiting special education services is lengthy in part because school staff don't show up for meetings, leaving cases unresolved and parents in the lurch. "Sometimes it is willful on the part of some staff not to make it to meetings," Nyankori said under questioning from U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman. Friedman called the hearing to quiz officials about the District's lack of progress in complying with a 2006 consent decree that settled a class action brought by parents of children with learning problems. The District's public and public charter schools have nearly 11,000 special education students. About 20 percent attend private schools, at a cost to taxpayers of about $200 million, because D.C. cannot meet their needs. …" 172. "CT's Shays on Vaccine Safety Legislation. Where's Jim Himes?" dated 22 October 2008 by Nicole Crosby from the Age of Autism blog at http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/10/cts-shays-on-va.html#more. "I just received the e-mail below from U.S. Congressman (CT) Christopher Shays, which brings his co-sponsorships of vaccine safety legislation to two! This follows a 3-page letter he sent to me in July about co-sponsoring HR 1973, which creates an Agency for Vaccine Safety Evaluation, and supporting HR 881, the Mercury Free Vaccinations Act. Contrast this to his opponent whose office did not comment on the bills, but responded, in part, "Jim has nothing but compassion for parents raising children with autism or other developmental or neurological problems. But he is equally alarmed to read stories of children dying needlessly from influenza or hepatitis, because vaccinations were refused by well-meaning parents whose fear of thimerosal had outstripped the current scientific cause for concern." The two candidates are neck-and-neck in the polls. If Shays doesn't remain in office to see this legislation through, our kids' health will be in the hands of a former Wall Street investment banker who thinks no shot can be administered without mercury. I encourage readers to write endorsement letters to editors to help re-elect legislators who support vaccine safety. …" 173. "First center for special kids in country opens" dated 23 October 2008 from Sun Star (Phillipines) at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/10/23/feat/first.center.for.special.kids.in.country.opens.html. "EVERYTHING that forms part of this room has a meaning. This is how therapists in the newly opened Sunflower Center at Home Sweet Home describe the playroom, one of the many rooms that comprise the center. The Sunflower Children's Center caters to children and young adults who have special needs. For children who have difficulty in communicating or those who find it hard to tell their feelings face-to-face, a play telephone is provided. For those who are hyperactive, a sandbox and a sink with water is also available to calm them. For aggressive children, an inflated bag, swords and boxing gloves are available so they can release their anger and for the abused and lacked nurturing, stuff toys and dolls are for them. Psychometrician Rosemond Ruiz said more than the element of play, the activity becomes a form of communication to children who require special attention and understanding. The center is also painted with pastel colors or colors that are pleasing to the eye. Criselda Marzo, an associate child therapist for four years now, said the interior design of the building was deliberate to erase public stigma that the center caters only to children with psychological problems. "The common notion is we cater to children with autism or ADHD (attention deficiency hyperactivity disorder)," Marzo said but dispelled this when she revealed that majority of their patients are victims of sexual and physical abuse. Marzo added that many parents or guardians who want to seek consultation at the center shy away for fear that therapy and counseling is expensive. She said rates at the center are affordable as they cater mostly to average-income families. More than their financial capacities, the center requires cooperation and openness from parents and guardians to ensure that whatever is advised during counseling sessions are carried over at home. "We are here to help, but parents also have a responsibility," Ruiz said, adding that counseling of the parents are included in the program for the therapy of children with special needs. There are currently 12 therapists in the center, said Rev. Fr. Geraldo Costa, head of the Sunflower Center. Colleagues, acquaintances and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) refer most of the clients. …" 174. "Bullying of Children with Exceptionalities: Tackling It in Your School and Your Classroom" from the Council for Exceptional Children at http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=CEC_Today1&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=10842. "Bullying was once considered a normal, even unavoidable, part of school—a rite of passage, just “something kids do.” But thanks to new research and recent high-profile cases, the education community is now more aware of the damage it can cause. The issue of bullying is particularly important for students with exceptionalities and therefore for special educators. It can be an unintended side effect of inclusion: when exceptional children are exposed to the general classroom, the risk of bullying increases. For example, a 2006 study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that having a special health care need is associated with being a target of bullying while having a behavioral, emotional, or developmental issue is associated with bullying others and with being a bully/victim—that is, someone who both bullies others and is victimized by his peers. Bullying is defined as behavior toward another person that is intentional, repetitive, and hurtful resulting in an imbalance of power between the bully and the target. Bullying can take many forms: physical, verbal, social, or emotional. It can be overt or covert, as simple as name-calling or as complex as social exclusion. It typically reaches its peak in the middle-school years but occurs at every grade level. Victims of bullying suffer from embarrassment, fear, and anxiety. These emotions can spiral into depression, which can then lead to absenteeism, poor academic performance, and, in the most extreme cases, suicide. The effects on a person’s self esteem can linger well into adulthood and even prevent someone from reaching his or her full potential. Bullies target their peers based on real or perceived differences in appearance, behavior, or ability, and many children with special needs exhibit such characteristics. In addition, they may be too trusting or lack keen knowledge of social norms, rendering them particularly vulnerable. Smaller social circles can also be a factor, as having a high number of friends can protect someone against bullying. Moreover, students with cognitive disabilities may not have the ability to understand, identify, or report bullying when it occurs. “Bullying behavior is unique in that it is a student-student interaction pattern, whereas most school interactions are student-teacher,” says Robert Horner, professor of special education at the University of Oregon. “This makes it more difficult for teachers to control.” …" 175. "Tips to Make Halloween Enjoyable for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders" in a press release from the Autism Society of America at http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=halloween_tips. "The very things that can be so exciting to neurotypical kids—wearing the costume of a favorite character, being outside with other kids who also have on costumes, knocking on doors to ask for treats, and getting treats from every house you visit—can be anxiety producing for children with autism spectrum disorders. Wearing a costume is unfamiliar, as is going from house to house to ask for treats. New routines and behaviors can be enjoyable for kids on the spectrum when they are approached with planning, and the necessary supports are identified and provided. Following are some things you can do ahead of time to help your child enjoy this child-focused occasion: 1. Begin early (even a month before) to prepare your child for Halloween activities. Read a story about Halloween and the activities that surround it, like carving pumpkins, wearing costumes, and trick-or-treating. Teach your child the skills involved in participating—knocking on the door, holding out the bag, saying “trick or treat” or using assistive technology (a picture or device) to communicate the message, and then saying “thank you.” 2. Help your child choose a costume that will reflect his interests. Let him practice wearing the costume around the house while practicing the skills. If wearing a costume is irritating, ask him if he would rather wear face paint, a scarf, or a hat on Halloween. No costume is also OK. …" 176. "Insurance Coverage for Biomedical & Traditional Treatments" by Holly Bortfeld from the October 2008 edition of Talk About Curing Autism at http://www.tacanow.org/resources/autism-insurance/insurance-coverage-for-biomedical-traditional-treatments.htm. "My son Max is the "million dollar man." In the ten years since he was diagnosed, he’s had one million dollars worth of therapy and treatments. ONE MILLION DOLLARS. Wow! Did I have a million dollars to spend on him just sitting around in the bank? NO. Not even close. If you are reading this, I bet you don’t either. When he was diagnosed, the doctor told me he’d never speak again, do math, be potty trained, have relationships and care about people, that he would injure himself and others and would NEVER improve or be able to even live at home. I was devastated. Thankfully, with therapy and treatment, we proved that doctor very wrong and my son is a thriving, lovely boy. These therapies and treatments have benefitted him so much and changed his outlook for a long healthy, happy, functioning life. My son deserved every dollar of it. So does your child! Why is Treating Autism Important From the Traditional Intervention and Biomedical Perspective? It is important because autism is diagnosed so young and CAN affect individual’s life long, but does NOT affect the life span of an individual. We know from best practices that treatment is important and is altering outcomes for individuals affected. If we treat autism spectrum disorders based on their unique biomedical and traditional therapy needs – the life long estimated costs for an individual from $3-7 million dollars may be changed from being an expense to becoming a tax payer. There are children that recover from autism and that will go on to lead normal lives. This data is still emerging. The CDC reports that 80% of those affected with autism are UNDER the age of 17 years. We owe it to these children, and their families, to not ignore the “problem” but to treat it like in any other disorder. These guidelines outline one responsible party (just health insurance) in what should be required by law. Parents need to use their best judgment, information, state and federal laws to help their children become the best they can be – with the hope of recovery and the possibility of becoming a taxpayer. After all – that is our job as a parent. …" 177. "Avoid Flu Shots With the One Vitamin that Will Stop Flu in Its Tracks" from Mercola.com at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/21/avoid-flu-shots-vitamin-d-is-a-better-way.aspx. "Another influenza season is beginning, and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will strongly urge Americans to get a flu shot. In fact, the CDC mounts a well-orchestrated campaign each season to generate interest and demand for flu shots. But a recent study published in the October issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine found that vaccinating young children against the flu appeared to have no impact on flu-related hospitalizations or doctor visits during two recent flu seasons. At first glance, the data did suggest that children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years derived some protection from vaccination in these years. But after adjusting for potentially relevant variables, the researchers concluded that "significant influenza vaccine effectiveness could not be demonstrated for any season, age, or setting" examined. Additionally, a Group Health study found that flu shots do not protect elderly people against developing pneumonia -- the primary cause of death resulting as a complication of the flu. Others have questioned whether there is any mortality benefit with influenza vaccination. Vaccination coverage among the elderly increased from 15 percent in 1980 to 65 percent now, but there has been no decrease in deaths from influenza or pneumonia. There is some evidence that flu shots cause Alzheimer’s disease, most likely as a result of combining mercury with aluminum and formaldehyde. Mercury in vaccines has also been implicated as a cause of autism. Three other serious adverse reactions to the flu vaccine are joint inflammation and arthritis, anaphylactic shock (and other life-threatening allergic reactions), and Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralytic autoimmune disease. One credible hypothesis that explains the seasonal nature of flu is that influenza is a vitamin D deficiency disease. Vitamin D levels in your blood fall to their lowest point during flu seasons. Unable to be protected by the body’s own antibiotics (antimicrobial peptides) that are released by vitamin D, a person with a low vitamin D blood level is more vulnerable to contracting colds, influenza, and other respiratory infections. Studies show that children with rickets, a vitamin D-deficient skeletal disorder, suffer from frequent respiratory infections, and children exposed to sunlight are less likely to get a cold. The increased number of deaths that occur in winter, largely from pneumonia and cardiovascular diseases, are most likely due to vitamin D deficiency. Unfortunately, now, for the first time, flu vaccination is also being pushed for virtually all children -- not just those under 5. …" 178. "American Kids are the Most Medicated in the World" from Mercola.com at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/16/american-kids-are-the-most-medicated-in-the-world.aspx. "American children are about three times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication than children in Europe. The differences may be a result of differing regulatory practices, along with cultural beliefs about the role of medication in emotional and behavioral problems. A team of researchers from the U.S., Germany and the Netherlands investigated prescription levels in the three countries. Antidepressant and stimulant use was three or more times greater in the U.S. than in the Netherlands and Germany, while antipsychotic prevalence was 1.5 to 2.2 times greater. The researchers pointed to different diagnostic classification systems, government cost restrictions in Europe, the larger number of child psychiatrists per capita in the U.S. and the use of two or more different psychotropic drugs in a single year in U.S. children as possible explanations. Direct-to-consumer drug advertising, which is common in the U.S., was also considered to be a likely reason for the difference. Sources: Science Daily September 25, 2008 and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health September 25, 2008, 2:26." 179. "Presidential Candidates Discuss Autism in Debate" in a press release from Autism Speaks at http://www.autismspeaks.org/inthenews/autism_presidential_debate.php. "During the 3rd Presidential Debate, held on October 15 at Hofstra University, both candidates spoke about autism. In response to a question from CBS News' Bob Schieffer, "why would the country be better off if your running mate became president" the senators made the following remarks: Sen. McCain: …She (Sarah Palin) also understands special needs families. She understands that autism is on the rise. We've got to find out what's causing it and we've got to reach out to these families and help them and give them the help they need as they raise these very special needs children. She understands that better than almost any American that I know. I'm proud of her. Sen. Obama: …I think it's very commendable the work she (Sarah Palin) has done on behalf of special needs. I agree with that John. I do just want to point out that autism for example or other special needs will require some additional funding if we're going to get serious in terms of research. That is something that every family that advocates on behalf of disabled children talks about. And if we have an across the board spending freeze we're not going to be able to do it. …" 180. "Autism Highlighted at American Academy of Pediatrics Convention" in a press release from Autism Speaks at http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science_news/american_academy_pediatrics_convention_2008.php. "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) held its annual national convention and exhibition (NCE) in Boston on Oct. 11-14, 2008. As the premiere gathering for AAP members from around the country, the NCE offers a chance for them to learn about latest advances in pediatric medicine and to network and share experiences and insights. This year's conference was attended by a record 11,000 physicians, who flocked to presentations on topics ranging from health disparities among minorities to autism, including "Is it Autism?" a session focusing on autism diagnosis led by Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network member Dr. Susan Hyman of the University of Rochester. Autism Speaks had an information booth at the conference, and similar to last year, saw non-stop traffic and an outpouring of interest from conference attendees. Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Dr. Geri Dawson and VP of Scientific Affairs Dr. Andy Shih were also at the conference. Dr. Dawson participated in a session where she discussed the clinical implications of a gene-based screening tool that helps identify siblings of children with autism who are at higher risk of developing autism. Both Dr. Dawson and Dr. Shih met with the AAP executive committee to explore ways for the two organizations to work more closely together to educate and inform AAP members about autism and to enhance the care of children and families touched by autism." 181. "Calcium Signaling and Disease from the 62nd Annual Symposium of the Society of General Physiologists" in a press release from Autism Speaks at http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/scientificmeetings/society_of_general_physiologists_recap_2008.php. "Many disparate clues have recently come to suggest that abnormal nerve cell calcium signaling may somehow be involved in autism. While calcium signaling is an intensely studied biophysical phenomenon that is well recognized to play a central role in many aspects of cell biology and synaptic physiology, its role in disease processes is only beginning to emerge. In fact, recent developments in this area placed within reach a disease-focused symposium on this problem for the first time, and allowed Autism Speaks to award the organizers of this symposium, Drs. Ilya Bezprozvanny from University of Texas at Dallas and J. Jay Gargus from University of California at Irvine, support for this first U.S. meeting focused exclusively on the pathological aspects of calcium signaling. The organizers, under the auspices of the Society of General Physiologists, brought some of the established leaders in the calcium signaling field who have made significant contributions to disease-related projects together with a number of "rising stars" from the junior faculty plus a cadre of trainees, with the hope that by promoting an exchange between traditional calcium signaling researchers and disease researchers the meeting would play an important role in accelerating progress in the field and its translation into clinical insights and practice. The meeting represented 37 talks and 87 submitted papers and was held from September 3 to 7 for approximately 130 international researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA – a renowned historical center for biological research. The program was very diverse – building upon known biophysical abnormalities in calcium signaling in cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases (such as those underlying arrhythmia, sudden death syndrome, malignant hyperthermia and muscular dystrophy), as well as those causing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's. It then extended this groundwork to more recent discoveries in a variety of disorders of the central nervous system including migraine, autism, and other neuropsychiatric diseases. An enormous amount of new data was presented and vigorous discussions took place during the talks and at the abstract poster presentations of the meeting. The hope is that these interactions will foster a number of productive collaborations between traditional "calcium signaling" researchers and clinical scientists interested in autism. …" 182. "Autism Speaks' Family Services Releases Aging with Autism DVDs" in a press release from Autism Speaks at http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/family_services/aging_with_autism_dvds.php. "Autism Speaks' Family Services department is proud to announce the release of a DVD series from the Aging with Autism: Defining the Future conference presented by Developmental Disabilities Institute, Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism, and The Eden II Programs. With the permission of the conference presenters, Autism Speaks recorded many of the sessions so that the information could later be made available to families and caregivers who did not have the opportunity to attend. The DVDs provide information on topics ranging from housing and transition issues, to sexuality and employment. Students and clients from Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism and The Martin C. Barell School in Commack, N.Y. are handling the reproduction of the DVDs. "We are delighted to work with Autism Speaks on this project,” said Nicole Weidenbaum, Executive Director, Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism and The Martin C. Barell School. “Not only will it help to bring valuable information to those caring for adults on the autism spectrum, but it also provides an opportunity for our clients to gain vocational training and work experience. We are very grateful to Autism Speaks for creating this opportunity for our students and clients.” Autism Speaks is pleased to offer these DVDs at no cost outside the price of shipping and handling. To view the available titles and to order the DVDs, click here." 183. "Justin's Touchdown" by Robert Civitano in a press release from Autism Speaks at http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/ownwords/intheirownwords_touchdown.php. "Last November, we featured Coach of the Year, written by the father of a boy with autism, who had succeeded in his first season of Pop Warner football. Robert Civitano shares his story of another successful season experienced by his son, Justin, below. My son played football again this year, and as we anticipated, the physical demands were hard on him. He refused to quit, and really gave all he could. I explained to his coaches, as I did last year, about Justin's PDD/Aspergers Syndrome and Tourette Syndrome. So they knew what to expect and how to deal with it. Over the course of the season, Justin got better and better as a player, and as a member of the team. As it turns out, Justin can catch a football better than any other kid on the team. He played most of every game this season, and they threw him the ball three times. Today was the day that he (as well as we) was waiting for. It was the 4th quarter of the last game of their regular season; they were on about the 20 yard line. I saw Justin line up on the end and go for a pass into the end zone, where he and the defender both jumped into the air for the ball. When it was tipped up by the defender, Justin kept his concentration, caught it and made the touchdown. I have to tell you, very few things have given my wife and me such pure joy, such a feeling of "yes, it was all worth it," as seeing him make that huge play. All of my son's coaches and teammates congratulated him, and presented him with the game ball as a token of their appreciation." |
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