Ny Times: Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised

July 11, 2007
Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised
By GARDINER HARRIS
WASHINGTON, July 10 — Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.

The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to “water down” a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm.

Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. He also said he was asked to make speeches to support Republican political candidates and to attend political briefings. For full article, see NY Times

So I don't even know how to respond to this. Surprising? No. Despicable and sad? Yes. When will our government learn that their process of protecting the herd just doesn't work? All anyone with a mind has to do is look at the profile of the new normal child, and the rates of cancers. With all the hoopla about genes and what not, we STILL have no cure for most cancers and it's been, what, 20 years or something? And that's for starters. Anyone remember when cigarettes didn't cause cancer? Anyone remember that just recently we studied women and heart disease?

Flash forward 20 years from now: Anyone remember when the public didn't think various toxins and the vaccination protocol caused the developmental delays and disorders, not to mention other major illnesses? Remember when they used to keeping adding and adding to the protocol without any accumulative study? Hey remember when the government used to bash nutritional supplements and other alternative therapies because they weren't scientifically sound, all the while never testing common medicines used on children?

Consumers need to know more about allergens; FDA helps out

Consumers need to know more about allergens; FDA helps out

An estimated two percent of adults and about five percent of infants and young children in the United States suffer from food allergies. Allergic reactions to food vary in severity, but approximately 30,000 people require emergency room treatment, and 150 die each year as a result of them. The only means of preventing allergic reactions is to avoid the foods that cause them. FDA's allergen labeling rule helps them to do so.

To help people avoid the risks food allergens pose, the Food and Drug Administration requires that the labels of all foods FDA regulates (all foods except meat, poultry, and certain egg products) must clearly identify the source of all ingredients that are-or are derived from-the eight most common food allergens. This requirement became effective January 1, 2006, so there may still be some product labels in stores or people's homes without this information.

While more than 160 foods can cause reactions in people with food allergies, the eight most common allergenic foods account for 90 percent of food allergic reactions, and are the sources from which many other ingredients are derived. Many of these foods could be ingredients within meat and poultry products, and mislabeling them or failing to label them on meat and poultry products results in product recalls.

The eight foods are:1. Milk, 2. Eggs, 3 Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod), 4. Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp), 5. Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans), 6. Peanuts, 7. Wheat, 8. Soybeans

Unless they are part of the ingredient's common or usual name (or are already clearly identified in the ingredient list), these eight food allergens may appear on food labels either:

—In parentheses following the name of the ingredient, e.g., lecithin (soy); flour (wheat); and whey (milk); or,

—Immediately after or next to the list of ingredients in a "contains" statement, e.g., Contains wheat, milk, and soy.

Symptoms of food allergies typically appear from within a few minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic. Symptoms can include:

* Hives * Flushed skin or rash * Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth * Face, tongue, or lip swelling * Vomiting and/or diarrhea * Abdominal cramps * Coughing or wheezing * Dizziness and/or lightheadedness * Swelling of the throat and vocal cords * Difficulty breathing * Loss of consciousness

For more information on food allergies and allergen labeling, go to FDA's webpage at www.cfsan.fda.gov or call FDA at:1-888-SAFEFOOD.

Huh. I find it interesting that our government continues to focus on bandaids rather than looking at causative factors in our environment. True, I am happy they are labeling and "alerting" the herd.

For fun, I put together my top Questions to FDA:
1) Why are us parents having children with impaired immune systems, which in turn, cannot discriminate between food and real viruses and bacteria that pose a threat?

2) Why are us parents having children with impaired GI systems, which in turn, cannot efficiently assimilate food and flush out toxins?

3) Why do we continue to add soybeans, our number 1 GMO, to viturally all processed foods?

4) Why do we continue to feed our livestock the top allergic ingredients, such as wheat and soy?

5) Why is dairy in virtually all processed foods?

6) Oh, and it seems you forgot to list the behavioral symptoms of allergies such as: Dark circles under eyes, Eczema, psoriasis, Diarrhea, constipation, Gas, bloating, Spaciness, Stimming, Aggressive behavior, Runny nose, Bronchial symptoms and asthma, Stomach tenderness, Reflux, Ear infections, Nausea, Tightening of throat, Headache, and Fatigue

7) Last but not least, why are we not studying healthy children and adults? How do their genes, lifestyle, and GI/Immune systems differ? What can we learn from them? What are they doing? And what are they NOT doing?blockquote>

Autistic Children Recognize Stereotypes Based On Race And Sex

Very interesting article. Recognizing mental states and learning social stereotypes are different cognitive processes. This makes sense, as I recall Leo learning stereotypes very early (it seemed). Bad guys drove windowless white vans, had scruffy hair, mustaches, and wore sunglasses....But it took him a long time to get over some confusion between some basic emotions.

Eureka Alert

Autistic children recognize stereotypes based on race and sex
Children with autism, who are unable to grasp the mental states of others, can nonetheless identify with conventional stereotypes based on a person’s race and sex, researchers report in the June 19th issue of Current Biology, published by Cell Press.

“Even with their limited capacities for social interaction and their apparent inability to orient to social stimuli, these autistic kids pick up and endorse social stereotypes as readily as normally developing kids,” said Lawrence Hirschfeld of the New School for Social Research in New York. “One take-away point is that stereotypes are very easy to learn and very robust. They don’t require higher order attention, or apparently even attention to social stimuli, to develop. Stereotypes can be learned even in the face of damage to the ‘social brain’ and under extraordinarily constrained conditions.”

The profound inability of children with autism to engage in everyday social interaction, as well as impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication, had been attributed to a severe delay in “theory of mind” (ToM) development—the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one’s own. If the use of stereotypes and mental states were part and parcel of the same underlying cognitive process, then autistic children would have similar difficulties with both.

In fact, the researchers found that autistic children who have a verbal age between 6 and 7 years—and who fail ToM tasks—know and use gender and race stereotypes just like normal children. Hirschfeld said he suspects the stereotypes originate within subtle and seemingly incidental messages that saturate the culture—for example, through advertising or biased attention by the media. The kids might also learn about stereotypes from parental behaviors, such as locking car doors when in certain neighborhoods, even if parents carefully monitor what they say about race to their children.

Stereotypes are not inherently negative, he said. “We wouldn’t be able to think without social categories,” he said. “Stereotypical roles are important for navigating everyday interactions. Finding a plumber would be difficult if we thought of people only as unique individuals. Getting through the check-out line would be unwieldy if we didn’t have simple scripts about the roles that both shoppers and cashiers play.”

The results suggest that different kinds of social reasoning occur through independent mechanisms in all people. The autistic children’s surprising ability to recognize broad categories of people might also lead to new methods for helping them improve their ability to function in society, he said.

Caregivers today often attempt to teach children with autism ToM skills, particularly techniques that make them more sensitive to other people’s mental states. Capitalizing on the kids’ strengths in understanding social categories might offer an alternative and easier learning method for interpreting the behavior of others, one that doesn’t involve “swimming upstream,” Hirschfeld said.

###
The researchers include Lawrence Hirschfeld of the New School for Social Research in New York, NY; Elizabeth Bartmess of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI; Sarah White and Uta Frith of UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in London, UK.

This work was supported by MRC programme grant 65013 to UF and a research grant to LH and EB by the Culture and Cognition Program, University of Michigan USA.

Hirschfeld et al.: "Can autistic children predict behavior by social stereotypes"" Publishing in Current Biology, 19 June 2007, R451-452. http://www.current-biology.com

Colgate Recall

Wow. Quite a coincidence commenting on Colgate in my last post just minutes ago! Everyone be careful out there.....

Counterfeit Colgate Toothpaste Is Recalled in Four States
Fake Brand May Contain
A Poisonous Chemical
By ANJALI CORDEIRO and JOSEE ROSE
June 14, 2007 10:26 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Colgate-Palmolive Co. said counterfeit toothpaste falsely packaged with a Colgate label is being recalled because it may contain a poisonous chemical.

The consumer-products company said there are indications that the fake products don't contain fluoride and may contain Diethylene Glycol, which Colgate has never used. Diethylene Glycol, or DEG, is a poisonous chemical used antifreeze and as a solvent. The five-ounce tubes of toothpaste are being sold in discount stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

"Colgate does not import toothpaste into the United States from South Africa," said a statement from Colgate-Palmolive Company. "In addition, the counterfeit packages examined so far have several misspellings including: 'isclinically,' 'SOUTH AFRLCA' and 'South African Dental Assoxiation.' " "Counterfeit toothpaste is not manufactured or distributed by Colgate and has no connection with the company whatsoever," the company said.

In recent weeks the Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers to avoid using any toothpaste with a "made in China" label because the agency found 3% to 4% of the same toxic chemical in Chinese toothpaste. The FDA began testing Chinese dental products after reports that contaminated Chinese toothpaste was found in several countries including Panama. The FDA has issued an import alert to prevent Chinese toothpaste containing DEG from being sold in the United States and has said it will continue to stop brands of Chinese toothpaste for testing.

Colgate said is working closely with the FDA to identify those responsible for the counterfeit product. The agency recently issued an import alert to prevent Chinese toothpaste containing the same chemical Diethylene Glycol.

The company said consumers who may have purchased this product can call 1-800-468-6502.

A Smart Idea by the FSA in the UK

UK's FSA backs folic acid in flour, curbs on food
Thu Jun 14, 5:32 PM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Food Standards Agency board on Thursday gave the go-ahead for plans to add folic acid to foods in a bid to cut birth defects and said levels should be controlled in some products to prevent over-consumption.

Wow. Thinking ahead by a government? Prevention? I wonder if our government knows the meaning of that word. Why can't our FDA do the same thing? Flouride comes to mind. Now all our food and water is filled with this metal that can be helpful at moderate levels. Who is monitoring the big picture? No one. And now Tom's of Maine the maker of one flouride-free toothpaste was bought by one of the biggies, Colgate.

Being Different - How Not Vaccinating Is Affecting Us

Over Memorial Day weekend Mary Kate, Sydney's best friend, was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia. She has no immunity because she can't make healthy blood cells, so she must "live in a plastic bubble" over the next 2 years or so, because any virus can potentially kill her. She must be home-schooled, meaning Sydney and Mary Kate won't be going to 1st grade together. Her exposure must be carefully monitored, and her circle of friends must be small and as risk-free as possible.

I know as an Autism mom what it's like when the life you think you are leading changes. A shot out to the Holland writings. But I can't imagine what it must be like for Mary Kate's mom since this is quite different, her baby's life is at risk.

It's still quite fresh, but not as raw so feel strong enough to write about how this has affected us. I know it's not all about us, it's about a very sick little girl, but this is my blog so I can write about how this has changed our lives.

At first, I thought really the only thing I can do is be a good friend, make my children available as much as possible for support. And of course offer information on alternative treatments to the mom. As the week went on we learned that because we do not vaccinate, Sydney (and Leo) are a risk to Mary Kate. Abruptly pushed to the periphery of their best friend's lives.

The biggest current threat to Mary Kate was an exposure to Chicken Pox. This was the biggest barrier to Sydney and Mary Kate reuniting. An older girl (10 maybe) had it at our school. This girl was vaccinated plus a booster but still got it. 40% of our nation gets this shot, and in our area I'm certain most people get it along with the rest of the vaccine protocol. This vaccine has increased the incidence of Shingles and increased the incidence of adults getting chicken pox even when they had it when they were children. This is because us adults aren't getting occasionally exposed to the virus which "reminds" the antibodies to be on alert. Little boosts in our adult immunity. Since fewer children are getting it in highly vaccinated areas like ours, no one is safe either by having it or getting vaccinated. A giant mess. I also have a friend tell me both of her children got the chicken pox (no biggie) through exposure at school to a recently vaccinated child - on two different occasions. This is because it's a live virus, and the incubation period is 3 weeks from the date of the shot.

In crisis mode, I put on my old Autism Hat. I searched online for hours into the night, learning about this disease. I made an emotional decision to get Sydney the chicken pox vaccine. Nothing else, just that since it was such a high risk thing for Mary Kate. I realized I didn't have the time to special order something or collect any alternative information. Months would be lost. I couldn't even get my ped on the phone to give me some options, if any.

On the good side it was thimerosol free. However it contained: fetal bovine serum, hydrolyzed gelatin, MSG, MRC-5 cells (aborted human embryo's lung cells cultures), neomycin (an antibiotic), and sucrose. Leo held her hand and Sydney held on to her stuffed bunny. So interesting, Sydney had no experience with shots so at 6, it was a different experience. She wasn't afraid and was fine. I think she liked all the attention, as the nurses were moved by the reason we slipped her in to get it done.

Both girls miserable, I knew I had to make that decision - a mental wellness choice or a physical one, in order for them to be reunited. The ONLY thing we could really do to help this little girl get well - visits from her best friend. Her mom tells me every day Mary Kate asks for Sydney, and was crushed when Sydney couldn't be at her birthday party (thankfully, she could be home on her birthday from the hospital and have a party before she started to get really weak and change). Sydney got her shot that day and has to wait 3 weeks incubation period before she can see her.

The sad thing is that Mary Kate's mom may still make a decision to keep them apart. Sydney is considered a high risk exposure, and Leo is as well with playing with her big brother. Her doctors tell her to cut us out of her life.

This news prays upon all my weak spots - because I have "foundation" issues due to being raised with no real family and adopted later, I easily succumb to feeling "abandoned" as they say in psychology. I feel like I'm different and judged for our lifestyle. Suddenly we really stand out. The moms ask me why we don't vaccinate, something that just doesn't come up. They know how "granola" we are, but we never broadcasted that we didn't vaccinate because I thought it sounded like I would be judging them. After all, they haven't studied environmental toxins, developmental disabilities, and the food supply like I have. All this information I've collected in my mind.

And the irony is no one knows WHY we live the way we do, because of Autism. Another frustration added to the list of our double identity. I considered telling the mom, but I just can't. She's not someone that keeps secrets well, and she's understandibly very emotional and unstable, for now. We'll have to see.

My daughter Sydney and Mary Kate have been inseparable since they were 3. They met in preschool. Ballet classes. Recitals. Birthday parties. And a wonderful uneventful Kindergarten shared experience. Mary Kate has always been a given. We never thought for a moment that she wouldn't be around. It was a relief to know that Sydney had a good friend that has a great mom and big brother, which also happens to be Leo's best friend. A double pleasure. Now it's a double challenge. I'm strong today, and hope we'll all adjust to their absence, to hearing about them from others. All we can do is hope, and keep in contact through writing and drawing.

Another wake up call for us. Life is short and very vulnerable. Anything can turn it upside down, even if it doesn't happen directly to you. Any info about natural alternative treatments would be greatly appreciated!

Baseball

Back in March, Leo decided he wanted to play baseball. In my town, it's quite unusual to have a boy that's never played at his age. Of course they try T Ball and if they don't like it they move on. When Leo was T Ball age we were light years away from doing it.
Since he no longer wanted to do Tae Kwon Do, I really wanted him to do some type of sport. I bravely said "Yes", knowing we'd be yet again in uncharted territory, facing the ultimate challenge, a ball, a SMALL HARD ball coming very fast towards Leo's face. I was very proud of him for wanting to try, knowing that most kids would have some experience. I was mostly proud that he wanted to try something new.

For about a year or so Leo has been playing catch regularly - football, and baseball, with Dad. He's also been playing some ball sports at school. Amazing to me that with his sensitivities he sought these things out. His obsession with sports and statistics helps I'm sure. He practiced on his own, replaying real plays in his head, almost every day after school as a decompression/transition activity.

The first few games were torture. Pure torture for old Mom here. Although this league is very laid-back and very supportive, I truly felt for him. Here was Leo, this giant kid (single A since he's never played and the oldest kid)that couldn't hit the damn ball. Not a surprise, the timing and the pitching machine really threw him. They gave him extra chances in still no luck. He was the ONLY kid on his team (and the other) that just couldn't hit the ball. He sat at the end of the bench, by himself, completely bummed but not giving up. I think what saved him was that he could throw and catch well enough in his position on first base.I sat there, deer in the headlights, wondering what I should say. Should I let him quit? At what point? On the drive home he said "I'm upset but I'll survive Mom". I reminded him about how it took him a long time to overcome his fear of swimming, but that he did overcome it and now LOVES to swim. The next game the coach brought a T-Ball thingy just for him to practice with. Leo was a little put-off by it since no one else had to use it, but I reminded him that it doesn't matter, and no one cares. The point is learning how to do it.

The next game he finally Leo "touched" the ball with the bat. Everything changed. I was crying behind my sunglasses. Big smile from Leo. He did it! He couldn't hit it the rest of the game but it didn't matter.

After that game we stopped at the grocery store across the street for a treat to celebrate - Tofutti, natch. Sydney, Leo, and I were getting in line when I saw a very familiar face in the aisle nearby. It was Amy! Leo's former ABA Clinical Supervisor - the person that designed and implemented Leo's ABA programs. It was like seeing family. She WAS like family for years. And I do miss our long conversations and our former closeness. I was overjoyed to see her and I immediately told her that we just came from baseball practice. I squinted and shook my head and she immediately got my message - those issues no longer keep him from playing a ball sport.

Leo looked at Amy and said in an inquisitive voice, "Who are you?" noticing that I am super-friendly with this person and Sydney knows her. We exchange looks and smiles, and quickly says "I'm Amy". He says he doesn't know her. Amy says "Don't worry about it." We then tell him she's a friend of his former shadow. He remembered HER alright. Tailed him for years.

I can't describe that feeling - having a "normal" day I suppose? Baseball. Grocery shopping. Leo not remembering his past as much.

The next game Leo catches a ball as 1st baseman, a close one. As the ball was landing in his glove, he shut his eyes tight. The reaction I'm more accustomed to seeing. I smile with seeing that familiar face. Leo opens his eyes and smiles at the site of the ball and confirmation from the coach's face.

The coach says, "You can open your eyes now Leo."

Leo wanted to march in the Memorial Day Parade. He had so much fun! Just a few short years ago that would've been suicide, just attending a parade. It was so cute seeing Leo and his team in their uniforms walking.

Just one more game. He's going to miss it.

Lenny Schafer's Commentary on Vaccines in Court

I just read this in today's Schafer Report. I think it's perfect so I thought I'd post it. More soon...I've been buried. Ashley

Brief Commentary: The editorial conclusion, "Research to discover what
causes autism, including possible environmental triggers, must be a top
priority" is disingenuous for the author to assert. The purpose of this
editorial, and of all the experts who labor to deny the growth of autism, is
to sow complacency -- to turn the public's attention away from autism.
This is a backhand defense of mercury containing vaccines as the cause
of autism. If there is no "epidemic", then there is nothing there to cause
it. It's an instant alibi for mercury tainted vaccines. The reality is that
the CDC has arduously avoided conducting epidemiological research to track
the real incidence and prevalence of autism, despite all "better diagnosing"
over the last dozen years.
Why, with all the growing suffering of autism across the country has
the CDC avoided counting our children? Perhaps, they already know the
answers and are willing to sacrifice thousands of children in the name of
promoting herd immunity -- for the greater good against infectious diseases.
This may sound good in theory, unless you have a child with autism.
- Lenny Schafer

The Autism Most People Can't See

I can finally sit down and do an update. I have so much reading to catch up on too!

Instead of blogging, I've been using my nights to catch up from the days and finish some last minute knitting projects for birthdays and new babies. I enjoy the work, it relaxes me and in theory keeps my hands from late night snacking! Spring has been beyond busy, more than Christmas/Hanuka. Since multi-tasking isn't a natural state for me, I try to live a simple life. Unavoidable this time of year, so knowing this I try to be positive and don't forget to enjoy every day. We were on vacation for spring break, and again I found myself reflecting on the previous year, taking it all in. Not just for Leo, but for Sydney and for Husband.

We arrived in the afternoon at a beach resort. So far so good - I barely give notice to what travel used to be like. Guaranteed regression, health symptoms at the highest level, due to Leo simply being out of his element plus lack of sleep and food changes. The stress of shipping food, talking to restaurants in advance, finding Leo a place to sleep and have down time in the afternoon was critical to his wellness just a few years ago. But this afternoon, Leo is the same as he always is.

The next day is Husband's birthday. Traditionally, his birthdays have always sucked. The actual day that is. We celebrated before we left - Spiderman theme, and cute presents that the kids picked out. Husband is in a good place - doing stuff "for him", he really likes his job (how many people can say that?). But this day Leo crashed. Vacation caught up to him and for whatever reason, a virus, sleep-deprivation, or climate change, or everything together, Leo became Autism Poster Boy (APB).

Unless you also have a child with Autism, you'll just observe a child that seems tired and a bit out-of-it. Autism is something most people can't see. Leo isn't just "any kid" fatigued from the trip. His biology becomes apparent only to a trained eye. Leo becomes very lethargic and spacey. As we are walking around the resort, he loses spacial awareness - he walks in front of me and slows down, not noticing he's in front of me. He starts walking "funny" by straightening out his knees first before touching the ground as if he's doing self joint compression. I impatiently yell out REGULAR WALKING LEO without even thinking, making Husband self-conscious. He does this with his arms too, as well as swings them around side to side without awareness that people are around and almost hits them. He walks looking down. Realizing what's going on, I look at his face to see dark circles.

Husband and I conference as we walk, and it dawns on us that Leo is APB. I quickly get angry and frustrated, showing little empathy. I tell myself I must pull it together, and vacation will be "what it is", and I should be grateful. I wonder if we should cancel our kayak trip, thinking Leo may not be up for it. Husband takes on his old role of Protector, and tells me that I need to stop correcting him so much, that obviously he's not feeling well. Husband reminds me that Leo is allowed to have a bad day - something that's "my issue".

We walk to an outdoor restaurant and order food. I now begin clock watching, something I've had to do less often now that Leo's blood sugar is much less sensitive. I wonder where I could buy a bag of chips in case the food takes too long. I don't want Leo to become so out-of-it, that the whole day becomes a day of Leo not feeling well. I get mad at myself for not carrying a snack in my bag like I used to. What was I thinking?

Leo and Sydney see a basketball court next to the restaurant and decide to go on over to play while we wait for the food. There are a couple of older boys playing. Leo typically would have asked to play. Instead, Leo begins to play imaginary football within his internal world. In his mind, he picks teams and what player he is, and uses real statistics to reenact a play. He does this stimming to pacify himself. He doesn't even notice spatially where the basketball players are, and runs right into their play. I yell over, and redirect him like I used to to the other end of the court.

To the casual observer, he looks like a kid running around the court.

Dinner finally comes, and Leo's lost all his manners. He chews giant mouth fulls of chicken Caesar salad and fries, smacking away with the plate and napkin not in front of him. Husband and I squabble a bit, both in bad moods because we are tired and because Leo isn't himself. I tell Leo that I'm sorry I'm so grumpy, and that it's hard to see him not feel well. I tell husband I'm sorry his birthday was filled with grumpiness and a kid not feeling well.

After a full night sleep and a belly full of omelette and hash browns (enzymes too, natch), Leo seems to be himself again. APB is gone. I apologize to him for being so impatient, and remind him that he used to ALWAYS feel that way, and so when it happens it's scary and hard for mom to switch gears. I tell him again how proud I am that because of all his "extra help", hard work, and perseverance (the good kind ha ha), he doesn't have very many of those days.

I smile as we walk through a parking lot because Leo notices the foreign license plates. We hold hands and talk about his license plate book at home and how we have to remember to write these new ones down. He loves them! I smile because he's memorized so many sports stats and now knows more than Husband. I smile as Leo rattles off dozens of countries as he and Sydney walk around on a tiled world map that's on the floor of a restaurant. The cashier looks up, impressed by his knowledge.

I smile at the fact that Leo eagerly agrees to try out kayaking, something he's never done. True, I am also thinking about vestibular/proprioseptive instability in the kayak, topped by Leo's former fear of death and drowning (this took 2 years of Aquatic OT). To my relief, he loves it. Husband enjoys seeing me and Leo talking and working together as a team in the double kayak. Our day was one of those great family days that'll we'll certainly remember.

Other things I found interesting on our trip:

We met a family where BOTH parents are pediatricians. The son, Leo's age, had sensory issues that I immediately saw (sand, sea weed,etc). Here was Leo, bounding in the ocean Laborador style, while the other boy watched. Here was I, talking about SI with the mom, a pediatrician. And I was telling her things that she knew nothing about! She was very curious, since I shared just that Leo had/has SI too. I chose not to say anything about Leo's dx since the family lived near us, and most likely we'd see again socially - the irony! Here I thought I had an opportunity to share our unique outcome, as well as the fact that Autism isn't a hopeless stereotype to pediatricians that usually are in the dark.

I smile as I watch Leo initiate a football catch with a few other boys his age while in the ocean. He is so happy running around and chatting away about sports, Webkins, and other second grade things.

Later on, I look over and notice that all parents were reading at the same time. Husband was reading Outside Mag and a trade journal. I was reading The China Study, my latest environmental book which I'll be blogging about later.

And what were the peds reading? Madamoiselle and Esquire. I know it's vacation, but I found it very interesting. Us parents are always at the helm of information rather than the medical community.

FDA Targets Unapproved Nausea Drugs

FDA Targets Unapproved Nausea Drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it was asking manufacturers of a certain type of drug to treat nausea and vomiting to stop making and marketing the products. Specifically, the FDA is asking manufacturers of suppository drug products that contain trimethobenzamide hydrochloride to stop making them because they are not FDA-approved.

" Nausea. Oh Nausea. Rock on." Anyone know that Beck song?
What's the most nauseous to you? For me, it's the FDA's conduct toward the Autism population. Indeed, most nauseating.

Disney lets gays and lesbians have fairy tale weddings

Disney lets gays and lesbians have fairy tale weddings
Story Highlights according to the Assoc. Press:
• Disney letting same-sex couples use Fair Tale Wedding program
• Had limited program to couples with valid marriage licenses
• Disney says it welcomes "every guest in an inclusive environment"
• Some religious groups have condemned "gay days" at parks

I say YAY!

Is This Normal?

Blogger McEwen posted something about this recently. She's got a point. I walked past my living room this morning and saw this. Who did this?

My typical 5 almost 6 year old daughter.

And if you must know YES those bunnies and chicks are the wind-up version - I'm a fine motor addict!

Acceptance vs. Awareness, Can These Autism Goals Co-Exist?

I think they can. Factions within the Autism Community hurt each other by bashing each other and discriminating against each other. I've been thinking a lot about the criticism Oprah and her Autism Speaks guests have ALREADY recieved, and I am thinking about the big wave of bashing they'll get later tonight in the blogging world. It's so distressing! Here are some thoughts to ponder:

1) Awareness is good no matter what angle. No matter what isn't covered. No matter what insulting symantics are used. Remember, the American public doesn't live in the world of Autism like we do. The American public must learn their ABCs before we can expect them to accept Autism for ALL that it is. How can one appreciate Shakespeare if they cannot even read?

Awareness gets children diagnosed.
Awareness gets children services.
Awareness gets parents talking about this once taboo subject. I now hear it and it's so exciting!

The controversial topic of Autism how now

tipped

into the mainstream. Once taboo, the media will now cover it. Oprah can now safely cover it. This is a good thing. Symantics will only improve over time, not get worse. I'm thrilled that Aspergers made it big on ABC too.

2) Autism must be marketed. Marketing 101 dictates that your message must be clear and concise. The message must be ONE big thing, something for the listener to remember and walk away with. People always complain about what the media DIDN'T cover. How can one hour represent everything people would want, let alone the major topics of autism such as genes, biomedical, therapeutic, and adult life challenges? Presenting something else along with the disabiling aspects of this disorder would confuse the layman, the message would get watered down. Niche segments are the way to go too, such as ABC's Aspergers coverage: Kids With Asperger's Syn.: 'Bullied on a Daily Basis', Asperger's Syndrome: Separating Myth From Reality, Asperger's Syndrome Resources

3)Those that know next to nothing about Autism far outnumber the adults and parents that have been living in the world of Autism for years. Most of us enlightened ones didn't automatically accept Autism. How can we accept something COMPLETELY that takes months to understand? It's hard to remember what it was like going through those early stages of the learning curve.

These newbies, the parents of young children by far are the biggest audience out there. They need our support. They need their families and communities to understand. They need funding, and often focusing on the disabling aspects of this disorder makes these things happen. The thing that drives me most crazy is our children NOT getting the support they need. The goal for most of us parents I'd think, to be able to support their children.

4) This is

just

the beginning. The media, global understanding, and tolerance for our differences will evolve. It must start somewhere, and it's with the ABCs.

5) Here's a link to the M.D. that will be on Oprah today: Bryan Jepson, father and M.D.

6) Parents and grandparents of Autism are all the same in that we share this disorder. We all deserve support and should honor each other. The path is different for everyone, what works is different for everyone, the focus is different for everyone.

And that's okay.

Oprah on Thursday

Stay tuned. Finally.

Today and Friday

Today my close friend told me her son has autism.
Today I made a play date with a classmate of Leo's, PDD-Boy, for Wednesday.
Today was Passover and Leo thought it was cool hearing about the parting of the Red Sea.
Today the kids played the piano for Grandma.
Today I repainted blackboards (the kind used with erasers) for preschool.
Today I marveled at the fact that I'm a preschool teacher. There's that planning thing again!

Friday was Parent Teacher Conferences. I was shocked to learn that Leo and his class took a standardized test for Reading called the Gates. I almost died when she pulled the booklet out of his folder. I first got angry, always my first response. I thought they started standardized testing in 3rd grade for gods sake!I started to sweat, and surmised the outcome quickly in my head. Leo didn't finish it on time, he got confused by the bubbles and such. No problem, we'll open up an IEP, he'll qualify for untimed testing, we'll practice test taking skills, and take a deap breath until 3rd grade metacognition.

None of what I predicted came true. But, Leo's teacher was a little concerned about his score - average, since his skill level, according to her, was far better. Nothing to worry about, yeah right. I wonder what this will mean for the future. Maybe spacial planning, organization, timing, or other executive functioning skills will become disabling? I'm ready if that's the case. I say bring it! She said it's his first test, and not to be concerned. She just noted that she was surprised. Okay then.

She also stated that some fine motor things are challenging for Leo. Example: they all made totem poles made of paper towel rolls and cut-out shapes that require a long thin slit to be cut. The cutting was a challenge and it took him a while to figure out the hole-poke-then-cut trick. Everything else, fine. Then she said: He is ready for 3rd grade. Say what?

Great handwriting, reading, and he has a large group of friends, one best friend, and most importantly he's very happy. He can even do geometry - copy a 3 dimensional shape onto paper. Every week he surprises me since I can link so much of the things he can do back to therapy goals. And this was a kid that couldn't copy a 2 block imitation. We worked so hard on that hand-over-hand for years (yogurt cups, crayons, matchboxes, anything he wanted).

Tae Kwon Do, The Bittersweet End To An Era

Today is Saturday and we are not at the Tae Kwon Do studio. Kind of weird. I'm still hardwired to hunt down his pants and shirt and belt. Today, I just had to make coffee and fix breakfast.

Leo has been taking Tae Kwon Do for 4 years. Like many parents, we used it for PT and OT reasons. I remember those first few times he went. I was so anxious after the many failed attempts at utilizing gymnastics and swimming, I passed the chore to Dad. After all, Dad in theory was in charge of gross motor.

Those first couple of months were tough, like everything new we tried. Leo was SOOHH overstimulated by the yelling (AYE!), the noise level can get very high and unanticipated. Mirrors everywhere, very confusing. Kids are moving around all directions. But we kept at it, actually HE kept at it. We saw that he really wanted to do it (he must have thought it was way easier than anything else we've offered up to this point).

Eventually he settled in and fell in love with this rule-bound individual sport.

Rules?
Individual?
Cool outfit?
Perfect.

Mom and Dad fell in love with the philosophy; To build a more peaceful world. TKD focuses on the positive aspects of an individual's personality: Respect, Courtesy, Goodness, Trustworthiness, Loyalty, Humility, Courage, Patience, Integrity, Perseverance (ha yeah, the irony), Self-control, an Indomitable Spirit and a sense of responsibility to help and respect all forms of life.

We fought so hard to find money to pay for it. We asked our district to pay for it too (one year they did).

Last year Leo began losing interest. His interest in team sports like soccer took over. He began losing enthusiasm for TKD. Sure, when we were there he enjoyed himself, but he began to complain about going. We took a couple Saturdays off, thinking some away time may rejuvinate him. That lasted a while. Getting a new belt.

The time had come to pay again for the year. Leo didn't want to renew, and talked about how he'd miss his instructor and his friends. I too felt conflicted about ending TKD. After all, will Leo's rate of development change (his coordination, his sensory integration). We sat down and talked about the pros and cons, and decided not to go back. We also realized if we regretted this later we could always join again. Leo was relieved to know he wouldn't have to start over with belts. He'd still be high red.

TKD made me feel safe. Letting go of the last piece of what I consider therapy is very difficult. I have to let go and let go of Leo a bit. Let him make some of his own decisions. Let him choose to try baseball this year even though I've already had bad dreams about that one (Leo getting hurt orfeeling inadequate, becoming resensitized in his face).

I've sat down to write the TKD instructor a caring note, but I'm just not in a place to do it just yet.

So spring soccer and spring (gulp) baseball it is.

'The eyes have it' — autism research yields surprising results

'The eyes have it' — autism research yields surprising results
PA51/07 — March 26 2007

Autistic children are able to interpret the mental state of others by looking at their eyes, contrary to previous research, a new University of Nottingham study has found.

In findings that contradict previous studies, psychologists found that autistic children can 'read' a stranger's mental state based on that person's eyes. Autistic children have long been thought to be poor at interpreting people's mental states based on facial expressions, especially expressions around the eyes.

Some researchers believe that this lack of ability could be central to the social problems experienced by autistic children and adults.

But the latest findings cast doubt on this hypothesis. A study at The University of Nottingham found that autistic children were able to interpret mental states when looking at animated facial expressions. The findings also suggest that the use of moving images, rather than conventional still pictures, gives a much more accurate measure of the abilities of autistic children.

Researchers hope that by increasing understanding of autism, their findings may ultimately help in the teaching and treatment of people with the condition.

Published in the latest issue of the journal Child Development, the study was led by Dr Elisa Back. Her co-researchers were Professor Peter Mitchell and Dr Danielle Ropar of the School of Psychology at The University of Nottingham.

Dr Back said: “Previous findings show that children and adolescents with autism may have difficulty reading mental states from facial expressions but our results suggest that this is not due to an inability to interpret information from the eyes.

“Surprisingly, autistic children seemed particularly reliant on the eyes and also the mouth when making mentalistic inferences.

“The conclusions of previous research are largely based on methods that present static photographs to participants. Our study indicates that a more accurate measure of the abilities of those with autism can be obtained through the use of sophisticated digital imaging techniques with animated facial expressions.”

The study compared two groups of autistic children, one group aged 10–14 and one aged 11–15, with two control groups of non-autistic children. They underwent a series of tests to see whether they could gauge the mental state of a stranger by looking at different parts of the face.

Researchers conducted two experiments in which the participants looked at a series of facial expressions on a laptop screen. In the facial images used, the eyes and mouth were either 'freeze-framed' in a neutral expression, or animated and expressive. By showing a sequence of different combinations, they were able to gauge which aspects of the face were used by the autistic children to 'read' someone's mental state — and how successful they were.

In the second experiment, the 18 autistic children involved were as successful as non-autistic children in interpreting mental states, whether they saw the eyes in isolation or in the context of the whole face. This indicates that autistic children do, in fact, make use of information from the eyes — a finding that contradicts prior studies.

An estimated 588,000 people have autism in the UK, according to the National Autistic Society. A mental health survey by the Office for National Statistics found the prevalence of children and young people anywhere on the autistic spectrum is 0.9 per cent — almost one in every 100.

Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham is Britain's University of the Year (The Times Higher Awards 2006). It undertakes world-changing research, provides innovative teaching and a student experience of the highest quality. Ranked by Newsweek in the world's Top 75 universities, its academics have won two Nobel Prizes since 2003. The University is an international institution with campuses in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and China.

More information is available from Media Relations Manager Tim Utton in the University's Media and Public Relations Office on +44 (0)115 846 8092, tim.utton@nottingham.ac.uk

This is very exciting news! Indeed the language of the eyes is extremely important, one component of where us humans (and other animals) obtain social information. Hopefully research like this can assist therapists and evaluators into pinpointing the root of social deficits. For some, it may not be info from the eyes. It may be other parts of the face, body language, tone, or just trouble putting the pieces together as a whole.

Ami Klin (Yale) also used live video rather than stills in his research. He also demonstrated how many ASD adults look at the mouth when people talk. Makes sense.

I was talking to a friend recently about her son and eye contact. His eye contact is now excellent. However, her son misses other social cues/information because he focuses too much on the eyes. He has actually been overtrained (for lack of a better word) to look at the eyes.

Mercury in energy-saving bulbs worries scientists

Mercury in energy-saving bulbs worries scientists
By Lisa Von Ahn
Thu Mar 29

There's an old joke about the number of people it takes to change a light bulb. But because the newer energy-efficient kinds contain tiny amounts of mercury, the hard part is getting rid of them when they burn out.

Mercury is poisonous, but it's also a necessary part of most compact fluorescent bulbs, the kind that environmentalists and some governments are pushing as a way to cut energy use.

With an estimated 150 million CFLs sold in the United States in 2006 and with Wal-Mart alone hoping to sell 100 million this year, some scientists and environmentalists are worried that most are ending up in garbage dumps.

Mercury is probably best-known for its effects on the nervous system. The Mad Hatter in the classic children's book "Alice in Wonderland" was based on 19th-century hat makers who were continually exposed to the toxin.

Mercury can also damage the kidneys and liver, and in sufficient quantities can cause death.

U.S. regulators, manufacturers and environmentalists note that, because CFLs require less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs, they reduce overall mercury in the atmosphere by cutting emissions from coal-fired power plants.

But some of the mercury emitted from landfills is in the form of vaporous methyl-mercury, which can get into the food chain more readily than inorganic elemental mercury released directly from a broken bulb or even coal-fired power plants, according to government scientist Steve Lindberg.

"Disposal of any mercury-contaminated material in landfills is absolutely alarming to me," said Lindberg, emeritus fellow of the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The mercury content in the average CFL -- now about 5 milligrams -- would fit on the tip of a ballpoint pen, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and manufacturers have committed to cap the amount in most CFLs to 5 milligrams or 6 milligrams per bulb.

The majority of Philips Lighting's bulbs contain less than 3 milligrams, and some have as little as 1.23 milligrams, said spokesman Steve Goldmacher.

To prevent mercury from getting into landfills, the EPA, CFL makers and various organizations advocate recycling.

Besides commercial recyclers and some municipal waste collection services, some retailers accept used CFLs.

IKEA, the Swedish home furnishings chain, has free drop-off programs at all of its 234 stores, 29 of which are in the United States. Spokeswoman Mona Astra Liss said response was slow at first, but has since picked up.

Now advocacy groups are calling on Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other big chains to get involved.

Andy Ruben, vice president for corporate sustainability at Wal-Mart, said the company was working with the EPA's Office of Solid Waste and others to find mercury and recycling solutions.

RECYCLING HURDLES

One problem with recycling is that it isn't cheap.

Larry Chalfan, executive director of the Zero Waste Alliance environmental group, said the value of the metal, glass and mercury reclaimed from recycling fails to offset the cost of the process. "Someone has to pay," he said.

Costs can range from 20 cents to 50 cents per bulb -- not a paltry sum when some CFLs sell for less than $2 at Wal-Mart.

But, compared with the overall lifecycle cost of buying and using a bulb, recycling would be less than 1 percent, said Paul Abernathy, executive director of the Association of Lighting & Mercury Recyclers, "a small price to keep the mercury out of the environment."

Another obstacle lies in the fragility of the bulbs and their mercury content.

"People who are going to accumulate these things from the public are going to have to address the fact that breakage will happen," Abernathy said. "There's the potential for contamination, and I think right now people are a little hesitant to volunteer to take on this liability."

The U.S. government has no single recycling plan in mind, said Matt Hale, director of the EPA's Office of Solid Waste.

Among the alternatives are special curbside collections by municipalities, mail-back programs by manufacturers and drop-off programs at various places, including retail stores that sell CFLs, he said.

Some methods lend themselves to certain geographic areas more than others, Hale said, because of differences in population density, transportation infrastructure and proximity to recycling sites.

State laws are also a factor.

Federal regulations mandate recycling of fluorescent lighting, while exempting households and other small users. Some states, however, are strict. For example, California no longer allows anyone to throw CFLs in the trash, while Massachusetts requires manufacturers to implement recycling programs and meet certain targets.

As technology advances, however, mercury could become less of an issue, at least as far as light bulbs are concerned.

Last month General Electric Co. said it was working on doubling the energy efficiency of incandescent lights and eventually developing versions comparable with CFLs. These bulbs, which the company hopes to begin marketing in 2010, will cost less than fluorescents but they won't last as long.

Meanwhile, some environmentally minded consumers are embracing CFLs and doing their best to dispose of them responsibly.

"I have CFLs throughout my house," said Lindberg, who lives in California. "None of them have burned out yet. I can't tell you what I'll do with them when they've burned out, but I won't throw them in the garbage."
Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited.

Hmm...the number one neurotoxin now being advertised and promoted. Arg, when will it end? There's gotta be a greener solution that doesn't cause disorders in living things.

Eat a lot of beef? It may affect your son's sperm

Eat a lot of beef? It may affect your son's sperm
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science EditorWed Mar 28

U.S. women who eat a lot of beef while pregnant give birth to sons who grow up to have low sperm counts, researchers reported on Tuesday.
They believe pesticides, hormones or contaminants in cattle feed may be to blame. Chemicals can build up in the fat of animals that eat contaminated feed or grass, and cattle were and are routinely given hormones to boost their growth.
"In sons of 'high beef consumers' (more than seven beef meals/week), sperm concentration was 24.3 percent lower," the researchers wrote in their report, published in the journal Human Reproduction.
FOR MORE, read Reuters

Not surprising. Another way to look at how hormones are passed through our food to us.

U.S. Lawmakers Eye Incentives For Kids' Therapies

U.S. lawmakers eye incentives for kids' therapies
By Susan HeaveyTue Mar 27
Patent extensions for drug companies that test their medicines for use in children should be continued, U.S. lawmakers heard on Tuesday at a hearing that also considered incentives for devicemakers.
The provision, set to expire in September, allows pharmaceutical companies to receive a six-month patent extension in exchange for conducting clinical trials of their therapies for younger patients.
Such studies are key for doctors and parents to choose the best and most effective treatments for children. Without them, physicians must decide what therapy to use and how much based only on data gathered on adults.
At a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, medical and industry experts urged lawmakers to renew the practice of allowing drugmakers to hold exclusive rights longer in return for the information.
"Children's differing metabolism, growth and development, and size have very large effects," Dr. Richard Gorman said on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics, adding that nearly two-thirds of medicines used in children are not specifically labeled for them. MOREReuters Limited

Finally we are hearing some good news. I know it's because economics now dictate that it's more cost effective, but he, whatever works to get our kids cared for.

Does Disco Cause Autism?

JUST kidding! So my new thing is to listen to a 70's station on my favorite music provider, Sirius, each night in the kitchen during chore time. Right at 4:30pm, I pluck it on and tackle the kitchen disaster that awaits and set up for dinner. (yes I love my structure). I need that boogie beat to get me going and keep me going. Leo also does his homework while I clean up, mix supplements, and talk about his day. Tonight is like no other night, other than that Leo mentions that this kind of music "repeats the same thing over and over mom, and now it's stuck in my head".

Leo's got a point, and I realize that Disco has a lot in common with Autism.
Let's take a look:

1)It's repetitive.
2)Sometimes the vocals are inaudible.
3)It certainly gets us moving.
4)Was very popular in the 70's but no one admitted it.
5)Had environmental triggers like drugs,alcohol,free love, and aerosol cans galore (to clarify I'm only talking about disco here)
6)Stereotypical 70's clothes are very sensory friendly - that polyester is quite soft and non-restrictive.
7)Bright lights and colors were popular off and on the dance floor (sensory seekers only please)

Did I miss any? Little help, little help?

Webkinz

And speaking of Webkinz, has anyone seen these suckers?
Once I caught wind of them, I swore them off. I swore I'd never buy them for my kids. After all, why do my kids need stuffed animals that need to be "fed" online in their Webkin world, when we are up to our eyeballs with real animals?

Now I'm eating my words. I've sucumbed for social reasons for my kids. So many of their friends have them, so I had to investigate. It's actually okay. You buy a poorly made, not that cute, stuffed animal that comes with a code. You join Webkins online.

The good part is that they can actually learn something - mainly about how to earn money (by playing trivia or pac-man-like games) so they can buy virtual food, clothing, couches, beds, and other stuff for their pet's room. You must feed them, exercise them, and take them to the doctor. But it's pretty low maintenance which is key. The shopping is actually set up very much like a real online shopping experience - you place things in cart, view cart, etc. Your bank account is always visible.

There's also a limited version chatting with your friends and having their Webkin over for a play date. Very cute! It's set up to be very safe - as safe as one can be online. A person also cannot write anything to another person, you must choose a stock comment from a list. I like that!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things....

Raindrops on roses?
Whiskers on kittens?
Yes please, but other than that I love books.
I love good books.
And I love books that really work for Leo's unique learning style, mostly visual. Indeed!

Geronimo Stilton

I like Geronimo because the author (Geronimo like his main character) illustrates his text. It's so visual but not TOO visual, giving the potential to please any sensory palette. For example, when Geronimo writes the word "red", it's the color red. If he writes a descriptive word like "huge", well, it's HUGE. It's funny, Lot's of play on words, and the character isn't black and white. Gotta love it.

Geronimo also comes with a whole world full of maps and consistent characters that pop up in most books. Family members, friends. Each of Geronimo's adventures teaches stuff about the destination (Australia, Egypt). It's amazing how much he's learned about different countries, another interest (geography) so it's an excellent tie-in on obsessions.

Leo loves these books, and it's no surprise to share that he's OBSESSED with having all of the books. Leo is a collector. He enjoys coming home from school, spreading out his books in order. Some days, it's in the order he's read them. Others, it's by publishing date. Some days he'll play library with Sydney, and she'll come to browse his collection and pick one out.

Leo reads them at school too. Has a couple in his "book bin". The other day, he said "Mom, I can't wait for reading time at school. I'm at a really good part of my Geronimo book. He's stuck in a cheese trap, and I haven't figured out how he's going to escape."

Music to any parent's ears, right? Looking forward to reading? I realize it may not last, but hey, I'll happily enjoy it for now.

Still obsessed with football, collecting state quarters, and Webkins!
4 days till parent/teacher conference....

Top Reasons to Hate the FDA

1) A new report contends that mistakes and mismanagement by the FDA have delayed a new computer system to track the side effects of drugs after they go on the market. The agency rejects its conclusions. It seems everyday we hear about a recall!

2)The FDA has promoted the use of cough medicines for children for years when they have never been tested on children. Old formulas have simply been re-packaged and marketed with guestimates for usage. Finally, they are admitting they are unsafe and shouldn't be used!

3)Promoting the use of vaccines for preemies

4) Fresh food guidelines

5) Mad cow mismanagement

6)Promotion of cloned food

Discover Magazine Article

I admit. Discover magazine is one of my favorites!
It makes me think.
It makes me ponder and ponder and ponder.
It makes me talk to my husband about topics that I don't think about living my ordinary day.

If you feel like a breath of fresh air, buy the latest Discover Magazine that's got Autism featured on the cover. No matter what, you gotta love that.

Even better, it's got a very readable take on the non-gene side of Autism. The gut and the immune system. Not new news for most of us, but let's think of the American public - they only read about the epidemic and the genes. To this we should celebrate, even when Discover is a male skewed mag.

Autism: It’s Not Just in the Head

Here's the headline:
The devastating derangements of autism also show up in the gut and in the immune system. That unexpected discovery is sparking new treatments that target the body in addition to the brain.

On other notes:
Picking up our first hybrid tomorrow afternoon! We are lucky we can afford to have one.
Worry List number one: Leo's Parent/Teacher Conference NEXT Friday. Stay tuned. I'm freaked, but not as freaked as last time since I know what I'm workin' with.

Keywords and Sitemeter

So I admit I am completely addicted to Sitemeter. I am fascinated with how new visitors reach my site. They also help me make my site better. BUT, these keywords keep me up at night. Here are a few from this week's searches:

"autism recovery"
"how do I teach math to a 1st grader with autism"
"autism spins wheels on cars for hours"
"baby sick symptoms "hands in mouth"
"opening and shutting cabinet doors all day toddler"

Autism recovery the most common keyword I see. The irony: My objective with posting my main website was to disseminate social skills technology that most professionals and parents don't seem to have access to. Not discuss recovery!

But it seems this is what a newly diagnosed parent wants to know.
Question 1: What the heck is Autism?
Question 2: Can we get rid of it?

It's the other keywords that cause a visceral reaction. Not because these keywords can mean Autism. But because schools and pediatricians fail this generation of parents and these innocent children. How? Because for many parents, my website is the first site they see about Autism. After all, I'm just a "lowly parent". There is no hand-book. There is no one-size-fits-all. There's just our story and info about viable treatment options. And of course, my ramblings on this blog.

What keeps me up at night? Thinking about that "cabinet" parent. What will they do next? Will their child be diagnosed soon? Will their child get the services they deserve to maximize their potential? Are they awake too? Worrying about their child? Wondering what is wrong? Wondering how they can get to the bottom of this?

And how about the 1st grade teacher? Who is helping THIS person? What an amazing person, researching away on their puny salary. A person that cares about our children. And one site they've clicked on is mine? Like my site can help? I don't think so!

Fruit and Veggies CDC Report

Americans Not Eating Enough Fruit And Vegetables Says CDC Report
Article Date: 16 Mar 2007 - 7:00 PDT

A report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that Americans are not eating enough fruit and vegetables.

The report reveals that across America no state is achieving national targets for fruit and vegetable consumption. And across the nation as a whole, the number of people eating the target daily amount of fruit and vegetables is only half what the government is aiming for by the year 2010.

The government campaign, Healthy People 2010, was started in 2000 and gives a set of 10-year targets for improving the health of Americans. One important area of the campaign is diet, and consumption of fruit and vegetables in particular.

A diet high in fruit and vegetables protects health in two ways. First, it is linked to lower incidence of chronic disease. Second, because fruit and vegetables pack fewer calories for the equivalent volume of processed foods, a diet high in these ingredients helps people keep their weight down.

The Healthy People 2010 targets include increasing to 75 per cent the proportion of Americans over 2 years of age who eat two or more servings of fruit a day, and to 50 per cent the proportion who eat three or more servings a day of vegetables, with at least one serving comprising dark green or orange vegetables.

The CDC report found that in 2005:

33 per cent of adult Americans ate fruit two or more times a day, with:
- men eating more fruit than women,
- seniors eating more fruit than 35 to 44 year olds,
- Hispanics eating more fruit than other racial/ethnic groups,
- non-Hispanic whites eating the least,
- college graduates eating more fruit than those with lower education levels,
- people earning more than 50,000 US dollars a year eating more fruit than those earning less, and
- people neither obese nor overweight (Body Mass Index, BMI, under 25) eating the most and obese people (BMI over 30) eating the least amount of fruit.

27 per cent of adult Americans ate vegetables three or more times a day, with:
- men eating fewer vegetables than women,
- seniors eating more vegetables than 18 to 24 year olds,
- whites eating more vegetables than other racial/ethnic groups,
- Hispanics eating the least,
- college graduates eating more vegetables than those with lower education levels,
- people earning more than 50,000 US dollars a year eating more vegetables than those earning less, and
- people neither obese nor overweight (BMI under 25) eating the most and overweight people (BMI 25 to 30) eating the least amount of vegetables.

The report used data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), to assess adult consumption of fruit and vegetable by state and demographic characteristics.

The BRFSS is an annual random telephone survey designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that monitors health behaviour and other factors contributing to the leading causes of disease and death in the population. It includes six questions on frequency, quantity and variety of fruit and vegetable intake.

The analysis took in data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC), and after excluding incomplete and invalid responses, it covered over 300,000 people across the nation.

In conclusion, the CDC report suggests that if America is to reach the 2010 targets, then a "more sustained and effective public health response is needed, including continued surveillance, identification of barriers to eating more fruits and vegetables, and environmental changes (eg, increasing the proportion of fruits and vegetables in vending machines and promoting healthful food advertising and the availability of healthful foods)".

They also recommend more campaigns and interventions to persuade people to eat more healthily, for instance by increasing public awareness of the benefits of fruit and vegetables. They mention the changes in recommended numbers of daily servings of fruit and vegetables, according to sex, age and physical activity.

According to the US government's 5aday.com campaign, a 25 year old male who gets less than 30 minutes a day of exercise should eat 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables.

This would be equivalent to eating the following fruit and vegetables over the course of one day:

Morning (1 cup fruit):
Half a grapefruit, and
1 small banana

Lunchtime (1 cup veg, 1 cup fruit):
Medium plate of salad (peppers, cucumber, tomato, lettuce, raw carrot), and
1 apple

Evening (2 cups veg):
1 baked potato, and
1 cup of green beans or cooked greens

5aday.com give examples of what constitutes 1 cup of fruit and vegetables.

1 cup of fruit is equal to one of the following:
1 medium grapefruit
1 large banana
1 small apple
1 medium pear
1 small wedge of watermelon
1 large orange
3 medium plums
8 large strawberries

1 cup of vegetables/salad is equal to one of the following:
1 large bell pepper
2 large celery stalks
1 medium potato (preferably baked, not fried)
1 cup cooked or 2 cups raw greens (spinach, collards, mustard greens, turnip greens)
1 large sweet potato
12 baby carrots (or 2 medium carrots)
10 broccoli or cauliflower florets
1 cup of green beans
2 cups of lettuce (counts as 1 cup of vegetables)

5aday.com, as do many other nutrition guides, stress the importance of eating fresh fruit and vegetables in a range of colours, since this is a good way to ensure you get the variety of minerals and vitamins you need.

"Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Adults: United States, 2005."
CDC MMWR Weekly Report, March 16, 2007 / 56(10);213-217

Written by: Catharine Paddock
Writer: Medical News Today

Interesting there isn't any chemical or toxin consumption allowances. After all, the agency's name says Center For DISEASE CONTROL. Hmm.... For me personally, it was a nice reminder to know what the cup equivalents are.

The Secret Lives of our ASD Mainstreamed Kids

There are 3 kids with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in Leo's 2nd grade mainstreamed public classroom. Leo, Aspie Girl, and PDD Boy. They sound like superheroes, don't they? Three out of 22 kids. This, my friends, is the new normal. This doesn't include the other proud owners of IEPs for other disorders or delays.

Leo's teacher, his peers, and the parents do not know about his Autism label.
The para that allegedly assists Aspie Girl doesn't know either. The majority of parents believe paras are there to help the teacher, like an assistant teacher. They must believe our district "gave" our class a para out of kindness or something. Like there's money for THAT. Moms look at it like positive status. An extra that a fellow mom may lose out on. "My class doesn't have a para this year" a fellow mom says gloomily, while another mom perks up to say how wonderful "her" para is, and how she helps her son all the time. What about OUR kids? The reason they are there?

Leo reports how the para is the one that checks his weekly sentences. How is it that I know her handwriting and not the teachers? Leo reports the para checks the mail, makes copies, doing all that assistant stuff while Aspie Girl loses out on any natural opportunities for learning.

Naturally, Aspie Girl is a bright girl and friendly. She has several friends that I see her play with during recess. Aspie Girl, according to Leo, is a "help needed" kid, a kid that "needs extra help". She makes her daily trip down to the Assisted Learning Room and attendes "lunch bunch" with other help needed kids in 2nd grade.

I assume Aspie Girl's program is crappy, because not once have I seen the para do anything for her, other than "watch her", like glorified babysitting. No facilitation, no explanations, during recess or at a day long field I attended.

During this beach field trip, the kids gathered around a naturalist that was holding up sea creatures while giving a talk on them. I see Aspie Girl off to the side, twirling her long piano fingers into the sand, not able to listen to the talk. I could only listen through her. I heard the wind, the cars, the other groups that were nearby. All distractions that kept her from learning.

Her para was listening and watching other kids, occasionally glancing towards Aspie Girl, making sure she didn't "wander off". In my mind, I dream I slap her around, shouting at the para and the teacher. I order them to move Aspie Girl next to the naturalist so she could see and hear the talk. So she could learn. After all, why did she take the 45 minute bus ride? She could've twirled her fingers in the sand at school.

What will the para say at her next IEP? Aspie Girl is a good student. She's doing well. Of course, because she is not a behavior problem. Detached doesn't cause problems for other students or for the teacher? Will the para say she enjoyed the field trip? Would the para have behaved differently if she knew I was a special ed parent?

I know about PDD Boy too. I could just tell, and then a mutual mom friend had mentioned it in conversation. We've never been in the same class until this year. I thought here's my chance to get to know the family and see what happens. Maybe I'll have a friend!

PDD Boy's mom doesn't know I know. He is "doing well" too. He is "doing so well" that he doesn't need a para! Surprise! And what did HE do during the talk with the naturalist? He was next to the naturalist, a good spot. Phew, I thought. He began talking to himself, humming a bit when the naturalist was talking. The teacher quickly removed him and put him towards the back of the group since he was distracting the naturalist. Oh good, so both kids are not learning. Nice.

We've gotten together with PDD Boy, a play date at his house. I hope one day we can talk about their shared label. I don't know the mom very well, but my hope is that one day I can trust her and she can trust me. She's kind of quiet, and when I put out feelers, they were rejected. I use my nephews as the stories, and I also openly share that Leo had a speech delay. No luck.

I feel like a bit of an ass, but I don't know what else to do. I can't disclose Leo's label without knowing what I'm getting into. The mom hasn't been to our local support group. That was my hope. She doesn't advocate for him overtly. I think she does the school services and that's it. Fortunately, our district has an excellent ABA provider now. She could get great services. I wish I could talk to her! I wish I could tell her how the teacher is handling his issues (or not handling them I should say). I'll have PDD Boy over soon - Leo really likes him and his twin. I really want Leo to have several friends on the spectrum. They'll need each other.

I feel for PDD Boy. I envision him in a couple excellent social skills groups I know of, with some terrific children that would really challenge him. But Leo comes first.

Quote of the Day

Leo completed his first ever biography book report. He chose Hank Aaron. It was sports, and of course I loved the fact that discrimination was a part of it! I can't believe he's old enough for something like that!

When picking out things to report about Hank Aaron's early life, he chose the fact that Hank's dad built them a house out of old boards from a torn-down house. I said that was an excellent idea. Hank's house didn't have plumbing or heat either. I told Leo he could add those facts too, further showing how he grew up poor. Leo looked at me impatiently and said, "Mom! I already said the house was made of old boards. They can INFER that he grew up poor!"

I have never used that word before with him. That word! That word has been written hundreds of times all over IEPs and other therapy materials. And now he's giving me his lesson right back to me. Infer they can, Leo. And of course I got all teary!

Tyson unit recalls ground beef on E.Coli risk

Tyson unit recalls ground beef on E.Coli risk:
USDA Fri Mar 2, 11:56 PM ET

Tyson Fresh Meats, a Wallula, Washington unit of Tyson Foods Inc., is voluntarily recalling about 16,743 pounds (7.6 tons) of ground beef that may be contaminated with E.coli, the USDA said on Friday.

The problem was discovered through routine sampling at another federally inspected establishment and the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said it had received no reports of illness associated with consumption of these products.

The ground beef was produced on February 16, 2007 and was sent to distributors in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

E.coli is potentially a deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The young, elderly and those with weakened immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

The FDA has kept me so busy this week. New cow antibiotics that create new superbugs. E Coli still out there.

U.S. reviewing safety of children's cough drugs

Ages ago our DAN ped told us that NONE, really NONE of the drugs are tested on for/on children. And where do you think our ASD kids fall? Kids that have unique wiring to consider? Totally screwed and up to Dr. Mom and Dad to figure it out.

Finally the FDA is admitting there's a problem. And only because they have to since a petition of "prominent" pediatricians forced them to. Frominent? Hmmm...very interesting don't you think? There are far too many comments to post for fear I'd bore ya'll. However, I cannot resist posting my favorite quotes so far on this topic. As always, if you really want to know what's going on, just read the last paragraph of any article and you'll find the gems! Here goes:

"In a recent study of hospital emergency room records from 2004 and 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that at least 1,519 children under age 2 had suffered serious health problems after being treated with common cough and cold medicines. Three of the children died, the disease control agency found."

"Like hundreds of older drugs, many of the medicines in these products did not receive thorough safety reviews by the F.D.A. "

"Parents will do anything for their kids," Dr. Sharfstein said. "They will buy expensive syrups if they think their kid will do better."

"The agency has put all the compounds on a "monograph," meaning that manufacturers can use and combine them in pills and syrups without doing any of the expensive and lengthy studies that would be needed for a new drug. Because the drugs are so widely available, there is no incentive for manufacturers to perform such studies. Information about their lack of efficacy and worrisome side effects have trickled out. "

"There is this incredible disparity between how the products are regulated and what the scientific evidence and consensus states," Dr. Sharfstein said.

An excellent example of economics working its magic. Supply and demand. That's all it is.

Quote of the Day

Lately, Leo's been bad about eating his breakfast quickly. He's never been a fast eater (surprise), and it was something we worked on for years. Anyway, this morning Leo was "on fire" with his peanut butter toast and honey toast (on tapioca bread).

He noticed that I noticed, and said "Now you can see what I'm made of, deep inside."

Indeed, I do see.

The "Remark-abilities" of people with Autism

I found this terrific page where people share the abilities, talents, and ways of thinking of people they know with Autism. Here are some excerpts from this page. I know many of you have wonderful things to share that other parents would enjoy, so hopefully you have a moment to contribute. FYI I'm not affiliated with this site - just a new fan! Here goes:

"The "Remark-abilities" of people with Autism
We stand in awe of people with Autism. They inspire us with their talents, abilities and way of thinking. Please share your story now. Together, let's show the world how remarkable these unique and wonderful people are.
People with Autism are PHENOMENAL! Click here to tell others right now Has this page touched you in any way?
Please Let Us Know

My son can recite the presidents in order, forwards and backwards. He knows their first, middle and last names. He knows all of their vice presidents (if there was one). He could do this after reading the names a few times.
Jene, NY
My son has always been obsessed with numbers. He could multiply and divide with exponents at 4. Now he is 12 and is taking Differential equations and Linear Algebra (the class after Calc. 3) at our local Community College. But he still can’t tie his own shoes :-)
Rebecca, CA
My cousin can draw anything - and I mean anything in the most incredible detail.
Sue, NV
We took my 5 year old grandson to a large aquarium. He remembered the exact layout and where all the animals were placed even though he hadn't been there since he was 2 years old.
Jos, NY
One day we noticed my child could read fluently. She had just turned 3 years old. Nobody ever taught her.
Stacey, WI
My son taught himself to tread water for hours and hours, never getting tired. He taught himself to do this way before he learned to swim.
Laura, NY
One of my students can do puzzles as fast as lightning - with the picture side face down.
Wendy, CT
My son submerges himself under water and holds his breath for ages. He does it until I call his name so he'll come up for air. I feel like I can't breathe just watching him. He is perfectly fine and ready to do it again if I allow it.
Andrew, NY
My 4 year old son remembers every route we drive. He sits in the back of the car and instructs us "Turn left, turn right, take the parkway..."
Adrienne, CA
When my son was in 1st grade, his teacher told us, "I've learned that if your
son and I disagree on a science fact, HE is always correct."
Sara, CA
I don't know how he does it but my son can hear my husband's car the moment he turns into our block. We live at the other end of the block!
Lucille, TX
If I dump a cup of cheerios on the table, my daughter can tell me how many there are. Nine times out of ten, she's right. If she isn't, she's never off by more than 2.
Pat, MD
A student in my class can imitate anyone's speech. He imitates their voice and intonations perfectly and it sounds just like them. It's hysterical.
May, VA
My child notices everything. My living room is full of things but even if I move a photo frame to the middle of the ledge, he'll walk right in and immediately adjust it.
Reilly, AK
My brother can tell me about every dinosaur that ever existed, what they ate, what they looked like and what period they lived in.
Adam, NY
My child is a mechanical wizard. He can take anything apart and put it back together in perfect order. He does it really quickly too. It's amazing.
Shelly, OK
My son is 9 and loves road construction. He knows every piece of equipment used, has researched them all on the internet and will speak at length about the pros and cons of each make and model.
Wendy, Canada
My 3 year old can recite a 30 minute video, word for word. And that's after watching it once or twice.
Marcia, PA
My 5 year old brother can do multiple flips on the parallel bars without ever being shown how.
Jason, NY
My 7 year old son with Aspergers Disorder has taught me more about science than my years of schooling could ever come close to. He is a joy to be around and someday may just save our planet.
Amy, PA
My daughter has an excellent memory. She's 10 now and she remembers things in detail from when she was 2 years old.
Nancy, RI
My three year old cousin learned how to write in one month and learned how to read in less than two months.
Anne, DC
My 3 year old is amazing on the computer. Somehow he learned how to use the mouse and keyboard, find and bookmark his favorite Internet sites and play any computer game.
Melanie, CA
My son knows the model of every toilet seat cover and where it was produced - Hey, it's still a talent!
Debra, PA
My son is fascinated with vacuum cleaners. He knows about every make and model, what kind of motor they have and the attachments they come with.
Lauren, MI
One of my students is a math wizard. He's in 3rd grade and he can calculate very complicated math in his head. It astounds me every time.
Maya, FL
Every time my son meets someone he asks them what car they drive. He never forgets the make and model, no matter how many years go by.
Maureen, IN
My 5 year old daughter has never done a day of gymnastics in her life and she can do a triple flip like it's a piece of cake.
Lindsey, NJ
My son can tell you exactly what kind of truck is approaching before it is even
in sight.
Theresa, Canada
My 4 year old is a master escape artist. It doesn't matter how we try and bolt the door, lock the gates, secure the windows - he can find a way to get out.
Sammy, OH
If I can't understand what my son is saying, he can go to his bookcase, instantly pick out the book he wants, turn to the specific page he needs and point to the word he's trying to say.
Audrey, MD
My 3 year old daughter can climb to the top of our refrigerator in about 3 moves
Limor, WA
My son is 22 months old. He counts up to 200 in 5's. He can do it in reverse too. We have no idea how he learned this.
Lynne, PA
My 7 year old is an Internet search guru. He can find absolutely anything from the script for Shrek to ancient Japanese culture and tradition.
Ronnie, NY
My 8 year old has always had an interest in the solar system. He knows about every planet, including their moons, weight, density etc.
Shannon, FL
My 7 year old nephew loves the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. When he got home, he searched through all his toys and recreated all his favorite exhibits from the museum
Simone, NY
My cousin has autism and he knows exactly how long it takes for every traffic light in his town to turn from red to green.
Tina, GA
My son loves zip codes. He can tell you the zip code for every area in the USA
Becky, MN
My child can "speak" to cats. He goes down to their level, rubs up against them and greets them. The cat always responds. They sound so much alike it's hard to determine who is who.
Bev, NY
My 13 year old daughter remembers where she got every one of her beanie babies going back to 10 years ago.
Noni, NY
My 6 year old daughter talks just like Mater from Cars. She can recite every song she hears with perfect pitch and knows the name of the artist. She can remember the smallest detail from the time she was 2. If anything is moved in a room (even one she only visited once), she immediately notices.
Lisa, MD
My son at the age of 4 could name all of the makes and models of the cars on the road and now he is 8 and can tell you the year as well now.
Heidi, UT
My nephew can say the alphabet backwards and forwards and no matter where you stop him he can continue from that point in either direction. He can also tell you the day of the week your birthday is going to be on the next year.
Pepper, OR
My 6 year old grandson is like a skilled engineer. He can draw beautifully and he makes gorgeous Lego projects.
Linda, WA
My son is able to re-create a scene, for example a doctors visit. He re-arranges the furniture as best he can to look like the doctors office, and then he mimics the doctors visit, playing each part word for word, including the sound effects such as papers rustling in the background.
Vickie, PA
I used to work with a 5-year-old boy that could tell you the exact square
footage of a room just by looking at it!!!
Shauna, GA
I once worked with someone who could give you which day of the week a given month / date / year fell on, going back a hundred years.
Clementine, NJ
My 6 year old can recite songs after listening to it a few times. At first I thought he was just mumbling, but then I realized he was singing all the songs he had heard.
Teresa, GA
My child has incredible musical ability. I'm sure he hears notes that we don't hear. He has perfect pitch and melody.
Lori, NH"

Big Women and Babies

Vaccine Committee Whitewashed Toxic Vaccine Component, Says National Autism Association (NAA)

ATLANTA, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ --

Excert from this article that gets me hopping mad...

"While most routine childhood vaccines are currently available in mercury- free or reduced mercury versions, the majority of flu shots still contain 25 micrograms of mercury, an amount considered unsafe under government agency guidelines for anyone weighing less than 550 lbs. The CDC now recommends flu shots for pregnant women and children ages six months through five years. "It's obvious this committee's ties to the drug companies are dictating what will come to light regarding the use of mercury in vaccines," said Claire Bothwell, NAA board chair. "When it comes to discussing thimerosal, it's hard to tell where the pharmaceutical industry leaves off and where the CDC begins. The blurring of these lines is not in the best interests of public health." National Autism Association

I may have FELT that heavy when pregnant. But that being said, I've never met a 550 pound woman before. Have you?

Genes verses the Environment. You got to be kidding!

ABC Reports New Autism Study Finds Genetics, Not Toxins, to Blame for Rise in Cases
But network failed to remind viewers it gave Robert Kennedy a soapbox about mercury as cause for disease.

By Ken Shepherd
Business & Media Institute
2/19/2007

A new study by the Autism Genome Project (AGP) chalks up the disease’s primary cause to genetics, not environmental pollution, ABC’s Bill Blakemore reported on the February 18 “World News.” But in 2005, media outlets including ABC showcased an environmental activist fingering mercury as the culprit. “Today’s study pinpoints the probable culprit: not just one, but many genes and abnormalities,” Blakemore told his evening newscast audience. “The evidence suggests that autism is over 90 percent caused by genes,” said Dr. Joseph BuxBaum of the AGP in a sound bite aired during Blakemore’s report. But back in 2005, ABC and other media outlets latched onto environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assertion that mercury in vaccines was to blame for the trend of rising autism cases. As the Business & Media Institute (BMI) reported in the summer of 2005, CBS, The New York Times, and ABC all paid heed to Kennedy’s claims, even though many scientists disputed it, and Kennedy himself lacks the medical or scientific credentials to have argued a link between mercury and autism. Indeed, the June 22, 2005, “World News Tonight” devoted a four-minute segment to a story it would later report was completely untrue. Anchor Charles Gibson gave air time to Kennedy, but documented evidence that overwhelmingly contradicted the environmental lawyer’s claims. “The researchers say this study shows environmental toxins are not, as some argue, a major cause of autism,” ABC’s Blakemore noted in his February 18 story, but without mentioning the attention his network paid to Kennedy and his role in furthering the mercury scare. BMI also noted at the time that CBS “Evening News” and The New York Times also advanced Kennedy’s claims as one side of a medical debate, even though they noted the scientific evidence weighed heavily against Kennedy.

Another great example of slanted, inaccurate reporting. When will the media realize what damage they do when they print a headline like that? That toxins aren't to blame? It's almost idiotic and certainly laughable. And how about that 90% number, not backed by anything, a guess. Dangerous dangerous dangerous! This disorder is still unexplained fully, and they can make an assessement like that? Do they realize how confusing this is to the general public? I think they do. The jury is still out on what genes, what toxins, what blend of what that causes a unique blend of ASD for each person with this disability.

Don't get me wrong, I don't belong to the mercury faction of the Autism Community. However, I do believe mercury is one of the culprits to some outlined by those factions. However, as I seem to repeat myself, it's just not one thing that causes all Autism. How could it be?

How many parents will just read that headline and pop open another can of food filled with metals, preservatives and additives? How many parents will breathe a sigh of relief and lay down this year's gallons of pesticides, vaccinate without doing their homework, and buy home products filled with endocrine disrupters and other toxins? How many parents will turn their back on reports about our environment since hey, it doesn't contribute at all to ASD disorders? A pregnant mom may get all her testing done for Down Syndrome and other major disorders and think she's home free of ADHD, developmental delays, and Autism?

This type of "reporting" does nothing to raise awareness about Autism and the genetic and environmental causes/triggers. It only sells ratings.