Comments on: The vaccine debate has a real cost

By: Autism Blog - Thrown under the bus…but for a good cause, right? « Left Brain/Right Brain

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:37:49 +0000

[...] know I wrote about this issue recently. But, reading the expert report by Dr. Rodier, and writing about it, I realized anew that a few [...]

By: Science-Based Medicine » Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends: The Jenny and Jim antivaccine propaganda tour has begun

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:52:31 +0000

[...] Generation Rescue isn’t really interested in accurate estimates of autism prevalence, as Sullivan has pointed out: One of the problems with the vaccines-cause-autism groups is that they really don’t advocate for [...]

By: lois olsen

lois olsen — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:52:37 +0000

For over 30 yrs i have had my daughter at home with me because she is not able to live independently , i dont care where she is on the spectum or what ever you call it , or that she has a mental age of 7 due to brain damage , i am not a “carer” , i am her mother . If you feel so ashamed of your “disabled ” child that you have to get involved in the blame game to show it was someone elses fault , so be it , if the only way you can deal with the 24/7 attention a special child needs is to fight for a cure , you go for it . but my advice to all of you out there who feel that looking after your child is a struggle take a good hard look at your selfs . The best we can do for each other is if you find something good , that helps , then share it , as for services – what the hell do we need that others dont ?

By: Samantha

Samantha — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:09:26 +0000

They have abandoned entirely people of low income and minorities (except where they can be used for political gain).

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for making this observation. In the five years since my first child was diagnosed I can count on one hand the number of times I have encountered another non-white individual at some autism related function. The vaccines-cause-autism groups have a very select group to which they appeal. They have nothing to offer the vast majority of people in world living with autism.

By: Sullivan

Sullivan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:55:54 +0000

New Jersey: Hispanics 9.7/1,000 White 10.6/1,000 table 2 of this document

By: Sullivan

Sullivan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:51:54 +0000

Lastly—
I’d welcome the chance to take Ms. Redwood’s seat on the IACC. I am certain I would do a better job.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:50:56 +0000

Do you know what the rate of autism in hispanics is in N.J.? I was just wondering because having lived in both states…N.J. is much more ethnically diverse than Wisconsin..Is the rate of autism in Hispanics in N.J. considerably lower there as well? I am just wondering if the lower rates in diagnosis somehow relate to minority representation in the population of the state.

By: Sullivan

Sullivan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:43:32 +0000

Also,

you might want to see what ASAN is doing. They gave at least one very good, long, invited presentation to the IACC. They are working hard for real change, real help for people with autism.

By: Sullivan

Sullivan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:41:53 +0000

“Neither do you.”

You are welcome to look for the posts on this site on the IACC. You are welcome to see where we got a number of people to submit comments to the IACC on the strategic plan. You are welcome to note that we pushed hard for IACC Strategic Plan to include lifespan and diversity issues.

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:19:59 +0000

Farmwife- Where did anyone say services aren’t needed?

After more than a decade of looking for any connection between vaccines and autism, and finding none…shouldn’t we put the money into something worthwhile? Something that will actually make a difference to children and adults with autism?

They are the ones losing out.

Teaching society that people with autism shouldn’t be looked down upon, that WE can learn from THEM if we could just be quiet and listen…doesn’t mean they don’t need any help.

It is possible to draw attention to the need for services WITHOUT leaving the impression that people with autism are to be pitied.

I have learned from my experiences with my two boys (who have autism) that most of the time the “problem” belongs to everyone else and not to them. Which is why raising the “right” kind of awareness DOES make a HUGE difference.