I’ve known for a while that Home Depot included autism coverage in their employees insurance benefits. I must admit I didn’t know that their co-founder was so involved with the autism community. Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, founded an autism center in Atlanta: the Marcus Autism Center.
Well, Mr. Marcus has stepped forward during the high media attention surrounding the BMJ articles discussing research fraud by Andrew Wakefield. The story, Marcus Sides with Autism Scientists in British Study, is from Channel 11 in Atlanta:
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1
I admit that when I read the title of the news piece, I thought he was siding with the “scientists in the British study” as in siding with Mr. Wakefield. No, he is siding with the scientists
“You have two schools of thought, and then you should have this scientific group in the middle that doesn’t have any political agenda that just cares about the kids,” Marcus said. “I’ve tried to associate myself with that group of people that doesn’t necessarily agree or disagree.”
and
“Everything that comes back is the same,” he said. “They cannot find any connection between immunization and autism.”
Marcus has been directly involved in Autism research and treatment for more than 20 years. He founded and funded the nation’s leading center for autism treatment. Now in its 10th year, the Marcus Autism Center has already treated more than 30,000 youngsters, as well as providing family support and counseling.
It’s great to hear someone taking a stand but in a very down-to-earth, non confrontational manner.
Left Brain Right Brain 
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