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Vocational Rehabilitation and Autistic Adults

13 Nov

I recently saw a paper in the Online First section of Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders called “Use of Vocational Rehabilitative Services Among Adults with Autism“. I knew I had to read it. It comes from one of my favorite research groups, that of Prof. David Mandell. I’ve been carrying this paper around in my pocket for a month now. It is folded, tattered and filled with highlight marks.

The reason for the delay: how to condense this paper into a meaningful blog post without essentially copying the entire paper? As it stands, this will be a series of excerpts. The reason for blogging it: papers on issues directly related to adults with autism are few. This one looks at what I consider to be a very important question: training to get employment for adults with autism.

One other note: I will skip over the data analysis section. This will be a long post already, and I want to concentrate on the discussion of the results. But, rest assured, they did their due diligence and analyzed the data thoroughly.

So, even though this may not be the best presentation of the study, if I don’t do it now, it may never get done.

Here’s the abstract:

This study examined the experiences of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the US Vocational Rehabilitation System (VRS). Subjects included all 382,221 adults ages 18–65 served by this system whose cases were closed in 2005; 1,707 were diagnosed with ASD. Adults with ASD were more likely than adults with other impairments to be denied services because they were considered too severely disabled. Among those served, adults with ASD received the most expensive set of services. They and adults with MR were most likely to be competitively employed at case closure. Post hoc analyses suggest that their employment was highly associated with on-the-job supports. The results suggest the importance of the VRS in serving adults with ASD.

If you are interested, here is the first page (for free).

The paper points out that adults with ASD require considerable supports, with possibly only 15% achieving independence, and another 20% “functioning well in the presence of community based support.” This points out the great need for studies such as this one. We need a better understanding in order to improve the situation for the estimated 65% who are not independent or “functioning well”.

In the United States, the vocational rehabilitation system falls under the Department of Education, and helps with assessments, diagnosis, counseling, job search assistance, assistive technology and on-the-job training.

The outcomes include “Competitive employment”, which involves integrated settings (with supports as needed) and wages at or above the minimum required by law. Alternatively, Non-competitive employment can be paid below the minimum wage, and can include sheltered employment.

Results were compared for people with ASD, Mental Retardation, Specific Learning Disability (SLD) and Other Impairment Cause (OIC).

Individuals with ASD’s have “markedly different vocational needs than individuals with other developmental disabilities”. And “the small body of research in this area suggests that services provided through vocational rehabilitation programs are less than optimal for individuals with ASD.”

The authors stress, repeatedly, the value of employment. The concluding paragraph starts with the statement, “Work is among the most valued social roles in our society. Many individuals with ASD can achieve successful employment outcomes, despite questions about access and cost-effectiveness.” The value of employment is also spelled out in an earlier section:

Our findings are also important in light of research indicating that supported
employment through vocational rehabilitation programs may improve cognitive performance of adults with ASD (Garcia-Villamisar and Hughes 2007) and generally improves quality of life (Garcia-Villamisar et al. 2002).

They found that at the end of VR training, 42.2% of those with ASD were competitively employed, whith 2.1% employed in a sheltered setting. The remaining (55.7%) were not employed. These results are better than those for the other groups. The numbers for those competitively employed were, 39.4% (mental retardation), 37.5% (SLD) and 35.1% (OIC).

They found that 4.3% of individuals with ASD had cases closed for having a disability “too severe to benefit from services”. Compare this to 2% for those with mental retardation, 0.4% for those with SLD, and 2.2% for those in other categories. So, people with ASD were more likeley to be denied services for this reason. They state that this “hints at the possibility” that “some people with ASD’s may never explore the use of VR services because they (or their families) do not see it as a viable option or are discouraged from seeking services.” This could affect the numbers found for those achieving competitive employment.

The costs were compared:

VR expenditures were much higher for individuals with ASD than for those with other impairments except people with MR. This difference may be due to the additional needs of people with ASD (Muller et al. 2003). Alternatively, the VR system may not be structured to provide services to individuals with ASD in the most cost-efficient manner (Hillier et al. 2007). Both potential explanations beg for additional research on the most cost-effective strategies for achieving competitive employment.

The median costs? $2,380 (ASD), $2,160 (mental retardation), $1,108 (SLD), $1,280 (OIC).

So, yes, the numbers were higher for the ASD group. But even $2,160 per person to me sounds like a pretty darned good investment to get a sizable fraction of a group employed.

The authors noted:

VR expenditures were much higher for individuals with ASD than for those with other impairments except people with MR. This difference may be due to the additional needs of people with ASD (Muller et al. 2003). Alternatively, the VR system may not be structured to provide services to individuals with ASD in the most cost-efficient manner (Hillier et al. 2007). Both potential explanations beg for additional research on the most cost-effective strategies for achieving competitive employment.

There is a lot more valuable information in this paper. One thing that is missing is who funded the research. I’d love to hear that this is the sort of research NIH is sponsoring, and will continue to sponsor through the IACC process.

I’ve already quoted part of the conclusion. I think it worth quoting it in whole here:

Work is among the most valued social roles in our society. Many individuals with ASD can achieve successful employment outcomes, despite questions about access and cost-effectiveness. Individuals with autism and their families should seek out supports and employment; other support providers should emphasize employment as a possible social role; and policymakers should continue to examine ways in which they can enhance the variety and accessibility of supports for adults with autism, including vocational services, in order to ensure that they have opportunities to live and contribute in their communities.

ResearchBlogging.org
Lindsay Lawer, Eugene Brusilovskiy, Mark S. Salzer, David S. Mandell (2008). Use of Vocational Rehabilitative Services Among Adults with Autism Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders DOI: 10.1007/s10803-008-0649-4

Dear Mr Obama

9 Nov

As a Brit, it really matters not one jot what I write to you, think of you or think of your policies. However, as we both know, it _does_ matter. Your soon-to-be-predecessor (and my goodness I am happy to write those words of Dubya) never understood why the opinion of the outside world mattered but you clearly do. And we in the outside world are rather keen on you.

I am very happy to note that your appointments indicated so far include Michael Strautmanis – father to an autistic child. As I understand it Mr Strautmanis very much favours an evidence based research approach to science. Good to know.

I was also amused to note that some think a certain Mr Kennedy may get an influential post. I suspect not. You don’t strike me a stupid man Mr Obama. Maybe some other portfolio needs filling? May I suggest Mr Kennedy becomes your drugs Cszar? I understand he has a good history in sniffing out drug issues.

Anyway, I was reading your Obama Statement in Support of World Autism Awareness Day and Awareness Month and I was both tut-tutting and nodding approvingly.

Tu-tutting as I read occasional talk of ‘epidemic’ and nodding approvingly as I read things like:

This effort will include diverse but credible research, treatment, personal care/assistance and family support…

and

Our nation and our world deserve an immediate and focused four-prong approach: research, intervention, life-long support, and an end to discrimination. As a result of the crisis, there is much debate as to the cause of autism and how to address it. What we need to do is devote ourselves to a solution built from a comprehensive plan that is research-based, inclusive, and effective.

Credible research….a plan that is research-based….very good to hear. I fear your recent competitor had no such plan but it is very good to hear of your commitment to a research-based plan.

Its also good to hear that you accept autism as a lifelong issue that requires intervention and an end to discrimination. Although this puts you at odds with the flat earthers who insist there is an autism epidemic which can be cured through non research based interventions (which obviously, they cannot back up) I think you have taken the right path and concentrated on the right issues – research based science that will offer a lifetime of evidence based interventions and care and result in an end to discrimination.

Glad you got in soon-to-be Mr President. I think you’ll do the real autism and autistic communities some real good.

President Obama

5 Nov

CNN called the election the moment the last polls closed: Obama. Senator McCain just conceded.

I’ve linked to it before, but here it is again: The Obama/Biden position on disabilities.

They state on that page:

In addition to reclaiming America’s global leadership on this issue by becoming a signatory to — and having the Senate ratify — the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the plan has four parts, designed to provide lifelong supports and resources to Americans with disabilities. They are as follows:

First, provide Americans with disabilities with the educational opportunities they need to succeed.

Second, end discrimination and promote equal opportunity.

Third, increase the employment rate of workers with disabilities.

And fourth, support independent, community-based living for Americans with disabilities.

Here’s their statement on Autism.

This includes:

Appoint Federal ASD Coordinator to Oversee All Federal ASD Efforts:
Fully Fund the Combating Autism Act and Federal Autism Research Initiatives
Support Special Needs Education for Children with ASD
Support Universal Screening

Those are commitments. Thank you for those commitments, President Elect Obama. (We will be here to remind you of them, should the need arise).

They have committed to fully fund IDEA. It is hard to think that decades of unfulfilled commitments might just come to an end.

I like this one:

Barack Obama and Joe Biden will also work to change IDEA’s definition of “autism” to Autism Spectrum Disorders to ensure that all children diagnosed with ASD disorders receive the support they need.

That gets rid of the ambiguity as to whether someone with PDD or Aspergers can qualify for services and supports.

President elect Obama obviously has put some thought into his disability and autism platforms, if he chose these key issues to support.

Work, independent living, education, equal opportunity…

It will be tough, even with the President on our side. President Obama will need our support and input.

Why the Supreme Court matters to the autism community

4 Nov

Tuesday (which is today in some places already, tomorrow for others) is Election Day in the United States. One of the key powers of the U.S. President is the ability to nominate judges–including Supreme Court Justices.

Take a look at the biographies of the justices. In particular, take a look at their ages. and who nominated them:

John G. Roberts, Jr.. Born 1955. Nominated by President George W. Bush.

John Paul Stevens. Born 1920. Nominated by President Ford.

Antonin Scalia. Born 1936. Nominated by President Reagan.

Anthony M. Kennedy. Born 1936. Nominated by President Reagan.

David Hackett Souter. Born 1939. Nominated by President George H.W. Bush.

Clarence Thomas. Born 1948. Nominated by President Bush.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Born 1933. Nominated by President Clinton.

Stephen G. Breyer. Born 1938. Nominated by President Clinton.

Samuel Anthony Alito, Jr.. Born 1950. Nominated by President G.W. Bush.

The next President will be in office for 4 years, possibly 8. It is quite reasonable that he will be in a position to nominate a number of Supreme Court Justices.

Note that most of the current Justices were nominated by Republican Presidents. The only two nominated by a Democrat were Justices Ginsburg and Breyer.

If John McCain wins tomorrow, there is a non-zero chance that in 4 or 8 years, no Democrat nominated Justices will sit at the Bench. If Barack Obama wins, there is a reasonable chance that the balance of the Court might shift towards being more Democrat-nominated.

How does this impact the Autism community? Well, if you are like me, you see the struggles of the Autism community (and the disability community in general) as being focused largely on civil rights. Children have the civil right to an appropriate education. Children and adults have the civil right to a lifestyle with dignity, even though they may need more supports to achieve these goals.

I’ll let you search what the candidates have been saying, and doing, on civil rights issues during their careers and this campaign. But, take a look and consider how their views might impact a court you or a family member may be depending on.

That said, we can take a look at the issue of choice. Choice is often a codeword of abortion rights, as the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion, Roe v. Wade, made use of the “right to choice”. It is one of the toughest questions facing America, and one I bring up with great trepidation as I really want to concentrate on the “right to choice” aspect.

The right to choice is not explicit in the U.S. Constitution. Because of this, it is not on the firmest of foundations.

How does this impact the Autism community? Here’s an example: much of the impact of California’s Mental Health Parity Act (AB88, which mandates coverage for certain conditions, including autism) has been reduced by the nature of the right to choice. Christopher Angelo, the attorney who pushed AB88 through the California legislature, noted in a lecture that he fought for greater implementation of AB88, even appealing to the California Supreme Court. The next step was the U.S. Supreme Court, but Mr. Angelo didn’t take his case there. Why? Because his case depended on the “right to choice” and he knew that the court was looking for a test case to define this right more clearly. Given the nature of the court, the likelihood of winning in the Supreme Court was far from assured.

In other words, the changes in the Supreme Court over the next administration could impact insurance coverage for people with autism.

In considering writing this post, it struck me that certain segments of the Autism community might also be impacted if the “right to choice” were to be diminished. Anyone who has looked at how the Supreme Court treated selective vaccination in the past would realize that people in the U.S. have far greater freedom of choice today than in the past.

But, that is a sidetrack. The main question is and will remain: how will future Supreme Courts decide on issues of civil rights for people with disabilities. It is worth considering closely.

Americans: make yourself heard

3 Nov

If the constant news barrage hasn’t driven it home to everyone yet, tomorrow is Election Day in the United States.

We’ve discussed the upcoming elections recently on this blog, especially since Senator McCain brought up autism in the final debate. This has been called historic. It likely is historic that disability issues have been so prominent in the debate and the discussion. I would venture to guess that Senator Obama’s policies on autism and disabilities in general are more thorough than has been seen before by a major candidate.

So, yes, get out and vote. That’s the obvious next step.

Then, take the less obvious step: email both candidates. Let them know what you like and don’t like about their platforms. Remind the winner of his team’s promises. But remember, there are three senators running. At least one will still be a Senator next year. Remind him/them of promises made. (should you be from Alaska and should Governor Palin remain Governor, let her know your thoughts as well.)

IDEA needs to be fully funded. That can’t be tied to earmarks, that can’t be tied to spending freezes. It is the right thing for the U.S. to do, regardless of circumstances. We as a country made a commitment, and we’ve never fulfilled it. Now is the time to change that.

Beyond IDEA, we have a commitment to all people with disabilities, of all ages. People have a right to a life with dignity.

Again, go out and vote. But, consider sending an extra message. Yes, it will be buried in the vast number of messages the winner (and his opponent) will get on election day.

The campaign websites have information on how to contact McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden. If can always reach Obama, McCain and Biden at their Senate offices as well.

More presidential autism politics II

30 Oct

I’ve been watching (happily) the recent emergence of autism as a topic of the U.S. presidential race. Actually, it is the emergence of autism as a topic for the republicans, as Senator Obama has had a clear policy statement on autism and on disabilities in general.

Recently, I noted that the McCain/Palin ticket’s statements were not strong commitments, but more general statements of support. Since that time, Governor Palin has come out with some stronger statements so it is worth revisiting the subject.

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review notes that in a recent speech:

Palin proposed “fully funding” the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which the campaign later said would cost $45 billion over the next five years. Palin proposed gradually increasing the $11 billion spent annually on such programs to $26 billion — the amount experts say the programs actually cost.

(as an aside $26B is only the 40% share the Federal government is supposed to be paying.)

But, back to the main theme–this is really good to hear. Whatever happens next Tuesday, Sara Palin, John McCain, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be people of importance. The more of them that make commitments to support people with disabilities the better.

So, for that I thank Ms. Palin. I am pleased to see commitments firming up–they were very soft in the beginning.

I’d still like to see more. First, I’d like to see Mr. McCain pick up this theme. Yes, I know that they are trying to use this to help define Gov. Palin, but I’d like to hear Senator McCain commit to fully funding IDEA (as a part of a bigger disability platform). I’d love to hear him say that even if he remains a senator in a week, he’ll support fully funding IDEA.

But, let’s look again at the speech: here’s a paragraph from the Washington Post on this same speech:

In her speech, Palin said the federal government could finance the new investment by taking some of $18 billion it spends each year on earmarks, specific projects that are designated by members of Congress.

Let’s take a look at what the above means:

The President and the Vice President don’t have the power to pull earmarks out of bills. If fully funding IDEA is tied to reducing earmarks, it isn’t a commitment that she or Mr. McCain would have the power to enforce.

I don’t want to hear in a couple of years, “Well, we’d fund IDEA if congress would stop putting earmarks into bills.” I want to hear, “We increased the level of funding for IDEA in the budget we sent to congress. Further, we are going to fight them if they cut it.”

As election day nears, the pressure on the candidates gets greater. The McCain-Palin ticket has already responded by making their statements more firm. But, this isn’t the time to accept a weak commitment–we need to push them to do more.

Let Governor Palin and Senator McCain know: thank you very much. Sincerely, we thank you. But, please, take the time in this last week to make a firm commitment to funding IDEA. Also, IDEA is a great first step but, please, expand your disabilities policy to include more (like supports for adults, or whatever issues are big for you).

The McCain-Palin ticket has a contact form right on their website. So does Obama-Biden.

Sometimes the HuffPo gets it almost right

25 Oct

Regular readers will know of my concern regarding the HuffingtonPost and its clear antivax agenda. Kim Stagliano, David Kirby and (I think) Barbara Loe Fischer post there and whilst I don’t believe David has an antivax belief, I do think he is unfortunately promoting unfounded statements that feed antivax talking points (eg the claim HHS conceded vaccines caused Hannah Polings autism).

However, I was really pleased to see a post today in my Google Alerts from HuffPo that got it 95% right. Before I say why I have to clarify once again my position as a UK citizen and therefore my belief that I really shouldn’t take a position on the upcoming US elections. However, thats becoming increasingly difficult to do as I read such monumentally stupid things from McCain as:

[Sarah Palin knows]…more about autism then anyone I know…

Which I take to mean that the only person he knows with a connection to autism is Sarah Palin. Also his confused and pretty desperate looking pandering to the antivax crowd is downright annoying. But anyway.

The HuffPo post I’m referring to is Obama and autism by Elaine Hall. She describes:

Neal is my resident expert on autism. Now 14 years old, Neal was adopted from a Russian Orphanage at 23 months, and diagnosed with severe autism at age 3 . Neal is non verbal (or as we prefer to refer to him “a man of few words”) so when he speaks his truth through typing – WE LISTEN.

Me like.

Last January at one of his sessions with Darlene she asked, “”So, Neal, what have you been thinking about lately?”

“The Elections,” he typed on his Alpha Smart keyboard.

“What about the elections?” asked Darlene.

“I’m for Obama, he typed.”

“Obama? Why?”

“Obama is for Autism, ” he finished.

That evening my husband and I Googled Obama and Autism. And there it was, pages and pages from people with autism. Supporting Obama.

Me like even more.

This tells me a number of things. First it tells me that Elaine Hall and her partner are smart enough to see their autistic son as the resident autism expert. What a refreshing attitude. Second it tells me that when their expert speaks – THEY LISTEN. Also a refreshing attitude. Thirdly it tells me that someone being non-verbal does not mean they cannot communicate. I can think of more than a few people who read this blog who need that lesson drummed into their heads. Fourthly, it tells me that autistic people by and large support Obama. This means (for whatever the opinion of a non-voting Brit is worth) that I’m for Obama too.

Now, I said at the start of this piece that HuffPo only got it 95% right. They would’ve got it 100% right if they’d let Neal do the typing. However, he is only 14 and maybe thats why he’s not contributing publicly just yet. For now, I’m more than happy to read Elaine Hall’s words. This is from the front page of her website The Miracle Project:

The Miracle Project is a theatre and film arts program for children with special needs and their typically developing siblings and peers. Our mission is to provide a loving, accepting nurturing environment which celebrates and honors the unique and often unrecognized talents of these young people by guiding them through creative workshops and artistic programs.

Thank you Elaine Hall and thank you Neal. I’ll be looking out for more from both of you.

Tags: ,

McCain courts the autism vote

16 Oct

If you watched the U.S. presidential debates tonight, you heard the “A” word a few times. Yep, Autism.

Senator McCain, who tripped up early in the campaign by giving credence to the thimerosal debate (and, yes, tripped up is accurate since he backed away fast from that stance), is courting the Autism community’s vote.

In discussing his running mate’s credentials to be president (should Mr. McCain for some reason stop being president), Mr. McCain stated:

She’ll be my partner. She understands reform. And, by the way, she also understands special-needs families. She understands that autism is on the rise, that we’ve got to find out what’s causing it, and we’ve got to reach out to these families, and help them, and give them the help they need as they raise these very special needs children.

She understands that better than almost any American that I know. I’m proud of her.

I wish Mr. McCain had more contact over time with the disability community. “She understands that better than almost any American I know”…I guess since she has a child with special needs and a young relative with autism, she has some experience, but wouldn’t it be nice if Senator McCain knew someone in the autism research community? (a guy can dream, can’t he?)

Actually, I really liked the way Senator Obama brought this back to one of his themes in his reply:

I do want to just point out that autism, for example, or other special needs will require some additional funding, if we’re going to get serious in terms of research. That is something that every family that advocates on behalf of disabled children talk about.

And if we have an across-the-board spending freeze, we’re not going to be able to do it. That’s an example of, I think, the kind of use of the scalpel that we want to make sure that we’re funding some of those programs.

For those who didn’t watch, there was discusssion earlier in the debate about a Senator McCain’s proposal for a spending freeze. Senator Obama made the point clear: cut smart, not blindly.

That said, I also liked how Senator Obama brought in the entire disability community. Yes, it was still child focused, but he did talk about “other special needs”.

I like how he sees research as a priority.

Senator McCain later stated:

And I just said to you earlier, town hall meeting after town hall meeting, parents come with kids, children — precious children who have autism. Sarah Palin knows about that better than most. And we’ll find and we’ll spend the money, research, to find the cause of autism. And we’ll care for these young children. And all Americans will open their wallets and their hearts to do so.

I wonder how many autistic adults were in his audiences? I wonder how many people with other disabilities (or family members with other disabilities) were in the audience.

Senator McCain may have thought that he was winning my vote, but he just lost it. Yes, disability issues, especially autism, play a role in my choice. But, this looks too much like pandering to the vaccine-autism crowd while doing the politician’s two-step around the sticky details.

I.e. it was “let’s use code words about the epidemic and vaccines to gather votes”.

I really hope I am wrong, but that was my read.

Senator Obama’s response really did speak to me, though. Focusing on funding research–and research for other conditions besides autism–spoke to goals that match mine, rather than an attempt to buy my vote.

The Los Angeles Times has a full transcript of the debate already.

Also, AutismStreet gathers his thoughts and types faster than I. There is a good treatment of this subject there.

here’s a taste:

She understands that autism is on the rise? Really? Can she clearly convey the distinction between more diagnoses, and an actual increase in prevalence? Does she understand diagnostic substitution? What about the broadening criteria and the changes in the very definition of autism? Does she really understand this? Or, is McCain pandering and simply parroting anti-vaccination and anti-autism advocate fundraisers’ “autism epidemic” rhetoric?

[added material]

I want to repeat: I really hope I am wrong about Senator McCain. Even if he loses the presidential bid, he is a Senator and someone we need to help in the probable lean years ahead–and beyond.

Reality bites back II

2 Oct

Its all going wrong for the believers of the vaccine/autism religion. This was supposed to be the time of their Fall offensive, spearheaded of course by Mother Warrior Jenny McCarthy and her appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show.

So far though, the media seem markedly less keen to talk to her about her recovering/no, recovered/ah….recovering/no, recovered/oh whatever autistic child. And the science is beginning to get equal air time. Recently, Dr. Ari Brown, Dr Lou Cooper and our very own Ken participated alongside a couple of minor league celebs on a discussion regarding autism and vaccines on the US show Good Morning America.

Yesterday the Age of Autism exhorted its members to mob a website that had created a Jenny vs Amanda poll (because popularity contests will definitely help autistic people). When the Pharyngula blog got wind of this PZ, the blog owner, asked his readers to vote too. The outcome?

Yikes.

The world view of the autism/vaccine zealots was shaken mightily yesterday. They’ve always imagined themselves as a large group with considerable power. Yesterday, they got squashed like a flea on a windscreen over something as meaningless as a celeb poll. Imagine how they must’ve felt to read some of the comments there. In fact, I’ve been tracking a lot of the gossip websites who’ve mentioned Jenny of late. She’s not popular outside her own crowd. Parents of autistic kids are catching on. Here’s a quote from someone I do not know and have never heard of before today commenting on Hollywood Today:

I am a single father of an autistic child and agree that Jenny Mcarthy is doing more harm than good. Why do we put more credibility in an actress / playboy bunny than doctors and other more credible sources.

And a mother of two autistic kids says on Ecorazzi:

As a mother with TWO autistic children, I find McCarthy’s ignorance appalling. Don’t we have enough difficulty in dealing with and understanding the Autism Spectrum without letting fad pseudo-science sway our families away from proper health care for our children?

These are not isolated examples I am very happy to report.

Yesterday the mercury militia – who think we’re just a few people compared to their ‘tens of thousands’ got a great big wet fish slap of reality.

Mother Warrior McCarthy is now complaining the US Presidential candidates are snubbing her. For goodness sake, why on earth did you ever think they would listen to you? You’re a D-list celeb who can’t even get her story straight on whether her son is recovered or not.

Anyway, she says:

I literally flew to go see MCCain, his team agreed to it (meeting), I was prepped and then all of a sudden his campaign manager said, ‘We’re ahead in the polls and this is a very, very touchy subject. Let’s not give this interview right now.

Wow, McCain employs the worst PR people in the world. They tell someone that they’re not going to interview them as they’re too controversial. How convenient for Jenny!

I’m thinking the conversation went something more like this:

JM: Hi, I’m Jenny McCarthy, can I speak to John McCain?

PR Dude: Sorry? You’re who?

JM: Jenny McCarthy, I’ve appeared in films such as ‘Scary Movie 3’ and…uh…

PR Dude: Whatever…why do you want to speak to the boss?

JM: About vaccines and autism! They’re poisoning our kids! Except mine is now recovered! No, wait – I have a book coming out, make that ‘recoverING’.

PR Dude: The country – no, the world – is in a national financial crisis and you want to talk to the boss about some quacky ideas never supported by science. Go away lady.

JM: But…but…I’m JENNY MCCARTHY…BULLSHIT!….BULLSHIT!!! (Where’s the camera?)

Now Jenny is desperate to get ahold of Obama:

MCCarthy is now desperately hoping Barack Obama, MCCain’s opponent in the race for the White House, agrees to champion her cause and address the autism versus vaccines issue.
She says, “We are trying (to contact him)… We have sent numerous (requests).

This is the same Barrack Obama who has said:

I am not for selective vaccination, I believe that it will bring back deadly diseases, like polio.

He might see you Jenny. Me might even pretend to listen. You might even get your picture taken with him. Better yet, he might pass on the opportunity to see you and then you can tell people how its a big conspiracy. You might even manage to squeeze another book out of it.

None of that will change reality though. The tide isn’t changing just yet but there’s been a few signs that it might be on its way.

Collecting IACC comments

2 Oct

Thanks to all who wrote to the IACC (or even thought about it!) about the Strategic Plan.

I’m trying to compile a list of responses. If you are OK with your comments being included, send them to sullivansjourney@gmail.com.. If you would like to remain anonymous, send your comments using a form that’s been set up here.

These responses will be shown to researchers to let them know that the greater autism community isn’t just about vaccines. It will show them that, yes, the greater autism community appreciates their support.

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