Calif. threatens to shut down Sonoma disability center amid patient abuse

17 Dec

California Watch has a series of stories recently discussing abuses and California’s developmental centers and failures by their in in-house law enforcement to properly investigate and prosecute those at fault.  In a news story out this past week, Sacramento’s TV channel 10 has a story:

Calif. threatens to shut down Sonoma disability center amid patient abuse

Here’s the introduction:

The state’s largest board-and-care center for the severely disabled lost its primary license to operate today, after repeatedly exposing patients to abuse and shoddy medical care.

State regulators cited the Sonoma Developmental Center, which houses more than 500 patients, for dozens of cases where patients were put at risk of injury or death. In issuing the citations, the state moved to shut down a major portion of the century-old institution.

The Sonoma Developmental Center is an institution for the developmentally disabled, mostly adults who are considered to have needs too great to be served in community placements. These would also include those most at risk of abuse.

The California Department of Developmental Services has an in-house police force. In the case of the Sonoma Developmental Center, multiple accusations of sexual abuse have been levied, but the CDDS’ police did not pursue those cases–to the point of failing to even take critical evidence (rape kits) on the victims. Control over the in=house police in Sonoma has been handed over to someone brought in from outside the service:

The department announced it was putting Frank Parrish, assistant chief of the California Highway Patrol, temporarily in charge of the Office of Protective Services’ unit at the Sonoma center. The highway patrol “is in the process of evaluating the issues to ensure the delivery of appropriate services,” the department said in a release.

Another recent story by the California Watch describes in more detail some of the problems at Sonoma: Police ignored, mishandled sex assaults reported by disabled. It is just mind boggling what appears to be happening based on the reports there.

Putting a couple different points together one ends up with this sad paradox: an individual with intellectual disability is considered incapable of giving consent for sex. However, the complaints must come from the individual and if the level of intellectual disability is too high, no one will accept their accusation. Unless someone is caught by evidence, nothing will happen. And the in-house police force isn’t taking evidence.

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By Matt Carey

Autism, Empathy, and Violence: Asperger’s Does Not Explain Connecticut Shooting

17 Dec

Slate has picked up Emily Willingham’s article on the Newtown shootings, as Autism, Empathy, and Violence: Asperger’s Does Not Explain Connecticut Shooting. The URL says a lot:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/12/17/asperger_s_and_newtown_school_shooting_autistic_does_not_mean_violent.html

Autistic does not mean violent.

It is very heartening to see large media outlets picking up on this message to counter speculation which started with the unconfirmed report that the shooter was autistic.

The article originally appeared as Autism, empathy, and violence: One of these things doesn’t belong here on Dr. Willingham’s blog EmilyWillinghamPhD.com and at the Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism.

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By Matt Carey

AAP opposes worldwide ban on thimerosal

17 Dec

In a series of articles released today, the American Academy of Pediatrics outlines its opposition to a proposed UN treaty which, if approved, would ban the preservative thimerosal from vaccines worldwide. The ban is also opposed by the World Health Organization and the US Public Health Service. It is estimated that multidose vaccines with thimerosal as a preservative are used in 120 countries to immunize approximately 84 million children, saving about 1.4 million lives each year.

The AAP’s opposition reverses the professional organization’s call in 1999 for the removal of thimerosal from the US pediatric vaccine schedule. That action is frequently cited by anti-vaccine groups as evidence that health officials know that vaccines cause autism and other neurological conditions. But Dr. Louis Z. Cooper and Dr. Samuel L. Katz, co-authors of  one of today’s articles, directly take on that concern:

Had the AAP (and, we suspect, the USPHS) known what research has revealed in the intervening 14 years, it is inconceivable to us that these organizations would have made the joint statement of July 7, 1999. The World Health Organization recommendation to delete the ban on thimerosal must be heeded or it will cause tremendous damage to current programs to protect all children from death and disability caused by vaccine-preventable diseases.

The 1999 domestic ban surfaced during a Nov. 29 congressional hearing on autism, where representatives of both parties repeated long-debunked anti-vaccine talking points. Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) asked the CDC’s Dr. Colleen Boyle why thimerosal was taken out of childhood vaccines if there were no concerns about its safety. Boyle wisely agreed to get back to him with an answer. An anti-vaccine hearing is no place for reasoned discussion.

In another article, researchers Katherine King, PhD, MSc; Megan Paterson, and Shane K. Green, PhD; reaffirm that “there is no credible scientific evidence that the use of thimerosal in vaccines presents any risk to human health.” They continue:

Extensive pharmacologic and epidemiological research has shown early, theoretical concerns about links to autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders to be false. Indeed, the exculpatory strength of the data now available on thimerosal is well evidenced by recent statements from the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, US Institute of Medicine, and American Academy of Pediatrics, all of which have concluded that thimerosal exposure through vaccination is not harmful to human health.

The AAP’s latest action is a shot across the bow to anti-vaccine groups. The UN’s proposed thimerosal ban has been championed by Mark Geier, the disgraced Maryland geneticist best known for chemically castrating disabled children. Two years ago, he told a group of African delegates gathered for a session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Japan that thimerosal “is favored by the pharmaceutical industry because it is cheap and enables the industry to keep making vaccines in old and dirty factories.”

Geier is a regular at Jenny McCarthy’s annual anti-vaccine conference, where he receives standing ovations from anti-vaccine parents. Ten states have either revoked his medical license over the last two years, or allowed it to expire, for Geier’s ethical lapses which included lying about his qualifications risking children’s health with unproven medical treatments.

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By AutismNewsBeat

Autism Rights Group: Asperger’s Does Not Explain Newtown School Massacre

17 Dec

CBS New York has quotes Autism Rights Watch on the Newtown shootings. In Autism Rights Group: Asperger’s Does Not Explain Newtown School Massacre CBS cites the ARW press release. Including this paragraph:

“The search for answers should not be a search for a scapegoat. Autism is no excuse or explanation to evil. Being ‘autistic,’ ‘odd,’ ‘awkward,’ ‘camera shy,’ a ‘nerd’ and ‘uncomfortable with others’ does not cause a person to become a mass murderer,” the organization said in the release. “Autistic persons are more likely to be victims, rather than perpetrators of violence. Autism Rights Watch urges the public and the media outlets not to stigmatize the autistic persons and their families. They already are facing segregation and prejudices on a daily basis.”

The full press release can be found as ARW grieves for the families after Newtown, CT shooting

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By Matt Carey

AANE Statement on the tragedy in Newtown, CT

16 Dec

The Asperger’s Association of New England (AANE) has issued a statement: AANE Statement on the tragedy in Newtown, CT. The statement begins:

December 16, 2012 — At the Asperger’s Association of New England, we share the horror and sadness of people across the world. The shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, were a terrible and incomprehensible act of violence. We convey our deepest sympathy to the victims, their families and friends, and their community.

The AANE acknowledges the media speculation that the shooter had Asperger syndrome, including this statement:

Our overwhelming concern is for the families of the victims through their deep, enduring grief and devastation. We hope too that the conversation around Adam Lanza will be thoughtful and considerate of people who have Asperger syndrome or other forms of autism and their families

AANE is offering services of their staff:

Discussing this tragedy is challenging for families and very upsetting for children who have Asperger syndrome. Our staff is available to give advice or support relating to this issue during normal business hours: (617) 393-3824

.

The full statement can be found at: AANE Statement on the tragedy in Newtown, CT

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By Matt Carey

My sympathies and apology to the good people of Newtown Connecticut

16 Dec

When I heard news of the murders in Newtown Connecticut I, like everyone, was shocked and saddened. Those are very weak words for the emotions I felt. I can offer sympathy, condolences and some understanding of what the good people of Newtown feel, but I can only imagine their grief at this time.

The autism communities rarely speak with one voice but this time there has been a unity of support and sympathy from all corners.

There has been a second message as well.  Not for the people of Newtown, but for the press reporting on this story. A message to treat autistics with fairness and accuracy. That whether the shooter was autistic or not, to keep in mind that autism is not the same as violent. That this young man in no way represents autism any more than he represents your community.

For intruding on your grief to interject that message, I apologize. I believe the individuals and groups who have stepped forward with these messages have done so with respect and only done so this early because of the need to head off a damaging theme we have seen emerge in the past from other shootings.

I have tried to highlight those messages here on this site. I have strived to do so with as much respect as I possible.

I wish you well in the time ahead and hope our support outweighs our intrusion.

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By Matt Carey

ARI Autistic Global Initiative Committee’s Statement on the Newtown, CT Tragedy

16 Dec

The Autism Research Institute’s Autistic Global Initiative Committee has issued a statement on the Newtown Connecticut shootings:

ARI Autistic Global Initiative Committee’s Statement on the Newtown, CT Tragedy

The statement begins:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the community of Newtown, Connecticut today in the wake of yesterday’s tragedy. Some public comments have drawn potentially inaccurate and stigmatizing conclusions about a link between the diagnosis and a propensity for violence and lack of empathy

The statement goes on, including ” As adults with autism living productive, peaceful lives, we urge the media and professionals who participate in speculative interviews about the motives of the accused shooter to refrain from misleading comments about autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities”

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By Matt Carey

GRASP: Statement from Michael John Carley on the Newtown, CT Shootings

16 Dec

Michael John Carley of GRASP, the Global Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, has issued a statement on the Newtown Connecticut shootings: Statement from Michael John Carley on the Newtown, CT Shootings. He begins:

We here at GRASP (and I as the father of two school-age boys), cannot be more saddened and devastated by the news of the shootings in Newtown, CT. Our thoughts, wishes, prayers, and heaviest hearts go out to the victims and their families

.

And urges all to “…please steer away from getting too caught up in the spectrum angle. Let us focus instead on mourning; lamenting through grief that such a terrible and tragic event befell us all on this awful, awful day.”

The full statement is at Statement from Michael John Carley on the Newtown, CT Shootings.

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By Matt Carey

ABC News: Experts: No Link Between Asperger’s, Violence

16 Dec

ABC News is running a story in response to the speculation that the shooter in the Newtown  Connecticut murders was autistic. In Experts: No Link Between Asperger’s, Violence they write:

While an official has said that the 20-year-old gunman in the Connecticut school shooting had Asperger’s syndrome, experts say there is no connection between the disorder and violence.

Asperger’s is a mild form of autism often characterized by social awkwardness.

“There really is no clear association between Asperger’s and violent behavior,” said psychologist Elizabeth Laugeson, an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The story continues

I greatly appreciate ABC news pulling in these experts.

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By Matt Carey

Emily Willingham: Autism, empathy, and violence: One of these things doesn’t belong here

16 Dec

Parent, editor of the Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, biologist and science writer has written about the Newtown  Connecticut, Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in
Autism, empathy, and violence: One of these things doesn’t belong here

Some news coverage in the last 24 hours has mentioned autism in the context of the tragedy in Connecticut, particularly referencing Aspergers or “high-functioning” autism. Talking heads have brought up the “empathy” factor when discussing autism, and I’d like to set some of the record on that straight.

She does a great job “setting the record straight”. The rest of the article is available at: Autism, empathy, and violence: One of these things doesn’t belong here

The autism communities–autistics, parents and more– are shocked and offer sympathy and empathy to the communities involved in the shooting.
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By Matt Carey

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