Posted By: cmdonnab on

Friday, April 25th, 2008, 1:46 pm

The last few months have been busy -- not just personally, but there's been a lot of news in the autism community. It ranges from the huge (Hannah Poling vaccines/autism/mitochondrial disorder ruling) to the less widely-affecting but equally exciting (states making autism coverage and/or ABA coverage mandatory). I have a lot of thoughts on all the happenings but during this Autism Awareness Month, I'm encouraged overall.

Vaccines being related to autism has finally come to light as fact, not just a theory. To what extent, and what it means to everyone remains to be seen, but at least we're moving in the direction of people actually seeing that our current vaccine schedule needs to be reconsidered. I'm no doctor, but putting thimerasol (in the current flu shot), antifreeze components, and formaldehyde into small children can't be a good idea. And to cram all those increasing number of shots into the first three or so years of a child's life is just scary. I'm as pro-vaccine as anyone, but the facts coming out have got to give pause to the medical profession. I'm thankful for the tenacity of Hannah Poling's family for not giving up despite adversity, and staying persistent in making their case.

I've seen a lot of coverage on autism this month. I'm not sure it's enough (where's the puzzle piece appliances? pens? company-sponsored public awareness?) but I'll take it. I don't think all public is good publicity, but for the most part, awareness has come a long way. The biomedical community is growing, as even the medical organizations are beginning to acknowledge that thousands upon thousands of children are showing improvements in their behaviors, health issues, cognitive abilities, etc., while on healthier diets or using supplements. Maybe it doesn't work for everyone, but I know personally some of those recovered children -- and remember, the word is 'recovered,' not cured. This doesn't mean they're perfectly healthy necessarily, but that they wouldn't be diagnosed with autism if they went in for another assessment. There's a lot to be said for that! To say that what they've done is bogus is to say that their children haven't improved, and who better to know that than the parent? The numbers can't be ignored, they're on to something, and if it works for some, why not? Maybe I'm jealous it hasn't done enough for mine? (And maybe I am, really...we just couldn't seem to get a handle on the explosive, self-injurious tantrums and mood swings without medication.)

I for one am thrilled to see people like Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey come forward to sponsor ads asking for vaccine education, or holding a rally (June 4, 2008) in D.C. to push for safer vaccines. Someone has to do it -- it's amazing the number of celebrities with autistic children who do nothing, and the sad fact is that it takes vocal, wealthy celebrities to further any cause. We parents can make steps, but without that notoriety, where's our air time? Where's our guest spots on shows? We don't have to agree with everything Jenny may say, or even some of the doctors (and certainly not those who shake their heads in admonishment about parents who want freedom of choice in vaccines, or doctors who say vaccines are 'entirely' safe) but we do need to be glad for the fact they're out there talking about. Without public acknowledgement, the money for research and awareness won't be there.

For the rest of the month, at least, wear your autism bracelets. Put your puzzle piece stickers on your cars, and flash your ribbon keyrings. Tell others about your child, when the opportunity arises, and if you can turn one staring, glaring nasty person walking by you at Target into an educated person, it may well be worth the time. Spend your time wisely, but don't give up. There's 1 in 150 kids out there with autism, and 1 in 94 of them are boys. If they're not your kids, they're your kids' classmates, neighbors, relatives, or grandkids. Maybe autism won't ever be wiped out in my lifetime or that of my childrens', but the better educated the public, the medical profession, and the educational system are to deal with autistic children, the better of a world it is for all of us. It really does trickle down and affect everyone. Even if you think you know no one, that child crying in the restaurant, that exhausted mom who just looks rude as she rushes through the grocery store line, or that dad working two jobs so mom doesn't have to -- one of them may be profoundly affected, and you could just make their day by being the first compassionate person they've seen in a long time, the first person to offer help, or maybe just smile, instead of staring. And that could be all you need to do to further autism awareness. In the big picture, it's pretty easy, isn't it?