Topic : 12/19 Parents’ Ultimate Test: Dealing with Autism

Who told you that?  It is untrue.

There have been studies that DO SHOW A LINK BETWEEN VACCINES AND AUTISM.  Physicians are finally starting to turn away from the pharmaceutical reps and listen to independent researchers and the parents of autistic children.

Do the research.  Look it up yourself.  Start with the report from the IOM... read the actual data.  Read the actual package inserts of the vaccines themselves, and look at what is being injected into babies a few hours old.

Find out how the drug companies determined these were "safe"...  what reactions they decided might be "side effects" and which ones were not... how long they watched for side effects (a few weeks at most)... what studies were done to find out the long-term (think year or more) effects of vaccines on babies' health (there are no studies on this).

Look for research done on what effects might arise from babies having multiple vaccines, from the cumulative effect of all these chemicals injected directly into their bloodstreams before their immune system is developed enough to tolerate rice cereal... there are no studies on this.  None  No one bothered to ask, or answer.

Dr. Sears said there may or may not be a link between autism and vaccines because the FACT is that based on all available solid evidence, the most positive thing the experts (those not affiliated with Big Pharma) can say is that they just do not know.  Others, including Dr. Lawliss, do implicate vaccines.

Seriously.  Look beyond the doctor's office pamplets and Dr. Offit's vaccine-patent-heavy rhetoric.  Do the research.

When you realize what little has been done to protect the lives of our children, how the mental and physical health of 1% of an entire generation was sacrificed for the sake of profit, ideology, and liability, well...

Then you'll really have something to be angry about.

I am the parent of 3 special needs children and a Special Education Parent Advocate -- I help families with children with special needs deal with their school districts. 

I am SO GLAD that Dr. Phil has FINALLY done a show on the issue of the abuse of disabled children (who cannot defend themselves and many times even speak about it) to bring it to national attention.  The important thing for the public to know is that the incidences that happened to the children portrayed on the show were not by ANY MEANS an isolated incident.  The American public needs to know that the abuse of special needs children happens EVERY SINGLE DAY, in EVERY SINGLE STATE in this nation.  The state of "special education" in this country is a national shame, and every single American should be outraged. 

The things that are done to special needs children every single day in this country -- "in the name of treatment" are criminal.  Children locked for hours in "isolation rooms," which are often windowless, airless closets, very often with urine and feces on the floors, because they are kept in there so long they can no longer hold their bladders or their bowels; children restrained in "take down" holds, with their arms twisted behind their backs and teachers or aides sitting on them; children strapped and immobilized in Rifton chairs; food and water is withheld for hours ... I could go on and on.  It sounds like I am describing the worst mental hospitals -- but I am not -- I am talking about OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

And what do these public schools do when they realize that parents are starting to suspect that something is wrong and want to visit their children's classroom frequently?  They develop "visitation policies" which restrict parental access to their child's classroom.  My own County Office of Education has a visitation policy which requires a parent to give the school 24 hours notice prior to a visit, and that visit must be "approved" by an administrator.  They *say* that it is to "limit disruptions" to the classroom, but let's get real.  If they know I'm going to visit my child's class 24 hours in advance, what are the chances that my child will be stuck in an isolation room or strapped into a Rifton chair on that day? 

Ms. Martin also made it sound so easy to inquire as to the level of experience that your child's teacher has with children on the autism spectrum.  I'm sorry to say, it's just not that easy.  Schools are only required to provide that kind of information in very limited circumstances.  I have sat in Individualized Educational Program meetings with parents who have asked what the teacher's experience is with their child's specific disability, and the response is, "We are not required to provide that information.  The teacher is a credentialed special ed teacher and that is all you need to know." 

As Ms. Martin said, there is a federal law -- the IDEA -- the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act -- which is *supposed* to protect special needs children, however the lobbyists for the education industry have been after Congress for years now to *weaken* those rules, and every time the IDEA is reauthorized by Congress, those lobbyists succeed a little more. 

Americans need to know the following and keep this in mind:  30+ years ago, public schools could *lawfully* exclude special needs children.  30+ years ago a parent with a child with autism could go to register her child in a public school and be told, "We don't accept children like him/her.  Find a nice institution."  It wasn't until Congress passed *laws* saying that public schools could not discriminate against children with disabilities and therefore *had* to admit them, that children with disabilities were "allowed" in public schools. 

The American public school system did not want -- and to this day -- would prefer not to have to teach the 20% of the population that is "difficult" to teach.  They're not "set up" to teach the 20% who are "different."  The American public school system is still only set up to teach the 80% of the "round pegs" who fit into the "round holes."  They do not know HOW to teach the 20% of the "square pegs" who do not fit in the round holes.  (It can also be *expensive* to teach and provide all the needed services for a special needs child; schools are ever mindful of their budgets).

I would ask that every single American who is outraged by the abuse of innocent and helpless children in the school system to please, contact your Senators and Congresspeople and tell them to please *strengthen* the IDEA -- do not *weaken* it further.  These children NEED its protections. 

Lastly, please understand that my post is a criticism of the entire system, and not that of any one teacher or even a school.  I *know* that there are many, many wonderful and loving and highly trained and skilled teachers out there, and great schools as well.  But until we GET RID of every single bad teacher and bad school out there, those people will tarnish the rest of the profession. 

Yours for *humane* special education for all,

P. Flower

Parent Advocate, CA

I , after watching the show today, 12/19/07, am worried even more than ever that my precious little angel may be mistreated in school. I have a granddaughter with autism. As I watched the show today, I cried. I am so upset about what has happened to these children. This teacher should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. This has also reminded me of how cruel her peers can be. Jaclyn has said " I am sorry, I am so stupid." She has heard this at school, because I KNOW she has not ever been called stupid by any family member or friends of the family. I am also very upset with my son-in-law for being so pig headed as to not allow any testing before she was five years old. Early detection is of the utmost importance. He simply denied that there was a problem. My daughter finally took her to a specialist when she was five, alone, he would not go with them. I baby sat with her younger brother, or I would have gone with them. Jaclyn gets very upset when she sees a doctor, When she was a little baby, less than a year old, she would scream to no end when either of her grand fathers came to their home to visit. She would cry for the duration of the visit. My husband, after realizing this, would stay out side of the house when we went to visit, he didn't want to upset jaclyn. Then the day came when Jaclyn decided to go to her "Pappy", on her terms. She went to him and hugged him, asking if he was ok!!  He was elated, as we all were. At one point, she even cried when I visited, normally she and I were close, connected in a way,  I simply told her to go play, that I didn't come to see her, (but I really had) that I had come to see her brother and mommy and daddy. This worked in our case. After doing this twice, she stopped crying ahen we visited. She now calls me her best friend. She is doing so much better, in all areas. She does not communicate like "normal" kids. She asks the questions that she wants us to ask her.

She more often than not will run into my arms when she sees me, Telling me that she has missed me. She is socializing so much better now. She still has trouble conversing as other kids do, but when she does converse, she uses a more mature language than what kids her age would normally do. She is a whiz at spelling, likes to read, can do math, doesn't understand decimals,  needs help staying focused doing her school work. Seems to have a photografic memory. She can watch a video and then act the part and sing all the songs in the movie. A sweet little girl. She has progressed so much, but still, is not the typical nine year old. She likes to write in the diary that I had given her- a great resource for her mother- this way my daughter can read it, learn of her thoughts that she can not relay orally. We are so blessed, Jaclyn is able to speak, can read and write and can talk with us, in her way, She is a loving child, she can empathise, she shows concern for others. Jaclyn's great grandmother had arthritis and of course was in a lot of pain with it. Jaclyn would go to her and gently pat her aching shoulder and say" it will be alright, Granny" or ask if she was all right. Then go get her polly pockets and sit with Granny , playing with her toys. She would also carry Granny's cane to her and hold her hand as she walked. Granny is in Heaven now, but Jaclyn has never forgotten her.

These children are very intelligent, but sadly can not relate like others, they are definitly not stupid! I try to gather as much information as I can to share with my daughter, who is a wife, raising two young children, one with autism, and she works at her job, and is owner of a dance &/pom pom team, and manages her home. She is amazing. Jaclyn is now dancing with the team and is in cheerleading. She may not always do the steps or cheers perfectly, but she is getting experience mingling with the other kids and performing in front of a crowd of people. WE ARE BLESSED. I just pray that as she enters her teens and matures that no one takes advantage of her. I pray that she continues to progress to the point where she will be able to live on her own one day, with some supervision.

Penicillin has been a life saving drug but if a person is allergic to it they should not have it.  Medical science gets that.  Peanut butter is great tasting and a great source of protein, but if a child cannot tolerate it then it can be life threatening.  Isn't it entirely possible that some children react to vaccines while others are fine?  There are a list of medications that I cannot take due to adverse reactions.  Others swear by them. 

Why is the golden calf in medicine vaccines?  I had a pediatrician tell me that it was impossible for vaccines to be harmful.   I got a new pediatrician.  One that would work with me on vaccinating my children on my schedule.  One that would order preservative free vaccines for my children because he had none in stock.  How about allowing parents some say on the schedule of vaccines?  Getting babies all of their shots by the time they are 2 might be fine for the majority of babies but isn't it possible that for a few it is detrimental?

When my son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome I refused to read any material on it that was negative.  I remember reading in one book that it was POSSIBLE that someday these kids could get a "little job."  I knew that I wanted more for my son than that book had to offer. 

A helpful book that I read was "Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and PPD"  By Karen Seroussi.  She is a mother of a son diagnosed with autism who researched heroically and shared her success in her book.  That book helped me bring my son into the world with the rest of us.  All kids are different but for my son it was a real answer to prayers. 

You make me smile and  smile & smile* What a gift to all earth you are*

Merry Christmas and the thought you just gave to those parents of Autistc children is priceless*

God Bless you precious Gift of all...

Shawny &:0}

Frankly after watching the show today I was a bit disappointed and upset. It seemed Dr. Phil just threw the show together and didn't do a whole lot of anything for the show. Yes I feel horrible for the family with there son but he played it like all autistic children have that violent behavior and that is what made me upset.

My son has moderate/severe autism and is no way shape or form violent. He is acutally a very loving child for which we are lucky. Yes he does have his behavioral issues but nothing like that.

I have watched better shows that were more infomative then this.

The one thing I did actually like was watching the segment about the teacher because as a parent that is one thing you always fear. You always wonder if you are sending your child to the right teacher or the right school and all I can say is so far we have been completely blessed with my son's schools and teachers.

What I would have liked Dr. Phil to have done is a segment on what we average everyday mom's, families deal with everyday with our children, with school, behaviors with everything. We face so much when it comes to the medical field, when we take our kids out in public, in our relationships, and with our other children. My son is constantly ill from a very low immune system and we are at the doc just about once a month he is on so many medications it is crazy and half the time we have to fight the insurance to cover them and then there are things it won't like his asthma medicine.......

We have to fight the school systems just to make sure our kids get the education they deserve, and just how many public activities do you see for our kids? This is what I would like to see Dr. PHil do in a show!!