Well... I'll tell you what makes me crazy... AUTISM!!! And the fact that we know what causes it and that no one is listening. This has been bothering me for days, and the culmination came last night after reading the latest Schafer Report and the garbage commentary it contained from the LA Times. You can read that HERE. Thus the reason for my post last night. I do believe I will have to have another listen and view of the Tweaker video.
Now what I don't understand is how vaccines have become the sacred cow. I don't understand how they can be the only pharmaceutical on the market that on the surface anyway, would appear not to have any problems. Well, I do know... money.
So pay a visit to the desert HERE cuz "Momma Sed".
And then for all us parents who've been touched by autism... you should go HERE cuz Momma Sed and the bowels of hell suck (I don't miss the diarrhea - for sure).
Ok... moving on... well... I have psoriasis... it sucks and is itchy and from what I understand, an auto-immune disorder. Nice. Yep. Nice... My mom also has a host of issues that have not defininely been linked to auto-immune disorders. What did my (biological) dad have? Navy and VIA Era veteran???
Ok... so on to the meat. Two Things.
Raptiva HERE "Meanwhile, European regulators on Thursday called for sales of Raptiva to be suspended, Bloomberg news reported. In an e-mail cited by Bloomberg, the regulators said that "the benefits of Raptiva no longer outweigh its risks, because of safety concerns." Yes you see, 3 deaths and they call for a suspension, but hell no, not the US! Money.
Last??? Something that has not been openly discussed. Has anyone thought of or considered epigenetics? I know "they've" not. "They" can't even get the basic study's done. It's laughable, honestly. Can anyone tell me with all certainty that the vaccines we're giving have not altered on some level, cellular replicaton, because ultrasound can impact cellular development for 7 generations of growth. Given that, it's gonna take some sound studies before I would ever vaccinate one of my kids again. I know they're gonna pass that on in the form of genetic material.
Thank God my girls were exposed to chickenpox last weekend. Change has come. Got an email from a local friend yesterday about anther chickenpox party. MONEY has cost too much. Stupid on 'em.
I've had TWO births at home and accepted the responsibility for the outcomes of both. I wish all four of my kids were born at home. I wish I'd had the complete knowledge then that I have now. Think about that - would ya???
On January 20, 2009, President Elect Obama was sworn in as our great nations 44th President and you as our First Lady. As I watched the events of the day unfold, and with each passing moment, I became more filled with hope and renewed faith that there will be much needed change in the direction of our country. I was glued to the TV when watching The Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. Tears began streaming down my face when you and your husband began your first dance as President and First Lady. My husband and I dance to Etta James’ “At Last” in our kitchen all the time.
As a proud Air Force spouse, I was still glued to the TV during the Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball, and words will not do justice to the feelings I experienced when I heard you, yet again, voice your desire to support our military families.
Thousands of our families are in crisis, and we desperately need your help. While many aspects of our lives are unique to military service; one thing is not, and that is the autism epidemic. Not only am I a proud Air Force spouse; I’m the mother of four young children, two of whom have autism.
Autism does not discriminate, and is not unique to the military, nor are the lifestyle changes and huge financial challenges that come with raising and medically treating our children with autism. While it is a big one, the only exception is preparing for and living through continual deployments and temporary duty assignments. That said, in the civilian community there are countless parents who travel frequently for work. Our families and children, who make up the autism community, as a whole, do not have the support our families need nor do we have the coverage of treatment our children with autism require. I am positive you can understand some of the challenges our families face on a daily basis. There is much work that has to be done.
Autism is a physiological disorder affecting multiple body systems which impacts neurological functioning. When the physiological disease states our children suffer from are treated, they are then able, neurologically, to acquire necessary life skills imparted through behavior intervention modalities, and benefit and recover. Every child with autism is different, and has sustained differing physiological damage to their body systems in a different way leading to their neurological impairment. Each child requires a different treatment protocol designed specifically for them.
The CDC has a prevalence rate of autism occurring in 1 in 150 children based on selective data from 2000 and 2002. If you look to the Department of Education and look at population instead of prevalence, you will find that for the 2006-2007 school year data shows that 1 in 67 children have autism. In the military looking at population data, you will see that at least 1 in every 57 military dependent children of active duty members has autism.
I am very aware that Senator Durbin and President Obama drafted the “Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2008” (ATAA2008), while your husband was still in the position of U.S. Senator for Illinois. The autism epidemic commands consensus language for this Bill that Senator Durbin and your husband planned to introduce. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association are not on the front lines of treating and recovering children with autism. Our long standing autism organizations, researchers, and doctors who are putting the pieces of the autism puzzle together are on the front lines. They are the “troops” who are fighting, and winning against autism, for our children and our future.
As the mother of two boys with autism, I know what I’ve done for my children versus what my American Academy of Pediatrics pediatrician recommended. Her recommendation, which I followed, landed my younger son at age 4 in the children’s psychiatric ward for 11 days. Her recommendations were discontinued 3 years ago, and she has since been “fired” for numerous reasons including that mentioned above. Her plan was not patient centered. Her care, of our children, was not individualized and specific to our children. Our plan for our children, based on research and input from those at long standing autism organizations, has led to recovery. Our youngest son will most likely be completely mainstreamed, educationally speaking, next year.
Our military children do receive some coverage for the treatment of autism, but it is covered as a “special education” benefit under TRICARE (military healthcare coverage), and United States Code 1079. Less than 10% of our children are receiving this benefit due to the failures of TRICARE, and essentially a failure of our Department of Defense.
On October 14, 2008, President Bush signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which included provisions for our military children with autism that would eliminate an arbitrary monthly cap on the medically prescribed treatment our children require and instead placed an arbitrary yearly cap on medically prescribed treatment our children receive under a special education benefit. As of the date of this letter to you it’s been three and a half months going on four months, and this change has yet to be implemented officially or in any capacity for that matter, for our military children. It makes me, again, think of Walter Reed and what a horrible situation. On that note I will share with you that I’ve spoken with several of our Wounded Warriors who have children with autism. They all say the same thing and that is, “our kids have it way worse than we ever did”. Our Wounded Warriors knew the risks involved with signing up for service. Our children had no choice.
Due to the nature of the disease/disorder process of autism, I would ask that the ATAA2008 Bill language be re-visited, and that great consideration be given to input from long standing autism organizations research, and assembled into the necessary revisions of the ATAA2008 language pertaining to treatment of children with autism. I will also point out that TRICARE is an entitlement, and not health insurance, and as such the ATAA2008 will not benefit our military dependent children with autism at all, unless this too is addressed in ATAA2008. Revisions are completely necessary in order to make this Bill effective to heal our children, and healing is what they require in order to become contributing members of society.
Our nation elected and is trusting, your husband, President Obama, and you Michelle, our First Lady, to do what is right, “of the people, by the people, and for the people”. Our children with autism are a huge part of our nation’s people. Our children and families need your help to stop the autism epidemic, and help our children now be able to recover and reach their potential as contributing members of “our people”.
I have hope and faith that you will bring change for our children and families. Our children need your help. I have hope and faith that you will do right, by our children, and our future.
Heroes With Handicaps is a 501 (c) 3 which provides financial assistance to military families seeking treatment for their child (ren) with autism not covered by Tricare. Please visit Heroes With Handicaps to learn more and to pick up an application if you need assistance.
If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser for Heroes With Handicaps, please contact Angela at autismrr at gmail dot com
Check back soon to learn how you can purchase an Autism Salutes lapel pin. Every single penny generated from the sale of these pins goes directly to Heroes With Handicaps.
Lee Silsby accepts Tricare! Save $20 on your first order. Click, read, and save!
Because I am turning Autism Salutes into somewhat of a personal blog, yet still autism and military related; I feel the need to clarify that our beloved autism organizations linked here have only endorsed the letter to Secretary Gates (the very first post) and that my views and feelings in any other posts do not necessarily reflect those of our autism organizations.
Endorsing Organizations
On behalf of children and families everywhere impacted by autism, I would like to thank from the deepest parts of my soul, the following organizations who have endorsed what I was able to put together "With a Little Help From My Friends". Words could never fully express the gratitude I feel. Ang
