Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

December 18, 2008

What is this post about? I certainly will not support Autism Speaks or

any other organization that claims the vaccination issue is out. I

wonder where this idea that only a few people actually think

vaccination have to do with some of the autism cases comes from. I

will not make any statements to the numbers of believers this way or

the other because I have no knowledge of such information. I know as a

medical professional with a strong science background that there is

currently no convincing data to completely prove OR disprove the

hypothesis that vaccines are involved in autism. I know for a fact

that there is NO study looking at the effects of the current

vaccination schedule on children.

Shirly Gilad RN, FNP, MS

> _____

>

> From: Autism_NY_News

[mailto:Autism_NY_News ]

> On Behalf Of Marty

> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:10 PM

> To: Autism_NY_News

> Subject: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

>

> grasp.org]

>

> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 11:50 AM

>

> To:

>

> Subject: A favor

>

> Dear all:

>

> As many of you know, Bob and Suzanne are the founders of Autism

> Speaks, an organization that we've had some ideological differences

over, as

> well as some less-noticed agreements.

>

> And as many of you also know, the s were moved to found their

> organization by a significantly-challenged grandson. But about a

year or so

> ago, the New York Times ran a cover story on disagreements over the

vaccine

> issue amongst the family: Daughter , whose

influence in

> starting the organization is unknown (at least to me); believes that her

> child got his autism from vaccines.

>

> Her parents (and their organization) have been non-committal on the

subject.

> This could mean that 's parents, who run Autism Speaks, do not

believe

> that we got our Autism or Aspergers from vaccines, but that by being

silent

> on the subject they are simply trying not to anger their daughter

and risk

> further organizational embarrassment.

>

> But it could also mean that Autism Speaks is on the fence about this

> subject.

>

> After the Times story came out last year, appeared to have

less to do

> with the organization. The press releases back and forth amongst

daughter

> and parents were rather terse, if not an outright bizarre way for a

family

> to communicate. Well, the family feud is back again, but with a possible

> motivator for us to get involved.

>

> Daughter has recently gone public in an " Age of Autism " column in

> which she cites two Autism Speaks employees as having prevented the

> organization from giving the vaccine issue the attention or funding she

> feels it deserves. At the end of her self-incriminatory verbiage (seen

> unedited below) she calls upon vaccine theorists to email Autism Speaks'

> Executive Director Mark Roithmayr urging him (at the very least) to push

> Autism Speaks towards becoming an organization that supports vaccine

theory.

>

> I am asking you to email Roithmayr as well-in support of Autism

Speaks' not

> having become a vaccine theory organization; and in support of the two

> employees daughter clearly wants out. I know we've had

disagreements

> with this org, but Autism Speaks becoming a vaccine theory outlet

would be a

> very bad thing for the world.

>

> The two employees are Andy Shih and Alison Tepper-Singer. Many

people know

> Singer, and know of GRASP's relationship with her. Whatever existing

> disagreements remain, she's the one responsible for Autism Speaks

> eradicating language like " wiping out autism " or " making it a word

in the

> history books. " ly, they don't even use the word " cure " as much

either.

> We need to keep Autism Speaks on this path. I might get called a

" sap " for

> saying this, but they're not just making these changes for better PR;

> they're actually starting to get it. Please write in your emails that if

> these two employees are indeed against vaccine theories, that they

should be

> supported, not denounced.

>

> Some suspension of animosity might be necessary, be it issues with

either

> Autism Speaks, or with Shih and/or Singer personally. But this is bigger

> than those old arguments. And a mailbox full of respectfully written

emails

> to Roithmayr would probably go a long way in preventing Autism

Speaks from

> " going vaccine. "

>

> To us at GRASP, the vaccine issue is a dead one, albeit a

frustrating one;

> maintained only by the leadership of racist shock jocks and ex-playboy

> bunnies, backed up by lawyers wishing to cash in on fantasized

lawsuits, and

> begun by a man whose every " study " has been discredited for faulty

research

> practices. We cannot demonize their followers, however, for there are

> tragically human reasons why such vulnerable people have bought into

these

> ideas, and why as a consequence this stuff still fills our ears.

>

> Their numbers are actually quite few. However, because they are loud,

> because the pharmaceutical industry is often its own worst enemy, and

> because the CDC and NIH have at times been rather cowardly in

standing up to

> them and protecting a public they're designed to serve, the theories

> persist. And we are sentenced to continuously listen to junk science,

> zealotry, and terminology that makes no attempt to refrain from

intimating

> that GRASP's members are chemical accidents. We don't discount

environmental

> triggers and exacerbators, but we do discount environmental

causation. The

> sane world believes what we have to be primarily genetic (this issue

is very

> much linked to the whole " cure " debate).

>

> I could go on and on and on . . .

>

> After reading below, please write in support of Singer and Shih to

Autism

> Speaks Executive Director, Mark Roithmayr, at mroithmayr@autismsp

> eaks.org It'd also be great if

> everyone could use as the same words in the subject line . . . something

> like " I Respectfully Disagree with . " Write what you

wish after

> that (just keep it polite :-)

>

> Thank you for this favor. I promise, though, that preventing Autism

Speaks

> from going in this direction is in all of our best interests.

>

> mjc

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------

>

> December 11, 2008

>

> A Message to Autism Speaks' Singer and Shih: ENOUGH ALREADY!

>

> By

>

> I did not want to write this piece or share this information. I was

hoping

> the leadership at Autism Speaks would take care of this problem. For

far too

> long Dr. Andy Shih and Ms. Alison Singer have been representing only

their

> own rigid belief systems in their roles at AS, doing whatever

necessary to

> thwart environmental and vaccine research. In the meantime so many

> opportunities have been squandered and our children are paying the

price.

>

> I will not editorialize here; just give the reader the facts.

Families and

> especially AS supporters have a right to know how their children's

interests

> are being represented.

>

> 1) Dr. Andy Shih, VP of Scientific Affairs, an avowed disbeliever of

> vaccines as a possible trigger for autism, appeared on " Montel " a

few years

> ago. Shih vehemently argued that vaccines are totally safe, can not

and do

> not trigger autism and that excessive quantities of mercury are

perfectly

> safe to inject into babies and children.

>

> Two years ago AS leadership was excited about a Norwegian study on

> vaccinated children and autism and promised the study designers full

> support. AS expressed a desire to take the lead as a funder and

facilitator

> of the project. Shih surreptitiously killed almost all involvement.

>

> 2) Shih's recent comments to the media include, " this issue

(vaccines and

> autism) has really been put to bed! " regarding a tiny Columbia study on

> autism, regression and GI disease on a dozen children. The study only

> actually included 5 children who had regressive autism and GI

disease and

> one, indeed, had the measles virus in his gut. The CDC funded this

study.

>

> I encourage all to Google Andy Shih + vaccines and read the plethora

of Shih

> quotes about why he believes there is no merit to studying

over-vaccination

> as trigger for autism. Shih is most frequently quoted by pharmaceutical

> sites and vaccine manufacturers as " proof " of vaccines' " disproved "

> relationship to autism.

>

> 3) Alison Singer is in control of all media relations for AS and

sits on the

> very important and influential IACC, as AS' representative. Singer

has also

> overseen AS' multi-million dollar website. Until recently, the

website was

> devoid off all biomedical news and information.

>

> Singer and Shih maintain a strong professional friendship with

Offit,

> lunching with him on AS' dime.

>

> 4) Singer called CBS " Evening News " to complain about Sharyl Attkisson's

> investigative news story on Dr. Offit's financial interests in the

> childhood immunization program. Singer copied Dr. Lou , her

AAP ally,

> in this complaint letter. The CBS news piece uncovered the fact that

Offit

> had recently sold his rota vaccine patent for $104 million dollars. This

> discovery was, in fact, huge news to all in the autism community.

>

> 5) The IACC group had the unique opportunity to effect powerful and

> innovative change in autism research at the NIH. The CAA was made

possible

> by the hundreds of thousands of parents who supported its passage.

Autism

> Speaks promised to do everything possible to support the promotion of

> environmental research, including vaccine research.

>

> After nearly a year of work the NIH's strategic plan is currently being

> boycotted by the entire community. Tom Insel has done a terrible job of

> including stakeholders' opinions and priorities, yet there was a

critical

> juncture when the plan could have been saved. Lyn Redwood and all

> participating parent orgs (with the exception of minuscule org. ASA)

voted

> for the inclusion of a number of environmental research initiatives

which

> would have SAVED this endeavor. Alison Singer, as AS'

representative, voted

> against the plan.

>

> OK- those are the facts, everything is true, now for the editorial.

>

> The fact that Ms. Singer voted against the rest of the autism

community is

> disgraceful. Clearly Ms. Singer cannot separate her personal beliefs

from

> the mandate of the organization she is paid to serve. The IACC plan

was an

> opportunity of monumental proportions and now a year's work has been

> squandered, thanks to her veto.

>

> Rather then embracing the big tent concept and building bridges with the

> grass roots parent-run autism organizations, Shih and Singer have

focused

> their energies on building relationships with Dr. Offit (a vaccine

patent

> holder), Ami Pisani and her pharmaceutical organization and old school

> geneticists. This approach is not getting us where we need to go and

gravely

> disappoints the families who trusted AS to be better than this. It was

> families, not pharmaceutical reps, who brought the tremendous

pressure to

> bear in order to pass the CAA. Now our families' interests have been

> betrayed by the rigid ideological beliefs of one person who would

rather see

> the CAA fail than encompass vaccine research.

>

> Instead of building alliances with family based orgs like the National

> Autism Association, Ms. Singer's efforts have been focused on aiding Dr.

> Offit. Autism Speaks' PR needed to allow Dr. Offit to take care of

> himself, he has certainly got the financial resources to do so. Autism

> Speaks should have been championing the trend of greater financial

> transparency in autism and vaccine science. Instead, Ms. Singer was

so upset

> by the criticism of Dr. Offit that she called CBS news to complain

about the

> piece. This bizarre behavior is another complete betrayal of our

families'

> interests and serves to further illustrate the deeply ingrained

beliefs and

> prejudices that do a deep disservice to our families.

>

> I do not have the time to detail the myriad of instances in which Autism

> Speaks PR and stein Associates worked overtime to kill or diminish

> stories about biomedical news. Suffice it to say it is a sad and lengthy

> list. We need more open debate and discussion, not less.

>

> AS PR and AS science need not fear open discussions of the vaccine

issue,

> what they should fear is colluding with the CDC in behaving as if

parents'

> voices do not matter, regression is inconsequential, GI disease is

> insignificant, adverse vaccine reactions are non-existent, all

successful

> biomedical interventions are aberrations. I may well be incorrect

about many

> things but we can never be wrong in asking questions -- questions our

> families want asked.

>

> Mark Roithmayr and Dr. Geri Dawson have been made well aware of Shih and

> Singer's serious lapses in judgment and failure to fully represent the

> community. Mr. Roithmayr appears to want to ignore this situation

and its

> adverse consequences for our children. Maybe the parents who worked

so hard

> to pass the CAA should ask him why?

>

> Managing Editor's note: You can email Mark Roithmayr at

mroithmayr@autismsp

> eaks.org

>

> has two young boys. Her oldest son, Christian, is severely

> affected by autism. He developed normally; smiling, talking,

walking; only

> to lose every skill and every word by the age of 2 and a half. Upon the

> advice of medical professionals and her husband were advised

to pursue

> only high quality behavioral therapy, speech and OT for Christian.

It had no

> meaningful impact on Christian until his parents sought help from DAN!

> doctors who treated the underlying causes of Christian's descent into

> autism. Christian has improved but still has far to go. He has

Inflammatory

> Bowel Disease, the measles virus in his gut and an immune system

akin to a

> late stage AIDS patient. Christian does not have a psychiatric disorder.

> Before autism, was the Clinical Director of Sexual Assault

> Crisis Center in Stamford Connecticut. is proud to serve on

the Boards

> of NAA and SafeMinds.

>

> GRASP The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, Inc. 666

> Broadway, Suite 830 New York, NY 10012 p + f = 1.

www.grasp.org

>

December 18, 2008

I agree with you 100%. We all have 40 mutations and when you put them together, like in my son's case, you get Autism. We go to the NIH hospital for his medical issues. We have to go back in 6 months as a follow up.. They are one of the best research hospitals in the country and they are an invite only research facility. Well guess what. They did a cromosone test amoung a million other things a my son has a deletion of cromisone 16 which has been linked to Autism. I believe that vaccines help our children. I am sure alot of you got vaccines and do you have Autism?

To: sList Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:49:52 AMSubject: Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

What is this post about? I certainly will not support Autism Speaks orany other organization that claims the vaccination issue is out. Iwonder where this idea that only a few people actually thinkvaccination have to do with some of the autism cases comes from. Iwill not make any statements to the numbers of believers this way orthe other because I have no knowledge of such information. I know as amedical professional with a strong science background that there iscurrently no convincing data to completely prove OR disprove thehypothesis that vaccines are involved in autism. I know for a factthat there is NO study looking at the effects of the currentvaccination schedule on children. Shirly Gilad RN, FNP, MS> _____ > > From: Autism_NY_News@ yahoogroups.

com[mailto:Autism_NY_News@ yahoogroups. com]> On Behalf Of Marty> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:10 PM> To: Autism_NY_News@ yahoogroups. com> Subject: [Autism_NY_News] A favor> > > > From: GRASP [mailto:mjcarley@ <mailto:mjcarley@ ...> grasp.org]> > Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 11:50 AM> > To: > > Subject: A favor> > > > > > Dear all:> > > > As many of you know, Bob and Suzanne are the founders of Autism> Speaks, an organization that we've had

some ideological differencesover, as> well as some less-noticed agreements. > > > > > > And as many of you also know, the s were moved to found their> organization by a significantly- challenged grandson. But about ayear or so> ago, the New York Times ran a cover story on disagreements over thevaccine> issue amongst the family: Daughter , whoseinfluence in> starting the organization is unknown (at least to me); believes that her> child got his autism from vaccines. > > > > > > Her parents (and their organization) have been non-committal on thesubject.> This could mean that 's parents, who run Autism Speaks, do notbelieve> that we got our Autism or Aspergers from vaccines, but that by beingsilent> on the subject they are simply trying not to anger their

daughterand risk> further organizational embarrassment. > > > > > > But it could also mean that Autism Speaks is on the fence about this> subject.> > > > > > After the Times story came out last year, appeared to haveless to do> with the organization. The press releases back and forth amongstdaughter> and parents were rather terse, if not an outright bizarre way for afamily> to communicate. Well, the family feud is back again, but with a possible> motivator for us to get involved.> > > > > > Daughter has recently gone public in an "Age of Autism" column in> which she cites two Autism Speaks employees as having prevented the> organization from giving the vaccine issue the attention or funding she> feels it deserves. At the end of her

self-incriminatory verbiage (seen> unedited below) she calls upon vaccine theorists to email Autism Speaks'> Executive Director Mark Roithmayr urging him (at the very least) to push> Autism Speaks towards becoming an organization that supports vaccinetheory.> > > > > > I am asking you to email Roithmayr as well-in support of AutismSpeaks' not> having become a vaccine theory organization; and in support of the two> employees daughter clearly wants out. I know we've haddisagreements> with this org, but Autism Speaks becoming a vaccine theory outletwould be a> very bad thing for the world. > > > > > > The two employees are Andy Shih and Alison Tepper-Singer. Manypeople know> Singer, and know of GRASP's relationship with her. Whatever existing> disagreements remain, she's the one

responsible for Autism Speaks> eradicating language like "wiping out autism" or "making it a wordin the> history books." ly, they don't even use the word "cure" as mucheither.> We need to keep Autism Speaks on this path. I might get called a"sap" for> saying this, but they're not just making these changes for better PR;> they're actually starting to get it. Please write in your emails that if> these two employees are indeed against vaccine theories, that theyshould be> supported, not denounced.> > > > > > Some suspension of animosity might be necessary, be it issues witheither> Autism Speaks, or with Shih and/or Singer personally. But this is bigger> than those old arguments. And a mailbox full of respectfully writtenemails> to Roithmayr would probably go a long way in preventing AutismSpeaks from>

"going vaccine." > > > > > > To us at GRASP, the vaccine issue is a dead one, albeit afrustrating one;> maintained only by the leadership of racist shock jocks and ex-playboy> bunnies, backed up by lawyers wishing to cash in on fantasizedlawsuits, and> begun by a man whose every "study" has been discredited for faultyresearch> practices. We cannot demonize their followers, however, for there are> tragically human reasons why such vulnerable people have bought intothese> ideas, and why as a consequence this stuff still fills our ears. > > > > > > Their numbers are actually quite few. However, because they are loud,> because the pharmaceutical industry is often its own worst enemy, and> because the CDC and NIH have at times been rather cowardly instanding up to> them and protecting a public

they're designed to serve, the theories> persist. And we are sentenced to continuously listen to junk science,> zealotry, and terminology that makes no attempt to refrain fromintimating> that GRASP's members are chemical accidents. We don't discountenvironmental> triggers and exacerbators, but we do discount environmentalcausation. The> sane world believes what we have to be primarily genetic (this issueis very> much linked to the whole "cure" debate). > > > > > > I could go on and on and on . . . > > > > > > After reading below, please write in support of Singer and Shih toAutism> Speaks Executive Director, Mark Roithmayr, at mroithmayr@autismsp> <mailto:mroithmayr@ ...> eaks.org It'd also be great if> everyone could use as the same words

in the subject line . . . something> like "I Respectfully Disagree with ." Write what youwish after> that (just keep it polite :-)> > > > > > > > Thank you for this favor. I promise, though, that preventing AutismSpeaks> from going in this direction is in all of our best interests.> > > > > > > > mjc> > > > > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -> > > > December 11, 2008> > > > A Message to Autism Speaks' Singer and Shih: ENOUGH ALREADY!> > > > > > > > By > > > > I did not want to write this piece or share this information. I washoping> the leadership at Autism Speaks would

take care of this problem. Forfar too> long Dr. Andy Shih and Ms. Alison Singer have been representing onlytheir> own rigid belief systems in their roles at AS, doing whatevernecessary to> thwart environmental and vaccine research. In the meantime so many> opportunities have been squandered and our children are paying theprice.> > > > I will not editorialize here; just give the reader the facts.Families and> especially AS supporters have a right to know how their children'sinterests> are being represented.> > > > 1) Dr. Andy Shih, VP of Scientific Affairs, an avowed disbeliever of> vaccines as a possible trigger for autism, appeared on "Montel" afew years> ago. Shih vehemently argued that vaccines are totally safe, can notand do> not trigger autism and that excessive quantities of mercury

areperfectly> safe to inject into babies and children.> > > > Two years ago AS leadership was excited about a Norwegian study on> vaccinated children and autism and promised the study designers full> support. AS expressed a desire to take the lead as a funder andfacilitator> of the project. Shih surreptitiously killed almost all involvement.> > > > 2) Shih's recent comments to the media include, "this issue(vaccines and> autism) has really been put to bed!" regarding a tiny Columbia study on> autism, regression and GI disease on a dozen children. The study only> actually included 5 children who had regressive autism and GIdisease and> one, indeed, had the measles virus in his gut. The CDC funded thisstudy.> > > > I encourage all to Google Andy Shih + vaccines and read the plethoraof

Shih> quotes about why he believes there is no merit to studyingover-vaccination> as trigger for autism. Shih is most frequently quoted by pharmaceutical> sites and vaccine manufacturers as "proof" of vaccines' "disproved"> relationship to autism.> > > > 3) Alison Singer is in control of all media relations for AS andsits on the> very important and influential IACC, as AS' representative. Singerhas also> overseen AS' multi-million dollar website. Until recently, thewebsite was> devoid off all biomedical news and information.> > > > Singer and Shih maintain a strong professional friendship with Offit,> lunching with him on AS' dime.> > > > 4) Singer called CBS "Evening News" to complain about Sharyl Attkisson's> investigative news story on Dr. Offit's financial interests in

the> childhood immunization program. Singer copied Dr. Lou , herAAP ally,> in this complaint letter. The CBS news piece uncovered the fact thatOffit> had recently sold his rota vaccine patent for $104 million dollars. This> discovery was, in fact, huge news to all in the autism community.> > > > 5) The IACC group had the unique opportunity to effect powerful and> innovative change in autism research at the NIH. The CAA was madepossible> by the hundreds of thousands of parents who supported its passage.Autism> Speaks promised to do everything possible to support the promotion of> environmental research, including vaccine research.> > > > After nearly a year of work the NIH's strategic plan is currently being> boycotted by the entire community. Tom Insel has done a terrible job of> including stakeholders'

opinions and priorities, yet there was acritical> juncture when the plan could have been saved. Lyn Redwood and all> participating parent orgs (with the exception of minuscule org. ASA)voted> for the inclusion of a number of environmental research initiativeswhich> would have SAVED this endeavor. Alison Singer, as AS'representative, voted> against the plan.> > > > OK- those are the facts, everything is true, now for the editorial.> > > > The fact that Ms. Singer voted against the rest of the autismcommunity is> disgraceful. Clearly Ms. Singer cannot separate her personal beliefsfrom> the mandate of the organization she is paid to serve. The IACC planwas an> opportunity of monumental proportions and now a year's work has been> squandered, thanks to her veto.> > > > Rather then

embracing the big tent concept and building bridges with the> grass roots parent-run autism organizations, Shih and Singer havefocused> their energies on building relationships with Dr. Offit (a vaccinepatent> holder), Ami Pisani and her pharmaceutical organization and old school> geneticists. This approach is not getting us where we need to go andgravely> disappoints the families who trusted AS to be better than this. It was> families, not pharmaceutical reps, who brought the tremendouspressure to> bear in order to pass the CAA. Now our families' interests have been> betrayed by the rigid ideological beliefs of one person who wouldrather see> the CAA fail than encompass vaccine research.> > > > Instead of building alliances with family based orgs like the National> Autism Association, Ms. Singer's efforts have been focused on aiding

Dr.> Offit. Autism Speaks' PR needed to allow Dr. Offit to take care of> himself, he has certainly got the financial resources to do so. Autism> Speaks should have been championing the trend of greater financial> transparency in autism and vaccine science. Instead, Ms. Singer wasso upset> by the criticism of Dr. Offit that she called CBS news to complainabout the> piece. This bizarre behavior is another complete betrayal of ourfamilies'> interests and serves to further illustrate the deeply ingrainedbeliefs and> prejudices that do a deep disservice to our families.> > > > I do not have the time to detail the myriad of instances in which Autism> Speaks PR and stein Associates worked overtime to kill or diminish> stories about biomedical news. Suffice it to say it is a sad and lengthy> list. We need more open debate and

discussion, not less.> > > > AS PR and AS science need not fear open discussions of the vaccineissue,> what they should fear is colluding with the CDC in behaving as ifparents'> voices do not matter, regression is inconsequential, GI disease is> insignificant, adverse vaccine reactions are non-existent, allsuccessful> biomedical interventions are aberrations. I may well be incorrectabout many> things but we can never be wrong in asking questions -- questions our> families want asked.> > > > Mark Roithmayr and Dr. Geri Dawson have been made well aware of Shih and> Singer's serious lapses in judgment and failure to fully represent the> community. Mr. Roithmayr appears to want to ignore this situationand its> adverse consequences for our children. Maybe the parents who workedso hard> to pass the CAA should

ask him why?> > > > > > > > Managing Editor's note: You can email Mark Roithmayr atmroithmayr@autismsp> <mailto:mroithmayr@ ...> eaks.org > > > > > > > > has two young boys. Her oldest son, Christian, is severely> affected by autism. He developed normally; smiling, talking,walking; only> to lose every skill and every word by the age of 2 and a half. Upon the> advice of medical professionals and her husband were advisedto pursue> only high quality behavioral therapy, speech and OT for Christian.It had no> meaningful impact on Christian until his parents sought help from DAN!> doctors who treated the underlying causes of Christian's descent into> autism. Christian has improved but still has far to go. He hasInflammatory> Bowel Disease, the

measles virus in his gut and an immune systemakin to a> late stage AIDS patient. Christian does not have a psychiatric disorder.> Before autism, was the Clinical Director of Sexual Assault> Crisis Center in Stamford Connecticut. is proud to serve onthe Boards> of NAA and SafeMinds.> > > > > > > > > > > > GRASP The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, Inc. 666> Broadway, Suite 830 New York, NY 10012 p + f = 1.www.grasp.org>

December 18, 2008

Agree with whom? there are opposing views here. The fact that not

every vaccinated child becomes autistic does not disprove that autism

in some children can be triggered by vaccines. Not everybody died in

Hiroshima from cancer after the atomic bomb. Not everybody develops

peripheral neuropathy after taking tegretol Not every teenager commits

suicide when put on prozac. Nevertheless these things do happen in

sensitive populations. The vaccines we got were fewer by far than the

amount given now. Maybe some more reading is needed on your part. I

will be happy to refer you to some articles. I am not against

vaccines. I am against lack of information and lack of research.

Shirly Gilad. RN FNP.

>

> I agree with you 100%. We all have 40 mutations and when you put

them together, like in my son's case, you get Autism. We go to the NIH

hospital for his medical issues. We have to go back in 6 months as a

follow up.. They are one of the best research hospitals in the country

and they are an invite only research facility. Well guess what. They

did a cromosone test amoung a million other things a my son has a

deletion of cromisone 16 which has been linked to Autism. I believe

that vaccines help our children. I am sure alot of you got vaccines

and do you have Autism?

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: sList

> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:49:52 AM

> Subject: Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

>

> What is this post about? I certainly will not support Autism Speaks or

> any other organization that claims the vaccination issue is out. I

> wonder where this idea that only a few people actually think

> vaccination have to do with some of the autism cases comes from. I

> will not make any statements to the numbers of believers this way or

> the other because I have no knowledge of such information. I know as a

> medical professional with a strong science background that there is

> currently no convincing data to completely prove OR disprove the

> hypothesis that vaccines are involved in autism. I know for a fact

> that there is NO study looking at the effects of the current

> vaccination schedule on children.

>

> Shirly Gilad RN, FNP, MS

>

> > _____

> >

> > From: Autism_NY_News@ yahoogroups. com

> [mailto:Autism_NY_News@ yahoogroups. com]

> > On Behalf Of Marty

> > Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:10 PM

> > To: Autism_NY_News@ yahoogroups. com

> > Subject: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

> >

> > From: GRASP [mailto:mjcarley@ <mailto:mjcarley@ ...> grasp.org]

> >

> > Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 11:50 AM

> >

> > To:

> >

> > Subject: A favor

> >

> > Dear all:

> >

> > As many of you know, Bob and Suzanne are the founders of Autism

> > Speaks, an organization that we've had some ideological differences

> over, as

> > well as some less-noticed agreements.

> >

> > And as many of you also know, the s were moved to found their

> > organization by a significantly- challenged grandson. But about a

> year or so

> > ago, the New York Times ran a cover story on disagreements over the

> vaccine

> > issue amongst the family: Daughter , whose

> influence in

> > starting the organization is unknown (at least to me); believes

that her

> > child got his autism from vaccines.

> >

> > Her parents (and their organization) have been non-committal on the

> subject.

> > This could mean that 's parents, who run Autism Speaks, do not

> believe

> > that we got our Autism or Aspergers from vaccines, but that by being

> silent

> > on the subject they are simply trying not to anger their daughter

> and risk

> > further organizational embarrassment.

> >

> > But it could also mean that Autism Speaks is on the fence about this

> > subject.

> >

> > After the Times story came out last year, appeared to have

> less to do

> > with the organization. The press releases back and forth amongst

> daughter

> > and parents were rather terse, if not an outright bizarre way for a

> family

> > to communicate. Well, the family feud is back again, but with a

possible

> > motivator for us to get involved.

> >

> > Daughter has recently gone public in an " Age of Autism "

column in

> > which she cites two Autism Speaks employees as having prevented the

> > organization from giving the vaccine issue the attention or

funding she

> > feels it deserves. At the end of her self-incriminatory verbiage (seen

> > unedited below) she calls upon vaccine theorists to email Autism

Speaks'

> > Executive Director Mark Roithmayr urging him (at the very least)

to push

> > Autism Speaks towards becoming an organization that supports vaccine

> theory.

> >

> > I am asking you to email Roithmayr as well-in support of Autism

> Speaks' not

> > having become a vaccine theory organization; and in support of the two

> > employees daughter clearly wants out. I know we've had

> disagreements

> > with this org, but Autism Speaks becoming a vaccine theory outlet

> would be a

> > very bad thing for the world.

> >

> > The two employees are Andy Shih and Alison Tepper-Singer. Many

> people know

> > Singer, and know of GRASP's relationship with her. Whatever existing

> > disagreements remain, she's the one responsible for Autism Speaks

> > eradicating language like " wiping out autism " or " making it a word

> in the

> > history books. " ly, they don't even use the word " cure " as much

> either.

> > We need to keep Autism Speaks on this path. I might get called a

> " sap " for

> > saying this, but they're not just making these changes for better PR;

> > they're actually starting to get it. Please write in your emails

that if

> > these two employees are indeed against vaccine theories, that they

> should be

> > supported, not denounced.

> >

> > Some suspension of animosity might be necessary, be it issues with

> either

> > Autism Speaks, or with Shih and/or Singer personally. But this is

bigger

> > than those old arguments. And a mailbox full of respectfully written

> emails

> > to Roithmayr would probably go a long way in preventing Autism

> Speaks from

> > " going vaccine. "

> >

> > To us at GRASP, the vaccine issue is a dead one, albeit a

> frustrating one;

> > maintained only by the leadership of racist shock jocks and ex-playboy

> > bunnies, backed up by lawyers wishing to cash in on fantasized

> lawsuits, and

> > begun by a man whose every " study " has been discredited for faulty

> research

> > practices. We cannot demonize their followers, however, for there are

> > tragically human reasons why such vulnerable people have bought into

> these

> > ideas, and why as a consequence this stuff still fills our ears.

> >

> > Their numbers are actually quite few. However, because they are loud,

> > because the pharmaceutical industry is often its own worst enemy, and

> > because the CDC and NIH have at times been rather cowardly in

> standing up to

> > them and protecting a public they're designed to serve, the theories

> > persist. And we are sentenced to continuously listen to junk science,

> > zealotry, and terminology that makes no attempt to refrain from

> intimating

> > that GRASP's members are chemical accidents. We don't discount

> environmental

> > triggers and exacerbators, but we do discount environmental

> causation. The

> > sane world believes what we have to be primarily genetic (this issue

> is very

> > much linked to the whole " cure " debate).

> >

> > I could go on and on and on . . .

> >

> > After reading below, please write in support of Singer and Shih to

> Autism

> > Speaks Executive Director, Mark Roithmayr, at mroithmayr@autismsp

> > <mailto:mroithmayr@ ...> eaks.org It'd also be great if

> > everyone could use as the same words in the subject line . . .

something

> > like " I Respectfully Disagree with . " Write what you

> wish after

> > that (just keep it polite :-)

> >

> > Thank you for this favor. I promise, though, that preventing Autism

> Speaks

> > from going in this direction is in all of our best interests.

> >

> > mjc

> >

> > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

> >

> > December 11, 2008

> >

> > A Message to Autism Speaks' Singer and Shih: ENOUGH ALREADY!

> >

> > By

> >

> > I did not want to write this piece or share this information. I was

> hoping

> > the leadership at Autism Speaks would take care of this problem. For

> far too

> > long Dr. Andy Shih and Ms. Alison Singer have been representing only

> their

> > own rigid belief systems in their roles at AS, doing whatever

> necessary to

> > thwart environmental and vaccine research. In the meantime so many

> > opportunities have been squandered and our children are paying the

> price.

> >

> > I will not editorialize here; just give the reader the facts.

> Families and

> > especially AS supporters have a right to know how their children's

> interests

> > are being represented.

> >

> > 1) Dr. Andy Shih, VP of Scientific Affairs, an avowed disbeliever of

> > vaccines as a possible trigger for autism, appeared on " Montel " a

> few years

> > ago. Shih vehemently argued that vaccines are totally safe, can not

> and do

> > not trigger autism and that excessive quantities of mercury are

> perfectly

> > safe to inject into babies and children.

> >

> > Two years ago AS leadership was excited about a Norwegian study on

> > vaccinated children and autism and promised the study designers full

> > support. AS expressed a desire to take the lead as a funder and

> facilitator

> > of the project. Shih surreptitiously killed almost all involvement.

> >

> > 2) Shih's recent comments to the media include, " this issue

> (vaccines and

> > autism) has really been put to bed! " regarding a tiny Columbia

study on

> > autism, regression and GI disease on a dozen children. The study only

> > actually included 5 children who had regressive autism and GI

> disease and

> > one, indeed, had the measles virus in his gut. The CDC funded this

> study.

> >

> > I encourage all to Google Andy Shih + vaccines and read the plethora

> of Shih

> > quotes about why he believes there is no merit to studying

> over-vaccination

> > as trigger for autism. Shih is most frequently quoted by

pharmaceutical

> > sites and vaccine manufacturers as " proof " of vaccines' " disproved "

> > relationship to autism.

> >

> > 3) Alison Singer is in control of all media relations for AS and

> sits on the

> > very important and influential IACC, as AS' representative. Singer

> has also

> > overseen AS' multi-million dollar website. Until recently, the

> website was

> > devoid off all biomedical news and information.

> >

> > Singer and Shih maintain a strong professional friendship with

> Offit,

> > lunching with him on AS' dime.

> >

> > 4) Singer called CBS " Evening News " to complain about Sharyl

Attkisson's

> > investigative news story on Dr.. Offit's financial interests

in the

> > childhood immunization program. Singer copied Dr. Lou , her

> AAP ally,

> > in this complaint letter. The CBS news piece uncovered the fact that

> Offit

> > had recently sold his rota vaccine patent for $104 million

dollars. This

> > discovery was, in fact, huge news to all in the autism community.

> >

> > 5) The IACC group had the unique opportunity to effect powerful and

> > innovative change in autism research at the NIH. The CAA was made

> possible

> > by the hundreds of thousands of parents who supported its passage.

> Autism

> > Speaks promised to do everything possible to support the promotion of

> > environmental research, including vaccine research.

> >

> > After nearly a year of work the NIH's strategic plan is currently

being

> > boycotted by the entire community. Tom Insel has done a terrible

job of

> > including stakeholders' opinions and priorities, yet there was a

> critical

> > juncture when the plan could have been saved. Lyn Redwood and all

> > participating parent orgs (with the exception of minuscule org. ASA)

> voted

> > for the inclusion of a number of environmental research initiatives

> which

> > would have SAVED this endeavor. Alison Singer, as AS'

> representative, voted

> > against the plan.

> >

> > OK- those are the facts, everything is true, now for the editorial.

> >

> > The fact that Ms. Singer voted against the rest of the autism

> community is

> > disgraceful. Clearly Ms. Singer cannot separate her personal beliefs

> from

> > the mandate of the organization she is paid to serve. The IACC plan

> was an

> > opportunity of monumental proportions and now a year's work has been

> > squandered, thanks to her veto.

> >

> > Rather then embracing the big tent concept and building bridges

with the

> > grass roots parent-run autism organizations, Shih and Singer have

> focused

> > their energies on building relationships with Dr. Offit (a vaccine

> patent

> > holder), Ami Pisani and her pharmaceutical organization and old school

> > geneticists. This approach is not getting us where we need to go and

> gravely

> > disappoints the families who trusted AS to be better than this. It was

> > families, not pharmaceutical reps, who brought the tremendous

> pressure to

> > bear in order to pass the CAA. Now our families' interests have been

> > betrayed by the rigid ideological beliefs of one person who would

> rather see

> > the CAA fail than encompass vaccine research.

> >

> > Instead of building alliances with family based orgs like the National

> > Autism Association, Ms. Singer's efforts have been focused on

aiding Dr.

> > Offit. Autism Speaks' PR needed to allow Dr. Offit to take

care of

> > himself, he has certainly got the financial resources to do so. Autism

> > Speaks should have been championing the trend of greater financial

> > transparency in autism and vaccine science. Instead, Ms. Singer was

> so upset

> > by the criticism of Dr. Offit that she called CBS news to complain

> about the

> > piece. This bizarre behavior is another complete betrayal of our

> families'

> > interests and serves to further illustrate the deeply ingrained

> beliefs and

> > prejudices that do a deep disservice to our families.

> >

> > I do not have the time to detail the myriad of instances in which

Autism

> > Speaks PR and stein Associates worked overtime to kill or

diminish

> > stories about biomedical news. Suffice it to say it is a sad and

lengthy

> > list. We need more open debate and discussion, not less.

> >

> > AS PR and AS science need not fear open discussions of the vaccine

> issue,

> > what they should fear is colluding with the CDC in behaving as if

> parents'

> > voices do not matter, regression is inconsequential, GI disease is

> > insignificant, adverse vaccine reactions are non-existent, all

> successful

> > biomedical interventions are aberrations. I may well be incorrect

> about many

> > things but we can never be wrong in asking questions -- questions our

> > families want asked.

> >

> > Mark Roithmayr and Dr. Geri Dawson have been made well aware of

Shih and

> > Singer's serious lapses in judgment and failure to fully represent the

> > community. Mr. Roithmayr appears to want to ignore this situation

> and its

> > adverse consequences for our children. Maybe the parents who worked

> so hard

> > to pass the CAA should ask him why?

> >

> > Managing Editor's note: You can email Mark Roithmayr at

> mroithmayr@autismsp

> > <mailto:mroithmayr@ ....> eaks.org

> >

> > has two young boys. Her oldest son, Christian, is

severely

> > affected by autism. He developed normally; smiling, talking,

> walking; only

> > to lose every skill and every word by the age of 2 and a half.

Upon the

> > advice of medical professionals and her husband were advised

> to pursue

> > only high quality behavioral therapy, speech and OT for Christian.

> It had no

> > meaningful impact on Christian until his parents sought help from DAN!

> > doctors who treated the underlying causes of Christian's descent into

> > autism. Christian has improved but still has far to go. He has

> Inflammatory

> > Bowel Disease, the measles virus in his gut and an immune system

> akin to a

> > late stage AIDS patient. Christian does not have a psychiatric

disorder.

> > Before autism, was the Clinical Director of Sexual

Assault

> > Crisis Center in Stamford Connecticut. is proud to serve on

> the Boards

> > of NAA and SafeMinds.

> >

> > GRASP The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, Inc. 666

> > Broadway, Suite 830 New York, NY 10012 p + f = 1.

> www.grasp.org

> >

>

December 19, 2008

I am sorry if my post was vage. But since the causes of Autism are so hard to find and the treatments are so hard to catigorize in every child with ASD I find that it is hard for me to believe that vaccines cause ASD in most children. Maybe I am wrong. One of the things I hate about ASD is the lack of information into the cause and the treatments for ASD since every person is different and the cause or causes are so unknown. WE all though deal with our struggles. Mt son only eats bananas, yogert and pudding where as another child with PDD NOS might only eat chicken nuggets. So what to we do to help with these eating issues? Your right, there are so many opposing views and thats what drives me to be upset. We, or any professional, can't say hey this or a combination of this,

that or the next thing will help our kids. Your right, things happen. Maybe I was wrong by saying that vaccines might not be the cause for Autism but I see by the posts from parents that alot of people believe that they wont give their children vaccines. As for me, Autism scares me because of so many opposing views on the cause and treatments. I do read alot. I am happy to know that their are so many parents, including myself and my husband that will try anything to help our kids. That is why I joined this group...for information. Who better to help or gather different points of view than those who go through ASD.

To: sList Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:31:39 PMSubject: Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

Agree with whom? there are opposing views here. The fact that notevery vaccinated child becomes autistic does not disprove that autismin some children can be triggered by vaccines. Not everybody died inHiroshima from cancer after the atomic bomb. Not everybody developsperipheral neuropathy after taking tegretol Not every teenager commitssuicide when put on prozac. Nevertheless these things do happen insensitive populations. The vaccines we got were fewer by far than theamount given now. Maybe some more reading is needed on your part. Iwill be happy to refer you to some articles. I am not againstvaccines. I am against lack of information and lack of research.Shirly Gilad. RN FNP.>> I agree with you 100%. We all have 40 mutations and when you putthem together, like in my son's case, you get Autism. We go to the NIHhospital for his medical issues. We have to go back in 6 months as

afollow up.. They are one of the best research hospitals in the countryand they are an invite only research facility. Well guess what. Theydid a cromosone test amoung a million other things a my son has adeletion of cromisone 16 which has been linked to Autism. I believethat vaccines help our children. I am sure alot of you got vaccinesand do you have Autism?> > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __> From: shirlygilad <shirlygilad@ ...>> To: sList@ yahoogroups. com> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:49:52 AM> Subject: Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor> > > What is this post about? I certainly will not support Autism Speaks or> any other organization that claims the vaccination issue is

out. I> wonder where this idea that only a few people actually think> vaccination have to do with some of the autism cases comes from. I> will not make any statements to the numbers of believers this way or> the other because I have no knowledge of such information. I know as a> medical professional with a strong science background that there is> currently no convincing data to completely prove OR disprove the> hypothesis that vaccines are involved in autism. I know for a fact> that there is NO study looking at the effects of the current> vaccination schedule on children. > > Shirly Gilad RN, FNP, MS> > > _____ > > > > From: Autism_NY_News@ yahoogroups. com> [mailto:Autism_ NY_News@ yahoogroups. com]> > On Behalf Of Marty> > Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:10 PM> > To: Autism_NY_News@ yahoogroups.

com> > Subject: [Autism_NY_News] A favor> > > > > > > > From: GRASP [mailto:mjcarley@ <mailto:mjcarley@ ...> grasp.org]> > > > Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 11:50 AM> > > > To: > > > > Subject: A favor> > > > > > > > > > > > Dear all:> > > > > > > > As many of you know, Bob and Suzanne are the founders of Autism> > Speaks, an organization that we've had some ideological differences> over, as> > well as some less-noticed agreements. > > > > > > > > > > > > And as many of you also know, the s were moved to found their> > organization by a significantly- challenged grandson. But about a> year or so> > ago, the New

York Times ran a cover story on disagreements over the> vaccine> > issue amongst the family: Daughter , whose> influence in> > starting the organization is unknown (at least to me); believesthat her> > child got his autism from vaccines. > > > > > > > > > > > > Her parents (and their organization) have been non-committal on the> subject.> > This could mean that 's parents, who run Autism Speaks, do not> believe> > that we got our Autism or Aspergers from vaccines, but that by being> silent> > on the subject they are simply trying not to anger their daughter> and risk> > further organizational embarrassment. > > > > > > > > > > > > But it could also mean that Autism Speaks is on the fence about

this> > subject.> > > > > > > > > > > > After the Times story came out last year, appeared to have> less to do> > with the organization. The press releases back and forth amongst> daughter> > and parents were rather terse, if not an outright bizarre way for a> family> > to communicate. Well, the family feud is back again, but with apossible> > motivator for us to get involved.> > > > > > > > > > > > Daughter has recently gone public in an "Age of Autism"column in> > which she cites two Autism Speaks employees as having prevented the> > organization from giving the vaccine issue the attention orfunding she> > feels it deserves. At the end of her self-incriminatory verbiage (seen> > unedited below) she

calls upon vaccine theorists to email AutismSpeaks'> > Executive Director Mark Roithmayr urging him (at the very least)to push> > Autism Speaks towards becoming an organization that supports vaccine> theory.> > > > > > > > > > > > I am asking you to email Roithmayr as well-in support of Autism> Speaks' not> > having become a vaccine theory organization; and in support of the two> > employees daughter clearly wants out. I know we've had> disagreements> > with this org, but Autism Speaks becoming a vaccine theory outlet> would be a> > very bad thing for the world. > > > > > > > > > > > > The two employees are Andy Shih and Alison Tepper-Singer. Many> people know> > Singer, and know of GRASP's relationship with her.

Whatever existing> > disagreements remain, she's the one responsible for Autism Speaks> > eradicating language like "wiping out autism" or "making it a word> in the> > history books." ly, they don't even use the word "cure" as much> either.> > We need to keep Autism Speaks on this path. I might get called a> "sap" for> > saying this, but they're not just making these changes for better PR;> > they're actually starting to get it. Please write in your emailsthat if> > these two employees are indeed against vaccine theories, that they> should be> > supported, not denounced.> > > > > > > > > > > > Some suspension of animosity might be necessary, be it issues with> either> > Autism Speaks, or with Shih and/or Singer personally. But this isbigger> > than

those old arguments. And a mailbox full of respectfully written> emails> > to Roithmayr would probably go a long way in preventing Autism> Speaks from> > "going vaccine." > > > > > > > > > > > > To us at GRASP, the vaccine issue is a dead one, albeit a> frustrating one;> > maintained only by the leadership of racist shock jocks and ex-playboy> > bunnies, backed up by lawyers wishing to cash in on fantasized> lawsuits, and> > begun by a man whose every "study" has been discredited for faulty> research> > practices. We cannot demonize their followers, however, for there are> > tragically human reasons why such vulnerable people have bought into> these> > ideas, and why as a consequence this stuff still fills our ears. > > > > > > > >

> > > > Their numbers are actually quite few. However, because they are loud,> > because the pharmaceutical industry is often its own worst enemy, and> > because the CDC and NIH have at times been rather cowardly in> standing up to> > them and protecting a public they're designed to serve, the theories> > persist. And we are sentenced to continuously listen to junk science,> > zealotry, and terminology that makes no attempt to refrain from> intimating> > that GRASP's members are chemical accidents. We don't discount> environmental> > triggers and exacerbators, but we do discount environmental> causation. The> > sane world believes what we have to be primarily genetic (this issue> is very> > much linked to the whole "cure" debate). > > > > > > > > > > >

> I could go on and on and on . . . > > > > > > > > > > > > After reading below, please write in support of Singer and Shih to> Autism> > Speaks Executive Director, Mark Roithmayr, at mroithmayr@autismsp> > <mailto:mroithmayr@ ...> eaks.org It'd also be great if> > everyone could use as the same words in the subject line . . .something> > like "I Respectfully Disagree with ." Write what you> wish after> > that (just keep it polite :-)> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank you for this favor. I promise, though, that preventing Autism> Speaks> > from going in this direction is in all of our best interests.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

mjc> > > > > > > > > > > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -> > > > > > > > December 11, 2008> > > > > > > > A Message to Autism Speaks' Singer and Shih: ENOUGH ALREADY!> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > By > > > > > > > > I did not want to write this piece or share this information. I was> hoping> > the leadership at Autism Speaks would take care of this problem. For> far too> > long Dr. Andy Shih and Ms. Alison Singer have been representing only> their> > own rigid belief systems in their roles at AS, doing whatever> necessary to> > thwart environmental and vaccine research. In the meantime

so many> > opportunities have been squandered and our children are paying the> price.> > > > > > > > I will not editorialize here; just give the reader the facts.> Families and> > especially AS supporters have a right to know how their children's> interests> > are being represented.> > > > > > > > 1) Dr. Andy Shih, VP of Scientific Affairs, an avowed disbeliever of> > vaccines as a possible trigger for autism, appeared on "Montel" a> few years> > ago. Shih vehemently argued that vaccines are totally safe, can not> and do> > not trigger autism and that excessive quantities of mercury are> perfectly> > safe to inject into babies and children.> > > > > > > > Two years ago AS leadership was excited about a Norwegian study

on> > vaccinated children and autism and promised the study designers full> > support. AS expressed a desire to take the lead as a funder and> facilitator> > of the project. Shih surreptitiously killed almost all involvement.> > > > > > > > 2) Shih's recent comments to the media include, "this issue> (vaccines and> > autism) has really been put to bed!" regarding a tiny Columbiastudy on> > autism, regression and GI disease on a dozen children. The study only> > actually included 5 children who had regressive autism and GI> disease and> > one, indeed, had the measles virus in his gut. The CDC funded this> study.> > > > > > > > I encourage all to Google Andy Shih + vaccines and read the plethora> of Shih> > quotes about why he believes there is no merit to

studying> over-vaccination> > as trigger for autism. Shih is most frequently quoted bypharmaceutical> > sites and vaccine manufacturers as "proof" of vaccines' "disproved"> > relationship to autism.> > > > > > > > 3) Alison Singer is in control of all media relations for AS and> sits on the> > very important and influential IACC, as AS' representative. Singer> has also> > overseen AS' multi-million dollar website. Until recently, the> website was> > devoid off all biomedical news and information.> > > > > > > > Singer and Shih maintain a strong professional friendship with > Offit,> > lunching with him on AS' dime.> > > > > > > > 4) Singer called CBS "Evening News" to complain about SharylAttkisson's> >

investigative news story on Dr.. Offit's financial interestsin the> > childhood immunization program. Singer copied Dr. Lou , her> AAP ally,> > in this complaint letter. The CBS news piece uncovered the fact that> Offit> > had recently sold his rota vaccine patent for $104 milliondollars. This> > discovery was, in fact, huge news to all in the autism community.> > > > > > > > 5) The IACC group had the unique opportunity to effect powerful and> > innovative change in autism research at the NIH. The CAA was made> possible> > by the hundreds of thousands of parents who supported its passage.> Autism> > Speaks promised to do everything possible to support the promotion of> > environmental research, including vaccine research.> > > > > > > > After nearly

a year of work the NIH's strategic plan is currentlybeing> > boycotted by the entire community. Tom Insel has done a terriblejob of> > including stakeholders' opinions and priorities, yet there was a> critical> > juncture when the plan could have been saved. Lyn Redwood and all> > participating parent orgs (with the exception of minuscule org. ASA)> voted> > for the inclusion of a number of environmental research initiatives> which> > would have SAVED this endeavor. Alison Singer, as AS'> representative, voted> > against the plan.> > > > > > > > OK- those are the facts, everything is true, now for the editorial.> > > > > > > > The fact that Ms. Singer voted against the rest of the autism> community is> > disgraceful. Clearly Ms. Singer cannot separate

her personal beliefs> from> > the mandate of the organization she is paid to serve. The IACC plan> was an> > opportunity of monumental proportions and now a year's work has been> > squandered, thanks to her veto.> > > > > > > > Rather then embracing the big tent concept and building bridgeswith the> > grass roots parent-run autism organizations, Shih and Singer have> focused> > their energies on building relationships with Dr. Offit (a vaccine> patent> > holder), Ami Pisani and her pharmaceutical organization and old school> > geneticists. This approach is not getting us where we need to go and> gravely> > disappoints the families who trusted AS to be better than this. It was> > families, not pharmaceutical reps, who brought the tremendous> pressure to> > bear in order

to pass the CAA. Now our families' interests have been> > betrayed by the rigid ideological beliefs of one person who would> rather see> > the CAA fail than encompass vaccine research.> > > > > > > > Instead of building alliances with family based orgs like the National> > Autism Association, Ms. Singer's efforts have been focused onaiding Dr.> > Offit. Autism Speaks' PR needed to allow Dr. Offit to takecare of> > himself, he has certainly got the financial resources to do so. Autism> > Speaks should have been championing the trend of greater financial> > transparency in autism and vaccine science. Instead, Ms. Singer was> so upset> > by the criticism of Dr. Offit that she called CBS news to complain> about the> > piece. This bizarre behavior is another complete betrayal of our>

families'> > interests and serves to further illustrate the deeply ingrained> beliefs and> > prejudices that do a deep disservice to our families.> > > > > > > > I do not have the time to detail the myriad of instances in whichAutism> > Speaks PR and stein Associates worked overtime to kill ordiminish> > stories about biomedical news. Suffice it to say it is a sad andlengthy> > list. We need more open debate and discussion, not less.> > > > > > > > AS PR and AS science need not fear open discussions of the vaccine> issue,> > what they should fear is colluding with the CDC in behaving as if> parents'> > voices do not matter, regression is inconsequential, GI disease is> > insignificant, adverse vaccine reactions are non-existent, all> successful>

> biomedical interventions are aberrations. I may well be incorrect> about many> > things but we can never be wrong in asking questions -- questions our> > families want asked.> > > > > > > > Mark Roithmayr and Dr. Geri Dawson have been made well aware ofShih and> > Singer's serious lapses in judgment and failure to fully represent the> > community. Mr. Roithmayr appears to want to ignore this situation> and its> > adverse consequences for our children. Maybe the parents who worked> so hard> > to pass the CAA should ask him why?> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Managing Editor's note: You can email Mark Roithmayr at> mroithmayr@autismsp> > <mailto:mroithmayr@ ....> eaks.org > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > has two young boys. Her oldest son, Christian, isseverely> > affected by autism. He developed normally; smiling, talking,> walking; only> > to lose every skill and every word by the age of 2 and a half.Upon the> > advice of medical professionals and her husband were advised> to pursue> > only high quality behavioral therapy, speech and OT for Christian.> It had no> > meaningful impact on Christian until his parents sought help from DAN!> > doctors who treated the underlying causes of Christian's descent into> > autism. Christian has improved but still has far to go. He has> Inflammatory> > Bowel Disease, the measles virus in his gut and an immune system> akin to a> > late stage AIDS patient. Christian does not have a psychiatricdisorder.>

> Before autism, was the Clinical Director of SexualAssault> > Crisis Center in Stamford Connecticut. is proud to serve on> the Boards> > of NAA and SafeMinds.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > GRASP The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, Inc. 666> > Broadway, Suite 830 New York, NY 10012 p + f = 1.> www.grasp.org> >>

December 20, 2008

What are your European and

African Sources?

From:

sList [mailto:sList ] On Behalf

Of Lizzie Berg

Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 12:40 AM

To: sList

Subject: Re: Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

December 23, 2008

After battling the Thimerosal fight on the Hil lin the late 90's i never thought we would still be going over this debate. After the overwhelming evidence linking Mercury to Autism by the Dr.'s Greier is compelling enough to let anyone know the obvious - if you inject Mercury 51 percent by wieght, fermaldahyde, antifreeze components, and other garbage into a bottle and call it a preservative such as Thimerosal, and that injection goes into a child at birth and has gone into the mother and the mothers mother... and then you have a child with normal devolopment. " Hi Daddy, go racing ?", Out to my shop to the racecars I used to run..he would get in one " rmmm rrrmm rrrmmm " , He's 20 months old.. precious. He goes and gets his MMR (No Thimerosal there..but at that time the

research was not complete about the fact the shots should not be combined), and also a few other vaccinations..We run around the house and laugh in immitative play..he hugs and kisses me all over and tackles me, plays with his sisters..laughs with us at the dinner table.. I leave to go raceing and end up in a bad career ending wreck... I come out of the hospital and therapy months later.. my son is hiding behind the couch..holding a poo bear. He had started fevering about 3 days after the shots..noticeably anyway. His fevers spiked up around 104, and then went down. He started watching movies.. He wanted to watch toy story over and over and over. He stopped talking - something was wrong..My son that is named after me became aloof to the world, wanting to be by himself, jumping up and down on beds for hours until he had to be stopped, making sounds in 3's ooh ooh ooh ahh ahh ahh..sounding like he was 6 months old

again. The doctors said he was fine. I knew he was't.So, When you make a comment that says " Mercury/Vaccines do not cause Autism" you bring parents back to that moment when they KNEW there was a direct link to the vaccination and the very makers KNEW that there was a percentage of a chance of reaction - what we were not told is the reaction can be simly a fever and that garbage is diluted in the childs liver and leaves the body..or it can be that percentage which is now quite high..and the garbage goes to the brain.. causing Neuro Toxicicity..damaging area's of the brain and causing serious problems within the Limbic system and Vestibular.We know we have a link through the research done that backs up what happens. Before we should conclude any conversation it should at least end with a fair statement from each side with a wish to meet in the middle..because we all have at least one common ground - we want change, we want

Reform. E. , Sr. Dir, OAAC Please go and register, comment to vote & Let others know ASAP to do the same(Add this link to your email sig. for the next 5 weeks if you can.....for the kids)http://www.change.org/ideas/view/accept_and_sign_the_autism_reform_act_of_2009I appreciate your support in helping children with Autism and other disabilities.http://officeofadvocacy.spaces.live.com/ under construction but it's there..Another very strong idea that should be looked at by all to help so many that need this.. Regarding Medicaid Waivers being fully funded .

please look at this and vote accordingly - this will change the future of many.. the site for the Medicaid Reform is at:http://www.change.org/idea/view/fully_fund_medicaid_waivers_for_the_developmentally_disabled E. , Sr. Founder The Office of Advocacy for Autistic ChildrenThis electronic mail message and any attached files contain information intended for the exclusive use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and may

contain information that is proprietary, privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, (18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521.) To: sList Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 6:15:42 AMSubject: Re: Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

I am sorry if my post was vage. But since the causes of Autism are so hard to find and the treatments are so hard to catigorize in every child with ASD I find that it is hard for me to believe that vaccines cause ASD in most children. Maybe I am wrong. One of the things I hate about ASD is the lack of information into the cause and the treatments for ASD since every person is different and the cause or causes are so unknown. WE all though deal with our struggles. Mt son only eats bananas, yogert and pudding where as another child with PDD NOS might only eat chicken nuggets. So what to we do to help with these eating issues? Your right, there are so many opposing views and thats what drives me to be upset. We, or any professional, can't say hey this or a combination of this,

that or the next thing will help our kids. Your right, things happen. Maybe I was wrong by saying that vaccines might not be the cause for Autism but I see by the posts from parents that alot of people believe that they wont give their children vaccines. As for me, Autism scares me because of so many opposing views on the cause and treatments. I do read alot. I am happy to know that their are so many parents, including myself and my husband that will try anything to help our kids. That is why I joined this group...for information. Who better to help or gather different points of view than those who go through ASD.

From: shirlygilad <shirlygilad@ yahoo.com>To: sList@ yahoogroups. comSent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:31:39 PMSubject: Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor

Agree with whom? there are opposing views here. The fact that notevery vaccinated child becomes autistic does not disprove that autismin some children can be triggered by vaccines. Not everybody died inHiroshima from cancer after the atomic bomb. Not everybody developsperipheral neuropathy after taking tegretol Not every teenager commitssuicide when put on prozac. Nevertheless these things do happen insensitive populations. The vaccines we got were fewer by far than theamount given now. Maybe some more reading is needed on your part. Iwill be happy to refer you to some articles. I am not againstvaccines. I am against lack of information and lack of research.Shirly Gilad. RN FNP.>> I agree with you 100%. We all have 40 mutations and when you putthem together, like in my son's case, you get Autism. We go to the NIHhospital for his medical issues. We have to go back in 6 months as

afollow up.. They are one of the best research hospitals in the countryand they are an invite only research facility. Well guess what. Theydid a cromosone test amoung a million other things a my son has adeletion of cromisone 16 which has been linked to Autism. I believethat vaccines help our children. I am sure alot of you got vaccinesand do you have Autism?> > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __> From: shirlygilad <shirlygilad@ ...>> To: sList@ yahoogroups. com> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:49:52 AM> Subject: Re: FW: [Autism_NY_News] A favor> > > What is this post about? I certainly will not support Autism Speaks or> any other organization that claims the vaccination issue

is