NAA News and Views

September 2, 2005

National Autism AssociationSeptember 1, 2005

In this edition of NAA News & Views:Featured ChildBrainchild Nutritionals Lends a Helping HandPower of Parents RallyNAA-Kids Coming SoonUnlocking Autism Accepting Hurricane Relief DonationsIn the NewsFeatured ProductNAA's National Autism Conference coming this November

If you are unable to view html formatted email, please visit our website to view this newsletter at http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/newsandviews.

Featured Child

You can find and the faces of many other precious children on our Wall of Hope. If you’d like to add your loved one with an autism spectrum disorder, simply sign up for a free NAA membership and email your photo to wendy@.... More information can be found on our website athttp://www.nationalautismassociation.org/wallofhope.php.

Brainchild Nutritionals Lends a Helping Hand

Brainchild Nutritionals, a supplier of high quality liquid vitamins and minerals has generously offered a monthly donation to NAA for our Helping Hand Program which provides financial assistance to families affected by Autism.

NAA sincerely thanks Lang and Terri Mykland of Brainchild for their continued support of NAA and the autism community.

Please visit the Brainchild website at http://www.brainchildnutritionals.com

GREAT NEWS REGARDING THE POWER OF PARENTS RALLY IN WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 7 & 8

As anyone raising a child with an autism diagnosis knows, family budgets are often strained to the point of precluding travel for events such as the upcoming Power of Parents rally in Washington. In an effort to assist families who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend the rally, Medlin and Amy Carson of Moms Against Mercury have generously volunteered to coordinate hotel room sponsorships.If you are able as an individual, business, or organization to donate the cost of one or more hotel rooms for the nights of October 6th and 7th, please contact at angelamedlin@.... Your tax-deductible contributions will help get the attendance we need to make a strong statement in Washington.Please also email if you live in the DC area and have room for a parent or two to stay during the rally. And, if you're a parent who wants to attend the rally and need help covering the costs, you can contact who will try to match you up with sponsored hotel rooms.Our community has demonstrated its generosity time and time again over the years and can once again play an important role in our efforts, this time in maximizing the Power of Parents rally attendance. Your sponsorship of hotel rooms will help get as many parents, relatives, caregivers, and friends as possible in Washington this October to stand up for our injured children.Sincerely,The Power of Parents Rally Teamwww.nationalforce.org

NAA-Kids Coming Soon!

We were truly inspired and impressed by all of the great kids in attendance at the Power of Truth Rally in Washington. These children are dedicated advocates for their loved ones with autism and in honor of them, we are forming a chapter of NAA just for kids. Stay tuned!

Unlocking Autism Collecting Donationsfor Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

In view of the tremendous needs of families with children on the autism spectrum in the Gulf area hit by the hurricane, Unlocking Autism has set up their website to accept donations for these specific needs. Reynolds, UA President, lives in Baton Rouge as well as several other UA volunteers. UA also has a State Representative who lives just outside of New Orleans. These contacts will enable them to find needs and distribute funds to those with children with autism.If you would like to specifically help these families you may do so by going to www.UnlockingAutism.Org and click on Gulf Disaster Relief. Unlocking Autism is a non profit (501 c 3) organization."Thank you for your help in this disaster situation" says the Unlocking Autism Staff, "please remember to pray for all those affected and the safety and health of all residents and those serving in rescue and relief."

IN THE NEWS

THE NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION (NAA) AND SAFE MINDS SPONSOR SYMPOSIUM TO LAY GROUNDWORK FOR AUTISM RESEARCH

THE TWO-DAY WORKSHOP UNITED TOP EXPERTS TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS AND AUTISM

BETHESDA, MD - National experts in environmental health sciences and neuroscience came together on Thursday and Friday in Bethesda, land to create a “roadmap” for future research on the role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders.

NAA and Safe Minds sponsored the event through a generous donation from The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Both parent-led organizations have long advocated for increased research of the relationship between exposures to toxins such as the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal and the development of neurological disorders.

Autism spectrum disorders were the primary focus of this symposium, but the overall objective was to define a research agenda elucidating the mechanisms by which toxicants may induce neural damage in the developing brain and ways to reverse such damage.

NAA and Safe Minds gathered experts together to present the latest research on heavy metal toxicity, biomedical pathways, epidemiology, clinical treatments, and neurotoxicology. NIEHS presented its current investigations in developmental neurotoxicology and a framework for funding the research.

After the presentations, the researchers set out to create a plan to identify the cause, treatments and cure for autism. The creation of this biomedical research roadmap was moderated by Dr. Ken Olden, immediate past director of NIEHS.

Bono, Chairman of NAA, said, “A united focus is needed to bolster environmental research dollars and treatment options for Autism spectrum disorders which now affect 1 in 166 children with 1 in 6 children suffering from some form of developmental disorder. Recent investigations reveal intriguing data suggesting environmental insults combined with genetic vulnerability may be responsible for this devastating epidemic. The symposium was our first real step in developing biomedical research desperately needed for children suffering with autism and in securing NIH funding for support of such efforts.”

A number of non-profit autism and advocacy organizations participated in the event along with officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and Congressional staff representatives.

“Autism groups coming together with important political figures, government officials, scientists and NIH researchers marks a historical moment for the autism community and underscores the critical job of helping the children now,” said Jo Pike, Executive Director of NAA.

NAA and Safe Minds plan to submit the roadmap to NIH and Congress with specific requests for funding the important research.

For the meeting agenda and a full list of presenters at the NIEHS Symposium, visit www.nationalautismassociation.org/niehsagenda.php

NEW YORK PASSES LAW LIMITING THIMEROSAL

New York has become the 6th state to pass legislation limiting the use of thimerosal in vaccines.

Despite the protests of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Governor Pataki listened to the pleas of parents and professionals urging him to take a stand against the injection of a known neurotoxin into our children.

NAA applauds the autism community in New York who joined together to make this happen. We are especially proud of Gilmore and Bob Krakow of NAA's New York Metro Chapter and Heeren of NAA Long Island for their persistence and dedication to our children. Congratulations to all of you and THANK YOU!

For more info visit http://tinyurl.com/b3r2f to read The Age of Autism: New York nixes mercury by Dan Olmstead.

FEATURED PRODUCT

NEW Style!I love someone with autism.T-Shirt100% cotton, short sleeved, crew or v-neck t-shirt.

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Visit our website for product details or to place your order.

The National Autism Association is a non-profit organization. Your purchase in our online store generates proceeds for autism research and family-care programs. Thank you for your support!

NATIONAL AUTISM CONFERENCEMyrtle Beach, SC ▪ November 10 – 13, 2005

Registrations are already coming in for NAA's first National Autism Conference.Visit our conference website athttp://www.nationalautismconference.org Visit often for the latest additions and updates.

Life's a Beach...And Then You Dance!

Put on your shades, kick off your shoes and join us for a night of FUN at NAA's LIFE'S A BEACH Dinner/Dance Party honoring Bernie Rimland on Saturday night, November 12th. You need to relax and tonight is all about YOU! Enjoy a full-course dinner and entertainment featuring special musical performances by country recording artist Mark Leland with video by Zichittella-Heeren of Lighthouse Studios, 10-year-old singing sensation Hannah Goetz, Ward and NAA President Fournier. Then dance the night away as our DJ spins all of your favorite tunes! Dress code: Beach wear/CasualPlease note: This dress code will be strictly enforced. People in suits will be ridiculed and promptly escorted to the retirement party across the hall.

Please register early for this event, seats are limited. More info is available at http://www.nationalautismconference.org

General Seating - $75Front Row VIP Seating - $150

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/proddetail.php?prod=BeachParty

Watch for e and 12 other adorable faces on NAA's 2006 Calendar!Coming Soon!

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities are available for our 2006 Calendar! Call at 866-622-6733 for details.

This publication is the property of the National Autism Association. Please contact NAA with any questions, concerns, or comments at naa@.... Articles, photographs, etc. can be submitted to Fournier at wendy@....

To receive NAA News and Views, sign up for our free membership at http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/join.php. The NAA Team

Think Autism. Think Cure.

Click here to visit our website

December 6, 2005

In a message dated 06/12/2005 18:26:20 GMT Standard Time, MandiRodwell writes:

Subj:

NAA News and Views

Date:

06/12/2005 14:23:21 GMT Standard Time

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naa@...

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Sent from the Internet (Details)

National Autism AssociationDecember 5, 2005

In this edition of NAA News & Views:Featured ChildNAA's Co-Founder Jo Pike Stepping DownNAC DVD's Now AvailableNAA Teams Up with PolaroidIn the NewsFeatured Product

If you are unable to view html formatted email, please visit our website to view this newsletter at http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/newsandviews.

Featured Child

You can find and the faces of many other precious children on our Wall of Hope. If youâ€™d like to add your loved one with an autism spectrum disorder, simply sign up for a free NAA membership and email your photo to wendy@.... More information can be found on our website athttp://www.nationalautismassociation.org/wallofhope.php.

NAA Co-Founder Jo Pike Stepping Down Dear NAA Members and Friends,It is with sadness that we announce the resignation of Jo Pike as Executive Director of the National Autism Association. As one of NAAâ€™s co-founders, Joâ€™s leadership has been a driving force in our organizationâ€™s growth, and her positive impact upon thousands of families dealing with autism will be felt for many years to come. All of us who have had the privilege of working with Jo are proud of her accomplishments, and will forever admire her passion and determination.While we will greatly miss Joâ€™s day-to-day involvement with NAA, her decision to devote more time to her family is one we can all appreciate. We hope that you will join us in wishing Jo and her family all the very best. Joâ€™s strength and foresight in helping to build NAA will be an inspiration to us as we continue our efforts on behalf of families affected by autism. With affection for Jo and her family,National Autism AssociationOfficers and Board Members

National Autism Conference DVDs are now available!

From cutting-edge research of environmental toxins to dietary interventions, legal and legislative strategies to sensory integration, the worldâ€™s most renowned experts gathered to share their knowledge and expertise with parents and practitioners last month in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

If you were unable to attend, you can now bring the conference home to you by purchasing individual presentations or an entire set of DVDs.

Also available is our official 327 page 2005 National Autism Conference Program book containing speaker presentations. It comes with a free NAA book bag and conference t-shirt.

Click here for more information.http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/products.php?cat=33

Speakers include:

KEYNOTE SPEAKER Lawlis, PhD

FEATURED SPEAKERSMark Blaxill, MBA Bradstreet, MD, FAAFPRashid Buttar â€“ DO, FAAPM, FACAM, FAAIMVince Carbone, PhDBoyd E Haley, PhD J Wakefield, MD

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER Kirby - Author of Evidence of HarmBREAKOUT SPEAKERSTim Lynne Arnold BollesCathi Browder A. Buckley, MD, FAAP M. BurbacherBeth Clay C. DeMio, MD Deth, PhDJerry Carolyn Gammicchia Geier, PhDMark Geier, MD, PhDCaroline Gomez, PhDDoreen Granpeesheh, Ph.D., B.C.B.A. L. , HD (R.Hom.), DSH-P, DIHomDevin Houston,PhD Jepson, MD Jill , PhD Kernohan Kirbyn KlavenessArthur Krigsman, MD Kendall, PhD Lang, PhDConnie Mathis, PhD Neubrander, MD Beth PaloSeth Pearl, DC CCN CNSLyn Redwood, RN, MSN, CRNPAdrienne RousseauKaryn Seroussi Selwyn Super, PhDSue TannerSherri Tenpenny, DOAnju Usman, MDDebbie Wardell

NAA Welcomes Polaroidas New Corporate Sponsor

We are pleased to announce a partnership with Polaroid on a special holiday promotion just for NAA members.

Watch for details later this week!

IN THE NEWShttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120200272.htmlSenate Panel Backs Special Vaccine AgencyBy ANDREW BRIDGESThe Associated Press WASHINGTON -- By creating a federal agency shielded from public scrutiny, some lawmakers think they can speed the development and testing of new drugs and vaccines needed to respond to a bioterrorist attack or super-flu pandemic.

The proposed Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency, or BARDA, would be exempt from long-standing open records and meetings laws that apply to most government departments, according to legislation approved Oct. 18 by the Senate health committee.

Those exemptions would streamline the development process, safeguard national security and protect the proprietary interests of drug companies, say Republican backers of the bill. The legislation also proposes giving manufacturers immunity from liability in exchange for their participation in the public-private effort.

"We must ensure the federal government acts as a partner with the private sector, providing the incentives and protections necessary to bring more and better drugs and vaccines to market faster," Sen. Burr, R-N.C., said when the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved the bill.

The agency would provide the funding for development of treatments and vaccines to protect the United States from natural pandemics as well as chemical, biological and radiological agents.

But it is the secrecy and immunity provisions of the legislation that have alarmed patient rights and open government advocates. The agency would be exempt from the Freedom of Information and Federal Advisory Committee acts, both considered crucial for monitoring government accountability.

"There is no other agency that I am aware of where the agency is totally exempt either from FOIA or FACA," said Pete Weitzel, coordinator of the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government. The coalition is an alliance of journalism groups, including the American Society of Newspaper Editors and Associated Press Managing Editors, that wrote to lawmakers seeking amendments to the bill. "That is a cause for major concern and should raise major policy concerns," Weitzel said.

Burr spokesman Doug Heye said the provisions would keep competitors from gaining proprietary information through FOIA. However, confidential business information already is exempt from FOIA.

"There's no secrecy involved in BARDA," Heye said. "That is absolutely false. This is an agency that will be putting out information daily."

Some Democrats question whether the public would accept drugs or vaccines developed in conjunction with the agency, citing the abortive 2003 effort to vaccinate 500,000 front-line health care workers against smallpox. Only about 40,000 workers ultimately received the vaccine amid concerns about the vaccine's safety, which health authorities initially downplayed.

"Republican leaders in Congress are now proposing a plan that would make exactly the same mistake," Sen. Dodd, D-Conn., said in a statement. "Their plan will protect companies that make ineffective or harmful medicines, and because it does not include compensation for those injured by a vaccine or drug, it will discourage first responders and patients from taking medicines to counter a biological attack or disease outbreak."

The bill does provide for limited compensation. However, another provision would grant drug companies immunity unless "willful misconduct" can be shown.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said it was reviewing the bill. Another industry group, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, declined comment.

The National Vaccine Information Center, an advocacy group, called the legislation "a drug company stockholder's dream and a consumer's worst nightmare."

The proposed law comes amid growing concern about pandemics and the government's ability to meet such threats. For instance, the United State needs another three to five years to develop the manufacturing capacity to produce 300 million doses of flu vaccine, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The agency would improve on Project BioShield, a barely two-year-old program also meant to encourage production of vaccines and drugs, Heye said.

"While some progress has been made, we still haven't seen the participation from companies, universities and research institutions in developing vaccines we might need to protect us from the next threat, whatever that might be," Heye said. "One of the reasons is (they) don't want to put their very existence on the line."

Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, said the agency as proposed would represent a setback to decades of progress in opening up to the public the process of testing the safety and efficacy of drugs.

"These provisions are extremely dangerous," Wolfe said. "The fact that they are being proposed, really exploiting people's fears about pandemics and epidemics, is outrageous and goes backward on the progress on the use of the Freedom of Information Act and Federal Advisory Committee Act to increase public scrutiny and increase the correctness of decisions that are made."

Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike agree the drug industry needs some protections to encourage it to produce emergency stocks of vaccines and drugs, but Democrats have balked at providing blanket immunity without first establishing a compensation fund for patients.

Republicans are pushing for liability protections for vaccine manufacturers on other fronts as well. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is seeking to add such protections to a defense appropriations bill.

Frist spokeswoman Amy Call said drug company concerns about liability are real.

"There's really no financial incentive for them to get into the market, sell to the government at a reduced rate and then open themselves up to losses that could potentially bankrupt them," Call said.

The push for liability exemptions may force the Burr bill to the sidelines until the next session of Congress, Republican and Democratic aides said. But Call said Frist intends to pursue the legislation.

Information on the bill, S. 1873, can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/

FEATURED PRODUCT

Our New Angel Mug

The perfect gift for teachers and therapists!

This 14 ounce white ceramic bistro mug is just the right size. It features a blue butterfly and the message:

" An angel gets its wings...by helping others find theirs " .

Only $10.00 in

NAA's Online Store!

Visit our website for product details or to place your order.

Be sure to check out our other great holiday gifts including the 2006 Faces of Autism Calendar, Car Magnets, Keyrings, T-shirts, Videos, Jewelry and more!

The last day to place your holiday orders is December 20th.

The National Autism Association is a non-profit organization. Your purchase in our online store generates proceeds for autism research and family-care programs. Thank you for your support!

This publication is the property of the National Autism Association. Please contact NAA with any questions, concerns, or comments at naa@.... Articles, photographs, etc. can be submitted to Fournier at

wendy@....

To receive NAA News and Views, sign up for our free membership at http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/join.php. The NAA Team

Think Autism. Think Cure.

Click here to visit our website

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January 25, 2008

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ing.com/roving/images/p1x1.gif>

In this edition of

NAA News & Views:

Helping Hand 2008

Dan Burton Wants Answers

Save the Date for NAA's

National Autism Conference

NAA - Northeast Ohio Event

Golden Globes Boom Boom Room

Goodsearch.com

2008 Faces of Autism

In The News

Winter Clearance Sale

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THINK AUTISM. THINK CURE. R

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National Autism Association

January 23, 2008

If you are unable to view html formatted email, please visit our website to

view this newsletter at

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/newsandviews

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G1Im1HOw-zQWmCfd7o7aCIiEzQ==> .

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<http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/images/helpinghandlogo.gif>

2008 Grant Applications are now being accepted for NAA's Helping Hand

Project.

NAA is the only national autism membership organization to provide financial

assistance to families in need of therapies and treatments for their

children. We need your help! Please make

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m6XpdfH27Mpr37C4c8dchSuVbTpjq_vKUSoUzPZhebtd8Qs0jhfmDUqL_eXyP_8uT2p7KC1aM9My

VFPu4NvrT17itPQA8BhlVh_kGE-b3VCYKe62zK5a8wPIZjgPMd97lo7QhIK5cad5lqwm> a

donation today to support this crucial program. 100% of your tax-deductible

donation will be awarded to a family.

For more information on NAA's Helping Hand Project, please click

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ZRaVQi0wcTVBYW-UeyQmhIm7Y-1OdFbtAYftNVnnkgZ_g9yR

ERT__sRXXUxXd_aIkS29FrSw0DmPP-ZFSzgbAyHkmJifacd-ybus7GC-bosL35se-p8t5Bt5QZIE

DnPfb-LKTn97W6jBF42hnWxbJw==> here.

If your business or organization is interested in becoming a corporate

sponsor of the Helping Hand Project, please contact wendy@...

today!

_____

Congressman Dan Burton Wants Answers from FDA

Have you been wondering just how much thimerosal is considered a " trace

amount " by the FDA and who, if anyone, is testing mercury content in

currently licensed vaccines?

Congressman Burton is wondering the same thing - and he's asking the FDA for

answers.

Click here to read his letter.

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ZRaVQi0wcTUJBsDbiEqXmC3BZxSmNvcSV7HItGai0XSJcsXv

VTr5ClI7o37EpnEyetAswdgHI6cz-Z3PiHuSvvOeEHYKRx-tFPoaaL3qmYRfSsK04Zhs-krcPWeL

DADeH2_UuSMmrNXT3YLiTcFQZw==> (pdf)

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LW8o9w5evPaHTeZ54QuEA-gIo-UQbKAd4gBNlRyQKUSpP3TKWCcHcZpRcsoUfdwHl6RDIihbuRdJ

kiXT8YzmkvVeECWSlfDWt_fhV-LfVX6yUAnG>

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/pdf/burtonfda.pdf

Forwarded with permission from Congressman Burton

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NAA to Host National Autism Conference

this November at Fort Lauderdale Resort

<http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/images/bonaventurepool.jpg>

Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa

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Save the date!

NAA's next National Autism Conference will take place

November 13-16, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure

http://bonaventure.hyatt.com

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Qye2qqctye2mqY4ZIC7fRSplXaylvE3iLO8TojVtCQosEUB-5SYZfypWA4bdEqMzQs3d5g==>

Details coming soon!

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The National Autism Association - Northeast Ohio (NAA-NEO) Presents

2nd Annual Autism Concert

to Benefit Northeast Ohio Families and the Helping Hand Program

In response to the overwhelming amount of grant requests for the National

Autism Association - Northeast Ohio (NAA-NEO) Helping Hand grant program,

two benefit concerts will be held in February 2008. The goal of these events

is to raise the necessary funds so that we can respond to the high need for

funding autism treatments and therapies in the Northeast Ohio community.

Two shows will be staged this time - one in Akron, OH and one in Cleveland

so that we can reach two major Northeast Ohio audiences. Support our mission

by joining us at either of these events!

Click here for details!

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ZRaVQi0wcTVHe3oiuftA5Ti-LghTK2RgchZlKYSCpWcTC5su

dD27_U4WPsPCirkGxv2rJlkLMEcaPorXzQyyI_rpItSqDjkac209HqOZ6mzBG6QXQ9jzspR_Ome2

K6WJubcag_6Es8sk1QEAkeZpCA==>

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NAA Joins Sponsor Little Playdates at the Golden Globes " Boom Boom Room "

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0bfez5RWbmsNo3A=> Little Playdates Logo

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NAA President Fournier with Little Playdates CEO JoAnne Pettry

Little Playdates

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jOblPyhVNzUROx0rdDrqhKMNnffKi-i41HL76dgJt6NbTjwcY398IZZIa-xKYNDJ6chwkg==> ,

a dedicated supporter of the National Autism Association, was recently

invited to distribute their award-winning children's videos at The Boom Boom

Room - a Golden Globes gifting suite for celebrities and their children in

Los Angeles. The company's founders, Trent and JoAnne Pettry invited NAA

president Fournier to join them at this exciting event.

Celebrities in attendance included Chandra of Grey's Anatomy, Jodie

Sweetin of Full House, Singer Carnie , Dayna Devon, host of EXTRA TV,

s of Spin City, Tracey Gold of Growing Pains, Rena Sofer of

Heroes, Noth of Sex and the City, Rinna, Ali Landry, Baio,

Tori Spelling, Priestly and many more!

Our sincere thanks to JoAnne and Trent for their ongoing support and for

providing this wonderful opportunity to bring awareness to the needs of our

children and the mission of the National Autism Association.

Beginning next month, the Little Playdates video series for children will be

distributed to retail stores across the country by PorchLight Entertainment.

Each video includes a public service announcement on the warning signs of

autism produced by NAA co-founder Lori McIlwain with her husband Christian.

The PSA can be viewed online here:

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/images/NAA%20QT1.mov

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P7lCw1TZwCB0HmMpA9ccM3j2Zy0g025tOhJO>

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<http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/images/goodsearch.jpg>

You can help raise money for NAA's Research and Family Care Programs just by

searching the web! Each time you use the GoodSearch search engine at

http://www.goodsearch.com

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9b3jrt1O8KTBY9XP3xpo-VDvqDVm0STXA6kpHllss3SxNKUxYzuQg7N98j8=> NAA will

receive a penny!

Just go to GoodSearch and choose NAA as your charity to support!

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NAA's Faces of Autism 2008 Calendar Now Only $8!

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VRUPM6Qk2lwWTzSwF3_JgU_GI3YjyLgVqmJTjmIzyVUnz0pITqQQoROE4w==>

Our 2008 calendar featuring the winners of our annual photo contest is now

available in our online store. Thank you to the hundreds of parents who

submitted photographs and shared the beauty of their children with us.

With each month that passes, a new face of hope will emerge. The Faces of

Autism calendar spawns a sort of inner hope that could only come from the

eyes and the smiles of the children we call our own. Twelve different

faces, our favorite sponsors and inspiring messages on each page make this

the calendar specially designed for the autism community. Proceeds benefit

autism research, advocacy and family care programs through NAA. Order yours

today as a gift for yourself or someone you love. Just click

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IN THE NEWS

ABC Drama Takes on Science and Parents

By EDWARD WYATT

New York Times

LOS ANGELES - A new legal drama making its debut this month on ABC is

stepping into a subject that is the source of heated debate among some

parents - the relationship between autism and childhood vaccines - and

seemingly coming down on the side that has been all but dismissed by

prominent scientific organizations.

The drama, " Eli Stone, " scheduled to be broadcast at 10 p.m. on Jan. 31,

centers on a lawyer who begins having visions that cause him to question his

life's work defending large corporations, including a pharmaceutical company

that makes vaccines.

The title character of " Eli Stone, " adopting the message of his visions to

fight for the little guy, takes his first case: suing his former client on

behalf of the mother of an autistic child who believes a mercury-based

preservative in a vaccine caused her son's autism.

For the last decade some parents and advocates for autistic children have

championed the theory that a mercury-based vaccine preservative called

thimerosal, developed in the late 1920s and used in many childhood vaccines

until about seven years ago, is a primary cause of autism in young children.

Autism often is diagnosed in children between their first and fourth years,

during the time that many children begin receiving regular rounds of

vaccinations.

But reams of scientific studies by the leading American health authorities

have failed to establish a causal link between the preservative and autism.

Since the preservative was largely removed from childhood vaccines in 2001,

autism rates have not declined.

While police and legal dramas often use ripped-from-the-headlines topics as

the basis of episodes, rarely do broadcast networks allow themselves to

stray into the middle of heated debates that contain such emotional

touchstones for large segments of their audience, if only because another

big segment of a network's audience is likely to be on the other side of the

debate.

With " Eli Stone, " however, neither ABC nor its ABC Studios production unit

has expressed any qualms about the story, according to Greg Berlanti, a

co-creator and an executive producer of the series, who said he believed

that the script showed both sides of the argument. " I think they wanted us

to do our homework about all of it, which we did, " he said.

But the script also takes several liberties that could leave viewers

believing that the debate over thimerosal - which in the program's script is

given the fictional name mercuritol - is far from scientifically settled.

Through a spokeswoman, ABC declined to offer an executive to discuss the

show.

The issue is a potentially delicate one for ABC. Eli Lilly & Company, which

developed thimerosal, and the two companies that now make the bulk of

childhood vaccines used in the United States, GlaxoKline and

Sanofi-Aventis, spent an estimated $138 million for advertising on ABC last

year, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plus, though little to none of it was

spent advertising vaccines.

Representatives of all three companies expressed dismay about the series, of

which they said they were unaware until called by a reporter.

Pekarek, a spokeswoman for GlaxoKline, said the episode raised

public-health concerns. " If parents watching this fictional series make that

incorrect conclusion about a link " between vaccines and autism " and as a

result choose not to vaccinate their own children, the consequences could be

devastating, " she said.

Doctors have previously expressed fears that the popularity of the

antivaccine movement could have adverse effects. In Britain a widely

publicized - and since discredited - research paper published in 1998

started a scare over the safety of the vaccine for measles, mumps and

rubella, drawing a potential link to autism. Though the premise of the

research did not concern thimerosal, vaccination rates plunged in Britain.

Over the next two to six years, outbreaks of measles soared in Britain and

Ireland, causing at least three deaths and hundreds of children to be

hospitalized.

Among the organizations that have studied possible links between autism and

the preservative in vaccines are the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Institute of Medicine, the

World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Each of

them has largely dismissed the idea that thimerosal causes or contributes to

autism, and five major studies have found no link.

Since 2001, no vaccine routinely administered to children in the United

States had more than half a microgram of mercury, about the amount found in

an infant's daily supply of breast milk.

But plenty of parents, as well as groups like SafeMinds, continue to say

that a link exists. " We feel it is still an open question, " said Theresa

Wrangham, president of SafeMinds, a nonprofit parent organization. Their

position has been supported in recent years by some members of Congress and

by public advocates including F. Kennedy Jr.

The initial episode of " Eli Stone " posits that the child received a flu

vaccine containing the preservative; in recent years vaccine makers have

produced new versions of the flu vaccine for children that do not contain

the mercury-based preservative.

" Is there proof that mercuritol causes autism?, " Eli Stone says to the jury

in summing up his lawsuit against the vaccine maker. " Yes, " he says. " Is

that proof direct or incontrovertible proof? No. But ask yourself if you've

ever believed in anything or anyone without absolute proof. "

The script also draws a parallel with research linking smoking and cancer,

saying three decades passed between the first lawsuit charging a connection

and the first jury award against a tobacco company. After the dramatic

courtroom revelation that the chief executive of the vaccine maker did not

allow his daughter's pediatrician to give her the company's vaccine, the

jury in " Eli Stone " awards the mother $5.2 million. (In each episode Eli

Stone takes on a different cause; in other episodes sent to television

reviewers for preview, he wages court battles against a pesticide maker and

a priest.)

In the last two years Mr. Berlanti, who created " Eli Stone " with Marc

Guggenheim, has become a major contributor to ABC's primetime lineup. He

also is an executive producer of " Brother & Sisters " and " Dirty Sexy Money. "

Mr. Guggenheim is a lawyer who has worked on several law-related series,

including " The Practice " and " Law & Order. "

In interviews both men said they did not have any personal ties to the

subject of autism and childhood vaccines. Mr. Guggenheim, who has two young

children, said he had questioned his pediatrician about the number of

vaccines his children were receiving. " I haven't vaccinated them as

aggressively as I could, " he said.

Both of the producers also said that they wanted " Eli Stone " to provoke

conversation.

" A lot of TV these days is not talking about the same things that the

nightly news is talking about, " Mr. Berlanti said. " As a show, we want to

keep the conversation going after people turn off the television. "

_____

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