SCHAFER AUTISM REPORT "Healing Autism:

No Finer a Cause on the Planet"

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September 5, 2002 CALENDAR LISTING: EVENTS@doitnow.com

FORENSICS

* Dentist, Others In A Scrape Over Fillings, Autism

PUBLIC HEALTH

* Warning Over Scientific "Ignorance"

TREATMENT

* Tool To Help Autism Sufferers Recognise Emotions

RESEARCH

* Immune Factors In Autism: A Critical Review

AWARENESS

* Michael Chiklis 'Protects And Serves' Those With Autism

* Why Every Disease Needs A Celebrity Spokesperson

* 2002 Virginia State Chess Championship

* Autistic Teen Shows A Flair For The Snare

ADVOCACY

* New Jersey Lien Law Advocacy Moves Forward

* Readers' Posts (And Lot's of 'em!)

FORENSICS

Dentist, Others In A Scrape Over Fillings, Autism

Lawsuit contends mercury compound, put in mom-to-be's mouth, caused boy's autism

Austin has become the latest front in a mass-litigation war by a lawyer who contends that millions of Americans are being poisoned by the mercury content of the silver-colored, amalgam dental fillings in their teeth.

California lawyer Shawn Khorrami on Friday sued Lufkin dentist Taylor McKewen, the Texas and American dental associations and more than 30 corporations involved in manufacturing the fillings. The lawsuit, seeking unspecified millions of dollars, alleges that the fillings caused severe autism in Cody Wyatt Botter, a 4-year-old Alabama boy born in Texas.

The lawsuit was filed in state district court in Travis County because the Texas Dental Association is based in Austin.

Khorrami said he has filed more than two dozen similar lawsuits in California, Georgia, Ohio, New York and Maryland. None of them has gone to trial.

The American Dental Association countersued in May, accusing Khorrami of defamation in an "orchestrated campaign of lies and distortion to promote himself and his law firm." Khorrami said the association is fighting back the same way the tobacco industry did over nicotine.

McKewen could not be reached for comment, but the Chicago-based American Dental Association has long spoken for dentists and state associations in the mercury amalgam controversy, denying that the dental fillings used for more than 170 years are dangerous.

"There is no sound scientific evidence that amalgam is harmful," said the association's dentist-director, James Bramson.

Anti-mercury dental activists contend that the silver fillings contain about 50 percent mercury.

Mercury exposure has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects and nerve damage, but most scientific research on the effects of mercury in amalgam, which is used as a cementing material, has been inconclusive.

The lawsuit says Cody's mother, Darla Botter of Grand Bay, Ala., received several mercury amalgam fillings from McKewen while she was living near Lufkin and pregnant with Cody. She said he was 20 months old when he began to show signs of autism, a brain disorder of varying seriousness that can cause developmental delays lasting a lifetime.

"I know, with all my heart, that is the answer," she said.

Botter, a former secretary whose husband, Kirk, is a warehouse worker, has since had all of her mercury amalgam fillings removed at her own expense and replaced with composite plastic resin. Dentists say the resin is more expensive than amalgam and doesn't last as long.

"In this case, there was malpractice," said Khorrami, who is working the Botter lawsuit with Scott Hendler, an Austin asbestos-litigation lawyer. "You shouldn't be implanting mercury amalgam fillings in the first trimester of pregnancy."

Boyd Haley, chairman of the University of Kentucky chemistry department, is the principal expert witness in Khorrami's lawsuits. Haley, who has testified to Congress against amalgam fillings, long has contended that they cause autism, Alzheimer's disease and other serious ailments.

The Alzheimer's Association doesn't agree. Nor does the Autism Society of America, a support group for parents of children who are autistic.

"There are currently no known causes of autism," said society spokeswoman Reneta Wisniewski. "So this might be difficult to prove."

Khorrami remains undeterred by the criticism.

"It's time that dentists realize they can be sued for placing poisonous fillings into a pregnant or nursing mother's mouth," he said.

In response to the growing legal and political concerns on the issue, the National Institutes of Health are seeking definitive answers by conducting the first large-scale studies of mercury amalgam dental fillings.

Their results are expected in 2006.

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PUBLIC HEALTH

Warning Over Scientific "Ignorance"

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Education and news media are doing little to improve the public's knowledge of topical science issues, researchers warn.

But ignorance about science does not stop people holding strong opinions on subjects such as climate change, biotechnology, and the reported risks of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Experts at the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies combined the results survey with a detailed analysis of the media.

More than 1,000 people were asked what they thought and knew about three topical areas - climate change, the MMR vaccine and human and biotechnology.

Out of 12 scientific questions, on average people answered just 4.42 correctly. Those with scientific educational qualifications did somewhat better, scoring 5.26, as did those with a degree in any subject (5.85).

The research showed that the public knew more about the political questions than the scientific aspects of the MMR issue. Most correctly understood the Prime Minister's response to questions about the vaccination of his young son.

A substantial majority (67%) also knew that MMR had been linked by some scientists with autism. But most also thought the evidence was either evenly balanced, or in favour of a connection.

In fact, most published scientific evidence, and official advice, denies the existence of any link.

Cardiff researcher Professor Justin Lewis said: "What this research confirms is that people do tend to absorb oft-repeated associations they hear in the media, such as the association between the MMR vaccine and autism."

The study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

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TREATMENT

Tool To Help Autism Sufferers Recognise Emotions

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&provider=Health%20Media%20Ltd <- - address ends here.

Autism sufferers who lack the ability to read the emotions of others from their facial expressions will soon have a new tool to help them. Educational software to be launched at the Autistic Society International Conference in the UK later this week uses the facial expressions that correspond to 412 emotions or states of mind.

By playing a DVD containing the expressions, which are linked to voices speaking in an appropriate intonation and to stories that explain how the emotion has arisen, autistic people should be able to learn what comes naturally to most people. (The Times 04/09/02; p.7)(c) Health Media Ltd 2002

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RESEARCH

Brief Report: Immune Factors In Autism: A Critical Review.

ds=12199139&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.

Krause I, He XS, Gershwin ME, Shoenfeld Y.

Research Unit of Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.

Pervasive developmental disorders represent a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect children early in their development. Autistic disorder is the best described of these disorders, yet even this term covers a broad group of clinical presentations. Various immune system abnormalities, including autoimmunity and defects in different subsets of immune cells, have been reported in children with autistic disorder, suggesting that immune factors may play a role in the development of autism. Based on anecdotal observation, vaccination was proposed to cause autism in some children, but several controlled studies have failed to support this claim.

Intravenous immunoglobulin infusions has been tested as immunotherapy for autism, although the preliminary results are inconclusive and there is a risk of potentially fatal transmission of blood-borne pathogens. To examine this issue, intensive well-controlled epidemiological and bench studies need to be carried out in defined and carefully controlled study subjects to establish the cellular and molecular basis of autism, against which the effects of each proposed immune factor can be examined.

PMID: 12199139 [PubMed - in process]

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Michael Chiklis 'Protects And Serves' Those With Autism

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Starring on The Shield, Michael Chiklis plays a streetwise detective whose son is autistic. But Chiklis knows that having an autistic child is in reality a daily challenge for millions of parents.

"So little is really known about the disease," says the Emmy-nominated Chiklis, "and it affects so many that Cure Autism Now is not only a great fund for research, but for the awareness that pushes the research."

Autism is a severe, lifelong neurological disorder that usually strikes some time in the first two years of life and can cause severe impairment in language, cognition, and communication.

Cure Autism Now (CAN) estimates that autism affects 500,000-1,500,000 families and costs the USA over $13 billion a year. The organization notes that as many as one in every 250 children born today will be on the autistic spectrum, including those with Asperger's Syndrome, a milder disorder that can also prompt major problems in socialization and learning.

Last Sunday Chiklis took a swing at raising money and awareness for autism at a sold-out golf tournament to benefit CAN. "I really feel compelled to be here for the kids," says Chiklis.

The "ER/CAN" golf tourney teed up ER stars Anthony Edwards, Alex Kingston, Paul McCrane, Ming-Na, and Goran Visnjic with other celebrity linksters, including The West Wing's NiCole Robinson. The event raised over $335,000 to fund autism research. CAN targets likely innovative scientific research that will have the most immediate applications in curing the disease.

"CAN has made tremendous contributions," says reigning Ms. America Susan Jeske, who sang the National Anthem to officially open play. "There had been so much confusion about autism for so many years. My nephew has autism and now knowing more about how to reach him and work with him, there's a huge improvement."

Early intervention

Autism victims often live in a confusing and withdrawn world where usual social cues are unrecognized and friendships nearly impossible to forge because normal conversation is all but impossible.

According to CAN, most people with autism will never marry, have a job, or live independently. Half of all autistic children will never learn to speak.

But many children with autism make great strides through early intervention.

"Until recently, only a small proportion of children with autism were expected to achieve independent functioning as adults," says director Jonathan Shestack, co-founder of CAN. "Most were expected to require life-long health, education, and social services. That expectation is now changing with evidence that outcomes for many autistic children can be dramatically improved when they receive intensive early intervention services."

"You can change the course of development because there's lot of plasticity in brain early on," says Julie Osterling, PhD, clinical director of the University of Washington's Autism Center. "There are more environmental factors coming into play at this time. Research has demonstrated that they can increase their IQ points significantly if the interventions are done at two years old, as opposed to six years old when things are more set."

But general lack of awareness, wishful thinking, and inexperience in recognizing autism can combine to make timely diagnosis a hit-or-miss proposition.

"To know that something can be wrong is a good departure point," says Chiklis, whose character discovered last season that his on-screen son had autism. "But you have to have some idea of what is usual and what is not."

We now have those tools – but they need to be used more widely.

University of Chicago researcher Catherine Lord, PhD, has tackled the challenge of early diagnosis in creating the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic —which Osterling says may allow accurate diagnosis in infants as young as 18 months old. It works by creating situations that normally demand interaction between the infant and others.

Lord has also developed Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised, which asks parents about how the child acts in typical situations. This questionnaire can be filled out in a matter of minutes.

Early autism cues

Osterling notes that even children younger than 18 months may exhibit warning signs. "By the time the infant is about 12 months old you can start looking," she advises.

She and co-researcher Geraldine Dawson discovered very early autism cues by an examination of first birthday videos of children later diagnosed with autism and those of children with typical development. Coders unaware of the diagnosis counted the number of times the birthday children displayed a range of social and communication behaviors.

They identified four specific behaviors that are significant and were able to identify 10 of the 11 children with autism at one year old. These

are:

Making eye contact

Pointing to objects

Showing objects to others

Responding when someone calls their name

"You're really looking for a general ability to participate in social interactions," notes Osterling. "Baby social games like peek-a-boo show that the baby is an active participant."

Parents also need to recognize what may be missing in a timely fashion.

"If they're not using a word or two by 16 months old, or the baby starts using words and then stops, not replacing the word with another, it needs to be noticed," says Osterling.

"There is a subgroup of autism – one out of every four or five," notes Osterling, "where the parents report that the child developed normally from about seven months to 15 months old, and then they reported regression."

Osterling's recent research indicates that while there was no difference initially in the child who was reported as mildly regressing in this way, "the children ended up on the autistic spectrum."

For parents with children who have autism, the challenges are complex.

Some parents may experience denial, anger, and guilt when confronted with early symptoms. Disbelief and denial are dangerous "in that the parents hope the child will get better on his own and they wait and delay getting a professional opinion," notes Osterling.

But even the diagnosis may also be delayed by some family physicians who do not recognize autism symptoms. "What sometimes happens is that the parents have overwhelming concerns, the physician wants to allay their fears, but they do not have enough knowledge to make a definitive diagnosis," explains Osterling.

Osterling advises concerned parents to "follow your instincts. You know your child, so pursue your concerns until they are satisfied. A speech and language therapist who has a lot of experience in separating unusual language components and delays from genuine problems is a first-line defense. A thorough exam can put everyone's mind to rest or prompt timely and needed treatment. In either case, it's a must."

"My character knew what he had to do," says Chiklis. "That didn't make it an easy decision or make it something that could be solved in that episode. Of course, that's one of the reasons CAN is here – autism is definitely not something that just goes away."

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Why Every Disease Needs A Celebrity Spokesperson

Cause célèbre

A growing number of celebrities are using their star power to raise funds and awareness for an array of diseases. Julia Roberts is pushing for federal dollars to fight Rhett’s syndrome. Supermodel Christy Turlington raises awareness on emphysema. West Wing star Brad Whitford is the voice for autism. And, of course, Jerry Lewis has been hosting his annual Labor Day telethon for muscular dystrophy for 37 years. But do celebrities on soapboxes really help?

Lewis has his critics. Some people wonder if he is exploiting the parade of “Jerry’s kids” who appear on the show along with all the singers, plate twirlers and jugglers. But his telethon has after all raised $1.7 billion.

And Roberts recently went before Congress to push for funding for a very rare genetic condition called Rhett’s Syndrome. This is a terrible affliction but not one that affects many people.

She was following Christopher Reeve, who had just been there asking for money to find a cure for paralysis. And Michael J. Fox is well-known for his support for research on Parkinson’s disease. There are plenty more celebrities plying the halls of Congress or leading fundraising campaigns looking for dollars to be directed toward the disease they care about the most, from AIDS to breast cancer to ovarian cancer.

And they all should be applauded. I am happy that Lewis still takes the time to do the telethon. Roberts deserves praise for bothering to go before Congress. And Fox has shown nothing but commendable caution in the way he has tried to draw attention to a terrible disease without letting his celebrity overwhelm the exciting science that may lead to a cure in the not so distant future. They are most certainly doing the right thing.

The problem is simply that there are not enough celebrities doing what Lewis, Roberts and Fox do. Some diseases, such as alpha-1 antrypsin disease, Canavan disease, bulimia or lupus, have no celebrities willing to go to the mat for them. Some ailments are just too stigmatized or uncool to attract celebrity support. It is hard to imagine J-Lo or Jennifer Aniston leading a march on Washington to demand more research on urinary incontinence.

The problem with celebrity fundraising is simply that it is not fair. Celebrities who try to lobby Congress sometimes don’t know the science well enough to know what is the best way to spend the nation’s research budget. So the budget can get distorted and some people with real diseases that have a real shot at a cure if only the money were spent on them lose out.

Clearly it is an advantage to have celebrities involved in drawing attention to diseases and raising funds.

But remember, for every celebrity who tells us about the hope for a cure or the need for Congress to act to win the war on some malady, there’s probably another group that is just as worthy, but which has not been lucky enough to attract a Jerry Lewis.

Arthur Caplan, Ph.D, is director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

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2002 Virginia State Chess Championship

["My son, Jack, was diagnosed by Dr. Mary Megson with autism when he was 2 years old and did not speak," say Jack's Dad, Bill Barrow, on the SJU Autism list. "He has come a long way since then. Just some bragging on my part -- and to let some of the new people know that one never knows for sure what the outcome will be for a young child."]

The 2002 Virginia State Chess Championship was held over the Labor Day weekend at Charlottesville Virginia.

Sixty-seven players competed in the Amateur Section. Along with the seasoned adult players there were a few serious high school and middle school players. With a score of five wins and one draw with the top rated player, William J. Barrow won First Place and the title "2002 Virginia State

Amateur Champion". This is quite an achievement as Jack Barrow is an

Eighth grader at Swift Creek Middle School in Chesterfield County. He is undoubtedly one of the youngest state champions that Virginia has ever had.

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Autistic Teen Shows A Flair For The Snare

Bergenfield - Fred's time had come.

A crowd of about 200 music students, parents, and teachers was silent and waiting. As he walked alone to the front of the room to take his position at the kettle drum set, his pulse beat a bit faster.

He had practiced the music every day for a month, tapping drumsticks on counter tops and tables at home in hopes of winning the Bergenfield summer music workshop's highest honor - the "Superstar" award.

Like many autistic teenagers, Fred is not always at ease among large groups.

But on that July night, when it was finally his turn to perform, he pounded on the three drums, crisscrossing his sticks with precision to thunderous applause.

"People were yelling, 'Great job, Fred!' ... And all the teachers gave me high-fives and congratulated me," he said recently, smiling with his head bowed. "I practiced a lot; I always wanted it."

It was the first time in more than a decade that a student in the district has been given the Superstar award for mastering percussion instruments, said Supervisor of Music Stratos Mandalakis.

"Of our students, he has one of the highest levels of aptitude. Usually the first time he hears it, he'll play it or sing it," said Mandalakis. "His abilities, musically, are really amazing."

Fred Stein Smith is in many ways a typical 16-year-old. He's a B student at Bergenfield High School, where he will start his junior year next week. He likes to shoot hoops with his two younger brothers, take long walks, and play video games. And he's a fan of "Lord of the Rings."

But, like one of every 500 Americans, Fred is autistic. He has difficulty interacting with his peers and processing language.

Yet it in a world filled with tempo and melody, he excels.

"He's really good. All you have to do is show it to him once," Fred's friend John Miano said as they worked together recently on the snare drum. "And he gets it. That's it."

A piano player since childhood, Fred also plays several percussion instruments and is considering the guitar.

For two years he has been a member of the school's symphonic band, and this year will join concert band. He's also a member of the marching band, which has allowed him to express himself musically as well as socially.

"It's opened his social possibilities," Mandalakis said. "And he's really a team player. He's been able to be with students and adults that have become a support system in which he's really functioned very well.'' Fred also sings bass for the school's choir and dreams of singing at Lincoln Center.

Fred's parents, Fred and Kathleen Smith, fondly refer to a community of friends and teachers as "Freddie's Friends" for helping their son. And they believe he has learned the value of assisting others. He helps with the children's liturgy at St. John the Evangelist Church and teaches kids to play chess.

"I feel happy when I help out," Fred said from his living room, where his many music and community awards were displayed on a coffee table. "And it feels great for me to play. It feels great for me to do my own thing."

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New Jersey Lien Law Advocacy Moves Forward

NAMI New Jersey Advocacy Network Alert

[Provided for our readers' information.]

Twenty-eight legislators have prioritized the NAMI New Jersey initiated "Lien Law" for action in the new state legislative session. This law would reform the archaic practice in New Jersey of placing automatic liens on the patients of state and county psychiatric hospitals and certain members of their families. After narrowly missing passage in the previous session due to delays caused by 9/11 and the state election, the "Lien Law" has been reintroduced in the Senate as S202 and in the Assembly as A303.

NAMI New Jersey has been joined by the Mental Health Association of New Jersey and the Community Health Law Project in advocating for a change in New Jersey's Lien Law. Together this coalition has been working with the bills' prime sponsors Senator Allen and Assemblyman Gusciora to strengthen the provisions of the Bills.

Language has been drafted that would:

· End the practice of placing automatic liens.

· Charge patients on their ability to pay using the Charity Care sliding fee scale, the same as any other illness.

· Exempt the parents of adult children from any financial obligation.

· Provide for maximum annual and lifetime limits on charges resulting from a hospitalization in a state or county psychiatric hospital.

· Protect the assets the spouse of an individual hospitalized in a state or county psychiatric hospital.

· Provide a provision for retroactively removing past liens.

Action Needed:

For additional information or to join in NAMI NEW JERSEY advocacy contact Phil Lubitz at (732) 940-0991.

Sample Letter

Dear Mental illness remains the only illness where there is a state practice of placing liens on patients and families whether the hospitalization is voluntary or against ones will. New Jersey has developed the uncompensated care fund or charity care to treat those with any other illness who are uninsured or unable to afford care. It is only for the treatment of a mental illness at a state or county psychiatric hospital that patients, their parents under age 55 and their spouses whether living together or apart remain liable for the full cost of these hospitalizations. Thousands of people are impacted each year by this anachronistic 1918 law that is left over from an era when we warehoused our unwanted in massive institutions. Having a mental illness in the family comes with many burdens for the individual with the illness and for family caretakers. New Jersey should have an official state policy to support those who are struggling every day to overcome these debilitating illnesses. I am asking for your support in repealing the law that mandates these onerous liens by becoming a co-sponsor of S202 or A 303.

Thank you for your attention. I am looking forward to your response.

Sincerely,

(Your Name, address and phone number)

NAMI New Jersey is a statewide coalition of self-help support and advocacy groups composed of families and friends of persons with a serious mental illness. With chapters in all 21 counties we are New Jerseys largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals who have a serious mental illness and their families.

Please distribute this Alert to other advocates for improved mental health services in New Jersey. If you would like to receive NAMI New Jersey Advocacy Alerts by email, contact Phil Lubitz, the Advocacy Network Coordinator by phone (732) 940- 0991.

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Readers' Posts

[Note: Some of the first few postings are as old as two weeks, but only now being posted. The last posts are as recent to arrive as yesterday.]

I have a 14 yo son who has finally been diagnosed with Asperger's. Does any one know of any resources for those diagnosed at such a late age? All the info I can find is geared toward much younger children. Lisa Beachkytyn@aol.com

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I am interested in hearing from other parents whose children have been tried on Geodon (an atypical antipsychotic, same category as Risperdal). Also Lamictal. Our 9 y/o Asp/Aut/Tourette son has been aggressive on and off since 5/99. Now we are considering the possibility of residential placement, much sooner than we ever thought we would. He has benefited from ABA/Lovaas program, good safe current NPS placement, AT, OT, SLP, behavior under control in school. Failed comprehensive behavior programs tried in home. Also have problems as other Regional Center clients tend to have less cognitive ability (child is average range). We're so sad right now. Sally marinkirks@attbi.com

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We need to sell an EZ on Vest car system. Two vests, two seat straps, ankle, wrist cuffs. For emergency driving situations or just those who will not stay buckled. Good condition. marinkirks@attbi.com

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Mother of a 12 yo with suspected MMR damage symptoms looking for anyone with children with similar symptoms: high functioning, seemingly "normal" with autistic traits and behaviours, bowel problems, faecal soiling, immune system deficiencies and suffering debilitating migraines which lead to nausea, dizziness, pale face, shying away from light, seeing colours in vision, and periods of blankness, normal MRI. Currently my doctors cannot help my son, they have no holistic diagnosis for him. If there is anyone out there who has a son like this, especially in the UK, or who can offer a suggestion for these symptoms, please contact me at nessiek@swest.co.uk.

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Looking for experiences with The Edmonds Neurology Clinic specifically Dr. Gary Stobbe. I will be taking my LF son to him for treatment. Any info would be helpful. rhondad65@hotmail.com

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Looking into residential summer camps for 2003 for our daughter, 13, with PDD-NOS and mild mental retardation. We would like to hear from parents who have sent their children to residential camps for autistic kids in Pennsylvania, NY, Maryland and Virginia. elmiller@state.pa.us

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Is risperdal suitable for children with autism? As in case of adults at least their brains are already formed, but children's brains are growing, giving such drugs can cause harm to them later on, my son is not aggressive, only he is hyperactive, he speaks only a few words, I am from Goa, India, I came to U.S for my sons treatment. But the doctors here are telling me to try him on resperidal. I tried for some days, but I did not find any improvement, and I don't feel like taking risk. Please let me know your suggestions and advice kalpana lobo lobonanc@rediffmail.com (mother)

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Burley D'Lite jogger/bike trailer, $275 (new is $400), Sacramento, CA area lauriefredricks@attbi.com

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Can anyone suggest outstanding programs for high-functioning autistic children near enough to Manhattan for a daily parental commute? The child is now six and lives in Manhattan. Parents would like to move to a community with great services and a possibility of a yard and a friendly town. New Jersey, N.Y., or Connecticut would be fine. Nana lkthib@yahoo.com

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A PA special ed teacher or someone eligible for an emergency certificate in PA is urgently needed to fill a position at West Mont Christian Academy in Pottstown, PA. We have a school district willing to do a non-traditional placement for 10 yr. boy who will have 1:1 teacher with reverse inclusion and some mainstreaming. If anyone knows of someone who could meet the requirements please e-mail Lori at silfee@netcarrier.com for more info.

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I have an entire set of Greenspans tapes that I have not even been opened. They come with a manual and 13 tapes of HOURS of taped therapy of young autistic children using Dr. Greenspan's techniques. For Sale -- bought for 335.00 will sell for 250.00 NEW! Susan slangs6536@aol.com

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If you've signed the "Stop Frist" petition and would like to include your child's picture in a collage that will be added to the petition, please either e-mail it to me privately with a quick message saying you don't mind if we use this picture or snail mail it to me with the same message and a signature to: JoAnne Pike, 2530 N. Hwy. 41A Marion, SC 29571 The top of the collage will simply say: AMERICA'S VACCINE INJURED CHILDREN!

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Does anyone have suggestions on how to handle tantrums? What sort of reactions is recommended? Zach will be fine then start running yelling loudly and become disruptive, seemingly very upset, the reason for these tantrums have exhausted us, so we just need calming strategies Marlene. Zach is 8 yo. mommom55@webtv.net

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Any information people have about autism-specific state legislation that has successfully been passed during the past few years is sought. In Wisconsin we are beginning a push for a legislative inquiry into autism prevalence. Eventually we'll want to propose some related legislation. It would be helpful to have successful legislation from others as examples of what states are doing for people with autism and their families. Ideally it would help to have the actual statute number reference so I could look up the full text. It could be on anything. Medicaid, education, health care, family support, research, funding, etc. shattuck@waisman.wisc.edu Paul Shattuck Board Member, Autism Society of Wisconsin

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I am looking for possible scholarships/grants to return to college to earn special ed degree to teach. I have a daughter with autism and thought it might qualify me for special funds. Debi H. fightingautism@yahoo.com

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We have just relocated to the Raleigh/Cary area of NC and would like to hear from parents in the area that have successfully navigated the Wake Co. IEP process. Especially, any parents who have managed to get their child included in a regular ed. with support. Our e-mail address is lrbulluck3@hotmail.com

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We have been interested in digestive enzymes for our son and have seen "Enzymaid" mentioned in several places but have not been able to find out what the ingredients are in this preparation. We are aware that there are both plant- as well as animal-based digestive enzymes. Has anyone used Enzymaid or can anyone tell us what is in Enzymaid? Gregory Wajnowski chengwajnowski@msn.com

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