Test of Faith

A fresh start

2011-10-08T23:22:00.000-07:00

We moved to a new school district and things have been so much easier where we live now. Though we are about 15 minutes from our other school district the difference is night and day. Aidan has been adjusting well to the changes. We truly couldn't ask for anything more.

Aidan is happy playing soccer this season and of course going to school at the same place he did before. He has a new teacher this year and about 5 classmates in his classroom.

We are blessed.

Mediation

2010-07-03T22:38:00.001-07:00

I cannot say much of anything except to say that I no longer need funds for Aidan's defense fund :)

Our school district sued my son. He has autism.

2010-06-02T16:56:00.001-07:00

Our school district sued my son. He has autism.

The Alta Loma School District is suing my six year old son who has autism and needs special education classes. They are also suing my husband and me.

I got the notice a few weeks ago. The school district wants a judge to declare that the district offered my son what federal law says it must provide him: a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

One of the difficulties you run into when writing about the education rights of disabled children is that the real importance of these issues can get lost in all the official language and alphabet soup.

So I’ll try to explain as simply as I can:

Federal law says a child in special education is to be provided a free and appropriate public education. This education should be in the least restrictive environment. There are a lot of rules that determine what’s free, appropriate and least restrictive. That last term generally means that a child in special education should have the chance to learn alongside his non disabled peers to the greatest extent possible.

Next step: When a child is in special education they are supposed to get an Individualized Education Plan each year.

The plan is both a legal document as well as a blueprint for the services the special education child will receive, and where and with whom the child will go to school. The plan is supposed to be written with contributions from all the planning team members. That team is normally comprised of parents, a general and special education teacher, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, a special education director, a psychologist and sometimes others.

But these plans become the subjects of disputes between school districts that want to minimize their spending, and parents, who want an appropriate educational opportunity for their children, without going broke providing it.

When my son’s plan was presented in April, the district’s special education director made an offer for a school placement which she considered to be both a free and appropriate placement in the least restrictive environment. Rather than signing the plan at the meeting I always go home and after rest re read it.

All parents should as well. The parent has the ultimate power to sign the plan and with some options: The parent may agree wholly to the plan; agree somewhat to the plan, taking certain services and agreeing to them and not others (like an a la carte’ menu) or disagree with the plan.

My husband and I agreed somewhat to the plan agreeing to one service and not agreeing to the rest of the offer. We agreed to a service of Applied Behavior Analysis. We did not agree to placing him at a county school because we do not feel it is appropriate for our son, nor do we feel he is likely to receive any meaningful educational benefit in that placement.

We currently have our son in a non public school. Here he has daily interactions with children who do not have autism from local charter and home schools, he uses touch screen computers, assistive technology, and highly educated people work with him one-on-one, which is something he requires. We are not asking our son’s school district to pay for this school. We have written to the district letting them know that our son was at this school.

On May 19, 2010 we received legal papers in the mail. It was a due process filing from the school district’s attorney, evidently to obtain a judge’s declaration that the school district’s offer was sufficient – that is, that it was free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

Our reaction to this is frustration and anxiety. If we want to attend the hearing with an attorney we must spend money to retain one and this is money that we obviously haven’t budgeted for. Life with a child with special needs is already filled with complications and adding harassment and retaliation from a school district would obviously increase stress for a family.

So the district is choosing to file against my family and spend money on attorneys to sue us rather than to wait up to two years to see if we will file due process against the district.

And here’s what hurts all of us whose children need special education: The money that is used on attorneys to sue a family comes out of special education funds.

This means that in the district’s quest to make certain that they can cover themselves against a potential future due process filing by my family they are, in essence, taking away taxpayer dollars designed for special education programs and services and using these dollars instead on law firms and attorneys to sue a family such as mine.

What are your thoughts on this? If you are going through this, or have questions about this process, I’d be pleased to chat with you here on The Freeway.

Rally to Promote Change of Leadership in San Bernadino County Superintendent of Schools

2010-05-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

On Saturday May 29th from 2 to 3 PM parents residing in San Bernadino County came together in Rancho Cucamonga to rally for change in education and vote out incumbent San Bernadino County Superintendent of Schools, Gary Thomas. Though Gary Thomas has been touted by various news outlets endorsing his campaign for his “financial oversight” and vast experience in the “financial realm” parents in San Bernadino County know better. Gary Thomas runs the San Bernadino County Schools with a lack of transparency, wastes tax payer dollars and is fiscally irresponsible. Our message as parents to those who desire fiscal responsibility and a transparent government is this: when you go to the polls to vote for a San Bernadino County Superintendent of Schools, throw incumbent Gary Thomas out!

RALLY to Promote Change of Leadership in San Bernadino County Superintendent of Schools May 29th 2 PM Rancho Cucamonga (Haven and Foothill)

2010-05-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

Join us for a RALLY to Promote Change of Leadership in San Bernadino County Superintendent of Schools

Saturday, May 29, 2010
2:00- 3:00 p.m.
North East Corner of Haven & Foothill (by Panera), Rancho Cucamonga

The following occurred under GARY THOMAS, current Superintendent of San Bernadino County Schools:

WESELPA (West End Special Education Local Plan Area) in Rancho Cucamonga, California agreed to continue at non reduced rates the contracts with three law firms that are contracted with the sole purpose of litigating against special education children and their families. Last month the WESELPA cut by 2% their contracts with Non Public Agencies as well as Non Public Schools for children with special needs.

One of these law firms, Fagen Friedman and Fulfrost, has a foundation rooted in deceit and poor ethics as well as school district/SELPA and therefore taxpayer dollar waste.

WESELPA and Alta Loma School District decide to pursue litigation against a family that is not asking for anything. This is a waste of taxpayer dollars. YET, WESELPA reported at the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting that California is looking at a “$3.8 billion special education funding shortfall.”

The Daily Bulletin endorsed the campaign of Gary Thomas for County Superintendent because of his “financial oversight” and vast experience in the “financial realm.” PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILDREN KNOW THE TRUTH! A VOTE FOR GARY THOMAS IS A VOTE FOR FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY!!!!

Time to throw the incumbent Gary Thomas out of office!

Vote Art Delgado Superintendent of San Bernadino County Schools!!!

Children are WELCOME!

Education industry lobbies Congress in favor of seclusion and restraints for children

2010-01-24T17:12:00.001-08:00

Education industry lobbies Congress in favor of seclusion and restraints for children

Posted using ShareThis

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Vs In Vitro

2010-01-03T12:57:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking a lot about how embryonic stem cell research is really all that different from those who do in vitro fertilization. Obviously to perfect in vitro fertilization I am certain some "fetuses" had to die during the research process. The scientists probably said it was for a greater good because ultimately they would be able to help create babies and push them into existence and help millions of parents worldwide with their research and technology. How is this any different than embronic stem cell research? The one person I know doing this in India for instance used only one embryo for her research and has duplicated from that to help thousands of people with their diseases ranging from MS, diabetes and more. Why is it morally correct to the vast majority of Christians to utilize in vitro but incredibly morally incorrect to utilize embryonic stem cell research? Is this once again an example of what I have heard others call "love the baby, hate the child?" I am not convinced that either of these is something God has an opinion on but then again I didn't hear him speak too often of autism either in the Bible. Then again vaccines were never mentioned but they are often widely taken on as gospel by all. I was one of those. Like sheep the slaughter, Anyway of this I am sure, God has a plan. He uses all for his glory. What that will ultimately be in either of the two modalities above we shall see.

Made it through the Holidays, just barely!

2010-01-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Well this year I asked my mom during her annual cookie day to see if she could look up a recipe that would work for Aidan and by golly she did! I am very proud of her and this first step she made. We will have to perfect the ingredients list a little better next year (coconut oil and no oatmeal) but overall it was lovely to have her step up and research a recipe and complete it just for Aidan.

The holidays were not so horrible. Thanksgiving we went away to Knotts. And Christmas we went to my parents Christmas Eve to have a feast I brought over from Trader Joe's, tamales and beans and chips and salsa. And Christmas day was the toughest at my aunts for a feast mostly none of which Aidan could have including tons of deserts all except his cookies he couldn't have. Keeping him away from the low table of these was hard. We had some external external family show up and something happened that was disturbing to me and reminiscent of my youth: every family but mine the kids were invited over for a sleep over. That was a bummer. This happened at my Christmas eve with my dad's side pretty much every Christmas where plans for a Big Bear trip not involving my family was discussed across the table in detail between the other brothers and sisters but not my dad. I am trying to decipher whether my son wasn't invited because well plainly he has autism and would be a handful and I would've said no anyhow etc etc or because simply they are just plain rude. Probably a mixture of both I suppose. What can you do. We didn't stay too long made it through food and opened presents outside with the kids and took some photos and that was our Christmas day there. Aidan did well overall.

Why I am a Progressive

2009-10-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

I grew up very Conservative. Very very Conservative Christian family. I had an anti abortion binder that I carried around in junior high and high school that I was very proud of. It had pictures of babies on the front of it pasted on with information on abortion clinics. My uncle and aunt invited me to their weekly abortion clinic visits which they would attend and sit and protest women getting abortions. I didn't go to these I was too young but they would attend. Being gay or should I say practicing homosexuality was looked upon as truly a heinous behavior, a deprived behavior. I was very proud of myself when I would speak with others and very high high high on my high horse as the saying goes. I look back in shame on this. Shame that I was such a judging young person.

As far as politics go I can only remember my parents speaking negatively about Clinton briefly and his affair. I would say well if he can lie to the American people about his adultery imagine what else he is lying to us about.

It wasn't until this election, this Presidential election that things began to get heated. In the first election my husband and I voted for Clinton. In the next election or final election we voted for President Obama. My entire family voted instead for McCain.

Both my husband, my dad and my brother were laid off of work. My dad started watching more of Fox (Faux news) daily and reading Glen Beck books. Never before had he been interested in discussing politics or really bringing them into the realm of "christianity." All of the sudden his men's christian groups were focusing in on the political world namely our newly elected President. One church that our family is familiar with Calvary Chapel Chino Hills recently held a town hall meeting promoting that the health care for all bill is voted down. Something seemed incredibly wrong with this picture and still does to me.

Now I don't mind a debate. In fact I like to debate. I enjoy it. Where it gets trouble some for me is when it becomes personal. I have been told by family you cannot be a Christian if you support our President or are progressive. I am not affiliated with a political party but have said I am progressive so that's why they go that way. I have been told you grew up believing homosexual marriage is wrong and abortion is wrong how can you now be a progressive. I have been told I don't "serve my country" and wouldn't even if I had the chance. When I retorted I do serve my country I am a community server of sorts the response back was that's not serving your country.

But all this to say the point of my post the reason I am a Progressive. I am a Progressive thinker because of my son and the fact he has autism. Those that are Progressive their goal is to save programs that serve people with disabilities such as autism. The goal on the other side of the aisle has been to ward off tax hikes and cut programs. All of the programs that have helped people with autism have been spear headed by Progressives, from social security, medicare, Americans with Disabilities Act and more. One of my heroes and lion of the Senate Ted Kennedy made it his mission to assist those with disabilities. I believe at the root of Progressive is to put people before profit, a sense that we must look out for one another, love one another, care about one another. The other side speaks of letting the weak fail and that the strong shall survive and that you can get through things if you pull yourself up by your bootstraps. They speak lovingly of democracy and the country first motto but in reality what our country is is a capitalist me first society. When I think of what Jesus would look at in terms of how he was in the New Testament here on Earth I think of Progressive. And look I am not saying that this President is perfect or that I agree with every policy. I am purely speaking of the philosophy that goes alongside the party of Democrats that are Progressive and Republicans that are Conservative. I am a Christian and I am Progressive. And I believe that in my interpretation of the Bible and more specifically the new Testament Jesus would have called himself a Progressive rather than a Conservative anyday.

Parents Just Don't Understand

2009-10-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Something I have been thinking about writing about but haven't is the subject of extended family and their response to autism or a child who has autism. My family specifically likes to use food. Food represents love. So when my son who has autism can no longer eat the foods my extended family eats the choice has been to let him cheat, to force him to abstain, not to attend events etc. When I have had parties and have tried to make foods my son can eat for the entire family or order them special I have been criticized for doing so and told to make or buy the rest of the people there "real" food.

My son doesn't want to love on or hug just anyone. It seems the only way my parents especially can relate to my son is by disciplining him. Aidan get off that table! Aidan No, No! He looks at them and sometimes listens. That's the only time they get a look from him normally so that's all I find them doing with him, verbal discipline.

Then there are the other members of our family. Let's just say they don't all rush to volunteer to watch him while we are somewhere and I want to do something else like have a grown up discussion. Never mind the fact that my husband and I were the token watchers of all nieces and nephews for them. I have never ever been able to relax, take it easy and enjoy at a family gathering with someone in my family saying hey don't worry I will watch him for a bit.

Who I have become as a matter of becoming an autism parent is something my family and parents just don't understand. They have no idea what I do, what groups I belong too, why my ideology on so many things has changed. Some families especially grandparents when they hear a grandchild has autism it is as if some mechanism forces them into action and they become so interested and wanting to help their child who has a child with autism. I thought that would happen at least with my mom but it didn't. Oftentimes I feel like such an outsider with my extended family. Their reaction or lack of reaction has been so demoralizing. I think I just needed an outlet to express that.

Cause for Incitement

2009-06-10T14:02:00.001-07:00

Cause for Incitement

Budget Crisis in the State of California Public Comment

June 3, 2009
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO WRITE AT MINIMUM NOREEN EVANS! MAKE YOUR COMMENTS KNOWN!!!!
Make comments on the Governor’s proposed cuts too (and other budget proposals) (via US Mail – faxing not recommended):

Assemblymember Noreen Evans, Chair
Assembly Budget Committee – Budget Conference Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Be sure to include your complete name and address. You should also send a copy to the vice chair of the Budget Conference Committee, Sen. Denise Ducheny (she is also the chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee).

Sen, Denise Ducheny, Chair
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Disabled in California by Kristie Sepulveda-Burchit
The state of California made a solemn promise to its disabled population in the late 1970’s. The promise can be found in the Lanterman Act which was passed in 1977 and can be found in the California Welfare and Institutions Code beginning in section 4500. The language of the Lanterman Act I have often said is quite beautiful. The commitment and promise that this Golden state made to its disabled is sacred. Today the citizens of California are tested by Governor Schwarzenegger to break a promise made to the disabled as well as other newly disenfranchised groups. The question now remains what the people with ultimate authority will do about it.
During the events of last Wednesday during public comments several people likened the position that the joint budget committee (made up of senators and assembly members) were in was akin to the doctors put on trial in Nuremberg. More specifically the crime directed at these physicians was for their “crimes against humanity.” The doctors at Nuremberg, at minimum those who were convicted, committed or were responsible for ordering a huge amount of atrocities against the disabled including withholding medical care, conducting atrocious experiments and the list goes on and on. This was during the Nazi regime in Germany and its outer laying procured countries. Faced with the governors demand for cuts and elimination of programs and services to our disabled, if these are approved by the budget committee a majority of those from the public speaking believe that this committee is doing as much to deprive it’s disabled and other disenfranchised minorities that were represented of medical care as well as causing deaths to many just as those put on trial at Nuremberg did. The term democide comes to mind as this specifically is the murder of any person or people by a government; specifically the California government.
On that note, as I was recently flipping back and forth through news stations to see the different perspectives, during one of my visits to Fox Glen Beck made a statement about what the elite in this country have believed and always believed. Now he was talking about letting businesses fail but what he said of course can be extended to other areas of life. He said there is and has been a belief in this country in evolution as well as natural selection. He said the failure of the weakest makes others stronger. The panel and he went on to discuss other welfare related programs with the key person contributing being the equivalent of a glorified “bookie” but that is neither here nor there. Here you have a belief system entrenched in this country that has firm roots as a result of the Nazi party thinking that rather than helping our “weak” or aka disabled we should give up on them and let them and the programs and services fail and be cut so that the strong in this state and country can further prosper.
If this is the belief system that our society is beginning to hear and listen to and become desensitized by that is truly scary to me. In a time of recession and depression society tends to scapegoat a group. In Germany the time was ripe because their country was devastated financially so that Hitler could so easily blame what he viewed as the weakest because of their genes or because of (something often forgot about the Nazi’s) their disability. It is often forgot how many men women and children died after torture via experiments that were inhumane and authorized by physicians simply because the unfortunate were disabled. Today in 2009 we have often said since that time, never again. We falsely believe our society has changed positively overtime so that we would never be that type of people that hurt the weak and or the innocent. In this country, the United States is in a time of financial crisis. A state most entrenched in that crisis is California. The governor has made it clear in his budget proposals that he will scapegoat and penalize the weak and or the disenfranchised innocent for the financial crisis. It is up to the budget committee to decide if they will follow his lead or remember their humanity and remember the promise they made to us as citizens of this state when they accepted “responsibility for persons with disabilities” and agreed they had “an obligation to them which it must discharge.” (California Welfare and Institutions Code 4501).
I will now outline some of the things discussed during public comment. From 9-10 30 AM we discussed Healthy Families being eliminated as well as Medi Cal issues. We had several physicians, pharmacy representatives, single parents, elderly discussing both programs even some that cared for grandchildren in the program, as well as the disabled. Healthy Families is a state insurance program that serves over 900,000 lower income children in California. For every $1 the state pays in this program the federal government gives the state $2. President Obama recently in February of 2009 reauthorized the program as well as funding it and gave his written endorsement of the program to continue. Many children depend on this insurance especially in this economy with parents being laid off. Most of us parents know this program is very useful for services our children need such as speech, occupational as well as behavioral therapies.
I spoke three times during my public comment as they broke the day up in sections. I spoke briefly of the importance of this program for our children and some of the benefits for it. But what the committee is mostly looking for is innovative ideas to save these programs and services. So I discussed during this portion as well (we all had 90 seconds max) as the fact that the state needs new sources of revenue and that they need to think “outside the box.”
During the Public Health, Medi Cal Pharmacy, Proposition 36, emergency medical services authority portion several parties spoke. There were many there stating the law of proposition 36 doesn’t change so that a person could be offered rehabilitation or jail time could still chose rehabilitation and if the state has no program because they have cut it then there is a deep misunderstanding of what the plan would be. In addition poison control a phone number many parents have called is on the chopping block and even physicians spoke who actually get calls from patients and they in turn call poison control because they don’t have answers. There was a person with AIDS who had hepatitis B since birth there that will lose her much needed medication because that as well is being looked at for cuts. There were people during this time for shelters from domestic abusers that houses children and the victims. There were several ideas to raise revenue for these programs including raising taxes on alcohol and tobacco. According to research 85% of Californians support an alcohol tax. Apparently this is in bill AB 1019. People spoke about care for the elderly including those facing alzheimer’s. Some spoke of the fact that families are one hospital visit away from bankruptcy. A child’s illness can bring a family homelessness. Someone asked a very important question about why the Governor’s budget and what we were discussing that day was talking in terms of complete elimination rather than suspension as was supposed to be the plan.
During the discussion on Regional Center and Department of Developmental Services there were several hundred people coming and getting in line for their 90 seconds because that same day there was an event on Capitol Hill regarding the Olmstead Act anniversary. Most people got up and said please don’t cut this having to do with regional center and some suggested cutting down the developmental centers. My focus was on the early start program and I spoke a little about that because the people that are with early start the proposal from the steering committee would put the children out of the system potentially from age 2-3. I guarantee those parents are not thinking about legislation or advocacy so I felt I should speak on behalf of their kids. Being that I knew they wanted ideas of where to get revenue I gave them an idea to think outside the box involving “legalizing” and “taxing” items to get some revenue for which I got a few eye rolls by the committee and some laughter as well from the crowd and thumbs up from veterans in wheelchairs in line as well as some caretakers for IRC clients. I also said I was behind taxing of alcohol, sugar, caffeine products whatever to help protect the rights of the innocent here.
After lunch we discussed In Home Supportive Services. This time they made another announcement on concentrating on ways to save the state money for this program during public comment. I pointed out during my time that this state actually already saves quite a bit of money on this program conducting IHSS as they do. Other states hire a nurse at nurses wages ($40-$50 an hour!) to come and do IHSS services. When the state of California is paying between $8 to $11 an hour for IHSS services they are saving money! I also made a third plea for them to get out of their comfort zone and think outside the box in terms of revenue. I also reiterated what another man had said before me that the people did not speak when they voted no on the propositions. I said they didn’t understand them, we had a dismal turn out of less than 25% and that it was the legislator’s job to do a budget and not entrust the people to do that budget. I said furthermore if the majority does something to the disenfranchised minority where their rights are taken away this is unethical. In other words if the people voting no on props and our governor basing these cuts on that saying the people have spoken and no taxes, and this in fact directly impacts and hurts our community (the minority) that is unethical!
Several wise comments were made including these: the state of California didn’t vote as a whole to let the propositions fail. Instead it was a vote of no confidence. It was a dismal turn out of voters. The people of California have no confidence in a legislature that chooses to put the state of the budget in the hands of the people rather than solving it themselves. Even if the people had spoke as a majority, if the majority speaks for the disenfranchised minority who would be hurt by the majority this is unethical, immoral and unconstitutional. Someone said the cost of nothing is more than the cost of everything in terms of them cutting the budget down as much as they want too.
Some inventive ideas included repealing taxes that have been given in the form of tax breaks to the wealthy and the big corporations and big business even this last fiscal year. A young caregiver brought up taxing cookies, cakes, sugar products etc and went on to discuss what the state was paying for diabetes care. I mentioned tobacco and alcohol tax previously. Someone brought up re introducing the vehicle tax. I believe an elderly veteran brought up eliminating tax breaks to corporations and also he had an idea to have prisoners pay for their keep. He also went on to say increasing the tax amount to the wealthy and laid out a plan for this. He went on to say the budget committee should have a pledge card in which they say I won’t throw poor people, sick people, old people, disabled people, veterans, children under the bus!
They went on to discuss CalWorks programs, SSI and then Foster care but they didn’t want repeat testimonies so I didn’t speak on these programs though they are vital.
After the meeting within a few days more cuts and eliminations of programs have been discussed and I am sure will be discussed.
After this occurred last week they once again got together Tuesday I believe and discussed potential cuts to the education, the community colleges, CSU’s and UC systems and also the disability centers at these campuses. Yesterday (Tuesday, June 2nd) our Governor spoke and from his speech he said
The immediate task before us is to cut spending to the money available. And we have no time to waste. The Controller has told us we have 14 days to act or California is at risk of running out of cash. I have already used my executive authority to reduce the state's payroll. And I have proposed the necessary cuts to the three largest areas of our budget: which is education, health care and prisons. I know the consequences of these cuts are not just dollars. I see the faces behind those dollars .I see the children whose teaches will be laid-off...I see the Alzheimer's' patients losing some of their In-Home Support Services .I see the firefighters and police officers who will lose their jobs. People come up to me all the time, pleading, "Governor, please don't cut my program."They tell me about how the cuts will affect them and their loved ones.I see the pain in their eyes and hear the fear in their voice. And I hear the demonstrations outside the Capitol.(there was a demonstration going on yesterday with CDCAN) It's an awful feeling.
But we have no choice. Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed. Our credit is dried up.

I implore you as citizens of the state of California to write to your legislators with any new ideas for revenue to the state or any cost savings ideas to the state. I implore you to briefly mention the importance of the programs but also to focus on cutting the bureaucracy that exists and hurts consumers as well. I implore you to quote from the promise made to the disabled in the language of the Lanterman Act. When I have seen items in the news recently about this issue I hear only one line about the devastating cuts and eliminations for the disabled but it’s only news worthy because they focus on the cuts to AIDS and education. While these are obviously worthwhile and notable items the cuts to the disabled have been happening for years and continue to devastate our community and in fact hurt or lead to death for many consumers. It must be stopped and I implore you to let your voice be heard for my child, for your child, for all of our children and the adults that these cuts affect.

BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The Budget Conference Committee consists of a total of 10 members – five legislators each from the State Senate and Assembly instead of the usual 3 members each.
Democrats will control the Budget Conference Committee with 6 members (3 members each from the Assembly and State Senate) with Republicans having 4 members (2 members each from the Assembly and State Senate).

The Assembly members of the Budget Conference Committee are:
• Assemblymember Noreen Evans (Democrat - Santa Rosa) – Chair
• Assemblymember Kevin de León (Democrat - Los Angeles)
• Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (Democrat - Woodland Hills)
• Assemblymember Roger Niello (Republican – Fair Oaks)
• Assemblymember Jim Nielsen (Republican – Gerber)
CDCAN Note: Evans is the chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. De Leon is the chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Niello is the vice chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.

The State Senate members of the Budget Conference Committee are:
• Senator Denise Ducheny (Democrat - San Diego)
• Senator Mark Leno (Democrat – San Francisco)
• Senator Alan Lowenthal (Democrat – Long Beach)
• Senator Bob Dutton (Republican - Rancho Cucamonga)
• Senator Mimi Walters (Republican - Laguna Hills)
CDCAN Note: Ducheny is the chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. Leno is the chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services and the Senate Public Safety Committee. Dutton is the vice chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee.
Take Action!

Cuts to the California state budget in the realm of HUMAN and HEALTH (think about that) services will no doubt be coming shortly within the next days and weeks and definitely prior to July 1st. Our voice must be heard! I urge you I implore you to SAY SOMETHING!

Our Governor's recent response to the promise in the Lanterman Act made available here

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1610528

Interviewer: "Joyce Hearn, one of our readers, wants to know if you intend to keep intact the Lanterman Act which is the California law that guarantees services for the developmentally disabled." Governor: "Um, you know it's all on the chopping block. It's all part of the budget And I think that we try to...I'm very sensitive about that because as you know my mother in law one time called me about that when I made cuts a few years ago there. So, but, like I said, I cannot pick and choose, to pick and choose would be the wrong thing here. It has to be somewhat across the board. And so that is also one of the things we are looking at."

To that I say across the board cuts? Where there is potential to loss of human life and where there is potential to witholding health services from a life that is to be the priority over all else. To do nothing short of that is immoral, unethical and unconstitutional.

Considerations

2009-05-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Aaron and I are considering different directions for Aidan's schooling. We are considering charter schools as well as looking at non public schools. It is not as though there are terrible teachers in the county programs. There are some very good ones. There is though a lack of the the things I find incredibly important like a 1:1 aide for kids who need them, inclusion and mainstreaming in regular classrooms during parts of the day and definitely lunch, recess with the other children. These aren't happening and I see some of these classes failing because of that fact. I think there is a lot to consider as we move forward and nothing is set in stone.

To every season....

2009-04-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

First some positive things to report: Aidan has been making more of reciprocal connections with us. Smiling and dancing while we imitate him and smile and dance and keep the interaction going. He even laughs in delight at this back and forth. It is awesome!

We just had a very very collaborative IEP with the school and I look forward to working with them to discuss placement in the upcoming month. Aidan is going into kindergarten and I am looking around at placements that would accomodate his needs.

Will update after the next IEP in May.

Private Practice Pushes Pharma

2009-01-12T19:27:00.001-08:00

There are a myriad of reasons why the episode of Private Practice that recently aired bothered me. It could be the lack of empathy from the doctors discussing a parent who chooses not to vaccinate but rather a discussion of the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics saying vaccines do not cause autism and perhaps we should report her to child protective services for not vaccinating. It could be the characterization of the mom and her child with autism. Mom whose comments ranged from autism stole his soul and he's not there anymore (FYI media and parents who think and speak this way: They are there! Everything is going in!!!) Believe it!!) . To mom ultimately looking like she is wholely responsible for her child's death and that her actions were negligent and uncaring and that her truths and reality were unsubstantiated (that vaccines cause autism.) Though I did like her statement to her pediatrician of I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU KNOW! I KNOW WHAT I KNOW! It could be the drastic action taken by her child's pediatrician after her son almost died from a severe onset of the measles when he went outside and with vaccine in hand poked her youngest unvaccinated son with the measles vaccine in self righteous indignation. I was aghast. In talking with other parents of children with autism who by the way mostly have children that are fully vaccinated they were hopeful the episode would translate into an onslaught of seeing how terrible this pediatrician was in his action of forcefully, unethically and without permission vaccinating a parent's younger child. Instead what has occurred is the public I hear through message boards and in general conversation not exposed to the world of autism is that people admired what the pediatrician did! People think the parent (mom) was out of line for choosing to not vaccinate her other children. People think that this mom was responsible for her son's death. This show and probably more shows and news segments to follow will aide in the desensitization of society to these untruths and more. It's sad and it's scary.

Change in the economy change in treatment plan

2009-01-12T19:16:00.000-08:00

Well the economy straight up sucks. Jobs are being lost. Wages are decreasing. Gas prices that had gone down are going back up. Times are tough all around. Nowhere I think is this more evident than in the world of autism or at least those who chose to do alternative treatment. We had been doing homeopathy or energetic homeopathy for a year or so but could simply no longer afford it. So we are now doing with our lil man something called homeotoxicology. We are in stage one which is stabilizing him. It's the first level and that name sounds so severe like trying to get a patient on the table stabelized and that's exactly what it is.

These are the stages and I am sure we have a road ahead of us. But that's okay. It's affordable and doable for us. I struggle with should I give straight up meds or no because that might be the easier road but for now we are sticking to this.

Phase I (Stabilize) with emotional support. Phase II is Vitalize where we build up the adrenals, neurotransmitter and gut support, Stage III is Neutralizing toxins from the outside-in, inside-out and Stage IV is Energize where the child is on a maintenance schedule customized for them.

To every season...

2008-08-14T19:27:00.001-07:00

Well I am no good at transitions. I'll tell you that's my big autistic trait I have all on my own. Perhaps my son does better than I do. We are both going to be transitioning to an ABA agency moving from one to another. I am scared. I am scared for Aidan but mostly scared for me. Not a fan of change. We are sad to have to leave one agency but it was better in the long run because we want to work with the school district as we may have to be good friends for years to come. Who knows what the future holds.

Also I am running for the school board. So if you live in Alta Loma Elementary School District, come this November vote for me!

Dr. Klinghardt Conference August 2008

2008-08-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

I have learned a great deal in the world of alternative medicine in the past several months. First there was the LIA Conference out of Indian Wells, CA and next this past weekend I attended the Dr Klinghardt Autism 2008 conference. Both gave such valuable information that is truly ground breaking.

Since I live in an area that has not "caught up" shall we say with where medicine is heading I try to simplify what I learn to not overwhelm parents.

Two points I feel are most crucial for a parent, their children and family are:

1.) Turn off all fuses at night: avoid noise and light pollution. You are creating melatonin DURING SLEEP to detox. MORE IMPORTANT than glutathione with good restful, HEALING sleep!

2.) Eat a purely organic diet with NO GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS!

I think those are the two statements best to give a parent and then when they have done the two above lets talk more and delve more into getting our families the healing they need.

Why What Savages Say Matters

2008-08-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

I went with my husband on a once every six months or so date last night. We went to see the movie Dark Knight. We love to watch the previews but one of the previews struck a cord with me and brought me to tears a bit. It was a preview for a movie called Blindness based on a book by Jose Saramago. The premise of the storyline is that certain random people are struck with blindness and because it cannot be understood these individuals are quarantined in a mental institution and for fear of their disease of unknown origin that is contagious they are left abandoned to defend themselves.

This struck a cord for me as a parent because I realize that in these times we are slowly as a society becoming desensitized to the need for understanding when we have a generation of children afflicted, in growing numbers, with another illness of unknown origin: autism. There are countless examples I can give of how select members of society have begun to treat families with autism with disdain, ignorant and uneducated comments, and downright hatred including acts of inhumanity. Some of the these include a teacher who wanted to vote a child with autism out of a class, a child asked to leave church, a toddler asked to leave a plane, and another told to leave a restaurant because they were making too much noise by a patron.

When we allow these voices of inhumanity to remain uninterrupted in this country against our families and our children, others begin to slowly and methodically believe what they say. At first a person not familiar with autism but perhaps believing it not right to talk about a person in a negative fashion might be stunned to hear words like "brat" about a child with autism. But maybe they tune in again and hear " What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, you idiot." Maybe that person wonders if there is any truth to those words.

They wonder if more kids with autism perhaps are father less or have a dad not included in their life. Maybe, they wonder, they could be faking it? Maybe they do need to toughen up? This is called slowly and methodically desensitizing a nation. I assure you it's happening right now.

So getting back to that preview for the movie Blindness and connecting it to autism, I realize there are two words that come to mind: fear and unknown. That is the connection. Blindness in this movie, like autism happens of unknown origin. We are not even close to understanding why our numbers in autism have increased so dramatically and continue to increase. For this reason fear begins to abound in society. Fear of a disease of unknown origin and fear of it's complete dominance and effect on everyone and everything. Fear creates scapegoats like our children with autism blamed for the ills of society. This extends to chaos and further acts of inhumanity. Ultimately if it gets the best of us it will lead to a breakdown in society.

I believe we are in dark times and I worry about the future for my five year old son Aidan. But I truly believe as a parent, a caregiver, a friend to children with autism we have a responsibility to educate society YES but also to SILENCE the SAVAGES of the world. I believe all of us are working pretty dang hard to understand what is yet unknown in autism. Of course we are not there yet. However when others are desensitized by a message of inhumanity and hate, it is our responsibility to our children and our family to shut it down!

If we don't do it now we need not be surprised in the coming years if that fate of those in the movie Blindness is the fate of our children as well. I plead with you fellow parents, fellow citizens to take action now. Take a stand against inhumanity. Take a stand against hate. Take a stand for the future of our children.

LIAF wants to encourage parents, friends, family, acquaintances and anyone you can think of, to take action on this issue. We as parents, caretakers and friends to children with autism need to be emailing Talk Radio Network and Clear Channel network and asking for Savage to be fired. Also add if he is not immediately fired, you and everyone you know will be contacting advertisers to pull support from TRN and Clear Channel. Savage's tactics are all about 'shock' and getting more listeners.
Tactics to Avoid: By calling in to the Savage show or by writing Savage requesting an apology you are adding fuel to his 'shock jock' fire! By taking time to try and educate the ignorant Savage you are adding fuel to his 'shock jock fire!' Writing local radio stations does little because they don't make any decisions on programming. Please these tactics are a waste of your time and energy.
Tactics we Recommend: Go to the top. Ask for the firing of Savage AKA human rights violator. Threaten their advertising dollars. If emailing the below supplies no reply then start finding out who the advertisers are on the Savage show and contact them. Tell advertisers to demand Savage be fired or you and your friends will not support or buy what they sell. Threaten the money trail. That is the way to make a change here. Make sure you aren't listening to ANY network that plays Savage on their station and make sure your families and friends do the same. Everything else is small potatoes.

Email addresses are here:
customerservice@TalkRadioNetwork.com

LLowryMays@clearchannel.com

MarkPMays@clearchannel.com

RandallTMays@clearchannel.com

We moved....and then moved again

2008-08-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

We moved to Riverside but ended up moving back to our home in Rancho Cucamonga. We ended up buying a home with a broker in Riverside who then declared bankruptcy and left us hanging so we quickly relocated back to Rancho Cucamonga. We are trying to make things right with the bank now but we have to get back in their good graces.

It's a long story but the bottom line we are back in our original home in Rancho Cucamonga. I think Aidan was a little distraught with the move back since we moved in such a short amount of time. His dad and I were too because moving just is stressful period.

We are attempting to move...Yeah in this crap market

2007-09-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

Well finances have gotten the better of us and we are trying to move. I guess I should say we had a plan when we moved here in 2004. The plan did not include or have knowledge of the word autism. I was going to get a job and go to work while Aidan went to preschool. So we made massive improvements and put a lot of money into making this our dream home. Prior to Diagnosis (or PTD) we put in a pool, spa, brand new Milguard windows, wood blinds (not faux, not that I have anything against the faux!) completely changed the landscaping of this home outside and in. We thought hey it will all work out we will have two incomes in a bit. Well you know the rest. I am a stay at home mom and my son is in an in home program. I don't trust many others in my home and those that I do are family. I can't expect family to be available for a full time schedule. So we are attempting to sell in this terrible market.

We will probably rent for awhile until we decide where we want to really move. More than likely we want to move out of California. Who knows? Where services are good is really all we care about. If you couldn't tell our son is our world.

Which brings me to another point. A few of my family members or extended family have asked why don't I go to work? We could put Aidan in daycare or a preschool where he is completely segregated with only children with autism in the school. Heck here in San Bernadino county schools are being BUILT on toxic land no less to house solely preschooler children with autism. They aren't even wanted in the regular schools anymore.

I will tell you why. Aaron and I would rather go bankrupt. We would rather live on the streets. We would rather lose everything we own (and we are heading that way). We are 100% committed to our son. His well being is our primary concern and always will be. He isn't a child who can go up to a teacher and say something is wrong. He couldn't tell me if he came home and was being hurt or abused. But here in my home at his tender young age if he is upset and has a certain cry or sounds I know what it means. There is no one that is more vested in Aidan than Aaron and I. We aren't willing to settle for ANYTHING less.

Does this mean I will never send him to school or that I trust no one else? Well we do intend to send him to kindergarten when is six years old. We do intend to bring along supports in the form of shadows and aides that we know and trust. But for the next two years of his life I will be here for him and nurturing him. That's my job. If nothing else respect the fact that I am doing what I know in my heart defines ME as a good parent to my son.

Hopeful for Homeopathy

2007-08-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

Prior to Aidan's appendix bursting or I should say at the beginning of July of 2007 we began to take Aidan to a homeopath. I have been reading after meeting with this homeopath the book Hope with Homeopathy. The book is wonderful and fascinating. I really respect the rich history of homeopathy and hope for a reawakening of it's purist methadology. Anyways the goal of homeopathy isn't to dissect a person as allopathic medicine does by treating solely the gut or soley the brain or solely the immune system. Rather the whole body is treated. What our homeopath saw was that Aidan is toxic. He created remedies (now stay with me I know some of you are scawling with prejudice!) to open the exit doors of certain organs in the body. We began with targeting the liver. After Aidan's bout with the appendix (to which we think he may have had "chronic appendicitis") we focused in on the stomach, gallbladder, intestines, kidneys (big for him and me!) etc. We today focused on a virus that he targeted as one causing a skin condition where there are flesh covered bumps (Aidan started having these while in the hospital and they went away and came back). The great thing about the homeopath we see or should I say one of the great things is that he encourages us to call when things come up for Aidan. When he was going in the hospital I called him and he knew we were going on dreaded antibiotics and such. I am actually starting to see some things that are small but are a start. I won't say they are solely attributed to homeopathy but definitely they are great things. He also goes to speech therapy at a wonderful place with wonderful women and a wonderful speech teacher so she definitely gets credit! But I am hearing sounds I haven't heard in a year ("t", "s", "c", "yeah"). I am picking up that he has more receptive language. When he doesn't want to do something or doesn't want something anymore he shakes his head "No" and usually right on cue! Seriously that is huge! He has been more playful purposefully with his Daddy especially. There are more things but I see us moving in the right direction thus far. Oh and Aidan is off all prescription and supplemental medications. He does now and again take some cod liver oil or probiotics but that is all. Gotta keep the faith and the hope! That's all we can do as we keep chugging along. I have faith in my guy. I know it's all going in...everything we say and everything we do. My hope is that soon and very soon we can see that point proven with it starting to come out more and more.

Aidan's Appendix

2007-08-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

Aidan's appendix burst in July of 2007. I had taken him into the ER on Sunday the 21st of July and asked them to do a CT scan because I felt the problem was the appendix. My mother had called me Saturday evening after 8 30 PM telling me his problems were quite possibly his appendix. Aidan was in bed for the night so I set off to research the appendix. He had all the symptoms of the problem originating in the appendix. He had been extremely lethargic all week, fever daily, no appetite, not wanting to drink, constipation etc. It had begun with vomitting early on the past week. I called the Nurse on call line and they said we should take him to the ER ASAP. So when he woke up on Sunday we went in to the ER and they chastised me for not giving him tylenol or motrin. His fever went up higher than it had been to 104. Aaron and I instead used cooling methods and got his fever down. The doctor came in and instead of going with what I said to him he tested for urinary tract infection. He did xrays and urine tests and blood work. All were fine except a high white blood count around 12 (9.3 normal). I asked again to do the CT Scan and he told me he thought it was viral and that was as far as he would take it. Aidan was up and walking around and so he thought he was not in pain and therefore it was not the appendix. I explained kids with autism some have a high tolerance for pain. Aidan did intermittenly act like he was in pain but it wasn't consistent. So were sent off with paperwork saying fever or unknown origin. He did ask me to follow up with the pediatrician. We went on that Monday to the pediatrician who felt his right side of his belly area and said he isn't hunched over in pain it is not the appendix. He saw his ear was pink and said I could put him on antibiotics. I said no I didn't want to do that. He concurred with the ER doctor that it was indeed viral. I explained the thing about autism and not being hunched over in pain..aka high pain tolerance. To appease me he ordered instead of CT scan an ultrasound to be done on the following morning. Meanwhile one big reason he and the ER doctor did not want to do the CT Scan was they thought he would require sedation being that Aidan would not sit still.

Tuesday we went in early AM for ultrasound. The physician radiologist was brought in and he said there was gas covering the appendix so he wanted to admit him to do a CT Scan. He was admitted into pediatrics around 10 AM. The CT Scan was done around 1 30 PM and we tried successfully without sedation. Note: CT Scans are very entertaining. Flaps are going round and round in see through glass and it is a great show! CT Scan showed inflammation but we were told again something was covering the appendix like inflammation. They ordered immediate appendectomy to remove appendix and also exploratory surgery to discover root of the inflammation there. Surgery was completed around 6 30 PM that evening and went on for an hour. The surgeon came out and said the appendix had indeed burst. It had burst probably 2-3 days prior. It has ruptured and it was behind a flap near the gut so most was protected from spreading and making the body septic. Aidan had a bit of an absess that they were draining and drained during his stay at the hospital which turned to eight days! He was put on morphin and was out of it for a few days. He also was given IV antibiotics and also IV tylenol.

I had asked the pediatric admitting department about putting a catheter on him prior to surgery. They said they don't normally need to do this in pediatrics. Well this later posed a problem as there is inflammation near and around the bladder and he was not voiding but urine was filling in the bladder. So it stretches and leaves room for kidney infection. They cathetered him beginning the next day ordered every eight hours. But he was voiding way too much urine for his size. Normal around is 150 CC and he was voiding at one time 400, 450, even 800 CC! And the wait time was not being honored of eight hours. So a urologist was ordered in and he said we should catheter every four hours. We did this for several days hoping things would turn around and he adminstered a drug for pain and we changed the pain med to ibprofun. Then we decided to keep the catheter in overnight completely. The next day we tried again with no success on his own. So we kept it in for about 26 hours I believe and finally that Tuesday the 31st of July he successfully and with much pain (eight days after surgery!) urinated on his own. We were all overjoyed for the pee! He was discharged after he napped around 7 or 8 PM that evening.

After releasal from the hospital Aidan was on oral antibiotics for another week. After these finished stims really seemed to increase. Lots more toe walking, eye stims/bulging, rubbing knuckles together etc. We saw the surgeon again for follow up a week later and I was concerned about pain because Aidan kept trying to touch the scar and he said well he just touched it and Aidan didn't wince in pain...obviously nothing learned on his part.

Oh and the scar...it's huge. Poor guy! I feel awful. The surgeon prior to surgery said it would be a few pokes that would heal up really nicely. Yeah NO...that is not at all what it is. It is one long gash across his small abdomen.

It was a long and painful chain of events. Near the end I could tell Aidan was growing depressed. He and I both were in a depression. Aaron his dad is a hero. He stayed by his side every night and most of the day. Aidan was very attached to him being there. Most nights though he had his own bed he slept with his son in bed. I loathe hospitals and definitely can't sleep in them with nurses coming in every few hours. This didn't bother Aaron at all. Sometimes it helps being such polar opposite in personalities for partners. I try to remember daily how much I honor and respect my husband for being such a wonderful Daddy to our lil man.... and to remember to show him that too!

No "Autism Epidemic"

2007-01-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

David Kirby

01.02.2007
There is no autism epidemic

It's been nearly two years since the release of my book, "Evidence of Harm, Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic - A Medical Controversy," and I continue to be vilified by critics who insist that mercury does not cause autism, that autism is a stable genetic condition, and that it cannot be an "epidemic."
I am going to declare a New Year's truce, and announce that my critics are 100 percent correct.
This year, I hope we can ALL agree on one thing: There is no autism epidemic.
Among my most spirited and articulate detractors is a group of adults with autism who belong to a movement that refers to itself as the "neurodiversity" community.
These adults argue passionately that autism is neither a disease nor a disorder, but rather a natural and special variation of the chance genetic imprint left upon human behavior. Most of them, I believe, have what science calls "Asperger's Syndrome," or very high functioning autism.
From their eloquent and well reasoned point of view, autism has no "cause," and it certainly requires no "cure." To suggest otherwise is to brand these adults with the stigma of disease and disability, which is patently absurd given their educational and intellectual achievements.
It's like saying that left-handers or gays are deviant and need treatment - something that reasonable people stopped doing years ago.
So maybe autism really is just an odd genetic peculiarity that yields atypical people whose own set of talents and gifts can lead to perfectly happy and fulfilled lives, with little or no dependence on others for their survival.
If that's the case, then autism has always been with us at some steady, but largely overlooked rate. Growing awareness and better diagnostics have certainly helped us identify and count more people with the condition, who might have been mislabeled as "quirky" or "nerdy" a decade ago.
But if that's autism, then the kids that I have met suffer from some other condition entirely. When I talk about "curing" autism, I am not talking about curing the "neurodiverse."
I am talking about kids who begin talking and then, suddenly, never say another word.
I'm talking about kids who may never learn to read, write, tie their shoes or fall in love.
I'm talking about kids who sometimes wail in torture at three in the morning because something inside them hurts like a burning coal, but they can't say what or where it is.
I'm talking about kids who can barely keep food in their inflamed, distressed guts, and when they do, it winds up in rivers of diarrhea or swirls of feces spread on a favorite carpet or pet (no one said this kind of "autism" was pretty).
I'm talking about kids who escape from their home in a blaze of alarms, only to be found hours later, freezing, alone and wandering the Interstate.
I'm talking about kids who have bitten their mother so hard and so often, they are on a first name basis at the emergency room.
I'm talking about kids who spin like fireworks until they fall and crack their heads, kids who will play with a pencil but not with their sister, kids who stare at nothing and scream at everything and don't even realize it when their dad comes home from work.
These are the kids I want to see cured. And I don't believe they have "autism."
Scientists tell us that 1-in-104 American boys are currently diagnosed with some form of autism spectrum disorder. But the mildest, "high functioning" forms of autism have seemingly little in common with the most severe or even moderate cases.
My hunch (and yes, that is all it is) is that most of these kids do not have "autism" at all, and it's probably time we started calling it something else.
American kids are in huge trouble. One in six has a learning disability. Asthma, diabetes, allergies and arthritis are ravaging their bodies in growing numbers. And little of this is due to "better diagnostics" or "greater awareness."
It can only be attributed to radical changes in our environment over the last 10-20 years. There is something, or more likely some things in our modern air, water, food and drugs that are making genetically susceptible children sick, and we need to find out what they are.
Mercury remains a logical candidate for contributing to "autism spectrum disorders," either alone or in combination with other environmental insults. Mercury exposure can kill brain cells. It can cause loss of speech and eye contact, digestive and immune dysfunction, social withdrawal and anxiety, and repetitive and self-injurious behaviors.
So maybe we should leave the autistics in peace and focus on these environmentally toxic kids and what it is that ails them.
Maybe what these kids have is not autism, but something like, say, "Environmentally-acquired Neuroimmune Disorder," which we could call E.N.D. (Great slogan: "Let's End E.N.D.).
Maybe that would explain why a recent CDC-funded study of the San Francisco Bay Area showed that kids with "autism" were 50% more likely to be born in neighborhoods with high levels of airborne toxins, especially mercury. If a second study underway in Baltimore yields similar data, it will be that much harder to defend the "better diagnosis" argument, (other studies have shown an association between autism rates and proximity to coal-fired power plants).
So maybe what we have here is just a semantic failure to communicate. Columbus thought he had met "Indians," and we only recently began to use the term "Native American."
Columbus was not in the Indies, mercury doesn't cause autism, and there is no autism epidemic.

Onto the Next Step

2006-12-20T15:06:00.000-08:00

Well mediation did not go so well. I put on my green sweater with my Christmas pin in the hopes that people would be softened. I displayed two pictures of my beautiful son with one at California Adventure with his father. It is a great picture as father and son are holding onto one another (son in a Buzz Lightyear costume as it was Halloween and my birthday) and gazing into eacher's arms both laughing and smiling at one another. The other was with Aidan smiling as he picked up snow at the LA County Fair this year. No one acknowledged my pictures and certainly no attention was paid to my desperate display of Christmas cheer. To put it plainly nothing was resolved. I really can't go into any more detail than that. So we press on to the next step where I hope soon issues will soon be resolved.

Gut Bacteria...Obesity....AUTISM????

2006-12-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

My son has loads of bad bacteria and little to no good bacteria and I am "beyond the ideal weight" and have been for many years (I loathethat word obese and even worse morbid.). On another note I fear yet again a "scapegoat" to blame autism on....obesity/fat...guess women that are "beyond the ideal weight" should be used to this as it is the "last allowable prejudice" in our society.

Gut Bacteria Tied to Weight Gain, Study Finds

By Rob Stein

Washington Post Staff WriterWednesday,

December 20, 2006; 4:08 PM

The guts of obese people are teeming with a distinctive mix of bacteria that seems to make them prone to gaining weight, a startling discovery that could lead to new ways to fight the obesity epidemic, researchers reported today.

Obese people have more gut microbes that are especially efficient at extracting calories from food, the researchers said, and the proportion of these super-digesting organisms ebbs as they lose weight. Moreover, when the scientists transplanted gut bugs from obese mice into lean mice, the thin animals start getting fat, providing more support for the provocative theory that the bacteria that populate the gut play an important role in regulating weight.

"There appears to be a link between obesity and the type of bugs in your gut," said Jeffrey I. Gordon of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, who led the series of experiments being published in tomorrow's issue of the journal Nature. "The difference in the structure of microbial ecology of our gut may set us up for susceptibility to obesity."
Gordon and his colleagues stressed that more work is needed to explore the findings. And they cautioned against trying to manipulate "gut flora" with antibiotics or microbe-containing "probiotic" pills sold in health food stores. But if the findings are confirmed and better understood, they could lead to profound new insights into one of the world's biggest health problems, they said.

"In the future, we could potentially manipulate the structure and function of these microbial societies as a new approach toward preventing and treating obesity," Gordon said.
The findings produced enthusiasm and caution from other researchers. Some praised the work for possibly offering a long-sought alternative explanation for the obesity epidemic. Perhaps some change, such as a food additive or antibiotic use, has caused a fundamental shift in gut flora, making it easier for many people to gain weight.

"This is very exciting," said Barbara Corkey, an obesity researcher at Boston University. "We don't know why the obesity epidemic is happening. People say it's because of gluttony and sloth. I think there must be something else. It's exciting to see some work being done on alternative explanations."

Others suspect that if gut microbes do play a role, it's probably relatively minor.
"This is extremely interesting," said Hans-Rudolf Berthoud of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La. "But lifestyle and the environment are still the major factors in the obesity epidemic."

On a broader level, the findings highlight the symbiotic relationship humans maintain with the trillions of microorganisms that populate our bodies, Gordon and others said.

"This strengthens the notion that the indigenous organisms in the human body are probably intimately involved in our health," said David A. Relman of Stanford University. "The ways they are involved remain unclear, but this underscores the idea that it behooves us to figure it out."
Scientists have long known that the human body is crawling with germs, primarily bacteria, which cover the skin and inhabit every orifice. By some estimates only one out of every 10 cells in the human body is actually human. These organisms perform a host of functions, especially in the gut, where they help digest food.

"There's growing interest in the idea that humans are more than just human cells," said Martin J. Blaser of New York University. "These cells are not just passengers. They are part of the human metabolism."

To explore the role of the organisms in weight regulation, Gordon's team first compared the gut flora of 12 obese people to lean subjects. The obese tended to have significantly greater proportion of one of the two main types of bacteria found in the gut, known as Firmicutes, than the other, known as Bacteroidetes.

Next, the researchers spent a year meticulously measuring the gut flora of the obese volunteers as they tried to lose weight by eating low-calorie diets that restricted either their fat or carbohydrates. As they lost weight, the proportion of Firmicutes fell and the proportion of Bacteroidetes rose, the researchers found.

When the researchers conducted detailed molecular analyses of the two types of bacteria in the laboratory, they discovered the Firmicutes were much better at extracting calories from food.

Moreover, when the researchers examined the gut flora of obese laboratory mice they found a similar pattern in their balance of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. And when they transferred gut flora from obese mice to sterile mice devoid of gut flora, the recipient animals tended to gain weight, confirming that pattern was associated with weight gain.

"This attribute of being able to harvest and store more energy appeared to be transmissible," Gordon said. "For the first time, we see that there is a correlation between the microbial gut ecology and the obese state."

Among other things, the findings could help explain why it becomes harder and harder to lose weight as people get fat, Gordon said.

"That's part of the pathology of obesity. When you shift the amount of fat tissue, the amount of energy you can harvest becomes somewhat greater, and that's going to fuel the obese state," he said.

The researchers acknowledged that the difference in the number of calories extracted by the microbes is relatively small. But over time even a small differential could be significant, they said.

Many questions remain, however. It's unclear what determines the make-up of a person's gut flora -- it might be the microbes they pick up from their mothers; it might be their exposure to antibiotics. It's also unclear how fat tissue and gut flora might communicate, and whether the change in gut bacteria causes or is a result of the weight loss.

Despite those and other questions, scientists said the finding are sure to inspire more investigation.

"They open up a completely new hypothesis," said Randy Seeley, an obesity researcher at the University of Cincinnati who wrote a commentary accompanying the research. "There are a lot of hurdles here that we have to deal with in terms of our basic understanding. But it's fascinating."