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You should inform the Learning Channel that most widespread illnesses

follow in the wake of major vaccination campaigns (I could give many

examples). The worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918-19 that killed 20

million had followed a major vaccination campaign that administered

anti-typhoid inoculations to hundreds of thousands, particularly to

soldiers, who experienced the worst of the fatalities and illnesses.

gary

Coalition For Informed Choice. Krasner, Director

PO Box 230426, Hollis, NY 11423

fax/phone: 718-479-2939, email: gk-cfic@...

" Protect your rights! Become an advocate and inform others "

On Sun, 21 Mar 1999 17:01:09 -0600 " J. Pucka " <jpuckadc@...> writes:

>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

>

>------=_NextPart_000_002F_01BE73BC.6AB75C00

>Content-Type: text/plain;

> charset= " iso-8859-1 "

>Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

>

>Here is a letter I sent to The Learning Channel. What do you think?

>If =

>you saw their documentary on the Flu Epidemic of 1918, send them your

>=

>comments. The history of the show was excellent, the vaccine stuff =

>really scared me. What are they thinking?????

>

>If you want to write them your comments: letters@...

>

>here is mine:

>Re: Real History

> " The Great Epidemic: A flu virus appeared in 1918 that killed 30 to

>50 =

>million people in just ten months. Now, using rare tissue samples from

>=

>victims, scientists are racing to develop a vaccine to ward off a =

>reoccurrence of this devastating killer. " =20

>

>

>To Whom it May Concern,

>I found through my web search that you are the sister company to TLC

>but =

>couldn't find an email address for TLC directly. I hope you will =

>forward my comments to the appropriate producers.=20

>Although I enjoyed the documentary about the Great Flu Epidemic, I

>found =

>it very pro vaccine oriented. This really disturbs me. This country

>is =

>becoming vaccine crazy and something needs to change soon.

>I feel that the documentary would have been A++ without the vaccine =

>issue included. =20

>Do you know what would happen if they did find a vaccine for that =

>particular flu strain, have you done your research?

>Why don't you put your energy into saving today's and tomorrow's =

>children instead? Research and do an " honest " documentary on

>vaccines, =

>their reactions, what they are composed of, why the government wants =

>them to be mandatory, etc.=20

>Hope to see something soon,=20

>

>Kim Pucka, mother of a mmr/dpt injured child (and my child's injury

>was =

>mild to the many I have met)

>

>PS Vaccine injuries are not rare, and when it happens to your family =

>your attitude will change. I would much rather lose 3-5 days caring

>for =

>a sick child that has the measles than to have to pay for =

>medical/education/respite for the rest of his life because he had a =

>severe reaction to the MMR.

>

>Thank you for listening. =20

>

>------=_NextPart_000_002F_01BE73BC.6AB75C00

>Content-Type: text/html;

> charset= " iso-8859-1 "

>Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

>

><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC " -//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN " >

><HTML>

><HEAD>

>

><META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 =

>http-equiv=3DContent-Type>

><META content=3D' " MSHTML 4.72.3110.7 " ' name=3DGENERATOR>

></HEAD>

><BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Here is a letter I sent to The =

>Learning=20

>Channel. & nbsp; What do you think? & nbsp; If you saw their documentary

>on =

>the Flu=20

>Epidemic of 1918, send them your comments. & nbsp; The history of the

>show =

>was=20

>excellent, the vaccine stuff really scared me. & nbsp; What are they=20

>thinking?????</FONT></DIV>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> & nbsp;</DIV>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>If you want to write them your =

>comments: <A=20

>href=3D " mailto:letters@... " >letters@...</A></FONT></DIV=

>>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> & nbsp;</DIV>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>here is mine:</FONT></DIV>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Re: & nbsp; Real History<BR> & quot;

>The =

>Great=20

>Epidemic: A flu virus appeared in 1918 that killed 30 to 50 million =

>people in=20

>just ten months. Now, using rare tissue samples from victims,

>scientists =

>are=20

>racing to develop a vaccine to ward off a reoccurrence of this =

>devastating=20

>killer. & quot; <BR></FONT></DIV>

><DIV> & nbsp;</DIV>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000>To Whom it May Concern,</FONT></DIV>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000>I found through my web search that you are

>=

>the sister=20

>company to TLC but couldn't find an email address for TLC =

>directly. & nbsp; I hope=20

>you will forward my comments to the appropriate producers.

></FONT></DIV>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT>Although I enjoyed the documentary =

>about the=20

>Great Flu Epidemic, I found it very pro vaccine oriented. & nbsp; This =

>really=20

>disturbs me. & nbsp; This country is becoming vaccine crazy and

>something =

>needs to=20

>change soon.</DIV>

><DIV>I feel that the documentary would have been A++ without the

>vaccine =

>issue=20

>included. & nbsp; </DIV>

><DIV>Do you know what would happen if they did find a vaccine for

>that=20

>particular flu strain, have you done your research?</DIV>

><DIV>Why don't you put your energy into saving today's and tomorrow's

>=

>children=20

>instead? & nbsp; Research and do an & quot;honest & quot; documentary on =

>vaccines,=20

>their reactions, what they are composed of, why the government wants =

>them to be=20

>mandatory, etc. </DIV>

><DIV>Hope to see something soon, </DIV>

><DIV> & nbsp;</DIV>

><DIV>Kim Pucka, mother of a mmr/dpt injured child (and my child's

>injury =

>was=20

>mild to the many I have met)</DIV>

><DIV> & nbsp;</DIV>

><DIV>PS Vaccine injuries are not rare, and when it happens to your =

>family your=20

>attitude will change. & nbsp; I would much rather lose 3-5 days caring

>for =

>a sick=20

>child that has the measles than to have to pay for =

>medical/education/respite for=20

>the rest of his life because he had a severe reaction to the

>MMR.</DIV>

><DIV> & nbsp;</DIV>

><DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Thank you for listening. & nbsp;=20

></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

>

>------=_NextPart_000_002F_01BE73BC.6AB75C00--

>

>

___________________________________________________________________

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  • 1 year later...
Guest guest

Carolyn,

It sounds like your brother needs to grow up. He's obviously in denial

but it seems he does care for you deep down. It must really upset him to hear

about your problems. If he doesn't want to hear about you, what does he do

just talk about himself? I can't understand why people stop talking to their

loved ones who are sick. It doesn't make any sense to me. I wish you the best!

^,,^

>:<

**** @lison

" I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and doggone it, people like me " ~ Stuart

Smalley

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Guest guest

I don't know what happened. I clicked reply and it sent something. Sorry!

Dear One

Thank you for the reply. You have given me much to thiink about and the

insentive to probe into the relationship of brother and sister. I'm going to

take my time and try to evaluate the situation fairly. When I first became

so ill it seemed to really upset him.Then I came out of it all right. I

think, he thinks that I'm an alarmist. He doesn't understand that everytime

I call for help it IS a matter of life and death. Very few people understand

this. When heart and lungs are involved and brain it can be fatal. very

quickly. Or am I all wet believing this?

Sid's out of town all this week . It is so peaceful here. has taken

some vacation time and working 1/2 days to be with me. We do what we want

and eat what and when we want and the Warden isn't watching over us.

GREAT!!!!!!!!!

I hope you are having a good day.

Hugs and Love Carolyn

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Guest guest

What do you think?

<<I have a brother that lives in Colorado.

......

Anyway, He gets in touch with me now on a regular basis, but will not discuss any thing health related.

Do you consider this a I'm not your friend kind of thing or a denial kind of thing? >>

Hi Carolyn,

I'm afraid that I cannot offer much advice, but I can tell you what happened in my family when my mum was diagnosed with a liver tumour, possible liver cancer:

First, I have 2 elder sisters, one of them is Stacey. When the news was released, we were all very shocked, and felt really terrible. I cried, but Stacey cried more than anyone else. Sbsequently, whenever we accompany my mum for her doctor visits, Stacey just refuses to accompany my mum, and will lose her temper if we ask her to.I am not angry over that of course, but my thinking is that she is probably afraid that she may end up hearing some bad news at the doctor's. Yet, we all know that she is really very filial and cares about my mum.

Thus, my thoughts are that your brother does care about you, but he, in my opinion, is in some stage of denial, unable to accept the truth about your condition. The fact that he still continues to keep in contact although he avoids health issues shows that.It may be just that some people show their concern in different ways.

Just my thoughts,

Ling

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Guest guest

No problem! Hope I was of help!

Hugs, Ling

<<Thank you LingI kind of lean that way in my thinking also. I know he cares but doesn't want to face it, or think about it.HugsCarolyn>>

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  • 7 years later...

In a message dated 12/16/2007 12:47:44 P.M. Central Standard Time,

egskb@... writes:

Osborn, the president and chief executive of BBDO New York, said

the effort was intended to increase the sense of urgency about the

diseases and encourage conversation

I first read of this campaign from a U.K. website of Moms with adult Aspies

who have been detained in the British mental health system. They provided

some additional interesting information about Dr. Koplewicz and BBDO, as

follows:

Dr. Koplewicz was a co-author of a discredited report that had made false

claims about the findings of a pediatric trial testing Paxil, study # 329: That

report misled doctors by stating the drug was found to be " well tolerated

and effective " for children. The authors' false claims were refuted by the drug

manufacturer's internal memorandum indicating that only the positive data

from study 329 would be published--not the negative findings.

The evidence that the report about study 329 was false led (then) NYS

Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, to file suit against GlaxoKline, for

concealing the negative findings.

" THE New York office of BBDO Worldwide makes a belated entrance this week

into one of the advertising industry's more lucrative categories with the

creation of a division dedicated to pitching prescription drugs directly to

consumers. " The New York Times: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: BBDO Worldwide enters the

lucrative category of marketing prescription drugs to consumers. by COURTNEY

KANE

February 20, 2003.

It is clear that psychiatry considers ASD a " disease " , as per Dr.

Levanthal's quote:

L. Leventhal, a professor of psychiatry at the University of

Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, said he understood the parents'

dismay. " We live in a world where people are still defensive about

having a psychiatric illness or having a child with psychiatric

illnesses, " he said. " But I think it's a very bold campaign. I think

the ads speak to the point that these are real diseases and if you

don't do something they can consume your child.

What is the " do something " ?? Psychiatric medications, of course. It is

just another consumer campaign for folks to run to their psychiatrists and ask

for drug therapy. Do you know any psychiatrists who recommend other

treatments beside the prescription they hand you?

I believe that autism is a medical condition that can be improved by

nutrition and biomedical treatments (and, yes, in some young ones, these

treatments

can " cure " ASD). Advertising campaigns that seek to promote autism as a

" disease " and/or " psychiatric illness " can serve no purpose other than to

increase pharmaceutical prescriptions and profit. I agree with Etlinger

in

the article:

" It's a legitimate claim that children with disabilities are

vulnerable enough as it is, " said Ms. Etlinger, whose 4-year-old son

has mild autism. " I think we need to take special care that they're

not further stigmatized.

Withers

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I think it may have the shock value to get the general public to realize the

enormity of the autism epidemic. If it helps get more public funds and

private donations directed to helping the autism community then its probably a

good thing. However, I do see how people can find the ads offensive and/or

demeaning...and then there is the discussion of autism as a " psychiatric

disorder " which most people argue against...

While it is sometimes said that there is no such thing as bad publicity, it

seems this ad campaign is at least bordering on bad taste...

**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

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Thanks, for the additional information and for sharing your

perspective.

To be honest...I am on the fence on this one...It does sound like the

possibility of collusion with the pharmaceutical industry might exist.

I am not sure how I feel about the campaign in regard to how it addresses

autism...there is a fine line between " medical " condition and disease...as for

psychiatric illness...I think we all know that autism is not about that...and

yes...psychiatrists are mostly in the business of prescribing meds...

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: What do you think?

In a message dated 12/16/2007 12:47:44 P.M. Central Standard Time,

egskb@... writes:

Osborn, the president and chief executive of BBDO New York, said

the effort was intended to increase the sense of urgency about the

diseases and encourage conversation

I first read of this campaign from a U.K. website of Moms with adult Aspies

who have been detained in the British mental health system. They provided

some additional interesting information about Dr. Koplewicz and BBDO, as

follows:

Dr. Koplewicz was a co-author of a discredited report that had made false

claims about the findings of a pediatric trial testing Paxil, study # 329:

That

report misled doctors by stating the drug was found to be " well tolerated

and effective " for children. The authors' false claims were refuted by the

drug

manufacturer's internal memorandum indicating that only the positive data

from study 329 would be published--not the negative findings.

The evidence that the report about study 329 was false led (then) NYS

Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, to file suit against GlaxoKline, for

concealing the negative findings.

" THE New York office of BBDO Worldwide makes a belated entrance this week

into one of the advertising industry's more lucrative categories with the

creation of a division dedicated to pitching prescription drugs directly to

consumers. " The New York Times: THE MEDIA BUSINESS: BBDO Worldwide enters the

lucrative category of marketing prescription drugs to consumers. by COURTNEY

KANE

February 20, 2003.

It is clear that psychiatry considers ASD a " disease " , as per Dr.

Levanthal's quote:

L. Leventhal, a professor of psychiatry at the University of

Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, said he understood the parents'

dismay. " We live in a world where people are still defensive about

having a psychiatric illness or having a child with psychiatric

illnesses, " he said. " But I think it's a very bold campaign. I think

the ads speak to the point that these are real diseases and if you

don't do something they can consume your child.

What is the " do something " ?? Psychiatric medications, of course. It is

just another consumer campaign for folks to run to their psychiatrists and ask

for drug therapy. Do you know any psychiatrists who recommend other

treatments beside the prescription they hand you?

I believe that autism is a medical condition that can be improved by

nutrition and biomedical treatments (and, yes, in some young ones, these

treatments

can " cure " ASD). Advertising campaigns that seek to promote autism as a

" disease " and/or " psychiatric illness " can serve no purpose other than to

increase pharmaceutical prescriptions and profit. I agree with Etlinger

in

the article:

" It's a legitimate claim that children with disabilities are

vulnerable enough as it is, " said Ms. Etlinger, whose 4-year-old son

has mild autism. " I think we need to take special care that they're

not further stigmatized.

Withers

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Thanks, .

I think that is why I passed this on to the group.

It left me with that proverbial " bad taste " in my mouth.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: What do you think?

I think it may have the shock value to get the general public to realize the

enormity of the autism epidemic. If it helps get more public funds and

private donations directed to helping the autism community then its probably a

good thing. However, I do see how people can find the ads offensive and/or

demeaning...and then there is the discussion of autism as a " psychiatric

disorder " which most people argue against...

While it is sometimes said that there is no such thing as bad publicity, it

seems this ad campaign is at least bordering on bad taste...

**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

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I agree with you Ellen. I wonder what my brother with high functioning

autism and my nephew with Asperger's would think. There has to be a better way

to get the word out. Nora

In a message dated 12/16/2007 4:32:48 P.M. Central Standard Time,

egskb@... writes:

Thanks, .

I think that is why I passed this on to the group.

It left me with that proverbial " bad taste " in my mouth.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

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This is one of the ways I can see self-advocacy becoming a powerful means of

both boosting self-esteem and educating the community...as Kathy Snow says...we

need the community to presume competence. I would say we need the community to

acknowledge the humanity of every individual.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: What do you think?

I agree with you Ellen. I wonder what my brother with high functioning

autism and my nephew with Asperger's would think. There has to be a better way

to get the word out. Nora

In a message dated 12/16/2007 4:32:48 P.M. Central Standard Time,

egskb@... writes:

Thanks, .

I think that is why I passed this on to the group.

It left me with that proverbial " bad taste " in my mouth.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

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Well, I want to play the devil's advocate for a minute.

We've tried all kinds of things to let people know that ASD is

serious. We've been ignored more than we should have been.

I think the advertising campaign is an extreme measure, and sometimes

extreme circumstances call for extreme measures.

And THAT'S where the devil's advocate piece falls apart. Extreme

measures are only morally justifiable if a solution is available.

This extreme measure may well make the situation worse for many people

with ASD, while offering no solution -- unless the controversy

unleashed because of the advertising campaign serves to fuel changes

in attitude and treatment. Controversy was probably not the intent of

the campaign, but if we can turn it to the benefit of people with

autism, it might be for the better.

Can a badly-done campaign result in something good? Maybe, if we

respond appropriately -- perhaps with a similar campaign.

Jean

thinking more about this...

On Dec 17, 2007 8:50 AM, Ellen Bronfeld <egskb@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

>

> This is one of the ways I can see self-advocacy becoming a powerful means of

> both boosting self-esteem and educating the community...as Kathy Snow

> says...we need the community to presume competence. I would say we need the

> community to acknowledge the humanity of every individual.

> Ellen

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

> egskb@...

>

> Re: What do you think?

>

> I agree with you Ellen. I wonder what my brother with high functioning

> autism and my nephew with Asperger's would think. There has to be a better

> way

> to get the word out. Nora

>

> In a message dated 12/16/2007 4:32:48 P.M. Central Standard Time,

> egskb@... writes:

>

> Thanks, .

> I think that is why I passed this on to the group.

> It left me with that proverbial " bad taste " in my mouth.

> Ellen

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

>

> **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

> (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

>

>

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Always good to consider the flip side...any ideas for how to turn this into a

positive community awareness campaign? What should our response be?

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: What do you think?

>

> I agree with you Ellen. I wonder what my brother with high functioning

> autism and my nephew with Asperger's would think. There has to be a better

> way

> to get the word out. Nora

>

> In a message dated 12/16/2007 4:32:48 P.M. Central Standard Time,

> egskb@... writes:

>

> Thanks, .

> I think that is why I passed this on to the group.

> It left me with that proverbial " bad taste " in my mouth.

> Ellen

> Ellen Garber Bronfeld

>

> **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

> (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

>

>

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If we took this attitude towards people that are blind or do not have

the use of their limbs etc. we would have lost so many positive

contributions by them to our society. Whether they contribute in the

business world, in the arts, scientific community etc., " a visibly

disabled person is not held hostage by a disease " . They have been able

to live productively due to the accommodations we have given their

specific situations.

For example:

Putting up a split billboard that show a visually disabled person in a

wheel chair able to use the bus to get to work on one side. On the

other half show a person with Asperger's standing next to the open

door of a bus with a question mark over their head. Then place text at

the bottom asking " Do you know which person has the disability "

Anything to show that people with visible and non-visible disabilities

both need assistance so they can contribute to society. This is just a

starting point. I'm sure any good advertising agency can some up with

a campaign to address the point.

>

> Hi all:

> I am curious to hear from our members on this...

> Read the following if you have the time and perhaps we can debate

> back and forth a little about how this influences the public

> perception of disability and mental illness.

> Ellen

>

> Campaign on Childhood Mental Illness Succeeds at Being Provocative

> New York University Child Study Center

> The campaign began in magazines as well as on kiosks and billboards

> around New York City.

>

>

>

>

> By JOANNE KAUFMAN

> Published: December 14, 2007

> We have your son. We will make sure he will no longer be able to care

> for himself or interact socially as long as he lives.

>

>

>

> SO reads one of the six " ransom notes " that make up a provocative

> public service campaign introduced this week by the New York

> University Child Study Center to raise awareness of what Dr. Harold

> S. Koplewicz, the center's founder and director, called " the silent

> public health epidemic of children's mental illness. "

>

> Produced pro bono by BBDO, an Omnicom agency that worked on two

> previous campaigns for the Child Study Center, the campaign features

> scrawled and typed communiqués as well as simulations of classic

> ransom notes, composed of words clipped from a newspaper.

>

> In addition to autism, there are ominous threats concerning

> depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit

> hyperactivity disorder, Asperger's syndrome and bulimia. The

> campaign's overarching theme is that 12 million children " are held

> hostage by a psychiatric disorder. "

>

> The public service announcements began running this week in New York

> magazine and Newsweek as well as on kiosks, billboards and

> construction sites around New York City.

>

> " Children's mental disorders are truly the last great public health

> problem that has been left unaddressed, " said Dr. Koplewicz,

> adding: " It's like with AIDS. Everyone needs to be concerned and

> informed. "

>

> In some quarters, however, the campaign has raised hackles as much as

> awareness. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a national grass-roots

> organization of children and adults, is circulating a petition asking

> the Child Study Center to end the campaign.

>

> a Chew, founder of the blog Autism Vox, which has a link to

> the petition, says that " the reaction has been mostly outrage from

> parents of special-needs children, autistic adults, teachers,

> disability rights advocates and mental health professionals. "

>

> " It's rallied them around one issue, and these aren't people who

> normally agree about treating autism, " said Ms. Chew, who lives in

> Bernards Township, N.J., and has a 10-year-old son with autism. She

> says her blog attracts 3,000 to 4,000 visitors a day; traffic is up a

> third since the campaign was introduced, she said.

>

> " It emphasizes a lot of negative aspects, " she said. " To say that

> autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these

> conditions are part of a criminal element. I'm not saying it's easy

> to have an autistic child, but it could be framed in a more positive

> way. "

>

> Vicki Forman, an adjunct professor of creative writing at the

> University of Southern California whose 7-year-old son is blind and

> nonverbal, learned about the campaign on Ms. Chew's blog and said it

> made her distraught. " The idea of an autistic person being held

> hostage is a very disturbing and backward image, " she said. " Rather

> than promote public awareness, this reinforces stereotypes — that

> there is something damaged about the autistic person, something in

> need of a repair. "

>

> According to Dr. Koplewicz, the campaign was inspired by filmed

> conversations of parents and children talking about life with a

> psychiatric disorder. " These families felt their children were

> trapped by their disorders, " he said.

>

> Osborn, the president and chief executive of BBDO New York, said

> the effort was intended to increase the sense of urgency about the

> diseases and encourage conversation. " It's tricky because there are a

> lot of messages in the air, particularly at holiday time. That makes

> it a challenge to cut through the clutter. "

>

> BBDO's earlier ads for the Child Study Center — which included images

> of a child running happily through a sprinkler and a drawing of a

> child caught in a maze — " were wonderful, but they didn't get this

> kind of attention from anyone, " Dr. Koplewicz said. " They were too

> pleasant and innocuous. That's the reason we decided to go along with

> BBDO. "

>

> He was further emboldened, he said, by the reaction of focus groups

> of women whose children have the disorders mentioned in the

> ads. " Everyone who participated felt the ads were informative, " he

> said. " While we knew the campaign was edgy and we knew it would be

> harsh and upsetting, the facts of mental illness are even more

> upsetting.

>

> " I am disappointed. I thought the people we'd be arguing with are the

> people who believe psychiatric illness doesn't exist " or those who

> believe children are being overmedicated, he said.

>

> " I thought we'd be fighting ignorance. I didn't think we'd be

> fighting adult patients or the parents of patients whose feelings

> have been hurt. "

>

> Etlinger of San Francisco is one such parent, but she maintains

> that hers is " not the P.C. outcry of an offended parent. "

>

> " It's a legitimate claim that children with disabilities are

> vulnerable enough as it is, " said Ms. Etlinger, whose 4-year-old son

> has mild autism. " I think we need to take special care that they're

> not further stigmatized. This campaign characterizes them as a series

> of symptoms rather than as the unique people they are. "

>

> L. Leventhal, a professor of psychiatry at the University of

> Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, said he understood the parents'

> dismay. " We live in a world where people are still defensive about

> having a psychiatric illness or having a child with psychiatric

> illnesses, " he said. " But I think it's a very bold campaign. I think

> the ads speak to the point that these are real diseases and if you

> don't do something they can consume your child. "

>

> Dr. Koplewicz said he had not considered jettisoning the campaign,

> but there was some discussion about dropping its two most

> controversial components: the autism and Asperger's ads.

>

> He decided to retain the ads after conferring with colleagues whose

> attitude, he said, " was that some people would be upset but that we

> should stick with it and ride out the storm. "

>

> " We're going to see how it goes in New York, " Dr. Koplewicz said. " If

> it goes well, we're going to go to four other cities. "

>

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Here's the part that got me:

In addition to autism, there are ominous threats concerning

depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit

hyperactivity disorder, Asperger's syndrome and bulimia. The

campaign's overarching theme is that 12 million children " are held

hostage by a psychiatric disorder. "

This is not the first time in recent months that I've seen autism or Asperger's

tossed into a list with mental illnesses and called such. Does is really help

folks be patient and tolerant with people with those labels (let alone ADHD)

when it's considered a " psychiatric disorder " ? I don't know.

A lot of people are just as hung up on psychiatric illnesses as on developmental

disabilities, but contrary to the design of the ad campaign, I think it might

INCREASE the number of those who think developmental disabilities can be cured

with medication and time with a psychologist.

Now that I've reacted, I'll go read the other posts on this topic and see what

you're all saying.

-Gail

---------------------------------

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Hi Pat,

I'm tempted to quibble with you about Leventhal, whose reputation is known to me

through what my son's private speech therapist's high opinion of him, through

friends whose son sees him regularly, and through brief contact with the man

myself. He's highly respected, especially on topics related to kids and autism.

I interpreted Leventhal's " doing something " to not be medication alone or

medication always, but rather as a way of saying that getting a label on a child

doesn't mean the job is done. There are folks out there with kids on the autism

spectrum who think that therapies either don't exist or don't make a difference.

Correcting THAT misconception would be worth an ad campaign, I think.

-Gail

Patswithers@... wrote:

It is clear that psychiatry considers ASD a " disease " , as per Dr.

Levanthal's quote:

L. Leventhal, a professor of psychiatry at the University of

Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, said he understood the parents'

dismay. " We live in a world where people are still defensive about

having a psychiatric illness or having a child with psychiatric

illnesses, " he said. " But I think it's a very bold campaign. I think

the ads speak to the point that these are real diseases and if you

don't do something they can consume your child.

What is the " do something " ?? Psychiatric medications, of course. It is

just another consumer campaign for folks to run to their psychiatrists and ask

for drug therapy. Do you know any psychiatrists who recommend other

treatments beside the prescription they hand you?

---------------------------------

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Excellent suggestion...

Anyone in advertising care to do a little pro bono work???

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: What do you think?

If we took this attitude towards people that are blind or do not have

the use of their limbs etc. we would have lost so many positive

contributions by them to our society. Whether they contribute in the

business world, in the arts, scientific community etc., " a visibly

disabled person is not held hostage by a disease " . They have been able

to live productively due to the accommodations we have given their

specific situations.

For example:

Putting up a split billboard that show a visually disabled person in a

wheel chair able to use the bus to get to work on one side. On the

other half show a person with Asperger's standing next to the open

door of a bus with a question mark over their head. Then place text at

the bottom asking " Do you know which person has the disability "

Anything to show that people with visible and non-visible disabilities

both need assistance so they can contribute to society. This is just a

starting point. I'm sure any good advertising agency can some up with

a campaign to address the point.

>

> Hi all:

> I am curious to hear from our members on this...

> Read the following if you have the time and perhaps we can debate

> back and forth a little about how this influences the public

> perception of disability and mental illness.

> Ellen

>

> Campaign on Childhood Mental Illness Succeeds at Being Provocative

> New York University Child Study Center

> The campaign began in magazines as well as on kiosks and billboards

> around New York City.

>

>

>

>

> By JOANNE KAUFMAN

> Published: December 14, 2007

> We have your son. We will make sure he will no longer be able to care

> for himself or interact socially as long as he lives.

>

>

>

> SO reads one of the six " ransom notes " that make up a provocative

> public service campaign introduced this week by the New York

> University Child Study Center to raise awareness of what Dr. Harold

> S. Koplewicz, the center's founder and director, called " the silent

> public health epidemic of children's mental illness. "

>

> Produced pro bono by BBDO, an Omnicom agency that worked on two

> previous campaigns for the Child Study Center, the campaign features

> scrawled and typed communiqués as well as simulations of classic

> ransom notes, composed of words clipped from a newspaper.

>

> In addition to autism, there are ominous threats concerning

> depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit

> hyperactivity disorder, Asperger's syndrome and bulimia. The

> campaign's overarching theme is that 12 million children " are held

> hostage by a psychiatric disorder. "

>

> The public service announcements began running this week in New York

> magazine and Newsweek as well as on kiosks, billboards and

> construction sites around New York City.

>

> " Children's mental disorders are truly the last great public health

> problem that has been left unaddressed, " said Dr. Koplewicz,

> adding: " It's like with AIDS. Everyone needs to be concerned and

> informed. "

>

> In some quarters, however, the campaign has raised hackles as much as

> awareness. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a national grass-roots

> organization of children and adults, is circulating a petition asking

> the Child Study Center to end the campaign.

>

> a Chew, founder of the blog Autism Vox, which has a link to

> the petition, says that " the reaction has been mostly outrage from

> parents of special-needs children, autistic adults, teachers,

> disability rights advocates and mental health professionals. "

>

> " It's rallied them around one issue, and these aren't people who

> normally agree about treating autism, " said Ms. Chew, who lives in

> Bernards Township, N.J., and has a 10-year-old son with autism. She

> says her blog attracts 3,000 to 4,000 visitors a day; traffic is up a

> third since the campaign was introduced, she said.

>

> " It emphasizes a lot of negative aspects, " she said. " To say that

> autism or bulimia has kidnapped a child suggests that these

> conditions are part of a criminal element. I'm not saying it's easy

> to have an autistic child, but it could be framed in a more positive

> way. "

>

> Vicki Forman, an adjunct professor of creative writing at the

> University of Southern California whose 7-year-old son is blind and

> nonverbal, learned about the campaign on Ms. Chew's blog and said it

> made her distraught. " The idea of an autistic person being held

> hostage is a very disturbing and backward image, " she said. " Rather

> than promote public awareness, this reinforces stereotypes - that

> there is something damaged about the autistic person, something in

> need of a repair. "

>

> According to Dr. Koplewicz, the campaign was inspired by filmed

> conversations of parents and children talking about life with a

> psychiatric disorder. " These families felt their children were

> trapped by their disorders, " he said.

>

> Osborn, the president and chief executive of BBDO New York, said

> the effort was intended to increase the sense of urgency about the

> diseases and encourage conversation. " It's tricky because there are a

> lot of messages in the air, particularly at holiday time. That makes

> it a challenge to cut through the clutter. "

>

> BBDO's earlier ads for the Child Study Center - which included images

> of a child running happily through a sprinkler and a drawing of a

> child caught in a maze - " were wonderful, but they didn't get this

> kind of attention from anyone, " Dr. Koplewicz said. " They were too

> pleasant and innocuous. That's the reason we decided to go along with

> BBDO. "

>

> He was further emboldened, he said, by the reaction of focus groups

> of women whose children have the disorders mentioned in the

> ads. " Everyone who participated felt the ads were informative, " he

> said. " While we knew the campaign was edgy and we knew it would be

> harsh and upsetting, the facts of mental illness are even more

> upsetting.

>

> " I am disappointed. I thought the people we'd be arguing with are the

> people who believe psychiatric illness doesn't exist " or those who

> believe children are being overmedicated, he said.

>

> " I thought we'd be fighting ignorance. I didn't think we'd be

> fighting adult patients or the parents of patients whose feelings

> have been hurt. "

>

> Etlinger of San Francisco is one such parent, but she maintains

> that hers is " not the P.C. outcry of an offended parent. "

>

> " It's a legitimate claim that children with disabilities are

> vulnerable enough as it is, " said Ms. Etlinger, whose 4-year-old son

> has mild autism. " I think we need to take special care that they're

> not further stigmatized. This campaign characterizes them as a series

> of symptoms rather than as the unique people they are. "

>

> L. Leventhal, a professor of psychiatry at the University of

> Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, said he understood the parents'

> dismay. " We live in a world where people are still defensive about

> having a psychiatric illness or having a child with psychiatric

> illnesses, " he said. " But I think it's a very bold campaign. I think

> the ads speak to the point that these are real diseases and if you

> don't do something they can consume your child. "

>

> Dr. Koplewicz said he had not considered jettisoning the campaign,

> but there was some discussion about dropping its two most

> controversial components: the autism and Asperger's ads.

>

> He decided to retain the ads after conferring with colleagues whose

> attitude, he said, " was that some people would be upset but that we

> should stick with it and ride out the storm. "

>

> " We're going to see how it goes in New York, " Dr. Koplewicz said. " If

> it goes well, we're going to go to four other cities. "

>

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Good point.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: What do you think?

Here's the part that got me:

In addition to autism, there are ominous threats concerning

depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit

hyperactivity disorder, Asperger's syndrome and bulimia. The

campaign's overarching theme is that 12 million children " are held

hostage by a psychiatric disorder. "

This is not the first time in recent months that I've seen autism or

Asperger's tossed into a list with mental illnesses and called such. Does is

really help folks be patient and tolerant with people with those labels (let

alone ADHD) when it's considered a " psychiatric disorder " ? I don't know.

A lot of people are just as hung up on psychiatric illnesses as on

developmental disabilities, but contrary to the design of the ad campaign, I

think it might INCREASE the number of those who think developmental disabilities

can be cured with medication and time with a psychologist.

Now that I've reacted, I'll go read the other posts on this topic and see what

you're all saying.

-Gail

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

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Share on other sites

I should have been quick to defend Dr. Leventhal, who I also know.

I do believe Gail's interpretation is likely to be correct.

He is one of the good guys...

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: What do you think?

Hi Pat,

I'm tempted to quibble with you about Leventhal, whose reputation is known to

me through what my son's private speech therapist's high opinion of him, through

friends whose son sees him regularly, and through brief contact with the man

myself. He's highly respected, especially on topics related to kids and autism.

I interpreted Leventhal's " doing something " to not be medication alone or

medication always, but rather as a way of saying that getting a label on a child

doesn't mean the job is done. There are folks out there with kids on the autism

spectrum who think that therapies either don't exist or don't make a difference.

Correcting THAT misconception would be worth an ad campaign, I think.

-Gail

Patswithers@... wrote:

It is clear that psychiatry considers ASD a " disease " , as per Dr.

Levanthal's quote:

L. Leventhal, a professor of psychiatry at the University of

Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, said he understood the parents'

dismay. " We live in a world where people are still defensive about

having a psychiatric illness or having a child with psychiatric

illnesses, " he said. " But I think it's a very bold campaign. I think

the ads speak to the point that these are real diseases and if you

don't do something they can consume your child.

What is the " do something " ?? Psychiatric medications, of course. It is

just another consumer campaign for folks to run to their psychiatrists and ask

for drug therapy. Do you know any psychiatrists who recommend other

treatments beside the prescription they hand you?

---------------------------------

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

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Share on other sites

In a message dated 12/17/2007 12:24:03 P.M. Central Standard Time,

mrsovaltine@... writes:

He's highly respected, especially on topics related to kids and autism.

I would take issue with any professional involved with my son's therapy who

considers autism a psychiatric illness or a " real disease " . If your

experience and that of your friends with Dr. Leventhal has been beneficial,

then

blessings to you all. I doubt society's attitude and awareness of ASD will be

improved by campaigns that validate autism as a " pathological condition " or " a

condition regarded as abnormal " by respected professionals. How does that

help the community see the value and worth of our children?

disease:

1. A pathological condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism

resulting from various causes, such as infection, genetic defect, or

environmental

stress, and characterized by an identifiable group of signs or symptoms.

2. A condition or tendency, as of society, regarded as abnormal and harmful

Withers

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I have read most of the posts and would not like to 'be on the fence' about

the psychological vs medical debate about autism. But...

My situation is that at this point I am leaning toward having the

psychological issues dealt with because the neurologist always dealt with autism

as

something to throw drugs at. At this writing I have spent the last hour crying

because of my sons behaviors at school when he finds things too demanding.

(which is almost always) I would love to have him evaluated psychologically and

have 'in-hand' recommendations to follow because I don't know what to do

with him. He doesn't want to be a school because he just wants to be with me,

I'm his security blanket, he seems to no longer be able to function without

me there. And to be honest I don't feel I am holding him to his potential

because it is hard not to just take care of him or appease him when his actions

are causing strain on his sibling or his father.

Today his teacher wanted me to take him home because he currently is being

treated for pink eye (had 4 treatments) but other students told teachers that

he is touching his eye and trying to touch them. He fervently claims that

didn't happen but supposedly 2 teachers are involved but I am not sure that

they saw or are just being hounded by the student claims. He has also started

acting out in anyway that he knows causes upset to others. I guess I would

say that some psychological counseling would help in this case to find out why

he is doing this. How do you determine why a child is acting in a certain

way? Shouldn't a psychologist be able to do that.

In conclusion it seems that autism is two fold. The neurological

implications and the symptoms that border on psychological.

Any input appreciated.

**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

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Since the behavior occurs at school, you should request a Functional

Behavioral Analysis from the school, and you should make sure it is

done by someone with expertise in autism.

Jean

On Dec 18, 2007 2:00 PM, <KlippertC@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I have read most of the posts and would not like to 'be on the fence' about

> the psychological vs medical debate about autism. But...

>

> My situation is that at this point I am leaning toward having the

> psychological issues dealt with because the neurologist always dealt with

> autism as

> something to throw drugs at. At this writing I have spent the last hour

> crying

> because of my sons behaviors at school when he finds things too demanding.

> (which is almost always) I would love to have him evaluated psychologically

> and

> have 'in-hand' recommendations to follow because I don't know what to do

> with him. He doesn't want to be a school because he just wants to be with

> me,

> I'm his security blanket, he seems to no longer be able to function without

> me there. And to be honest I don't feel I am holding him to his potential

> because it is hard not to just take care of him or appease him when his

> actions

> are causing strain on his sibling or his father.

>

> Today his teacher wanted me to take him home because he currently is being

> treated for pink eye (had 4 treatments) but other students told teachers

> that

> he is touching his eye and trying to touch them. He fervently claims that

> didn't happen but supposedly 2 teachers are involved but I am not sure that

> they saw or are just being hounded by the student claims. He has also

> started

> acting out in anyway that he knows causes upset to others. I guess I would

> say that some psychological counseling would help in this case to find out

> why

> he is doing this. How do you determine why a child is acting in a certain

> way? Shouldn't a psychologist be able to do that.

>

> In conclusion it seems that autism is two fold. The neurological

> implications and the symptoms that border on psychological.

> Any input appreciated.

>

>

> **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

> (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

>

>

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I think Jean's advice would be a good start.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: What do you think?

I have read most of the posts and would not like to 'be on the fence' about

the psychological vs medical debate about autism. But...

My situation is that at this point I am leaning toward having the

psychological issues dealt with because the neurologist always dealt with

autism as

something to throw drugs at. At this writing I have spent the last hour crying

because of my sons behaviors at school when he finds things too demanding.

(which is almost always) I would love to have him evaluated psychologically

and

have 'in-hand' recommendations to follow because I don't know what to do

with him. He doesn't want to be a school because he just wants to be with me,

I'm his security blanket, he seems to no longer be able to function without

me there. And to be honest I don't feel I am holding him to his potential

because it is hard not to just take care of him or appease him when his

actions

are causing strain on his sibling or his father.

Today his teacher wanted me to take him home because he currently is being

treated for pink eye (had 4 treatments) but other students told teachers that

he is touching his eye and trying to touch them. He fervently claims that

didn't happen but supposedly 2 teachers are involved but I am not sure that

they saw or are just being hounded by the student claims. He has also started

acting out in anyway that he knows causes upset to others. I guess I would

say that some psychological counseling would help in this case to find out why

he is doing this. How do you determine why a child is acting in a certain

way? Shouldn't a psychologist be able to do that.

In conclusion it seems that autism is two fold. The neurological

implications and the symptoms that border on psychological.

Any input appreciated.

**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes

(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

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