Re: Is Bernie Rimland still opposed to the Combating Autism Act?

[Guest guest]

,

Don't know....but do know that ASA is in support of the bill....and

they recently " merged " with ARI....so IF he is, that certainly

didn't stop them from merging....

Gosh....guess they can " agree to disagree " and still work together --

now THAT'S what I consider to be a prime example to be filed under

the " mutual respect for differing viewpoints " category!

Kelli

>

> The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating

Autism Act. Is this still the case?

>

[Guest guest]

Kelli Ann,

CAA has nothing to do with " mutual respect for differing viewpoints "

and everything to do with critical thinking, strategy and acting in the

best interests of children not organizations. I respect your right to

have a different opinion if that opinion only affects you but when an

organization claims to represent the " autism " community without regard

to a large majority then it becomes something other than a mere

difference of opinion.

By the way, the merger was announced after it appeared the CAA was a

dead issue because it did not get to the floor of the House. So your

analysis is not quite on point. But I have to give your points for

trying...it was a nice example of grasping at straws.

Lujene

The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating Autism

Act. Is this still the case?

[Guest guest]

Lujene,

The CAA has never been a " dead issue " ....ASA has been very much

involved in the negotiations and would know this....

Any issue (CAA included) is bound to have a whole host of " differing

opinions " on " what should be done " ....to think otherwise, is

unrealistic....and as you know, there are organizations on BOTH

sides of this issue....

So, yes. Mutual respect for differing opinions has EVERYTHING to do

with CAA.

Kelli

PS....I'm not about to get into a " debate " with you or anyone else

on the merits of CAA....

Translation: End of subject for me

>

> The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating

Autism

> Act. Is this still the case?

>

[Guest guest]

Kelli,

ARI and ASA did not merge. What they have is essentially a joint

marketing agreement. They are still two independent organizations

that do not share any board or corporate members.

Dr. Rimland has not changed his opposition to the CAA.

Lenny

> >

> > The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating

> Autism Act. Is this still the case?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Kelliann,

You are clearly an advocate of CAA who has had an initimate role in

the negotiations. Perhaps you can answer some of the questions I

have asked that no one has responded to yet. Like:

What do we lose by waiting a few weeks and dealing with the

democrats who are going to have to appropriate the money for this

bill anyway.

Especially now that I hear that ASA, AS and CAN are willing to

abandon the language and funding for environmental research.

And do you know if $10 million has been earmarked for ATN/CAN? I

have heard this form severla differnet sources?

> >

> > The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating

> Autism

> > Act. Is this still the case?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

ASA, AS and CAN have all fought to keep environmental language and

funding in the bill for months.

Other than that, I think you'd agree it's unwise to discuss ongoing

negotiations on Boards.

Best,

> > >

> > > The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating

> > Autism

> > > Act. Is this still the case?

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

CAN never wanted the environmental language in the CAA in the first

place and the ASA was the first to annouce in advance that they were

would be happy with a compromise to remove it. And AS won't show it's

hand -- we're supposed to trust this mix of advocates?

I detest the backroom secret deal mentality that got us a

malfunctional CAA in the first place. There should be no negotiations

going on now until the next congress anyway.

's questions are legitimate. And why shouldn't they be discussed

here, where else are we going to hear about it before it's too late,

again? How dumb and trusting are we suppose to be, ?

Lenny

> > > >

> > > > The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating

> > > Autism

> > > > Act. Is this still the case?

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

With all due respect, why would it be unwise to discuss ongoing negotiations on

CAA,

when this board is full of parents that are weary that the outcome of this bill

will not have

our children's best interests at heart?

I think that if there is a better chance of getting the environmental language

in the bill by

waiting, regardless of efforts and egos, then wait.

> > > >

> > > > The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating

> > > Autism

> > > > Act. Is this still the case?

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

No one has given me an answer, or even attempted to discuss, why

taking our chances with the Democrats is a bad thing. Maybe there

are some really good reasons why we get a better deal with Barton. I

haven't heard anything one way or the other.

And the environmental research is one of the prime reasons some

people have stayed at the table all these months, and this is

clearly something Barton and the GOP leadership want off the table.

I don't have to tell you that there are profound differences of

opinon among the various groups. There are people involved in this

whose judgment and values I respect and others who I don't and I

believe this is a widely shared opinon in the bio-medical autism

community.

This bill has been brewing for years. I don't understand the haste

to pass it during this session with an overtly hostile committee

chair. If CAN has a substantial financial incentive, the $10 million

earmarked for ATN, that could explain some of the haste. But I don't

know if that is true or not. Other people who read this list do know

but they aren't saying.

The proliferation of autism groups has a great deal to do with the

frosty reception we received when we tried to get the issues we

consider important addressed by CAN, NAAR and ASA. SO I don't think

it comes as a surprise to anyone that many will be wary of

negotiations lead by these groups.

> > > >

> > > > The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the

Combating

> > > Autism

> > > > Act. Is this still the case?

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

What is of great concern to me, are the groups, who publicly OPPOSED

the removal of Thimerosal/vaccine language (ACHAMP, NoMercury,MAM,

and CoMeD), were immediately eliminated from all discussions,

conference calls etc. These groups firmly held their ground on

the ORIGINAL agreed upon consensus bill. Because of their

allegiance to the status quo, they were made to feel like " traitors "

were cast aside, penalized and completely removed from the table.

Lujene and Bob K. were asking the hard " uncomfortable " questions,

furious the language had been hidden in the coveted colloquy.

Their voices have been stifled, just like our children.

Who is driving this train? (Last time I was involved, CAN was at the

controls). Who is asking the hard questions today? Exactly who is

demanding answers? Why were groups eliminated because they NEVER

WAIVERED on the Thimerosal/vaccine issue?

> > > > >

> > > > > The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the

Combating

> > > > Autism

> > > > > Act. Is this still the case?

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

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>

[Guest guest]

To piggyback that statement from Lenny - Kelli: Not sure what your

involvement with the ASA is, but it has been told to we chapter

leaders that it is separate and that Dr. Edelson will

continue on Dr. Rimland's place taking on more and more

responsibility. Basically look at this way: Rimland started the

ASA. He's getting ready to ride into the sunset and maybe have a

few years of relaxation. The least the ASA could do at this point

in the game, at least to save face, was to say to Bernie " Hey we'll

be there to support you and all the work you've done and to say

thanks for the memories " . It's nothing more than a handshake and

salute to Bernie and a saving face gesture on the part of the ASA

who, once all the truth gets out there to everyone about their part

in the CAA, to save their membership.

I for one am personally ashamed of all that has happened with this

CAA and I just wish someone would shred the bill once and for all.

I have been a chapter leader with the ASA for 10 years and am about

to end that in January. I am now running my own business advocating

for autism and being a support broker to aide families in NY state

with the Medicaid Waiver. I will continue to proudly represent the

22nd district in NY state for A-Champ,with honest guys like

Gilmore and Bob Krakow. Just wait and see the changes that will

continue to occur in NY and how we may just become the model state

for autism legislation - we're pissed off and we're not gonna take

it anymore!

Sally Colletti

www.advocateforautism.com

www.achamp.org

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> > > The last I heard Bernie Rimland was opposed to the Combating

> > Autism Act. Is this still the case?

> > >

> >

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