Re: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

[Guest guest]

Oh my god. Who are you and what have you

done with JB??????

From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of bradfordhandley

Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006

3:00 PM

EOHarm

Subject: The Advocate -

focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you

are probably

getting your current edition around now.

Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement

in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

medical issues associated with autism.

ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe

autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.

With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and

deserves our complete respect.

Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that

is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA

is clearly doing.

Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.

JB Handley

[Guest guest]

In light of recent posts, thought you meant "what have you done with the "J & B"?

Then I thought of abduction with Holly being n in "Forgotten Children".

But why the change of heart? What has occurred that makes you think there has been a bona fide philosphical change at ASA?

Commendable if true, what makes you think it will stick?

RE: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

Oh my god. Who are you and what have you done with JB??????

From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of bradfordhandleySent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:00 PMEOHarm Subject: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably getting your current edition around now.Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and medical issues associated with autism.ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and deserves our complete respect.Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA is clearly doing.Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.JB Handley

[Guest guest]

JB is where he always is, I would

imagine; at the forefront, and pioneering with our other grassroots

organizations,

allowing for expanding horizons and

new growth.

I agree with JB.

With

the merger of ASA and ARI, this kind of publication, with the accompanying

viewpoints and hopefully advocacy, is bound to happen.

This is a very good thing. I would

say almost all of the groups, if not all, have undergone a metamorphosis of

sorts, even if it is only to fortify a foundation rather than

detour a direction.

What makes

grassroots parent advocacy work is the ability to grow, to allow for growth, and

to accept research which

at one time some might not have accepted.

We are a fluid community, expanding, learning, advocating.

Kudos to ASA for their merger with

ARI and the publication of this text; your input strengthens the

community,

Suzanne Messina, REAACH, Board Member, MA Chapter of ASA ..

From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of bradfordhandley

Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006

3:00 PM

EOHarm

Subject: The Advocate -

focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you

are probably

getting your current edition around now.

Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement

in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

medical issues associated with autism.

ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe

autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.

With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and

deserves our complete respect.

Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that

is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA

is clearly doing.

Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.

JB Handley

[Guest guest]

That's good news JB.

I hope they live up to your expectations and prove themselves worthy

of your respect.

>

> If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably

> getting your current edition around now.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement

> in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

> medical issues associated with autism.

>

> ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe

> autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.

>

> With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and

> deserves our complete respect.

>

> Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that

> is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA

> is clearly doing.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.

>

> JB Handley

>

[Guest guest]

Hi JB,

I have always thought it a noble Christian principle to FORGIVE one's

enemies. But let's not FORGET who our enemies are, so quickly.

Lately, I've become real leery of autism parent groups who flip-flop

their positions 180 whenever pharma/public health money gets dangled

in front of them along with whispered promises of autism treatment

research and networks.

The CAA is not a past sin; it is yet to be signed into law. The ASA

publicly tripped over themselves to get the consensus version of the

law compromised out of the legislation: the provisions for research

into vaccines. And compromise is the word for it. How many hundreds

of thousands of dollars does the ASA get from our beloved CDC to carry

their " autism awareness " water?

When it comes to action, not words, the ASA is still quick to sell out

our kids to fatten their coffers for non-threatening government

sponsored programs. I can forgive the ASA, yes, but it will take more

than slick words in a slick magazine to get into my pants, JB.

But it's a start.

Lenny Schafer

Izak's dad

>

> If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably

> getting your current edition around now.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement

> in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

> medical issues associated with autism.

>

> ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe

> autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.

>

> With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and

> deserves our complete respect.

>

> Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that

> is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA

> is clearly doing.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.

>

> JB Handley

>

[Guest guest]

ASA- a cheap date-

or the real thing?

Don't listen to what they're sayin'-

follow what they're doin'.

Re: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

Hi JB,I have always thought it a noble Christian principle to FORGIVE one'senemies. But let's not FORGET who our enemies are, so quickly. Lately, I've become real leery of autism parent groups who flip-floptheir positions 180 whenever pharma/public health money gets dangledin front of them along with whispered promises of autism treatmentresearch and networks. The CAA is not a past sin; it is yet to be signed into law. The ASApublicly tripped over themselves to get the consensus version of thelaw compromised out of the legislation: the provisions for researchinto vaccines. And compromise is the word for it. How many hundredsof thousands of dollars does the ASA get from our beloved CDC to carrytheir "autism awareness" water?When it comes to action, not words, the ASA is still quick to sell outour kids to fatten their coffers for non-threatening governmentsponsored programs. I can forgive the ASA, yes, but it will take morethan slick words in a slick magazine to get into my pants, JB. But it's a start.Lenny SchaferIzak's dad>> If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably > getting your current edition around now.> > Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement > in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and > medical issues associated with autism.> > ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe > autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.> > With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and > deserves our complete respect.> > Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that > is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA > is clearly doing.> > Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.> > JB Handley>

[Guest guest]

Oh please, it's the same crap they've been handing us chapters all

along. First they want the CAA to pass with the language in it, then

when we see that they also have to protect their careers and still

pay the lobbyists 1/2 million of year of donated money, well then

they tend to turn and change their positions. I think it's a

complete slap in Bernie Rimlands face. If this is a true turn for

them, they should have done it while he was alive and aware of what

they were doing.

>

> JB is where he always is, I would imagine; at the forefront, and

> pioneering with our other grassroots organizations,

>

> allowing for expanding horizons and new growth.

>

>

>

> I agree with JB.

>

>

>

>

>

> With the merger of ASA and ARI, this kind of publication,

with the

> accompanying viewpoints and hopefully advocacy, is bound to happen.

>

> This is a very good thing. I would say almost all of the groups,

if not

> all, have undergone a metamorphosis of sorts, even if it is only to

fortify

> a foundation rather than

>

> detour a direction.

>

>

>

> What makes grassroots parent advocacy work is the ability to

grow, to

> allow for growth, and to accept research which

>

> at one time some might not have accepted. We are a fluid community,

> expanding, learning, advocating.

>

> Kudos to ASA for their merger with ARI and the publication of

this text;

> your input strengthens the community,

>

>

> Suzanne Messina, REAACH, Board Member, MA Chapter of ASA ..

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On

Behalf Of

> bradfordhandley

> Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 3:00 PM

> EOHarm

> Subject: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and

> environmental cause

>

>

>

> If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably

> getting your current edition around now.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement

> in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

> medical issues associated with autism.

>

> ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe

> autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.

>

> With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and

> deserves our complete respect.

>

> Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that

> is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA

> is clearly doing.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.

>

> JB Handley

>

[Guest guest]

Hi All

ASA / Dave Humphreys asked me to write an article for this issue back in August.

It is called: "The Parent’s Role in Biomedical Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders"

If it helps one family that has not pursued medical treatment for their child - I am thrilled.

I am cautiously excited to see ASA move in this direction. I have great reservations based on past history (hence therefore TACA.)

My goal is to keep pushing folks in this direction that have not gone there yet. All I want is to see help for the kids affected.

That is the only agenda from the beginning.

All my best,

A Jeff's mom

From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of bradfordhandleySent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:00 PMEOHarm Subject: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably getting your current edition around now.Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and medical issues associated with autism.ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and deserves our complete respect.Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA is clearly doing.Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.JB Handley

[Guest guest]

They deserve no one's hope, even cautious hope, as they have done

nothing but let down parents and children. They themselves believe in

the vaccine damage and it's huge cause in the autism epidemic. In

fact some are on this board, yet they never write and if they do

write they do so under an assumed name. They will no longer

compromise on my child's behalf.

>

> Hi All

>

> ASA / Dave Humphreys asked me to write an article for this issue

back in

> August.

>

> It is called: " The Parent's Role in Biomedical Treatment for Autism

> Spectrum Disorders "

>

> If it helps one family that has not pursued medical treatment for

their

> child - I am thrilled.

> I am cautiously excited to see ASA move in this direction. I have

great

> reservations based on past history (hence therefore TACA.)

>

> My goal is to keep pushing folks in this direction that have not

gone there

> yet. All I want is to see help for the kids affected.

> That is the only agenda from the beginning.

>

> All my best,

>

> A Jeff's mom

>

> _____

>

> From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On

Behalf Of

> bradfordhandley

> Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:00 PM

> EOHarm

> Subject: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and

> environmental cause

>

>

>

> If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably

> getting your current edition around now.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement

> in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

> medical issues associated with autism.

>

> ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe

> autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.

>

> With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and

> deserves our complete respect.

>

> Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that

> is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA

> is clearly doing.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.

>

> JB Handley

>

[Guest guest]

,

I think it great that you got such an article in their magazine. I

agree, the more we can get the word out, the merrier. Thanks goes to

you and to anyone else who helped get good information out in their

publication.

I have more trust in Dave Humphrey and Bernie Rimland than I do

towards the national ASA, to say the least. That Dave and Bernie (and

perhaps now JB) felt inclined to play ball with the ASA does say

something worth listening.

My sense now is that the ASA is operating out of expediency, and does

not have a deep faith in the biomedical treatment path. After all,

Autism Speaks has the ASA in their sights next and parents find the

organization too conservative and self serving to be effective and

drift away. I believe the ASA's survival is at stake and they finally

realize it, suddenly discovering the joys of biomedical treatment. I

predict Autism Speaks will soon start their own chapter network to

piggy-back the ATN and to compete with the ASA. The ASA has to do

something in its defense and this appears to be it. Let us hope it is

more than a CDC/pharma-wolf in sheep's clothing.

Perhaps AS will just buy out the ASA, too instead of trying to compete

them out of business. Watch for splashy joint venture announcements

from both organizations late in 2007.

We'll see.

Lenny

>

> Hi All

>

> ASA / Dave Humphreys asked me to write an article for this issue back in

> August.

>

> It is called: " The Parent's Role in Biomedical Treatment for Autism

> Spectrum Disorders "

>

> If it helps one family that has not pursued medical treatment for their

> child - I am thrilled.

> I am cautiously excited to see ASA move in this direction. I have great

> reservations based on past history (hence therefore TACA.)

>

> My goal is to keep pushing folks in this direction that have not

gone there

> yet. All I want is to see help for the kids affected.

> That is the only agenda from the beginning.

>

> All my best,

>

> A Jeff's mom

>

> _____

>

> From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On

Behalf Of

> bradfordhandley

> Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:00 PM

> EOHarm

> Subject: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and

> environmental cause

>

>

>

> If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably

> getting your current edition around now.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement

> in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

> medical issues associated with autism.

>

> ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe

> autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.

>

> With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and

> deserves our complete respect.

>

> Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that

> is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA

> is clearly doing.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.

>

> JB Handley

>

[Guest guest]

I know Lenny - this consolidation stuff is pretty interesting. I just adore Dave and you know how I feel about Bernie - he is the reason for so much good in our lives today.

And getting other folks to see other sides of the coin is just fantastic. I tell my family I don't need daytime TV I have the autism consolidation and other efforts.

My goal is to keep pressing the issue and telling folks to "look here" when it comes to medically treating kids and the cause.

And oh yea - keep them aware of the issues surrounding that.

Cheers,

A Jeff's mom

From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of schaferatsprynetSent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 4:15 PMEOHarm Subject: Re: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

, I think it great that you got such an article in their magazine. Iagree, the more we can get the word out, the merrier. Thanks goes toyou and to anyone else who helped get good information out in theirpublication.I have more trust in Dave Humphrey and Bernie Rimland than I dotowards the national ASA, to say the least. That Dave and Bernie (andperhaps now JB) felt inclined to play ball with the ASA does saysomething worth listening. My sense now is that the ASA is operating out of expediency, and doesnot have a deep faith in the biomedical treatment path. After all,Autism Speaks has the ASA in their sights next and parents find theorganization too conservative and self serving to be effective anddrift away. I believe the ASA's survival is at stake and they finallyrealize it, suddenly discovering the joys of biomedical treatment. Ipredict Autism Speaks will soon start their own chapter network topiggy-back the ATN and to compete with the ASA. The ASA has to dosomething in its defense and this appears to be it. Let us hope it ismore than a CDC/pharma-wolf in sheep's clothing. Perhaps AS will just buy out the ASA, too instead of trying to competethem out of business. Watch for splashy joint venture announcementsfrom both organizations late in 2007.We'll see.Lenny>> Hi All> > ASA / Dave Humphreys asked me to write an article for this issue back in> August.> > It is called: "The Parent's Role in Biomedical Treatment for Autism> Spectrum Disorders"> > If it helps one family that has not pursued medical treatment for their> child - I am thrilled.> I am cautiously excited to see ASA move in this direction. I have great> reservations based on past history (hence therefore TACA.)> > My goal is to keep pushing folks in this direction that have notgone there> yet. All I want is to see help for the kids affected.> That is the only agenda from the beginning.> > All my best, > > A Jeff's mom> > _____ > > From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] OnBehalf Of> bradfordhandley> Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:00 PM> EOHarm > Subject: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and> environmental cause> > > > If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably > getting your current edition around now.> > Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement > in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and > medical issues associated with autism.> > ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe > autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.> > With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and > deserves our complete respect.> > Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins that > is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way ASA > is clearly doing.> > Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.> > JB Handley>

[Guest guest]

:

I never meant any offense about the article - it's great and I'm glad

that you were able to get it in. Good job!

> >

> > Hi All

> >

> > ASA / Dave Humphreys asked me to write an article for this issue

back in

> > August.

> >

> > It is called: " The Parent's Role in Biomedical Treatment for

Autism

> > Spectrum Disorders "

> >

> > If it helps one family that has not pursued medical treatment for

their

> > child - I am thrilled.

> > I am cautiously excited to see ASA move in this direction. I have

great

> > reservations based on past history (hence therefore TACA.)

> >

> > My goal is to keep pushing folks in this direction that have not

> gone there

> > yet. All I want is to see help for the kids affected.

> > That is the only agenda from the beginning.

> >

> > All my best,

> >

> > A Jeff's mom

> >

> > _____

> >

> > From: EOHarmgroups (DOT) <mailto:EOHarm%40> com

> [mailto:EOHarmgroups (DOT) <mailto:EOHarm%40> com]

On

> Behalf Of

> > bradfordhandley

> > Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:00 PM

> > EOHarmgroups (DOT) <mailto:EOHarm%40> com

> > Subject: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment

and

> > environmental cause

> >

> >

> >

> > If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably

> > getting your current edition around now.

> >

> > Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position

statement

> > in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

> > medical issues associated with autism.

> >

> > ASA has not always been an organization that people who believe

> > autism is an environmental illness have fully respected.

> >

> > With this issue and their commitment to truth, ASA merits and

> > deserves our complete respect.

> >

> > Our community needs to forgive any organization for past sins

that

> > is willing to re-evaluate and reconsider their position the way

ASA

> > is clearly doing.

> >

> > Lee Grossman and ASA have my utmost respect.

> >

> > JB Handley

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>

> If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably

> getting your current edition around now.

>

> Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position statement

> in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

> medical issues associated with autism.

Besides the politics, I believe the ASA rank and file are also

responsible for this change.

For instance, Beth Vataker, a registered nurse and board member of

the Broward County Florida ASA Chapter has herself started a

Biological Intervention Support Group, which has been

well received by the parents.

(http://www.asabroward.org/Journal%2068.pdf).

Charlie

[Guest guest]

The individual chapters are on board with this us, but if they try to

speak out against any policies they are scorned. No one is disputing

what we local chapters have done. The national ASA is whole

different entity. Local chapters do not pay dues to the national for

being part, they merely have members who are to be dual members of

both national and local. The national in turn does not give any

money to the local chapters. All local chapters are to raise all

funds on their own. It makes it pretty tough sometimes to pull that

off. Local chapters are expected to follow the national by-laws as

well.

Sally Colletti, Former President CNYASA, Inc.

> >

> > If you are a subscriber to ASA's magazine, than you are probably

> > getting your current edition around now.

> >

> > Lee Grossman and ASA are to be commended for the position

statement

> > in their new issue and their recognition of the environmental and

> > medical issues associated with autism.

>

> Besides the politics, I believe the ASA rank and file are also

> responsible for this change.

>

> For instance, Beth Vataker, a registered nurse and board member of

> the Broward County Florida ASA Chapter has herself started a

> Biological Intervention Support Group, which has been

> well received by the parents.

>

> (http://www.asabroward.org/Journal%2068.pdf).

>

> Charlie

>

[Guest guest]

I do not belong to the ASA and haven't for years, so I will not be

able to read the Advocate and see for myself what they are saying and

why they seem to be moving in the right direction now.

I have always kind of thought, at least in the two places I have

lived since autism has touched our lives, that most people who are

members of the ASA really aren't into bio-med. Actually most don't

even think twice about the possibility that vaccines could have

played a part in a child developing autism. That's comfortable to

them. The ASA doesn't make waves. Now, I know some ASA chapters like

the Oakland County ASA in Michigan have a very strong biomed belief.

However, I'm just saying since ASA has always kind of accepted any

theory, any plausible treatment, really anything about autism as a

possibility. They are kind of like a clearinghouse of information.

Go on their ASA-Net you'll see a little bit of everything- ABA,

drugs, diets..whatever. Their conferences are all over the place.

They have people talking about everything under the sun. They have

always tried to be all things to everybody.

Is this what they will continue to do? I'm sure they don't want to

piss off the people who think people with autism are just perfect the

way they are. I can think of a few people I have known who absolutely

will not support this kind of thinking by the ASA.

So, what I'm asking is this just some type of realization that they

have a segment of people who are not happy with their past

performance/behavior/stance and they are now going to give that group

what they want, but not at the risk of aleinating all those out there

who do not subscribe to this thinking? So, they wil devote one

magazine on the topic, and that will make them seem like they are on

board?

Are we really going to see a complete transformation from the

National ASA or are they merely throwing us a bone to keep

their " we've got something for everybody " personna?

>

> The individual chapters are on board with this us, but if they try

to

> speak out against any policies they are scorned. No one is

disputing

> what we local chapters have done. The national ASA is whole

> different entity. Local chapters do not pay dues to the national

for

> being part, they merely have members who are to be dual members of

> both national and local. The national in turn does not give any

> money to the local chapters. All local chapters are to raise all

> funds on their own. It makes it pretty tough sometimes to pull

that

> off. Local chapters are expected to follow the national by-laws as

> well.

> Sally Colletti, Former President CNYASA, Inc.

[Guest guest]

After ignoring and fighting my every statement for years, this summer

I was invited by my local ASA chapter to write an essay on why I feel

my daughter's autism was really mercury poisoning. The top autism

expert in Wisconsin was asked to write the counterpoint. See page 4

for my essay.

www.autismmadison.org/newsletter/documents/SpectrumJuly2006final.pdf

[Guest guest]

:

Your account of the ASA is pretty accurate. They don't make waves -

I have constantly been at them this year to listen to the parents,

listen to them when they tell you what happened to their child with

vaccines. My comments to the leaders at national were constantly

being moderated, edited, and banned from posting. What would happen

instead was that I would get private emails from individuals on the

board of the ASA telling me that they agree with me, that yes,

vaccines are needing to be researched, yet at the same time they

would post on the board for the leaders a completely benign statement

about it and saying how compromising was the best way to go. They

would not allow my chapter to join up with A-champ just this past

month or so. They are trying to be too many things to too many

people. Too little, too late. They are on here right now reading

this and still staying quiet. They can't even defend themselves.

They continuously called this group a little " listserv " with no

substantial evidence of any arguments. I'm happy to be done with

them, and proud of the work I did for my chapter, not what's the

National has become.

Sally

>> Are we really going to see a complete transformation from the

> National ASA or are they merely throwing us a bone to keep

> their " we've got something for everybody " personna?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mike,

I just read Dr. Tina's mind-numbing essay......It never ceases to

amaze me how someone with an M.D., who has gone through at least 7

more years of education than I with my B.S can be so.......dense.

She'll be eating crow one day.

>

> After ignoring and fighting my every statement for years, this

summer

> I was invited by my local ASA chapter to write an essay on why I

feel

> my daughter's autism was really mercury poisoning. The top autism

> expert in Wisconsin was asked to write the counterpoint. See page 4

> for my essay.

>

> www.autismmadison.org/newsletter/documents/SpectrumJuly2006final.pdf

>

[Guest guest]

For a couple of years I was my local ASA's biggest critic. I even

tried to start our own org that would really " do something " for the

autism community. What I realized really fast is that there are many

takers and very few givers. Then I was invited to join forces with our

local ASA. What I saw was a handful of parents who were trying to

fundraise to be able to do something with the money to help the

community. THe problem is, they are only a handful and they are

fighting their own home battles with biomed, education, and marriage

issues. They can't be everything the local autism community wants them

to be because there's just not enough of them.

Biomed. We have support group meetings and try to bring in the best.

We had here a little over a year ago. People come. But then

what? There's not a single DAN! practitioner within 1 1/2 hrs of our

town, which is the primary reason I'm in college to be a NP. In

addition, you have the older teen crowd who didn't have the internet

or very limited internet info when their child was dxed, they're told

their kids are too old, etc. We send out brochures about DAN! events

to area practitioners, ask our doctors about current treatments, they

poo-poo us.

Education. Our local ASA board is all parents. We're all fighting for

the best education we can argue/sue for our kids. On top of that we're

all trying to work and run the ASA. Then we get calls from parents who

want us to go with them to IEP meetings or hire people to attend the

meetings. We can only attend so many, and then these parents want

nothing more to do with us, no pay-back to help other families, etc.

Then we discuss hiring someone who can be an advocate, then you get

into can this person attend without attorney status, which means then

instead of a person getting paid a few bucks/hr to help these

families, the school system sees them as giving legal advice and they

bring in their hired dogs. So we're back to square one.

Before long you have a local org wanting like everything to help the

autism community, but facing burnout and criticism because we can't

move mountains fast enough for people who sit on their butts and

complain. The problem, at the end of the day, isn't the ASA, it's that

the autism community doesn't want to help themselves. We try to rally

the troops to attend legislative meetings to push for change. Maybe 4

or 5 show up out of an entire state. On a local front you have

hundreds of parents angry at the school system, so you get an open

forum to air grivances. 10 show up.

BTW, I do not even begin to insinuate that you are not doing enough.

Please don't consider this as my pointing fingers at you, that is not

my intent. I guess I'm just frustrated that I don't see more families

standing together, and thinking of specific personal experiences.

Debi

>

[Guest guest]

Debi:

You nailed it - everything you said in this about what the local ASA

does, I did all by myself for 11 years and as a volunteer! I am

critical of the national ASA, because many of them are getting paid

big salaries to do their jobs. There is no one now that will step

forward and do all my work and our chapter may just wither up and die

away. I am now trying to hand it over to another satellite chapter

of ours that are a dynamic group of people, but who will take their

place? I'm tired of the whining and then when you ask for help no

one, not even the national, steps forward. Then on top of it the

national tells me what I can sponsor or not?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Many of the CEO's and other executives of the NPO's function as palliatives to real problems.

Instead of solving problems, they hold press conferences, have walk-a-thons and sell magnetic strips and other drivel. And they get paid outsized salaries.

Meanwhile, nothing (by way of a solution to the diseases) ever gets done because the basic paradigm upon which they work is ultimately flawed.

Re: The Advocate - focused on biomedical treatment and environmental cause

Debi:You nailed it - everything you said in this about what the local ASA does, I did all by myself for 11 years and as a volunteer! I am critical of the national ASA, because many of them are getting paid big salaries to do their jobs. There is no one now that will step forward and do all my work and our chapter may just wither up and die away. I am now trying to hand it over to another satellite chapter of ours that are a dynamic group of people, but who will take their place? I'm tired of the whining and then when you ask for help no one, not even the national, steps forward. Then on top of it the national tells me what I can sponsor or not? > >>

[Guest guest]

When Allie was first dxed a member at my church contacted me and told

me her aunt knew a lot about autism and was on the national board,

first name . I emailed this woman hoping she could help me find

info to help my daughter. Her response was, " Just call your local ASA. "

Gee. Thanks. Like I hadn't thought of that. I was very soured by the

ASA for a long time after that.

Since their ruling that we can now offer services, though, I think

that will help A LOT.

Debi

>

> Debi:

> You nailed it - everything you said in this about what the local ASA

> does, I did all by myself for 11 years and as a volunteer! I am

> critical of the national ASA, because many of them are getting paid

> big salaries to do their jobs. There is no one now that will step

> forward and do all my work and our chapter may just wither up and die

> away. I am now trying to hand it over to another satellite chapter

> of ours that are a dynamic group of people, but who will take their

> place? I'm tired of the whining and then when you ask for help no

> one, not even the national, steps forward. Then on top of it the

> national tells me what I can sponsor or not?