What Travolta could have done to help autism, how about now?

[Guest guest]

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June 12, 9:59 AM

When I wrote The Dangers of Celebrity Medicine, I touched on the value of

celebrity endorsement when he or she does not assume the role of doctor.

Sadly, I was reminded over and again about certain movie stars who declined to

" come out " about their child's autism. Years ago I knew that Travolta and

Preston's son Jett was autistic. Whether or not this news was here-say, I

had hoped that they would come forward, and be the voice of autism, and give

credibility to the need for research and awareness. " Look, this even happens to

celebrities " .

Mr. and Mrs. Travolta vehemently and publicly denied the autism diagnosis,

claiming their son was a victim of Kawasaki Disease, due to inhaling carpet

cleaning materials. Tragically Jett Travolta died last January, due to a

complications from a seizure disorder.

Reported by Yahoo.com news the police report of Jett Travolta's death has been

published: " According to National Enquirer magazine, a police report taken from

in February read: " On Monday 29 December 2008 I traveled to Grand Bahama

Island. I was accompanied by my wife Preston, my son Jett Travolta, my

daughter Ella Travolta, Eli Wheaton, Jeff Kathrein and others. We stayed at town

houses at Old Bahama bay, Grand Bahama. My son Jett suffered from a seizure

disorder and he was autistic. "

According to the report the Travolta's devotion to Scientology prohibited

admission of autism: " Scientology teaches that mental illness does not exist and

teaches the problem should be resolved using " spiritual healing " rather than

drugs. "

This is a tough one for me. I have the utmost respect for the devastation of

mental illness. It is an intangible, often helped by therapy and medication.

However, and this is a huge caveat, autism hardly falls into a microcosm of

Scientology diagnosis. There are neurological, biological, genetic and physical

pieces to the autism spectrum disorder. Once again, how does a religious group

ascertain a medical degree?

Jett Travolta's death should not go in vain. Perhaps now is the time for

Travolta and Preston to donate their time and resources to autism

awareness. They know all too well how autism can devastate a family. It is never

too late to share his story for the good of mankind.

[Guest guest]

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> June 12, 9:59 AM

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> When I wrote The Dangers of Celebrity Medicine, I touched on the value of

celebrity endorsement when he or she does not assume the role of doctor.

>

>I feel similarly that ideals are fine but when faced with the health of another

those ideals take a back seat. I am sure many many parents do the best they can

but scientology cannot erase Autism by stating it is a mind control issue. That

sounds like the worst ABA on the planet