Hildebrand

[Guest guest]

As you may or may not know, Hildebrand has joined the ASA board of

directors. Her parents created Autism Speaks, and there has been a lot of talk

about AS not representing or inaccurately attributing the causes of autism to

genetics only, with very little focus on environmental assaults (read vaccines).

I lurk on a lot of other lists, and with permission of JB Handley, wanted to

share with you what he wrote about , which I thought is interesting:

bradfordhandley <bradfordhandley@ yahoo.com> wrote: I just want to share how

damn proud I am of this family. Remember,

there is no Christian , his name is Christian Hildebrand. He

comes from a loving family of 2 parents, and s, who are

exactly like you and me. I've had the pleasure of getting to know this

family and I can tell you that autism turned their world upside-down

just like the rest of us. I remember meeting for the first time,

with Christian in the room, listening to her story about a horrible

night's sleep and watching the patient mother who she is tolerate

Christian first snuggling her, then pulling her hair, the love of a

mother for her child so clear and obvious. Her husband, s, is no

less committed. He has listened closely and carefully to every point

of view about what happened to his son and it is always clear that

Christain's well-being and recovering his son is his greatest priority.

This is a family, rocked by autism, just like the rest of us.

's decision to be more public about her point of view is not some

impulsive move. For almost two years now, quietly but firmly, she has

lobbied her parents on the growing morass that Autism Speaks was

becoming. By choosing to listen more to the " experts " than their own

daughter, 's parents selaed their own fate. Unfortunately, being

a grandparent is not the same as being a parent (with the notable

exception of some exceptional grandparents) . Bob and Suzanne do not

spend their days looking after Christian, and they don't have the

instincts a mother and father have for what happened to their son.

Menawhile, a bunch of self-dealing dinosaurs have done their best to

hog Suzanne and Bob's ear, dismissing 's point of view as the

understanable behavior of a desperate and sorrow-filled Mom.

and s' decision to be public and vocal about their point

of view, with such high-profile grandparents, is an act of tremendous

courage. It is the kind of courage that will help to end this madness.

Having coffee with the CDC will not get it done, we need parents who

are willing to take the public (and in the Hildebrand's case, private)

heat that goes with speaking an unfortunate truth.

If never did another thing, she has already helped so many

children. With her recent board announcements, I think we all can feel

good in knowing that we will only hear more.

The stalls of Autism Speaks must be backed up today, what with all

those bricks being shat.

....the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless

members.

-Pearl S. Buck