Please write the Austin newspaper an e-mail for Dr. Wakefield

[Guest guest]

The Austin American Statesman, the only daily newspaper in Austin, has run a

disparaging

story on Dr. Wakefield in today's paper.

" Austin Autism Researcher is Investigated: Man behind discredited study on

autism and

vaccines now runs Austin center for autistic children "

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/07/17/0717wakefield.htm\

l

This is another in a long line of attacks that ignores the facts and relies on

recycled

propaganda. We want to send a message to the Statesman that this is a poor

attempt at

telling this complicated story and they owe their readership and the autism

community

something more. This story is full of inflammatory language, misquotes and

mistakes and

clearly calls in to question the nature, quality, and validity of the work we do

here at

Thoughtful House. It is vital to our efforts that this publication be told the

truth and set

the record straight.

Please send a brief email to the reporter and her editor letting her know your

thoughts.

Send your email to:

maroser@...; dharmon@...; roppel@...

You can include any/all of the following:

A brief version of your child's story

It is incorrect to say that that Dr. Wakefield's first study was discredited and

renounced.

The only retraction was a retraction of the interpretation that the press made

following the

release of the study. It had nothing to do with the facts in the paper.

Dr. Wakefield's work has been replicated and supported by subsequent,

peer-reviewed

publications by other researchers

A statement about what Dr. Wakefield's work means to you and your family

A request for a retraction or an article clarifying these inflammatory remarks

OR if you do not have time but would still like to support Dr. Wakefield, you

may fill in, cut

and paste and send the following message:

To Ann Roser

My name is ______ and I have a _________ year old child that has been diagnosed

with

____________. Your story regarding Dr. Wakefield was full of inaccuracies and

innuendos

that are an injustice to the families affected by autism spectrum disorders.

There is a

significant amount of peer-reviewed, published literature that supports his

work. Many of

the inaccuracies you reported are recycled, inaccurate facts that have been

perpetuated

through a long line of regurgitated stories. Trust and responsibility are

crucial in

journalism, something that seems to have been lost here. You owe the community

you

report for to tell an honest story, even if it is a complicated one.

Organizations that care for children with ASD, particularly those that actually

listen and

address real medical concerns, should be applauded. Dr. Wakefield, and all of

his

colleagues at Thoughtful House, should be given credit for taking care of

children that

others left to languish in pain.

If you are going to write a story, you should at least take the time to

understand what you

are saying.

Sincerely,

______________

Anissa J. Ryland, Director of Operations

Thoughtful House Center for Children

Phone

Fax

Email anissa.r@...

Web www.thoughtfulhouse.org