AspenTimes - (Liz Birt) Accident victim was an advocate for autistic

[Guest guest]

I sent this letter to the journalist at the Aspen Times who wrote

the attached piece that was posted on the ABMD list. I would

encourage others to contact him to express their sentiments.

<<I thank you for your reporting, albeit with regard to the sad and

tragic passing of Liz Birt. I noted that you indicated that you had

received correspondence from people around the country and I thought

that I would add the New York metropolitan area to the list;

although it is likely that someone else already has done so. We

live in New Rochelle, New York, and I would tell you that there are

people in every local around the world who, like us, mourn her

death. Liz was the model of a fighting mother, who dealt with

adversity no one should have to face, but persevered and deserves

absolute respect as a person who stands up for what she researches

diligently and determines to be the truth. To a greater extent than

many of us who have children injured by unfortunate governmental and

professional policies who have been left abandoned by calculated and

uncompromising denial, she actually proved that people could and I

suspect ultimately will be held accountable.

Although I understand that a journalist such as yourself must focus

on what your research can uncover and not the expression of

individuals alone, I would offer to you this lead. What Liz

believed and worked tirelessly toward proving is much more than a

theory, it is actually an unraveling reality that is under

incredible pressure to be denied or covered up. This may appear to

work for awhile, but if you research this as you might an investment

or perhaps to make a wager, I think that you would be well advised

to look beyond the institute of medicine and see what has been

occurring on the grass roots level that Liz was a part of.

Kirby's book which you cited in your article is the paramount

articulation of the struggle to achieve proper recognition and

treatment for so many children most of whose parents are not even

aware of what happened. There is however a large number of people,

which are only a small percent of the affected population who will

never rest until the truth, is acknowledged. You also mentioned

Safeminds and I hope that you have visited their website. Most of

us who cannot devote more time to the cause because the care of our

own children and need to earn an income are primary, can only direct

others to the growing body of information that is out there, but Liz

certainly went the full distance that inspires us all.

So, as I am sure she would have, I invite you to enter the fray with

an open mind! If you go to a school in Aspen or any neighboring

town you will find children diagnosed with autistic spectrum

disorders and special education teachers trying their best to

provide appropriate education to a growing group that until recently

was completely unknown. Even the National Institute of Mental

health has only this past month acknowledged that this is indeed an

epidemic and therefore not possibly attributable to genetics alone.

I am sure that you have been inundated with details by other people

who are aware of more than I am, but I would tell you that you have

only encountered the tip of an iceberg and if you choose to look

there is a story that needs to be revealed if not for the injured,

then for the unsuspecting public in general who are still being

coerced by the powers that be to get mercury containing flu and

tetanus shots for pregnant woman infants and children. This is not

to mention the rest of the aging population who may be at risk for

Parkinson's disease and dementia?s, but are still directed to get

mercury containing shots annually.

Again I thank you for your reporting, and mourn the passing of a

great person in Liz Birt.

Joe Marciano

(I have also posted my letter to you on the Autism Mercury website

for others to read)>>

Re: ABMD post that I did not see on this list.

Message: 2

Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 15:05:31 +0000

From: Sheri Nakken <snakken@...>

Subject: AspenTimes - (Liz Birt) Accident victim was an advocate for

autistic

kids

Also prayers and concern for Felt, also injured, evidently

Liz's

fiance's son.

Love and condolences for Felt, her fiance, also. I can't

imagine

the pain he is feeling. So tragic.

Sheri

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20051230/NEWS/112300047

Accident victim was an advocate for autistic kids

By Colson

December 30, 2005

Birt, who died in a two-car collision near Aspen on

Wednesday,

" was not just another tourist " but a nationally known advocate for

autistic

children, according to letters to The Aspen Times.

Birt, 49 - a Chicago-area attorney with three children, one of whom

is

autistic - had been cited in congressional reports on autism and in

a book

on the subject, her associates say.

A resident of Wilmette, Ill., she was in Aspen visiting friends this

week.

The 2006 Ford Taurus she was in - which her fiance, Felt, 52,

also

of Wilmette, was driving - allegedly ran a red turn-light at Brush

Creek

Road and Highway 82, into the path of an oncoming truck.

The Colorado State Patrol does not believe either alcohol or speeding

played a role in the accident.

The occupants of the truck, and Blake of Snowmass

Village,

both 31, suffered minor injuries in the collision and drove

themselves to

Aspen Valley Hospital later in the day.

Badly injured in the wreck was the driver's son, Felt, 13,

who was

sitting in the back seat of the Taurus. All three were taken to Aspen

Valley Hospital, and was transferred to Children's Hospital

in

Denver, where he was in critical condition Thursday evening.

Friends of Birt and the Felt family who contacted The Aspen Times

about the

accident said the impact of the truck crushed 's chest. He

also

suffered a broken thigh, friends said, and there are concerns about

possible brain damage.

Several e-mails from associates of Birt referred to her work in the

field

of autism.

According to the letters, which have come from various parts of the

country, Birt was a founder of two national organizations dealing

with

autism - Medical Interventions for Autism, a nonprofit investigating

the

links between inflammatory bowel disease, immune system disorders,

viruses

from vaccines and autism; and an advocacy group called SafeMinds,

for which

she was general counsel.

A book by Kirby titled " Evidence of Harm, " about the presence

of

mercury in vaccines and its theoretical link to autism, profiled her

life

and work, according to a letter from Kara Friedman of Chicago.

" Liz is a hero in the autism community worldwide, " said Becky

Simpson,

secretary of the land Autism Recovery Coalition. " She is greatly

loved,

and she will be greatly missed. "

Colson's e-mail address is jcolson@...