Fwd: New internet radio program concerning Autism: Autism One Radio

[Guest guest]

> http://www.autismone.com/announcements/announcement1.htm 

>  

>  Autism One Radio

> I am tremendously pleased to let you know about the upcoming launch of

> Autism One Radio, a worldwide, web-based, autism radio station for the

> care, treatment and recovery of children with autism.

>

> We will begin broadcasting Tuesday, January 11, 2005. It works much

> like a radio, but you listen on your computer. And because it’s on the

> web everyone in the world can tune in. There are no geographic

> boundaries; there are no FCC rules and regulations; there are no

> vested interest groups to hijack our message. Folks can listen from

> Michigan to Melbourne and every spot in between. Our voice will be

> heard worldwide.

>

> The media has mangled the message

> Mainstream media has made a mess of autism. There is not one useful

> piece of information the public can take from these reports. Parents

> are more confused than ever after listening to most broadcasts.

>

> News stories typically identify a child and a mother struggling to

> cope. The diagnosis was autism; the prognosis is known - lifelong and

> forever. A little boy or girl, shown toe-walking, is receiving an hour

> a week of speech therapy. Interviewed doctors discuss psychotropic

> drugs and the big promise of genetic research in ten to twenty years.

> A puzzled school official admits the county has experienced an

> explosion in autism over the last decade-why? who knows-proudly

> pointing to a new classroom for children with autism and Down

> syndrome. As an added bonus, the official declares, every child with

> autism will receive free snacks from the school cafeteria. Could this

> mainstream media hair shirt get any worse? You bet!

>

> Officious-sounding professionals talk about the increased

> circumference of our children's heads and brain inflammation airily

> dismissing any new research, science, or interventions which do not

> directly benefit them. County health personnel explain how greater

> public awareness and better diagnosis, unlike the bad-old days, is

> identifying children before they " fall through the cracks. " In hushed

> tones, mostly reserved for the deceased, a round of thank yous from

> the anchor to the reporter for filing this important story. Six months

> later the same story airs with a different cast of characters,

> identical, however, in its destructive message to parents, " We have it

> under control and there is nothing more you can do to help your

> child. "

>

> Mainstream communication channels burdened by agencies and agendas

> which are at best inept and at worst antithetical to autism continue

> to force feed our community retro-1960s messages of hopelessness.

> Empathetic " we feel your pain " stories are not a suitable substitute

> for reporting on effective treatments which help our children and real

> issues.

>

> Unfortunately, our community has always lacked an ability to respond,

> educate, and advocate in real time. Flat-footed, we are reduced to a

> defensive posture. Left unchallenged many ideas gain currency and

> become accepted as fact.

>

> Web Radio

> Text is fine for many things. Documents, however, are not well suited

> to reach and teach parents, professionals, and a public struggling to

> understand the many uncertainties of autism.

>

> Voices reach deeper than text. Voices teach, nourish, calm, and

> nurture making complex ideas understandable. Talk is our common

> denominator. Voices are rich in ways text cannot begin to capture.

> While the web does a tremendous job in getting information to parents,

> asking a mom, overcome with exhaustion, to read a 20-page medical

> report to understand the benefits of omega-3 is not the best answer.

>

> By their nature documents can discourage response. Documents are

> static and formal. Voices are active. Talk encourages the free flow of

> ideas, education, and greater understanding.

>

> The flexibility of web-based radio will allow us to broadcast live

> from events as they happen, like IOM meetings and congressional

> hearings. As wireless becomes increasingly popular folks will be able

> to listen on their laptops and palm tops. Cars will soon be

> manufactured with web-radio receivers.

>

> A New Normal Is Needed

> Our children get better. Our enemies are time and ignorance; our

> allies are treatments and therapies. Hope is real. Recovery is real.

> Education is necessary.

>

> The rate of discovery for treatments which help our children is

> quickening. We need to get this information to our community and the

> public. Each day issues which impact our community are decided, often

> without our involvement and to our detriment. We need to amplify the

> thousand separate conversations into a message our entire community

> can hear.

>

> Bigger truths are necessary to help our children and families; truths

> not found on TV, radio, newspapers, almost all magazines, most school

> districts, in the medical establishment and among the various

> government agencies. Institutions have largely failed our community.

>

> Yet we continue to make progress. We plan to be a powerful voice of

> change, bringing you the most up to date information. We will launch

> with over 45 programs, hosted by many of the best and the brightest in

> our community. We plan to expand and include hosts from the UK, 

> Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, all over. The rate of autism in

> Turkey is now 1 in 200 (which is probably conservative).

>

> A partial list of program hosts include

> Ackerman

>

> Jim , PhD

> Natasha -McBride, MD

> Jeff Cantor, DDS

> Cellini

> Lujene and Allan , MD

> Peta Cohen, MS, RD

> Barbara Loe Fisher

> Donna Gates

> Elaine Gottschall

> Doreen Granpeesheh

> Kathie Harrington

> Betsy Hicks

> Vicki Isler

> Diane Kennedy

> Kerns

> Lang

> Amy Lansky

> Patty Lemer

> Carolyn

> Joy Lunt

> Melynchuk

> Suzanne Messina

> Seth Pearl, DC

> s

> Jo Pike

> Rick Rollens

> Romaniec

> Rubin, Esq.

> Salanda

> Lenny Schafer

> Jeff Sell, Esq.

> Shore

> Chantal Sicile-Kira

> Teri Small

> Byron Strain, MD and Danise Strain

> Ted stein

> Tarasuk, ND

>

> While the programs will be live, we will also record them for

> subsequent listening. In addition to the regularly scheduled programs

> we plan to bring you breaking news alerts and specials which will

> cover a variety of topics.

>

> Programs are divided into the following four categories to help you

> listen and learn in the areas of most interest and concern to you.

> • Biomedical Treatments

> • Behavior and Education

> • Family and Home Health

> • News / Legal / Advocacy

>

> Autism One Radio’s Mission

> • Reach a worldwide audience via the Internet;

> • Feature unique shows hosted by leading authorities;

> • Provide live programming;

> • Interview the most knowledgeable experts;

> • Be interactive: email us your questions;

> • Cover breaking news;

> • Be a voice of hope, effective options, treatments and therapies;

> • Provide indepth analysis of complex issues;

> • Present the highest-quality information and education;

> • Energize the autism community;

> • Support advocacy;

> • Challenge baseless criticisms;

> • Promote change;

> • Help more children and their families.

>

> Over the coming weeks we will be in a position to provide you with

> more details and specifics as to schedules and additional program

> hosts.

>

> As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments,

> suggestions, or ideas. I look forward to your feedback. Thank you.

>

> My Best,

> Edmund Arranga

> 714.680.0792

> http://AutismOne.org

> earranga@...