After years of lip service someone finally did something real!
This is not the end of the war, but it is D-Day invasion. I think it will be marked as the day that changed the direction of the autism epidemic.
Now that the AAP has given their members permission to explore these treatments that are working so well, they are going to get see first hand and be a part of the joy that happens when a little piece of a sick child returns.
I think that I am almost as excited for the pediatricians as I am for the autism community!
If any pediatrician any where, at any time, wants to know anything about my son's story, his regression, his diagnosis, his symptoms, his vaccine reaction, his treatment, his recovery, what worked and what hasn't, what we want to try, what research I have read, ANYTHING, from conception to what happened just now... I will be THRILLED to share with you!
If you are a doc reading this... and you want to start finding out about biomedical treatment, start here:
When my son was diagnosed at age two, he had lost all speech except for two words, neither of which were 'mommy' or 'daddy', and lost all eye contact.
Last Sunday in church, after 4 years worth of medical interventions, he held the door for me for the first time and said, "Here mom, I'll open the door for you"!
And for any docs that are looking for something to do this weekend, come to the DAN! conference in Cherry Hill, NJ on Friday!
UPDATE: April 14th, 2008
AAP has removed one of the paragraph from their press release. Evidence of an internal struggle? The removed paragraph is in bold below.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS RECOGNIZES WORLD AUTISM DAY
For release: APRIL 1, 2008
AAP media contacts: Susan Stevens Martin Debbie Linchesky
847-434-7131 847-434-7084
ssmartin@aap.org dlinchesky@aap.org
CHICAGO – The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports World Autism Day (April 2) as a way to bring together groups that are committed to finding the causes of, and successful treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders, which now affect an estimated 1 in 150 children in the United States. Thousands of children, parents and families are coping with what can be a devastating diagnosis with lifelong consequences.
Pediatricians care for children with autism and their families every day. They are passionate advocates on behalf of these families and recognize that autism is a significant challenge to the health of the nation’s children. Pediatricians emphasize that early diagnosis is critical. The AAP promotes regular screening for autism at the appropriate well-child visits, as well as treatments tailored to meet the needs of an individual child. In 2007, the AAP published the Autism Toolkit, which includes clinical guidance to help pediatricians identify and manage children with autism, to refer them to therapeutic services, and to provide parents with information and resources. The AAP also offers a host of resources for parents on its Web site, www.aap.org.
“We know many parents are searching for answers,” said AAP President Renee R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP. “The AAP has supported research into the causes of autism and will continue to do so.” Pediatrics, the Academy’s peer-reviewed, scientific journal, has included dozens of studies on the associated factors, management and impact of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The AAP recognizes the best way to address the needs of children with autism and children overall is through a partnership among pediatricians, parents and researchers. The AAP has met with leaders of advocacy groups, such as Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of America, which include parents of children with autism. Most recently, the AAP met with representatives of Defeat Autism Now! (a program of the Autism Research Institute) in an effort to facilitate communication between pediatricians, parents and researchers about the diagnosis and treatment of children with autism. All advocates for these children agree that further research is needed regarding causes as well as safe and effective treatment.
“We are pleased the AAP reached out recently to Defeat Autism Now! in order to better understand the treatments and interventions that we have found beneficial to children with autism,” said Stan Kurtz, executive council member of Defeat Autism Now! “We are full of hope that this is the beginning of a thoughtful partnership that will further explore factors that might cause or contribute to autism, as well as examine safe and effective treatment approaches for families coping with this condition.”
[removed paragraph:]
“Autism is a challenge for pediatricians, their patients and families. By working together, we stand the best chance of helping these children to realize their full potential,” Dr. Jenkins said. “The Academy is committed to working with researchers and treatment groups like Defeat Autism Now! to get closer to finding answers to the multiple causes of autism and determining effective therapies.”
For more information about autism, visit www.aap.org.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
The Autism Research Institute (ARI) is a non-profit organization established in 1967 that fosters scientific research on autism triggers as well as diagnostic, treatment, and prevention methods. Through its Defeat Autism Now! program, ARI provides research-based information to parents, clinicians, and researchers worldwide, through its Web site (autism.com), call center, parent groups, conferences, science-based publications, and think tanks. (Press Contact: Autism Research Institute; email: lisa@autism.com)
15 comments:
Ginger, is this an April Fools' Day post, or real???
No joke. It is real!
Forgot to link to the AAP site!
Will correct that.
Ooooh...Praise the Lord!!! I am waking up friends tonight (10:42 pm) and telling them to read this now!
Thanks, Ginger, for staying on top of things and keeping us well informed!
Lin
I agree, praise the Lord! I wonder if business was getting slow for them since 1 in 150 families was discovering natural medicine and nutrition is the key to good health.
Ginger
I have posted this everywhere I can and told our one friendly UK press person about it.
I'm packing my bags and we're moving to the States
This is wonderful news!
I agree - Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition, er... information!
I love this blog!
I called our pediatrician's office today. It is a huge hospital affiliated practice with 12 or so doctors.
I spoke with the nurse manager and asked her if they were aware of this announcement. She very enthusiastically explained that was on the desk of every doctor there.
I then asked if they were interested in books that could give them some clinical education and/or upcoming educational conferences and she said "absolutely!"
It's quite interesting that 2 days ago I was a crazy, desperate Mom who would believe any thing and today they just can't get enough info on this.
Sarcasm aside, I am so excited that mainstream doctors may start steering parents toward real recovery for their kids.
That is such great news!
I have always been of the mind that the pediatricians are not the big part of the problem. Some will always remain dogmatic worshipers of vaccines and in denial of any link, thus preventing them from wanting to embrace the treatments associated with that theory, but not all.
There are a lot of smart and compassionate peds out there who understand that vaccination is a balance, and who will accept that their government has not given them an accurate picture of where the balancing point is.
Those docs will be interested, because they got into that job to really help kids. They have permission to do that now with out becoming another Andrew Wakefield.
Ah to be a fly on the wall in the Wakefield hearing today.
"What... the American's are talking about reducing the vaccine schedule and the AAP is going to start implementing Wakefield's discoveries? Poppycock! Harrumph, Harrumph, Harrumph!"
Right, it will happen. Sure. The AAP will say "to hell with evidence-based medicine!" And then hell will freeze over.
"The AAP will say 'to hell with evidence-based medicine!' "
Ah, but there *is* evidence. Reams of it. They simply have to look.
It's way too late. I am so bleary eyed but because of your AMAZING post I have to stay up to watch Jenny McCarthy and David Kirby on CNN ...I am going to be so exhausted tomorrow.
Autism has been flourishing since 2000. Cell phones have been flourishing since 2000. Cell phones emit microwaves. Microwaves affect the brain and the fetus. Put down your phone and don't stick it next to your brain again. Take that phone off your waist if you're pregnant. Take it off if you're not. We cook food, not people with microwaves. I think there are some new questions to ask for Autism Month.
Try putting cell phones and microwaves and health into google. Try putting microwaves and autism in. Try cell phones, microwaves and cancer. Search on YouTube. It will make you sick.
Microwaves are not only emitted by cell phones, but also by cell towers. They make our wireless internet possible. We are all paying.
Pediatricians have always cared for children with autism. It should come as no surprise that the AAP wants to help and it shows how commited they rae. Good work AAP!
Ginger
Are you aware? The AAP has removed the last paragraph from their original press release that they are working with DAN!.
This paragraph specifically;
“Autism is a challenge for pediatricians, their patients and families. By working together, we stand the best chance of helping these children to realize their full potential,” Dr. Jenkins said. “The Academy is committed to working with researchers and treatment groups like Defeat Autism Now! to get closer to finding answers to the multiple causes of autism and determining effective therapies."
although it is still dated April 1 http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/apr08autismday.htm.
This is interesting...and disheartening. I told my husband that something didn't add after watching Tayloe on the Larry King debate. The AAP can not stand on safety to the point of out right lying and then be sincere about working with DAN!
Pamela
http://theeducateparent.blogspot.com
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