April 1, 2009

Autism Awareness Month: Turning the Tide

April is Autism Awareness Month. But in my opinion, every one is aware already.

You will see show after article after press release this month offering you the same inane observation...

"Autism Exists"


It is time to say, "no duh", reject the idea that we should passively accept the fact that autism has gone from 1 in 10,000 in the 1970's to 1 in 250 when Chandler was diagnosed, to 1 in 166 when I started my tenure as an autism activist, to what the CDC now presents as a current number, 1 in 150, (which is actually based on a study that is several years old), to what is the most likely the current number 1 in 88, which is the prevalence rate that the Department of Defense is reporting for their dependents. The UK has just announced their new prevalence rate:

1 in 60 children

1 in 34 boys


UC Davis proved
this year that this skyrocketing rate is not a result of "better diagnosing" or "changes in diagnostic criteria" as we have been encouraged to believe. This is frightening increase in autism is real.

And yet neither the US or UK Governments will not declare Autism an actual epidemic.

How bad do things have to get before the general population takes to the streets and shouts NO MORE! If one in 100 children were going blind or being kidnapped there would be rioting in the streets if the government declared April "Blindness Awareness Month" or March 30 "World Kidnapping Acceptance Day".

It is time to do something about it.

So instead I am announcing my own little project Autism Attack Month and I will be letting you know what you can do to fight this epidemic and give the children you love a chance to beat the odds.

And it will start like everything should start... with prayer.

Children of Destiny is a great little organization that offers biblical encouragement and guidance in teaching people how to pray for their loved ones with autism. They are announcing their second annual "Turning the Tide" prayer campaign. Please consider signing up praying for this epidemic, our children and for Chandler specifically.

From Children of Destiny:

Dear Daily Prayer Subscriber,

We are thrilled that April (Autism Awareness Month) begins tomorrow, and with it we begin our second annual Turning the Tide! prayer thrust. Just ahead of this year’s launch, we wanted to answer a few questions we have been receiving:


What is Turning the Tide?

Turning the Tide! is a corporate prayer thrust in which thousands from around the world pray over the same issues related to autism for each day of the month of April. Each day of the week is dedicated to a specific issues (for example, this year we will be praying for specific issues regarding families affected by autism on Fridays, educational issues on Saturdays, and so forth). We have set aside April 23 as a day of prayer and fasting to see the tide of autism turned once and for all.


How did Turning the Tide come about?

As many of you know, autism was once so rare that even doctors knew little of it. But it is now conservatively estimated that 100 new cases will be diagnosed worldwide with each passing day.

As part of Global Harvest Ministries for a decade, we participated in several global prayer initiatives for effective evangelization in different parts of the world. The results were amazing! Therefore, we at Children of Destiny decided in 2008 to launch a corporate prayer thrust over autism and those affected by it. We plan on making this an annual event until the wonderful day when it will no longer be needed.


Why is corporate prayer important?

As Christians, we believe that our most powerful tool in any of life’s circumstances is prayer. James 5:16 says, “the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” Furthermore, we believe that the power of our prayers are greatly increased as we join corporately to beseech the Lord. Jesus Himself said, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:19-20,NIV ).


How can I be involved?

1. Download and print out the Turning the Tide! brochure and prayer calendar. It is available free of charge on our website at http://childrenofdestiny.org/turning_the_tide.asp. Consider printing the brochure and calendar out for your family and friends, or direct them to our website for more information.

2. Take a few minutes each day to pray through the special extended versions of the Daily Prayer you will be receiving throughout April, or check our website frequently for that day’s corporate prayer and extended prayer points.


3.Consider joining us on April 23 for World Day of Prayer and Fasting for AutismSpectrumDisorder. For more information on this day and fasting in general, please visit ASDPrayandFast.com.


4. As you are probably well aware, current economic situations have taken a real hit on ministries, and we are no exception. Therefore, we would be deeply grateful if you would consider making a donation to help with the costs of this prayer thrust and our ongoing ministry to families of children and adults with autism. To make a tax-deductible donation, please send a check or money order made out to Children of Destiny to:

Children of Destiny
PO Box 120607
Melbourne, FL 32912

or visit http://childrenofdestiny.org/make_a_donation.asp for more donation options.

If you have any other questions or comments regarding Turning the Tide! or anything related to Children of Destiny, we would love to hear from you! Please email us at prayer@childrenofdestiny.org.
We are excited, and expecting the Lord to move on the Earth as we come together in agreement to see the tide of autism turned. Thank you for standing with us!

Blessings,
Jack and Rebecca Sytsema

6 comments:

hellokittiemama said...

I am so with ya on the Autism Attack Month!

And yes, praying too.

Anonymous said...

Hey Ginger

Great post. I love Children of Destiny - I'll be praying with you. I put a link to your post on my blog today (yes, I have one now). http://tinyurl.com/ctvete

Jim said...

Good Lord - the 1 in 88 number is reported by the U.S.'s own DOD? I read that number in the Scottsman article a while ago - but I figured that was just a higher rate because the folks across the pond were a little more accepting of reality than us..

How the hell can Congress just let the CDC sit on whatever autism data it has in it's vaults?

Me, I want Congress to figure out some way to force them to release whatever they have - not that it will tell us anything we don't already know, but it would tell us just how far the CDC will go to cover up what we already know.. And they should be forced to release the full VSD data.. But that's another story.

SpecialNeedsMom.com said...

it has been a long time since I have visited, but liked catching up. I have a post also related to autism awareness month at www.specialneedsmom.com

jason the man said...

Ginger,
I wanted to express my thanks for posting your letter to Mr. Brewer, which I finally was led to by a friend. He is the founding pastor of the church my family and I attend in Colorado -Colorado Community Church. Thankfully I have never been a member while he was employed here. We also have an Autistic son, Isaac, who is now 8. I am so sorry for the troubles you had, and pray that God's grace and mercy overflows abundantly in your life, and in the life of your family.

Ginger Taylor said...

Thanks for your appreciattion, Jason, and for your kind words. It was a very hard chapter for us.

Hope that your son is doing well, and that you are equally as blessed as the blessings you offer to me.