Discussing Autism

A mom and her autistic toddler were thrown off a plane. Is it a big deal? In my mind…yes. But I don’t know what is right in this situation. There are several versions of this story but most state that it all started when the flight attendant requested that the mother move the carry-on bag from under the seat to the overhead compartment.

The mother stated that the flight attendant made matters worse when she continued to touch the child. (more…)

Yes, I know that I am a bit late with this type of post but better late than never, right? These famous fathers have teed up, suited up, shot goals, field goals, and hatricks for their sons and their disabilities. They have proudly displayed ribbons, buttons, pins, and raised money for foundations like Autism Speaks and Athletes Against Autism. (more…)

According to Jenny McCarthy her son, Evan, has officially been undiagnosed with autism. In an interview with Greta Van Susteren, a Fox News Host who interviewed McCarthy regarding the Green our Vaccines rally that took place in Washington D.C. June 6.

VAN SUSTEREN: How old is Evan?
(more…)

I have been a charter member of Trusera since this past March. The Seattle-based Trusera is an invitation only network of people who care about health. The site works to connect people who have “been there” and “done that” and helps to inform people who are searching for quality information.

I know that when I started my search for information about AJ I came across so much junk that I had a difficult time sorting through everything. However, like Trusera’s founder’s believe, I believe that if I had people to guide me with their stories, with their information I would have spent much less time shifting through the Internet and much more time finding answers.

Monday, Trusera announced that it is officially public. Focusing on social networking and story telling, Trusera is hoping to help people glean knowledge from one another’s experiences and be able to ask questions about their own health issues.

“‘The power of been there’”–the site’s motto–”is a real rallying cry for us,” says founder Keith Schorsch, a former senior executive at Amazon. “Everyone has a health story. What we want to do is combine the power of those stories in an individual, and also collectively powerful, way.”

Schorsh believes in the power of “been there, done that” because he actually lived it. In 2004 a dozen doctors failed to diagnose his Lyme’s disease. A friend did instead.

So, are you ready to join in to one of the biggest new social networks; A network unlike all of the other mommy networks, a network that you can talk about health issues instead of laundry detergents, a network where you can write candidly about your mammogram, a network where you can talk to men, women, grandparents, singles, and same sex couples about your child’s heart murmur?

The Trusera team, a world class team of engineers from companies like Amazon.com, Starbucks, Expedia, Vonage, and Vignette, is ready to welcome you to the newest health network on the Internet.

I know that I love conversing with people like me…I am sure that you will too.

To get to Trusera just click on this link.
http://www.trusera.com/group_invitations/autism-community

Read more:
Trusera Press Release

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=868779

Marketwire, 6/16/08

Trusera Health Network Matches Based on Amazon Recommendations

http://mashable.com/2008/06/16/trusera/

Mashable |Kristen Nicole - 6/16/08

Additional Pickup:

* Moraaz.org, 6/16/08: http://en.moraaz.org/trusera-health-network-matches-based-on-amazon-recommendations/

Learning about Health with new Seattle startup, Trusera.com

http://blog.teachstreet.com/2008/06/16/learning-about-health-with-new-seattle-startup-truseracom/

TeachStreet | 6/16/08

Trusera Launches Social Network For Health Advice

http://venturebeat.com/2008/06/16/trusera-launches-social-network-for-health-advice/

Venture Beat | Anthony Ha - 6/16/08

Additional pickup:

* The Industry Standard, 6/16/08: http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/06/16/trusera-launches-social-network-health-advice

Making Personal Health Networking as Easy as a Book Club: Former Amazon Exec Launches Online Healthcare Site

http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/06/16/making-personal-health-networking-as-easy-as-a-book-club-former-amazon-exec-launches-online-healthcare-site/

Xconomy | Gregory Huang - 6/16/08
Additional Pickup:

* Today.com, 6/16/08: http://www.today.com/view/making-personal-health-networking-as-easy-as-a-book-club-former-amazon-exec-launches-online-healthcare-site/id-2187761/

Yesterday I wrote about Kristina Chew and Ari Ne’eman’s “crusade” against the people who want to “cure” autism and continue to research for a cure. (more…)

What is the future of autism? (more…)

Connor Folkertsma, a 12-year-old boy with autism slipped into the waters of Indian Mill Creek near Grand Rapids, Michigan June, 9. (more…)

Ever wonder how your child will ever be able to learn how to use the computer without completely crashing it? Yeah…so did I. All AJ wants to do is press the buttons and all he really does is destroy my settings.
(more…)

In the 1970’s autism affected only an estimated 1 in 10,000 children. Then, in 1990 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that it was 1 in 500. Now, the estimate is 1 in 150 children who are on the autism spectrum. (more…)

While I was visiting the doctor today I inquired about my son’s vaccine schedule only to find out that he is, in fact, required to have several vaccines before he enters kindergarten in the fall. I know, though my own research, that I can opt of out some of them but I also know that my son’s health is at stake no matter what I chose to do.

There is also a new Internet scheduling tool (ages 6 and under) from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designed to make sure everyone keeps their children on the schedule (because we all know how transient we are these days). The schedule takes about 10 seconds to download with an up to date computer but you also must go through the install process (which takes another 10 seconds to add to your desktop). (more…)

Reality television is fascinating to the American public. We glom onto young adults as they sign to become the next American Idol, only to be ridiculed on national T.V. by three judges who have only just met them. We watch on the edges of our seats while contestants compete to become the sole Survivor or America’s Next Top Model but have we ever really stopped to think about what we are teaching our children about competition and about how to treat people? (more…)

I’m sure by now you have all heard, or read, of the 5-year-old kindergartner, Alex Barton, who was cast out of his classroom last week by his own teacher and classmates.

If not…

Port St. Lucie, Florida teacher, Wendy Portillo, was removed from her duties as kindergarten teacher because she held a vote in her classroom in which students literally “voted-out” Barton because they did not like him in the classroom. Often a behavior challenge and often either in the principal’s office or nurse’s office for acting up, Alex is currently being tested for Asperger’s Disorder, a form of autism.

The problem here is not necessarily that she humiliated him in front of his peers, that she teased and bullied him (and allowed other students to do it as well), and not that she even committed emotional abuse in a classroom.

The problem here is that (and thanks to Daily Kos and Thinking in Metaphors for their fabulous interpretations) she took matters into her own hands when she got frustrated with his behavior. Instead, she was required BY LAW to give him services under IDEA and to help participate in the creation of his IEP if he is found to be autistic. (more…)

Dr. Fernando Miranda, a neurologist at the Bright Minds Institute in San Francisco stated today on the Good Morning America morning show that he believes the key to diagnosing autism could lie in the brain and that neurologists should be involved in the diagnosis.

Although not recommended for every child with autism, MRI’s and EEG’s are imperative for children who show any signs of seizure activity. However, not everyone agrees. (more…)

According to a new survey presented at the International Meeting for Autism Researching mothers of children with autism were twice as likely to have used pet shampoo that contains pyrethrins as those mothers with healthy children. (more…)

The debate isn’t over despite what lawyers and doctors want. Parents are insisting that vaccines with Thimerosal and mercury are the direct link to autism and are determined to prove it in the United States Court system.

For the second time just this year families are back in court claiming that vaccinations triggered autism in their young children. The specific case began today and features two 10-year-old boys from Portland, Oregon, William Mead and Jordan King. They are considered test cases to determine whether or not the thousands of families should get compensation, as those two boys, much like the other children they represent, had been developing normally before the vaccinations. (more…)