For years, Dan Olmsted has been writing a long and intensely researched journalistic series called "The Age of Autism." Today, he has joined forces with Generation Rescue to create a new daily webzine entitled "The Age of Autism."
Olmsted, like Generation Rescue, is dedicated to the premise that autism is caused by environmental factors including vaccines - and can be cured by biomedical interventions. Here's an excerpt from his first letter from the editor:
Welcome to Age of Autism, the nation's first daily Web newspaper for the environmental-biomedical community – those who believe the autism epidemic is a health crisis that requires urgent action; that autism is an environmentally induced illness, that it is treatable, and that children can recover.Olmsted has a significant media presence, so it's likely his publication will gain a good deal of notice in the coming weeks and months.For the most part, the major media in the United States aren't interested in that point of view, they won't investigate the causes and possible biomedical treatments of autism independently, and they don't listen to the most important voices – those of the parents. We will do all those things, and more.
Meanwhile, this past weekend, the National Autism Society (not to be confused with the Autism Society of America) is running its annual conference. Also focused on all things biomedical, this year's conference "stars" Deirdre Imus and Jenny McCarthy and is sponsored by a national Hyperbaric organization (hyperbaric oxygen chambers are one biomedical approach to treating autism).
These events are likely to turn the spotlight even more brightly on the notion that autism is a disorder caused by a combination of vaccines and environmental factors - and curable by a combination of physical interventions. These ideas, of course, fly in the face of the medical mainstream - including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has just announced a plan to require pediatricians to screen for autism twice in a child's first two years.
I've just checked the AAP Website to be sure I have all my facts straight, and see that they have linked directly to the video glossary and other materials created by Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks, of course, focuses most of its tremendous publicity and fundraising on genetic research - and has raised the anger of many biomedical advocates.
Should be an interesting few weeks!
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Leave a commentIdealistic I realize … but possible!
When will the quackery end?
Autism is a disorder that affects multiple systems. It is arrogant for anyone to assume that a single approach will address every need that a person with autism has.
While conducting his “intense research” in Amish country, he seems to have overlooked the Clinic for Special Children. This clinic mentions Autism on its website and they have recently identified a form of Autism unique to the Amish. Of course, when this is pointed out on the GR website, the comments are censored. Cannot have facts cloud up a nice conspiracy.
Another issue, raised by some of the commenters, is the idea of “balance”, “fairness” etc. While these may be admirable qualities in many venues, in dealing with treating children with powerful drugs, like Lupron, the chemical castration drug, fairness and balance are not applicable.
Not all ideas are created equal. Some are based on RealScience and facts. Others are based on fearmongering, lies and hidden agendas. Thus, the anti-vaccinators developed this mythical link between Autism and Vaccines and.or their contents. Numerous studies, in several countries and accross varied polulations have completely dispelled any such link. Parents who have been loaded with guilt feeling that their deisre to make certain that their child is protected by vaccines, and then be told that they are the ones responsible, can now feel relieved since they were lied to. Nothing that they did caused their child’s Autism.
As for Generation Rescue, they have produced some of the web’s most vile bloggers. ‘nuf said.
From reading his work, I’ve certainly had the impression that he asked an awful lot of questions, read an awful lot of reports, and generally did his homework from a journalistic perspective. Of course, he has a very definite slant, making the work far more editorial than investigative!
In any case, Olmsted’s is a voice that will be heard, one way or the other. And it’s not likely to create a more cohesive autism community…
Lisa