A sad reality as an epidemic is ignored
Alan E. Moses
February 12, 2007
With the CDC’s latest report about the numbers of autism cases being much higher than before thought,the news media ignores this epidemic. Television news stations devote two days to the death of a celebrity. Anna Nicole Smith’s death is somehow the most important topic of discussion.
There are no questions as to why this two part study is almost 12 years old? No one is asking why this study could not have been compiled with more recent data? Why again they used data from six states then 14? I as many others would like to know the true numbers and not a purposely watered down and out of date version. What is the ratio of those born in 1992 compared to those born in 1999? I believe then we would be blown away by the increase.
But then again I am not sure that the CDC really wants this information to be released at this point. And because autism has higher rates among males I would have liked that ratio to have been released. As of now 1 in 150 just doesn’t seem that bad to most.
As with most parents in the autism community I have been shunned as overly emotional about this subject. Politicians, medical professionals, school administrators, teachers as well as family and friends all seem to ignore our plea. We are looked at as crazy and so that is why our kids are like they are.
There isn’t even a true understanding that ADD along with many of the other related alphabet set of diagnoses in all reality appear to be sharing some symptoms. All are treated as solely psychiatric disorders and not biological.
Being one of many parents I have a justified belief that the cause of these disorders is environmentally related. I have had to endure many negative reactions from the people and agencies that I believed would have the most concern. Many times I have felt as if I was alone and just spinning my wheels as nobody cares.
Then I come to the realization that I am far from alone. All I do is reflect about the conversations that I have with others. Many of them are dealing with having to rely on anti-depressants and a son using meds for ADD along with daughters that suffer from asthma. And when you include the grandparents dealing with Parkinson’s and or Alzheimer’s you begin to see a pattern.
Does no one notice that it seems as though almost everyone has some form of auto-immune or neurological disorder? Imagine going to sleep in 1979 and waking up in 2007.
You would be thinking “Oh my God, What is going on here?” There comes a time for a reality check.
I can’t help but remember the Love Canal tragedy. I also remember how it was dealt with. It just quietly went away as no blame was given and those that suffered were not even offered sympathy. I just fear that we are attempting to do the same now. The problem is that we have no place to hide anymore.
There are no questions as to why this two part study is almost 12 years old? No one is asking why this study could not have been compiled with more recent data? Why again they used data from six states then 14? I as many others would like to know the true numbers and not a purposely watered down and out of date version. What is the ratio of those born in 1992 compared to those born in 1999? I believe then we would be blown away by the increase.
But then again I am not sure that the CDC really wants this information to be released at this point. And because autism has higher rates among males I would have liked that ratio to have been released. As of now 1 in 150 just doesn’t seem that bad to most.
As with most parents in the autism community I have been shunned as overly emotional about this subject. Politicians, medical professionals, school administrators, teachers as well as family and friends all seem to ignore our plea. We are looked at as crazy and so that is why our kids are like they are.
There isn’t even a true understanding that ADD along with many of the other related alphabet set of diagnoses in all reality appear to be sharing some symptoms. All are treated as solely psychiatric disorders and not biological.
Being one of many parents I have a justified belief that the cause of these disorders is environmentally related. I have had to endure many negative reactions from the people and agencies that I believed would have the most concern. Many times I have felt as if I was alone and just spinning my wheels as nobody cares.
Then I come to the realization that I am far from alone. All I do is reflect about the conversations that I have with others. Many of them are dealing with having to rely on anti-depressants and a son using meds for ADD along with daughters that suffer from asthma. And when you include the grandparents dealing with Parkinson’s and or Alzheimer’s you begin to see a pattern.
Does no one notice that it seems as though almost everyone has some form of auto-immune or neurological disorder? Imagine going to sleep in 1979 and waking up in 2007.
You would be thinking “Oh my God, What is going on here?” There comes a time for a reality check.
I can’t help but remember the Love Canal tragedy. I also remember how it was dealt with. It just quietly went away as no blame was given and those that suffered were not even offered sympathy. I just fear that we are attempting to do the same now. The problem is that we have no place to hide anymore.
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