Aspies For Freedom

Autism activists stage rally demonstrating concerns over childhood vaccines

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Autism activists staged a rally on Capitol Hill Wednesday to demonstrate their concerns over childhood vaccines.

Those taking part in the rally charge that the government has covered up evidence linking Thimerosal - a preservative once used in vaccines to autism.

Activists want Congress to force the removal of mercury ingredients from all vaccines.

The FDA banned Thimerosal in vaccines six years ago but it still shows up in trace amounts.

The Centers for Disease Control and other medical experts say the vaccines are safe.

Several studies have found no evidence the vaccines cause Autism.

And then what are they going to rally over when the last trace of thimerosal is removed from the last vaccine... and kids are STILL born with autism???

Take your pick from the big list of causes, folic acid, milk, MMR, children being too good looking (really that was cited as a cause!)

Ok I'll admit my boys are handsome and beautiful and too adorable and yes I brag about them and loving showing their pictures around. They are my angels even if both can act like little demons.  

Ok yes I'm going to show off too... here are my boys, Brendon - 2yrs 2 months + quirky advanced NT and Dylan - 4 1/2 w/moderate Autism (HFA) with many other family pics:

  http://photobucket.com/albums/v186/MishLuvsHer2Boys/

I agree your boys are both handsome and too adorable.  I think my little girl is beautiful also even if I don't know how to show her picture.  I don't think beauty is a cause of autism, but I have never seen an unattractive child with autism.  Maybe I am biased.

Oh my, Mish, they ARE adorable!!!

Heck I never brag about my looks... I feel plain anyways and looks fade... mine sure have over 10 yrs. So may as well show off my little men. Heck if beauty was the cause of autism then why do all those NT models lack the sense to take care of their bodies and not starve?

My 14yo daughter Hannah has Williams Syndrome, which commonly gives it's carriers distinctive, especially attractive faces - a so-called "elfin" look.  Of course, I've been looking at her for 14 years, so she just looks like Hannah to me.  :lol: But people have always felt the need to tell me how cute/attractive she is.  Her features are different from everyone else in the family.

Hi Cindy, it has been said that Williams syndrome is the opposite of AS, as the children are so sociable, and also recognise the 'sally ann test' do you find any truth in that?

I don't know about the sally-ann test (Hannah's 14 now, and that test is for children), but her personality is definitely quite a contrast to her aspie brother.

Hannah has ADD, which is almost universal in Wms Syndrome (without the hyperactivity component).  She has some minor learning disabilities -- she is an excellent reader, reading well above her actual grade level (which is 9th), but does poorly in math and spelling (4th grade level).  She uses a dictionary/spell check for writing, and a multiplication table to do math.  Learning disabilities in WS can range from profoundly *** to barely perceptable, so I'd say she's doing really well.  :grin:

She is hyper-social, no doubt about it, but with the familiar social immaturity of AS kids.  The biggest problem? Everyone is her friend and equal -- regardless of age or social standing.  She is excellent with small children and the elderly, but on the flip side, the concept of "stranger danger" has always been a challenge -- needless to say, going out in public with her as a child was nervewracking for me!

She has always assumed she should be a smiling, contributing part of every conversation she hears, even among adults, and still, at 14, gets hurt when I tell her to "go away" (nicely, of course) and find something else to do when I and/or her father are in adult social settings/conversations.  

I truly think, though, that I have been able to teach more social skills to her 11yo aspie brother than I have been able to get through to Hannah.

She can talk non-stop, but not on a pet obsession, as her brother does.  Hannah just talks incessently about whatever happens to pop into her head. :shock: This has also served to isolate her from her peers, who apparently see her as being "too" friendly, and therefore "weird" and a target for teasing.  Fortunately, she has two friends, two girls her age that I suspect are aspies.  :wink:

Interesting, I wonder if there is a genetic element that somehow is connecting aspies and williams syndrome, yet is polarised for social behaviour.

From different things I have read, chromosome 7 is being considered as a location for AS.  
It IS the location for the WS deletion.

Hmm, do you know are their attempts by researchers to find a cure for Williams Syndrome? In your experience is it something that has a lot of positives too and does not need a cure? I dont know a great deal about it, apart from a documentary that I've seen.
The children looked very happy.

If there is such a close connection could a cure for autism/prenatal test be a double blow for Williams too?

That info on William's syndrome was fascinating, but back on the subject of the article, I think it would be a good thing for someone to challenge the idea that the thimoseral looneys are "autism activists". Getting mixed up with these nutbars could give genuine autism activist groups like the AFF a very bad image. Would it be possible to send a "letter to the editor" to whichever publication publised this article?

The only NT moms that are actually autism activists are ones who speak for autistics' rights, not against them.

Moms Against Mercury were using quack research for their claims. The connection between vaccines and autism has never been proven.