This evening, June 4th, at 7pm (EST) MSNBC Dateline is airing a ten-minute feature on autism and chelation therapy. Chelation is a treatment for autistic children based on the theory that they have an excessive amount of heavy metals (such as lead) in their systems. It is a controversial treatment for autism, especially after the death of a child last year while undergoing chelation therapy in a doctor’s office outside of Pittsburgh.
knowing this is from nbc, who runs propadnaga speaks, the story is probaly going to be pro cheleation, etc. :evil:
If its only a ten minute feature, I cannot see how they could give a balanced view and explain the dangers involved.
I can only guess that it will be sufficient to advertise the procedure.
Here's some additional information from the Autism Society of America newsletter (bold added by me):
SCNM Autism Research Study to be Aired on Dateline NBC
WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 2006, scheduled 9 pm eastern (or check your local listings)
This past year Dateline NBC reviewed the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine's (SCNM) chelation research study with autistic children, conducted exclusively by the Southwest College Research Institute at SCNM. The Dateline NBC segment is about 12 minutes long and features Baxter Berle and Joshua Shoemaker, two children on the road to recovery from autism. The segment also includes information about the treatment research of Dr. James Adams. [ http://www. scnm.edu/breakingNews.php ]
Dr. Adams recently informed the audience at a regional conference on autism that he reviewed the piece and thinks it is fair.
Additionally, NBC wants to let viewers know that they review and take into consideration letters and emails that come in after stories air on Dateline NBC. After viewing, please feel free to comment so NBC will consider airing future segments on this important topic and other autism related issues. You can e-mail at dateline@msnbc.com.
I think we should all send them an e-mail to let them know what we think about chelation and maybe send ideas for future, positive autism stories.
http://www.autismstreet.org/weblog/?p=51
one of the dateline chelation study parciants speaks out and withdrew from cheleation. very postive article and really rats out autism speaks and dateline as being mapitulive jerks.
two children on the road to recovery from autism
That's very dangerous language to be using, "On the road tor ecovery" firstly suggests that it's a disease that make you ill but you can eventually be "cured" of. Secondly it gives the impression that it is both possible and desirable to be rid of it.
two children on the road to recovery from autism
That's very dangerous language to be using, "On the road to recovery" firstly suggests that it's a disease that make you ill but you can eventually be "cured" of. Secondly it gives the impression that it is both possible and desirable to be rid of it.
yeah, i think people still hold true that being autistic is being trapped in a childlike state forever and never growing up. if that's true, i guess recovring from autism is simply growing up. autistics grow up, and many of us live indepentely and like our lives. we still need to defeat the myth that autism means being in that state forever.
and to call my life diseased is insulting, this is who i am, and it does not infict pain. it's just the way we are designed, and not defective design. and no, i don't want to get rid of it.
but i was pointing out that people are starting to discover what a scam it is to dehumanize autistics and starting to take ground...but are we too late?
but i was pointing out that people are starting to discover what a scam it is to dehumanize autistics and starting to take ground...but are we too late?
I don't think it's too late, but it does seem to be an "uphill battle." We just need to keep raising awareness, writing polite, but informative letters to journalists (including TV shows like Dateline - dateline@msnbc.com ) who portray autism inaccurately or negatively, and to companies who sponsor offensive organizations, such as Autism Speaks. They most likely don't really understand what they're supporting. They only know the stereotypes and are thinking that they are helping autistic people and their families. They need to be informed that they are, in fact, doing the opposite: sponsoring an organization that is offensive to autistics and does not support education or familiy support.
There are increasing numbers of positive articles and news reports coming out...I think we are making some positive ground. :grin: