Families expand autism group

Visit with new Talk About Curing Autism chapter at weekend conference

By Diane Huber | The Olympian • Published March 03, 2008

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"I'm trying to make people aware that this is a much bigger issue than they're being led to believe. It's more common than people know," she said.

Talk About Curing Autism

What: TACA provides support for families living with autism, as well as connecting parents with professionals.

Local chapter: The first meeting of the Western Washington chapter will be at 10 a.m. March 15 in Building E auditorium, at the south campus of Bates Technical College, 2201 South 78th St., Tacoma

Online: www.tacanow.org

Information: denise_fulton@talkaboutcuringautism.com

More local support groups:
• A local autism support group meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Parent to Parent,1012 Homann Dr. SE, Lacey. Information: 360-352-1126.
• Exceptional Families Network – Therese Holliday – 360-507-0944, www.ExceptionalFamilies.Net (Family member discounts for Brighter Tomorrows Conference)
• South Sound Parent To Parent – Chris Morris - 360-352-0115 (Groups for moms of kids with autism, spina bifida)
• South Sound Up with Downs – Becka Brandt - 360-915-6276, beccabrandt@msn.com (meets at Parent to Parent)
• Cerebral Palsy Network – Dena Kirchoff, www.thecpnetwork.org - thecpnet@thecpnetwork.org
• Autism Support Group – Patty Gee, 360-556-8151, pattyjgee@comcast.net
• Spina Bifida Support Group – Heather Logan, heather_logan@juno.com

Brighter Tomorrows Northwest Special Needs Conference

What: Information about autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and more will be available. The annual conference focuses on educational, health and legal issues surrounding families of children with special needs.

When: 7:50 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 7 and 8 at the Worthington Center at Saint Martin's University, 5300 Pacific Ave. S.E., Lacey.

Cost: Exhibits are open to the public for $5, while those wishing to attend the entire conference must pay between $149-$249. Scholarships and discounts are available; check the Web site for information.

The event is sponsored by the Wyatt Holliday Foundation, which helps families of children with special needs through advocacy, education and support.

Speakers: The event features talks by 28 nationally and internationally known speakers and exhibits on the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center of Seattle, the Autism Research Institute, Talk About Curing Autism, Washington Virtual Academy and other agencies.

Vaccines and autism: Three speakers will address the topic of vaccines and their link to autism. Speakers include a geneticist and the former editor for United Press International, who has researched autism since 2004 and authored the series "The Age of Autism," which included interviews with Olympia families who link their children's regression into autism to vaccines.

Special education and parents' rights: Several speakers will address special education laws and advocacy, and how parents can get their children's needs met in their school district.

IEP Workshop: A workshop from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday to help parents formulate the Individualized Education Program — a contract between parents and the school that determines services to be provided to the child during the school year, including a specialized curriculum, therapies and dietary needs.

Teachers and the public can attend the IEP workshop for $35 without paying the entire fee.

Film: There also will be a Friday evening film screening of "Finding the Words," addressing recovered autistic children, and "The Sandwich Kid," which interviews siblings of kids with special needs. Filmmakers will lead a discussion after the screenings. Entry is $7 per person; conference attendees can attend for free.

Information and registration: www.WyattsHouse.org/2008conference.htm or 360-507-0944

Vaccines and autism

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 150 children in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder. The agency said there is no cure and the cause is likely genetic.

The CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics and Food and Drug Administration all say there is no link between vaccines and autism. "There is no convincing scientific evidence of harm caused by low doses of thimerosal in vaccines," the CDC says.

Thimerosal is a mercury-containing substance that is used as a preservative, and the FDA ordered that thimerosal be removed from most vaccines in 1999.

Dr. Diana Yu, Thurston County's public health officer and a member of the state Board of Health, said the misconception about vaccines has led parents to skip vaccinating their children.

"The reality is that we are seeing children that have diseases that are vaccine-preventable, and that's very unfortunate," she said.

She encourages parents to attend the special needs conference, but also suggests parents be critical of the information about vaccines.

"People need to listen, do research, ask questions. Don't take anything anybody says for fact without checking it out, including me," she said.

Support and resources

Some parents and organizations, including the National Autism Association and Autism Research Institute, argue there is compelling evidence that vaccines can trigger autism.

Some South Sound families say their children exhibited signs of autism shortly after being vaccinated, said Holliday, who runs an autism support group. Many believe their children received too many vaccines at once.

Fulton believes vaccines played a part in Grant's autism. He had reactions, including rashes and diarrhea, after receiving shots. He also had two viruses as a baby that seem to have weakened his immune system, she said.

She also said the biomedical treatments that sped up Grant's recovery might not work for everyone.

TACA serves as a place to provide parents resources, information and support, should they choose to try biomedical treatments. Parents who aren't interested in biomedical treatments can find local doctors and behavioral therapists, as well as information on special education laws and how to work with local school districts, she said.

The support, she said, "can be an anchor for families, that there's someone who cares."

Fulton said the families starting TACA aren't focused on the political debate about vaccines — they want to give parents resources to improve their children's lives.

"We're a support group helping families on their autism journey to find their own answers," she said.

Diane Huber covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-357-0204 or dhuber@theolympian.com.

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