As a mental health professional practicing in Miami for well over a decade I have witnessed the ongoing increase in autism and autistic spectrum disorder cases in the community.  Unfortunately, one does not have to be in the health care field to notice this, as these conditions are arising so frequently that more and more people are personally touched by autism.  You may have a relative or friend whose child is diagnosed with autism or another neuro-developmental disorder.  Many articles are written about autism and news stories are often presented with the spin on current research and controversies concerning autism.

Few Americans are aware of how heavily censored and restricted mainstream news reports on health and some other topics can be.  Pharmaceutical companies and other large corporate interests are substantial sponsors of media, including television, newspapers, magazines, and professional journals.  By sponsorship, I refer to multiple ways in which they have financial influence.  This includes advertising, grants, and pre-packaged news releases made available by corporations.  Now, much of the controversy surrounding autism involves the causes and treatment of these types of disorders.  Pharmaceutical companies benefit from promotion of treatment models that are biased toward their products and they also have an interest in censoring any information that would suggest their products may actually contribute to causing health problems or disabilities.

This control over information and research reports is interwoven with government regulation of health care.  Government regulations are often manipulated to favor corporate interests at the expense of the public's health.  We can't ultimately expect our government to protect our health, even though we have the right to demand that government officials and agencies protect our interests.  The reality is that powerful corporate interests and lobbyists have more leverage to influence government bodies than citizens do, especially since many officials involved in the regulatory process are non-elected bureaucrats who are either past or future employees of companies that are affected by the regulatory agencies.  We each face the responsibility of taking charge of our own health and healthcare choices.

Now, with that framework in our awareness, let's bring our attention to the controversies around Autism.  I recently received a review copy of the book Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide, by Jenny McCarthy & Jerry Kartzinel, M.D.  Jenny McCarthy is a well known actress and former PlayBoy centerfold whose child developed autism, and she has collaborated with a medical doctor who has also faced being a parent of an autistic child.  Jenny has gotten some lifestyle and entertainment media attention due to her celebrity status, yet her campaign to raise awareness of issues about causes and treatments of autism is mainly ignored by the news media.  Jenny and many other parents around the world are discovering that there are triggers for autism that include vaccinations and other toxic environmental exposures, and that successful treatments involve detoxification and methods to adjust diet and nutrition to compensate for and/or repair the issues that have developed due to these hazards.

Meanwhile, media outlets continue to promote government and industry claims that current research dismisses the notion that vaccines contribute to autism.  Research can be manipulated and distorted in a variety of ways to allow researchers to claim whatever finding they desire.  Research is a huge investment for pharmaceutical companies and they need a return on their investments, so there is strong pressure to create positive findings for their products and to hide any potential side effects and hazards.  There is great incentive for corporations and government to lie or mislead, whereas parents and independent healthcare providers (those not having a financial stake in drugs or healthcare products) are more likely to be only motivated to share their knowledge and experience honestly for the benefit of their audience.  The movement for natural prevention and treatment of autism is coming from these parents and independent healthcare practitioners.

I encourage parents to educate themselves and not merely accept as dogma what any supposed expert or authority tells them.  I have put together a resource list on the subject of Autism at www.phinsights.com/autism.html in order to help people locate the information needed to help them make informed decisions about care.  I am available to assist those seeking to address these concerns, providing the holistic resources I can offer as well as any referrals that can lead to needed assistance with biomedical approaches for addressing autism and neurodevelopmental impairment.  There are many resources available that can help and there is much hope for progress and recovery for those diagnosed with autism.  Let's truly promote Autism Awareness as more than a slogan - as a full commitment to a deep understanding of autism issues and all the treatment options that are available, being open to recognizing past mistakes and forgiving anyone who has contributed to the rise of autism cases.  We don't need to wait for official recognition to take action to help heal autism - great changes do often arise from the so-called grass roots, from common people who choose to create progress rather than accepting the status quo or staying in boxes of containment put out by dominant authorities and prevailing belief.

Jed Shlackman, LMHC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor practicing in Miami, Florida
Contact Jed at jshlackm@phinsights.com or (305) 259-0013

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