another vaccine case

It seems the jury may still be out on vaccines, as far as many people in the autism world feel. And just when it appeared to be definitively decided that vaccines are not the causation culprit by the federal "Vaccine Court" in Washington on February 12, there is a new report on the Huffington Post about yet another case of the MMR vaccine causing an autism spectrum disorder, PDD-NOS. http://www.huffungtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-ir-and-david-kirby/vaccine-court-autism-deba b 169673.html

This is such an emotional debate and not likely to be settled by the "special masters of the court" in Washington. But it does seem that we have to look beyond vaccines to the other possible toxins and infectious agents in our environment that effect all of us, and cause such serious problems for the most susceptible of us. There are so many possibilities and not enough research being done or oversight on the federal level to determine the negative impact of being exposed to such a wide range of toxins. Think about all the antibiotics, anti-depressants, blood pressure drugs, etc. that are being prescribed, consumed, and eliminated into the system that provides our drinking water. Then there are the phalates in plastics, the toxic waste of the computer industry, air pollution and God knows what else. We all need to get serious about searching for the causes of autism because the increase in incidence is growing astronomically and affects the resources of every community.

Fever/Heat: Decrease in Autism Symptoms

At the recent Stanford University Autism Conference, Dr. Andrew Zimmerman from the Kennedy Krieger Institute spoke about fever, immune factors and synaptic function in autism. Most interesting was the validation of reports I've heard over the years from many parents of children with autism who say that their children do indeed show signs of improvement with illness. Many report better eye contact, cognition, language, social interaction while their child's autistic behaviors, ("stimming", hyperactivity) are reduced. And according to Dr. Zimmerman, some of these improvements can be seen with the application of external heat, such as hot tubs or time in a sauna. No wonder we have so many families whose children spend so much time in the family hot tub or bath! Not only does it seem to have a calming effect, but it may, in fact, help manage their behavior and improve communication. There are lots of stories out there about fevers: check out http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyld=16956039.

Genetics vs. Environment

Although there likely is a genetic pre-disposition to autism, it seems that the environment plays a very important, and possibly critical role - maybe even the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. Because so much research has focused on genetic links, we may be missing the myriad of toxins to which children with autism are exposed and the harm they cause. With this in mind, I was very excited to see the recent release from the UC Davis MIND Institute talking about shifting the direction of research from the study of genes to environmental causes, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/134717.php. The bad news: the numbers of children receiving the diagnosis continues to rise, not to be explained away by better diagnosis or how they are counted.

The Relevance of the Here and Now

What is there to celebrate these days? Can things get any worse? Wait, don't answer that! It seems that anxiety is palpable all around us. You don't have to go very far to be inundated with bad news. We seem surrounded by information and most of it frightening and dreadful. With the California budget in its current mess , we are feeling the pinch of declining dollars from the school districts and regional centers, our main funding sources. Add to that the worst recession in years causing a reduction in philanthropy in these perilous economic times and you have a confluence of factors that cause us all to wait anxiously for the other shoe to drop. What next, we wonder?

In spite of the gloomy climate we are all experiencing, I am reminded that those of us who work at the Morgan Autism Center are in so many ways, very lucky. We are surrounded by children and adults who, though challenged by autism, are not worried by the many anxieties that dog the rest of us. What will happen in the future is not something that concerns them. 401K in the tank? Not to worry! They live in the present, and focus on their immediate needs and interests. They are the ultimate Zen people, living in the moment and experiencing it fully. They are natural practitioners of "mindfulness" without any effort!

For years in one of our classrooms there was an old broken wall clock with a handwritten note that said, "There is no time like the present." It remained for years and always made me smile when I saw it. But beyond the humor of the timeless clock is the profound sense that there is, indeed, no time like the here and now, and no matter how big the picture of which we all are a part, our reality is about getting through each day, one step at a time. So, while we work with our students on the many aspects necessary to facilitate living their lives fully, they are providing us with invaluable lessons as they teach us about what is really important. And this is what makes us so lucky to be in their presence. Somehow, they remind us that life it too short to worry about that over which we have no control. We must relish each moment and prioritize our lives, as we move on together, one foot in front of the other, one day at a time.

So, what is there to celebrate? Its all the little things, the small accomplishments and successes, the smiles and simple delights that make us realize there is, indeed, much to celebrate.