FIFTH EDITION 2006, Volume 45 R5 Environmental Health and Autism In thIs Issue: Time To GeT a Grip By martha r. Herbert, m.D., ph.D. Beyond Behavior—Biomedical Diagnoses in Autism spectrum Disorders By Margaret L. Bauman, M.D. transforming the Public Debate on neurotoxicants By Elise Miller, M.Ed. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Autism does not have to be a life sentence You’re not about to give up on your child. Neither Are We. Since , the Autism Treatment Center of America™ has provided innovative training programs for parents and professionals caringifor children challenged by Autism Spectrum Disorders and related developmental difficulties. • Practical Tools • Powerful Results • Limitless Hope c Help your child improve in all areas of over p learning, development, communication and hoto skill acquisition. : © W I Join us for our internationally-acclaimed ll T ERR Son-Rise Program® Start-Up, a y comprehensive weeklong training program for parents and professionals. We don’t put limits on the possibilities for your child. Free 25-Minute Initial Call 877-766-7473 We’ll give you the keys to unlock their world. HOME OF THE SON-RISE PROGRAM® SINCE 1983 South Undermountain Road Sheffield, MA - USA Telephone: -- • E-mail: [email protected] www.autismtreatment.com Copyright © 2006 by The Option Institute & Fellowship. All rights reserved. 02.06-6 CONTENTS December 2006 page 18 SpOTlIGHT Time to Get A Grip By marTHa r. HerBerT, m.D., pH.D. Does an environmental role in autism make sense? How do we decide? And if environment is involved in autism, what do we do about it? These are challenging questions. Because our available information is complicated in many ways, each of us answers these questions based on our own judgment and deeply held worldviews. An Interview with Dr. tom Insel, nIMh Director Autism’s new Paradigm: Seeking Answers “We can’t wait. We have to find out about to Environmental Threats FeAtuRes which treatments will work for our children.” By Michael Lerner, Ph.D. By Bleu Blakslee PAge 13 PAge 11 c over arTiCLeS p hoto Biomedical Factors in Autism treatments for Autism : © W 27 Beyond Behavior—Biomedical Diagnoses in Autism 47 Biomedical Treatment of Autism By John Green, M.D. Spectrum Disorders I ll T By Margaret L. Bauman, M.D. 51 Effective Treatments for Autism ERR y 30 The prenatal Environment and Neuroinflammation in Autism By Doreen Granpeesheh Ph.D., BCBA By Susan L. Connors, M.D., Carlos A. Pardo, M.D. and 52 The parents’ Role in Biomedical Treatment for Autism Andrew W. Zimmerman, M.D. Spectrum Disorders 32 Gastrointestinal Illness in Autism: An Interview By Lisa Ackerman with Tim Buie, M.D. Autism: First Person Perspective By Kulani Mahikoa 35 Evidence for Metabolic Imbalance and 56 Autism’s McGuffin By Dan Olmsted Oxidative Stress in Autism 58 Exploring the Role of Toxicology in the Etiology of Autism: By S. Jill James, Ph.D. A View from the Spectrum and a call to Action 38 Environmental Mercury Release and its Association with By Stephen Shore Changing Autism Rates 59 Rescuing a Generation By Raymond F. Palmer, Ph.D., and Stephen Blanchard, Ph.D. By J.B. Handley 60 There is Hope: children with Autism can Recover 41 Why Time Trends in Autism Matter By Mark F. Blaxill By Judy Chinitz Gorman 42 Transforming the public Debate on Neurotoxicants: 71 Fighting for Our children: Advocacy in The learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative the Age of Environmental Awareness By Elise Miller, M.Ed. By Bernard Rimland, Ph.D. 44 Requirements for Good Scientific Inquiry By G. Jean Harry, Ph.D. DeparTmenTS 45 The ‘Three Strikes’ concept of Autism What’s New at ASA Interviewed by Judy Chinitz Gorman; 65 Edited by Dr. Ian Lipkin and Dr. Mady Hornig • Advocacy • conference For more articles, please visit www.autism-society.org/advocate. • News Advocate FIFTH EDITION 2006 3 MESSAGE FROM THE ASA BOARD CHAIR In Memoriam Autism Society of America Board of Directors (July 2006-July 2007) The Autism Society of America (ASA) announces with profound OFFICERS: Lee Grossman, President & CEO sympathy the death of our founder, Bernard Rimland, Ph.D. Bernie Cathy Pratt, Ph.D., Board Chair Ruth Elaine Hane, First Vice Chair Rimland was among the first to realize the importance of combining a John Shouse, Second Vice Chair John S. Reedy, Treasurer focus on medical interventions with treatments, supports and services. Elizabeth Roth, Secretary There is not one parent or professional who has not been impacted by BOARD MEMBERS: the knowledge, dreams and thinking of Bernie. Andres Filippi Carolyn Gammichia A pioneer in the area of autism diagnosis and treatment, Bernie Artie Kempner David K. Humphrey transformed the prevailing pessimistic view of autism in the medical Evelyne Milorin Stephen Shore and scientific community and built the largest parent support Jerry Silbert Dean Wilson organization in the United States. Along the way, he inspired hundreds PANEL OF PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS: of thousands of parents, advocates and professionals to treat individuals James Ball, Ed.D. Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D. with autism with respect, dignity and care. Co-Chairs His 1964 book, Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and its Implications HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS: Bernard Rimland, Ph.D. for a Neural Theory of Behavior, was responsible for challenging Ruth Christ Sullivan, Ph.D. and changing the long-held belief that autism was an emotional auTiSm Advocate disorder caused by poor mothering. Autism is now recognized as a ASA’s Premier Magazine on Autism Spectrum Disorders biomedical disorder. Bernie devoted himself tirelessly to conducting PUBLISHER Lee Grossman, ASA President and CEO and disseminating the results of research on methods of diagnosing MANAGING EDITOR and treating the full spectrum of autism. These treatment modalities, Kate Ranta DESIGN n2design, Inc. “There is not one parent ADVERTISING SALES Potomac Media or professional who has ASA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Marguerite Kirst Colston not been impacted by the The Autism Advocate is a publication of the Autism Society of America, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD, 20814. Copyright 2006 by Autism Society of America. All knowledge, dreams and rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage thinking of Bernie.” and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. The information, views, and any recommendations or endorsements expressed by authors, advertisers, and/or once considered radical, are now gaining wide acceptance as the news other contributors appearing in the Autism Advocate do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or recommendations spreads about formerly autistic children who have been reclassified or endorsements of the Autism Society of America. The as normal. publication of such information and the advertisements included within the Autism Advocate do not constitute an endorsement of such information or of any treatment, Bernie’s determination was spawned by his own son’s diagnosis of product, methodology, and/or service advertised. autism, at age two, in 1958. He was a hero to the autism community The Autism Advocate is published five times a year. To receive and his legacy will live on through the work of the Autism Research the publication, please join the Autism Society of America. For more information, please visit www.autism-society.org. Institute, the Autism Society of America and the good work of others. To contact the editor, please email [email protected]. This special edition of the Autism Advocate is dedicated in Bernie If you are interested in advertising in the Autism Advocate, please contact Reem Nourallah at 202-333-8622 or Rimland’s memory. [email protected]. All other inquiries should be directed to: Autism Society of America 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300 Bethesda, MD 20814 Cathy Pratt, P.h.D. Toll free: 1-800-3AUTISM | Fax: 301-657-0869 www.autism-society.org 4 Autism Advocate FIFTH EDITION 2006 Autism Advocate FIFTH EDITION 2006 5 ARI_Parent_Ad_Revised3.indd 1 9/11/2006 8:12:32 AM MESSAGE FROM ASA PRESIDENT & CEO On behalf of the Autism Society of America (ASA), its board of directors, our tens of thousands of members and supporters, and our network of almost 200 chapters, I wish to thank the contributors to this special issue of the Autism Advocate, “Environmental Health and Autism.” Representing a seminal treatment of this topic, this special issue contains the most up-to-date research and opinions from a variety of thought leaders that consider and challenge the many long-held concepts on the causes and treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This special issue is part of a larger project at ASA, which boldly Lee grossman proposes a new paradigm in how we deal with ASD issues. The collective wisdom of those contributing to this journal supports new theories, while at the same time factoring important lessons learned and showing the utmost respect and concern for all those affected by ASD. Many have asked why ASA is becoming involved with environmental health and autism now, but when we look back at our history, our organization has always been concerned with this issue. Our founder, Dr. Bernard Rimland, has been on the forefront of this for decades, and we This special issue is part have held conferences and produced numerous articles in of a larger project at ASA, our publications on this subject. which boldly proposes a new Moreover, our public policy initiatives have been consistent paradigm in how we deal and vocal in the need for further with ASD issues. and expanded research. Nonetheless, we have witnessed over the past few years that the effects of environmental toxins have become much more visible, and thus the debate more global.