With Autism Rising in Indiana, 1 in 113, it is Time to Study Environmental Toxins and Autism

The United Kingdom is not the only jurisdiction in the world with a higher rate of autism diagnosis than the 1 in 150 estimated by the CDC or the 1 in 166 to which the Canadian Neuroscience & Neurodiversity establishments cling.

In a series the likes of which is unlikely to surface at the New York Times, the Globe & Mail or the CBC, 'On the Trail: Autism and the Environment', the Bloomington Alternative examines autism in relation to environmental toxins. In Indiana: High rates of autism, toxic pollution, the Stephen Higgs, continues his autism and environmental toxins series at BA with a report on Indiana's high rates of autism and toxic pollution noting that Indiana's identified autism diagnoses rate changed from 1 in 128 to 1 in 113 in one year.

The Denialists will point, yet again, to the change of diagnostic criteria back in 1993-4 as an explanation for this latest increase in diagnoses in Indiana. They will offer no actual study to back up the claim, a claim that grows weaker each time it is trotted out to explain a new increase in autism rates, and as we move further away in time from 1994. Seriously, 15 years after the change in DSM autism definitions it is no longer credible to point to the 1994 DSM change as a full explanation for the startling increases in diagnoses.

It is time to look at ALL possible environmental causes of autism from vaccines to industrial plants and toxic toys and jewelry. It is not enough to scoff and pretend to be "scientific" while denying, refusing to look at possible causes of autism as suggested by facts and evidence.

autism

Autism Abuse in Iowa, What We've Got Here Is A Failure To Communicate

"What we've got here is failure to communicate."
— spoken by "The Captain", played by Strother Martin , Cool Hand Luke

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."
— spoken by "Luke", played by Paul Newman, Cool Hand Luke


In School Leader Defends Time Out the Des Moines Register reports on the explanation offered by the superintendent of the Waukee school district for the placement of an autistic school child in a "time out" room for more than three hours, even after she wet herself and even after she had struggled to obey the rules so that she could be let out. The superintendent states that the district will not change its policies concerning time out use, urges parents to be more involved in their children's schooling (implicitly blame the parents), and points out that some children want to go to time out. It is clear from the superintendent's explanation that he has missed the point of the reaction to his district's treatment of this autistic child.

"I wanted to reassure our parents that their children are going to be looked out for and cared for in the most appropriate way," he said Wednesday. "I think the article gave the impression we're taking kids willy-nilly down to these timeout rooms, and that's not the case and certainly never has been."
...

"Your child WILL NOT utilize a timeout room without your prior permission nor without you having the opportunity to view the timeout room," he wrote in the letter to parents.

The superintendent fails to understand that it is not the use of a time out room with an autistic child per se that created the outrage in this instance. It is leaving the child in the room for such a long period of time even after she has wet herself and even after she has struggled to comply with the rules. That is what was wrong in this case, it is HOW the time out room was used that was offensive in this case.

The superintendent, if he is truly an educator, and the district, might educate themselves about autism. Some autistic children should not be "mainstreamed". I do not know this child's abilities or deficits and do not pretend to know whether she should be in a mainstream classroom on a full time basis. But where the Des Moines paper indicates that she has frequently been sent to time out it is possible that she is overwhelmed by her classroom environment and might function better in a quieter, more isolated environment. She could then be brought into the classroom for specific activities and for defined periods of time.

My profoundly autistic son was overwhelmed by his classroom environment and was biting his wrists each day at school. He was removed to a more isolated location and the biting stopped and his learning, with an aide, improved. He visits the classroom for socialization, for specific activities within his range of abilities and for defined periods of time. Some of his peers visit in his area as well to engage him in activities such as reading buddies.

I am not suggesting that what worked for my son would necessarily work for this child in Iowa. Each child's situation should be looked at on its facts. But repeated resort to a time out room, and use of the time out for more than 3 hours, even after a child has wet herself and has struggled to comply is wrong. And it tells me that whatever plan exists for this autistic child's education is not working. The district and parents should probably re-examine that plan and consult with autism knowledgeable professionals about a possible re-design.

The superintendent, unfortunately, seems more interested in proving that the district is right, and in maintaining the district's legal stance for their appeal, then in learning from this bad experience.

Autism Abuse in Iowa - 3 Hours in a Locked Room is Not a Time Out - It is Child Abuse

Des Moines Register Image From Video of 8 Year Old Isabel Loeffler During "Time Out.

Here is a message for the clueless officials at an elementary school in Waukee Iowa - there is no such thing as a 3 hour "time out". Locking an autistic child in a room by herself for 3 hours even leaving her there after she wets herself is not a time out, it is not educating or helping the child, it is child abuse pure and simple.

Here is another message for the so called educators in the Waukee district and the Heartland Area Education Agency who believe they did nothing wrong and who are appealing the ruling against them over the matter by an administrative judge - you are in the wrong profession. Do something else which does not involve children. You lack the ability to understand when you are hurting them.

As reported in the DesMoines Register the 8 year old girl wet her pants and struggled to obey but still wasn't let out of the room. Her parents were shocked to see a video of their child in the room out of control even hitting herself. The parents withdrew the child from the school and retained legal counsel.

http://desmoinesregister.com/