Special Education Law Blog

The British Medical Journal calls Dr. Wakefield's Autism Study an "Elaborate Fraud"

Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who originally published a study that linked MMR to autism, was called to task by the British Medical Journal. The Journal is set to publish a series of articles by an investigative journalist who spent seven years uncovering the nature of Dr. Wakefield’s research. The BMJ called the study and Dr. Wakefield’s research “an elaborate fraud that has done long lasting damage to public health.” That proclamation goes one step further then the retractions and denouncements that have come before.

CNN reporter Anderson Cooper had Dr. Wakefield on his show last night. Mr. Cooper aggressively questioned  Dr. Wakefield and called out others, such as Jenny McCarthy, who have supported him and his findings.

Some might say that the efforts spent researching the findings in Dr. Wakefield’s study could have been spent focusing on new advances in autism research and trying to uncover innovative treatments and therapies, instead the public is still spending time on his discredited study. Hopefully, the focus on interventions and research for autism can now move past Dr. Wakefield onto real and data-driven research that will make meaningful differences in the lives of people with autism.

 

US Air Force Adopts Behavior Imaging To Treat Behavioral Disorders

Caring Technologies announced earlier this year that the United States Air Force has started a program to look into using their technology Behavior Imaging®, a video-based telemedicine application to treat autism and other behavior disabilities. 

Behavior Imaging® uses video technology to capture behaviors as they occur in their natural environment, which improves the accuracy of diagnoses and treatments. In the same way that x-rays and MRIs are important tools to visualize physical conditions, Behavior Imaging® provides first-hand, contextual information for better diagnosis and treatment of behavioral disorders. This technology is useful to all, but is particularly so for military families as they are often stationed remotely without specialists and the support required.

Behavior Imaging® can benefit military families by providing care that more effectively meets their needs and is otherwise unavailable at their location. Additionally, the technology can benefit Autism Centers all over the country by lowering the amount of time needed with each patient, allowing more patients to be seen overall while providing a more cost effective use of time and resources. One of the biggest issues that parents of students with disabilities face is behaviors. This new technology will assist parents in identifying behaviors, triggers and ultimately help in creating strategies to alter the behaviors identified. 

 

Guide to Autism Insurance Laws Now Available by Nicole T. Jorwic

Most sections of the Autism Insurance Act in Illinois went into effect in December of 2008. Implementing and understanding this act is an ongoing process. Autism Speaks through its Autism Votes initiative with the help of George Washington University Law School, has created fact sheets for each state. There are 28 states that currently have autism insurance laws. The Illinois fact sheet includes the purposes of the act, what is covered and the limitations of the act. This is useful information for any parent seeking help from their insurance companies to cover the exorbitant medical costs associated with autism. Here is a fact sheet from Pennsylvania
Download Pennsylvania--s-autism-insurance-act---a-factsheet

What's in Label? by Brian R. King LCSW

Brian R. King is a well-respected social worker who has Aspergers, writes extensively on topics related to Aspergers, and counsels and works with many individuals with a variety of social and emotional needs. He has graciously permitted me to reprint in full his commentary on the prospect that the upcoming DSM-V will no longer include Aspergers as a diagnosis. Apparently the draft new criteria is due to come out on February 10, 2010 and the new edition is due out some time in 2013.

Temple Grandin: An Adult with Autism Who Realized Her Dreams by Nicole T. Jorwic

When a family first faces the autism diagnosis it is natural for them to visualize a highlight reel of events, that may never occur. It is important however, to focus on the possibilities of what can be for children and adults with autism, and how the uniqueness of autism can be an advantage for many adults on the spectrum. Autism is not synonymous with failure; there are many individuals with autism who have gone on to economic self-sufficiency. One of the most well-know success stories is that of Temple Grandin.

Ms. Grandin’s life story is the subject of a new HBO movie, called Temple Grandin, chronicling Ms. Grandin’s struggles and success as she overcame the odds to earn a Ph.D in animal science from the University of Illinois, write half a dozen books, become an advocate for autism education, and work as a professor of animal science. The film premieres on HBO on Feb. 6.

Autism Vaccine Study Retracted

The medical journal Lancet has now withdrawn the published study from 1998 from Dr. Wakefield that reported a link between autism and vaccines. Dr. Wakefield has been largely discredited.  Retractions of this kind are apparently very rare events. This news represents a shocking development for many families who have made many significant changes in their lives based upon this report from avoiding vaccines to painful therapies like chelation.  Parents need to examine this new finding from Lancet and consider with their health care providers as to what are the responsible next steps.

Financial Cost of Autism to Parents

The popular perception, especially in the time of recession, is that students with special needs are draining the schools dry. I have blogged previously that that perception is just empirically incorrect. The NYT just reported on the incredible high cost of addressing the needs of an individual with autism estimating the lifetime cost to be over $3 million. Much of that cost does not reflect the lost opportunity cost of parents missing work or not working at all. So the next time a newspaper publishes a story that implies or states that parents of students with special needs are a financial burden for the schools, fire back with the reality that their information is just empirically wrong, and does at all take into account how much parents shoulder the responsibility (not burden) for their children with special needs.

Study Questions Efficacy of "The Diet" for Children with Autism by Nicole Jorwic

In a study published Monday in the Journal of Pediatrics, a panel of 28 medical experts released their findings and recommendations on whether diets restricting gluten and casein work to treat autism. They found that evidence does not support the diet as effective as a primary treatment for autism. This was determined after an extensive review of data related to gastrointestinal issues among children with autism.

Student With Autism and His Dog Finally to Go to School

While the litigation is far from over the Illinois Appellate Court upheld the lower court's ruling in favor of the family. This student is a rural school district in downstate Illinois should finally be able to go back to school and bring his service dog. This Illinois school district needs to make a few calls to schools in Portland, Oregon,  where more districts are welcoming services dogs for children with autism because they are seeing real and demonstrable educational benefits.

Autism and Elopement Behaviors by Nicole Jorwic

Elopement behaviors are among the highest priority behaviors and one of the most difficult challenges facing schools, parents and children with disabilities. The risks from elopement are obvious but too often schools are ill-prepared to address this issue. Children on the autism spectrum are more prone to  not be able to verbalize where they need to go and coming upon a stranger may bring about further anxiety. It is important that steps are taken to prevent such runaways and also that emergency personnel are trained to handle encounters with these children.  Here is a safety tool kit that can be very useful both in school and at home. Of course in this time of high tech devices there are also GPS devices to keep kids from eloping and to track to them if they do.