By Holly Bortfeld I went to the IACC meeting in Washington DC on April 8, 2014 (1) to testify in front of the committee about my family’s autism journey. I took my son with me, as I am a single parent and have never had respite care. Standing over 6 feet tall, my... Continue Reading →
Four Friends. . .
By Janice Kern When I found out I was pregnant, we had only been living in our community for a couple of years but I already had established some very good friendships with three special women. At that time, there were 4 children among the four of us. Kim and Jalene had two children... Continue Reading →
New study: Environmental Toxicity is a Primary Factor in Autism, Not Just Genetics
By Dr Bob Sears A decade ago, many researchers believed that autism was primarily a genetic disorder, and a large amount of funding was spent searching for answers in that direction. Some even believed it was ALL in the genes. The genetics of autism are interesting, but what’s more important is to understand WHY the... Continue Reading →
Functional Medicine goes mainstream
By Lisa Ackerman You cannot go a day without a healthcare story being featured in the news. The Affordable Care Act, chronic health issues and access to health care have grown into one of the largest issues in American households. In the autism community, we are aware of these issues all too well. For decades,... Continue Reading →
DSM-5, the fall out begins
By Holly Bortfeld TACA has been reporting on the potential effects that the proposed DSM-5 changes, which eliminated PDD, PDD-NOS, Asperger’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative disorder and others, from the DSM since 20111. Now, we see the first tangible proof2 that the new diagnostic criteria will reduce the number of those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder... Continue Reading →
So Autism Is Even MORE Common Than Last Year. Who Cares?
By Dr Bob Sears I was really hoping that my latest blog would be entitled “Finally, Someone Cares About the Autism Epidemic!” But alas, it is not to be. The word “epidemic” is being reserved for the hundred or so cases of measles we see in the U.S. each year (no fatalities), or the very... Continue Reading →
Rest in Peace Avonte
By Lisa Ackerman For months we have been watching and waiting receive a positive outcome for Avonte Oquendo. Avonte was last seen on October 4, 2013 when he left his school. He was non verbal and diagnosed with autism. Sadly, remains found this past week were identified to be Avonte’s. His remains were found 11... Continue Reading →
The Autism Community needs someone like Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
By Lisa Ackerman Martin Luther King Jr. means something special to this generation as he did to the ones before us. He was a true inspiration that continues to inspire many today. In honor of his birthday children in school get a holiday in his honor. Adults should re-read some of his speeches and be... Continue Reading →
Study Links Oxidative Stress Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction to Autism
By Richard E Frye, M.D., Ph.D., Shannon Rose, Ph.D. and S. Jill James, Ph.D. The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is alarmingly high and appears to be continuing to rise. Despite decades of research, the cause of autism is still not clear. The majority of research into the causes of autism... Continue Reading →
If the IACC’s Strategic Plans were IEPs, would they be in non-compliance?
TACA Action Alert If the IACC's Strategic Plans were IEPs, would they be in non-compliance? By Guest blogger: Carolyn Gammicchia As the New Year approaches and many of us are spending time over the holidays with family and friends, we often think about the achievements our children have made over the past year and in... Continue Reading →