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e-Speaks || March 7, 2008
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Parents Speak Out on Vaccine Settlement
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(From Associated Press) The parents of a 9-year-old girl who received a government settlement from a federal vaccine compensation fund today held a press conference where they described how their daughter began exhibiting odd-behavior after she got several childhood shots. The Polings say five simultaneous vaccinations that their daughter Hannah received when she was 18 months old led to autistic behaviors. The government has agreed to pay the Polings from a federal fund that compensates people injured by vaccines. U.S. officials reject the idea that the vaccines cause autism, but they say that in this case the shots worsened an underlying disorder that led to autism-like symptoms. U.S. health officials have consistently maintained that vaccines are safe, and a lawyer representing them said this week that there was no change in that position. Read the full AP story here. Read a statement and q&a from Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Geri Dawson here. |
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Walk Now for Autism Recognized as Nation's
Fastest-Growing Walk Program
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Walk Now for Autism, the signature fundraising program for Autism Speaks, has been cited as the fastest-growing charity walk program by the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council. The Walk Now for Autism program expanded 49.2% from 2006 to 2007, surpassing other well-known walk programs, including Susan G. Komen's "Race for the Cure". Read more
and
click here
to participate in a walk near you.
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Palm Beach Walk Breaks 2007 Record
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Three thousand walkers raised more than $230,000, surpassing last year's fundraising total, on March 2 at East Library Grounds in West Palm Beach, Fla. Nearly 150 teams participated in the day's activities.
Read more, view photos and watch video
here.
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Chicago Walk Kick-off Attendance Nearly Doubles
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The 5th Annual Chicago Walk Now for Autism Kick-off attracted 275 supporters to the Westin O'Hare in Rosemont, Ill., on Friday, February 29. Autism Speaks co-founders, Bob and Suzanne Wright, addressed the record crowd, followed by walk chair Lee Jorwic. Read more and watch video
here. |
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Autism Insurance Bill Introduced in Fla. State Legislature
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Legislation has been introduced in Florida to require insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders. Bills have been introduced by State Representative Ari Porth (D-96), House Bill 1291, and Senator Steven Geller (D-31), Senate Bill 2654. The bills would require Florida healthcare policies to cover applied behavior analysis (ABA) and other treatments prescribed by an insured's treating physician. The Florida Session kicked off on March 4 and residents of that state will have a tight turnaround of less than 60 days to push this bill through to Governor Charlie Crist's desk for signature.
Read more. |
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Mouse Behavior Workshop Focuses on the Future of Autism Research
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Organized and sponsored by Autism Speaks, the Mouse Behavior Workshop was held on February 6, in Baltimore, Md. Specialists in mouse behavior convened to identify current needs in the field, including development of new behavioral tasks analogous to the defining behavioral features of autism, especially those in the core domains of sociability, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Advancing basic research into the neurobiology of social behaviors was another topic of discussion. Perhaps most importantly, the meeting underscored the need for researchers to look toward the translational application of mouse models into the development of autism treatments.
Read more.
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In Their Own Words: Anthony's Act of Courage
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In our latest "In Their Own Words" essay, a father tells how his son with autism truly harnessed his courageous side, after gaining a role in a community theatre production. Read more.
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