_______________________________________________________
TRUTH TO TELL
WEDNESDAY, May 14, 11:00AM:
AUTISM IN THE CITIES...where is it coming from? And why so much of it?
KFAI Radio, 90.3 Minneapolis /106.7 St. Paul / <email obscured>
A CivicMedia/Minnesota production
What is going on here? Incidences of children¹s brain disorders appear to be
nearly epidemic. 1 of every 150 children are afflicted with some form of
autism (1 of every 90 boys). But why? Genetics play a major role, but, more
analysts are looking at mercury-bearing vaccines and environmental factors
as coincident with massive increases in all sorts of children¹s ill health
asthma, ADHD and autism spectrum disorders. Autism, Asperger¹s, and related
behavioral disorders are seen in light of poor air and water quality,
poverty, and immunization vaccines. Not all victims, parents, advocates,
researchers and public health officials agree.
One item is not in doubt: the explosion in cases of autism and Asperger¹s is
stirring debate among all of them, some of it very loud and angry, as we
struggle with the cause and effect of it all. TTT¹s Andy Driscoll and
Lynnell Mickelsen talk with parents and professionals and walking examples
of the difficulties faced by children and young adults displaying autistic
behavior on this segment
GUESTS:
NANCY HOKKANEN, Parent/Advocate, Autism Spectrum Disorder
ANNE HARRINGTON, Autism Services, Minneapolis Public Schools¹ Early
Childhood Special Education
INVITED:
DR. BARBARA LUSKIN, Clinical Psychologist, Autism Society of Minnesota
DR, W. BROOKS DONALD, Pediatrician, Health Partners Riverside Clinic
_______________________________________________________
In this day and age of an increasingly irrelevant mainstream media lost in
its own cacophony of hysteria and self-absorption, "Truth to Tell" is a
shining example of hope. Perhaps all is not lost. William Moyers