We are opposed to Assembly bill A10372a

It changes the non-discrimination language we fought so hard for in 2006

It creates an impossibly high standard for approval of autism treatments: "Evidenced-based, clinically-proven and peer-reviewed," which applies to no other health condition under New York law, or the law of any other state. And not even the backers of this bill can tell us what therapies would be covered.

It creates a four-agency review committee that would have to approve any treatments. Treatments for no other disorder are encumbered with such a structure, so this is an inherently discriminatory idea, and this structure gives an advantage to insurance companies with their armies of lobbyists.

If S7000B/A10372A became law it would do the following:

Repeal some of the non-discrimination language we fought so hard for in 2006

Impose an unprecedented extremely high standard that autism treatments will have to meet prior to approval that apply to no other health disorder under New York law, or the law of any other state for that matter. This will probably allow insurers to deny payment for speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy among other treatments.

Force all treatments for autism to be approved by a committee of four state agencies. A bureaucratic hurdle required of treatments for no other disorder.

It will shift costs borne by some insurance companies for early intervention re-imbursement back on the tax payers.

We support A6888 and S6123, legislation that would assure coverage of needed therapy, and treat autism the same as other health disorders under New York Law.

Biomedical Therapies - A Practical Approach

Karen Paris, RPA, Fred Pescatore, MD, MPH, CCN, and Geri Brewster, RD, MPH, CDN

On April 22, 2010, Dr. Pescatore, Geri Brewster, and Karen Paris presented on biomedical therapies and intervention. Dr. Fred Pescatore who specializes in a whole health approach has a lot of experience treating chronic illness. He explained in detail the ALCAT test which is to detect allergy and food sensitivity - what it is, what it tests for and its efficacy. Karen Paris is a physician's assistant working with Dr. Pescatore. She discussed NAET therapy. It is becoming more popular as it desensitizes you to the allergy, so it can eventually be reintroduced. Our own NAA Parent Mentoring Committee member Geri Brewster spoke about some of the nutritional approaches to treating autism. Geri is a Defeat Autism Now Practitioner and Certified Nutritionist that uses biofilm to treat some of her patients with chronic leaky gut. She discussed what it is, how it works and how you might know if it's right for you.

Visit their websites at:
www.drpescatore.com
www.geribrewster.com

The Thyroid-Autism Connection by Raphael Kellman, M.D.

On May 26, 2020, Dr. Kellman was the featured speaker at NAA NY Metro. Dr. Kellman presented his findings, based on a more sensitive thyroid test, called the TRH stimulation test, that a large percentage of children with ASD have an underactive thyroid that was missed by routine testing.

In this lecture Dr. Kellman demonstrated how:
1. An underactive thyroid can impact on brain function and development and is thereby is a critical missing piece in the autism puzzle;
2. The effects of hypothyroidism on detoxification, methylation, and heavy metal toxicity; and
3. The relationship between hypothyroidism and gluten sensitivity.

Raphael Kellman, M.D. is a graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, an internist and a pioneer in holistic medicine. He uses the Defeat Autism Now! approach. Through his groundbreaking discovery on the thyroid-autism connection he has changed the lives of hundreds of children.

Visit: www.raphaelkellmanmd.com

NAA NY Metro at 'Walk Now For Autism Speaks'

Sabeeha Rehman, Stuart Flaum, and Peggy Becker

Sunday, June 13 was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, the cool sea-breeze was washing over on Pier 16 as Peggy and I set up our booth, bright and early, at the South Street Seaport. By 9 am, the pier was buzzing with excitement as volunteers walked around in their bright blue t-shirts, booths being set up, walkers getting organized, balloons flying, and music playing on the stage. Stuart stocked us up with water bottles and we were ready.

It was a fantastic event. We were inundated with visitors to our booth and the upcoming bike clinic on June 19 got a lot of attention. So many interested families signed up, and so many volunteered to help out. Families came from all over New York. It was a terrific opportunity to network with our colleagues, share our experiences, and work out possibilities to collaborate. It was wonderful to meet new people who are helping families with ASD, and to meet new families.

The energy in the air was beautiful and it felt good to be part of the autism community that are doing so much to help so many.

Thank you Peggy, for organizing this.
Check out our photo album on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NAA.NY.metro

Sabeeha Rehman

NAA NY Metro and Beth Israel Medical Center Hold Their First Combined Event

Asma Sadiq, M.D., Stacey Purro, and Sarah Birnbaum

On May 20, NAA NY Metro and Beth Israel Medical Center held their first combined event at the medical center. The Beth Israel team is led by Asma Sadiq, M.D., Chief of Developmental Pediatrics, and Stacey Purro, Social Worker.

Parents and caregivers packed into a standing-room only lecture room to listen to what Sarah Birnbaum had to say on EI, CPSE and CSE.

Sarah Birnbaum gave a riveting lecture on "Transitioning your child from EI to CPSE and from CPSE to CSE. Two hours was not enough; parents surrounded her after the lecture, trying to soak in every last bit of prized advice.

Sarah Birnbaum is a parent advocate and a special education advisor.
Contact Information:
www.nyspecialneeds.com
email: sarah@nyspecialneeds.com

David Kirby on Autism, Animal Factory, and How The Two Intersect

David Kirby with Gayle DeLong, Katie Wright, and Mattias

April 27, 2010. As always, David Kirby mesmerized the audience with his talk. David spoke about autism, animal farming, how the two intersect, and the relationship of animal farming to autism. We all left with an autographed copy of his new book, 'Animal Factory'.

David is an amazing speaker!

Read this book - you will rethink everything you eat - and thereby help our health and the health of the environment, not to mention the health of the animals we eat. Did you know that the agricultural business consumes 75% of all the antiobiotics sold? They feed these antibiotics to the animals prophylactically. Think of what does that does to our immune system?

Read Kim Mack Rosenberg’s blog on ‘Animal Factory’.

NAA New York Metro Rallies for Dr. Andrew Wakefield

“These parents are not going away.
The children are not going away.
And I am certainly not going away”
Dr. Andrew Wakefield in an interview on “Today” show on NBC, with Matt Lauer

On Monday, May 24th, NAA New York Metro members were at Rockefeller Plaza in a show of support for Dr. Wakefield, as he appeared on the Today show on NBC. That morning, the General Medical Council’s ruling banned him for practicing medicine. The council said he had shown “a callous disregard” for the suffering of children involved in his research. Dr.Wakefield was the first researcher to publish a peer-reviewed study suggesting a connection between autism and the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, and urging the need for further research.

While his interview was being broadcast live on the screens outside, activists and supporters from all over the State, assembled at the Plaza, waving posters:

“Autistics for Wakefield”
“Thank you Dr. Wakefield”.

Dr. Wakefield stayed on message, and referred to the Council’s ruling as a “little bump on the road”. When he emerged from his interview, supporters flanked him and Skyhorse Publishers did a curb-side interview. See Video

Dr. Wakefield’s new book is titled, “Callous Disregard” and was released this week.

See photo album.

Sabeeha Rehman