New Study Correlating Mercury and Air Pollution with an Increased Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders
This new study published by the Harvard School of Public Health demonstrates further evidence of the association between environmental exposure to neurotoxic pollution and increased rates of autism. Not only did the study show mercury air pollution correlated with increased autism rates, it also demonstrated the pollution resulted in increased rates in boys. That this […]
Impact of the DSM-5 Criteria for ASD – Community Update – May 2013
Introduction This month, the American Psychiatric Association will publish the latest edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – the DSM-5. The manual contains significant changes to the diagnostic criteria for individuals with autism. The name of the category will be changed from Pervasive Developmental Disorder to Autism Spectrum Disorder. The four previous diagnoses: Autistic […]
Selling Sickness and Pharmed Out
As more people become aware of the dark-side of the pharmaceutical industry’s efforts to market their products, an extraordinary series of conferences have been taking place to address to the troubling issue. Most recently, Selling Sickness 2013: People before Profits, brought together more than 225 scholars, healthcare reformers, consumer/patient advocates, journalists, attorneys, and public health officials from around […]
Enough Awareness Already
Autism Awareness Day kicks-off the start of an annual month-long effort to increase global awareness of autism spectrum disorders. With US parents now reporting that 1-in-50 of their children are affected, and 1-in-33 boys, SafeMinds says: “Enough awareness already – we need to know why this happens!” We now know that autism spectrum disorders result […]
Awareness Isn’t Enough – We Need Action
Today the Centers for Disease Control issued the long-awaited autism prevalence numbers for children born in 2000 – 1 in 88 children. VIEW CDC PRESS RELEASE. These are real kids, not numbers. They deserve better. Please read this document and share it.
Changes in DSM-5 Autism Definition Could Negatively Impact Millions
Autism organizations concerned that autism diagnostic changes will jeopardize services, impair tracking, and disrupt research around the globe. Click here to read full release. Click here to read concerns and questions. Compare the old and new ASD criteria. Update 2/22/12 Read questions and responses from SafeMinds discussion with Sue Swedo who is the chair of the […]
