What Kind of World Do You Want?
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"--Mahatma Gandhi
Want to know something shocking? This year more kids will be diagnosed with Autism than with Diabetes, Cancer and AIDS combined. Not at all shocking is the fact that most insurance companies conveniently categorize it as a pre-existing condition so that the early-intervention therapies needed to help kids live more normally are denied to them.
Feeling a little sick about that, are you?
Here's something you can do. Every time you watch this video, Five for Fighting will donate 40 cents to Autism Speaks. It's well worth the time.
Spread the word.
Being the mom of one of those very kids, I appreciate your support!
Posted by: Dana | January 31, 2008 at 03:13 AM
Beautiful video... I'm writing this as tears run down my face.
We have to find out Why autism rates are climbing. I think it's more than a matter of increased awareness = increased diagnosis.
Posted by: Colleency | January 31, 2008 at 04:00 AM
A friend of mine has four children--two of them have Asperger's Syndrome, considered a mild form of autism.
Because it's difficult to diagnose, it can take years to identify. Her daughter wasn't diagnosed until she was a teenager, her son was just diagnosed at age 10.
Posted by: V-Grrrl | January 31, 2008 at 04:08 AM
Thank you for posting this.
Posted by: Chag | January 31, 2008 at 06:39 AM
Oh my. That's super disturbing.
Posted by: All Adither | January 31, 2008 at 07:34 AM
I'm glad you bring this up.
Posted by: Melissa | January 31, 2008 at 09:00 AM
I'm glad you bring this up.
Posted by: Melissa | January 31, 2008 at 09:02 AM
That's excellent.
Autism Society of America came out with their 2008 goal yesterday, and it covers this.
Their email opened with, "Just a year ago, America learned that one in every 150 American children has an autism spectrum disorder rates that have skyrocketed from a mere 5 years ago."
And I have my theories about why the disease is skyrocketing.
Posted by: Julie Pippert | January 31, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Excellent.
Posted by: mamatulip | January 31, 2008 at 12:29 PM
I can't watch anything by five for fighting, because they make my skin crawl. :(
Posted by: J | January 31, 2008 at 04:16 PM
I came here from a comment you left somewhere. Your hijacking of Karen's code name caught my eye so I had to check you out. Not that you need/want/care about my approval but I like your style! You can never have too many boots, well maybe you can but I know personally that 4 is not too many.
Posted by: Natalie in TX | January 31, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Hoop and I were just talking about this last night because of that new show Eli somethingorother. I don't know, I don't plan on ever watching it again. But the episode was about a woman suing a vaccine company because her son got autism right after getting one of their injections. What's scary is that schools make these things MANDATORY. But what if parents don't want to subject their children to that kind of risk? You're a bad parent if you do and a bad parent if you don't.
Posted by: Tink | February 01, 2008 at 09:34 AM
I gave you a little award...c'mon over and pick it up.
Posted by: daysgoby | February 02, 2008 at 09:43 PM
I gave you a little award...c'mon over and pick it up.
Posted by: daysgoby | February 02, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Oh my god. *Combined*? Could that be right?
Posted by: Jenny | February 03, 2008 at 06:24 AM
I don't know if it will count for a visit from outside the US but I'll certainly give it a go and hopefully help raise some more money. My company has had the National Autistic Society as it's sponsored charity for a few years so I know what a worthy cause it is. Well done for doing your bit to raise awareness.
Posted by: platypus | February 03, 2008 at 02:43 PM
I want a world where insurance companies don't exist because we don't need them to, because every single person on this planet is offered free and comprehensive health care.
(Clickity clicking the link now.)
Posted by: kerrianne | February 03, 2008 at 08:59 PM
BTW, totally stole this and posted it on Mama Drama with credit to you.
Posted by: Jenny | February 07, 2008 at 06:06 AM