Autism Jerry Lewis!!
Last night in the middle of wiping my nine year old autistic daughter's feces off her butt while changing her diaper I had a Great Revelation!! We need a Autism Jerry Lewis!! A big celebrity or celebrities to start a foundation to do telethon's and stand up and help families struggling to survive with autism!! Some of you may hate Jerry but at least he is doing something for children with MD!! Where is our Autism Jerry Lewis, we really need one!! We sure ain't getting any help from the Government or some of the so called Autism Organizations and never will!! Some will say Jerry never found a cure for MD!! No, Jerry has not found a cure but he has never given up on helping families!! You have to be rich$$ to have a child with autism!!
It doesn't seem to me that anyone is in a hurry to find a cause or cure for autism no matter how high the numbers get. Very soon every child born will have some form of autism!! The Government wants this to happen!! Why should the Government cure autism?? Autism kids create jobs, they are great for the economy, a stimulus so to speak!! Jobs like special ed teachers, therapists, doctors, respite workers, manufacturers of drugs to sedate our kids and the list goes on and on!!
The new Autism Foundation would help parents who can't afford $400+ a hour for a DAN Doc who does not accept insurance for biomedical treatments (Who can afford that in today's economy??) or speech, OT, physical therapy, Hbot, and etc... etc... The new foundation would provide financial aid for families in need and provide free summer camps for the children. Also, the foundation would open new schools for children with autism across the country. Easter Seals is the only organization in the country that has built a new school for children with autism located in Chicago. Thank God for Easter Seals!!! I'm talking about schools that accept children with autism on every level of the spectrum from non-verbal and in diapers to asperger syndrome. There is so much my dream foundation could do!!
I would love to see Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carry fill this position. Jenny, love her or hate her you have to give her credit for speaking out loudly and telling the world her child has autism!! Most celebrities do not want to even admit they have a child with autism or a disability? Which is fine because it's their decision!! I don't agree with it but that's my opinion. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that Jenny should feel she is obligated to do this in anyway!! I'm just throwing out this idea for Jenny to think about. I think it would help a lot of struggling families!!! If Jenny did accept this responsiblty I would call this new foundation something like "Jenny's Angels" or "Evan's Buddies"?? What do you think? Also, I would be proud to call my daughter one of "Jenny's Angels"!! Wouldn't you??
In this society people are more passionate about celebrities than autism or finding a cure for autism or anything else for that matter!! Since no one is in a hurry to find a cause or cure for autism I think it's time to start helping families struggling with this devastating disability!! It's time to stop writing books and talking about helping and start actully helping!! I can only dream!! Sometimes you need to look to the stars for help and boldly go where only Jerry Lewis and a hand full of others have gone before!! "A dream that became a reality and spread throughout the stars" - Captain James T. Kirk.
Blog By Robert Waters
Who do you think people are
Who do you think people are talking about when they say "One particular large organization that holds events with celebrities and comedians yet does not use funds to most efficiently and effectively heal children and help families??
Autism Speaks Funded Grants
2008 Family Services Community Grants Funded December 18, 2008 - Autism Speaks is pleased to announce the third round of Family Services Community Grants. These grants will help community organizations across the country expand existing programs to serve more individuals with autism, and create new programs that demonstrate true innovation in providing services to improve and enrich the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). All proposals addressed one of the four identified areas of need: education, recreation/community activities, equipment/supportive technology, or young adult/adult services.
Service providers across the country are doing truly remarkable and innovative work to enhance the quality of life for those living with autism, said Peter Bell, Autism Speaks Executive Vice President of Programs and Services. We are delighted to support their efforts and encourage others to replicate these model programs.
Education
Recreation/Community Activities
Young Adult and Adult Services
Equipment and Supportive Technology
$380,000 was awarded to 21 Community Organizations in Dec 2008
$450,000 was awarded to 21 Community Organizations in June 2008
$565,000 was awarded to 29 Community Organizations in Dec 2007
Click here to learn about the Young Adult/Adult programs we funded in the first round of grants.
Overview of Family Services Community Services Grant Funding
Category
2007
2008
Total
Education
$258,498
$295,336
$553,834
Equipment
$79,306
$36,850
$116,156
Recreation
$141,857
$395,468
$537,325
Young Adult/Adults
$85,372
$161,903
$247,275
Total
$1,454,590.00
That sounds great!! But, I
That sounds great!! But, I did not see a penny of this $$?? Also, I would not believe a word Peter Bell says!!
Peaceful coexistence
http://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/Autism_Speaks_Annual_Report_2007.pdf
Well worth taking the time to read about "where the money goes" in the Autism Speaks annual report.
While we may have differing views, Sandy, we both want what is best for our children.
What little reserves of energy I may have, I tend to utilize by offering a peaceful hand and a question, "How can I best support and serve others struggling with autism."
Cassie
Fight for what you believe in
This is Robert Waters I too tend to utilize what little reserves of energy I may have trying my best to support and serve others struggling with autism." But I have tried to offer a peaceful hand, and it does not work? Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in!! Autism Speaks does not help families who are in need of assistance. In fact, I am not sure what Autism Speaks does?? I have applied for AutismCares and I have not heard a word?? We need the new foundation I dream of. We can do it now!! Call me Jenny!!
I can understand...
I do relate to the frustration, Robert, when you aren't getting the response you need from an organization. I have had good success with Autism Speaks local chapters as well as the local chapter of ASA. I know that Autism Cares is unable to assist all families in need, unfortunately. That said, you should have had a response. I believe requests are reviewed around the 20th of each month.
Cassie
What kind of good success
What kind of good success have you had with Autism Speaks local chapters?? If you don't mind me asking.
Sharing some comments I receive about this blog on fb
Kim Scholtz Buchanan says Your ideas are great!!!! That would be wounderful for our kids to have all that!
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Jackie CallahanI says have always thought the same, why can't we find someone to host a telethon for us. Sandy, your little girl looks like mine too, except she's a blonde. What a beautiful angel!
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Deborah Andrews WaldenI says LOVE this idea and yes, we do need somebody like him to route for all our special children with autism!! HUGS! XXXX
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Susan O'Shaughnessy says yeah we sure do and we need the public to understand and lots of awareness.... I hate to see my kid getting stared down by everyone.
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Joanie Strawbridge says Amen to that. My son has no health insurance. At all. Has a need to go to dentist. No agency will help at all. Makes me mad.
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Joey Rodriguez says Since my interview, I am being asked to SPEAK OUT...unlike many other programs or advocacy groups I have our children's best interest " as a mom" I trully feed up with called non profit or government funded agencies... it's really sad now a days you look to an organization for help and all you get is talk and no action!
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Erin Kreissler says Well, we could have (insert famous name) but noone wants to hear it due to certain beliefs-we would need one spokesperson for each and every special interest/cause theory/treatment option/blah blah-the autism community can't get it together AT ALL! After some selective pruning, I still belong to seven fb groups Re; autism, so many specialty groups, Autism Organizations giving different info that we use to argue with each other and discount each others' research as "junk science" and noone's getting anywhere as incidence rises and rises....
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Barbara Johnson says Well let's face it. Autism Speaks has gobbled up the lion's share of donations nationally while local organizations suffer -- even a Jerry Lewis couldn't compete at this point to bring in more autism $$$ -- AS takes in millions of dollars for their "walks" yet the people walking don't seem to realize where that money does and does NOT go. What is up with that?
Here is my fb page link if you would like to see more.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000023102022&v=info#/profile.p...
My Facebook Page
Here is my fb page link if you would like to read more.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1063620297&ref=name
A few points on this
A few points:
1) Having events with celebrities and comedians is not the only thing: money raised from any event needs to be used most wisely, efficiently, and effectively to provide healing for children and help for families. I can think of one particular large organization that holds events with celebrities and comedians yet does not use funds to most efficiently and effectively heal children and help families.
2) Kids with autism are NOT great for the economy. Of course, the more important issue is that their lives and health and the lives of their families are negatively impacted. But, getting back to the economy, in 2008 the Autism Society of America estimated that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranged from $3.5 million to $5 million. A May 2009 press release from SAGE Publications in the UK stated "Autism in the UK costs more than $41 billion every year, shows new research." The deluge of individuals with an autism spectrum diagnosis overwhelms available resources in special ed and adjunct therapies. Budget crises in various states widens the gulf between numbers of affected children and dwindling services that have been cut back. And wait until the larger looming crisis in residential and other adult services hits. Not only will these individuals need care, but they will not be able to contribute to the taxpayer base, just as multitudes of their parents cannot now. And so the gulf between economic needs and available resouces widens even farther.
3) Our children are very fortunate to have courageous researchers and Defeat Autism Now! doctors going to bat for them every day. If not for these forward-thinking clinicians and researchers of integrity, our children would not have MDs, etc. competent to address their legitimate underlying physiological issues.
4) Finally, Jenny McCarthy has done quite a lot by bringing vital issues to the fore. And, of course, there are, indeed, many advocates and many fine autism organizations that are in a hurry to find a cause and cure for autism. Please visit the Autism Collaboration website at www.autism.org.
Answers to your points
1) That's why we need a new foundation that I'm talking about.
2) Do you realize how many people children with autism employ?? You don't think that's good for the economy? Mostly, the only one's paying the costs you talk about are the families. That is why it would be great to start the foundation I envision.
3) If you can't afford these doctors how can they help your child??
4) There is currently no organization/foundation helping families in the way I described in my blog. Do you know of any?? I think it would be great to have the foundation I dreamed of to really exist. Come on Jenny Let's Do It!!
I agree with Teri, autism is
I agree with Teri, autism is not good for the economy. What makes you think the government wants autism? I believe it is corporations (particularly Big Pharma) and other lobbyists looking to increase their profits that have hindered government action. The ultra-conservative "don't tax me" people are a huge hindrance as well. There are actually people who don't want to pay for public education of any sort because they have no children! But we do have some congress members who have helped the cause: Here in CO, Ken Gordon has done great work for us. You have some wonderful ideas, and I think that focusing on what people CAN do is the way to go. Anything Jenny McCarthy can do what be very welcome, I'm sure. One of the great things about Jerry Lewis' telethons is that he was a HUGE star in the 60's--much bigger than Jenny is right now, so he had that advantage.
I have Questions??
@ Kathryn your saying Big Pharma dictates what the Government does by paying them off?? So, to me that sounds like your saying that they are one and the same.
Jenny McCarthy + Jim Carrey = Big Star Turn Out and lots of $$$$ for helping famalies!! Hey we could have the telethon at the AutismOne Conference in Chicago!! I think my new foundation would put Autism Speaks out of business once and for all!! Thank God!!
We could do this now!! I can't believe any parent of a child with autism would not want this foundation to exist?? It confounds me!?!
I Have Questions
I'm definitely not saying Big Pharma and the government are the same. Not all politicians or government workers are corrupt--that's why we need excellent education so citizens can research the candidates and issues and vote for the good ones, instead of just believing everything they hear from, for example, Rush Limbaugh or Fox News. And we need more gov't regulation so it is harder to corrupt.
@ Kathryn Then why ain't the
@ Kathryn Then why ain't the Government doing anything about this autism epidemic??
Autism Speaks
I believe there is room for Autism Speaks in our world. I support and fundraise for the organization. Tireless efforts are made to promote awareness, support families with members on the spectrum and to find answers, just as AutismOne is fighting the good fight.
Peaceful solutions rather than combative ones further the cause for us all.