Sunday, May 25, 2008

Autism One

Wow! What an intense weekend. I have never seen so many caring parents fighting for their kids in one place. I just sat down at the computer after three days in Chicago going to seminar after seminar on all aspects of autism. This picture is posted on the age of autism blog.


I have some pictures of me and Jenny McCarthy (the keynote speaker) that I will be posting when I go buy a new cord for my digital camera. It disappeared last week so I can't load any photos right this second.

I went to the conference to be part of a journalism panel. I met a lot of great people, got pushed and shoved by a lot of moms and got very skeptical of all the products that are touted as "helps kids with autism." There were a lot of people there trying to make money. Hmmm..

So I have some interesting posts coming up next week on my experience. If you have kids, there is some information you need to know. Whether your kids have autism or not, some of the information given was eye opening.

Here's a hint.. nutrition, nutrition, nutrition...

I will give you all the details soon.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is great that an objective memeber of the media is covering this. Thank you for supporting families that are on the autism journey!

Knight in Dragonland said...

Jenny McCarthy was the keynote speaker??? I realize that she's famous and the parent of an autistic child, but ... Jenny McCarthy?

I'm sorry, but I have trouble taking this conference seriously when they invite a Playboy bunny to be their keynote speaker.

Jen Christensen said...

Knight, A similar thought went through my head until I heard her speak. She was very inspirational for these families.

And then my brother-in-law inquired about autism because Jenny was there. I have been researching this topic for five years and finally I have figured out how to get guys interested. The husbands involved in this new age of autism all know Jenny. They remember her from the 80's.

Anonymous said...

Not fair to all father's, the Autism community needs a spoke's person who has the "celebrity" to get the coverage which yields awareness. Unfortunately we couldn't pick our spokes person, but she does generate coverage.

Jen Christensen said...

Very true, I certainly didn't mean Jenny is the only reason fathers are involved by any means. I just meant, she is generating interest in the topic and that's a good thing.

Anonymous said...

But if she gets more dads interested that's a good thing.

Matt said...

I hate to admit it, but I had never heard of Ms. McCarthy before she became a famous 'autism mom'. Not a dig, just a comment that for this autism dad, she was below the radar.

It is too bad that parent conventions like this one have to be so focused on autism as 'vaccine injury'. What is really a fringe idea is presented to parents as fact, leading to proposed 'treatments' that are just plain scary.

Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition is great for any kid. Autistic kids can have huge issues with restricted diets.

But, some of the therapies promoted at that conference go way beyond 'nutrition', are unproven and based on what would be considered failed theories.

I appreciate people looking at autism and reporting on it, but be careful with what goes on at conventions like that. There's a reason why it's the same dozen or so doctors presenting there every year. It isn't a research conference, it's a sales pitch.

 
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