Rights

The "Autism Epidemic" does not only have implications for the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Children. When it is remembered that "Classic Autism" is only the tip of the ASD iceberg that for every one autistic person there are many, many more further up the spectrum, it will be obvious that every government department will and must in some way share the cost of this epidemic.

Our children developed an Autistic Spectrum Disorder because of an attack to their immune system. Autistic Spectrum Disorders are preventable, treatable and even curable. In Ireland the autistic condition remains and becomes worse because the help they need is not available. In the area of ASD, the state has been and continues to be negligent. When considering the imposed, long-term suffering involved, it is not unreasonable to suggest that this negligence is abusive.
Besides the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science, the other governments departments most affected by the epidemic, whether the connection is understood or not, are the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

We do not purport to blame all social ills on ASD, however unless factors like post vaccine encephalitis, brain opioid excess, etc. are recognised and taken seriously, departments will not be able to deal with substance abuse, broken homes, violence, etc. where autistic biology is the active ingredient. Other Departments have a role to play. The following list is not meant to be exhaustive. We just mention some of the greatest areas of concern reported by parents.

The Department of Revenue should look at the issue of expanding tax rebates on special diets and extra expense incurred by families eg. private therapy, alternative health costs, repair after damage by an autistic teenager with challenging behaviour, computers for communication, etc.. We also recommend an extension of the Disabled Passenger Concessions to children unable to use public transport because of an autistic impairment. The Department for the Environment needs to be conscious of detoxification defects which leave persons with autistic biology more vulnerable to overload by pesticides, petrochemicals, etc. The issue of GM0s is of great concern for families with ASD children. In addition, The Disabled Person's House Adaptation grant must meet the sometimes unusual requirements of disabled children within this spectrum.

The Department of Agriculture and Food will have to accept that a growing segment of the Irish population can not eat dairy and cereal grain produce and that sufficient, affordable, organic, GMO free alternatives must be found to supply the ASD population.

The relevant Department should create a Vaccination Damage Fund as Germany has done. Vaccine producers who admit that their products do cause damage to some people are required in these countries to pay substantial monies to funds which are then available to victims of their products. The American government similarly requires payments from tobacco companies.
The Department of Finance will have to accept that sufficient funds must be made available to pay for the ASD epidemic and its victims. There must be an EU dimension to an effective response to the ASD epidemic. It is vital that ASD becomes a "designated disease" at EU level. This would focus attention and resources on the ASD crisis.

We would ask parents to promote our Health and Education Strategies among politicians, local, national and European, encouraging them to take the crisis of autism seriously.