[Note: Shared for #AutisticHistory archive purposes. This is NOT An Autistic Ally.]

---

AGRE Update!

Enrollment is Up!

AGRE’s recruitment staff has established over 1800 family contacts. We encourage families that have more than one member affected with autism, PDD or Asperger’s disorder to register A registration consent form must be completed and returned prior to your family’s enrollment.

Confidentiality

All identifying information, records and DNA samples in the AGRE project remain confidential and are coded with a “unique identifier code” to protect the family’s identify.

Confirming the Diagnosis

AGRE has completed the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI) on 225 families. The ADI is completed on each family member who is affected, to confirm the diagnosis in relation to autism spectrum disorders. A trained ADI rater travels to the family home to conduct the interview.

Second Addition Catalog

Genotypic data from 225 families is now available to the entire scientific community.

Assessment Protocol

AGRE is expanding its resource by collecting additional data that will aid researchers in studying autism. The Autism Diagnostic Schedule (ADOS), pediatric neurological and genetic exams and standardized assessments are completed on 60 families. Data from the remaining families is being collected. AGRE diagnostic physicians and professionals visit families in their homes.

Researcher Access

The Researcher Review Committee has approved 35 researcher access applications. Each researcher is provided with an access number and password that is used to order samples from an AGRE Catalog or access the resource online at http://www.agre.org

Scientific Oversight

The AGRE Steering Committee will meet February 4 and 5th, 2001 in Santa Monica, California to review AGRE’s objectives and direction. The committee is composed of experts in genetics and neurological diseases who volunteer their time.

If you are a family with more than one member with autism, PDD or Asperger’s syndrome and would like information on participating in the AGRE program, please contact Marianne Toedtman at 888-AUTISM2 or e-mail to familyagre@agre.org

---

---

Note/Warning:

Autistic people have fought the inclusion of ABA in therapy for us since before Autism Speaks, and other non-Autistic-led autism organizations, started lobbying legislation to get it covered by insurances and Medicaid. 

ABA is a myth originally sold to parents that it would keep their Autistic child out of an institution. Today, parents are told that with early intervention therapy their child will either be less Autistic or no longer Autistic by elementary school, and can be mainstreamed in typical education classes. ABA is very expensive to pay out of pocket. Essentially, Autism Speaks has justified the big price tag up front will offset the overall burden on resources for an Autistic’s lifetime. The recommendation for this therapy is 40 hours a week for children and toddlers.

The original study that showed the success rate of ABA to be at 50% has never been replicated. In fact, the study of ABA by United States Department of Defense was denounced as a failure. Not just once, but multiple times. Simply stated: ABA doesn’t work. In study after repeated study: ABA (conversion therapy) doesn’t work. 

What more recent studies do show: Autistics who experienced ABA therapy are at high risk to develop PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions. Historically, the autism organizations promoting ABA as a cure or solution have silenced Autistic advocates’ opposition. ABA is also known as gay conversion therapy.

---

---

[Note: Autism is NOT a disease, but a neurodevelopmental difference and disability.]

---

Fact: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.

---