Talk About Curing Autism
Encyclopedia
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is a nonprofit 501c3 organization founded in 2000 and based in Costa Mesa, California
by Lisa Ackerman when her son was diagnosed and the doctor gave her no hope. TACA provides information, resources, and support to families affected by autism
. TACA aims to reduce the lag time between autism diagnosis
and effective treatments and endeavors to strengthen the autism community
by connecting families and professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help people with autism be the best they can be.
Currently, TACA holds monthly meetings featuring speakers in many states across the United States.
, whose son Evan was diagnosed with an autism spectrum
disorder. Evan's recovery from autistic symptoms is described in his mother's concurrently released fourth book, Louder than Words – A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism.
In 2010, Jenny McCarthy distanced herself from her prior claims that childhood vaccines were to blame for her son's disorder. Jenny now says she wants vaccinations "better researched" — rather than getting rid of them altogether, as she previously promoted.
As a result, TACA now has a Spanish-language section of their website, En Español, which is a resource for Spanish-speaking parents of children with autism regardless of their location.
, a physician and autism researcher who was recently shown to have possibly doctored information about patients who participated in the study that claimed a link between autism and vaccines. The British Medical Journal reported that Wakefield, who was allegedly paid more than $675,000 by a lawyer hoping to sue vaccine makers which suggested that children developed autism after getting a shot against measles, mumps and rubella. In the article, the writer states that the children's medical records show that some clearly had symptoms of developmental problems long before getting their shots, and several had no autism diagnosis at all. However, this is not the case with the majority of children affected by autism in the united States. TACA Spokesman Becky Estepp said the investigation was unlikely to sway vaccine critics: "I think it will make both sides dig in even further".
Despite this, and 41 separate studies listed by the American Academy of Pediatrics which show no link between vaccines and autism http://www.aap.org/immunization/families/faq/vaccinestudies.pdf, TACA continues to promote the stance that childhood immunizations are a significant contributor to autism spectrum disorders. Alternatively, there are millions of children in the US who have had moderate to severe medical reaction to vaccines -- not all of them allergic reactions -- that are now in the midst of treatments for the adverse effects of various vaccines that were given as infants.
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
by Lisa Ackerman when her son was diagnosed and the doctor gave her no hope. TACA provides information, resources, and support to families affected by autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
. TACA aims to reduce the lag time between autism diagnosis
Autism spectrum
The term "autism spectrum" is often used to describe disorders that are currently classified as pervasive developmental disorders. Pervasive developmental disorders include autism, Asperger syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise...
and effective treatments and endeavors to strengthen the autism community
Sociological and cultural aspects of autism
Sociological and cultural aspects of autism come into play with recognition of autism, approaches to its support services and therapies, and how autism affects how we define personhood. The autism rights movement is based on a belief that autism is a different way of being and not a disorder to be...
by connecting families and professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help people with autism be the best they can be.
Currently, TACA holds monthly meetings featuring speakers in many states across the United States.
National spokesperson
In September, 2007, TACA announced the appointment of its new national spokesperson, Jenny McCarthyJenny McCarthy
Jennifer Ann "Jenny" McCarthy is an American model, comedian, actress, author, activist, and game show host. She began her career in 1993 as a nude model for Playboy magazine and was later named their Playmate of the Year. McCarthy then parlayed her Playboy fame into a successful television and...
, whose son Evan was diagnosed with an autism spectrum
Autism spectrum
The term "autism spectrum" is often used to describe disorders that are currently classified as pervasive developmental disorders. Pervasive developmental disorders include autism, Asperger syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise...
disorder. Evan's recovery from autistic symptoms is described in his mother's concurrently released fourth book, Louder than Words – A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism.
In 2010, Jenny McCarthy distanced herself from her prior claims that childhood vaccines were to blame for her son's disorder. Jenny now says she wants vaccinations "better researched" — rather than getting rid of them altogether, as she previously promoted.
Pacific Life Foundation Grant
In January 2009, TACA received a $300,000 grant from the Newport Beach-based Pacific Life Foundation. TACA launched three new programs for Orange County, California families including a Spanish-language program, the addition on an in house advocate to provide education, training and support for families, and scholarships that would allow families to procure independent assessments for their children. All of these programs are offered at no charge to families affected by families.As a result, TACA now has a Spanish-language section of their website, En Español, which is a resource for Spanish-speaking parents of children with autism regardless of their location.
Controversy
TACA, as an organization, prominently supports the research of Dr. Andrew WakefieldAndrew Wakefield
Andrew Wakefield is a British former surgeon and medical researcher, known as an advocate for the discredited claim that there is a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, autism and bowel disease, and for his fraudulent 1998 research paper in support of that claim.Four years after...
, a physician and autism researcher who was recently shown to have possibly doctored information about patients who participated in the study that claimed a link between autism and vaccines. The British Medical Journal reported that Wakefield, who was allegedly paid more than $675,000 by a lawyer hoping to sue vaccine makers which suggested that children developed autism after getting a shot against measles, mumps and rubella. In the article, the writer states that the children's medical records show that some clearly had symptoms of developmental problems long before getting their shots, and several had no autism diagnosis at all. However, this is not the case with the majority of children affected by autism in the united States. TACA Spokesman Becky Estepp said the investigation was unlikely to sway vaccine critics: "I think it will make both sides dig in even further".
Despite this, and 41 separate studies listed by the American Academy of Pediatrics which show no link between vaccines and autism http://www.aap.org/immunization/families/faq/vaccinestudies.pdf, TACA continues to promote the stance that childhood immunizations are a significant contributor to autism spectrum disorders. Alternatively, there are millions of children in the US who have had moderate to severe medical reaction to vaccines -- not all of them allergic reactions -- that are now in the midst of treatments for the adverse effects of various vaccines that were given as infants.
External links
- TalkAboutCuringAutism.org - Talk About Curing Autism website