Autism Blog - Action For Autism

Congratulations to Dr Offit

Liz Ditz at I speak of Dreams has just blogged the news that Paul Offit has been recognized with an award from the American Association of Pediatrics.

Congratulations to Paul Offit, M.D.

Paul Offit was one of the co-inventors of the rotavirus vaccine, Rotateq. He has written a number of books relating to vaccine issues, most recently Autism’s False Prophets. He has recently been interviewed in Wired: An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All. Offit is the dominant voice repeating the messages that vaccines are safe and effective. For his efforts:

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will present Paul Offit, MD, FAAP, with the President’s Certificate for Outstanding Service at the National Conference and Exhibition of the AAP. The award recognizes an individual’s outstanding service and long-term, personal dedication to the mission of the AAP and to the health, safety and well-being of children. Dr. Offit is a pediatrician, chief of infectious diseases and the director of the vaccine education center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The AAP is honoring Dr. Offit in recognition of his ongoing commitment to promote immunization.

Congratulations, sir, for a well-deserved award.

I join Liz in offering my congratulations. If you want to send him a message of congratulations his contact details at the Childrens’ Hospital of Philadelphia are available on Paul Offit’s official website.

October 24th, 2009 Posted by Mike | Paul Offit, vaccines | 5 comments

My Background

I am Mike Stanton. I live and work in the UK where I teach children with severe learning difficulties, many of whom are autistic. My adult son is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. I am a member of the National Autistic Society. I speak and write on autism.

My book, “Learning to Live with High Functioning Autism” is available in a Spanish translation, Convivir con el Autismo. I have also contributed a chapter to Asperger Syndrome in Adolescence edited by Liane Holliday Willey.

ACTION FOR AUTISM is a reaction against names like Action Against Autism and Defeat Autism Now! Names like these suggest to autistic people that we are against them as people. You may not mean that. But if you care about autism you ought to care about the feelings of autistic people and not use language that makes them angry or upset. If you disregard the feelings of autistic people do not be surprised if you are disregarded.