Two years ago, Autism Is Medical was called upon to help support a 14 year old child with autism who had multiple serious medical problems and a family in desperate need searching for appropriate care. Weeks and then months went by as teams of nonprofit organizations, therapists, community supports, family, friends, attorneys, state programs, physicians, nurses, media organizations and countless concerned parents within the autism community attempted multiple ways to address numerous deficits and barriers in to a health care system clearly ill equipped to handle this neglected patient population.
Alex’s life was one of thousands that have ended tragically leaving many to question how this could have ever happened and more importantly how do we stop this from ever happening again? Unfortunately, what many of us already know in the autism community is that Alex’s story highlights similar struggles and injustices ignored repeatedly by those who claim to not only protect our most precious children but care for them without harm.
Now more than ever Autism Is Medical feels strongly we must push our children to the front of the line. No other pediatric population exists that competes with numbers like these. With the CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) latest outdated (2010) #’s showing 1 in 68 children (birth year 2002) diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, we know we have no choice but to demand not only appropriate MEDICAL diagnostic evaluations of our children but EFFECTIVE treatments that improve outcomes with RESEARCH to support it.
Alex’s life was one of thousands that have ended tragically leaving many to question how this could have ever happened and more importantly how do we stop this from ever happening again? Unfortunately, what many of us already know in the autism community is that Alex’s story highlights similar struggles and injustices ignored repeatedly by those who claim to not only protect our most precious children but care for them without harm.
Now more than ever Autism Is Medical feels strongly we must push our children to the front of the line. No other pediatric population exists that competes with numbers like these. With the CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) latest outdated (2010) #’s showing 1 in 68 children (birth year 2002) diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, we know we have no choice but to demand not only appropriate MEDICAL diagnostic evaluations of our children but EFFECTIVE treatments that improve outcomes with RESEARCH to support it.
The documentary “Who Killed Alex Spourdalakis” produced by Autism Media Channel is a must see for not only parents but medical professionals and anyone touched by the label of autism. The details explained in this one hour powerful film move you to action. Knowing this could be any one of our families, we strongly encourage you to take some time to reflect back on the series of events that led to this tragedy. Moving forward we must do this. We have to address what went so terribly wrong in order to protect our children and their futures.
Alex ultimately paid a very high price for trusting in a system that clearly was ill prepared to handle even his most basic needs. Autism Is Medical feels the Emergency Room (where Alex repeatedly entered into the health care system) is an area we can improve upon dramatically and we intend to keep Alex’s memory alive by not only learning from mistakes made but finding solutions to the barriers preventing our children and adults from appropriate care.
You can find more information from various news sources about Alex's story here:
http://www.ageofautism.com/2013/03/alex-spourdalakis-loyola-medical-center-ineptitude.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/film-provides-glimpse-into-life-of-autistic-teen-killed-by-his-mother/
http://abc7chicago.com/news/abc7-exclusive-alexs-story/439605/
To view the award winning documentary online via Amazon please click here: http://www.amazon.com/Who-Killed-Alex-Spourdalakis-Documentary/dp/B00OZOIMEI
For more information on how to attend the next theater screening of the documentary “WKAS” in Rosemont, IL May 21, 2015 @ 7:30pm via Tugg click here: https://www.tugg.com/events/13240
If you would like to attend the GAAC2 Summit in Austin,TX- a conference dedicated to the memory of Alex Spourdalakis please click here: http://www.theautismtrust.org/#!give-autism-a-chance-summit-2015/c3yr
As of 2015, with numbers well past 1 in 68, it is tragic to know standards of care and clinical practice guidelines do not exist when it comes to this medically complex patient population. No longer an option to ignore, AIM sees a glaring bright red arrow that is telling us the direction to go, and we must follow! Please join us.
References:
1. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
Alex ultimately paid a very high price for trusting in a system that clearly was ill prepared to handle even his most basic needs. Autism Is Medical feels the Emergency Room (where Alex repeatedly entered into the health care system) is an area we can improve upon dramatically and we intend to keep Alex’s memory alive by not only learning from mistakes made but finding solutions to the barriers preventing our children and adults from appropriate care.
You can find more information from various news sources about Alex's story here:
http://www.ageofautism.com/2013/03/alex-spourdalakis-loyola-medical-center-ineptitude.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/film-provides-glimpse-into-life-of-autistic-teen-killed-by-his-mother/
http://abc7chicago.com/news/abc7-exclusive-alexs-story/439605/
To view the award winning documentary online via Amazon please click here: http://www.amazon.com/Who-Killed-Alex-Spourdalakis-Documentary/dp/B00OZOIMEI
For more information on how to attend the next theater screening of the documentary “WKAS” in Rosemont, IL May 21, 2015 @ 7:30pm via Tugg click here: https://www.tugg.com/events/13240
If you would like to attend the GAAC2 Summit in Austin,TX- a conference dedicated to the memory of Alex Spourdalakis please click here: http://www.theautismtrust.org/#!give-autism-a-chance-summit-2015/c3yr
As of 2015, with numbers well past 1 in 68, it is tragic to know standards of care and clinical practice guidelines do not exist when it comes to this medically complex patient population. No longer an option to ignore, AIM sees a glaring bright red arrow that is telling us the direction to go, and we must follow! Please join us.
References:
1. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
Jeanna Reed has been a Licensed Practical Nurse for the past 16 years. Her continued advocacy in the area of autism became crucial when her oldest child suffered severe medical decline following multiple adverse reactions to his vaccine schedule. Jeanna is co-founder and co-director of “AIM” (Autism Is Medical) a 501c3 nonprofit organization created to serve the growing medical and educational needs of the autism community. She resides in Austin, TX with her amazing family and is public relations coordinator for the Autism Media Channel.
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