Government Reform Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Thursday, April 6, 2000

Article: Dr. Upledger Testifies at Government Reform Committee Meeting on Autism

John E. Upledger, D.O., O.M.M
"Historically, the onset of autistic behaviors is often preceded by some sort of febrile episode . . . The fever could be resultant to viral infection, a vaccine reaction or any other cause . . . Some of the behaviors observed in autistic children are attempts to change/correct physiological and/or anatomical dysfunctions that may be causing pain or discomfort . . . when specific corrections of the craniosacral system are successfully carried out, these behaviors spontaneously cease."

Opening Statement by Chairman Dan Burton
"As we learned in our August hearing,the rates of autism have escalated dramatically. What used to be considered a rare disorder has become a near-epidemic. We’ve received hundreds of letters from parents across the country. They’ve shared with us their pain and their challenges. My staff tells me they cried from the heart-break of many of these letters."

Jeana Smith - Autism: A Parent's Perspective

Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.
"Some supposed experts will tell you that the increase [in the rates of autism] reflects only greater awareness. That is nonsense. Any pediatrician, teacher or school official with 20 or more years experience will confirm what the studies tell us: there is a real increase in autism and the numbers are huge and growing. The epidemic is serious and world-wide . . . During the past few years the Autism Research Institute has been flooded with an upsurge in pleas for help from parents throughout the world – from wherever the World Health Organization vaccine guidelines are followed. The majority of these parents say their children were normal until getting the MMR – another triple vaccine."

Michael J. Goldberg, M.D., F.A.A.P.
"Parents who were told their children would never talk, could never be social, could never have feelings, now have children who are normal functioning or who are still struggling to catch up and get back to that fully normal functioning child, in either case these parents can see or are beginning to see a future for their child . . . Reviewing case after case of children labeled as having Autism/PDD, I am horrified at how little has been done medically for these children, as they are not considered to be 'normal.' Their pain, their misery, their 'illness,' goes essentially unrecognized. Many are thought of as insensitive to pain, but how many are actually just 'numb' to the pain that their brain/system is constantly in? Simple steps that could be taken, are not taken to help these children or their parents."

Deborah G. Hirtz, M.D.
"I want to explain that we share the sense of urgency that individuals with autism and their families and advocates feel with regard to unlocking the mysteries of this devastating disorder. I will try to convey to you the strong commitment of the NIH to increasing our knowledge about autism - what causes it, how best to diagnose and treat it, and we hope not too far in the future, perhaps even how to prevent this dread disorder."

Dr. Cathy Pratt
"Across the United States, families are struggling with the many challenges presented by a family member with autism and the systems which are needed to support him/her . . . These major issues include, research into potential causes, early intervention, insurance coverage / funding mechanisms, adult options, and trained professionals."

Marie M. Bristol-Power, Ph.D.
National Institute of Health presentation on autism research and vaccines.

Colleen Boyle, Ph.D.
"Developmental disabilities prevent children from achieving at the level of their peers and through no fault of their own cause a tremendous burden on families and our society in general."

Index of Witnesses: a list of the witnesses' prepared statements that were submitted electronically.

note: this table contains a representative sample of the various perspectives - in the form of prepared statements, at the Government Reform Committee hearing on autism, including those of the main speakers.