In a statement to the IACC, NAA raised an issue not directly related to the vaccine theory:
In 2008, Danish researchers found that the mortality rate among the autism population is twice as high as the general population. In 2001, a California research team found that elevated death rates were due to seizures, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Deaths were also attributed in large part to suffocation and drowning. The National Autism Association is working to address the external factors in particular, most notably suffocation due to improper restraint procedures and drownings. Drownings, prolonged exposure, and other wandering-related factors remain among the top causes of death within the autism population.The fact that we are unable to provide data showing how many adults and children die each year due to wandering is why we are here today. We can assure you that deaths are increasing each year, but we have no research to back our claims. Without hard data, it has been difficult to gain the attention of lawmakers, government health agencies, media and law enforcement agencies.
