Antivaxxers Gain Ground in Montana

 In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread.   And among those diseases could be COVID-19.

Unfortunately, Republican politicians and conservative media figures are increasingly joining up with the anti-vaxxers.   Even before COVID, they were fighting vaccine mandates and other public health measures. 

Keely Larson at KHN:

In 2021, Montana passed House Bill 702 — the first of its kind in the nation — which prohibited discrimination based on vaccine status in settings like employment, education, and health care. In effect, it banned private businesses and local governments from requiring employees to be vaccinated, not just against covid-19 but any disease. A federal judge ruled the law unconstitutional in health care settings in a lawsuit filed by hospitals, medical providers, and nurses. Two other lawsuits challenging HB 702, one by private businesses and another by tribal nations, are pending.

This year, lawmakers have introduced proposals to expand vaccine exemptions in schools and change criteria in the workplace and the legal system.

Proponents of the school-related measures include mothers advocating for their parental rights over whether to vaccinate their children; a nurse who maintained that medical choices should be private; and a day care instructor concerned about the connection between vaccines and autism, a claim that has been discredited.

Some experts say those bills, like HB 702 from two years ago, are an overreaction to the fear and anger surrounding the covid pandemic.

Those who promote vaccine exemptions on the grounds of parental rights and individual freedom should be honest about the consequences, said Cason Schmit, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University School of Public Health. Those consequences could include more people sick and dead from preventable diseases, he said.

“We know what the outcomes of these types of laws are,” Schmit said.

Antivax Monday

 In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread.   And among those diseases could be COVID-19.

Unfortunately, Republican politicians and conservative media figures are increasingly joining up with the anti-vaxxers. 

Tiffany Hsu at NYT:

Opposition to vaccines was once relegated to the fringes of American politics, and the rhetoric on Fox News has coincided with efforts by right-wing extremists to bash vaccination efforts.

Served up to an audience that is more likely than the general population to be wary of Covid vaccines, the remarks by Mr. Carlson and Ms. Ingraham echoed a now-common conservative talking point — that the government-led effort to raise vaccination rates amounted to a violation of civil liberties and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

The comments by the Fox News hosts and their guests may have also helped cement vaccine skepticism in the conservative mainstream, even as the Biden administration’s campaign to inoculate the public is running into resistance in many parts of the country.

 Caitlin Owens at Axios:

State Republican lawmakers around the country are pushing bills — at least one of which has become law — that would give unvaccinated people the same protections as those surrounding race, gender and religion.

Why it matters: These bills would tie the hands of private businesses that want to protect their employees and customers. But they also show how deep into the political psyche resistance to coronavirus vaccine requirements has become, and how vaccination status has rapidly become a marker of identity.
...
Zoom in: Montana has made it illegal to "discriminate" on the basis of vaccine status, with some exceptions within the health care sector.

• The law prohibits businesses, governmental entities and places of "public accommodation" — like grocery stores, hotels or restaurants — from refusing to serve or withholding goods from anyone based on their vaccination status or whether they have an "immunity passport."
• Employers aren't allowed to discriminate against or refuse to employ someone based on the same criteria.
• “This is a civil rights statute. It absolutely is," Bagley said. "What this law is saying is that a restriction directed at the unvaccinated is prohibited in the same way as you'd be prohibited from putting up a sign saying, 'no Irish admitted.'"

Noting that the government is falling short of its Covid vaccine goals is an applause line at CPAC Dallas pic.twitter.com/og9Fw1MRAv

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 10, 2021

Boebert: We’re here to tell government we don’t want your benefits. We don’t want your welfare… pic.twitter.com/Gk8WenGrls

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 10, 2021

Couirt Case on Tax-Credit Plan

In The Politics of Autism, I write about special education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  Vouchers and charter schools are part of the ongoing debate.

From the Autism Society:

The Autism Society signed onto a friend of the court brief developed by the National Disability Rights Network, The Arc of the United States, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), and other advocacy organizations in the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue asking the Court to uphold the decision made by the Montana Supreme Court invalidating Montana’s private school tax-credit scholarship program as it is harmful to students with disabilities. While families petitioning the court suggest that the program would help students with disabilities, school vouchers and tax-credit programs like Montana’s actually hurt students with disabilities by redirecting public funds to private schools that are largely unbound by the federal laws in place for over four decades that protect the rights of students with disabilities.

When students with disabilities use vouchers or tax credits to attend a private school, typically they forfeit their rights mandated by federal law —including the right to an appropriate, individualized education—because the statute’s key provisions do not apply to private schools. At least seven states have voucher programs that require parents to explicitly waive all or most of their disability rights protections under federal law to participate. In other states, parents often do not realize the rights they are forfeiting: 83% of parents of students with disabilities in such programs report that they receive inaccurate or no information on the loss of those rights, according to a federal watchdog report. The Court has scheduled to hear oral arguments on January 22, 2020.

ABLE in Montana

A former student of mine is governor of Montana.  Last week, he signed a bill bringing ABLE accounts to his state.  Autism Speaks reports:

Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, SB 399, at a signing ceremony to allow families the opportunity to set up tax-exempt 529A savings accounts for disability-related expenses. Montana is now the 10th state to enact ABLE legislation and a clear indicator of the national momentum for implementing the savings accounts for families with disabilities.

The federal ABLE Act enacted in December of 2014 amended federal law to disregard ABLE account funds for means-tested federal programs such as SSI and Medicaid, which cap (usually at $2,000) the amount an individual with a disability may save. The savings accounts are managed on the state level and require state implementation. Montana’s ABLE legislation, SB 399, was sponsored by Senator Fred Thomas ((R) SD 44).

“We are incredibly grateful to Senator Fred Thomas and Governor Steve Bullock for their leadership on this important legislation that empowers families to invest in the future of their family members with disabilities,” said Stuart Spielman, Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel at Autism Speaks. “Today’s victory would not have been possible without the hard work of grassroots advocates across the state who reached out to their legislators on the importance of ABLE programs for their families and loved ones.”

Alexis Wineman

On the strength of an online vote, Alexis Wineman made it to the semifinals of the Miss America competition, becoming the first ASD person to do so. Digital Journal reports:

Prior to the start of Saturday's competition, Wineman tweeted:

"I hope I make those who has been cheering me on during this journey proud tonight. There are no words to express my #gratitude."

She not only made her supporters proud, she served as an inspiration to many, being named the America's Choice winner. She moved on to the semifinals along with 14 other contestants, competing in the swimsuit competition. Sadly, when the 12 finalists were announced, Wineman's name was not included.

Wineman continued to show her courage, perseverance and gratitude however, saying:

"I can't believe it! I won America's Choice. Thanks to all of you voting for me & supporting me!"

With the pageant now behind her, Wineman plans to continue her education, attending the University of Montana with hopes of a career in art therapy. She also hopes that her story and her personal platform helps everyone remember that "normal is just a dryer setting"
.

Miss Montana and a Vote

KRTV in Great Falls, Montana, reports:

On Saturday, Cut Bank resident Alexis Wineman will take the stage in the Miss America Pageant, but for now she is hoping to garner enough votes online to become a finalist in the contest.

In the Miss America online video contest, Wineman explained why she feels she should be the next Miss America.

Wineman's platform issue, titled "Normal is Just a Dryer Setting: Living with Autism," focuses on her life since she was diagnosed with a form of it in 7th grade. She said she hopes to bring national awareness to it.

"Most people do not understand what autism is, and one in 88 people having some form of autism, this understanding is becoming more and more necessary," Wineman said in the video.
Wineman is also keeping friends, family and fans up to date on her Facebook page, where she said she has enjoyed walking the runway at the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas and making appearances at various events.

She has also been chosen as one of 14 contestants to be featured on the show "20/20."
Click here to see her video and cast your vote.

An Unfortunate Case in Montana

As previous posts have mentioned, institutional placement can go very wrong. The Billings Gazette has Eve Byron's story about a young ASD man who fared so poorly at the Montana Developmental Center that a state hearings officer ordered the state to send him to the Kennedy Krieger Institute at the cost to the state and federal government of $711,000.

He’s become the most expensive state client using a state program for individuals with developmental disabilities that provides community-based services to people.

After he was released from the Baltimore facility in 2009, he moved to a Montana assisted-living facility.

The average cost for a client using the program, known as a Medicaid waiver, is about $39,000 per year, paid for by state and federal funds.

The cost of the young man’s care runs anywhere from $306,000 to $367,000 a year.

... 

He was evaluated in December 2007 by Dr. Diane Edwards, an expert in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, who recommended he be transferred to Kennedy Krieger. She concluded that his behaviors worsened both in frequency and severity while at MDC.

In fact, Edwards and others reported that his treatment at MDC was counter-therapeutic.

Other doctors testified at the hearing that psychiatric care at MDC was substandard. Hearings officer Joseph Sternhagen noted in his report that the boy’s medication management was being done by MDC’s psychiatrist, who saw the boy about once a month on average.

It said the psychiatrist saw the boy only once in a three-month period, despite knowing he was going to be transitioned to a different housing unit, which was traumatic to the boy.

“It was during this time that (the boy) lacerated his forehead so severely that he had to be transported to the hospital emergency room, however stitches could not be applied because of his unstable behavior and not surprisingly, four days later (the boy) reopened the wound at MDC,” Sternhagen wrote.

Miss Montana

The new Miss Montana is from the community of Cut Bank.  She is also on the spectrum.  The Great Falls Tribune reports:

At the conclusion of the statewide competition held in Glasgow this year, 18-year-old Alexis Wineman was crowned as Miss Montana. Wineman is a recent graduate from Cut Bank High School and the daughter of Kimberly Butterworth and Michael Wineman.

Wineman' s selection as Miss Montana is made even more impressive by her own struggle to overcome the stigma of autism.
...

People with high functioning autism frequently suffer from frequent and intense feelings of loneliness, and may have trouble making and maintaining friendships. Despite this, Wineman, who was diagnosed with the disorder in the seventh grade, won the prestigious competition that requires both poise and confidence.

Wineman said she was a bit "shocked " to win the Miss Montana, especially in her first year of competition. Yet the judges found something compelling in her presentation, a platform of autism awareness entitled, "Normal is just a dryer setting — Living with Autism."

Soon after her selection, KXGN reported:



If she were to become Miss America, she would not be the first person with a major disability to earn the crown.  The 1995 Miss America was Heather Whitestone, who is hearing-impaired.

Achievements with Asperger's

Broadway World reports:

Peter Eichler has lived with Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism, for years - even before he had a name for his condition. His experiences and subsequent triumphs led him to found Adam 2 Adam, a non-profit organization intended to promote awareness of autism spectrum disorders and provide mentoring to young adults with Asperger's and other autism-related conditions.

The 43-year-old non-profit founder recently faced a new challenge - developing a stand-up comedy routine. Eichler has been given the opportunity to perform at New York City's Gotham Comedy Club. While people with Asperger's Syndrome are often very serious, Adam 2 Adam encourages creativity, relaxation, and humor as a form of therapy - so Eichler felt that his stand-up debut would be leading by example.

Montana Kaimin reports:

Chris Cragwick isn't that different from any other student. He likes listening to music and watching old "Walker, Texas Ranger" episodes on YouTube.

"No show has had fight scenes with surround sound," he says. "But that show does."

The thing that makes Cragwick just the slightest bit different from other students is the fact that he has autism. It's only noticeable when he takes long pauses, combing his fingers through his beard while he thinks of what to say. He doesn't make eye contact too often, but when he does, it's easy to see his bright blue eyes.

Despite his condition, Cragwick doesn't consider himself disabled. He's held jobs before and is getting his bachelor's degree in English. He's even written several book-length stories.

"It's hard to think of things I can't do," he says.

At a Neuro Networking Club Meeting Saturday, Cragwick sat in a dark room with other members of the group. The fluorescent lights made a buzzing sound that bothered members with hypersensitivity, so they turned them off.

Most of the members arrived at the meeting with club organizer Anna Olsonoski, who drives members to and from meetings. The goal of the meeting was to set up the group's calendar of events, with members' input. Members decided they'd spend their next meeting volunteering at Animeals, an animal shelter and pet food bank.

...

"It's basically giving a good name to autism," Olsonoski said.

The Stirling Observer (UK) reports:

FOR many people, leaving behind the comforts of home to work as a volunteer in Namibia would be a daunting prospect.

But for Stirling University student Robbie Newton (20), who has Asperger syndrome, the 17,880 kilometre round trip to the city of Windhoek to teach local children will be “the biggest challenge of my adult life”.

...

People with the condition often prefer predictable routines that help them feel secure and make sense of the world around them. An estimated 50,000 Scots have autism, with nearly 400 thought to live in Stirling.

Adventurous Robbie is on track to raise the £500 online he will need to make the journey. When he arrives in the Namibian city of Windhoek in August 2012, the Joint Honours Sociology and Criminology student will be rolling up his sleeves and helping with painting, gardening and general local village maintenance, as well as teaching children at the local village summer school.

Today Online (Australia) reports:

They sound like any indie rock band. Unlike other bands though, five of the six members in Melbourne-based Rudely Interrupted have a range of medical disabilities, including Asperger's Syndrome, Down's Syndrome, epilepsy, deafness and blindness.

But that doesn't mean you should diss their ability, said lead singer/guitarist Rory Burnside. Said the 24-year-old: "It's wrong to automatically assume that these people are disabled so they're going to be no good."

Talking with Burnside at the M Hotel - the band was brought in to Singapore by Leo Burnett & Arc Asia Pacific to perform at the Spikes Asia Awards after-party last month - it's his personality you're most engaged by. In particular, his rather wicked sense of humour.

"I was born on May 2," he announced when we met. "Should've been born in the middle of April though. I'm trying to make up the two weeks I was late. For example, if the traffic light's on orange, I like to just go through, because I'm trying to make up for lost time," he laughed.

The inside joke is that he can't actually see the lights, having been born without any eyes. Incidentally, the band's name was coined by Burnside because he felt "my life has been rudely interrupted". "Not just by being born two weeks late, but by being born with no eyes, a cleft palate, Asperger's Syndrome and epilepsy."

Perhaps it's this drive to catch up that has enabled Rudely Interrupted to achieve more in the five years of their existence than most other "normal" bands who've been together twice as long.

Kingston This Week (Ontario, CA) reports:

Don't ask Jay Serdula, "How are you?" Don't ask, that is, unless you have at least 30 minutes to hear his answer.

That's because, as a person with Asperger Syndrome, Serdula takes the question literally. As an adult "Aspie" he realizes that sometimes people use the question to mean 'hello', especially if they just keep on walking past as they pose the question.

"When people say the same thing to mean two different things, that's what confuses me," he told a graduate class on autism spectrum disorders at St. Lawrence College recently. "It would be less ambiguous if they would say 'hello' when they want to greet me and save 'how are you?' for when they want to know the answer. I find it a burden to answer 'how are you?'."

Serdula came up with a solution to this recurring problem. He designed a T-shirt that reads on the front: 'If you ask me 'how are you?' it will take me 30 minutes to tell you. Do you still want to know?' And on the back it further instructs: 'Remember, if you only intend to greet me say 'hello', not 'how are you?'. Do not ask 'how are you?' unless you really want to know the answer and you can spare at least 30 minutes to listen to the answer. If I appear to be in a hurry, do not ask me any questions.'

Apparently Aspies aren't the only people with this problem, since several in the class placed orders for one of the colourful T-shirts.

Medicaid Waiver in Montana

Previous posts have dealt with state Medicaid waivers. The Billings Gazette reports on Matt and Beki Wald, who have taken advantage of Montana's waiver.

As money concerns were mounting, the Walds heard of a new program that the Montana Department of Health and Human Services was launching called Children's Autism Waiver. The program was prompted by an "explosion" of calls to DPHHS from "parents in crisis," Jeff Sturm, the developmental disability program director for DPHHS. The number of calls run parallel to what is happening across the country. An estimated 1.5 million Americans are affected by autism, according to the Autism Society of America.

To be eligible for the program, a child must be between 15 months and 5 years old. The service includes 20 to 25 hours per week of intensive in-home rehabilitation for three years by a trained provider.

The program, started in 2009, serves 50 children with autism throughout the state at a cost of $40,000 per year per child. The $2 million program is funded with a combination of $600,000 from the state's general fund and federal money.

When the program began, the recipients were chosen by lottery.

Beki was on her way to pick up one of her older sons from school when her cell phone rang. She had literally won the lottery.

"I pulled over to the side of the road and started crying," she said. "We were ready to drop Kannin's occupational therapy because money was becoming an object."

Waiver services also include occupational, physical and speech therapy, and transportation among other goods and services. For Kannin, other goods and services include diapers, as he is not yet toilet-trained. The waiver also helped the Walds purchase a trampoline so he could jump and gain balance.