This was reported in today's Wall Street Journal:

"Both of the California-based studies suggest that local environmental or social factors are driving the high autism-diagnosis rates. And they conclude that childhood vaccinations--which some people fear is a factor behind rising autism--are not to blame. Otherwise, diagnoses of the disorder would be more evenly dispersed, they say."

What are your thoughts?

(You can read the full story here: http://www.bit.ly/bd1OrJ )

I am not sure what to make of this article. My son was recently diagnosed and I am still in shock. I agree that as well educated parents we want our chioldren to succeed and to find great ways to overcome obstacles. But it is only after years of frustration did I ask for a very thorough evaluation. I believe toxins in the environment hurt us all so why not neurologically in children?
I think that perhaps the article doesn't take into account that perhaps a parent him or herself has a form of autism and the resulting conflicts of more than one person with these spectrum of behaviors in a household is what leads families to get tested and diagnosed.

I won't say that vaccinations don't make it worse, but in our case my son was born with Autism. He actually has Asperger's and we knew from birth that something was "different". It took several years to get a real diagnosis, even with me insisting something was not right. This was 10 years ago though. I had never even heard of Asperger's. It was never mentioned until his preschool special ed. teacher asked me about it. Looking back, if I knew then what I know now, it would have been obvious to me that is what was going on.

Hi Debbie S., My son was the same way, and we had the same experience with his diagnosis in kindergarten. He is now 12, and I wondered how old your son is now? My son functions well at school, but at home I am clueless on how to help him show kindness to the smaller children, and wondered if you had any thoughts or ideas to that effect?