Autism in NJ: Is it the environment or the education?
June 20, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Is there an “epidemic of autism” caused by something in the environment? Or are there so many more children who have autism now because of better understanding and awareness? These questions are behind the exchanges (like the one here), on this blog and elsewhere, about the cause (causes) of autism and about how the changes in the diagnostic criteria for autism have affected the prevalence rate. Two recent articles about New Jersey, where my husband is from and where we live now, highlight these two issues.
14 out of 39 children who were born to teachers who taught at a special education school in Northvale, NJ, all have autism or learning disablities; officials and environmental advisors are holding a meeting tonight (at 7.30pm EST), as noted in today’s Bergen Record. New Jersey’s population of students diagnosed with autism increased by 15 percent this school year, the Record reported today.
What is this “big jump” from? The Garden State does not have the “cleanest” reputation. Nonetheless, while “environmental issues have plagued two sites in Northvale’s downtown” (including “hundreds of drums containing toxic chemical” that were buried in the 1960s, neither site is close to the school. (Coincidence? correlation?) The property is owned by the Archdiocese of Newark, which leases it to the Northern Valley Regional High School District; Northvale is in Bergen County, which is a heavily, heavily populated area of northern New Jersey. Notes the article:
…..officials can only say they need more information.
“What I’ve been told is it’s learning disabilities encompassing physical handicaps, neurological, autism and a broad spectrum,” Health Officer Angela Musella said. “The bottom line is you can’t draw any conclusion. We are still gathering information.”
Concerns about environmental pollution in New Jersey have been a question in the minds of more than a few after the CDC’s February announcement about New Jersey having the highest prevalence rate (1 in 94) for autism, not to mention that “big jump” in the population of students with autism. Today’s Bergen Record cites a few more factors, including “widespread awareness” among parents, doctors, and educators; some parents and educators may be seeking an “autism classication” as defined by special education rules “‘because it is a general disability category that may entitle students to more types of therapy [including speech therapy, OT, physical therapy],’” says Jennifer Prunier, coordinator of advocacy and information services for COSAC, New Jersey’s largest autism advocacy group.
The jury’s still out about the two questions I mentioned above—is there an epidemic of autism or an epidemic of understanding about autism?
While we’re arguing about them—or rather dialoguing, if we can—let’s focus on our kids’ needs educate and learn now. Summer is coming here in the Garden State—-a time of transition, in the weather and in the school schedule—-my son’s last full day of school until September is today, and it is hot and humid and pouring and the sky is gray—-and when Charlie calls “Mom, walk, shoes!” I can’t keep him waiting.
With each day, the question of “why is he autistic?” recedes into the background, overtaken by the reality of my Jersey boy looking me eye to eye.
If it was the environment, then wouldn’t NY state (or PA, or MD, or DE) have just as high a level of autism as NJ? Pollution doesn’t respect state lines.
I was born and partially raised in NJ. Now am left wondering if my time there contributed to my daughter’s condition. I also have two other family members who have been have an autism or aspergers diagnosis. Very scary…
Kristina, well put!
We too come eye to eye with this reality every summer.
As a dad I try to make my son an extesion of everything Im involved in. From playing golf to attending meetings( I should footnote that my son is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum). Yes, very challenging to do, but also very necessary to show others that’s he’s a big part of my reality, like it or not.
After all the advocacy, homeschooling, public awareness, therapies, GF/CF dieting, community outreach and information sharing, at the end of the day, I’m my own cause?
livewell
Golf! That is somewhere on the list.
Leigh, I’m from California and think, retrospectively, I’ve some relatives on the spectrum who live out there. Missouri where my son was born has its pollution problems too as I noted in an earlier post.
I guess it could be said, pollution does not discriminate.
Golf causes autism… just ask JBJr …
I’ll get me coat…..
David,
I’ll take my chances
Good seeing your reply.
I’m an autistic person who grew up in New Jersey (and who ironically became more autistic in many ways after leaving NJ for the less polluted Washington state.) The idea that New Jersey has a pollution problem seems ridiculously obvious to me. The entire country has a pretty serious pollution problem, actually, but it’s probably worse in NJ than most other places. Certainly something should be done about this. But I find it pretty absurd that it’s autism statistics, of all things, which are driving a lot of these current concerns about NJ pollution, or pollution in general. I suppose melting ice glaciers don’t merit enough concern for people in NJ/America (though people in Trinidad may beg to differ). Nope, instead let’s panic about autism rates, even though there are very good reasons to believe that rising autism rates have much to do with changing definitions and increased knowledge of autism. Americans, certainly including New Jerseyans, really ought to be more concerned about the condition of their environment. But attaching panic over autism rates to environmentalism shows both a poor understanding of autism and a lack of respect for autistic people.
I was recently at a fundraising event in Pennsylvania just across the river from New Jersey. I was speaking with several parents and educators about the prospects for funding for the future needs of my autistic teenage daughter. They all urged me to move across the river to New Jersey. The reputation, at least in Pa, is that services are much better in New Jersey. Provide the services, and the rates will increase!
Well, the pollution certainly does not help any of our epidemics, whether they are cancer or autism. We are exposed daily to dangerous chemicals that the EPA says are fine in limited amounts, but I prefer not to have lead, mercury, mutating pesticides or development-inhibiting chemicals, genetic mutations and hormones in my food in any amount. The problem seems pretty clear to me. Pollute the earth, and our kids get sick. Everyone should eat only organic, be vigilant about the water in their community and try to consume and pollute less to help this problem diminish. We blindly think that everything we eat and drink is safe, but the truth is that the government is many decades lagging in their studies and what does it help a parent with several autistic kids or family members if in ten years the government announces that pollution was to blame after all. Prevention prevention prevention. Put your money where your mouth is and buy some organice food.
I don’t mean to put the blame on anyone. It is not anyone’s fault. But let’s stop being ignorant thinking, for example that the cell phone we are throwing away is out of sight, out of mind. The mercury from its rechargable battery will seep into the ground, make its way into the soil, where it will get into our food and prevent a fetus’s neurological system from developing correctly.
NJ has the HIGHEST number of mandated vaccines in the country and the HIGHEST autism rates. My son, who was born in 1997, received high levels of thimerosol (mercury) in his vaccines. I don’t think we can blame any one thing, but I think people need to have open minds to the fact that something is causing these number to rise and it may very well have to do with the vaccines and pollution in an increasing population who have a genetic predisposition. Let’s not wait until everyone in NJ is related to a child with autism!