I am on the spectrum and I was who I was before any vaccines were ever received. I am no chemist nor medical expert but I can tell you that a strong genetic factor is at work here far more than anything that your children will ever receive from vaccines. One of the leading causes for children developing Autism is something called Fragile X Syndrome which is a genetic disorder. Also some studies have found that the older the father is the more likely the child will have a neurodevelopmental disorder, that includes Autism. Also prior to the ACA many insurance companies would not cover treatment for various types of disabilities. A diagnosis of Autism is one of those that they would cover. Which would explain the spike in diagnosis. So many parents actively sought a diagnosis of Autism so they could afford to get their child treatment. Now before someone jumps on my nuts about that last bit understand I do not condemn them and would probably have done the same thing. In those situations the parents are only trying to do the best they can with what resources are available to them. The real moral breach is that even after the ACA there are many children with neurodevelopmental disorders who's parents simply do not have access to the resources, medical professionals, therapies, and medications (oh noes! Big Pharma) that these children need.

Also that Wakefield study that started this whole idiocy has already been debunked. Now I do not deny that yes some studies have shown certain environmental factors can increase the risk for a child developing Autism whether already born or still in the womb. That can even include the types of pain drugs given to the the mother while she is going through labor. But every single Mental Health Professional I have ever spoken with on this says that the evidence points far more to Genetic factors than environmental ones being the main cause in whether a child ends up developing an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Seriously people this Anti-Vacc stuff is causing diseases that this country hasn't seen since the early 20th century to re-surface in our population which for the most part is now more susceptible to them because our bodies have never had to tangle with them. I know no other countries but America, Canada and I think Britain that are dealing with this "IT'S DA MURCURY IN DA VAXINEs!" crap. If mercury and other chemical factors were the cause I'm pretty damn sure we would see research supporting it coming out of other countries by now. If you google everything I've mentioned in my post you should be able to find the studies and other information I'm talking about.

I do believe there may be a genetic trigger, but the rise in autism spectrum disorders is so outsize as to be incredible. It's got to be environmental. I'm going to catch up on the mercury thing, but I'm doing food research, and finding SO much science suggesting gestational exposure to pesticides.

In California’s rich Central Valley agricultural region, a 600% increased incidence in autism was observed among children up to 5 years of age for births from 1990 to 2001, yet only one-third of the rise could be explained by identified factors such as changing diagnostic criteria for autism or a younger age at diagnosis.

600%!!! Nothing but an environmental factor can account for that. And populations, like the Amish, who do vaccinate but don't employ pesticides or typically plant pesticide-containing GMO crops have rates of like 1 in 10,000.

Think what you want and I don't deny that those are troublesome statistics. But there are many rural areas in this country that have only relatively recent had access to the medical expertise necessary to identify a child or adult on the spectrum. Again I think if environmental factors really were the case I think we would see research and somewhat similar statistics coming out of other developed countries. Now I realize not every country does things the way we do them but GMOs and pesticides are used all over the world and yes that includes ones seen here in America. Not to mention I'm pretty sure the major Psychiatric and Mental Health Associations in this country and others would would have said something by now. I don't deny the possibilities of cronyism between Psychiatric Practicioners and Big Pharma but I have grown extremely skeptical of these claims as many who work in Mental Health have been for some time now been pushing back against the pressuring of various drug companies.

Asberger's syndrome, a milder version of Autism was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. This means that Asberger's patients no longer can get insurance coverage for treatment or medication. If a person is diagnosed with the symptoms of Asberger's the diagnostician can either declare the patient has no symptoms at all, or has full blown Autism. Using the same reasoning, if insurance companies decided to no longer cover any respiratory illness less severe than double pneumonia you will see a tremendous spike in the diagnosis of double pneumonia.

It was not removed, well it was but not in the way you think. Another Autism Diagnosis PDD-NOS I believe was removed as well. This is because any child or adult who would be diagnosed with Aspergers or PDD-NOS would now simply be diagnosed as having ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder, that also includes those with classical autism. This is because they have come to recognize that Autism is not a list of similar but distinct disorders. But rather an incredibly wide and varied spectrum that can impact those with it so many different ways. Not to beat this horse again but being on the spectrum myself and having meant a number of other individuals on the spectrum I find it a rather refreshing and far more accurate approach. So yes a child or adult on the Higher Functioning end of the spectrum can get coverage for treatment and medication. How do I know this you might ask ? Because I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome from a young age and I can still receive coverage for treatment and medication for my Autism should I need it. I hate to say this people but you really should do your research. Try asking an Autism Advocacy organization in your state, or just try finding a Psychiatrist or other Mental Health Worker who can answer your questions. When people who don't know what their talking about spout off crap like that what you end up doing is possibly causing people/parents who might seek the necessary treatment to not do so in case it won't be covered. Now of course this depends on your insurer and also the laws of the state you live in as well. Lastly, I said a Diagnosis of Autism not Asperger's Syndrome. Though yes I don't doubt that was done as well. This also means they could have just sought a diagnosis of High-Functioning Autism which prior to the changes in the Diagnostic Manual was considered it's own distinct diagnosis.