Page 59 - Fall2011

Tim’s DVD Reviews

Autism Now Clearly, Dr. Amaral is trying very hard not to
Public Broadcasting System admit that genetics are a dead end to explain the
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/news/autism/ current explosion of autism cases, but if he can't
do any better than that, I am forced to conclude
Robert MacNeil was inspired to do a six-part that genetics are a dead end, especially when
PBS series on autism because his grandson Nick significant genetic aberrations are historically
is autistic. In the first segment we are introduced not known to arise out of thin air in only a few
to Nick and his mother Alison and learn about decades.
his case in particular. Much more mindless babble from experts
Robert and Alison both seem to understand is followed by an exploration of the impact of
that autism involves more than just what is above autism on the nation's education system. New
the neck. There clearly are digestive and other York City schools have more than seven thousand
issues involved that require a whole body ap- students with autism. Schools in general are over-
proach to the condition. Alison also noticed that loaded and don't have the resources to deal with
trouble started after a vaccination was given to the flood of autistic students. This is yet another
Nick. MacNeil's response was, "I understand one of many ways public schools don't make the
Alison's suspicion, but public health authorities grade.
say there is no scientifically valid evidence that The ensuing section points up the lack of
vaccines cause autism. And Alison found little government programs for adults with autism. Ap-
support from the developmental pediatrician." parently everyone with autism is doomed without
That attitude sets the tone for the remainder of government help. Here we go with more inside-
the series. the-box thinking that I don't quite follow. If the
The next segment examines a family with government is so good at solving problems, why
three autistic boys. It is not surprising that the have cancer rates gone up so much since Nixon
oldest has the least severe problem and the declared war on cancer almost forty years ago?
youngest has the most severe autism. Then it is And how is Johnson's even older war on poverty
time for the experts to weigh in. This goes about going? If the
as well as it always does when you see experts I suppose since PBS only exists thanks to government is
on TV. There are always many, many words, government funding, that attitude is to be ex- so good
some of them ridiculously long, which can all pected. The final section continues a little further
be analyzed, distilled down and summarized by down that path by asking how taxpayers who are at solving
three simple words: We don't know. already overloaded will handle the additional problems, why
Dr. David Amaral provides a classic example burden. Consistent with the rest of the series, have cancer
of expert doublespeak: "Clearly, thirty years ago there are no real answers to these questions ei-
we didn't know any genes that conferred risk ther. This series may be useful for raising aware- rates gone up
of autism. Now, we know that there's at least ness if you don’t get much news in your cave but so much
twenty or more that seem to be associated with if you are looking for any innovative ideas you since Nixon
autism. The interesting thing, though, is that any will be disappointed and my disappointed but
particular gene that you might find that is related not surprised thumb is DOWN. declared war
to autism is only related to about 1 to 2 percent on cancer
of the cases of autism. So there—I think what's nearly forty
clear now is that there's not going to be a single
autism gene. But there are many, many." years ago?
Wise Traditions FALL 2011 FALL 2011 Wise Traditions 59

82725_WAPF_Txt.indd 59 9/15/11 2:01 PM