Biomedical

Biomedical treatments for autism have been in existence for well over 30 years. It wasn't until the formation of the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) Group in the mid-90's that knowledge of these treatments became more accessible. This came about as a direct result of concerned parents and professionals (many of them with autistic children of their own) wanting to understand and treat the disorder more effectively.

At conferences around the world you can find Medical Doctors presenting case studies showing how biomedical treatments have been effective. After implementing changes like diet, and/or supplementing deficient vitamins and minerals etc., parents often remark on improved language, eye contact, social engagement and their child's ability to learn.

Below is an excerpt by Dr. Bernard Rimland from the forward of Lisa Lewis's book Special Diets for Special Kids. The quote reflects Dr. Rimland's vision of how we would one day treat autism;

"The only mistake I ever made (that I am willing to own up to) was in a talk I made on food intolerance as a cause of autism at the annual meeting of the Autism Society of America (then called NSAC-National Society for Autistic Children) in 1972. I said to my ever-lasting embarrassment,

'While I recognize that most physicians today are skeptical about such allergies of the nervous system, and that many have never heard of the term, I will predict that in ten to fifteen years the average physician will think of such allergies as an immediate possibility when he sees an autistic-type child, one with learning disabilities of hyperkinesis, or for that matter an adult with migraine.'"

Dr. Rimland lost his battle to cancer on November 21, 2006. His crusade for autism was relentless. He will be dearly missed, but his legacy to understand and implement biomedical treatments for autism will live on forever.