Debunking The Chlorine Dioxide Protocol

**Because of the very real threat of retribution, the collaborative authors of the following piece have chosen to remain anonymous, preferring to be attributed as The North American Anti-CD Task Force**

Greetings! There are many books relating to autism in print and online for people to read. I will focus on just one: Healing the Symptoms known as Autism, by Kerri Rivera and Kimberly McDaniel, two US-born sisters who are currently living in Mexico. (1)(2)

Kerri and Kimberley claim that a series of drastic interventions will cure autism. These include dietary changes, taking supplements, and a series of drastic and dangerous alleged therapies. Central to their claims is administering chlorine dioxide (ClO2, commonly referred to as CD) orally and by enema. CD is an artificial chemical manufactured for use as a bleaching agent in industry and to sterilize surfaces and equipment. It is not approved as a food additive or as a medicine of any kind, and is classed as a toxin. As a result, this book’s dramatic claims deserve to be examined not just for validity but for safety. According to this book, autism can be "cured"! (3) However, science makes it clear that autism is a genetic difference and therefore "NOT CURABLE". I know, two opposing statements... two opposing opinions.

I will present compelling evidence (and some common sense) to reveal why this book’s improbable claims should not be taken seriously. Science, human biology, and evidence showing what damage could be done to the human body and the environment are what should be taken seriously.

Sarah Gibbons- Learning from Autistic Adults

This past February, my younger brother Chris, who is autistic, turned twenty-five. 

When Chris and I were growing up, not many people in our neighbourhood knew about autism. Now, more people are aware of what it means to have a diagnosis, and you hear about autism quite frequently in the news. We definitely have more awareness of autism now than we did when my brother and I were growing up. But, as this blog and other organizations are pointing out today, awareness does not automatically equal acceptance. Mainstream efforts at awareness have at times presented autism and autistic people as a problem, which often serves to make non-autistic people fear, rather than accept, autism. 

Thankfully, autistic people are speaking back and effectively challenging many troubling, mistaken assumptions about autism. 

As a child, I had a hard time explaining autism to other people when they asked me about my brother. I didn’t feel as though I had a definition readily available to me. If I had been given one, I had forgotten it. I didn’t know how to explain autism at a scientific level, and I wasn’t sure how to list off autism characteristics. 

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how to differentiate what was autism from what was my brother. 

I recall someone asking me what my brother would be like if he was not autistic and I didn’t know how to respond; I had never imagined him not being autistic. When I was an adult, I was fortunate enough to be able to read a copy of Jim Sinclair’s essay, “Don’t Mourn for Us”** a helpful letter to parents of autistic children in which he clarifies that no one is trapped inside autism. In this essay, he writes, “Autism is a way of being. It is pervasive; it colours every experience, every sensation, perception, thought, emotion, and encounter, every aspect of existence”. 

Reading Sinclair’s essay helped me to understand why I had so much trouble trying to differentiate autism from my brother. I think his point that autism is just a different way of being in the world is a crucial one to recognize today. While my family and I are very thankful for greater autism awareness because it has made Christopher’s life much easier, we also believe that mistaken beliefs about the need to measure ability and intelligence in normative ways still persist. 

People are dying because we haven’t achieved autism acceptance. 

The refusal to vaccinate children for fear that they will become autistic has led to rising rates of the measles. 

Children are given harmful ‘therapies’ like MMS/CD because some people believe that autism needs to be cured. 

Autistic people face discrimination that affects their ability to receive medical care, including organ transplants, because of a system that supports the idea that autistic lives are less important than as those of their non-disabled peers. 

Looking back on my childhood, I wish that I had been fortunate enough to be able to meet autistic adults and learn from them. While studying literature as an adult, I was introduced to the field of disability studies, and I was able to read many essays, poems, memoirs, and fiction by autistic adults. 

I hope that autistic children and their siblings today are able to encounter important ideas about advocacy, disability rights, and acceptance that I didn’t come across until I was a bit older. 

I think that is what autism acceptance is about for me – learning from autistic adults, like my brother and other autistic people, and positioning them as the experts on their own lives. 

It also means rejecting the idea that autism and autistic people themselves are a problem, and looking at the barriers to full participation for autistic people in society as the real problem. 

We need more recognition of autism as neurological difference, rather than deficit. 

Thanks very much for reading, and please check out the other awesome posts on this blog for autism acceptance day. 

Sarah Gibbons, proud sib!

** Sinclair, Jim. “Don’t Mourn for Us.” Our Voice. 1.3 (1993). Autreat. Web. 2 April 2015. 

 The Fine Print! The work represented herein is the sole property of their credited creator, and as such cannot be reproduced without permission or attribution. I Do Not Need A Cure Autism Flash Blog has been granted such permission and cannot be held responsible for work misrepresented by a contributor. All views expressed are those solely of the individual author, artist or creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of the I Don't Need A Cure Flash Blog organizers.

The Evolution of Autism Awareness Over the Last Century

A proud Mom with her smart and handsome son!

I am very proud of this post, and not for reasons you may think. 

First of all, who am I? 

I am the founder and creator of I Don't Need A Cure Flashblog. 

Secondly, why am I so proud of this post? 

I did not write it, my son did, as a guest post on my blog Days of Whine and Rosé

To read the post I am bursting with pride over, "The Evolution of Autism Awareness Over the Last Century" , written by my son Christopher Medeiros please click here

Direct Links

The Autism World is Rife with Truly Au-Some bloggers!!

Click on the links below to go directly to each blogger's submission to the I Don't Need A Cure Flashblog

Helpfulhev 

post- "An Unqualified Mother’s opinion of Autism Treatments"

Hi guys, I am just a mum, I have no science experience really, and don’t claim to be an Expert in anything. I am not an Autism Expert, Dietician, I have no medical experience either. This is my advice to others, from what I have researched, in layman’s terms, as I cannot write any other way, I hope this might help some people.......

Read more here

***************************************

Full Spectrum Mama

post- "THANKS…MOM/THANKS, SON!"

This was written for the “I Don’t Need a Cure Autism Flash Blog.”
Here is a true story from a few weeks ago that illustrates how I am trying to raise my son to accept himself just as he is:

Read more here 

    ***************************************

JEANETTE PURKIS: THOUGHTS ON ALL THINGS AUTISM AND MENTAL HEALTH

post- 'A day in the life of a valued, worthwhile human who happens to be Autistic..'.

I was recently asked to contribute a blog for an event challenging that oh-so-ableist and damaging group of people who call themselves Autism speaks (or as some have rebranded them, Autism $peaks). A little background…. Autism speaks starts from the premise that Autism is a ‘tragedy’. They promote ‘cures’ and basically serve to negate pretty much everything advocates like myself and so many others do to promote the value and humanity of Autistic folks.....

Read more here

    ***************************************
Days of Whine and Rosé

posts- 
"An Allistic's Guide to Autism"     click here

"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"  click here

"Its a Small World After All, How People Around the World Are Uniting to Protect Autistic Children From Being Poisoned"  click here



The Fine Print! The work represented herein is the sole property of their credited creator, and as such cannot be reproduced without permission or attribution. I Do Not Need A Cure Autism Flash Blog has been granted such permission and cannot be held responsible for work misrepresented by a contributor. All views expressed are those solely of the individual author, artist or creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of the I Don't Need A Cure Flash Blog organizers.

To the church of Genesis II, Poetry and art by Jonas S Lundström

Poetry and art by Jonas S Lundström

Acrylic on canvas       40 x 30 cm -  2014-09-03

Jonas S Lundström

To the church of Genesis II

Chloride Dioxide

is God's pesticide

The phalse prophet

James V Humble

Knows only to lie

And should get

ready to rumble

For In his worship of Mammon

and all that is common

He peddles snake oil

to any confused soul

desperate for normalcy

To People who been told

their sexuality is a sin

and proof of a devil within

To Parents who been told

that their child is not normal

Chlorine dioxide is sold

Quack Quack the charlatan

spreads his fear

Whisper lies in the

loving parents ear

To see a mother

use Chlorine dioxide

on her special little child

Is bearing witness

to Infanticide

And just like Johnny Cash

I CRY CRY CRY

"Charlatan"

The Fine Print! The work represented herein is the sole property of their credited creator, and as such cannot be reproduced without permission or attribution. I Do Not Need A Cure Autism Flash Blog has been granted such permission and cannot be held responsible for work misrepresented by a contributor. All views expressed are those solely of the individual author, artist or creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of the I Don't Need A Cure Flash Blog organizers.

Autism is a Part of Our World, NOT a World Apart

Christopher Gibbons  was born  on February 28, 1990. He is 25 years old. He received a diagnosis of Autism on his 4^th birthday.

Chris lives with his Mom and Dad. His sister is away at University, and he misses her very much.

Chris’ favourite food is pizza. He is fortunate to go to our local Gabriel’s Pizza where the staff welcome him to make his own Gabriel’s special personal pizza once a month.

Chris went through a 2 year period where he loved to paint. He moved on to try out and enjoy physical activities including an annual Terry Fox 10K run, and running every week from spring to fall.  Chris loves skating, yoga, fitball, beats alive, rhythmic fitness classes that he attends weekly. Chris enjoys his music therapy classes and African drumming classes as well.

Chris enjoys ‘Book Club’ monthly which enables him to read and learn about various subjects ranging from countries, to traditions to famous people.

Chris absolutely loves listening to music, all varieties from Edith Piaf, Michael Jackson,  AC/DC, Adele .. the list goes on.

Chris is adored by his family. Our life has been made richer having Chris in our lives. His smile and laugh are contagious. 

We do not need a cure for Autism

To us 'Autism is a part of our world, NOT a world apart'.

written by Christopher's loving Mom! 

The Fine Print! The work represented herein is the sole property of their credited creator, and as such cannot be reproduced without permission or attribution. I Do Not Need A Cure Autism Flash Blog has been granted such permission and cannot be held responsible for work misrepresented by a contributor. All views expressed are those solely of the individual author, artist or creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of the I Don't Need A Cure Flash Blog organizers.

I Was Made This Way For A Reason

Original poem by Maranda Russell

I was made this way for a reason..

With a mind that chases down ideas and wrestles them to the ground.

With eyes that pierce the veil then hide themselves from the darkness.

With ears that hear you say one thing but intuit something else altogether.

With a mouth that may seem too bold but seeks only to speak the truth.

With a heart that casts out a net to catch every casualty floating by.

With arms wishing to embrace the cosmos but returning empty, feeling bereft.

With feet that stumble over themselves, yet constantly rise and keep going.

Yes,

I was made this way for a reason...

and so were you.

For more from Maranda,including links to her fan page, vlog and website, please check out her author profile here or find her in our Artist Directory




The Fine Print! The work represented herein is the sole property of their credited creator, and as such cannot be reproduced without permission or attribution. I Do Not Need A Cure Autism Flash Blog has been granted such permission and cannot be held responsible for work misrepresented by a contributor. All views expressed are those solely of the individual author, artist or creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of the I Don't Need A Cure Flash Blog organizers.

No Cure: Autism Acceptance, Not “Treatment”

by Emily Brooks

I used to work with a little boy with bright curls who loved making long lists of numbers and wandering around the room. I knew he was being present in his own way. I saw that he was getting used to being around other children, and that playing by their sides was how he could interact at that point. His parents couldn’t stand it, though, so they picked him up and physically moved him into other children’s space, berating him to “play with your friends.” I could see their anxiety with his position on the autism spectrum. Unwilling to let him exist in his own way, they turned to chelation therapy and hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments. It was the organizational policy not to outwardly judge any caregiver’s choices. Yet when his parent gushed to me about how “happy” and “social” he was after these “therapies”, it took more than average effort to bite my tongue. Worse, I felt complicit in the dangerous torment he experienced under the name of “treatment.”

I was reading a website the other day that stated something to the effect of, “Unfortunately, there is no cure for Asperger syndrome. But there are interventions that can help.” It saddened me that a lack of a cure for an autism spectrum disorder could be seen as an unfortunate event. When it comes to autism, the word “unfortunate” shows up far too often. For instance, an article claimed that it was highly “unfortunate” that there were no drugs specifically for autism yet. The words “intervention” and “treatment” don’t make me happy, either. Like the boy with the curls, some autistics find themselves trapped in biomedical interventions meant to rid their bodies of so-called environmental toxins. If caregivers generally want what’s best for their kids, then the bad decisions they make to put their kids through “treatments” must stem from a combination of misinformation and a desperate hope to make autism disappear.

Other treatments might seem less physically harmful, but could have emotional consequences. I remember the day when a mother uttered a command to her two-year-old son on the autism spectrum and proudly showed me how he could sit still in a child-sized chair without moving his hands. I nodded, but thoughts raced across my mind: “You gave the command to your kid like he’s a dog,” followed quickly by, “But he’s two! Why on earth would any two-year-old of any ability sit still as a statue in a chair?”

Behind applied behavioral analysis seems to lie the assumption that teaching children to act normal will make them normal. It’s backed up by sensationalist journalism pieces about how children who undergo intensive ABA therapy in early childhood no longer meet the criteria for autism in their teens, positioning ABA as almost miraculous. In my opinion, if a child no longer has autism, then they never had it to begin with. If they simply don’t act autistic anymore, then they have autism but are conditioned into a neurotypical behavior pattern. Almost every parent will “train” their kid at some point—for instance, to stop when they say stop, or to wait before crossing a street. Yes, I know caring, kind, and smart professionals who are trained in behavioral techniques.  Yet ABA stifles personal expression. It’s especially harmful to tell scared parents that ABA is the only way to help their children.

When I listen to parents swear by extra-virgin olive oil, Himalayan sea salts, or gluten-free pizza, I can’t help but feel sorry for the family members who spend time, energy, and money while companies profit from their fear of autism. When I read blog posts entitled “I Hate Autism!”, I feel sorry for the parents who, instead of getting the chance to enjoy their child, feel compelled to change them. When I read comments about how verbal autistics don’t understand mothers’ experiences because we don’t have “real autism”, I feel sorry that this desperation and suffering that surrounds autism rhetoric has gotten in the way of a beneficial autism community. When I read about electroconvulsive therapy and highly-sedating drugs as the answers, I feel sorry for the child, teen, or adult on the autism spectrum who has been forced into this experience. I also feel sorry for the family forcing these “therapies” on children because they are clearly not at peace with who their child is. I know that most caregivers want the best for their kids, even though their interpretation of what that is may vary widely. This does not excuse their choices of treatments that hurt their autistic children, though.

Autism is everywhere in the news, but the language surrounding autism likens it to illness. Those of us on the autism spectrum are taking “autism awareness” and making it “autism acceptance”. It’s part of the overall change in autism rhetoric. Language holds social power, so changing language is a way to change the way we look at issues. April may be full to the brim of people lighting it up blue and proudly showing their support through the iconic puzzle piece symbolism, yet for many in the autistic community, these actions feel empty or represent a larger campaign to normalize or erase our existence. Before I gave its website a close critical reading, I saw nothing wrong with Autism Speaks. For many years, Autism Speaks seemed friendly and passionate about autism. I once represented an organization at an event, and the person tabling next-door was representing Autism Speaks. She was very friendly and gave me a little blue puzzle piece pin while chatting with me about vague-sounding walks for autism. Under the guise of friendliness and help, Autism Speaks relies on language that scares me and others in the autistic community. I laughed the other day as I read their mission of helping “all who struggle with an autism spectrum disorder.” “Well, as I’m struggling not from autism but rather from ableism in society,” I thought, “they’re certainly not helping me!”

Places like Autism Speaks and their focus on cures and treatments, make me cringe. It’s offensive to hear others say they want to “prevent” other people like you from existing. This language is born from the medical model of disability. The medical model sees impairment as part of us that must be fixed, whereas the social model of disability places greater onus on society to adapt so that it is easier for us.

Being autistic is not a problem that should be done away with. It is an equally-valid way of experiencing the world. Therapies and medications might help some of us. But if a “treatment” is meant to, as I read on a parent’s blog the other day, “essentially cure autism”, then that must become a gigantic red stop sign for parents and providers. Yes, there are times that aspects of my autism spectrum disorder are harder to deal with, and then I need support. And yes, I love myself and don’t want to be any different, because I would lose who I am. I hope that autistic children will also love themselves despite the cure-based biomedical rhetoric that surrounds autism in the media, and I hope that parents, siblings, and professionals will love—and accept—autistic people for who we are.

to read about the author Emily Brooks click here


The Fine Print! 
The work represented herein is the sole property of their credited creator, and as such cannot be reproduced without permission or attribution. I Do Not Need A Cure Autism Flash Blog has been granted such permission and cannot be held responsible for work misrepresented by a contributor. All views expressed are those solely of the individual author, artist or creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of the I Don't Need A Cure Flash Blog organizers.

Ink and Daggars Graphic Novel Preview!!

Christine Leaming ( AKA Ink and Daggers) and will soon be publishing a Graphic Novel as MK Ultra. She is mother to a delightful toddler, an avid reader, and a "leftist social justice activist" currently living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Christine is self-taught, and although not a spectrumite herself, is quite immersed in the Autism World. She has spent the last decade working with autistic children and their families. Christine created this work out of a sense of responsibility to her past clients and her autistic friends, and as a way to come to terms with the way society interacts with neurodiverse and otherwise marginalized people.

 "I hope that it can not only entertain, but educate those unfamiliar with life on the spectrum, as well as reflect the experiences of autistic individuals with authenticity, relatability and respect." Ink and Daggars

Here's a taste of the work in progress "Catch Point"

November 2011, Salt Lake City, Utah. Caleb Krauss, just shy of his sixteenth birthday, survives another day in a home that is in a state of continual dysfunction. Diagnosed with autism as toddlers, Caleb and his sister’s daily lives revolve around intensive therapy and biomedical interventions that their parents believe will eventually lead to a cure. Lonely and presumed incompetent, Caleb copes through his joyful obsessions, which include freight trains, Hayao Miyazaki movies, and the sweet neurotypical boy who volunteers in his special education class. But when Caleb discovers labor martyr Joe Hill and is inspired to run away from home, both his and his family’s routines and isolation become suddenly derailed.

In short, a queer, autistic, train-hopping teenager runs away from his abusive curebie family, leading to a massively misguided law enforcement investigation into his disappearance.

To find out more about this upcoming graphic novel, check out Ink and Daggars blog tumblr account here

The Fine Print! The work represented herein is the sole property of their credited creator, and as such cannot be reproduced without permission or attribution. I Do Not Need A Cure Autism Flash Blog has been granted such permission and cannot be held responsible for work misrepresented by a contributor. All views expressed are those solely of the individual author, artist or creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of the I Don't Need A Cure Flash Blog organizers.

Autistic people being experimented on in 2015

My name is Fiona O'Leary and I along with two of my five wonderful children are on the autistic spectrum.

I am an Autistic Rights advocate/activist and I have recently founded with the help of my colleagues the organisation ART 'Autistic Rights Together'. ART is a non-profit organisation consisting of Autistic people and like mined Neurotypicals who passionately believe in the empowerment of Autistic people to achieve equality and respect in modern day society.

I have been fighting for the rights of Autistic people for many years now and I am disgusted to see how society continues to fail us.

I have spent the last ten months actively involved in a worldwide Campaign to end abusive Autism Treatments.

People all over the world are working hard fighting to end these awful unlicensed, unproven and dangerous treatments.

One of these so called 'treatments' which I am sure you have already heard of is MMS / CD. A Bleach treatment which is given to Autistic children and adults by parents and caregivers. The name of this treatment is the 'CD Protocol'.

The CD Protocol was created by Kerri Rivera and involves daily doses of bleach, orally and also via invasive painful bleach enemas. CD (Chlorine Dioxide) is also administered in baths and dehumidifiers.

Autistic children and adults are being tortured with this bleach treatment and suffering horrendous side effects from ingesting this poison. Vomiting, fevers, skin rashes, seizures, low blood pressure, internal bleeding, low sodium levels, hair loss, weight loss, diarrhoea, bowel prolapse, kidney failure, the list goes on....

Added to these physical traumas is the constant fear and terror these Autistic children and adults are subjected to every day.

They are dosed all day long, prisoners of this abusive treatment! Isolated from society due to the fact that parents are advised to hide from Child protection and Authorities. Many of those on the CD Protocol are removed from school to commit to this abusive treatment. The psychological damage caused by the CD Protocol doesn't  bare thinking about.

You would think that our government should care wouldn't you?

You would think that after all the campaigning, the countless emails, the extensive media exposure and direct phone calls to all the relevant authorities that something would be done!

We have generated great awareness and warned many people but the truth is this, the CD Protocol continues and will until laws our put in place to stop it!

In Ireland we are making good progress, with investigations into parents using CD on their Autistic children, and investigations into those selling and offering MMS/CD as a Medicine. However even if we ban the product (MMS/CD), it won't stop the CD Protocol.

People can buy Water Purification drops anywhere and make MMS/CD themselves. The treatment (CD Protocol) itself must be banned and made illegal.

Therefore legislation is needed to deal effectively with all unauthorised Autism treatments and any future treatments must be regulated before they are marketed to the public.

At present Autistic people are guinea pigs, being experimented on with dangerous unproven and unlicensed treatments.

An example of why legislation is so important is shown in recent dealings with the Loews O'Hara Hotel in Chicago.

We have been trying to stop Kerri Rivera and an Autism One conference from going ahead this coming May 23rd in Loews O'Hara Hotel in Chicago.

People have been sending emails and phoning the Hotel.  We have an online petition with 943 signatures at present, click here to sign the petition.

I have written many emails and made several phone calls to the Hotel management.

After speaking to three different members of management, the last being the head  of their public relations legal team, I was informed that the Hotel will not be cancelling the Kerri Rivera conference and that is their final word.

Yes they could cancel if they viewed this issue ethically, however management checked out Kerri Rivera and told me she is not wanted by the Police, she has no criminal background and there are no laws stopping her advocating this treatment!

I am sure if she had MMS/CD  on the day of the conference the FDA may be interested but I assure you Kerri Rivera is not that dumb. She is fully aware of what is going on and knows that there are no laws stopping her talking about her CD Protocol.

This is the reason I keep pressing home the issue of legislation, it is the only way to stop Kerri Rivera and her abuse of Autistic people!

Below is the final email I received from managing director Paul Ohm below. I telephoned Sarah Murov mentioned in email and she confirmed that they will not cancel the Kerri Rivera conference.

**********

Dear Fiona, Thank you for your follow up e-mails and phone calls.  We sincerely understand and appreciate your concerns, however we do not control the speakers or content for the AutismOne Conference.  Please reach out to the AutismOne organization directly as they are responsible for all content associated with their conference.

Should you wish to speak to a Loews Hotels representative please contact Sarah Murov our Vice President of Public Relations, her information is listed below.

Sarah MurovVice President Public RelationsLoews Hotels & Resorts655 Madison Avenue, 8th FloorNew York, NY 10065Phone: (212) 521-2495smurov@loewshotels.com

We sincerely appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention.

Sincerely,

Paul E. OhmManaging DirectorLoews Chicago O’Hare Hotel5300 N River RoadRosemont, IL 60018paul.ohm@loewshotels.com

********** 

                                               

We will still fight for Autistic Rights. My colleagues and I have recently founded a new organisation ART 'Autistic Rights Together' to help further the cause for which we believe in.

Please read about us in our new Website

We will continue to seek justice for all Autistic people and fight for legislation to outlaw all abusive treatments being used in the Autistic community.

We celebrate WORLD AUTISM ACCEPTANCE DAY every day!

Please support us by checking out links below and thanks for reading.

Autistic Rights Together ( ART )

MMS/CD Awareness Ireland

Stop Kerri Rivera's Abuse of Autistic Children and Adults Facebook page

Bancdmms Facebook page

bancdmms.com




The Fine Print! The work represented herein is the sole property of their credited creator, and as such cannot be reproduced without permission or attribution. I Do Not Need A Cure Autism Flash Blog has been granted such permission and cannot be held responsible for work misrepresented by a contributor. All views expressed are those solely of the individual author, artist or creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of the I Don't Need A Cure Flash Blog organizers.