The following is a letter to Tim Russert, host of Meet the Press on NBC, in response to the program televised Sunday, August 7, 2005 with the following guests: David Kirby, author, "Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic"; Dr. Harvey Fineberg, president, The Institute of Medicine.

August 7, 2005

Dear Mr. Russert,

As a parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder and the founder of the US Autism and Asperger Association, I want to personally thank you, Mr. Russert, for addressing the relationship between increased mercury exposure through vaccines and neurological disorders.

Every day I hear a story from a parent that has a child who has been diagnosed with a neurological disorder that ranges from autism spectrum disorder to ADHD. The numbers of children diagnosed within the spectrum are at epidemic levels. By bringing this controversial, yet emotional topic to the forefront of your program, you became the voice for many thousands of parents, who in turn are the voices for their children (over fifty percent of the children are non-verbal), many of whom will never be able to defend themselves in their lifetime due to the unnecessary poisoning of their generation.

With more media outlets taking charge to expose this worldwide epidemic, the public will hopefully demand justice for the millions of families who struggle with this debilitating lifelong disorder. Please keep this issue open by inviting the toxicologists, environmentalists, researchers (who are not on the pharmacological payrolls), and parents who care for children with autism spectrum disorders to your program so we never forget these children who face insurmountable challenges for decades to come.

Again, on behalf of the USAAA, I thank you and NBC for making the public aware of a debate that will remain within our community for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Lawrence P. Kaplan, PhD
Founder and Executive Director
US Autism and Asperger Association (USAAA)
P.O. Box 532
Draper, UT 84020-0532
801-649-5752
larry_kaplan@usautism.org
http://www.usautism.org
Author of Diagnosis Autism: Now What? 10 Steps to Improve Treatment Outcomes