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Father of modern autism blames mercury vaccine Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/16103506.htmhttp://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/16103506.htm
Posted on Sun, Nov. 26, 2006
Father of modern autism research, Bernard Rimland, dies at 78
Associated Press
EL CAJON, Calif. - Psychologist Bernard Rimland, considered the father of modern autism research who founded the Autism Society of America, has died. He was 78.
Rimland died Tuesday at a care facility in El Cajon, a suburb of San Diego, after battling prostate cancer, his wife, Gloria Rimland said.
Rimland was instrumental in forming the way doctors deal with autism. His 1964 book "Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior" dispelled the view that the disorder was the psychological byproduct of uncaring mothers who forced their children to withdraw into a shell of indifference.
Instead, he concluded autism, which is characterized by poor language skills and the inability to handle social skills, was the result of a biochemical defect underlain.
Rimland was one of the first to surmise the United States was undergoing an autism epidemic in which one of every 175 children is now afflicted. He found mercury in vaccines was the primary culprit in the increase of autism cases that led to a revolt among parents to have the heavy metal removed from vaccines. Governmental agencies and medical authorities disagreed with Rimland's conclusion.
Rimland founded the Autism Society of America, the largest parent-based autism organization in the nation, with more than 100,000 members and supporters and 200 chapters. Dozens of letters have been posted on the Autism Research Institute Web site from parents with autistic children who expressed their remorse over Rimland's death.
"No one has done more for autism than our founder, Bernie, and all in the autism community have been profoundly touched and have benefited through his decades of passion and dedication to our cause," said Lee Grossman, president and chief executive officer of the Autism Society.
Rimland was born in November 1928 in Cleveland. His family moved to San Diego where he earned an undergraduate degree and a master's in psychology at San Diego State University before leaving the state briefly to obtain a doctorate at Pennsylvania State University.
He married Gloria in 1951 and had a son, Mark, five years later who was later diagnosed with autism. At the time, the medical community blamed mothers for the disorder. Rimland was determined to prove the theory wrong.
After several years of research, Rimland had his book published that was initially ignored by doctors but was highly popular with psychology students.
In 1967, he started what is now known as the Autism Research Institute based in San Diego.
Rimland also was an advocate for intensive behavioral therapy for autistic children, a therapy that many claim has restored their children to normality.
He served as a technical advisor for the Oscar-winning film "Rain Man," in which Dustin Hoffman modeled his performance, in part, on Rimland's autistic son.
In addition to his wife, Rimland is survived by his sons Mark and Paul; and a daughter, Helen.
On the Net:
http://www.autismwebsite.com
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