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Education Law

: Special Education Law Blog

New Gene Discoveries Offer Insights and Promise for Children with Autism

By Charles Fox

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A recent research report from Dr. Christopher Walsh, chief of genetics at Children's Hospital Boston, published in the professional journal Science show that children with autism are not missing whole genes but are missing parts of DNA; the genes which in part lead to autism are turned off. The good news is that intense early intervention can to some degree turn those genes back on. Psst, just do not tell Michael Savage about these latest findings, as it would ruin his Medieval perspectives on autism.

The ramifications of this report are:

there does not appear to be a genetic magic bullet on the horizon in the form of a vaccine that will prevent or treat autism
autism is genetically-based, so arguments that autism is akin to a behavior disorder are unwarranted
intense and individualized instruction, especially early in life are critical
autism is truly a spectrum disorder and only over time will there be more understanding of the different sub-groups and more tailored treatments.

Full post as published by Special Education Law Blog on July 21, 2008 (boomark / email).