Tributes to Dr. Bernard Rimland
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Posted July 29, 2007
I was very saddened to hear Dr. Rimland had passed. He was an inspiration to his colleagues as well as his patients and their parents. I enjoyed the contact I had with him, as he was always available and had a great fund of knowledge. He was a special resource and great individual that will be sorely missed.Jane M. Hightower, MD
Jane M. Hightower MD
San Francisco, CA
Posted July 22, 2007
I first came to know about Dr Bernard Rimland and his untiring work on autism while researching on autism spectrum disorders and the efficacy of the various biomedical treatments to treat children with autism for my postgraduate studies. Dr Rimland has contributed a lot in the field of autism and he will always be fondly remembered by those who have known him personally and others like myself who read about his works in various books and journals. May God bless his soul.Dr Noel K.H. Chia
Singapore
Posted July 20, 2007
In 1991 when our son Timothy was seeing a specialist in the UK we were given an article about mega vitamins, I was suspicious and thought that the Doctor was on some sort of commission I noticed a number in the US and decided to give it a call, Dr Rimland answered and we spoke at length, he told me that it was true and that for some children they had benefited from taking the vitamins. Dr Rimland asked about my son and seemed genuinely interested and wished us all the best for our future together, he then said he would have to go go as he was tired!, I thought strange! but then he went on to explain that it was infact 3am in the US,in the UK it was 10am, it had not occured to me in my desperation to find out the truth of the time difference, that is dedication for you and I have never forgotten that he was willing to talk to me at that time in the morning. I often wondered over the years if he thought about that woman from the UK who woke him up in the early hours to talk about mega vitamins. Dr Rimland you gave us hope the most precious gift, thankyou, RIP.Lorna McCrystal
South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Posted July 19, 2007
I will never ever forget Dr, Rimland. My son Dan had been diagnosed with autism at the age of 4 in 1968 at UCLA NPI. Dr. Rimland and others were conducting sleep studies of which Dan was a participant. Aside from the long tedius nights when I slept in an adjoining room, there were the constant feelings of frustration and unknowns as to what autism was.At the time I was getting my B.A. degree at another college and constantly had to run to classes after each sleep study. I had kept a strong facade while inside I was crumbling apart with not only fatigue -- but the knowledge that autism was not known by the school system -- let alone the lack of remediation facilities for Dan at that time. I knew it would be a life-time struggle of research and matching the "kid to the program."
I remember one early morning when I was about to leave NPI for a final exam. Dr. Rimland approached me and offered me a cup of coffee "to get you through the day." He then put his hand on my shoulder, making a wry remark that's stuck with me ever since that moment. "Ann, don't worry -- 50 years from now we'll have a magic pill that'll instantly cure autism!" I left for my classes feeling a big load lifted from my shoulders. Dr. Rimland KNEW what the long road ahead would be in research and remediation for autistic people! It was his dark humor that let me know I wasn't alone in the struggle.
Dr. Rimland was not only concerned with research -- but showed incredible compassion for a parent that day in 1968!
Ann Boggio
Los Angeles, CA
Posted July 12, 2007
Dr. Rimland was a force and inspiration to me and my family especially when my son was diagnosed at 2 and 1/2 years old in 1988. It took me a few years to find Dr. Rimland but I followed his research and had my son on the multi-vitamin regimine for many years. My son is a happy young man at 21 years old and although he hasn't progressed as well as some, he has made important improvements. I was again searching for more recent research to help my son when I learned of Dr. Rimland's passing. I will never forget him because he helped me to face my son's disability and not give up hope!!!!!Lisa Merino
Houston, Texas
Posted June 3, 2007
When my youngest of 4 sons was first diagnosed with autism at almost age 3, I went through a wide range of emotions. Especially upsetting was local doctors' attitudes that nothing could be done other than maybe Ritalin when my son turned 6 so he could be calm in school, or I could put him in a home. Those were fighting words for me, my gut feeling was they were wrong and uninformed. I knew there had to be something out there somewhere, in the rapidly growing world wide web. I closed my store, sold my home and bought a computer and embarked on a search for answers, support and other parents. Imagine my surprise to find thousands of parents in similar situtations. New to the internet in 1998, I simply typed www.autism.com into my browser and there I found Dr.Bernard Rimland and his many articles on B-6, magnesium, DMG, ABA and oh so many great articles, and the E-2 diagnostic sheet, which I filled out and submitted Uncle Bernie returned to me a score, placing my son right in the middle of the spectrum. I immediately subscribed to the AARI and attended my first DAN! in Oct 2000. Change of diet, and adding of supplements totally transformed my little boy from lost in space to a connected child that began to speak in full sentences, play with toys, stop self injury behavior, toilet trained and other gains "overnight" just by a good dose of essential fatty acids. There were good gains with the DMG too. Without the wonderful work of Dr. Rimland, my son would not be as far as he is today in development and socialization. Thank You so very much, Uncle Bernie,and also the many prayers and God's mercy, for bringing my baby boy back to me and then some. Thank you for bringing us DAN! conferences. My son is a talented and bright child, once hidden in his own world, but for your hard work, these hidden talents are now flowing abundantly, and my son is now my greatest joy in life. We will miss you. Marlene Burkitt, SacramentoMarlene Burkitt
Sacramento, CA
Posted June 21, 2007
In time of dispare he help me to help Agustín and his father. He is not my blood son but I feel his as my own. I am from Uruguay and 9 years ago Dr Rimland show mw another perspective in autism when here we can´t afore the treatment, a wrong treatment based in psico analysis.Thank you Dr. Rimland.
Cintya Lacerot
Montevideo, Uruguay
Posted June 16, 2007
THANK YOU. REST IN PEACE!TIANNA SCOTT
MISSOURI
Posted June 11, 2007
dear doc I wish I could knew you before,but it's not too late.It's never late to say thanks to You and all the doctors dedited to the medical research.I wish one day your studies will help my 2 children and all my destroyed family to find again the smile.Lovetiziana orefice
reggio emilia,italy
Posted June 8, 2007
Bernard Rimland is the one autism expert who brought hope to me, when noone in Kenya knew or understood what autism was. My son, now 18, was diagnosed through filling out the E2 checklist, a most comprehensive questionnaire that also made me think alot about what autism was, and what finally brought a fresh breathe of air to me. Robin was 8 when he got this final formal diagnosis.I greatly admire the work that Bernard Rimland began. He worked tirelessly, and energetically to bring autism to the world stage. So many parents and families around the world owe him and his family a debt of gratitude for demystifying autism, for making it personal and for helping us to see autism as a really wonderful aspect of the human condition. I have eagerly read up his research papers and followed up what the Autism Research Institute is doing.
A film needs to be made about his life time achievements. He is one of the world's most important celebrities because his work has made a great difference in the lives of a truly remarkable group of people. We think of Bernard everyday. His spirit lives on.
Monica Magna Mburu
Nairobi, Kenya
Posted June 7, 2007
Extremely saddened to know that the erudite DOCTOR is no more around to guide us.When one hears /comes across the word "AUTISM",one can think of only Dr.Bernard Rimland! As a parent of a child with autism,his timely guidance has been of immense importance .I do not know how many lives the good doctor has touched.........but I can assure you that the life of my family changed for the better once I received his letter and pamphlets giving us all the information required to make a positive beginning.He will always remain a source of inspiration to each one of us !May the Lord be with the bereaved family all the way through .SUMITA KULKARNIsumita kulkarni
INDIA
Posted June 1, 2007
My son Thomas, who was born in 1993, was a normal baby and was developing as most children in his age group. He started talking at around 18 months but then it was like he just decided he didn't want to talk anymore. He would ignore me when I would talk to him and sometimes it seemed like he was hard of hearing. But I noticed that if I would unwrap a cellophane candy wrapper in the kitchen, he would come running in from the next room. He was also displaying some odd behaviours but nothing that really concerned me. When he was around 2.5 y.o. and still not talking our pediatrician didn't seem to concerned and said " don't worry about it." This was the response I kept getting even when he was still not talking at 3-4 years old. I started looking into language development and everything pretty much said if your child is not developing language normally it's probably a hearing problem. Then I saw an article that said if the hearing was okay it could be autism. I had heard the word before and thought it was just another name for mental retardation. I kind of dismissed it thinking my son isn't retarted, he just doesn't seem to want to talk. Well one night while working late I was looking for a business in the phone book when I saw a listing for Autism Research Inst. It was around 10 pm and on a whim I called the number out of curiosity. I was surprised when a man ansewered and I said " how do you diagnose Autism" and he said well I can send you a questionare and you can fill it out and send it back to me and we can make a diagnosis. I was skeptical and I said how can you make a diagnosis that way? He asked who it was I wanted diagnostic and I said my son. He said well let me ask you a few questions. Does he talk? no Does he look you in the eyes? no Does he spin things? yes Does he peel paint off the walls? yes-how did you know that? Does he have little nests stashed around the house with wierd things like pieces of glass or bits of concrete in them? I was like"Did my wife call you? He laughed and said let me send you a package. Then he said " if you can send a donation please do but it's not mandatory for a diagnosis." Well all I can say is that questionaire described my son to a tee and I couldn't believe how unscientific the questions seemed but amazed at how close they were to describing my sons behavior. The wierd thing was that I worked on Adams Ave half a block down from ARI and walked by it every day for ayear and always wondered what they did there with all them files you could see from the street. A good man and a great father. I met him once at the liquor store there on adams and introduced myself and he said "make plans for your sons care after your gone. Don't leave that up to someone who doesn't love him like you do."Robert Buck
San Diego
Posted May 29, 2007
Thank you Dr. Rimland for all your efforts which every autistic child is benefiting all over the world , thanks to you and to DAN protocol which my son is getting better with through one of the best consultants here in Kuwait Dr. AbeerAwadh . May god bless you and all your Dan team.Neveen Hussein
Kuwait
Posted May 27, 2007
Thank you Dr. Rimland for changing the world's view on autism! The number of people you have helped and families around the world, that you have been a blessing to, are immeasurable. Your words and actions throughout your life will live on forever! I feel honored to have met and talked with you, and pray you will always be looking out for our special kids... our Guardian Angel!With my deepest thanks,
Dori Schaefer (Brian's mom)
Dori Schaefer
Plano, Texas
Posted May 18, 2007
I remember when my son was first diagnosed in 1993. I called Dr. Rimland and he had such a calm and soothing voice, just listening to him eased my state of panic. My son is 16 now, and has made progress thanks to Dr. Rimland who suggested the B-6/magnesium and DMG back then...and the DAN protocol. He still is non-verbal with "AUtism" but his smiles and personality have returned and he has phenomenal eye-contact. I have high hopes for my son, thanks to Dr. Rimland and his tenacity in fighting this thing we call "Autism." Paul's momMary Holcomb-Schultz
Florida
Posted May 17, 2007
muna soud
jordan
Posted May 16, 2007
Thanks for all you work and detiaction to the cause. Rest in peace.gary
louisville
Posted May 15, 2007
Your a Lucky man!Matt Boucher
Ohio
Posted May 15, 2007
You are a wonderfull man!Matt Boucher
Ohio
Posted May 2, 2007
No tuve el placer de conocerlo en persona pero sepa que usted fue una persona muy importante en mi vida, escucho mi voz interna que me decia que mi hijo tinia una segunda oportunidad en esta vida y yo estoy dispuesta a darsela mil gracias por luchar y ceer en que podemos vencer el autismo. Donde yo solo tuve oscuridad usted represento luz y esperanza.annick berroa
Panama
Posted July 6, 2007
He was a wonderful man.Mike Delson
Los Angeles, California
Posted April 29, 2007
Dr. Bernard Rimland contributed a lot for the autism. May God rest his soal in eternal peace.His contribution and efforts can only and only feel the parents of autistic kids his personal
experience to handle the issues of these special kids are excellent.
aamir ashraf.
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Posted March 13, 2007
Dr. Rimland,You were (and will always be ) our GOD. Thank you. Rest in peace.
Jess
Jess
Ohio
Posted March 13, 2007
This letter is the one that I've written to Dr.Bernard Rimland ,it was written in 2001, after my son Cem was recovered and that time our story was published in the media,,somehow I have kept it,but now I see that most of the problems that I've mentioned are gone and Cem seems much better but we will miss someone like him forever." Dear Mr. Berard Rimland,
In the long way to treat my son Cem,you have played a very important role.
This newspaper tells about the success we got with our Cem.
He is 12 years old.
Now he goes to regular school 4th grade he swims, he plays drum, plays keyboard, goes to theatres and concerts he uses computer , has friends, talks also English, drives go-carts,he rides a bike and a horse, plays tennis
He enjoyes life.
But ofcourse he still has some problems left such as LD and ADHD , hand flapping, visual , auditory and oldfactory problems, his immune system is so weak.
He is on GF/CF diet.
His relationships are normal, but his puberty has just started and we don't know how to help him now.
It keeps me feel safe to know that there is someone overthere like you to help people like us.
Take care of yourself."
Gulcin Vardarci
Sair Esref Blv.
No:64/4 35220
Alsancak-Izmir
Turkey
Phone:00 90 232 421 82 66
Fax:00 90 232 464 45 12
Cell phone:00 90 532 275 01 41
Gulcin Vardarci
Turkey
Posted March 12, 2007
Dr. Rimland will always be a hero to me for his pioneering work and his dedication to people with autism. His books and research put me on the path very early to food allergies and autism, which has had a profound impact on my son's behavior and sleep. I'll never forget those dark, lonely days when my son was little and everything was so scary. My Ryan is now 17 years old and his life has been made better by the efforts of Dr. Rimland. I called the Autism Research Institute on several occasions years ago, and a couple times the phone was answered by Dr. Rimland himself. He offered his time freely and free of charge. What a loss his death is, but we will never forget him and his spirit lives on in all of our children. May God bless the family, especially his son Mark, who has autism.Carol Holmes
Toledo, Ohio
Posted March 1, 2007
He chose to help out when he could, i meen i never met him, but from the looks of it, he looked like he made a lot of hge decishions that inpacted everyone's livesBilly Sparks
Posted February 19, 2007
I cannot thank this remarkable man for all of his dedication and perserverance through this tragedy we call autism. He was truly an intstrument of the Lord. I hold his memory in the highest regard and will never forget this most important research that has helped so many children.He is a hero. He is certainly my hero. I thank you Dr. Rimalnd and my little boy Jack thanks you too! We'll see you in heaven.
Love and gratitude, Melissa Boyer
melissa boyer
littleton Co
Posted February 18, 2007
I just learned through an internet search of Dr. Rimland that he had passed away. My family had experienced autism early on when my brother David was diagnosed in the 60's and yes, my mother was told it was likely her fault. We appreciated Dr. Rimland's research in changing that devastating theory. His dedication to this disorder was unrelenting.Dr. Rimland was one of the first people I met when I decided that I was going to honor the movie "Rainman" and raise money for autism research and supporting agencies. So we began the project together and he helped me on many levels,(including getting Dustin Hoffman involved)
in order for it to be successful.
On December 9, 1989 "THE RAINMAN BALL" took place at the Breaker's Hotel on the island of Palm Beach with Dr. Rimland, the Autism Society of America, the producers of "Rainman" and other notable people connected to this cause in attendance. It was a remarkable evening.
We were very proud to raise money for ASA and for Dr. Rimland's research when not much money was being raised at all. To see how this cause has moved forward is a testament to he and others who were the early pioneers. Autism has lost one of its parents and like a parent he will not be forgotten.
Donna Lane
West Palm Beach, Florida
Donna Lane
West Palm Beach, Florida
Posted February 16, 2007
Lavoro grande con il luogo! Siete il padrone! http://www.usate348.org/interfacciainterfaccia
...
Posted February 15, 2007
To Gloria, Mark,, Paul & Helen,As a parent of an autistic son, I want to express my deepest sympathy for the loss of your husband and father. Although I never had the honor of meeting him in person, I remember speaking to him on the telephone. I was humbled by the kindness and concern he showed for my son, even though he had never met us. I want to take this moment to repeat what many thousands have already said. He will be GREATLY missed, and WARMLY remembered. May he rest in peace. We all know there is a very special place for people as special as he was.
Sincerely,
Sophie Ross
Sophie Ross
New York, NY
Posted February 15, 2007
There are no words to express the depth of my gratitude to Dr. Rimland.More than five years ago, I was frantically typing symptoms into search engines desperate for answers as to why my infant daughter’s health and development was plummeting. She had fallen off the growth curves, refused to eat or sleep and screamed constantly. Her development had stopped. Each time, I hit enter, I found a reference to the Autism Research Institute’s website. Most sites were about mercury.
I contacted our pediatrician with the vaccine lot numbers and learned that my daughter’s vaccines contained mercury. Immediately we started her on the DAN protocol. She was then nine months old. She started gaining weight and developing. At twelve months old I was working with a DAN doctor and at 15 months old I was chelating her.
She is now normal for height and weight. At 5 ½, she is happy and laughs (appropriately!) a lot. She can walk, run and ride a trike. After 3 ½ years of silence and another year of utterances, she now speaks in small sentences. I am getting my baby back.
And it is all because of Dr. Rimland.
Libby Rupp
St. Paul, Minnesota
Posted February 15, 2007
Thank you for helping people with Autism, knowing that you were there trying meant
hope for them. God bless you.
J. Young. London.
J. Young.
london.
Posted February 12, 2007
I cannot put into words how much Dr. Rimland means to us. My son was 8 when he started having majorbehavioral challenges. Prior to this he was a pretty happy and mellow kid. I called Dr. Rimland for advice. I was told he would call back. I scoffed at the possiblity that this knowledgeable, in demand doctor would take the time to call back. Yet he did! He refered me to a DAN physician who has helped my son enormously. I will forever be grateful to this Champion of Autism! He was an angel sent from above to help our child. Rest in peace Dr.Rimland, you have made the world a better place in which to live.
Penny
Wisconsin
Posted February 5, 2007
A quien corresponda....Tratar de explicar en un breve texto todo el agradecimiento que tengo en lo personal por tanta información y comprensión que brindó a través de muchos años el Dr.Rimland es difícil.
Ignoro si su hijo-el inspirador de esa vida de investigación- del doctor vive aún, si es así, les agradeceré darle un fuerte abrazo y beso de mi parte, el hecho de que el exista o haya existido ha repercutido tremendamente en la vida de muchas familias que tenemos una persona con el síndrome del autismo.
Aún sin haber tenido el honor de conocerlo personalmente, mucho me enorgullece que un ser humano como el doctor haya existido, la dedicación que tuvo para trabajar en pro-de personas con autismo lo sitúa sin duda en un lugar privilegiado al cual solo tienen acceso algunos poquísimos SERES EJEMPLARES que a pesar de no tener alas visibles son sin duda alguna un regalo a la humanidad.
Al contemplar su fotografía me transporto al infinito amoroso en el cual sin duda buscó siempre la mejoría no solo de su hijo sino de todos los nuestros.
Esa mirada profunda es conocida por todos y cada uno de los padres de un hijo con autismo, convencido de que hay un para qué vivir y porqué luchar, en esa batalla que no venció al Dr. Rimland sino que lo instigó a dedicar su vida entera y su conocimiento en búsqueda de mejorar la vida de todos los afectados por este Síndrome.
No permitamos que el trabajo de este gran hombre se quede en el olvido, luchemos porque la medicina actual a pesar de tanta cerrazón y deshumanización valore en todo lo que vale su trabajo y los resultados de toda una vida de esfuerzo y amor.
Considero muy justo que propongamos al Dr.Bernard Rimland para que se le otorgue el PREMIO NOBEL DE MEDICINA, no POST MORTEM, porque estoy segura que a pesar de que su corazón dejó de latir, en todos nuestros pensamientos el seguirá vivo e inspirándonos a la lucha, a esa lucha que a veces parece vencernos, recordemos, luchar, siempre luchar, tal y como fué su vida.
Incluyo en mis oraciones al Dr.Rimland y a su familia, sé que el está con el CREADOR DEL UNIVERSO
Alba Luz Balderrama Ramos
Hermosillo, Sonora, México
Posted February 8, 2007
I am a mother and a sibling of a person with autism.My brother was born in 1964, and diagnosed in 1968.
My mom LOVED Dr. Rimalnd and strongly believed in his vitamin therapy.
I remember my mom using a mortar and pestal to crush the vitamins. She would give them to Sam in chocolate syrup. She believed it made a huge difference in his personality and cognitive skills.
Thank you Dr. Rimland for giving my mom hope she so desperately needed!
Gretchen Heinrich
Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted February 8, 2007
"My son, Cem Vardarci, who is 17 yo., is recovered from autism".I am sure this sentence is filled with the most wanted words to be heard by Dr. Rimland.
After my son was recovered in 2001, I've written him and announced his progress and asked if this could be possible.
Dr.Bernard Rimland wrote me one of his favorite sayings that "if a duck looks like a duck,walks like a duck, then it is a duck."
Now my son is in fine arts music high school and playing all kinds of instruments, giving mini concerts,and he will be very famous very soon I beleive.
We are constantly giving lectures about his recovery volunteerly and our VCD's are delivered without any income,the media is interrested with us and my daughter has become a psychologist in order to help his brother and we all helped about 2000 children free of charge.
Dr Berard Rimland, you will always shine like a star deep in my heart.
Gulcin Vardarci
Gulcin Vardarci
Izmir/Turkey
Posted February 8, 2007
"My son, Cem Vardarci, who is 17 y.o., is recovered from autism".I am sure this sentence is filled with the most wanted words to be heard by Dr. Rimland.
After my son was recovered in 2001, I've written and announced his progress and asked him if this could be possible.
Dr.Bernard Rimland wrote me one of his favorite sayings that "if a duck looks like a duck,walks like a duck, then it is a duck."
Now my son is in fine arts music high school and playing all kinds of instruments, giving mini concerts,and he will be very famous very soon I beleive.
We are constantly giving lectures about his recovery volunteerly and our VCD's are delivered without any income,the media is interrested with us and my daughter has become a psychologist in order to help his brother and we all helped about 2000 children free of charge.
Dr Berard Rimland, you will always shine like a star deep in my heart.
Gulcin Vardarci
Gulcin Vardarci
Izmir/Turkey
Posted February 8, 2007
I am so sad I didn't get to listen to him more than what I have done already. He speaks so well and I am so glad to hear his dedication to Autism... Right when I feel exhausted and there is no hope I heard his speaking and I am so motivated. I am thrilled that someone offered so much inspiration to Autism. What a purpose he had here. I hope his legacy does continue very strongly.Jamie Swenson
sioux falls, sd usa
Posted February 5, 2007
I am saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Rimland.He will never really die.He lives on in every autistic child, and adult,living in this world,and every family touched with autism,now living free from prejudice. Thankyou for shining your light into our darkness, and giving us hope. Joyjoy plummeridge
stevenage, hertfordshire,england
Posted February 5, 2007
I was shocked to see on the web page that Dr Bernard Rimland has passed on. He was my saviour nearly 20 years ago. What a wonderful man. Who knows where we who live and deal with autism on a daily basis would be now without his dedication to this particular disorder. May your good work continue in your honour Dr Rimland.jenny from Australia
Jenny Jackeulen
Australia
Posted January 29, 2007
We were all dimished by this man's passing.Michael and Judy Fales
Olivet, Michigan, USA
Posted January 27, 2007
I feel a profound sense of loss with Dr Rimland's passing.He was "hope" when I had none left!
I have an immense affection for this man I never met, who used his personal grief to help so many other parents of Autistic children.I had hoped to meet him one day to say our "Thankyou" in person.
He will live in my heart forever and ,as my son steadily improves,his family will be in our prayers too. I thank them for sharing him so generously - to fight this scourge which robbed so many children of their future.
He reminds me of Australia's own Sister Kenny.An Australian nurse who treated the symptoms of polio against her times' standard medical protocols and saved literally thousands (including Alan Alda) from paralysis.She too had to fight the prejudice and ignorance of the medical establishment (at home and in the US ) but history finally gave her due credit.
'Vale" to a truly great man.
Kerrie Waldron
Sydney, Australia
Posted January 24, 2007
Bernard Rimland will be missed by lots of parents including myself. Many a time I called him and he was always kind enough to talk to me about some questions I had regarding Eric. He was a pioneer, advocate and like a father to me. He was always there to advocate for our children and never one to hesitate to speak up about the vaccine issue and autism. His accomplishments are too numerous to mention. I remember him at a 1995 and 1997 NIH meeting and when I mentioned autoimmunity and autism he was there by my side because he knew it was an important issue. I'm sure there is a place for him in heaven. God bless him and his family.Raymond Gallup
Lake Hiawatha, NJ
Posted January 23, 2007
Dr.Rimland will be sorely missed by my family. His willingness to openly share his findings and research enabled my wife and I to understand Autism and be knowledgable of more effective methods to help our son. Becuase of the knowledge he shared (allergies and Autism, B6 and Magnesium) our son, who is 9 is doing very well. He is taking music and in his church choir , doing very well at school, has friends and will be soon starting Karate, in general he has a bright future in part due to the treatments Dr.Rimland suggested. He had the courage to ask why children are autistic rather than accepting that they simply are, he has set the standard for any professional in the field of Autism.best wishes to his family,
Brad Forbes and family
Brad Forbes
Canada
Posted January 21, 2007
Dr. Bernard Rimland passed away just a few days before this past Thanksgiving and will be mourned by many. At times controversial, always searching for answers, he changed the way autism was viewed worldwide. Those of us who knew him as Bernie will always feel a twinge of sorrow around this holiday, a reminder of how much we have to thank this pioneer who played David to the medical establishment’s Goliath. As research would prove, fighting Goliath was not a lost cause but a righteous endeavor.The first time I heard Dr. Bernard Rimland’s name was the day after a visit with my son to a psychoanalyst for the only treatment on offer for autism in Paris at the time. The bookshelf in the waiting room included a few copies of ‘The Empty Fortress’ by Bruno Bettleheim, who believed that autism was a reaction to bad parenting and expounded the ‘refrigerator mother’ theory of autism.
Dr. Rimland’s book, ‘Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior’(1964), would have been a better choice in this psychoanalyst’s waiting room. In his book, Dr. Rimland lambasted the then generally held view that autism was a psychological disorder, brought on by cold and unloving parents. His conclusion was that autism was the result of biochemical defects underlain, perhaps, by a genetic predisposition, but ultimately triggered by environmental assaults. This book grew out of the research he did searching for answers when his son, Mark, born in 1956, displayed behaviors which are now easily recognizable as symptoms of autism but were rarely seen in those days.
The psychoanalyst I visited informed me that my son had autistic behaviors due to separation issues from breast feeding. This she gleaned form watching my son play with two round objects, and crawl across the floor in an attempt to retrieve one that he accidentally dropped. Following this Allen Woodyesque moment, and looking for some useful advice, I called an old friend and former colleague from a state hospital for the developmentally disabled in California. She gave me the telephone number for the Autism Research Institute, the non-profit founded by Dr.Bernard Rimland in 1967.
Many are familiar with Rimland and know that his autistic son, Mark (now 50 and an accomplished artist), was the impetus for Rimland making the field of autism his life’s work, yet few know from where he got his unrelenting fighting spirit. It most probably came from one of his maternal uncles. Rimland once recounted to a journalist from the San Diego Jewish Journal, "My mother used to tell me about one of her brothers who was a mathematical genius. During the war [World War I], an elderly Jewish gentleman was being harassed by German soldiers. My uncle interceded because he couldn't stand the injustice. The soldiers beat him and left him there, bleeding to death. My mother would finish this story by telling me, 'So don't be like him!' Instead, it inspired me to fight injustice."
Dr. Rimland was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1928. His parents were Russian immigrants who met in Cleveland, married and had a son and a daughter. World War I precipitated their move to the US, and it was another world war that precipitated their move to San Diego where his father had a metalworking job with Convair. From the minute he arrived at age 12, Rimland fell in love with San Diego. He once told a reporter "Cleveland had been muggy and dirty. I got here and said, 'This is heaven, I'm never leaving."
Although a college education was not considered a necessary or worthwhile pursuit by his blue-collar family, both Rimland and his sister went on to attend college and to earn graduate degrees. His sister earned a Master’s degree in education and Rimland earned a Master's in psychology at San Diego State University. For those familiar with Rimland’s work and his fascination with research, methodology and the search for truth, it will come as no surprise that Rimland went on to earn a doctorate from Penn State in experimental psychology and research design.
In 1951, after college, Bernard married Gloria, the sister of a childhood friend. In 1953, after he received his Ph.D. he worked with the Navy at its Personnel and Training Research Laboratory in Point Loma, San Diego as the director of the Personnel Measurement Research Department.
When his son Mark was born, their tranquil life changed. “From the moment Mark was born, everyone noticed he was different," Rimland recounted to a reporter. "He was always screaming at the top of his lungs and nothing would placate him. But no one knew what it was. The pediatricians threw up their hands."
His wife, Gloria, remembered having read in one of her college textbooks about a child wandering around, staring into space, and appearing not to recognize people. Rimland’s first step into autism was into their garage to find that textbook packed away in box with other college momentos. In the book he found the term ‘infantile autism’ that described the characteristics his son was displaying. Rimland began studying the disorder, only to find that autism was blamed on ‘refrigerator mothers’ by most of the scientific community, mostly due to the work of Bruno Bettelhim. Knowing that Gloria was an affectionate and caring mother to Mark and his siblings (one brother and one sister) Rimland found this to be ridiculous. As a scientist, he decided to research everything that was out there on the topic.
For five years Rimland researched autism in the evenings after his Navy job, long before the internet and faxes, when even photocopy machines were not easily available. "When I started my quest, autism was no less than an obsession," he once wrote. "I quickly read everything I could find on the subject and hungered for more. This was war. I envisioned autism as a powerful monster that had seized my child. I could afford no errors."
At the end of five years he had about 400 pages of information amassed. He thought of publishing a paper, but his wife, Gloria, told him he had enough to write a book. Although the medical community for the most part ignored his book ‘Infantile Autism’ when it was first published, it is now considered a classic by doctors and psychologists (although perhaps not by French psychoanalysts). An interesting tidbit: ‘Infantile Autism’ was very popular with psychology students and Rimland was once told by a librarian that it was one of the most stolen books off the shelf.
After his book was published, Rimland started receiving hundreds of letters and phone calls from parents searching for answers concerning their children. After work at the Navy every day, he spent hours replying to these queries. He then started the nonprofit Autism Research Institute (ARI), originally named Institute for Child Behavior Research, in order to share the latest information on autism research with those interested. The ARI became a worldwide network of parents and professionals concerned with analyzing the scientific data for diagnosing, treating and preventing autism.
Dr. Rimland was often at odds with the medical establishment and in the middle of controversy. He was one of the first to conclude that the United States was undergoing an epidemic of autism, that diagnoses rates were climbing, and one of the first to state that mercury and vaccines as well as other environmental and dietary triggers could be a primary culprit in autism.
One of the first treatments investigated by Dr. Rimland was high dose vitamin B6 therapy, and he did this based on reports from parents of autistic children. Stephen Edelson, Ph.D, Dr. Rimland’s close friend and colleague for many years and now Director of ARI, told a reporter, “One of the most remarkable things about Dr. Rimland is that he realized in the early days that parents held many of the keys to solving the mystery of autism. From day one he listened to them and respected them – and he followed their lead.” He went on to say that ‘It’s a key reason why ARI has always led the way in identifying treatments and uncovering the roots of autism.”
Rimland was always putting people he knew in touch with one another if he thought they had something in common besides autism. After a while, I got used to receiving interesting calls from people in different time zones telling me Bernie had given them my phone number. Whenever I heard my fax machine after 10:00 pm, I knew it had to be Bernie sending me a document with some comments scribbled in the margins, either a sardonic remark or an observation about the contents of the document. I knew the phone would ring next, and it would be Bernie, wanting to discuss the fax.
One of Rimland’s major talents and accomplishments was taking an idea, getting people together, and putting that idea into action. In the 1960’s he started what is now the Autism Society of America with a few other parents in order to share information, provide moral support and, in large part, to promote applied behavior analysis – then known as behavior modification. In the 1990’s Rimland brought together leading researchers from different fields and created a think tank from which grew the now worldwide Defeat Autism Now! movement. Today, DAN! conferences take place a few times a year providing information to parents and training to medical professionals. Currently there are hundreds of DAN! trained physicians experienced in biomedical interventions. The idea that ‘autism in treatable’ is an off shoot of the DAN movement and part of Dr. Rimland’s legacy to all impacted by autism and their family.
Another of his many accomplishments is serving as the technical advisor to the Oscar-winning film Rain Man (1988). Although it is true that not all individuals with autism have an incredible talent as depicted in this movie, the film created much awareness about autism in an era when few people had ever seen a person with autism.
Despite all his long hours and importance in the autism community, Rimland was always available to provide encouragement to others, including unpublished and unknown authors. Although I had contacted the ARI a few times since I was given his phone number those many years ago in France, Bernie did not know me personally. Yet, when I sent him my book proposal for ‘Autism Spectrum Disorders’ hoping for some encouragement, he called me as soon as he received it and read it. It wasn’t late at night, but it was a Saturday ( the day after I had mailed it), and I remember my disbelief as I heard on the other end of the line “This is Dr. Bernie Rimland. Are you Chantal? I just got your book proposal and I had to call you right away. This needs to get published. What can I do to help?”
When I first visited Rimland in his office in San Diego, I walked by it a few times before realizing that this dusty old storefront is where he waged his daily battle against autism. The storefront is on Adams Street which is a gentrified and trendy part of town. ARI fits right in with the antique book stores, the vintage movie theater and hip restaurants. Trendy, Rimland was not, but his ideas, the work he generated, the research he supported and published, were. This is where new educational therapies, biomedical treatment and dietary interventions were discussed and where Defeat Autism Now! (DAN) had it’s beginnings. Inside, the disarray - piles of documents and boxes that covered every inch of floor and desk space - made me wonder how a man whose office looked so rumpled and disorganized could produce such detailed and exacting work. Perhaps the answer lies in what he told a reporter at the San Diego Union Tribune in 1988, “I will never stop until I have found the answer or die, which ever comes first. I will find the answer, and if living to be 150 is what it takes – I’ll do that, too.” Obviously, Bernie was a man on a mission to defeat autism, and he had no time for the details of every day life such as filed papers and a clean office..
If San Diego feels a little empty now that Bernie is no longer here, I take comfort in knowing that his family and ARI are. It is thanks to Gloria, his dedicated wife who took care of Mark, his siblings and the household schedule, that Dr. Rimland was able to devote so much of his waking time to research. At ARI, autism research and sharing of information continues. Dr. Stephen Edelson, who relocated to San Diego in May 2006, is now Director of ARI, and Matt Kabler, Rebecca McKenney, Mallie Odle, and Sue Field continue to keep ARI operations going.
In Paris, this past December, for the fist time, an international conference covering both biomedical treatments and applied behavior analysis took place, organized by the only DAN doctor in France. I miss Bernie, but I take comfort in knowing that before he passed away, he knew that his work was reaching and helping families in this country where the ‘refrigerator mother’ theory of autism is still accepted. Marian Wright Edelman, Founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, once said: “You really can change the world if you care enough.” Thank you, Bernie, for caring enough, not only for your son but for all of us.
Chantal Sicile-Kira, for Spectrum Magazine, January 2007
Chantal Sicile-Kira
San Diego, CA
Posted January 23, 2007
How do you thank someone who has done so much for so many? We were stunned and saddened by the passing of Dr. Rimland. We owe the quality of our son's life to him. Upon receiving our son's diagnosis, we were told, "Just accept it," "He never going to talk," "He will never make a friend," "He will never play," and "Make arrangements now because he will never be potty trained or be able to live on his own."Dr. Rimland gave us hope and a road to follow, and that brought the emergence of our son back to us.
Ethan talks a blue streak now, engages in play, and has a wonderful imagination. He loves to watch the Food Network and tells us he wants to be a chef someday. He is potty trained. He behaves better in public than any average child, though like any child he has his moments.
We cannot say he is cured, but we can say that he has improved drastically. Teachers have often remarked, "It's amazing," or "It's a miracle."
If we had not found out about Dr. Rimland and the work he pioneered, we hate to think where our son would be now. We will be forever grateful.
Haven DeLay and Gerard Dziuba
Scurry,Texas
Posted January 21, 2007
I am surprised at how, even now-several weeks after Dr. Rimland's death, I feel such profound loss. I guess I didn't realize how comforted I felt knowing that, as my family bumped along on our journey through Autismland, somewhere nearby Bernie was there thinking and working and getting worked up about the injustices that mark our shared world.His enthusiasm and wry humor were contagious and as the parent of a just-diagnosed child exactly what I needed to push through my fears and get moving. We met personally on only a few occasions, and spoke by phone infrequently- most likely he couldn't have put my face with my name- still, I felt bigger and stronger and ready to “stay the course” as a result of those contacts.
One might expect to feel smaller in the shadow of a giant, but this extraordinary man lifted us up so we could share his vision of a world where parents are respected and children recover.
Thank you Dr. Rimland
Cherri Cary
San Diego
Posted January 20, 2007
January 20, 2007I am a mother of son that has Autism; diagnosed in 1995.
I spent a year working & studying mercury and vaccinations and sent my research to Dr. Rimland.
I was honed that he took the time to call me and share his thoughts and advice.
To his family & colleges; please know that he has made such a personal difference to thousands of us and I think of his will power daily. I remember it and practice it myself so that I too in whatever way I can; be a positive influence to those affected by this disorder.
Today I sit on the Autism Society of Iowa Board and have run a parent support group called
"KEEP THE HOPE" for the past 4 years. I feel a great since of joy that faith that we will all continue to work for this cause each & every day.
Thank you all & God Bless~
Jennifer
Jennifer G. Wolfe
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Posted January 19, 2007
Dear Dr. Rimland,You have passed on, I believe, to a place where there is no autism, and there is no suffering. You spent the years of your life well, serving first your own son Mark, and in turn children like our son, Chancellor. With the researched advise available to me through your Institute, I implemented a strategy over the course of our son's life so far since age 3, to help him be well. Your guidance and advise was everything to me, it was my Guide Book and my rock in deciding what, amongst so many confusing choices, options and opinions, to "give" my son when he was bloated, noncommunicative, and substantially "on the spectrum." Beginning with B6 and magnesium and going from there, thanks to you his life, and in turn OUR lives, have greatly improved. I am happy to share with you, in spirit, that Chancellor is now 11, in supported age-appropriate 5th grade, and has a great sense of humor, is very affectionate and talkative, and shows remarkable art and mathematical ability. Thank you for your guidance. I literally could not have helped my son without you. Rest in Peace. "Day is done; gone the sun. From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well; safely rest. God is nigh."--Nancy Swiderski Brach and Robert Brach, San Antonio
Nancy Swiderski Brach
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Posted January 17, 2007
Every now and again one has the privelege of encountering remarkable people who have changed the world and Bernie was one of them. He certainly changed me. His passion, integrity, and devotion to the cause of those impacted by autism was inspirational. May his family be comforted with the wonderful legacy he has left us all.Raun Melmed
Scottsdale Arizona
Posted January 17, 2007
I first met "Bernie" 25 years ago and I had an undignosed 6 year old son who happened to have autism. Throughout the years, Bernie was always reachable for the support of our family. He arranged for medical testing that we could not have received in Texas. He encouraged us with our journey through nutrition and holistic medicine. Bernard along with Ivar Lovass helped shape an unreachable child into a child who could "learn" in school.
Today my son is 30 years old and is a happy young adult.
Dr.Bernard Rimland holds a special place in our hearts and he will be greatly missed by our family.
Ann and Ernest Loera
Kingwood, Texas
Anna Loera
Kingwood, TX
Posted January 16, 2007
You will be sorely missed for your empathy, your courage, and your knowledge. My son's recovery is assured because of your work and he's only one of many. You have left a wonderful legacy in the shape of all the autistic children who have a better life today because of your work and understanding, and all the families and physicians who have been empowered by your research. What a gift to humanity you have been, may you rest in peace Dr. Bernard.Eileen Chiverton
United Kingdom
Posted January 15, 2007
I am just now begining to understand your movement and how many people you had helped in your life.You will continue your movement in death. I am so ever grateful that you devoted yourself to this work. My daughter will benefit from your hard work and devotion. What a wonderful man you must have been. THANK YOU!!!! Debra Wrenn (mother of 12 y.o. Aspergers girl)
Debra Wrenn
Youngstown, Ohio
Posted January 11, 2007
Today when I opened DAN website after a long while , I saw the sad news of Burnie Rimland passed away. I met bernie in 2004 in Los Angeles, he was an remarkable person, simple and sincere. I had the same storey like his , so he looked in my eyes and told me that my son will be alright. He is a true example of person who changed the perception of the world. He was atrue leader and great healer, his successes and work will stay alive . I have learned alot from him.I pray for peace for his soul .Syed
Syed Ghazanfar Ali Naqvi, MD
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Posted January 10, 2007
I ran across this poem online and think it says a lot that is true about autism parents who are doing biomedical in general and specifically, Bernie Rimland, and all he has done for his child and ours.It Couldn't Be Done
Edgar A. Guest
Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That maybe it couldn't, but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so "till he tried."
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried, he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it."
But he took off his coat and took off his hat
And the first thing he knew he'd begun it.
With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin,
Then take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done, and you'll do it.
Lila White
Illinois
Posted January 8, 2007
My heart is truly thankful to the man, Bernard Rimland. Without him, generations of children with autism would have been lost and forced to fend for themselves. We have a son named Evan who is 4 1/2. He was diagnosed at 2 1/2 with autism. By God's grace, we immediately heard the name Bernard Rimland from a doctor. His name was all we needed to begin finding out the hope that is out there for autistic children. All we knew was that we would be living with a brain damaged child with no hope of recovery but all of that turned to hope when we realized how much is available to help Evan. We attended a DAN! Conference in Boston of '05 and what we learned certainly changed the course of Evan's life. It's been up and down, trying to find a formula, watching and waiting, but he is doing so well! Evan began preschool with his age group this year with no support and is thriving. We have been so blessed by Bernard Rimland's life work and passion because without him, our son would not be looking forward to a quality of life that offers so much hope. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and may your family be blessed and comforted knowing how your life has touched so many.Alissa Kalczuk
Phila, PA
Alissa Kalczuk
Philadelphia, PA USA
Posted January 8, 2007
I have never met Dr Rimland personally, but he helped my son with autism far more than many of my son's doctors and teachers. When my son was diagnosed with autism, the "experts" in the medical and teaching professions were most unhelpful, and even national parent groups had little to offer beyond vague offers of emotional support. I am so glad I found Dr. Rimland and his Autism Research Institute. Although everyone agreed that autism was caused by poorly understood medical problems, ARI was the only resource that provided me with medical insight, research, and concrete treatment recommendations. We tried Dr. Rimland recommendations of vitamins and DMG, and found that DMG made a huge difference in my son's life. Dr. Rimland was the only source of concrete recommendations for medical and educational treatments specific to autism. These recommendations are invaluable for new parents who cannot afford to waste their children's time until the windows of opportunity close. Thanks to Dr Rimland's support, I had the data I needed to try discrete trial therapy and continue to use DMG in the face of medical skepticm, and my son was able to recover from autism. My son and our entire family owe Dr. Rimland a tremendous debt of gratitude.Emily Duthinh
Clarkston, Michigan
Posted January 5, 2007
Thank you for all your hard hard work for this epidemic..Too few like you. A special manHelena
New York, NYC
Posted January 5, 2007
To the Rimland family, the Autism Research Institute family and the families of autistic children all over the world, to DAN practitioners and researchers in the field - we have lost a hero. Our love and condolences to all.In our particular case, Brent. our son, was born in 1964. We are all familiar with the kind of world that he entered; that is, the lack of knowledge and/or support from the medical and educational community, and the destructive blame of mothers by the so-called experts of autism. However, there was one bright light, our beloved Bernie.
At the age of two, we came across his landmark text and we embraced the logical analysis of his doctrine. From that moment on, we never accepted the power of authority or text from any assumed experts without thoughtful consideration. It was the beginning of challenging our thinking on every front. To Bernie, we give our humble thanks.
Our 1966 correspondence with Bernie began a lifelong friendship with an incredibly busy family that opened their hearts and expertise to us as well as countless others in the autism community. (How in the world did they do it all?) What was truly amazing was how Bernie listened to each story as though he was hearing it for the first time- even after 40 some years). To him, each autistic individual is unique, as of course, he or she is, but since the struggles are so similar, one would wonder how Bernie could remember the uniqueness of each child? But he did, - a tribute to his careful listening, outstanding memory and empathy!
The Rimland family is a group of marvelous individuals: honest, humble, brilliant, caring, kind, thoughtful, artistic and sharing. Thank you Gloria, Mark, Helen and Paul for sharing your mate and father with so many needy families. That you were able to cope with significant sacrifices clearly demonstrates your inner strengths. Is it any wonder that we value and honor your friendship?
For some forty years, we have watched the Autism Research Institute grow from the first computer when Bernie was doing scatter analysis of parent questionnaires, to the Defeat Autism Now movement, compilation of new research, his prolific writing of articles, books, and the coveted ARI quarterly newsletter. He has bravely fought the establishment on so many fronts. He was relentless with his search for a cure, and a treatment of the full spectrum of autism disorders. How can we from the families of autistic children thank you and your family enough for all you have accomplished?
Of course, your final plan was to "pass on the torch" to someone well-qualified to carry on your work. We know you have chosen wisely with Stephen Edelson - with Matt continuing at the Institute with his expertise, and Gloria on the Board of Directors, we know the fine work will continue.
Bernie, rest in peace knowing the power of one!!!
Tom and Marlene Bell
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Marlene and Tom Bell
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted January 5, 2007
Every mother of a child on the spectrum owes a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Rimland. Without his dogged determination to change the ridiculous "scientific" conclusion that "refrigerator mothers" were the source of their children's autism, who knows how much longer mothers would have been blamed and true progress would have been delayed?! That was only the first of Dr. Rimland's MANY, MANY contibutions to the advancement of autism research, but indeed a critical turning point! He was as patient and giving with parents new to the "realm" as he was brash and controversial. He was indeed one-of-a-kind! Thanks Dr. Rimland, for your contributions to the field of research and especially for your contributions to our families! Your family will be in my prayers.Teri Sasseville
Fairburn, GA
Posted January 4, 2007
Your contribution to Autism Research will be valued forever. May you rest in peace for eternity.Leslie Santiago, MD
NY
Posted January 4, 2007
LAMENTABLEMENTE ME ENTERE DE LA MUERTE DEL DR. RIMLAND, PERO A LA VEZ ME ENTERE DEL ARDUO TRABAJO EN LA INVESTIGACION SOBRE EL AUTISMO, EN PAISES COMO EL NUESTRO ESTE SINDROME AUN NO ES ADECUADAMENTE TRATADO, PERO ESTOY SEGURA QUE PERSONAS COMO EL DR. HAN ABIERTO UN CAMINO NUEVO PARA PADRES DE TODO EL MUNDO QUE DESEAN UN MEJOR MAÑANA PARA SUS HIJOS AUTISTAS. EL DR. RIMLAND YA NO ESTA FISICAMENTE PERO SU OBRA CONTINUARA VIVA Y NUESTROS MAS SINCEROS AGRADECIMIENTOS.
lorena de marroquin
guatemala, centroamerica
Posted January 4, 2007
I'm so very glad for Dr rimland's dedication - for his sheer dedication to all children with Autism,I had two very normal, healthy babies My Daughter kimberley was born on the 08.06.1988 and my son Craig. R. A was born on the 08. 09. 1988. and I watched /witnessed their lives change dramatically-firstly my daughter Kimberley developed Thrombocytopaenic Purpura alias Henoch Schonlein Purpura-her Paed. said IDIOPATHIC that means there was no known cause-I was demented brought up by a father that taught me there was a reason for everything-I couldn't find the reason for this monstrous disease H.S.P. my daughter was suffering! My Gut kept telling me something was wrong, looking back everything was a virus... Then in November 1994 the Uk MR(Measles Rubella Vaccine campaign was launched-Measles Epedemic-get your children vaccinated -I believed the government Propaganda-that is, as I now know it to be-why shouldn't I? No Government would allow children to be harmed and vaccines were, after all, alledged to protect our children from harm....After allowing both my children Kimberley and her younger brother Craig to be vaccinated with the MR vaccine on the 29.11.94; at their school My worse nightmare began- they developed temperatures, spots,"Viruses" green diarrhea, white stools so abnormal - they stopped looking at me, they both couldn't stand to touch certain materials,couldn't stand noises, lost empathy/feelings...my son went on to be dx'd with Focal epilepsy with Secondary Generalisation-his behavior change - I was told was due to the Epilepsy! Looking back, I had niggling doubts about Doctors since my daughters Dx IDIOPATHIC H.S.P. there was a reason-my gut kept telling me-I just couldn't find it..Then in January 1997 Craig and I attended another Neurologists appointment and I picked up a leaflet printed by the Enchephalitis Support group at the bottom of this leaflet was information in tiny writing stating Vaccines can cause Encephalitis from that moment I knew I had the reason for my son Craig's suffering and it began with the MR 94 schools campaign vaccine and I could re-live every moment he was never right from that vaccine, lord he was given four Influenza vaccines since then as recommended by his Doctor rakesh bhalla-what had they done to him?. Going on to realise I had found vaccines to be the reason for both my childrens - Kimberley and Craigs -suffering was without doubt vaccines Devastated me beyond belief. Why didn't I see this? why didn't I know? Going on to see both children sufered from Autsm after the '94 MR, nobody wanted to know or to dx I found Dr Rimlands website he saved us because he believed. The only reason the medical profession here didn't want and still don't want to know is because vaccination is their sacred cow one can't say any vaccination harms so many children, because so many Doctors are making lots of money from this monster in our medicine. I wil always be deeply in debt to Dr Rimland he saved my sanity and gave me direction though he may never realise this, my children are a lot better than they used to be all thanks to his dedication and that of his colleagues. we still have a long way to go like so many families lack of Interest and money play a large part.
My Kimberley is now 23 years old, has done moderately well for herself, passed her driving test and holds down a job, my Craig is now 18 years old has passed his driving test and attends colledge for IT, they both still have issues and medical problems-inc Bowel, who knows what the future holds for them I don't but I know some very good Doctors are fighting in their corner and they are not alone a great many children suffering from Autism. bowel problems etc are being ignored to date. thanks to the pioneering work of Dr Bernard Rimland this work will carry on and one day Autism and all of it's biomedical problems will become a thing of the past. God Bless you Dr. Rimland, your family will always be so very pround of you as we are so very proud of you too.
Margaret Cummings
England, UK.
Posted January 4, 2007
I didn't know Dr. Rimland had passed away. But I think today I was led to this knowledge for a reason. The day he left us was the day my autistic son became ill. By the next day he was being rushed to a childrens hospital to save his life. It was found that he had a large abcess off his appendix that appeared to have had a slow rupture. He had an extensive infection throughout his intestinal track. We almost lost him. After 2 weeks he was stabilized and sent home with his appendix still in. The plan was to remove it 6 weeks later. The doctor called and said he wanted additional testing because it didn't look like the typical appendicitis. They suggested chrones disease, colitis, inflamitory bowel disease...then I started to think back when I saw Dr. Rimland speak many years ago. When I listened, he was describing my autistic 3 year-old son. He talked of a vitamin suppliment called Super Nu-Thera and a condition called leakey gut syndrome. I thought "how could a vitamin help my son...his brain is the problem, not his diet!". But what was there to lose. We tried it. The day after we started, I was called by his pre-school special ed teacher. She wanted to know what had happened to Travis! He wasn't scared, screaming, hiding and crying (which went on daily)...at all!! In fact he was happy and smiling at what was happening in the class. Super Nu-thera saved my son's life. He could then cope with the strange world around him. We continued for years on the vitamins until puberty hit. At that time(3 years ago) we started him for the first time on medication because it appeared that the vitamins were no longer effective and discontinued the Super Nu-Thera. Now he's having symptoms of diseases stemming from the result of leakey gut syndrome. I wished I had never stopped the vitamins.Dr. Rimland saved my son's life. Maybe he's doing it again. Thank you
Diane Pugh
Western New York State
Posted January 3, 2007
I was lucky enough to have met Dr. Rimland at a DAN! conference in Atlanta, GA some years ago. That conference changed my life. He was kind enough to talk with me at this conference and answer the many questions I had about autism. I found Dr. Rimland to be an extremely dedicated, intelligent, and hard-working person. He clearly cared about the people he was fighting for. His family is in my prayers. We have truly lost a great pioneer in the field of autism.Michelle Bell
Columbia,MO
Posted January 3, 2007
I am so shocked to hear that Dr Rimland passed away. What a great life. Even though I never got a chance to meet him I read every article he wrote. I listened to every speech he made. I always thought what a great person he was ,so dedicated to a field like autism so neglected over so many years. I am pretty sure without him being there no body will ever give the attention that they give now to Autism. We are so blessed to have him in this field. Without a doubt he was one of the greatest men in this century. Please accept my deepest sympathy & may god bless his family.nimali hewawasam
middletown,ct
Posted January 1, 2007
I never met Dr. Rimland but still i knew him by his work, seing his videos, listening to him in his wonderful words on stage seing the recovered children. Being father of an Autistic son it was my utmost desire to meet him and take my son to him so that he can be helped.But God took him early.But i am sure children like my son all over the world will be treated by his work of so many decades. My condolances to his wife and childrenQaiser Mirza
India
Posted December 31, 2006
I never met Bernard Rimland. I never heard him speak. And yet he touched my life. When my nephew was diagnosed with autism, I read everything I could. I searched for answers. I don't believe everything I read. But I believed everything that came from Bernard Rimland. I trusted him. It was clear to me, from very early on, that his only agenda was to help.Bernard Rimland wasn't afraid to speak out if he believed many in the scientific community were wrong, and he didn't hesitate to defend those who needed it. Mostly, he listened to parents. He was smart enough to know that when he heard the same statements by numerous families, over and over again, then there might be some truth there, or at the very least, something worth investigating.
God bless Bernard Rimland, and God bless his family. I can only imagine the enormous sacrifices they made over the years, so that he could search for answers. I hope he has those answers now. May he whisper in God's ear, that the rest of us might find those answers as well.
Ellen Rosner
Brewster, NY
Posted January 1, 2007
great guybob
boblevile, new mexico
Posted December 31, 2006
Aun me parece imposible que se haya alejado de la tierra, pero se que descansa en paz porque hizo todo lo que estuvo a su alcance y mas por sus semejantes y en especial por los que sufren un desorden neurologico con el que no nacieron en su mayoria. Otros seguiremos sus pasos y estaremos eternamente agradecidos por su brillante labor. Descanse en paz.Grisel
Riverside. California
Posted December 30, 2006
DR. BERNARDGRACIAS POR SU GRAN LABOR POR NUESTROS NINOS CON AUTISMO, POR SUS INVESTIGACIONES Y EL TRABAJO QUE HIZO EN LA TIERRA, GRACIAS EN NOMBRE DE MI HIJO KEVIN DE 6 ANOS. GRACIAS Y QUE DIOS LE TENGA EN SU GLORIA.
MARGARITA PEREZ
PUERTO RICO
Posted December 30, 2006
DR. BERNARD RIMLANDGRACIAS POR SU LABOR EN LA TIERRA POR NUESTROS HIJOS Y AUNQUE JAMAS LO CONOCI, SE QUE MUCHOS PADRES AL IGUAL QUE YO LE DAMOS GRACIAS A DIOS POR GRAN LEGADO. GRACIAS. QUE DIOS LO TENGA EN SU GLORIA.
MARGARITA PEREZ
Puerto Rico
Posted December 29, 2006
Although I never had the privilege and honor to meet Dr. Rimland, I wish to credit him for the progress of our daughter Grace. Had it not been for the dedication of Dr. Rimland and other doctors at the Institute, my daughter would not be making the progress she is today. I hope that someday I can join the parents who present at the DAN conferences as having a child who is fully recovered from autism. We may not have him here with us in person, but I know that all the children diagnosed with autism have a mighty fine angel in heaven watching over them. God Bless You, Dr. Rimland - we will never forget you - and may we all continue to do our part to contribute to Autism Awareness and add to the list of recovered children. We Love You! "Grace's Mom"Mary Beth Theisen
Jaffrey, NH
Posted December 25, 2006
A tribute to Bernard Rimland by the author of an unchallenged autism theory.Dr Rimland has had a uniquely most special place in my life.
Hans Eysenck's book "Genius" in pages 148-152 describes the reality behind a myth (www.zazz.fsnet.co.uk/gen.htm). The myth is that great geniuses are sure to be universally acclaimed just as were Einstein, Newton, Darwin, etc, etc. The reality is that they are far more usually ignored, ridiculed and indeed harshly persecuted. Dr Rimland appears to have had a mixed reception in this regard. On the one hand, his pioneering work, not least on vitamin B6 and on the reality of the autism increase has been steadfastly ignored by the medical establishment. And yet of course there has also been much due recognition, firstly of his paradigm-revolutionising book, and latterly from a new global audience that is not so hampered by institutional blinkers and malmotivations.
My personal assessment is that Dr Rimland had quite a lot of 'geniusness' about him, allied fortunately to a great level of commitment to the subject, and maintained over four decades. But he had of course also a greatness of humanity which even some greatest geniuses do not have.
Different sorts of talented people have their different contributions to make and no one of them is an adequate substitute for the other. Without Dr Rimland's preceding work my own would have been that much the more retarded.
Only a handful of people have ever shown any appreciation of my published theories (and in this instance specifically, my theory of autism, IQ, and genius, which you can find at
http://cogprints.org/5207 ). But a very special handful I venture to suggest. This open elite included the late Hans Eysenck, the late David Horrobin, and, last but far from least, the now late Dr Rimland.
But now all dead!
The first of my numerous encounters with Dr Rimland was in the late '70s, seeing his name in an Adelle Davis book. I later read some of his articles and noted that he was clearly not one of those stuffy "normal" people that other scientists come over as.
Then late one night in 1982 the antiinnatia theory was unexpectedly born, and in my subsequent literature-studying I naturally encountered Dr Rimland's book, which turned out to have much concurrence with my own ideas.
When the theory eventually emerged from the anti-publication system in 1993, only two people had anything to say about it. That those two were both dominating giants of their field is of course not just my own opinion. Prof Eysenck said it was "well worth publishing". Dr Rimland said it was "excellent", "fine work". And later he wrote " ... Mr Clarke is one of those rare souls with the ability to assimilate [etc]... ". Meanwhile, the famous Lorna Wing sent a reply that "As a social psychiatrist I do not have the expertise to comment on your gene-expression theory of autism" -- then went on to write high-profile reviews of autism theories that mentioned neither that lack of expertise nor my own eleven-year effort. And a Dr Ferri said "I am too busy organising the conference [on the biology of autism] to have time to read your paper [on the biology of autism]". And all the other experts said ...(well have a guess).
The huge storm created by the successful culmination of my eleven-year odyssey into despair and out the other side amounted to a deluge of two (almost-)citations, basically two mentions by Dr Rimland in the ARRI newsletter.
Unlike Dr Rimland I am not a specialist in autism. If I'm anything it is a specialist in behavioural causality more generally. My solution of the autism "mystery" was not particularly complex but I guessed maybe it was too complex for other people to appreciate easily. I moved on to publishing an outline of my manic theory, then reckoned that at least my explanation that dementia results from long-term memory becoming full up would be simple enough for even everyone to understand ( www.zazz.fsnet.co.uk/adtheo.htm , update never completed).
A scientific theorist is what I am by nature and by grim fate, but there is no point in struggling to write things that no-one is ever going to read. So I resigned myself to the inevitable total failure of my scientific non-career, and filed my numerous other equally brilliant but yet unpublished theories in the bin. There were more important things to be done anyway (e.g., www.lulu.com/content/140930 ).
Earlier, in 1998, Dr Rimland contributed to a paper I wrote showing that a UK official statement against vitamin B6 was deliberately contrived to mislead legislators. But the Lancet fiddled and fudged and eventually "lost" all copies of it.
In mid-2004 it was becoming clear --clear to only me that is-- that I was being seriously poisoned by the 20 amalgam fillings I had and still have. So I started studying mercury toxicity. I noticed a reference to mercury binding to DNA and suppressing gene-expression, and that rang a loud bell because my theory had stated that things that bind to DNA and suppress gene-expression would be antiinnatia factors, causing autism.
That led me to starting on a spectacular update review of the antiinnatia theory. In 2005 I was continuing with struggling at working on that, under the considerable difficulties of the mercury I could not afford to have removed. Well, at least I had at last overcome all my other devastating health problems and for first time in my life gloriously saw light at the end of the tunnel of adversity. But just then in May 2005 I was brought to a total halt by a hideous scheme of harassment by the 20-20 housing "co-operative" I had helped to start 20 years earlier ( www.2020housing.co.uk and www.lulu.com/content/297752 ).
Twenty months on, the harassment has now escalated into an expensive malicious legal action to get me --a chronic invalid with severe mercury poisoning-- thrown out on the street as "intentionally homeless", me alone versus lying barrister et al. And just this month I've had bricks through my window twice. My lungs are regularly inflammated by the mercury, I can't last much longer, and quite likely may not live to get the update published. Anyway at long last, this 24th December 2006 I am within a few days of ready to send the completed autism update review to a journal. Its title is "The causes of autism: a theory now further confirmed by three predictions; and why dental amalgams were the cause of increased autism".
Actually, a fourth prediction (in the consultation draft I sent out in October) has already been confirmed –-that autism would be associated with lack of ventilation and outdoors-– by Waldman et al’s paper about television.
Thanks to the long delay caused by the harassers, it is to my great regret that when I tried to contact Dr Rimland to discuss my update paper, instead I learnt of his terminal illness.
With regard to the autism increase, I believe Dr Rimland got several major things right and just two things wrong. He was right that the increase was real. He was right that it was caused by mercury. He was right that chelating out the mercury was the way to cure many victims. He was right that there was outrageous cover-up by the establishment. He was wrong only in thinking that vaccines were to blame, rather than dentistry.
I think his error is understandable. Firstly he didn't study dental mercury as I had to. Secondly, he came to the vaccine question early on, years ago, when the evidence was confusing, and thereafter he suffered that same mistake as the frog that stays in the water that gradually heats to boiling. Thirdly he didn’t have the liberating advantage I had of being an isolated, personally uninvolved, individual.
I am sure that if he had lived to read my update paper, he would have eventually become even more positive about it than about my first paper. I am sure it would have persuaded him that the true cause of the greatest medical disaster in history was mercury from non-gamma-2 amalgams.
Well, anyway, I end here with the hope that subsequent to Dr Rimland's life, there does not arise a fixed orthodoxy of Rimlandism to close out any further advances which he could not have forseen. I'm sure he wouldn’t have wanted that as part of his legacy. Hopefully my update paper can at least persuade to a new paradigm those who carry on from his own lead as a paradigm-changer.
rpc (at) rpcc.info
Robin P Clarke
Birmingham, England
Posted December 29, 2006
THANK YOU DR. RIMLAND.THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ADVICE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LIFE.
THANK YOU MY GOD!
Sincerely,
Erika JERKUS
Százhalombatta-HUNGARY
Erika JERKUS
Százhalombatta-HUNGARY
Posted December 27, 2006
Dr. Bernard Rimland IS truly a founder of Biomedical Treatments in Autism. I used IS, becuase we will continue to seek guidance from the exemplary work he has done for this field. As they say in universities we do not train people to solve the problems but to identify the solutions to satisfy the system. Dr. Rimland refused to follow and justify the system. He was a true problem solver and has given the respect and dignity to the people who have ASD diagnosis. He challenged the tunnled vision of so called scientists and asked them to look and think outside the box!Dr. Rimland you are always with us and your cool shadow, like that of a neem tree, will always provide relief and respite to those who embark upon this challenging journey.
With all love and respect,
Noor Muhammad
Intervention and Resource Consultant
&
Executive Director
Autism Centre of Canada.
Noor Muhammad MBBS, MCPS
Ontario, Canada
Posted December 27, 2006
Dr. Rimland helped me in sevral ways. When I was Administrative Assitant for the Louisiana State Autism Chapter, he allowed me to use articles from his newsletter for the BRIDGE, the LSAC newsletter. His editorals were of current topics and the parents appreciated his "take" on the subjects.I referred parents to him and his ARI staff for assistance. The parents were so appreciative of the help they received.
Dr. Rimland was the keynote speaker at several conferences in Louisiana. The last one only three years ago. He came at a reduced rate, and never acted as though he was a celebrity and needed special treatment! It was an honor to have him present in Louisiana.
Geri Christ Landry
Lake Charles, LA
Posted December 23, 2006
Be the hands of God touching the hurtingWith loving arms wide as the sky
Be the heart of grace, bleeding forgiveness
With tender, compassionate eyes
When a wounded soul needs a little hope
Be the miracle
Be the miracle
(Written by James Thicke and Jeff Silvey
recorded by Mark Lowry)
Bernie Rimland was our miracle - he gave us hope. Our beautiful granddaughter was diagnosed with autism 5 years ago this month at the age of 18 months and her older brother was diagnosed with Aspergers about a year later. Today, both of them are in a private Christian school with the school having no knowledge of any diagnosis. Their success is because of lots of pray and the DAN! protocol.
I had the absolute pleasure of knowing of Bernie Rimland and then actually knowing him because of some minor fund raising activities I did for Autism Research Institute. The first time I stepped into the ARI office it was clear that here was one of the most humble men I would ever meet. My daughter and I also had the joy of taking the kids into the office for him the meet. Our grand-daughter said as soon as she got in the door that she had seen a spider web outside. At that moment, this giant of man in autism research asked her to show him and outside they went, looking at spider webs, talking and walking down the sidewalk - the giant researcher and the result of that research walking hand and hand - a miracle.
Sharon Swafford
Escondido, CA
Posted December 26, 2006
I have posted a piece on Dr. Rimland on my blog: http://docsaleeby2.blogspot.com/2006/12/autism-researcher-dies.html----
Autism Researcher Dies
by Dr. JP Saleeby, MD
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Rimland at a DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) conference in 2002. He was a researcher in the field of Autism that had an axe to grind and took his research very personal. He helped found and direct the DAN! organization. The conference in Portland, OR was amazing in that it brought together scientists, physicians and parents of autistic children in one forum. Since that time I have embraced much of what DAN! researchers offered as therapies.
For more info visit: www.autismwebsite.com
Source: Time Magazine -Milestones, Jef Chu & Jeninne Lee-St. John (12-11-2006)
JP Saleeby, MD
Savannah, GA
Posted December 25, 2006
CONTINUATION---I clicked too fast. To Dr. Steve Edelson, what an honor that Dr. Rimland chose you to carry on his mission at ARI. I will continue to follow your work as I know Dr. Rimland chose a great person for a crucial job to go forth. Thank you for carrying the torch.Blessings,
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
Houston, TX
Posted December 25, 2006
I must revist this site of tributes to write again. When I first starting studying about autism and met Dr. Rimland he told me about his book "INFANTILE AUTISM" I always intended to order it to read. I am just now doing so after a strong urge from his passing. My Grandson is 27 years old now. Sean was young at the time. I thought I knew "pretty much" all the info on autism, gathered from bits & pieces. Reading this book has given me so much more insight than I had. I suggest all who have not read the book to do so. It is a brilliant writing Dr. Rimland has left to us. I will continue searching his works with DAN. I am truly thankful for the blessings he gave to us all. Sometimes I feel "If I could just ask him a few more questions". Reading his book is like talking to him. He was such a comfort zone to know. I will miss him. He gave instructions on DMG to parents just picking up the phone and calling him. I find now that one must go to a nutritionist. There will never be another Dr. Bernard Rimland. However, we are still blessed with others following in his footstepts, dedicated to the cure of autism and what causes it. A fine job will be done from the foundation he laid. We all must keep moving forward with those to whom Dr. Rimland left the research!! To the Doctors & Researchers carrying on his work, Thank You!!Respectfully,
Gretchen Wilson
The Sean Ashley House
Gretchen Wilson
Houston, Tx
Posted December 24, 2006
Dr. Bernard Rimland was a mentor and guide to me for over a decade. Because he was such an important and influential person, it was with much trepidation that I called him 12 years ago for advice on my graduate research project. I was surprised that he was so nice and so willing to talk to me and offer advice and guidance. He was a natural teacher and educator, always willing to discuss the current research and issues in autism. He became instrumental in my dissertation project. He continued to be my main source of guidance after I started my post doc, and even after I became faculty. He was an unfailing friend and mentor. He was always kind, straight forward, supportive, and generous with his time. And he had a way of making me laugh. He was such a great person. I will miss him very much.Janet K. Kern, PhD
Dallas, Texas
Posted December 22, 2006
We have never met Dr. Rimland personally. In 1993 our son was diagnosed with Autism. Autism Research Insitute helped us immeasureably in teaching us teach our son, and building our confidence on how to handle this challenge. Dr. Rimland's passion reflected in his work will always be remembered and we are forever grateful!Monina and Reg Tinio
Oakville, Ontario Canada
Posted December 22, 2006
Though I never met Dr.Rimland in the beginning when I found out my now 20 year old son Devin had Autism, his physician Dr. William Gordge made a phone call from Roanoke, Va. to Dr Rimland. Dr. Gordge told Dr Rimland he was calling on behalf of one of his patients and spoke in length with Dr. Rimland about mega vitamins and dmg and Autism. Devin was one of his first patients with autism. I was so very impressed at Dr Rimland's compassion for a child he had never met, and the amount of time he spent with Devin's Dr. on the phone. His information was so very helpful to us all.What a huge loss to the autistic community! Thank you Dr. Rimland for your thoughts, your hard work to get help for our childred,and for putting autism on the Map. You will be missed and thought of for many many years to come. THANK YOU!!!
Debbie R Gillispie
Blue Ridge, Va
Posted December 20, 2006
"The quest for understanding requires that we give upthe search for certainty and go on a voyage of discovery."
John Dunne "Spiritual Adventure"
I will never forget the first time I ever met Dr. Rimland. It was in February 1979 at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Shortly before that meeting I had read his article, "Inside the Mind of the Autistic Savant" published in Psychology Today. I was living in rural Maine at the time, but I had come back to my home in Ausitn for the funeral of my father. One day while still in Austin, I read an article in the Austin paper about autism, and it listed the name of the man who was head of the Austin Autism Society. I was moved quite suddenly to stop what I was doing and call the man. As we talked I mentioned having read Dr. Rimland's article, and the man said, "Did you know that Dr. Rimland will be speaking in San Antonio today?" I said, "No, when and where?" I immediately changed my plans for the evening and drove to San Antonio. The small auditorium was jammed packed, but I found a seat on the side near the front. At the conclusion of his presentation, people rushed to the small stage to talk with him. I, too, went up because I had for the past two years been in contact with Richard Wawro, an autistic savant artist from Edinburgh, Scotland, and I wanted to share his art and his story with Dr. Rimland. Just as my turn approachet to speak with him, someone said that Dr. Rimland must leave immediately for the airport. I quickly thrust into his hand some post card sized prints of Richard's art and a small brochure describing his life and art. That was it. I didn't even get to speak with him.
Three days later I received a two page typed letter from Dr. Rimland saying that Richard's art was some of the most amazing work he had ever seen. That began a long friendship and shared mission to advance the knowledge of autism and giftedness. We were together many times over the years. He visited Austin and my home, and I visited with him in San Diego. He purchased one of Richard's beautiful pictures, "A View of Central Park, NYC." I was with him at numerous conferences. I have continued to gain much insight and knowledge from each issue of the Autism Research Review International. I read it cover to cover the day it arrives.
For over forty years Dr. Rimland waged a fierce battle against the "conventional wisdom" of the medical community, represented by Dr. Bruno Bettleheim, who first determined that autism was caused by "refrigerator mothers" and recommended psychotherapy as the primary treatment modality. After that dragon was slain, he took on the AMA, the FDA, and the pharmaceutical industry, who would prescribe powerful drugs to "control" the symptoms of autism, but did nothing to address the causes. He constantly sought biomedical approaches and was always open to less than orthodox approaches. I remember well his statement that "over the past forty years the primary advances in autism research have not been made by men in white lab coats, but by mothers."
He was lelentless in his search ever guided by the belief that autism could be defeated. Dr. Rimland's life and work, like Richard Wawro, who also passed away this year, will live on in the lives of countless individuals and families whose lives were touched and transformed by his pioneering quest for understanding and his very personal quest to shed light on the ever growing mystery of autism.
Laurence A. Becker, Ph.D.
Austin, Texas
Posted December 19, 2006
Conversations with Bernie Rimland always reflected his strong-minded endeavors as well as his open-mindedness. As a mentor and source of all types of information, no one could have been more helpful and gracious in sharing. I recall one such conversation in which we discussed the pursuit of signing and total communication systems at my Michael Reese Hospital based school. He pointed out a study that had been tried in England but then suggested I might teach or do it differently and therefore to "Go for it." And that we did using a behavioral approach as well as incorporating pictures. Bernie knew when the science(and technology) wasn't there yet but the thinking might be valid. He was willing to "look again", in Latin, "respectus." Indeed, he merited my greatest respect.Margaret Creedon
Chicago, IL
Posted December 19, 2006
To someone who really made a difference and helped so many Autistic children and adults. May your work live on as we continue on this Bio-medical journey with our 9 year old son Jordan.Our thoughts are with the family he left behind a fantastic inspiration to all
Mariella and Darren Moult
Mariella and Darren Moult
Stoke on Trent England
Posted December 18, 2006
First my heartfelt sympathy to Gloria and the Family. All of the tributes given to Dr. Bernard Rimland are true and tell of the man that many of us knew personally and some through his works. I cannot add any more words than others already have. I will say THANK YOU for all you did for the Autism community. People you have helped might not even know it, but you did it! I alos thank your Family for the time you gave from being with them in order to help ALL of those who needed your special help. The Family missed you when you could not be with them and they with you. I know this was and is hard on them. THANK YOU again and The Family for all of their understanding, devotion and dedication. God is with You and Them. With Fondness and Adminiration, Liz Roth.Liz (Elizabeth) Roth
Olney, MD, USA
Posted December 18, 2006
I am humbled to have known and to have been so influenced by Dr. Rimland’s love and wisdom.One simply can’t discuss “treating autism for a cure” without honoring Bernie. He was an amazing champion of autistic people and advocate for not settling for simply palliative care. It is because of his efforts that so many of us providers are now treating for a cure and that so many parents have gotten their kids back. Bernie lives on in every person we help.
Before I met Dr. Rimland, I was a natural medicine practitioner occasionally treating a few autistic kids. After being touched by his greatness of heart and spirit, my practice became much more dedicated to people on the Spectrum and I owe Bernie a huge debt of gratitude for the adventure that he has taken me on.
The shamash (“servant”) is the candle which lights all the other candles at Chanukah. As Bernie touched each of us, taught us that autism is eminently treatable, and turned us into DAN! Providers, he used his Light to spark the heart, mind, and creativity in each of us who will carry on the work which he championed so tirelessly and fearlessly.
Bernie, I will do my best to honor your memory by continuing to share the Light and by serving and teaching autistic people and their parents and providers as you have done for me. Please keep guiding us in the right directions.
Jim Blumenthal, DC, CCN
DAN! Provider
Los Angeles, CA
Dr Jim Blumenthal
Los Angeles, CA
Posted December 17, 2006
Thank youFor being the strong voice that I heard when I had lost all hope.
I first saw a special on KCET about Rimland's child and his own research and the movement. This was 3 months prior to me figuring out that my own son had Autism. As a professional I identified that my son who was only 12 months old may be Autistic. He was formally assessed and by 14 months old he was served by the Regional Center. As a result of his early intervientions (OT, DTT, and Speech) I have a bright eyed bushy tailed 3 year old who speaks clearly and interacts with his peers...OK, he gets stuck a but he is truly amazing.
When he was 12 months I was afraid he was mentally retarded, no utterances, no pointing at anything, no communication through gestures, preference for liquids, sensory issues and a serious lack of social interest. He would spend his time in repetious play.
I am grateful for what Dr. Bernanrd Rimland did for my son, my family and the families that I work with.
Sincerely,
Araceli May
Araceli May
La Crescenta, CA
Posted December 17, 2006
Although I have never met Dr. Rimland, he has touched my family's life, like he has so many other families, in a very positive way.I have two boys who were vaccine injured. Nick was severely injured, and Brandon was moderately injured.
However, thanks to Dr. Rimland's hard work, they are both well on their way to recovery, and I will be forever grateful to him.
Sincerely,
Michelle Panek
Michelle Panek
Huntley, IL
Posted December 17, 2006
DEAR DR. Rimland,The world has lost a great man who brought lots of hope and help to people like myself, who had
nowhere to turn to when our son got diagnosed with autism. You gave us the strenght and knowledge to move forward to help our son live a more productive life. You were more help than any doctor my son has had by far. We are greatly thankful for you sharing your knowledge with the rest of us.
You will be greatly missed, even though i never met you.
sincerly:Miguel Ramirez
MIGUEL RAMIREZ
HAMMOND , INDIANA
Posted December 17, 2006
Tribute to Benard Rimland
Not just a father but a God-father.. to all of us.
Bernard was one of many heroes'. (Well personally my biggest hero)
IMO He was the original forefather; pioneer and most well respected
individual of this "great movement."
And if it wasn't for him, his life and dedication to the work of
autism research, I do not think any one of us would be here today
giving time to reflect.
Let us give praise and honor to such a dedicated man. I never met
him, nor spoke to him Alltho I did call the ARI on a few occasions,
But I know he would have taken the time to reply and speak personally
if that was requested. Just want to mention to those of you didn't
know. He was the one who unfolded many of the truths about autism as
well as opened the door to the biomedical movement and also supported
many of the educational approaches that we now have today. If it
wasn't for him we would still be applying many methodologies that
were from the early 60's
As we know Bernard spent well over 50 years of his life often 7 days
a week, dedicated to such a great cause. "Truly a hero."
I am confidant that at he will be honored by many and the foundations
of his research will continue. I am also thankful that he was able to
see the fruit of his work before he passed. His efforts, work as
well as his contributions will never leave us, nor will his rewards
go unnoticed.
Thank you Bernard
May God continue to Bless
all of us through the work that you started.
Kenny V
Proud Father to Joel
Kenny V
Brick NJ USA
Posted December 16, 2006
I am the mother of a 17-year-old son who has severe autism and severe mental retardation. I will always remember with gratitude the time that Dr. Rimland gave so graciously to me on the phone almost ten years ago. My husband and I were desperately searching for any treatment that might relieve some of our son's symptoms of autism. Dr. Rimland did not hesitate to hear our story and offer his expertise. I was strengthened and encouraged by his unselfishness in helping us to find our way on this difficult journey defined by autism. I appreciate his family for sharing him with so many other families.Sincerely,
Barbara Vinson
Hoover, Alabama
Barbara Vinson
Hoover, Alabama
Posted December 16, 2006
La Comunidad de profesionales que estamos dedicados a la atencion e investigacion del autismo en Venezuela, asi como los padres de niños autistas nos sentimos sumamente afectados por el deceso del Dr. Rimland y hemos recibida la noticia con gran tristeza.
La conceptualizacion del autismo, su investigacion, asi como el impulso al conocimiento profundo de las bases biologicas no estarian en el estado de evolucion actual sin el empuje entusista del Dr. Rimland.
Sentimos profundamente su perdida, si bien confiamos que su pasion, entusiamos e ideas seguiran vivas en ARI y en Movimiento DAN! del cual nos sentimos parte.
Aldo Barbero
Venezuela
Posted December 16, 2006
I'm not sure what to say except for "Thank You". Thank you for sharing your husband and your father so that he could work tirelessly to uncover the truth about autism. Thank you for sharing a man who has helped thousands of children recover, and has given me hope that some day my son will recover as well. Dr. Rimland has given me hope, and that means everything to me. He will be missed, but I know his spirit will live on.Danica Chollar
Stanwood, WA
Posted December 17, 2006
A quiet but heartfelt thank you, from both our Alfie and his family.Jane x
Jane Ashwell
Hertfordshire, UK
Posted December 16, 2006
I want say thank-you to the angel who started doing the research to find a cure for our children.You see I have a 10 year old son with autism and everyday is a struggle,DR.Rimland is an angel because he made people aware of this disease our kids face and not made them aware but also educated the public.He will be greatly missed in the autism community.Rebeecca Newman
westspringfield,pa
Posted December 16, 2006
From the beginning of time, the universe has chosen to wend its way down just ONE erratic path. Any other path would NOT have included us! Had one leaf flopped, instead of flipped, a billion years ago, none of us would be here now. It's no wonder many people consider all this a miracle and that we're here by the grace of a God that always was and always will be.Belief in a God does solve one problem: By "knowing" there's an Afterlife, the fear of our inevitable death is eliminated. For those of us who can't fit a God and an Afterlife into our picture of the universe, this nagging fear of death is very real. Perhaps the knowledge that we're so extremely fortunate to have experienced life may help to allay that fear somewhat. On the other hand, after being so miraculously lucky to be here at all, it's very disappointing to discover that we'll be RETURNING to blackness and nothingness after just an instant on earth. The blackness up to our birth was finite. But after our death the blackness is eternal and terrifying.
Bernie was aware of all this. We both wished there was an Afterlife where we could continue having our pleasant lunches where all manner of subjects were dissected. After over 3 decades of discussing politics, religion, FDA, Shockley & Jensen, Autism, mutual friends, and, yes, death, we seemed never to disagree. His death came as a shock to me. He was immortal in my eyes. Bernie would never die. He was the one person on this earth that should never die.
We all will miss him, but I will miss him forever.
Oscar Falconi
Saratoga, California
Posted December 16, 2006
Bernie's career spanned the lives of all our children, and his efforts inspired every gain which has changed their lives: special ed, through his interest in ABA; biomedical research, which has helped so many; and advocacy, through founding ASA. His direction in research will be borne out in years to come: whether or not he always had the right answers, he always asked the right questions, with persistence! He was the first to gather parents together, to respect their own knowledge of their children, to act on their concerns. He empowered us all. He was an inspiration, a mentor, and a friend for 30 years. Like all those who knew him, I miss him tremendously but will never forget him.Sue Swezey
Menlo Park, CA
Sue Swezey
Menlo Park, CA
Posted December 16, 2006
4 years ago our son dropped off the map.At the age of 15 months following "doubled up" vaccinations, the child who once sang songs and knew everyone's name became silent. His little life suddenly taking on painful GI episodes and a constellation of mysterious behaviors.
As parents who religiously took our children to wellness visits we were left with hollow answers as the doctors were baffled.
We were not fortunate enough to find "a better diagnosis". Doctors simply told us to wait things out, surely siblings were just talking for our son.
However, a neighbor who worked as a Special Ed teacher recognized that all the oddities added up to Autism.
The local ASA website confirmed this with a simple checklist.
Our child displayed classic Autistic symptoms.
A word that we only knew from Rainman.
After traveling through a revolving door of doctors, hospitals and professionals offices and thousands of dollars later...our son was deemed hopeless. Moderate to maybe Severe on the Spectrum.
Meanwhile as the behaviors problems increased, so did the biological problems and the flight risk.
So we were left to live in a house fortified like a prison, well armed with alarms/locks so our child didn't flee. While Joshua, our once chatty baby, retreated into his own little prison. Family outings became a nightmare, one involved a near drowning. Siblings training in search and rescue just to go to the grocery store.
Our precious toddler lived a shell of a life, gravitating to the basement to tear the furniture, chew the sheetrock, stare endlessly at the TV naked, all the while smearing fecal matter into our rug. We were devestated and cried ourselves to sleep at night. While Joshua woke routinely screaming in pain.
Every story has a hero. (If it is a *good* story that is.)
We are blessed that our story had many DAN heros....and a very happy ending.
In our dogged quest to not let this be our child's final chapter,we began research every possible answer.
Then while culling hundreds of sights we found the Autism Research Institute website and eventually an excellent Biomedical practice.
If ARI's website were a book it would be well worn and tattered as it was visited time and time again. It was our handbook on our four year journey out of Mercury/Enviromental poisoning.
It offered hope that sustained us,information that helped us evaluate various interventions and educational materials written by seasoned professionals. Even statistics that spurred us to get help early and remain steady with diet and chelation.
Today, 4 years later at 6 1/2 our son talks and attends a typical classroom. He still displays Autism but the quality of our life is 110% better and his future is bright.
The highlight of our life will always be walking in a toy store after a chelation treatment and hearing him delare "MOM! I can talk to you now." While holding a hand voluntarily and using perfect eye contact.
Thank you Bernie Rimland for helping us find the beautiful butterfly wrapped in the neurological cocoon called Autism. The happily ever after...the calm after the storm. Hope. Answers.
The corners to the puzzle called Autism.
Perhaps that is why when I(Karen)stepped into an elevator at the NAA conference and found myself shoulder to shoulder with Bernard Rimland....and I couldn't speak. I just couldn't find the words.
How do you put into words the gratitude that belongs to someone that went against the grain professionally, to change the course of Autism treatment for millions of kids.
This year we had the pleasure of handing off DAN CDs to parents in Cairo Egypt while looking into their eyes and telling them "Yes-there is hope." "My son...he *was* just like this."
All across the world parents are traveling down a road of hope Bernie paved.
So thank you Bernie.
Because of people like you we will be enjoying Christmas this year with our clothes on,screaming with glee (instead of pain),playing with typical toys and the alarms off our doors.
Because you cared enough to help.
Thank you God... for gracing this world with a Bernard Rimland. We were so blessed to have him.
We can only hope to raise our children to live so excellently.
We pray that in your last moments Bernie you knew how well your life was lived.
All our love.
David and Karen Beauvais
Sarah,Jacob,Joshua and Tiffany Beauvais
Atlanta, GA
David and Karen Beauvais
Atlanta Georgia USA
Posted December 15, 2006
Shannon Johnson29 Shapleigh Rd
Harpswell, ME 04079
Autism Research Institute
San Diego, CA
December 15, 2006
To Whom it May Concern:
I am sincerely sorry to hearing about the passing of Dr. Bernard Rimland. Although I never met him, I have listened to him at conferences and on tape for over 8 years. I have been fed by his determination and strengthened by the hope he offered me as a parent as I struggled with each breath to bring healing to my ailing son named Wynn.
When most of the other professionals in the field were telling me to prepare myself for the worst, and to plan to one day institutionalize my then 3 year old baby, Dr. Rimland held out a candle in the dark. And with his light which still glows brightly even after his death, I continue to reach for that brass ring that will lead me to the answers for my son.
The Bible tells us, in Romans 5:3-5 that, “We can even be joyous when we go through sufferings because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, and patient endurance produces strength of character and character gives us unshakable hope”
I am struck by the prophetic accuracy of that text as it applies to Dr. Rimland. Through his own experience and sufferings as a parent of a child with autism, he developed patient endurance in his search for answers, which produced amazing strength of character as he came up against critics and nay sayers, which in turn has given generations of children and their parents unshakable, recoverable hope.
If I could speak to Dr. Rimland, I would say thank you for giving me back the son that autism tried to steal. We have not yet reached recovery, but thanks to you, our hope and faith is strong and steady. Your name will always and forever be synonymous with hope. You are missed.
Sincerely,
Shannon Johnson
Mother of 11 Year Old Wynn
shannon johnson
Harpswell, Maine, USA
Posted December 15, 2006
What does one say in mere words to thank Dr. Rimland ? Dr.Bernard Rimland profoundly altered the course of our lives for the better. He gave us the wisdom, the hope ,the strength to continuetoward recovery. And he lives on with each new day in our hearts and minds, as we continue the bio nutritionals we began due to his research, his studies. The only therapies that pulled us out of the 'black hole' so many years ago, and still maintain our equilibrium today.
I believe life is eternal and love lives on and wisdom grows.
In my vision Dr. Rimland is still working with the grandest of comrades in
a dimension we are not yet able to understand. His passion will always shine in the eyes of
recovered and healing children everywhere. We love you Dr. Rimland and especially our family wishes to extend our sympathy, our gratitude and appreciation to Mrs. Rimland and the Rimland family for so many years of being so generous with their amazing genius husband and father, Dr. Bernard Rimland.
May God grant you abundant peace and love always.
Sincerely, the Vasulka Family. (14 year old sweet, charming, beautiful daughter with autism)
Gayle Vasulka
OH
Posted December 15, 2006
Dear Dr. Rimland and Family:Our condolences to your family on the loss of this heroic man. I never knew you, Dr. Rimland; I only learned of your existence last year when my beautiful son was diagnosed with HFA at 4 years old in September of 2005. Our story is the same as many others: Hopeless pronouncements by utterly ignorant mainstream pediatricians, only to find a DAN practioner and watch our son change from a non-communicative, tantrumming, sleepless suffering (and constipated) little creature that only wanted to escape down the street, to a bright-eyed, intelligent, verbal, fun-loving, happy and healthy little boy who stays right I live to see the day when your research and efforts will be validated by this world and your lby my side! He is now attending kindergarten w/ an aide, but is consistently achieving more and more on his own. He romps with friends on the playground, writes his first and last name, counts, and is even beginning to read. The change in him has been like watching a miracle unfold. I hope that your legacy and work will be honored as it should have been -- AND, children with so-called "autism" will be instantly medically treated as standard protocol.
You have done more for our family, again, than anyone, ever. I my mind, you should be honored as a saint -- a Saint for Autism, and for children afflicted with this everywhere. My hope is that both my boy, myself, and my entire family will meet you someday in Heaven, able to thank you personally for all you've done for us.
(For parents reading our interventions have been: gfcf diet, SCD diet, supplementation, ABA therapy 10-15 hrs per week, and MB12 injections. We are currently pursuing chelation.)
Julie Davisson
Falls Church, VA
Posted December 15, 2006
Bernie, as he always liked to be called, will always be remembered for his commitment to our kids.I remember when we first met him about 15 years ago when we had a conference here on Long Island.
He knew me as Angela from Long Island. I would call him at ARI, and it always amazed me that he would answer the telephone each time, himself. We had a terrible time with my son not going to sleep. It was Bernie that gave us our first peaceful nights of sleep, with the help of melatonin that he suggested. Still 15 years later, my son still takes the melatonin.
Bernie you will be missed, but now our Angels have their own Angel.
Rest in Peace Bernie, you will always be remembered.
The Cerina family,
Dix Hills, NY
Angela Cerina
Dix Hills, NY
Posted December 15, 2006
Thank you will never be enough! THere really are no words. There is a special place in heaven for you and in all of our hearts. In your name we will not give up the fight. This is still war! With your help in heaven we will certainly win it! May you now rest.Kate Dorn
Menasha, WI
Kate Dorn
Menasha, WI
Posted December 15, 2006
Dr. Rimland was the first trailblazer on this journey. My heartfelt gratitude and inspiration for all that he has given to us.He called me regarding the following letter that I wrote and wanted to include his statement. He was so passionate about helping all our children and wanted to encourage me to send it anywhere I could. He so wanted to get the word out that our children could be helped biomedically.
Thanks Bernie.
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 06:45:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: teresa
Subject: Autism Article
To: letters@newsweek.com
September 2, 2003
I am sickened by your article about autism. I have a daughter who
regressed
into autism by age 3. She received an enormous amount of mercury from
her
childhood vaccines in the form of thimerosal, a vaccine preservative.
Where
in your article do you speak about the thousands of kids who cannot
speak,
understand danger, have sensory issues that render them untouchable,
and
unable to handle normal sounds? Where are the kids who cannot digest
foods
normally, who have developed autoimmune issues, who are in pain from
stomach
issues? Where are the kids who have seizures, who bite themselves out
of
frustration and constant fear? Where are the kids who developed
normally,
who had language, laughed, and cuddled with their parents,when
gradually or
suddenly, they stopped? Do your homework! Autism is not funny. It is
not
a "geek" and quirky lifestyle for my daughter. You minimize the plight
of
so many children and families when you say that no cure is needed. We
deserve to have our stories heard. The following is a statement from
Dr.
Bernard Rimland. Please read it and consider contacting him and others
in
the field of autism who do real research, not opinions that echo the
Bruno
Bettleheim days.
Sincerely,
Teresa Conrick
July 14, 2003 STATEMENT BY BERNARD RIMLAND, PH.D.
Director, Autism Research Institute
Editor, Autism Research Review International
Founder, Autism Society of America
THE AUTISM EPIDEMIC IS REAL, AND
EXCESSIVE VACCINATIONS ARE THE CAUSE
The vaccine manufacturers, the Center for Disease Control, the FDA, and
the
various medical associations have failed miserably in their duty to
protect
our children. Rather than acknowledge their role in creating the
immense,
catastrophic rise in autism, these organizations have resorted to
denial and
obfuscation. They stand to lose their credibility, and billions of
dollars
in liability suits will soon reach the courts.
As a full-time professional research scientist for 50 years, and as a
researcher in the field of autism for 45 years, I have been shocked and
chagrined by the medical establishment's ongoing efforts to trivialize
the
solid and compelling evidence that faulty vaccination policies are the
root
cause of the epidemic. There are many consistent lines of evidence
implicating vaccines, and no even marginally plausible alternative
hypotheses.
. As the number of childhood vaccines has increased 700%, from 3 in the
`70s
to 22 in 2000, the prevalence of autism has also showed a parallel
increase
of 700%.
. Late onset autism, (starting in the 2nd year), was almost unheard of
in
the `50s, `60s, and `70s; today such cases outnumber early onset cases
5 to
1, the increase paralleling the increase in required va