Kasemodel Family
Tim Kasemodel, Wayzata
When our son Thomas was a baby, he received many vaccines that contained Thimerosal, a form of mercury. Thomas has had serious health problems all his life, and by the time he was two years old, we realized he had autism. We started doing some research on autism and the more we learned, the more evidence we found that mercury, a known neuro-toxin, could be a contributing factor. Thomas lacks the ability to effectively excrete heavy metals from his body.
Vaccine manufacturers do not have to use mercury in their vaccines. There are mercury-free versions of many vaccines, including many vaccines for children.
During the last few years, my wife and I have started speaking out against mercury in vaccines and other issues for children with disabilities. Laura has gone to Washington, D.C. twice to talk to our representatives and senators. Last June, I went to the Centers for Disease Control to participate in a protest against mercury in vaccines and to hear public comment about the issue. We’ve also been working for the past two years to pass a bill in the Minnesota legislature that sets a preference for mercury-free vaccines.
Autism was relatively rare 25 years ago (1 in 2,500 children affected versus 1 in 92 today). Today there are over 9,900 kids diagnosed with autism receiving special education services in Minnesota schools. What will happen when these kids are out of school, or when their parents are gone? How will our system handle 9,900 additional adults with autism? People need to wake up to these issues. That’s where Arc comes in.
My real message to people is that we can make a difference. Anyone can meet with their legislators, tell their story, and say, “This is what I want you to do. Will you do this?” It might seem like we’re pushing a ball uphill, but if it’s what you really want, you might as well get out and push the ball.
My real message to people is that we can make a difference. Anyone can meet with their legislators, tell their story, and say, "This is what I want you to do. Will you do this?"