From the left: Sallie Bernard, Lyn Redwood, Laura Bono, Jenny McCarthy, Deirdre Imus, Rita Shreffler and Katie Wright.
Hackensack, NJ, November 13, 2007 — “Families of children with autism and the community need to keep the pressure on to find answers and obtain resources their children need,” said Deirdre Imus in her keynote address at the National Autism Conference in Atlanta.
"I greatly admire all of you as parents of children who have been affected by this devastating epidemic of autism. You have not let your children down. You have not kept silent. Speaking up is the only way to force changes and get the services these children need now and in the future," said Ms. Imus. "Keep telling your child’s story and never give up."
During the conference, Ms. Imus was presented with the NAA's BELIEVE award, created to acknowledge those who give their all in the pursuit of the health, wellness and rights of children with autism.
In presenting the award Laura Bono, Director, National Autism Association said, "When Deirdre heard about the epidemic and suffering of children with autism, she set out to know everything about it. She came to understand that autism has a strong environmental component. For Deirdre, another disease was added to her many causes…We are incredibly lucky to have her fighting for the health rights of our children."
A national leader on children's health and the environment, Deirdre Imus helped raise attention about the growing autism crisis last year leading to the passage of the historic $945 million Combating Autism Act (CAA). In addition to speaking out on national TV and radio, she held discussions with autism organizations and visited key members of Congress to request additional funding for research, education and family services. Spectrum magazine, a news source for families affected by autism named her “Person of the Year for 2007.” This fall, Ms. Imus was honored as a “Champion for Autism” by The Autism Education Foundation of the Morris-Union Jointure Commission in New Jersey.
Ounce of Prevention
During her speech, Ms. Imus emphasized disease prevention. "Everyone can play a role in building their body’s immune system and eliminating toxins from the environment," she said. Ms. Imus encouraged parents to work with school officials in greening their schools starting with healthy foods, green building materials, and the award-winning Greening the Cleaning® program, developed at The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology® (dienviro.com). (Download the Center's "Greening Your School" information pack.)
In addition to advocating for children's health, Ms. Imus has been directly involved with those battling a range of diseases and disorders through her work at the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer where Deirdre lives and works with these children all summer long and in the spring.
In addition to advocating for children's health, Ms. Imus has been directly involved with those battling a range of diseases and disorders through her work at the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer where Deirdre lives and works with these children all summer long and in the spring.
Ms. Imus is also co-founder and co-director of The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit. The authentic 4,000 acre working cattle ranch in northern New Mexico provides the experience of the American cowboy to children suffering from cancer and various blood diseases, as well as to children who have lost a brother or sister to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Greening the Cleaning® means eliminating to the greatest extent possible all cleaning agents containing hazardous ingredients and replacing them with environmentally responsible ingredients with the least level of toxicity. 100% of all profits from the institutional products go to the Environmental Center for supporting education and research to identify, control and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children. For the retail line, 100% of all profits go to The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer.