Autism Action Coalition

Autism Action Coalition (AAC, formerly A-CHAMP, Advocates for Children's Health Affected by Mercury Poisoning), is a United States political activism group, founded in 2005, that campaigns on behalf of children who they believe have suffered vaccine injuries. Since its inception as A-CHAMP, AAC has focused on vaccine injuries that it ascribes to mercury in vaccines containing thiomersal (also spelled "thimerosal"). The stated mission of AAC is "To be a strong and unified voice for children with neurodevelopmental and communication disorders so that each child may be provided the support necessary to live a full and productive life." AAC's activities have been directed toward increasing public awareness of the what it says is the causal link between thiomersal and neurodevelopmental disorders, and to make it easier to obtain financial compensation for what it says are injuries due to thiomersal.
Position
AAC contends that a growing body of scientific research shows that environmental exposure to neurotoxins, in particular mercury, may be contributing to the rapid rise in disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). AAC also focuses on issues relating to obtaining health insurance coverage for children, and ensuring that government programs for the education and lifetime care of disabled individuals are adequately funded. AAC's agenda includes empowering parents while escalating the debate over vaccine-related issues.
Political activities
AAC is non-partisan, with the intent of representing the diversity of the political spectrum in helping to protect the human rights, civil rights and legal rights of children who may have been injured by vaccines. AAC advocates for children on many issues other than vaccines, including work to obtain health insurance coverage for affected children and working to build adequate supports for lifetime care of those children who are disabled and cannot care for themselves.
In addition to educating the public and media about its agenda, AAC lobbies state legislatures and Congress. AAC has opposed legislative efforts to limit the legal liability of vaccine manufacturers, contending that this would deny victims of vaccine injury access to the court system. AAC is among a number of parent advocacy groups which joined together to hold a march and rally in Washington, D.C., on July 20, 2005, in an event billed as "The Power of Truth March/Rally". Other groups involved included the National Autism Association and Safe Minds.
Thiomersal
The AAC's concerns about vaccines and autism are related to actions taken by public health authorities to remove thiomersal from vaccines. In July 1999, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asked vaccine makers to remove thiomersal from vaccines as quickly as possible, and thiomersal has been phased out of U.S. and European vaccines, except for some preparations of influenza vaccine. The CDC and the AAP followed the precautionary principle, which assumes that there is no harm in exercising caution even if it later turns out to be unwarranted, but their 1999 action sparked confusion and controversy that has diverted attention and resources away from efforts to determine the causes of autism. The scientific consensus is that there is no convincing scientific evidence that thiomersal causes or helps cause autism, and more generally that there is no evidence that autism is caused by vaccines or any preservative or additive ever used in vaccines.

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