Her Daily News

Actress and entertainer Jenny McCarthy is the author of Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism. I have to admit that I never paid much attention to her before. She wasn’t someone I really took seriously, until I read about her son’s struggle with autism.

Autism is a frightening word for parents. I remember watching my own son as he reached the age when most autistic traits begin to manifest themselves, around 1 to 3 years old. I had read about it and knew some kids who had it, so I analyzed his every movement for while to see how he was acting. Was he lining things up too much? Overreacting to noise, lights, or touch? Was he responsive or in his own little world all the time? Did he lack age-appropriate communication, did he fail to learn by copying behaviors of others, was he showing repetitive movements, or displaying socially inappropriate behavior? These are all traits of autism. They are also traits of normal childhood development in the appropriate amounts. So when I read how McCarthy had been stunned by the doctor’s diagnosis, I could sympathize with how that blow must have felt. My own son has no signs of autism. But I had prepared myself for the worst and hoped for the best as he developed.

In a special report to CNN, McCarthy stated, “Everything I thought was cute was a sign of autism and I felt tricked.” Some children with autism have severe forms that are evident right away. For milder forms, like McCarthy’s son Evan has, the clues can be difficult to pick up on. She had been to several doctors and hospitals after Evan began having seizures at age 2. It wasn’t until she finally visited “the best pediatric neurologist in LA” that a diagnosis was finally made. As Evan lined up ear cones in the corner of his office and started flapping his arms, the doctor explained autism and how Evan’s “cute” behaviors were actually classic autistic traits.

McCarthy has pledged to “work my ass off raising awareness for autism and banging down doors to get answers.” Evan is now five, completely communicative, and has responded very well to treatments. But his mother knows she was one of the lucky ones. The same treatments that worked for her son don’t work for others, and no one knows why. I didn’t pay much attention to McCarthy before because she just seemed like another blonde with boobs trying to get famous for being an all out party girl. But it is her energy, drive, determination, and complete emotional openness that just might provide an effective spokesperson for Autism. If anybody can bang down the doors, it will be Jenny McCarthy.

To learn more about McCarthy’s book, visit Amazon: Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism.

Read more at Discussing Autism.

Jenny McCarthy, autism, Louder Than Words, autism treatment, diagnosing autism, health, children’s health

I write two blogs here for 451 Press. My other blog is at Life as a Christian Woman. Although I try to keep the two separate, I wanted to give Her Daily News readers a chance to join in today’s activities “over there.”

Jocelyn Andersen is the author of “Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence.” She is appearing on Life as a Christian Woman today to talk about her book and answer questions and comments from readers. She is a domestic abuse survivor and has joined in the movement for churches to catch up with the secular world in providing support and safety for battered women. In Jocelyn’s case, her husband was a minister. The recent case of televangelist Juanita Bynum being attacked by her husband, also a minister, tells us that this problem is more widespread than we would like to think among Christian marriages.

I hope you will join us today to welcome Ms. Andersen and join in the conversation. Women around the world are fighting for their lives, and for the rights to be more than property and possessions in their relationships. The churches have a responsibility to help in this fight. It is through people like Ms. Andersen, and events like her appearance today, that will enable us to begin networking the resources and willing workers to bring about change not only in the Christian communities, but for any woman is living in fear for her life.

books, Jocelyn Andersen, domestic violence, abuse, christian women, religion

This week’s great woman in history is:

Lady Bird Johnson - Environmentalist and Feminist
1912-2007

Environmentalist and Feminist Lady Bird Johnson Dies at 94 - Feminist Daily News Wire

Former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, a supporter of women’s rights and a passionate environmentalist, died last night of respiratory failure at the age of 94. Born in Karnack, Texas in 1912, the former first lady spent her life as an advocate for important social causes, including environmental protection, civil rights, the eradication of poverty, and women’s equality.

Johnson’s pursuit of equal rights for women began during her time in the White House and continued after her husband’s death. A passionate supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), she made use of her political background and experience to fight for women’s rights. In 1977, Johnson attended the International Women’s Year Conference in Houston which addressed issues including the ERA, lesbian and gay rights, and abortion. In 1981, Johnson stood with fellow first lady Betty Ford to address a crowd at the National Organization for Women’s national conference about the ratification of the ERA.

Johnson is well-known for her devotion to environmental preservation. Lobbying for the Highway Beautification Act, the first lady sought to push billboards 50 yards away from roadsides and insisted junkyards be screened from view. The legislation represented only one of the 150 environmental laws enacted with her support during Johnson’s presidency, including the landmark Clean Air Act. After her husband died in 1973, Johnson continued her environmental work, raising $10 million for the National Wildlife Research Center and sitting on the Board of Directors for the National Geographic Society.

While Johnson contributed a great deal to the environmental movement, she also worked address the nation’s problems related to poverty, racism and women’s equality. During the 1964 election, Johnson made a tour of eight Southern States to garner support for the Civil Rights Act. Despite warnings that the trip would be unsafe, the first lady was resolved to spread her message that “the Civil War should at long last come to an end, which could only happen if the South shed its racist past and moved into the modern world,” Jan Jarboe Russell wrote in her biography of Johnson.

Lady Bird Johnson will be buried on Sunday beside her husband at a family cemetery in Texas. She is survived by her two daughters, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines, and seven grandchildren.

women, feminist, environmentalist, activist, Former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson

This week’s great woman in history is….

Jeannette Rankin - (June 11, 1880 - May 18, 1973)

Here are some highlights in Rankin’s life:

• She was the first American woman elected to Congress on November 6, 1916.
• She was the oldest of eleven children.
• Rankin attended Montana State University at Missoula and graduated in 1902 with a bachelor of science degree in biology.
• She was a social worker in Spokane, Washington, in a children’s home.
• She became involved in the woman suffrage movement in 1910.
• Rankin became the first woman to speak before the Montana legislature.
• She organized and spoke for the Equal Franchise Society.
• She went to work for the New York Woman Suffrage Party and in 1912 she became the field secretary of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.
• Rankin was among the thousands of suffragists at the 1913 suffrage march in Washington, D.C., before the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson.
• Only four days after taking office, Jeannette Rankin made history in yet another way: she voted against U.S. entry into World War I.
• She was active in the antiwar movement, often invited to speak or honored by the young antiwar activists and feminists.

For more information: Women’s History, About.com

women, history, politics, Jeannette Rankin, legislature, congress

Frustrated with the lack of representation of women in their government, a group of Australian women have launched a predominantly female political party. The party is called What Women Want and was launched in Brisbane, Australia today. The party wants the opportunity to enhance women’s roles.

The party was launched by Justine Caines, a mother of six, who is running as a party candidate, has been lobbying for improvements in maternity leave provisions. Though the party is female-centered, it does have 38 male members who support the groups goals and ideas the same as the other female members. The party has plans to run Senate candidates in each state and territory and wouldn’t rule out running a male candidate.

So, what could this type of mentality mean for other countries around the world? A successful campaign with a female-centered party could mean a change in the way political parties as a whole are viewed. These types of parties might be able to find a way to focus less on candidates and more on the issues. Eventually,this party may not be just viewed as a party that is focused on women’s issues but a party that is working toward a common goal of equality and fairness within the government. The stigma of being outside of the norm male in politics might lose it’s negative connotation if it is shown to move toward change in a positive way. We wish them the best of luck.

Source: Women launch political party - LAURA ANDERSON, AdelaideNow.com

women, politics, political parties, Australia, female, Brisbane