Talk About Curing Autism

Talk About Curing Autism
Abbreviation TACA
Founded February 13, 2000 (2000-02-13)
Founder Lisa Ackerman
27-0048002[1]
Legal status 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Headquarters Irvine, California, United States[1]
Glen Ackerman[1]
Volunteers
498[1]
Website www.tacanow.org

Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by Lisa Ackerman[2] and based in Irvine, California.

TACA is frequently at odds with the scientific consensus about autism causes and treatments, with various spokespeople for the group having publicly indicated support for Andrew Wakefield, author of a fraudulent research paper linking vaccines and autism.

Organization

TACA is run by a Board of Director chaired by Glen Ackerman, the founder's husband. Lisa Ackerman remains on the Board as Secretary, in addition to being the group's Executive Director since 2008.[3]

TACA has a series of regional chapters across the United States. Its 2017 annual conference will be held in Costa Mesa, California, October 20–22.[4]

Based on 2014 tax returns, TACA spends an estimated 55% of its funds on salaries, 40% on programming, and distributes 3% of its funding.[5]

Relationship with Jenny McCarthy and the anti-vaccine movement

Lisa Ackerman used to attribute autism to a wide range of causes, urging parents to get rid of flame-retardant clothing or mattresses and new carpeting. She advocated for vitamin shots and hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments.[6]

In June 2007, Lisa Ackerman stepped down as TACA spokesperson, and was succeeded by anti-vaccine activist Jenny McCarthy.[7]

CATA was one of the sponsor groups of the Green our Vaccines march in Washington D.C on June 4, 2008, along with Generation Rescue. McCarthy and then-boyfriend Jim Carrey were prominently featured at the rally, along with several speakers making specific links between vaccines and autism. Promoting the march, McCarthy said that "In 1983 the shot schedule was 10. That's when autism was 1 in 10,000. Now there's 36, and autism is one in 150. All arrows point to one direction."[8][9]

The relationship between TACA and McCarthy ended in October 2008, when McCarthy became the spokesperson for Generation Rescue.[10]

In 2010, when medical journal The Lancet issued a full retraction of Andrew Wakefield's research paper linking vaccines and autism, Rebecca Estepp, speaking for TACA, insisted she still trusted Wakefield's research.[11][12]

In 2015, CATA's co-coordinator of its Maryland chapter indicated that even though they question vaccines, her group was not a follower of Jenny McCarthy.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Return from organization exempt from income tax" (PDF). Guidestar.org. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ Ackerman, Lisa. "Our Story". Talking About Curing Autism. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Board Members". Talking About Curing Autism. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Keynote Speakers". Talk About Curing Autism. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  5. ↑ Brukilacchio, Briana (August 6, 2016). "Raising Money for Autism? Find Out Where Your Dollars Go". STAGES Learning Materials. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  6. ↑ "As The Facts Win Out, Vaccinations May, Too". NPR. January 9, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ Ackerman, Lisa (October 5, 2008). "TACA & Jenny McCarthy". Talking About Curing Autism. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  8. ↑ Gorski, David (June 9, 2008). "Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey, and "Green Our Vaccines": Anti-vaccine, not "pro-safe vaccine"". Science-based Medicine. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  9. ↑ Brady, Jonann; Dahle, Stephanie (June 4, 2008). "Celeb Couple to Lead 'Green Vaccine' Rally". ABC News. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  10. ↑ Ackerman, Lisa (October 5, 2008). "TACA & Jenny McCarthy". Talk About Curing Autism. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  11. ↑ Park, Madison (February 2, 2010). "Medical journal retracts study linking autism to vaccine". CNN. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  12. ↑ Cox, Lauren (February 1, 2010). "Doctor Who Started Vaccine, Autism Debate in Ethics Row". ABC News. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Parents with doubts about vaccinations face backlash". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. February 7, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  • Official website
  • "Ante Up For Autism Raises $500,000 for Talk About Curing Autism". Dana Point Times. December 11, 2016.
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