In early 2023, I met citizen activist Scott Shoemaker while writing this piece for The Ohio Press Network, surrounding key players in Ohio’s Health and Medical Freedom movement - something that I had no idea even existed before COVID.
As a member of Health Freedom Ohio, Scott and others in the organization have made tremendous inroads in the state’s medical freedom movement. But I found an equally powerful part of his story was what got him involved in the first place: his son, Joshua, who - nearly twenty years ago, now - was diagnosed with autism at age three.
“Suspecting the autism diagnosis was not genetic but instead environmentally triggered, Shoemaker documented Joshua’s response to an alternative metal-poisoning/detox therapy over the course of one year (2005-2006) by video,” I wrote in that OPN piece. “The footage shows a miraculous transformation from a nearly unresponsive, developmentally delayed, borderline out-of-control child with no ability to speak, to a fully responsive, empathetic and joyful child fully capable of age-appropriate learning, communication and restraint. ‘Today,’ says Shoemaker, ‘Joshua is enjoying college and taking honors classes.’
Like many in the health freedom movement, Shoemaker believes the metal toxins his son was exposed to came from the vaccines Joshua received as a child. He is also quick to note that every child’s path to healing is different. Nonetheless, Shoemaker feels he has “a moral obligation” to share his son’s story, both to give other parents hope and to show them that vaccine injuries are real.”
In addition to being a vocal part of one of the most influential health freedom organizations in Ohio today, Shoemaker has also been named a Buckeye State elector for U.S. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. - a topic we discuss in this episode as well.
Readers may find what Scott has to say controversial, but my mantra has always been that a crucial part of being an informed citizen is listening to the other side of every story, especially given that the incidence of autism nationwide has ballooned from 1 in 150 roughly 20 years ago to now 1 in 36.
Asking tough questions and looking for even tougher-to-find answers is a strong theme in Scott’s journey and one that has changed my own life for the better. I am honored he agreed to be interviewed for the podcast today.
*Please note this post originally incorrectly identified Scott as the sole founder of Ohio Health Freedom.
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