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The search is great, and it can be brutal for the parent who struggles for answers and help for their child on the autism spectrum.
D.A.N. protocol, and functional medicine combined with Hemispheric Integration Therapy resulted in success, and this progress started happening very rapidly. This family from (Oregon) flew back and forth for treatment at the Mane’ Center, and were amazed at the swift progress their son started making right from the start!
This parent testimonial from the mom, speaks to the importance of getting to the “core” or source of her son’s problems. His speech has improved dramatically, along with his motor planning, gross and fine motor skills.
This is the link to her testimonial about finding answers that meant thriving results for her 16 year old son, Christopher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGVzsgW2yGo&list=UUts4lDVcw-_iKKXTQuxdStQ&index=2&feature=plcp
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It’s time for the holidays again along with one of our biggest challenges of all time, if we are the designated chef. How to cook a Gluten – Free Holiday Meal that is not only safe but delicious too.
Many of us have tried and failed many times when faced with this cooking project and ended up looking at our child spit out in disgust the food that we worked so very hard on. Discouraged…a few tears…and perhaps this cooking project ends up indignantly in the garbage can!
Well, my Gluten-Free Friends, cooking gluten-free has come a long way and the food we can buy in the store and the recipes have become much easier to prepare, along with being more palatable as well.
I wanted to pass along this site from the Washington Post that is just chock full of Thanksgiving and Holiday Gluten-Free Recipes. I hope these recipes come in handy for you as we face the “Great Gluten-Free Quest”.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/gluten-free-recipes-for-thanksgiving/2011/11/21/gIQA3kzjiN_blog.html
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Sweet sarcasm? The very thought may seem like the biggest oxymoron in the world! Sarcasm, Sweet, I don’t thing so. Of course, when we are victims of sarcasm, it is very cruel. Yet, what if we don’t understand sarcasm? What if we just don’t get it when someone is being sarcastic with us? For instance, What if someone told you, “Well, you look so nice today.” Let’s say they were being sarcastic and so this statement was said with a slur in their voice and a facial expression that didn’t fit with anything nice. Now imagine, that we respond with the sincerest of a “Thank You” to this sarcasm…BECAUSE…we just don’t get it. Even though we don’t understand the slur, it may confuse and upset us, as the words do not seem to match the face.
Now imagine it’s not us at all who experiences this situation…it is our child and we watch painfully as this scenario unfolds. If we have a child with Aspergers or on the Autism Spectrum, no doubt we have endured this torturous experience. We wonder perhaps… Do they understand the sarcasm? If they understand, do they feel hurt and humiliated? Or does the sarcasm even bother them? We don’t know most times and we long for the ability somehow, someway to get inside our child’s head and heart to be able to understand how they perceive these things. That way, we would also know how to pick up the pieces and soothe the specific hurt, if in fact there even were some injury. We just don’t know do we?
I would like to share with you a conversation that I heard from the back seat of my car. This particular conversation came from my two children, one with ASD who has never understood sarcasm and his typical younger sibling, not ASD. It went like this: “Here Jacob…You play the bad Guy.”, said my ASD child as he handed his brother the enemy toy figure. He brother quipped back with a sarcastic smile and slur, “Well, thanks a lot, Levi.” The next statement made me forget to breathe…”Jacob, you’re being sarcastic aren’t you?” What? Did I just hear that right? He recognized “Sarcasm” for the very first time in his life of 11 years! This happened 2 weeks ago and in addition to recognizing more incidents of sarcasm, he has used expressions with double meanings, such as, “Thrown under the bus”, used in the right context, very naturally, and even being able to explain what this expression meant to a younger family member as it’s not meaning a literal bus. Wow!
A sigh of relief also has come over me! Social/Emotional Intellect as it emerges in our children is the best sleeping pill ever! Our children may possess all the intellect in the world, however, as parents, we worry constantly about our children’s ability to find happiness and have successful social / emotional relationships with others. To mature successfully, and thrive as humans, we must be able to incorporate our greatest gift, the Emotional/Social Connection with others. In order for this to be a success, we know that two things must happen: 1. our children must be able to understand others. And: 2. our children must be able to be understood by others. To the extent that this is the case, the more likely we as parents can breathe more sighs of relief as we slowly start letting go and the time comes when they have to make it on their own, if in fact this is possible. It can be a very scary thought even with typical children and much more frightening for our parents with children on the Autism Spectrum.
Things such as sarcasm, humor, pragmatic language, broadminded thought processes, etc., all have huge effects on social/ emotional awareness. The greater the understanding of these socialites, the better the overall understanding of others can be, along with greater understanding of oneself. These very things, can be taken for granted when they are not missing. However, if these have been lost somewhere inside our beautiful children, and then, found, it is like a hidden treasure, worth more than we could ever have thought possible. It is in this instance, you see, that “Sarcasm” can be sweet and as sweet as honey, as long as it is “Understood”.
By: Kimberly Larochelle
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Dr. Frances Jensen, neuroscientist at Children’s Hospital Boston and president-elect of the American Epilepsy Society, spoke at TEDMED 2010 conference about the developing brain.
Dr. Jensen has been active in exploring the connections between autism and epilepsy. This month Nature Medicine featured her work, which suggests that there’s more overlap between autism and seizures than previously thought.
Such discoveries may help in the quest for treating autism and epilepsy, as scientists look to target common underlying causes behind both conditions rather than just individual symptoms.
I am sending the link to the video that shows a time lapse of a child’s developing brain, along with Dr. Jensen’s explanation of brain plasticity and connectivity.
Link to video:
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Yes, “Chewelry”. It’s an oral sensory tool that is a necklace. It is durable, colorful and and very safe. The creator of chewelry is a mom and she noticed that her daughter, with Tourette Syndrome, SPD and OCD, very much appreciated a heart pendant she had made for her teething sister in much the same way as regards to the oral stimulation. Many children on the Autism Spectrum have similar sensory seeking needs.
It’s washable, and has a breakaway clasp that will release and can be re-attached easily. The lanyard is very durable 100 % organic cotton and there is an undyed organic cotton lanyard as well.
This is just a little thing that sometimes can be a big help to parents in the situation of their oral sensory seeking children wanting to put almost anything in their mouths in order to satisfy this tremendous need. Some parents have resorted to gum, straws, caramels, or very chewy taffy to help satisfy and calm this urge to chew.
I am passing along this website and parent testimonials about this product in the hopes that it may be a small or a big help to special needs families that may be dealing with this situation.
Here is the link:
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When a child is lost, the seconds tick away like hours until that child is found. For parents with children on the the Autism Spectrum, quite often this can be a very familiar and most traumatic feeling. Many times, it is the case that a child with Autism will wander off at the park or the mall. For ASD children, the risks can be frightening, as these children may not realize they’re lost and therefore would not ask for help. While others may realize they’re lost but because of the social and or speech difficulties, cannot convey that they are in need of help. They may even hide or run away.
Wandering is usually thought of in regards to Alzheimer’s, but this tendency to wander is a very big problem for many Autism Spectrum Families as well.
The National Autism Association has a safety toolkit on autism and wandering. I thought I would pass this along to everyone. I hope this aid can serve as a good measure of caution and also help families prepare for something that they never have to experience.
Autism wandering and prevention brochure
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/safetytoolkit.php
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In the world of Autism Spectrum, someone once said, “There are those out there that will Help You…and there are those out there that Want Your Money”. It hurts for us to hear this, and yet, as with everything else, this is true as well in the world of Autism. It hurts us more when it’s our precious children that happen to be victims to those that are out for money. These ones prey upon the desperation of the parents of Autism Spectrum Children, and work hard to win their trust, knowing that loving our children the way we do…we will pay our last dime to make them better.
Therefore, this situation sets up a continuous rise and fall of hope to hopelessness…and we become jaded, distrustful, and cynical. We may feel that we cannot take the polar dives from joy to pain in our hearts any longer…and so sometimes we give up! We may even begin to think that if it sounds too good…then…it cannot be true!
I have felt this way many, many times in the first 8 years of my son’s life. I was close to giving up hope dozens of times, and thank goodness, I never did! Perhaps if I relate an experience that I had, it will help you understand why I am so thankful that I never, ever lost hope…
One day…
…about a year ago, I had the pleasure of driving down Hwy 49 in California, called the Gold Miners, or 49ers trail. Along this trail, you can visit and learn the history of all those miners who panned for gold…looking…looking for the glitter. I got to pan for gold as well…and realized how very hard and tedious it was. As I worked the pan swirling round and round looking for the glint of yellow…I found much that shone bright in the sun…only to have the miner tell me, “Nope, only fool’s gold, little lady…”
And so, I worked my pan to and fro…back and forth…making swirling and swishing movements…with the object being…since the “Gold” is heavy…heavier than the sand, and silt, it STAYS in the pan! I liken this “REAL GOLD” to “Helpful, Progressive, and Functional Therapy Protocol”…It “STAYS IN THE PAN”, so to speak…and it withstands…there is no argument against it, as it is devastating in its logic, and it just makes good sense. It “WORKS”…
Fools Gold, however, may shine, and it is pretty…but it is “VALUELESS”…just as a therapy protocol or center may be “pretty”, perhaps a very nice and shiny facility with nice therapists. Be sure to ask yourself, “What is it really…little lady?” “Is it mere fools gold?” “Is it worth anything?” In other words… “Is this therapy or treatment doing any good, and is my child progressing?” If not…Then…It is VALUELESS…and not worth anything, especially not worth your money and time!
Please do not make the mistake of thinking that there is NO GOLD…just because it may be difficult to find. It takes effort, much effort to find it…nevertheless…IT’S THERE!!! There, also may be those that call you foolish for even trying and for going to such efforts…yet the reward is great…when you can shout at the top of you voice, “Eureka!”
You may wonder if I ever did find gold…The answer is YES!!! I found “GOLD” literally…and better yet…figuratively…with a treatment plan perfect for my son…worth all the gold in the world and more…
“EUREKA !!!”
BY: Kimberly Larochelle
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I am very proud to be part of the Advisory Board of the Sensory Star Program. Kathleen Tehrani is working very hard to fulfill a very important need and considerate kindness in the Autism Community and to all of the traveling population with important sensory considerations.
This website is a great reference that a traveling family can go to and find sensory friendly accommodations. You can find a hotel or resort on this site that is identified with a Sensory Star™ logo and know that it’s designation means it complies with a high standard of providing an environment of overall sensory comfort for it’s guests. This is a great service to the familes that struggle with these sensory issues especially sometimes this can this be the case while on vacation. Maybe this service can make vacationing a little more enjoyable and stressfree.
Here is the website:
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My heart was torn in two complete pieces…and both pieces were crushed as I heard the conversation between my two little boys. My oldest, age 8 at the time, and my youngest was 6. My 8 year old son was on the autism spectrum…while my 6 year old son is not.
We were at the playground and here is how the conversation went…
“You ruin everything!” my youngest choked out with frustrated tears streaming down his flushed cheeks, “I was making a friend…!” “Why, why, why…” he sobbed as he threw himself into my arms so I could comfort him, and help somehow…someway… Helplessly, I held him, as I gazed with pity and heart-wrenching pain at my other son who was completely confused as to why and how he had hurt his little brother.
Being on the autism spectrum, my older son had several “stims”, and as had happened many, many times before…these stims, or what typical children consider unusual and repelling behavior, manifested themselves at the playground this day, and had chased off a budding friendship that my other son was cultivating.
I felt devastated, and deplete of any answers for either one of my children. My heart bled and grieved deeply for both of my little boys. The pain and frustration of my youngest combined with the pain and frustration of my older son who couldn’t understand and yet knew that somehow he had done something wrong. The situation was overwhelmingly sad and every fiber of my being cried in futile anguish.
Twenty minutes later, however, the sun rose again! There was laughter, smiles, and complete forgiveness from my youngest…the “sibling of the spectrum”. As I watched, my two boys play the game that my oldest chose, as was the custom…my heart was mended. Tears still streamed down my face, but their source was from a tremendous degree of admiration for my little boy…my little “sibling of the spectrum”.
“Long-suffering” and “Truly Kind” were the words that describe my son. He was so very, very strong of character, integrity and loyalty. I was in awe of his resilience. I wanted to erect a statue in his honor right there on the playground…there for all to see the little hero, that played alongside his brother…loving him more than himself. This unselfish love…he seemed to have in abundance, and I cherished his little heart.
The “siblings of the spectrum” carry a heavy load, and yet their horizon and broadness of empathy is grand! Their level of understanding and patience is “off the charts”, and many, many times…they forgo their own wants and desires by putting their brother or sister ahead of themselves. They quietly busy themselves while their parents more often than not; have to give their sibling more required attention. They swallow embarrassment, and most times, pretend to ignore it…their honor is unsurpassed!
They are the “Siblings of the Spectrum”…and…should be revered as grand pillars of stability in the “Autism Family”. They are the quiet and humble hero’s that hardly ever get recognized for the calamities and disasters that they can overcome daily.
I wiped my tears from my eyes…walked over to my little one…my little “sibling of the spectrum”, kissed him on the forehead, and looking into his beautiful and kind little eyes that now laughed instead of cried, I said, “Thank you…”, and I meant so very much more…
By: Kimberly Larochelle
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| It’s spring again, and that means Easter is just around the corner for many. I found this Gluten/Free recipe for “Hot Cross Buns” which is a spring time tradition that those on a Gluten/Free Diet cannot usually enjoy. I found this great site with many recipes and tips for those who struggle with this sometimes difficult diet. It is called “Living Without”. There are many variations with the recipes in this On-line magazine including this one for “Hot Cross Buns” that adapt to Casein/Free as well as Gluten/Free. I hope this tip to this helpful site will be beneficial to any and all that may need practical help with the question, “What can we eat now?” Here is the link to the “Hot Cross Buns” recipe:
http://www.livingwithout.com/recipes/gluten_free_hot_cross_buns-2000-1.html
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