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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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School can be very difficult sometimes for the ASD student. Many times, it is said that they are just “wired differently” or “learn in a different way than most”. A few nights ago at our monthly Autism Support Meeting, another mom and I discussed our many frustrations and challenges with helping our kids learn and thrive in their schooling.
Many parents resort to home schooling their children and while it may be easier in some ways as we may know how to reach our own child in a very personal and loving way, this can also bring many challenges. Finding the key that will fit with their particular understanding of the many concepts that must be taught, can be as a very strenuous treasure hunt.
In that search, I have found a little jewel that I would like to pass along. This is a site with many learning tools, games, and such, that can be most helpful. There are books and DVD’s, toys, etc, that assist with Math and Reading. Also, other items that can help with things such as Social/ Emotional Issues, and Sensory Issues, etc.
The site is called, Natural Learning Concepts, Autism and Special Needs, Tools that teach you to succeed:
I hope this will be a helpful tip to all parents and teachers as well. There is nothing better than watching a turned-on child, when the realization of education’s purpose motivates their little minds and hearts!
Here is the web site:
http://www.nlconcepts.com/?gclid=CPbgweH21KsCFQi87Qod-mArSQ
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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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On FridayDecember 17th,2010 we will be hosting a FREE holiday party for Kids on the Autism Spectrum and their families only at Gator Fred’s. The event will occur from 6-8 pm and will feature a Sensory Friendly Santa as well as FREE open play for the kids. You may take your picture with Santa or just enjoy the evening. Families will be given a number relating to their turn with Santa ( like when you are buying deli meats at the grocery store) and therefore no one has to wait in line. Your child can play until it is their turn and their number is called. We are working on having presents for the kids and there will be raffle type giveaways. The entire event is FREE and is sponsored by Dr Nelson Mane http://www.manecenter.com/, Mane HIT Support Squad http://www.meetup.com/Mane-H-I-T-Autism-Support-Squad/ and Gator Fred’s http://www.gatorfreds.com/ PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND HELP GET THE WORD OUT.
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Tonight in Tampa, Florida at our December meeting will will have a special speaker. Janet Atkinson the Director of Family Support and Outreach for Infants and Young Children of West Central Florida , the Early Steps Program of the Children’s Medical Services ( CMS) will be speaking. If you have younger children with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum this is a support group meeting you wouldn’t want to miss. This would be especially informative for someone who is feeling lost as perhaps they have just received the diagnosis. Sorry for the last minute notice. Next year we plan to have informative speakers like this our meetings to add that dimension to the group. I will let you all know with more advanced notice. Here is the link for those that are interested and in the area. http://www.meetup.com/Mane-H-I-T-Autism-Support-Squad/
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You all know by now that I always speak about lack of coordination being the most common finding associated with kids on the Autism Spectrum. It would then follow that riding a bicycle would be something that many of you would have found as somthing that your child has difficulty with. Riding a bike is a part of normal childhood that all children should experience. The tip is to take the pedals off of the bike ( no training wheels) and have the child learn to balance himself on the bike by walking ( pushing with his feet) as one does with a skate board. This is done for three days. On the fourth day you put the pedals back on and the child should have a much easier time making the transition. These are the types of tips I hear from one parent and try to pass on to all of you out there. Please send me any type of tips you may have that have made your life easier and therefore might help make another mom, dad or child’s life easier.
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I had a parent last week tell me about an organization that teaches children on the spectrum how to surf. The parent who says they have particpated in these events before explained to me that the organization will have all day surfing camps at various beaches. In this case, she was referring to Florida. As I understood it, the events are free and all equipment is provided including food, WOW! My experience is that most kids on the spectrum love the water and adding surfing should be fun, with the right professionals, in the a safe environment. I have not had time to check out the web site but I am passing it on for all of you to check out. Please give me some feed back. It sounds great! http://surfersforautism.org/index.html
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What a great idea! Almost every day I hear frustrated parents talk about how they can’t go out to a restaurant or how difficult it is to travel. Plane trips can be a nightmare for the child and the parent. If your child doesn’t act up then perhaps security is completely unfamiliar with with the autism spectrum and simply has no clue as to how to handle the situation. The TSA personnel may mistake you and your child for a security risk. Hopefully, here is the beginning of resolving the hotel portion of travel. This is a link to a hotel that has a suite with accommodation for a family traveling with a child that has autism. The statistic’s are growing, so if not from a compassionate standpoint but from a business standpoint maybe someone will stand up and take notice. Hopefully this becomes the model for a trend. http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/editorials/80325552.html
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This past Saturday was our first buddy baseball game. We sponsored a team that were almost all kids that treat at the office. These kids need social exposure as well as involvement in mainstream type games as a therapy and as for social integration . I always say that none of this happens in a bubble. The kids got a chance to participate in a non competitive atmosphere and have all the positive reinforcement that they could get. The smiles on the kids and parents faces were great. The sense of accomplishment was great. For some it was a bit overwhelming but I am sure as the weeks go on it will get easier. We sponsored a team but the real credit goes to Russ Oberbroecking for putting it all together. For more information about something great to do in your city go to www.buddybaseball.org
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This is obviously fairly self-explanatory. Since I am in Florida I put the Florida link first, however, the webpage with all of the state resources is also listed.
http://www.autism-pdd.net/resources-by-state.html
http://www.autism-pdd.net/links/florida.html
