March 2011 - Issue #18
South Florida Autism Newsletter
In this issue... Potential Tax Credits for Dependants With Special Needs Helping Children with Autism: Autism Treatment Strategies and Parenting Tips
Stem Cell Treatment For Autism: Restoring Brain Damage
GFCF Bread Recipes!!!
And Much More!!!
1 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue
FREE e On e k Ta
Inside This Issue... GENERAL ARTICLES
Contact Us. The Super Swimmers Foundation
Page 3
Potential Tax Credits For Dependants With Special Needs
Pages 4 & 5
For general information or advertisement opportunities, please call or email us at autisminsidernewsletter@gmail.com Luciana C Leo (786) 306-4967 Sarah Sweeney (954) 258-1898
Helping Children with Autism: Autism Treatment Strategies and Parenting Tips By Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. and Ted Hutman, Ph.D
Pages 6 & 7
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Stem Cell Treatment For Autism: Restoring Brain Damage
Page 8
Autism Chatter: The Closest you will ever get to exotic butterflies!!! By Sarah Sweeney
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Recipe Of The Month: Breads!!!
Page 11
Workshops and Lectures Around Town!!!
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2 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue
n d c a re a t n e tm the trea n i s e liz Specia
of child
ia h spec t i w n e r
l need
families r i e h t s and
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine DAN! Protocol and Biomedical Interventions Dietary and Nutritional Interventions Supplements and Herbs Consultations
Every Monday of The Mo nth Autism Community Clinic
Homeopathic Remedies for Common Childhood Illnesses and many other conditions Food Sensitivity and Other Specialty Testing
Consultations only $40
Biomedical Interventions, DA N! Protocol, Dietary Intervention s, Acupuncture and Oriental Me dicine, Supplements and Herbs Co nsultation. CALL (305)461-8229 TO MA KE AN APPOINTMENT
Social Groups: Lego Club and Social Groups for children and teens from 2 to 19 years old. Parent Support Groups 351 Minorca Ave. Coral Gables, Fl 33134 Call (305)461-8229 www.lucianaleo.com
The Super Swimmers Foundation The Super Swimmers Foundation is dedicated to teaching children with autism to learn to swim both safely and successfully in the water. Through swimming the mind and body are both stimulated therefore improving a child’s speech, muscular development, and confidence in a fun, loving environment. Julie Gross along with her dedicated team of professional swim instructors is making the dream of having a super center that promotes both education and physical fitness for the community a reality. They see the benefits of swimming on a daily basis and they are proud to provide swimming lessons, guidance and support to families with children with autism. Julie Gross and the Swim with Mr. Blue team are CPR/First Aid certified, and Lifeguard certified. They provide the motivation and encouragement needed to help swimmers learn to swim safely and successfully in a safe gentle environment. Through a variety of colorful characters providing visuals, repetitive swim
safety songs, and association tools Swim with Mr. Blue’s swim lessons are beneficial for those children requiring specific learning needs. She has a wonderfully entertaining Learn to Swim with Mr. Blue book and DVD filled with fun songs and a motivational story of a fish named Mr. Blue that help capture a child’s imagination and make learning to swim fun. Julie and her team are proud to be involved in the s u p p o rt a n d e d u c a tio n o f a u tis m. Th e y u n d e rs ta n d th a t it is the efforts of a community working together that creates a healthy environment for children to learn and grow. Through the Super Swimmers Foundation Julie and her team will work with their community to provide further resources for parents, children and families of children with autism. For more information on The Super Swimmers F o u n d a t i o n , p l e a s e call ( 5 6 1 ) 7 5 5 - 7 2 5 4 o r f i n d u s a t www.superswimmersfoundation.org Twitter account swimmers4autism Julie Gross can also be reached a t S w i m w i t h M r . B l u e (954) 956-9955 Email info@swimwithmrblue.com Web www.superswimmersfoundation.org See Ad in Page 9!!!
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Potential Tax Credits for Dependants With Special Needs When a child has been identified with a learning difference and is placed in a program that addresses these needs, you are entitled to many income deductions as “Medical Expense”, provided the expenses are made to alleviate your child’s condition. You are entitled to deduct as medical expenses the cost of: Ÿ Educational services
Ÿ Special instruction or training such as lip reading, sign language, speech instruction, Braille (Section-1/e/Internal Revenue Code 1954)
Transportation Transportation costs that are deductible as medical expenses are those incurred. Transporting your disabled child and yourself to and from:
Ÿ Equipment and supplies Ÿ Hospital Services
Ÿ Special schools and institutions
Ÿ Laboratory exams and tests
Ÿ Hospital and clinics
Ÿ Medical treatments
Ÿ Doctor’s offices and pharmacists
Ÿ Medicines and drugs
(R. T. Olson 23-TCM-2008. Explanation No. 2019-793)
Ÿ Professional services Ÿ Transportation Ÿ Food expenses if your child is following a diet prescribed by a physician Ÿ Other medical expenses incurred to alleviate your child’s mental or physical condition It is important to document all expenses by: 1. Keeping careful records of all expenses with receipts, date of expense, for at least three years, for possible auditing purposes. 2. Obtaining certification from your doctor that the expense has been made for one or more of the following: diagnosis, cure, alleviations, prevention, treatment, or dysfunction of your child’s mental or physical condition.
Commerce Clearing House
If you provide transportation yourself, you may deduct 10 cents per mile, parking and toll fees, or actual cost of operating your vehicle (Rev. Proc. 8261, C. B. 1982-2, 8+9) If you visit your disabled child at a special school or institution, you may deduct transportation costs, but not meals and lodging, only if medical experts deem your visit a necessary part of treatment (Revenue Ruling 58-533) If you have a person accompany your disabled child who cannot travel alone (to a special school or institution, hospital, clinic or doctor’s office) this cost is also tax deductible (Revenue Ruling 58-110) Transportation costs that are not deductible are: Ÿ Transportation to and from work even if disability requires special transportation Ÿ Transportation incurred for non-medical reasons (such as operation or medical care in a resort area when these services are available in your home area)
Educational Services The following educational services are tax deductible as medical expenses if they are incurred to alleviate your child’s physical or mental condition: Ÿ Tuition costs for a special education day school (Section 213-1/e/Internal Revenue Code 1954) (Revenue Ruling 58-280) (Revenue Ruling 69-499; C. B. 1969-239) Ÿ Tuition costs for a special education class in a regular school (Revenue Ruling 70-285) Ÿ Tuition, room and board costs for residential school (Revenue Ruling 58-280) (Section 213-1/e/Internal Revenue Code 1954) Ÿ Tuition costs for special education class in a parochial school (Revenue Ruling 71-347) Ÿ Tuition and tutoring fees for learning-disabled child by a neurological disorder (Revenue Ruling 69-607, C. B 1969-2, 40)
Ÿ Transportation as part of a vacation, even If taken to improve general health, on the recommendations of a doctor.
Medical Treatments Acupuncture, blood transfusion, diathermy, electric shock treatment, hearing services, hydrotherapy (water treatments), injections, insulin treatments, kidney donor expenses, nursing oxygen, patterning (Revenue Ruling 70-170, C. B. 1970-1, 51), Pre-natal; post-natal treatments, psychotherapy, radium therapy, ultraviolet ray treatments, whirlpool baths, x-ray treatments.
Evaluations, laboratory Examinations, and Tests Blood tests, cardiographs, diagnosis evaluations, metabolism tests, spinal fluid tests, sputum tests, stool examinations, Urinalysis, X-Ray examinations.
4 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue
타 $2400 per year for care of one disabled child or disabled adult
Medicines Costs of prescription drugs.
타 $2800 per year for care of two or more disabled Special food or drinks to treat an illness used as a supplement to normal diet; extra cost of special foods prescribed by medical specialists.
Professional Services Alcoholic inpatient care cost, Ambulance, Anesthesiologists, Chiropractor (Licensed), Christian Science Practitioner, Convalescent home (Revenue Ruling 69-499, C. B. 1969-2, 39) (by analogy), Cosmetic surgery for medical purposes only, Dentist, Dermatologist, Drug treatment inpatient cost, Gynecologist, Halfway house (IRS letter ruling 7714016 C. B. 1969-2, 39) (by analogy), Health insurance premium, Hospital services, Legal fees connected with determination of mentally ill persons (Revenue Ruling 71-281, C. B. 1971, 166), Neurologist, Nursing home services (including attendant care), Obstetrician, Occupational Therapist, Oculist, Ophthalmologist, Optician, Optometrist, Organ transplant (including transportation expenses for donor), Orthopedist, Osteopath (licensed), Pediatrician, Physiotherapist, Plastic Surgeon, Podiatrist, Practical or other nonprofessional nurse for medical services only, Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst, Psychologist, Registered Nurse (including room and board costs), Sanitarium, Sheltered workshop (letter from Mortimer M. Caplin, U. S. Commissioner of Internal Revenue to Dr. Stafford L. Warren, Special Assistant to the President for Mental Retardation, July 8, 1964), social worker, Speech Therapist, Sterilization, Surgeon, Wages for guides dos expenses for blind or deaf persons.
타 Payments to relatives qualify for the childcare tax credit as long as the relative is not claimed as a dependent. You are not allowed tax credit for home care payments made to your dependent under 19 years of age (Reg. 1.44A-4(i)). Please note: Child care and disabled dependent care expenses are claimed as a tax credit not as a deduction. This means that you do not have to itemize your tax liability dollar-to-dollar. You must file Form 1040 or 1040A (not Form 1040EZ) to claim credit.
Volunteer Expenses If you work as a volunteer for a tax-exempt non-profit organization, you are allowed to deduct as a charitable contribution: Travel expenses, including transportation to and from the organization; parking and toll fees; meals and lodging while traveling for the organization. You may deduct the actual operation costs of your car in volunteer work, or a flat mileage rate of $0.14 per mile. Volunteer expenses that are not deductible are: Activities incurred as part of lobbying activities; and childcare costs incurred to enable you to do volunteer work.
Equipment and Supplies Abdominal supports, air conditioner where necessary for relief from an allergy or for relieving difficulty in breathing, arches, artificial teeth or eyes, autoette (auto device for disabled person) but not if used to travel to job or business, back supports, braces, Braille books less cost over regular editions (Revenue Ruling 75-318, IRB 1975-88), contact lenses, cost of installing stair-seat elevator for person with heart condition, cost of making your home accessible less the increase in fair market value, crutches, elastic hosiery, eyeglasses, fluoridation unit in home, hearing aids, heating devices, invalid chair, iron lung, orthopedic shoes less the cost of regular shoes, oxygen equipment, prostheses, reclining chair if prescribed by doctor, repair of special telephone equipment for the deaf, sacroiliac belt, special mattress and plywood bed boards for relief of arthritis, splints, swimming pool prescribed for physical therapy (and not used for recreation), telephone/teletype equipment and television adapter for closed captions, truss, wig advised by doctors as essential to mental health of person who lost all his/her hair from disease.
Heartfelt Music Therapy Services
Offering in home individual and group music therapy For more information call (573)286-2550
Child Care for Employment Purposes If you are gainfully employees or actively seeking employment, you are allowed a tax credit for a portion of child care or dependent care expenses for disabled adults during the time you work or seek employment - in the amount of up to 30% of work - related expenses.
Amber Ewers, MT-BC Board Certified Music Therapist
Your work-related expenses for tax credit is limited to:
5 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue
Helping Children with Autism: Autism Treatment Strategies and Parenting Tips By Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. and Ted Hutman, Ph.D (UCLA Center for Autism Research & Treatment) contributed with this article There are many things parents can do to help children with autism overcome their challenges and get the most of life. From learning all you can about autism spectrum disorders to getting your child into treatment right away, you can make a big difference. It’s also important to make sure you get the support you need. When you’re looking after a child with autism, taking care of yourself is not an act of selfishness—it’s a necessity. Being emotionally strong allows you to be the best parent you can be to your child in need. Read on to learn how to choose effective treatments for your child, and where to look for support. Plus, you’ll also find parenting tips to help make daily home life with an autistic kid easier. A parent’s guide to autism treatment and support If you've recently learned that your child has or might have an autism spectrum disorder, you're probably wondering and worrying about what comes next. No parent is ever prepared to hear that a child is anything other than happy and healthy, and a diagnosis of autism can be particularly frightening. You may be unsure about how to best help your child or confused by conflicting treatment advice. Or you may have been told that autism is an incurable, lifelong condition, leaving you concerned that nothing you do will make a difference. While it is true that autism is not something a person simply "grows out of", there are many treatments that can help children learn new skills and overcome a wide variety of developmental challenges. From free government services to in-home behavioral therapy and school-based programs, assistance is available to meet your child's special needs. With the right treatment plan, and a lot of love and support, your child can learn, grow, and thrive.
When your child has autism: Tips for parents Ÿ Learn about autism. The more you know about autism spectrum disorders, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed decisions for your child. Educate yourself about the treatment options, ask questions, and participate in all treatment decisions. Ÿ Become an expert on your child. Figure out what triggers your kid’s “bad” or disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response. What does your autistic child find stressful? Calming? Uncomfortable? Enjoyable? If you understand what affects your child, you’ll be better at troubleshooting problems and preventing situations that cause difficulties. Ÿ Accept your child, quirks and all. Rather than focusing on how your autistic child is different from other children and what he or she is “missing,” practice acceptance. Enjoy your kid’s special quirks, celebrate small successes, and stop comparing your child to others. Feeling unconditionally loved and accepted will help your child more than anything else. Ÿ Don’t give up. It’s impossible to predict the course of an autism spectrum disorder. Don’t jump to conclusions about what life is going to be like for your child. Like everyone else, people with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities.
Don’t wait for a diagnosis As the parent of a child with autism or related developmental delays, the best thing you can do is to start treatment right away. Seek help as soon as you suspect something’s wrong. Don't wait to see if your child will catch up later or outgrow the problem. Don't even wait for an official diagnosis. The earlier children with autism spectrum disorders get help, the greater their chance of treatment success. Early intervention is the most effective way to speed up your child's development and reduce the symptoms of autism. Helping children with autism tip 1: Provide structure and safety Learning all you can about autism and getting involved in treatment will go a long way toward helping your child. Additionally, the following tips will make daily home life easier for both you and your autistic child: Ÿ
Be consistent. Children with autism have a hard time adapting what they’ve learned in one setting (such as the therapist’s office or school) to others, including the home. For example, your child may use sign language at school to communicate, but never think to do so at home. Creating consistency in your child’s environment is the best way to reinforce learning. Find out what your child’s therapists are doing and continue their techniques at home. Explore the possibility of having therapy take place in more than one place in order to encourage your child to transfer what he or she has learned from one environment to another. It’s also important to be consistent in the way you interact with your child and deal with challenging behaviors.
Ÿ Stick to a schedule. Children with autism tend to do best when they have a highly-structured schedule or routine. Again, this
goes back to the consistency they both need and crave. Set up a schedule for your child, with regular times for meals, therapy, school, and bedtime. Try to keep disruptions to this routine to a minimum. If there is an unavoidable schedule change, prepare your child for it in advance. Ÿ Reward good behavior. Positive reinforcement can go a long way with children with autism, so make an effort to “catch them doing something good.” Praise them when they act appropriately or learn a new skill, being very specific about what behavior they’re being praised for. Also look for other ways to reward them for good behavior, such as giving them a sticker or letting them play with a favorite toy. Ÿ Create a home safety zone. Carve out a private space in your home where your child can relax, feel secure, and be safe. This will involve organizing and setting boundaries in ways your child can understand. Visual cues can be helpful (colored tape marking areas that are off limits, labeling items in the house with pictures). You may also need to safety proof the house, particularly if your child is prone to tantrums or other self-injurious behaviors. Helping children with autism tip 2: Find nonverbal ways to connect Connecting with a child with autism can be challenging, but you don’t need to talk in order to communicate and bond. You communicate by the way you look at your child, the way you touch him or her, and by the tone of your voice and your body language. Your child is also communicating with you, even if he or she never speaks. You just need to learn the language.
6 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue
Ÿ Look for nonverbal cues. If you are observant and aware, you can learn to pick up on the nonverbal cues that children with autism use to communicate. Pay attention to the kinds of sounds they make, their facial expressions, and the gestures they use when they’re tired, hungry, or want something. Ÿ Figure out the need behind the tantrum. It’s only natural to feel upset when you are misunderstood or ignored, and it’s no different for children with autism. When children with autism act out, it’s often because you’re not picking up on their nonverbal cues. Throwing a tantrum is their way communicating their frustration and getting your attention. Ÿ Make time for fun. A child coping with autism is still a kid. For both children with autism and their parents, there needs to be more to life than therapy. Schedule playtime when your child is most alert and awake. Figure out ways to have fun together by thinking about the things that make your child smile, laugh, and come out of their shell. Your child is likely to enjoy these activities most if they don’t seem therapeutic or educational. There are tremendous benefits that result from your enjoyment of your child’s company and from your child’s enjoyment of spending unpressured time with you. Play is an essential part of learning and shouldn’t feel like work. Ÿ Pay attention to your child’s sensory sensitivities. Many children with autism are hypersensitive to light, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Other children with autism are “under-sensitive” to sensory stimuli. Figure out what sights, sounds, smells, movements, and tactile sensations trigger your kid’s “bad” or disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response. What does your autistic child find stressful? Calming? Uncomfortable? Enjoyable? If you understand what affects your child, you’ll be better at troubleshooting problems, preventing situations that cause difficulties, and creating successful experiences. Helping children with autism tip 3: Create a personalized autism treatment plan With so many different autism treatments available, and it can be tough to figure out which approach is right for your child. Making things more complicated, you may hear different or even conflicting recommendations from parents and doctors. When putting together an autism treatment plan for your child, keep in mind that there is no single treatment that will work for everyone. Each person on the autism spectrum is unique, with different strengths and weaknesses. Your child’s treatment should be tailored according to his or her individual needs. You know your child best, so it’s up to you to make sure those needs are being met. You can do that by asking yourself the following questions: Ÿ What are my child’s strengths? Ÿ What are my child’s weaknesses? Ÿ What behaviors are causing the most problems? Ÿ What important skills is my child lacking? Ÿ How does my child learn best (through seeing, listening, or doing)? Ÿ What does my child enjoy and how can those activities be used in treatment? Finally, keep in mind that no matter what autism treatment plan is chosen, your involvement is vital to success. You can help your child get the most out of treatment by working hand-in-hand with the autism treatment team and following through with the therapy at home. Choosing autism treatments When it comes to autism treatment, there are a dizzying variety of therapies and approaches.
A good autism treatment plan will: Ÿ Build on your child's interests. Ÿ Offer a predictable schedule. Ÿ Teach tasks as a series of simple steps. Ÿ Actively engage your child's attention in highly structured activities. Ÿ Provide regular reinforcement of behavior. Ÿ Involve the parents. Source: National Institute of Mental Health Some autism therapies focus on reducing problematic behaviors and building communication and social skills, while others deal with sensory integration problems, motor skills, emotional issues, and food sensitivities. With so many choices, it is extremely important to do your research, talk to autism treatment experts, and ask questions. But keep in mind that you don't have to choose just one type of therapy. The goal of autism treatment should be to treat all of your child's symptoms and needs. This often requires a combined treatment approach that takes advantage of many different types of therapy. Common autism treatments include behavior therapy, speechlanguage therapy, play-based therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nutritional therapy. Helping children with autism tip 4: Find help and support Caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder can demand a lot of energy and time. There may be days when you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or discouraged. Parenting isn’t ever easy, and raising a child with special needs is even more challenging. In order to be the best parent you can be, it’s essential that you take care of yourself. Don’t try to do everything on your own. You don’t have to! There are many places that families of autistic kids can turn to for advice, a helping hand, advocacy, and support: Ÿ Autism support groups – Joining an autism support group is a great way to meet other families dealing with the same challenges you are. Parents can share information, get advice, and lean on each other for emotional support. Just being around others in the same boat and sharing their experience can go a long way toward reducing the isolation many parents feel after receiving a child’s autism diagnosis. Ÿ Respite care – Every parent needs a break now and again. And for parents coping with the added stress of autism, this is especially true. In respite care, another caregiver takes over temporarily, giving you a break for a few hours, days, or even weeks. To find respite care options in your area, see the box to the right. Ÿ Individual, marital, or family counseling – If stress, anxiety, or depression is getting to you, you may want to see a therapist of your own. Therapy is a safe place where you can talk honestly about everything you’re feeling—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Marriage or family therapy can also help you work out problems that the challenges of life with an autistic child are causing in your spousal relationship or with other family members. Free U.S. government services for children with autism Under the U.S. federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children with disabilities...
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Article Continues in Next Page (Page 8)
Helping Children With Autism Articles Continues...
—including those with autism spectrum disorders—are eligible for a range of free or low-cost services. Under this provision, children in need and their families may receive medical evaluations, psychological services, speech therapy, physical therapy, parent counseling and training, assisted technology devices, and other specialized services. Children under the age of 10 do not need an autism diagnosis to receive free services under IDEA. If they are experiencing a developmental delay (including delays in communication or social development), they are automatically eligible for early intervention and special education services. Early intervention services (birth through age two) Infants and toddlers through the age of two receive assistance through the Early Intervention program. In order to qualify, your child must first undergo a free evaluation. If the assessment reveals a developmental problem, you will work with early intervention treatment providers to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). An IFSP describes your child’s needs and the specific services he or she will receive. For autism, an IFSP would include a variety of behavior, physical, speech, and play therapies. It would focus on preparing autistic kids for the eventual transition to school. Early intervention services are typically conducted in the home or at a child care center. To locate local early intervention services for your child, ask your pediatrician for a referral or use the resources listed in the box below. Special education services (age three and older) Children over the age of three receive assistance through schoolbased programs. As with early intervention, special education services are tailored to your child’s individual needs. Children with autism spectrum disorders are often placed with other developmentally-delayed kids in small groups where they can receive more individual attention and specialized instruction. However, depending on their abilities, they may also spend at least part of the school day in a regular classroom. The goal is to place kids in the least restrictive environment possible where they are still able to learn. If you’d like to pursue special education services, your local school system will first need to evaluate your child. Based on this assessment, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be created. An IEP outlines the educational goals for your child for the school year. Additionally, it describes the special services or aids the school will provide your child in order to meet those goals.
Locate free autism services: Call the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities at 1-800-695-0285 or go to http://www.nichcy.org/StateAgencies/Pages/Default.aspx Search the Early Intervention State Contact List from the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center: http://www.nectac.org/contact/ptccoord.asp Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s IDEA web site at: http://idea.ed.gov/ Reprinted with permission from Helpguide.org © 2001-2010. All rights reserved. For more information, visit www.Helpguide.org.
Stem Cell Treatment For Autism Restoring Brain Damage Autism is an abnormal development of brain function that affects 1 in 166 children. The actual cause of autism is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors that makes some kids to be more likely to develop this condition. However, the root culprit for autism remains unknown, scientists can only guess at this point and carry out more research in this field to help thousands of affected families. Despite stem cells controversy and obvious opposition to such treatments expressed by some religious and public organizations, stem cells treatment for autism is a necessary direction of modern scientific research that can potentially help reverse brain damage caused by multiple factors. There are two major malfunctions that need to be corrected with the help of stem cell treatment for autism, shortage of oxygen that reaches the brain and chronic autoimmune response attacking patient’s own immune systems. Modern advances in clinical studies allow autism affected children to greatly benefit from the pros of stem cell research that offer great prospects of finally finding a cure for this life-shattering disease. Stem cells are basic and somewhat primitive forms of cells that are intended to develop virtually into any tissue, organ or structure of a human body. There are two forms of stem cells, embryonic that can be obtained from a human embryo or aborted fetus and adult stem cells like umbilical cord blood or bone marrow. Due to modern advances in medical research, scientists are now able to support pros of stem cell research by using exclusively adult stem cells and reverse them to a basic state of embryonic cells within a course of a few days without the need to destroy a human embryo that is considered inhumane in its nature. During a course of a stem cell treatment for autism a patient goes through a lumbar puncture to collect bone marrow for the purpose of harvesting mesenchymal stem cells that later get processed in a lab. Patient’s own umbilical cord stem cell specimen could also be used to obtain a dose of the stem cells. The last stage of stem cell treatment for autism involves an injection of the stem cells back into the patient’s spinal fluid that will later reach the brain and trigger a process of brain cell regeneration. At this point it’s hard to judge if the stem cell treatment for autism is going to be possible at a large scale and even successful at all, but let’s hope that this unique procedure can help restore health to millions of autistic children in the world. Source: http://www.healtharticles101.com
8 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue
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Autism Chatter: The Closest you will ever get to exotic butterflies!!! By Sarah Sweeney I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Butterfly World with my family. I didn’t know what reaction to expect from my son Andres (AS), since it was a new and different experience for him. Butterfly World is a great attraction for kids. It has a great selection of butterflies, flowers and birds. Relaxing classical music plays throughout the facility, and there are plenty of benches and places to rest. The place is very clean and well kept, and the staff if super friendly. If you are planning to go, you should reserve at least 2 to 3 hours of your day. My son had a very relaxing and good time. The classical music and the serenity of the park, makes the environment very stress free. As soon as Andres stepped into the facility, magic happened! His anxiety level went down and his stimming behaviors as well as the screaming disappeared. I could only see a very happy and curious little boy watching everything around him. I was amazed! Butterfly world is a very large butterfly house. There are several linking aviary style screened houses that you can walk through at your own pace where you can see hundreds of butterflies flitting around.
winding paths to discover what you can. All the plants are selected to attract butterflies. They sell guidebooks for $2 where you can check off the butterflies you spot along the way. There were also several kinds of hummingbirds, some incredibly small. They also had exotic bird aviaries where you could see lots of brightly colored birds flying around, perching in trees, eating and singing. Another area had a special lorikeet house where you can go in and feed them nectar ($1 a cup)... they will land on you to drink it, so... “have your cameras ready for some great shots!”. There were also Macaws outside on a perch that were easy to photograph up close. For plant enthusiasts they had a passion flower vine walk, and a bug museum that was wonderfully gross. For my typical son this was the highlight of the day... huge and gross bugs from all around the world!!! I highly recommend the Butterfly world if you want to have a relaxing family time.
The three-section butterfly area is simply astounding- a literal blizzard of butterflies, you almost have to put your hands up in front of you to ward them off. They were everywhere! Flying in the trees and all around us. You can sit on one of the many benches provided and just wait to see what lands near you. You wander along a series of
10 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue
Recipe of The Month: Breads!!! Banana Bread Ingredients Ÿ1 stick margarine or butter, softened Ÿ3 large or 3 1/2 small very ripe bananas Ÿ2 cups rice flour (or prepared GF baking mix) Ÿ1 cup sugar Ÿ1 cup pecans, finely chopped or ground Ÿ2 eggs Ÿ2 teaspoons GF baking powder Ÿ1 teaspoon GF vanilla
Directions In a large bowl, cream butter with sugar. Beat in eggs, vanilla and bananas. In another bowl, mix flour and baking powder. Combine and beat until dry ingredients are moist. Stir in pecans. Turn batter into 5 x 9-inch loaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour and 20 minutes or until toothpick comes clean out of center. Do not under bake. Yields one loaf of 10 large slices. Toasts very well with pecans added as finely ground flour.
Workshops & Lectures Around Town!!! Parent Educational Workshop Series at 11155 Southwest 112 Ave, Bldg 2. Miami, FL 33176 March 10, 2011 at 7:00pm Ipad tutorial March 24,2011 at 7:00pm Building a better home life (structured activities and play skills) Presented by Olga Ruiz, Founder and director of Learning Links school and special needs educator There is no cost to any workshops. To RSVP please log onto the website: http://www.learninglinksfoundation.org/UpcomingWorkshops.html March 24 of 2011 at 6:00 PM Autism Society of Miami General Meeting Topic: Summer Camps For Children With Autism At the Miami Children Hospital in the Main Auditorium, 1st Floor Support Group G.L.A.M (Girls Living with Autism in Miami): The group will meet on Wednesday, March 23 at Panera Bread, 13672 SW 88 Street Miami, Florida. From 7 PM to 8 PM. March 30 at 5:30 PM at GAIN 351 Minorca Ave. Coral Gables, Fl 33134 Introduction to biomedical and dietary interventions. This is a great lecture for parents that want to learn more about biomedical treatments and diets such as the GFCF diet. For more information call 305-461-8229
White Sandwich Bread Ÿ 1 1/2 cups rice flour. Ÿ 1 1/2 cups tapioca starch. Ÿ 2 Tbsp sugar. Ÿ 1 Tbsp xanthan.
An innovative, Saturday “Parent and Me” style class for ALL children, regardless of exceptionality.
Ÿ 1 Tbsp dry yeast. Ÿ 1 tsp salt.
MOVE AND GROOVE Saturdays! Music and Dance Class - Ask for a FREE trial class!
Ÿ 1 large egg. Ÿ 2 Tbsp oil. Ÿ 1 tsp apple cider vinegar. Ÿ 1 1/3 cup warm milk substitute. Ÿ vegetable oil (or melted margarine) for brushing on top. Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Combine rice flour, tapioca starch, sugar, yeast, xanthan, and salt in a heavy-duty mixer. 3. Mix in egg, oil, vinegar and milk substitute. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes to increase air volume in the dough. 4. Spoon dough into an oil sprayed 8x4 inch loaf pan. 5. Let rise on top of warm oven for 30 minutes or until dough doubles in size. 6. Brush the top of the loaf with vegetable oil (Don't skip this step with this recipe or the crust will be dry and chalky). Bake at 350 F for 5060 minutes. Note: If not eaten within 24 hours, bread may be sliced and frozen. Removed one slice at a time from freezer as needed. Defrost frozen bread (in microwave) before toasting.
9:00-10:00: Baby Boom! (6 months to 2 years) 10:00-11:00: Tapping Tots! (2 years to 4 years) 11:00-12:00: Marvelous Movers! (4 years to 6 years) 12:00-1:00: Music Makers! (6 years to 9 years) Program runs from February 5th through May 21st All classes instructed by Board-Certified Music Therapist & Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist
RESERVE YOUR CHILD’S SPOT TODAY!
Jillian Mehler, MT-BC, NMT 305-528-5836 WholeStepsMT@aol.com Classes offered at Crystal Academy 110 Phoenetia Avenue Coral Gables, Florida 33134
11 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue
12 - Autism Insider Newsletter, March 2011 Issue