Tag Archives: Gluten Free

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

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This isn’t my regular writing style, but I’m going to be extremely transparent right now.

I don’t know about you, but 2010 was quite a roller coaster ride! It was a year of major upheaval, victories, disappointments, and overall waves of contrast that offered opportunities for extreme growth! My biggest disappointment is that my business hasn’t taken off and served you in the highest way possible. Why? I believe it’s because I was all over the map – trying to be everything to everyone – which resulted in burning myself out and helping no one.

Well, it’s 2011. Maybe it already started out kind of icky, or maybe I haven’t quite kickstarted my heart yet (thanks, Motley Crue!). It doesn’t really matter how yesterday was, because the fact of the matter is that we create our experiences. Each day, each hour, each minute offers a chance to change my thoughts and change my reality.

It’s time for me to get laser focused on how to help you. Whether you’ve just received an Autism diagnosis for your child or you’re at the end of your rope because you’ve tried everything an are still frustrated and overwhelmed, HELP IS ON THE WAY.

Look for changes at Spirit Of Autism, including a regular, informative newsletter, surveys on exactly WHAT YOU NEED FROM ME, and much more support in the way of programs, teleclasses, and videos. I am your advocate, and I can’t wait to learn from you as well!

Also stay tuned for more standardized emergency response training programs in the works, as I collaborate with some pretty cool people that want to help!

Family changes

In addition to all the wonderful things I am doing at home with my son, this year I am committed to going 100% Gluten and Casein free. Justin has also excitedly started a customized plan using Nutrition Response Testing and whole food supplements, and is soon to start the EnListen® Listening Training Program. I will share with you our progress and results as we go through these amazing opportunities to help Justin improve things such as:

  • attention, focus and concentration
  • self-confidence
  • cognition skills
  • reading and writing
  • comprehension and memory
  • athletic performance
  • speech clarity
  • organization
  • body function
  • digestion
  • nutritional deficiencies
  • stresses and imbalances in the body

As for my daughter, my goal last year was getting her as much sibling support as possible. However, between her brother’s needs and my business, she already has strong feelings about all the focus and attention our family puts on Autism. Our new goal (which has already started to manifest – YES!) is to get her together with like-minded, creative peers so she doesn’t feel so isolated and withdrawn. Thanks to a wonderful guardian angel I just met, she will be homeschooled with a small group of kids instead of all with me. She also just joined a D&D group, which should open some new opportunities for her to share her imagination!

As for my New Year’s goals… I vow to be more centered, focused, and step into my best self without limits. I am going to stop trying to be super woman and  start allowing help from others, breaks, even down time for myself. (WHAT?!?!) You see, the best gift I can offer myself, my children, and all of you is to shine my light as brightly as possible. To do so, I must be as happy and healthy as I can be.

What about you? What are you letting go of? What are you stepping into? I’d love to hear about it!

Trippin’ Over Road Trip FAIL

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So… what do you get when you cross a small Ford Focus, three children (one of which likes her music LOUD), a 125+ lb. Alaskan Malamute in heat, a child with Autism and Sensory Processing issues, and a last-minute four-hour road trip? Road trip FAIL.

At least I can laugh about it now. Let’s hope my son can, too!

You see, I knew better. I KNOW better. I post daily inspiring tips, quotes, and updates on Facebook and Twitter about how to prepare for doing virtually ANYTHING with your Autistic child. Yet, here I was – frenzied, overbooked, and trying to leave town at the last minute – totally unprepared.

The problem? I didn’t arm him with any necessary tools or supports against the boredom of a long trip, his sister’s loud music, being cramped and unable to stretch out when his body needed it, the lack of available favorite snacks and drinks on the road, the chaos of a hotel room, and the absence of a schedule while there.

The result? A child that screamed, threw toys around, harassed the dog, twisted himself up in his seat belt, and repeatedly kicked the back of the driver’s seat while I was trying to safely operate our vehicle. In the hotel he was hyper, loud, and severely discombobulated when it came to what he expected would happen while we were there.

What my daughter, her friend and I saw and were annoyed by, of course, can’t possibly compare to the discomfort, frustration, and confusion he experienced from being thrust into this situation unarmed. Oh, and when you ask your child if they want to bring their favorite supports and they say “no” – PACK THEM ANYWAY! They don’t know that they will need them!

So here’s a look back at what I could have done right (and will do next time!):

Weigh it out

I was so concerned with getting on the road on time that I did not prepare. How long would it really have taken for me to pack additional items and take the time to talk to him about what was happening? How much time would it have added to our trip to make a few more stops? I’m sure the dog would have appreciated it, too!

For a few extra minutes of planning and preparing, I could have avoided frustration for all of us during this trip. LESSON LEARNED!

Practical Gluten & Casein Free Substitutes

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I perpetually have the best intentions in trying to eliminate gluten and casein from my child’s diet (to read about why you should consider a GFCF diet for your autistic child, see my previous post). However, I’m a single mom with a grocery budget, so going the extra mile for organic and special brands aren’t always practical! Add to the mix an older child that is one of the pickiest eaters in the universe and sodium and sugar restrictions on my own diet… it is not unusual for me to buy and prepare three separate menus in this house.

I thought I would put together a small list of some common items found at your local grocery store that are gluten and casein free. Some may not be the healthiest, but it is nice to know that there are options to sometimes buy these common brands, saving a trip to the ATM a health food store.

Snacks

Juices/Drinks

Candy

Cereal

What are some of your experiences? Feel free to head over to the Spirit Of Autism Facebook Fan Page and post some of your successes, strategies, and struggles with the GFCF diet in your home! I’d love to hear from you.

DENIED! Why am I Doing the Happy Dance?

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Six months ago I applied for SSI Disability to help me provide for my Autistic son. Meeting the income guidelines for this assistance, I jumped through all the required hoops of their dog and pony show. I supplied them with a 92-page history and timeline of all Justin’s diagnoses, school records, IEP copies, behavioral and developmental assessments, medication history (yes, I at one time investigated that route out of sheer desperation – a story for another day), and every behavior slip, suspension and punishment notice he’d ever received.

I saw their doctor. I followed up, week after week, inquiring about their decision. All the while, in my journey, I was learning about my son and Autism. I was not happy with the doctor visits, the medication attempt, the rigid recommendations, the books, the cookie-cutter approaches.

In this journey I came across a book by Dr. Robert Melillo called Disconnected Kids. Along with the centers he founded, this book offered a scientifically proven theory about a hemispheric imbalance in children with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Tourette’s, and other disorders. I voraciously digested this information and began applying what I learned immediately. I tested and modified some of the sensory exercises and techniques. I expanded my research on the nutritional guidelines. I drew some new conclusions.

I began supplementing with EFT, teaching my son to tap and performing surrogate tapping when he could not. I also began graciously opening my heart and accepting the gifts of his beautiful mind. The docile nature of our beautiful Alaskan Malamute, Juno, has also had an extremely calming effect on him.

These things combined have changed our world. Oh, our journey is nowhere complete, as he still cannot tie his shoes or ride a bike; we still have days where a trip to the grocery store is a nightmare. It still takes an Act of Congress to get him ready in the morning on time for school. We are working on it, as I refine the techniques that have shown me hope and success. He is now able to smell and recognize scents; we can go to the movies and sit through an entire film; I don’t receive calls to pick him up from school early for being out of control… and he was denied for SSI.

According to my letter, “… the evidence does not show that these conditions are severe enough to be disabling. We have decided that Justin’s condition is not disabling under our rules.”

I’ve been denied, and I’m ecstatic! What mother would not want this kind of news?