Here is a great article about Autism and how by changing your diet you can make a big difference. If you want to talk about specific issues e-mail me customhealth@gmail.com or go to my website http://www.shaklee.net/customhealth

This article appears as a chapter in the OFFICIAL AUTISM 101 MANUAL published by Autism Today, 2006.

Contributing Author Laurence A. Becker, Ph.D., Creative Learning Environments

AUTISM AND NUTRITION: RESOURCES AVAILABLE

In 2003, Dr. Rimland edited with Dr. Stephen Edelson TREATING AUTISM: Parent Stories of Hope and Success, one of the most important, readable, and useful books I know about. In addition to 30 chapters written by parents of autistic children, many of whom are medical doctors, telling of their success in treating their children, the book also contains a chart that shows the results of 22,300 responses to a survey on the treatment effectiveness of DRUGS, SUPPLEMENTS, DIETS, & MISC. THERAPIES OR CONDITIONS. What an incredible source of information for parents and doctors! Write ARI to obtain a copy of the survey and the results or to order a copy of the book. One example of the data is the survey: “Bar graphs depicting the rating of 49 drugs and 8 nutrients by thousands of parents of autistic children note that Ritalin, the most frequently used drug, helped only 29% of the children, while making 44% worse (based on 3082 parent surverys). Compare that with the ratings of nutrient therapies.

One of the most significant books to enter my life has been Karyn Seroussi’s UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF AUTISM AND PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER: A Mother’s Story of Research & Recovery. It reads like a detective story. I was given a copy, and I read the entire book in two days. It brought together some of the people and information that I had gained in the conferences in 1981; 1982 and connected them with autism. It also reaffirmed Dr. Rimland’s statement that “In the past 40 years the most significant research in the field of autism has not been done by men in white lab coats, but by mothers!” I cannot tell you how important this book is. Each Appendix is filled with resources. Page 262 has information about the Autism Network for Dietary Intervention.

Another recent book (2005), EVIDENCE OF HARM, by David Kirby explores in great depth the relationship between vaccinations and autism.

Resources for Art and Autism: Sandy McMurray at www.autismarts.com ,

Karen Simmons author of SURROUNDED BY MIRACLES, produced ARTISM, Art by Those with Autism and a CD Peace of Mind for Autism (caretoday@shaw.ca) or 1-877-482-1555. See also Autism Today. Released in 2006 is THE OFFICIAL AUTISM 101 MANUAL. See Amazon.com for information. See also “Living in the Spectrum” vol 1: Autism & Ausperger’s is a CD produced by Lecia Macryn at www.mindscapeproductions.com (248) 288-2242. The art of autistic savant artist Richard Wawro, who passed away in February 2006, may be found at www.wawro.net

. The M.I.N.D. Institute has published a book of its permanent art collection. It is a wonderful book that contains a biography of each artist and a full color reproduction of the art. See www.mindinstitute.org. Also see Dr. Darold A. Treffert’s www.savantsyndrome.com/ for artist Chirstophe Pillault, 12 year old savant artist Ping Lian (www.pinglian.com/) of Malaysia, and many other savant artists. I will have the feature article in the July 2006, issue of KALEIDOSCOPE Magazine (Exproring the experience of disability through literature and the fine arts) www.udsakron.org on the topic of the portrayal of disability in film. Many new and wonderful films are coming out seemingly each month. The latest to be added to my list of must see films is KEEPER OF THE KOHN about the life of Peter Kohn, long time field manager of the Middlebury men’s and women’s lacross teams. It’s a real keeper.
As you discover new and helpful resources, I hope you will share them with me. This listing of resources is constantly being updated. I look forward to adding yours. My life has been blessed by so many people, and the synchronicities are almost overwhelming at times. But “IF we be TRUE to the integrity of the moment, who knows, what or where, wonders, beasts, adventures will sweep us UP into their flood!”
“Persons are gifts…wrapped.
Each meeting of persons in an exchange of gifts.”

I have written the previous two-page statement to point people in the right direction. While it does not talk about specific nutritional supplements to use with children who have autism spectrum disorders, it does provide a broader context of the research and knowledge in the field. Some of the nutrients mentioned in the Parent Survey used by Dr. Rimland are: Calcium, Folic Acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin B3 & B6, Magnesium, Vitamin C, Zinc, Digestive Enzymes, Fatty Acid, and St.John’s Wort. The parent survey gives parents a broad knowledge of what a large number of other parents have tried and the behavioral changes that they have experienced.

Shaklee nutrition can be used to provide the supplements used in the survey in a number of instances. I am confident that the purity of the ingredients used in Shaklee food supplements and the nature of the processing of the ingredients is unmatched in the supplement industry. Shaklee has been at the forefront of the science of nutritional supplements for 50 years.
See www.shaklee.com www.shaklee.net/customhealth

The little booklet, HEALTHY KIDS, by Betsy & Ginny Vaughn has also been making a significant impact on the lives of children and families. (now also available are HEALTHY WOMEN and HEALTHY MEN, & HEALTHY PETS) Since receiving a copy from a friend, I have ordered and shared over 200 additional copies. HEALTHY KIDS contains 130 accounts by parents, nurses, and doctors, who shared their experiences of using nutritional supplements instead of drugs to bring health and well being to countless children and their families. The introduction is by a pediatrician, Linda P. Rodriguez, M.D., who has been using this approach for over twenty years in her medical practice. The complete index for the booklet lists all of the articles that relate to a specific childhood health problem and also lists the specific nutritional supplements that were used in each account. It has been such a joy for us to share this valuable resource with so many people. Copies of the book may be obtained by calling us (512-454-4489) or by calling 800-669-8162 or by email vaughng@mindspring.com