Juice Plus+®

NFAR (National Foundation For Autism Research) WIne Pairing Event

2 ENewsletters from Autism Speaks

Heart of Sailing Now in San Diego and Dana Point

65% Autistic Children Found To Have Mitochondrial Disorder

TACA San Diego Meeting

Alternative Puzzle Pieces, Inc.

GoChi Juice

California's First Non-profit Center for Autism Research, Education and Family Services

Mom needs pictures for her website

WSJ: The Creative Energy Behind ADHD

Mira Mesa Barnes & Noble and Autism Speaks

MORNING GLORY JAZZ BRUNCH, SATURDAY - APRIL 19TH

In Harmony program is on sale!

Juice Plus+...The Next Best Thing

Juice Plus+ is the simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to add more nutrition from fruits and vegetables to your diet, every day.

Studies Prove: Taking Juice Plus+ is the next best thing to eating fruits and vegetables.

Juice Plus+ provides nutrition from 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains. Each ingredient is specially selected to provide you with a wide range of nutritional benefits.

Juice Plus+ contains not only a much wider variety of naturally occurring vitamins than vitamin supplements, but it also contains other phytonutrients, antioxidants, and nutrients -- even some of the fiber -- found in the fruits and vegetables it's made from. These nutrients work together in combination to provide you more of the nutritional benefits of eating healthful whole foods.

Give Kids a Fighting Chance! Enhance Their Immune System with JUICEPLUS+; the Nutrition from 17 Colorful, Raw, Vine-Ripened, Fruits, Vegetables and Grains (Certified G/Free & C/Free) in a Convenient Capsule, Chewable or Gummie form.
Good Health is not Good Luck; it's Science!

I never endorse anyone or anything. Opinions expressed in what I send out, may not be shared by me. Everything is for informational purposes only.

People who "advertise" through this newsletter have never been checked out by me. This includes professionals and even people who are interested in babysitting, etc.

Please take the time to throughly check out anyone and everyone that will be working with or caring for your child. We are all sadly aware, through news stories and word of mouth, of people who pray upon special needs children because of their extra vulnerability.

Thank you,
Valerie Dodd-Saraf

www.ValeriesList.com

In honor of Autism Awareness Month:

You are cordially invited to a Wine Pairing dinner to benefit Autism on Sunday April 27 th at 5:00 PM in the evening. This dinner is being hosted by Chef Robert and "A Taste of Florence Restaurant" www.atasteofflorence.com and Executive Wine Consultant ,Joy Marie Ciolino, and PRP Wine International. Come enjoy some wonderful cuisine and amazing wines for a good cause!

A portion of the proceeds of the dinner as well as $24.00 per case acquired will be donated to the National Foundation For Autism Research (NFAR.org). The dinner is $50.00 per person, non- refundable. The wines offered this night will be offered by the case.

PRP Wine International is an full service wine company. PRP wines are exclusive and we host over three hundred boutique vineyards world in over 23 countries around the world. Our wines are exclusive and good for you. PRP offers in -home and corporate gift service and our charity fundraiser's are another event where we enjoy giving back to the community.

If you love wine and food and want to help a great cause and enjoy a fine wine dinner, please contact me at Joymarie@prpwine.com or 858-866-0906. Seating is limited so book your reservations soon.

One Newsletter

Second Newsletter

Heart of Sailing introduces sailing to children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities as a form of education and recreational therapy.

Daysails are now available in San Diego, April 18, 19 & 20 and Dana Point, April 25, 26 & 27. Special sails for "Dad's Only" and "Mom's Only" and feel free to bring a friend!

Join Valerie & Tony for sails on Sunday, April 20th at 4pm and 6pm. Help us watch the sun go down!!!!

If for any reason you need to cancel your daysail with George, please give him a call. Often, families are on a waitlist, but if you don't call to cancel, they are not able to participate. Thank you for your kindness and consideration. -Val

At an American Academy of Neurology meeting last Sunday it was revealed in a recent research paper, see below, that 65% of children with Austistic Spectrum Disorders assessed were found to have mitochondrial disorder (MtD) and so were always at risk of autism caused by one or more vaccines.

Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS) Defects in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders [IN1-1.004]

John Shoffner, Lauren C. Hyams, Genevieve N. Langley, Atlanta, GA

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively survey patients with autistic spectrum disorders that were evaluated clinically for mitochondrial disease and to assess the clinical and laboratory features of this group of patients.

BACKGROUND: Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by disturbance in language, perception and socialization. A variety of biochemical, anatomical and neuroradiographical studies imply a disturbance of brain energy metabolism in autistic patients. Recent studies confirmed the previously reported high frequency of biochemical markers of mitochondrial dysfunction, namely hyperlactacidemia and increased lactate/pyruvate ratio, in a significant fraction of 210 autistic patients. (J Autism Dev Disord, 2006. 36:1137) Although rare, Mecp2 mutations can produce autistic features and the mouse model has significant mitochondrial defects. (Mol Cell Biol, 2006. 26: 5033) Additional genetic defects associated with mitochondrial dysfunction include inverted 15q11-13 duplication (Complex III defect) (Ann Neurol, 2003,53,801), A3243G mutation (mitochondrial transfer RNALeucine(UUR) gene, mtDNA depletion(J Pediatr, 2004,144,81), G8363A mutation (mitochondrial transfer RNALysine gene. (J Child Neurol, 2000,15,357).

DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 37 children with autistic spectrum disorders. Clinical, biochemical, metabolic, and genetic data is assessed.

RESULTS: Twenty four children (65%) had skeletal muscle OXPHOS defects: Complex I (16), Complex I and Complex III (5), Complex III (1), Complex I and Complex IV (2). Thirteen (35%) had normal skeletal muscle OXPHOS enzyme activities for Complexes I-IV. Clinical, metabolic, protein chemistry, and sequencing of coding regions of the mitochondrial DNA will be reported.

San Diego Presents:

Becky Estepp & Carline Banks

The San Diego Premier of Autism Yesterday, a film from Generation Rescue
&
"Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders"

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 PM

Rancho Bernardo Presbyterian Church (Directions below)

Come join TACA San Diego for a parent-led discussion on diet. We will be focusing on the GFCF, Low Oxalate, and Specific Carbohydrate Diets. Are you confused about which diet is right for your child? Need new recipe ideas? Like to know where everyone is shopping locally? Join us on April 22nd and we'll address these questions. Free samples of GFCF foods will be available. If your family is currently on any of these diets and you have a favorite recipe, please bring it in to share. Prepared samples of your favorite recipe are welcomed (but not required) at this meeting.

Directions to Rancho Bernardo Presbyterian Church: 17010 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92128. From I-15, exit Rancho Bernardo Road and travel east to Pomerado Road. Turn left (north) at the stoplight. The church will be on your left hand side.

Room Change: TACA is now meeting in the Lower Fireside room. The Lower Fireside room is downstairs in the main church building. Park in the lower (southern) lot for best access to this room.

Our mission is to provide the highest quality of service to children and families with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We believe that EVERY child should have the opportunity to strive for their highest potential at an individual pace. By building on the strengths of each child, together, we can redefine the autism puzzle.

What Services Can APP Offer Your Child?
· One on One Mentoring
· Behavioral Modification
· Self-Help Techniques
· Fine/Gross Motor Skill Development
· Generalized Learned Behaviors
· Language and Communication
· Organizational Skills
· Music Therapy
· Money Management
· Academic Improvement
· Memory Strengthening
· Cognition and Executive Functioning
· Leisure Skills
· Safety Procedures
· Independence

What Services Can APP Offer Parents?
· Crisis Support and Management
· Behavior Modification Techniques
· Social Stories
· Relationship Development Intervention
· Education
· Individual in-home needs assessment
· Itemized schedules
· In Home One On One Mentoring for your child
· Resources both on the web as well as research and literature
· Caring solutions for functioning in the real world.

* Various membership options available *
* Consultation fee waived with membership agreement *

We are committed to finding solutions to every day challenges associated with ASD.

Call or email today to get more information.
Alternative Puzzle Pieces, Inc.
Nancy Beehn (858) 386-9973
Laura Hodges (619) 884-1861
alternativepuzzlepieces@gmail.com

Valerie,
I feel this is what I want to share about the juice in your newsletter. Thank you for the opportunity to reach families who may benefit. Sandy Terrell

The GoChi Effect is Worth Tasting!
For 8 months I have been researching and drinking a nutritional juice product and am now ready to share with others. I have no skepticism left and want to reach families that may benefit from the phenomenal results. The juice is now backed by 3 separate randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials.Two studies include blood work results and how our immune system is enhanced by drinking 4 ounces a day of the nutritional juice. And more studies are scheduled to be released soon. More than all the scientific jargon, I know of 4 children with autism who have made incredible improvements in their lives by drinking this great tasting juice! As a school teacher, I worry about how I can best meet each child's needs that walks through my classroom door. I want each person to be successful, to reach their potential, to feel safe, and be content. If I could I would write this juice into their daily plan! I want to educate willing families who are ready to "try one more thing" for their child's health and well-being. It may be the right answer for your family. If you would like to talk about the benefits and try the juice, please call or email Sandy 619-840-3633/ 619-466-4691 email: bubbacat0502@yahoo.com To Your Health!

Hi all, I have no idea what this juice is, but I have nothing against "alternative medicine". I know from personal experience that the more natural you can go the better. When it comes to the immune system, God's laboratory is much more effective then Man's. - Val

Hi,
My son is almost seven, and we are interested in finding a small sized karate class, does anyone know of a school in the Poway area or Carmel Valley area??
Thanks, Kelly

CARLSBAD, CA -- April 17, 2008 -- The National Center for Autism Research and Education (NCARE), California's first non-profit centralized resource for autism research, education and family support services has enrolled its first families into the center. Families are flocking to NCARE resulting from the announcement to begin enrollment for fall 2008. The primary reason is that families desperately need centralized autism resources.

Soonhee "Sunny" Bailey, is the mother of a 10 year-old daughter, Makena, who struggles with both low- functioning autism and intermittent explosive disorder (extreme violence). The family relocated from Washington to Las Vegas in order to obtain intensive therapy programs. Makena has been part of an applied behavior analysis (ABA) program for more than four years. The program involves three to five trained "tutors" on a thirty to forty hour a week basis. Although outbursts still occur, Makena (whose original prognosis was that she would never acquire meaningful communication), has developed more than 200 words for basic communication. "Sunny" says, "That between the appointments with her neuropsychologist, psychiatrist for her medications, pediatricians for her gastro issues and to monitor her progress, speech therapy, occupational therapy, school, and the over thirty hours a week in ABA, centralized services are much needed by families living with autism."

In contrast to Makena, on the higher functioning side of the autism spectrum are Jessica Bickford's husband and two sons, ages 2 and 7. All are diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. They, too, receive services in multiple facilities and her oldest son's condition does not permit him to attend public school. Jessica worries about his future quality of life. "My oldest son, Logan, is a voracious learner who knows enough about the ocean to be a scientist." She continues, "Yet, his lack of personal awareness may require a life with personal handlers to tell him when to take a break and eat a meal." Unlike Makena, with tailored programs, Jessica's sons may be able to integrate into society through reverse mainstreaming which is a part of NCARE's education research model.

NCARE President, Keith Berglund, says, "The strain on families is tremendous. The Center for Disease Control's statistics show that 82 percent of families living with autism suffer from divorce." Berglund continues, "NCARE realizes this and is coming to the aid of all families nationwide by providing research, behavioral services, family counseling services, and comprehensive learning models for autistic students all from one facility. We encourage parents affected by autism to contact NCARE for individualized assistance."

NCARE's planned national expansion will take place over the next five years respectively:

Region 1 - West: Carlsbad, CA · Temecula, CA · Las Vegas, NV · San Francisco, CA · Portland, OR · Seattle, WA · Honolulu, HI

Region 2 - Midwest: Denver, CO · Dallas, TX · Kansas City, MO · Chicago, IL · Indianapolis, IN · Detroit, MI · Milwaukee, WI

Region 3 - Southeast: Miami, FL · Atlanta, GA · Charlotte, NC · Richmond, VA · Jacksonville, FL

Region 4 - Northeast: Washington, D.C. · Manhattan, NY · Trenton, NJ · Boston, MA · Philadelphia, PA · Cincinnati, OH · Brooklyn, NY

For more information on NCARE's services or how to support NCARE's initiatives, contact Kevin Robertson, Director of Business Development, at (760) 438-8600, or email to Kevin.Robertson@myncare.org

About NCARE
The National Center for Autism Research and Education (NCARE) is "the facility of tomorrow, brought to you today." NCARE is a first of its kind, non- public, not-for-profit center serving the needs of families living with autism that integrates sound treatment and education through evidence-based, research supported approaches.

The Research and Development Center will seek to discover advancements and knowledge concerning autism through various methods of medical and scientific research. These methods will be extensive and will not be limited by the norms of the past. They will include such methods as behavioral research and gene therapy. NCARE's mission is to achieve advances in research, education and treatment modalities in order to transform the lives of individuals, their families, the community and those with autism worldwide.

NCARE is providing a high quality learning model for those students whose behaviors related to autism have excluded them from being a part of a comprehensive public campus. At NCARE, all students have the ability to learn and when given the appropriate program(s), an individual's behavior can and will improve. NCARE seeks to replace negative behaviors with positive actions through multi-sensory instruction by certified professionals. Onsite staff include a Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Adaptive Physical Education Teacher plus a Resource Specialist to assist students with their needs according to their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Specialized services include tailored curriculum by certified instructors with experience in identifying specific needs and learning patterns of each student, along with pre-escalation experience through Alternatives to Restraint (ART) and Devereux Crisis Prevention & Intervention (CPI) techniques. Other teaching techniques include Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) an evidence-based service for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is used for image recognition for students with limited verbal communications skills.

NCARE is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with its main office located at 5838 Edison Place, Suite 130, Carlsbad, CA. 92008
http://www.myncare.org

hi Ladies,
i am currently working on the www.asdprayandfast.com web pages for April 23rd and I am working on creating a much better look. I am a total amateur at this and I am using iWeb on my MAC computer. I would like to include a photo album of the faces of Autism and have the pics of kids, and/or families on an album to make it more personal for people. If you would like a picture representing your family on this webpage, email it to me at pdbrit@mac.com. I am not making any guarantees but I'm going to try. Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested.

Thanks and blessings
Paulette Britton
pdbrit@mac.com
www.asdprayandfast.com

While many viewers get emotional watching Ty Pennington deliver remodeled homes to deserving families on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," his mom, Yvonne Pennington, cries for different reasons. After being told years ago that her unruly son was the worst kid in his school, she says, "my tears come from the joy, at how far he has come."

That's because Mr. Pennington has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Some 7.8% of children ages 4 to 17 have been told by a doctor or other health professional that they have or might have ADHD, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The behavior disorder, which often causes children to struggle mightily in school and in life, can be "impairing," says Mark Wolraich, lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics' clinical guidelines on diagnosing ADHD.

Many frazzled parents of hyperactive kids are looking for the silver lining. Clearly, ADHD didn't cripple such noteworthy sufferers as JetBlue founder David Neeleman or Kinko's founder Paul Orfalea. How can you tell whether all that splintered energy will help your own child succeed? And how can you help channel all that mental voltage productively? As a parent of two children with ADHD, I've often wondered about these things. I asked a few famous ADHD sufferers and their parents for answers.

Look for the creativity. Mr. Neeleman's family refused to regard his hyperactivity as an impairment. "We always thought ADD was a plus," says his father, Gary, a retired media executive. He advises "looking at the kid as somebody who has a different way of looking at things, and maybe a more creative way." Then, "put your arms around them and say, 'Boy, you're sure smart. You can handle this.' "

Parental support couldn't smooth out all the bumps for David. Through school, he says, "I just thought I was stupid." Adolescence was a fog of watching "Gilligan's Island" reruns. But as an adult, he was able to see opportunities others missed. He is credited with inventing electronic airline ticketing, he founded two airlines and is working on a third start-up in Brazil. He still has trouble sustaining a conversation for more than a few minutes, must delegate administrative tasks and ultimately got fired as JetBlue's CEO after service foul-ups. But he continues to focus on new ideas. "If you're doing something you love," he says, "you'll be the best."

Similarly, retailing entrepreneur Cynthia Gerdes, who also has ADHD, was treated by her parents as "the creative one" in her family, she says. Ms. Gerdes was encouraged to express herself as a child. As an adult, she created a Minneapolis toy-store chain, Creative Kidstuff, that grew to $12 million in sales before she sold out last year.

Emphasize the positive. Ty Pennington says the negative messages from school can be overwhelming for a child with ADHD; "You're constantly the one who is sent to the principal's office, constantly in trouble." Yvonne Pennington adds, "I thought I was the worst mother in the world." Asked as a small child to work at his desk, Ty would "wear it" instead, she says, separating the chair from the desk, popping the connecting assembly over his shoulders, and running around the room screaming. "He was h- on wheels," she sighs.

Both say life improved after Yvonne started using behavior-modification techniques to reward Ty when he did something right. Also, Ty says his life turned after he started medication in his teens and gained maturity and the freedom to develop his creativity. Now, as a TV host, he gets paid for the kind of behaviors that got him in trouble in school. And Yvonne, now an Atlanta psychologist, has a busy practice training others in "positive parenting."

Never despair. Mr. Orfalea's mother came home in tears after he was expelled from school for the fourth time; a school official told her he'd do well to become an unskilled laborer, says the Kinko's founder, who also has dyslexia. But she didn't allow it to shape her regard for Paul. "My mother had a good saying: 'Look at your five fingers. All five are different for a reason. School wants to make you all the same,' " he says.

Her support instilled his faith in himself. When he got the idea, while waiting in line for a copy machine in college, to start his own copying business, he trusted it in the face of criticism from others. The company he opened in a storefront, named for his kinky red hair, later grew to the 1,200-store giant that was acquired in 2004 by FedEx.