The Reason For It All

Heart of Sailing in San Diego

Cool New Google Software for ASD kids

Juice Plus+ "Thins" and it's effect on Anxiety and OCD

Why Juice Plus+???

4 Free Training Sessions on Special Education

Dr. Feder comments on Floortime vs Son Rise

Autism: Where's the Support?

News from Coast Music Therapy

Mom needs an education attorney

Mom needs a math tutor

ATPF: Mentor Event at JCC Maccabi Cares Carnival

SDASA: Sixth Annual Fall Conference

Chula Vista: Parent Information and Support Night

Local San Diego Agency Receives National Funding from Autism Speaks

Melaleuca, The Wellness Company

Grandma needs an OT

Empowering Through Information & the Fostering of Connections

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 thoroughly 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
My enewsletters are archived on my website:
www.ValeriesList.com

Everyone is sending me stuff about Michael Savage and I refuse to give people like him my time .....Val

Heart of Sailing introduces sailing to children, teens and adults with disabilities as a form of education and recreational therapy. A safe and fun family outing!!

Click here for Daysails in San Diego in July and August

While at a recent conference, we met a Google rep who was there to introduce their new software - free to kids and schools. It's like autocad for kids but very intuitive and with a huge searchable library of user-created content. Very cool if you have a kid who likes to draw or is interested in architecture or engineering.

http://sketchup.google.com/

Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create, modify and share 3D models. It's easier to learn than other 3D modeling programs, which is why so many people are already using it.

We designed SketchUp's simplified toolset, guided drawing system and clean look-and-feel to help you concentrate on two things: getting your work done as efficiently as possible, and having fun while you're doing it.

http://www.google.com/educators/spectrum.html

Children with Autism Architect Their Ideas Using 3D Design Software
Project Spectrum was developed by the SketchUp Team at Google to help people with autism take advantage of their visual and spatial gifts.

The idea for Project Spectrum originated when we began getting phone calls and emails from users telling us about how much kids on the autism spectrum were enjoying SketchUp. As the calls kept coming in, we learned that people with autism tend to be visually and spatially gifted-that, in fact, they think in pictures. When people with these gifts get their hands on powerful, easy-to-use 3D design software like SketchUp, sparks tend to fly.

Inspired by what we've learned, we've partnered with the Boulder, Colorado chapter of the Autism Society of America, the Boulder Valley School District, and the Life Long Learning Lab at University of Colorado to provide children with software and guidance that may help them to express an idea or even develop a life skill.

Juice Plus+ Thins® is a healthful, whole food based snack. These specially formulated chewable wafers contain a carefully balanced blend of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers that help reduce hunger - without the use of any stimulants or drugs.

The above information is what the Juice Plus+ company says about it's product: "Thins". Now I will tell you what effect "Thins" had on my son, Tony, who has autism.

First, it is important that you all understand, and I make it very clear, that this is NOT scientifically backed.

About two years ago, I started to give Tony the Juice Plus+ "Thins" as a precautionary measure against him developing diabetes. When Tony turned 18 (he is now 24), we had to put him on Zyprexa, because of an increase in violent behaviors. Dr. Feder informed me that having Tony on Zyprexa would increase his chances of developing diabetes. In the Juice Plus+ literature, which of course I have, I read that the "Thins" product helps to regulate insulin levels in the blood.

So, I started to give Tony "Thins" everyday, starting just 2 years ago, with no other medication or change. After a couple of weeks, I noticed that Tony was more relaxed. Less anxiety. And, even more remarkable his repetitive, obsessive behaviors dropped about 80%. Changes in his routine/schedule became much easier, new experiences were no longer hard. Repetitive behaviors/routines nearly disappeared.

I was stunned and kept waiting for them reemerge, but to this day they haven't. I told Dr. Feder about it and he has no explanation for it. I showed him the ingredients of "Thins" and he said that there was nothing in them that would be harmful in any way.

Does this mean that somehow insulin levels in the blood have something to do with anxiety and/or OCD??? Your guess is as good as mine. Medical science does know that insulin levels can effect moods and behaviors, so maybe there is a connection.

I have no idea if this is something that is relevant only to Tony and his system, or if this would help other individuals with autism, calm their anxiety and/or OCD. Since I have giving him the "Thins" I have been able to reduce his medications: Zyprexa, Celexa & Tenex.

If you would like to try Juice Plus+ "Thins" with your loved one with autism, here is how I suggest you do it:

First of all JP+ "Thins" come in 2 flavors: Apple Cinnamon and Chocolate. JP+ offers a variety pack that includes both flavors, so I suggest you go for that one until you find out which your child/teen/adult prefers. The wafers are large, but they can be easily cut.

When you order the box of "Thins" you will see that there are 8 bottles in the box. DON'T Panic!! If this doesn't work with you child/teen/adult with autism you can send back any unopened bottles for a refund -- be sure to keep your receipt and the box!

In placing the order, go for the four monthly installments, which is $27.50 per month. That way you are not investing a lot of money on what is an experiment that may or may not work. Don't worry about the automatic reorder every 4 months, as I can go into the system and delay it to any date in the future.

Dosage: An adult can chew up to 12 wafers a day. Tony chews just 6-8 and it works fine. He has 3-4 in the morning with breakfast and 3-4 with dinner. For a child under 7, I would give 1 wafer in the morning and 1 wafer in the evening, probably best with food. For kids, 8 to 16, I would give 2 wafers in the morning and 2 with dinner, again best with food. Kids over 16 would be considered an adult and it would be 3 to 4 wafers in the morning and 3 to 4 in the evening. Always start out low and slow and work your way up.

"Thins" ingredients:
Apple Cinnamon:
Special dietary fiber complex (apple pectin, apple fiber, plant cellulose, fructooligosaccharides, carageenan, locust bean gum); absorbalean Fruit Source fruit juice solids; rice syrup solids; fructose; flavors; Malabar tamarind fruit extract (garcinia cambogia with (-) hydroxycitric acid); stearic acid; lechitin; hawthorne berry powder; special enzyme blend (bromelain, papain, protease); trivalent chromium; and stevia leaf powder.

Chocolate Fudge:
Special dietary fiber complex (apple pectin, apple fiber, plant cellulose, fructooligosaccharides, carageenan, locust bean gum); absorbalean Fruit Source fruit juice solids; rice syrup solids; fructose; flavors; Malabar tamarind fruit extract (garcinia cambogia with (-) hydroxycitric acid); stearic acid; lechitin; hawthorne berry powder; special enzyme blend (bromelain, papain, protease); trivalent chromium; and stevia leaf powder.
Both flavors are certified GF/CF and dairy free and of course Kosher.

Are you confused? Do you have any questions before you embark on this little experiment? No worries. Please just email me at ValerieSaraf@aol.com and I will answer your questions and help you in any way. I have several Medical Professionals who are very involved in Juice Plus+ that I can go to for advise, etc.

Want to give it a go? Just go to my website: http://www.valsarafjuiceplus.com, click on "Store", then on "view all products". Juice Plus+ Thins Variety Pack is the fourth item. Follow the instructions from there. I hope that this does work for other individuals with autism, as it has made Tony's and my life soooooo much better.

Why Juice Plus+?
The best way to answer that question, is to ask another. How do you think you would feel; how healthy would your body be; how much positive energy would you have, if you ate a serving of 15 different fruits and vegetables and 2 grains EVERYDAY?
That is what JP+ is and that is what it does.

Juice Plus+ provides the natural nutrition (millions of nutrients) of fully ripened, RAW fruits and vegetables in a capsulated form for adults and chewables and gummies for kids.

The cost for adults is $41.50 per month, or $1.36 per day. (Could your buy a serving of 15 fruits and veggies, and eat all of them, RAW for $1.36 per day?)

The cost for kids for Chewables or Gummies is $22.50 per month, or .74 cents per day? Could you even get your kids to eat 15 RAW, fruits and veggies per day?

For more information about Juice Plus+ and/or purchase it, please visit my website here. JP+ is certified GF/CF Dairy Free and Kosher!!!

Starting in September, I will be having Juice Plus+ In-Home Parties. It is a great way to learn more about good, lasting health and JP+.

Protection & Advocacy, Inc.
(Soon to be Disability Rights California)
and
The Exceptional Family Resource Center

Present: Special Education, You Can Do It!
4 Free Training Sessions on Special Education

SESSION 1 / July 29, 2008 7-9 pm: What is Special Education?

SESSION 2 / August 5, 2008 7-9 pm: Eligibility and Assessments

SESSION 3 / August 12, 2008 7-9 pm: Demystifying the IEP process

SESSION 4 / August 19, 2008 7-9 pm: Ongoing Advocacy Discipline, Due Process, Compliance Complaints

San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd. Rm. A-15, San Diego, CA 92101

Come to all sessions or any sessions of your choice!

Materials and parking will be provided!

If you need accommodations, parking, or interpreters please call at least one week before each training

RSVP - 619-239-7861

Hi Val -
In response to the questions about DIR®/Floortime and Son Rise (the piece is repeated below), DIR®/Floortime is indeed an all-day philosophy in which we naturally develop relating and communication with others who have developmental or learning (or other) difficulties by tuning into the other person, helping that person be meaningfully engaged with us in a respectful, balanced, continuous, and ever-expanding flow of back and forth interaction. We want the relating to be the most interesting thing happening, not toys. We are often playful, even dramatic, if that's what the situation calls for, but we avoid being so much the center of attention that we end up merely entertaining the other person. We might join a repetitive activity that the other person is doing, with the eventual goal of becoming part of it in a manner that creates a meaningful interaction. We do like to set aside specific time, several times a day, to really focus on relating and outside of other demands, however DIR®/Floortime is something we do throughout all activities.

DIR®/Floortime is a lot like many professions. Professionals who help families with DIR®/Floortime come from many areas (mental health, medicine, OT, Speech, Education, Art Therapy, etc.) and train for many years under supervision / tutoring to become certified to be able to legally say they do DIR®/Floortime. Even so, like with many fields, we make the information on what we are doing readily available to the public , and we do research and look at each other's work constantly to improve what we are doing.

One great place to start is at circlestretch.blogspot.com, our local San Diego portal or icdl.com, the international portal based in the Washington, D.C. area.

We have free open meetings once a month for professionals and parents, the next ones are on August 6th, form 9-1030 am for professionals and 1030 am -noon for parents. We are in the process of setting up several more tutoring seminars for the 2008-2009 academic season for professionals, a tutoring structure for parents as well, and a multimedia library for scheduled use.

I hope this helps!

Dr Feder

Mom asks: Son Rise vs Floortime
Hello Valerie,
could you please ask Dr. Feder and your readers if they have any experiences and thoughts regarding Son-Rise vs Floortime, specifically the following:

We've been doing floortime with our 5yr old son for about 1.5 years. Within the last month we have seen a number of Son-Rise web presentations and listened to a few of their DVD's and CD's. The two approaches seem very similar, except for the following. Floortime is encouraged to be done everywhere and all the time, whereas the Son-Rise therapy is done in a distraction- free playroom, where the facilitator is the coolest "toy" in the room. Playgrounds are used as an example of overstimulating and unpredictable environments where our special kids start to switch partially off in trying to cope with the numerous inputs. Son-Rise also emphasizes "joining" the child in their "isms" (more conventionally known as stims). We've had amazing results in doing this, and it is my understanding that this "joining" is also encouraged by Greenspan.

After doing more Son-Rise like interactions, and not challenging our son with "floortime" like play until we have him fully engaged, we have noticed a marked increase in his willing engagement and enthusiasm to interact with us and seek us out on his own.

My concern is the focus on doing the therapy exclusively in the playroom and isolating the child from outings, school and the outside world in general, until they are ready to cope in such environments.

I would be very much appreciate Dr. Feder's opinion on Son-Rise, and any of your readers' thoughts and experiences.
playing_together@hotmail.com

There is a family down the street whom I envy.

I've never met them. They live in a two-story white house -- a mother, a father and their grown son. Outside is a trimmed yard with rosebushes and a wooden arbor where the men work on weekends.

The dad, who looks to be near 60, pushes a wheelbarrow or carries a set of shears. The son could be 20 -- the age of my oldest child -- or 40. He is a short, egg-shaped man. He walks behind his father, carrying large shovels and bags of dirt and the like. He works tirelessly, from what I can see, and talks most of the time.

Free Full-Length Music CD!
Tuned in to Learning: Music for Special Education

Check out Coast Music Therapy's sister site Tuned in to Learning to view our teaching songs for special education. You'll find over 100 songs designed to help special learners in core educational goal areas complete with visual supports.

Click here (scroll to the bottom of the page once you arrive) to sign up for a free 9 song CD featuring 1 full-length song from each of the Tuned in to Learning volumes.


This Little Light of Mine Shine a light on a friend in this dynamic social skills activity!

What it helps with: turn-taking, peer awareness
What you need: flashlight

With students seated in a circle, teach the song "This Little Light of Mine"

Song:
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine Oh this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine Shine all over (Name of Peer), I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

-after teaching students the song, each student will have an opportunity to hold the flashlight and shine it on a friend during the line "Shine all over (name)". Instruct students to shine the light in an area away from the peer's eyes.

-The student with the flashlight can either select the peer to shine the light on, or you can designate the peer.

Activity Expansion & Adaptations:
-Teach the group sign language to go along with key words of the song ("light", "mine", "shine", etc.)

-Give each student a name card to hold and have the student with the flashlight shine the light on the name card to help with reading

Hi Valerie,
I am wondering if anyone can recommend an educational ATTORNEY, not an advocate. We will be requesting non-public school soon.
You can email me at greenhillsfive@msn.com