CARD RECEIVES MAJOR GRANT TO HELP FAMILIES IN TEXAS

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), a leading authority on autism treatment for children, has been awarded a $1 million dollar grant from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS) to provide services to children with autism between the ages of 3 through 8 in the greater Austin area.

“I am thrilled that CARD will be able to help children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to receive our services,” says CARD Austin Managing Supervisor Erica Worcester, MA.

The grant will enable CARD to provide Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) to children with autism as well as their families for a period of two years.

“I am grateful to DARS and Senators Shapiro, Lucio, Patrick, and Zaffirini for the opportunity to continue to help children with autism,” says grant writer and CARD Treatment Evaluation Manager Dr. Melissa Olive

"I am pleased that more children will benefit from the early and intensive autism services that these providers offer," Senator Florence Shapiro, R-District 8 said. "This program will help us identify the service delivery models that best serve children with autism and will enable us to strengthen the state's efforts to serve this growing population."

"The number of children with autism continues to grow, so it's vital that we provide avenues for access to proper educational and behavioral interventions that can help them achieve success throughout their life," Shapiro said.

"Through Applied Behavioral Analysis and other behavioral therapies, this program helps address some of the most prevalent challenges of children with autism."

1:1 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) will be provided to eligible children and families who meet the minimum requirements.

In order to be eligible for the grant the child must be between the ages of 3 through 8. The cost of services is on a sliding scale based upon family income.

Both individual client assessment and intervention will be combined with caregiver training to provide optimal treatment for each family. The behavior analysts will conduct appropriate individual assessments to determine the function(s) of inappropriate behaviors. Individual treatment plans will be drawn from the results of these assessments.

Families are encouraged to contact CARD Austin to be determined if they are eligible for this grant funded program. CARD Austin can be contacted at 866-833-3898 or CARDAustin@centerforautism.com

About Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS):

DARS is a state agency that works in partnership with Texans with disabilities and families with children who have developmental delays to improve the quality of their lives and to enable their full participation in society. To find out more about the agency’s services, call the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115. Information about DARS is also available at www.dars.state.tx.us.

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) diligently maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Founded in 1990, CARD follows the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). CARD develops individualized treatment plans and is proud to provide autism services around the globe. CARD was founded by Executive Director Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D. To find out more about the organization visit www.centerforautism.com.

CARD Temecula Hosts 1st Annual Carnival and Picnic

By Itza Chavira
Therapist Liason
CARD Temecula


CARD's Temecula, California office had its first annual carnival picnic on June 28th 2009. It was a great opportunity and event for all of our staff and their families to enjoy a carefree Sunday afternoon. Additionally it was also an opportunity for us to show our appreciation for all of the hard work and dedication they show our clients and their families on a daily basis. The festivities started with a catered lunch and Dynamite Dave, the clown, who brought balloon art and face painting. The children and adults enjoyed carnival style games including booths such as “drop the bottles” and “air bowling”. Prizes were awarded to all participants as they proudly displayed their #1 medallions.

Due to the nature of our job we don’t always get an opportunity to share our own lives and families with our co-workers, therefore this was a perfect event for some much needed relaxing, socializing and family fun! It was a wonderful time enjoyed by all who attended and an awesome relationship building event! We aim to make this a CARD Temecula tradition!

Click here for more information about CARD Temecula:
28991 Old Town Front St. #208 Temecula, CA 92590
Phone: (951) 699-8640
Fax: (951) 699-8650
Email: CARDTemecula@centerforautism.com
Service Region: Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, and Riverside Areas

*** VIEW EVENT SLIDESHOW***

Mayo Clinic Study Questions Belief that Children with Autism Have More Gut Problems

By Trine Tsouderos |Tribune Newspapers

A new study casts doubt on a commonly held but controversial belief that autistic children have more gut problems than their peers.

The Mayo Clinic study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, found autistic kids in the study were more likely than their nonautistic counterparts to be picky eaters or constipated. But the researchers did not find a significant difference between the two groups when it came to diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, reflux or vomiting.

"We did not find a difference in gastrointestinal symptoms in total," said Dr. Samar Ibrahim, lead study author and a Mayo Clinic pediatric gastroenterology fellow.

For years, parents, physicians and researchers have wondered whether people with autism suffered from more digestive problems than the rest of the population. Many autistic children are following aggressive medical regimens aimed at treating suspected gut trouble, including multiple nutritional supplements, anti-fungal medication and perhaps an anti-viral or antibiotic drug. Many also are on a restrictive diet.

However, "such treatments should not be provided indiscriminately to children with autism unless there is explicit evidence indicating the presence of a gastrointestinal disorder in a specific case," the study authors wrote.

The study subjects were 121 autistic children and 242 other children. All were residents of Olmsted County, Minn., home to the Mayo Clinic. Comparing the cumulative incidence of gastrointestinal problems from birth until the late teens showed that the only significant differences were in constipation and feeding issues.

Dr. Mark Gilger, chief of pediatric gastroenterology at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, said he did not think the study settled the fiercely debated question.

"This is where you say further research is needed because that's the honest truth," said Gilger, who wrote a commentary accompanying the study.

It's possible that subgroups of autistic children might have specific gastrointestinal issues that would not be picked up in a general-population study, said Dr. Geri Dawson, chief science officer for the nonprofit organization Autism Speaks.

"There is more work to be done," she said.

CARD Austin Receives Major Autism Grant to Help Families in Texas

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), a leading authority on autism treatment for children, has been awarded a $1 million dollar grant from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS)
to provide services to children with autism between
the ages of 3 through 8 in the greater Austin area.

“I am thrilled that CARD will be able to help children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to receive our
services,” says CARD Austin Managing Supervisor Erica Worcester, MA.

The grant will enable CARD to provide Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) to children with autism as well as their families for a period of two years. “I am grateful to DARS and Senators Shapiro, Lucio, Patrick, and Zaffirini for the opportunity to continue to help children with autism,” says grant writer and CARD Treatment Evaluation Manager Dr. Melissa Olive.

"I am pleased that more children will benefit from the early and intensive autism services that these
providers offer," Senator Florence Shapiro, R-District 8 said. "This program will help us identify the service delivery models that best serve children with autism and will enable us to strengthen the state's efforts to serve this growing population."

"The number of children with autism continues to grow, so it's vital that we provide avenues for access to proper educational and behavioral interventions that can help them achieve success throughout their life," Shapiro said. "Through Applied Behavioral Analysis and other behavioral therapies, this program helps address some of the most prevalent challenges of children with autism."

1:1 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) will be provided to eligible children and families who meet the minimum requirements.

In order to be eligible for the grant the child must be between the ages of 3 through 8. The cost of services is on a sliding scale based upon family income.

Both individual client assessment and intervention will be combined with caregiver training to provide optimal treatment for each family. The behavior analysts will conduct appropriate individual assessments to determine the function(s) of inappropriate behaviors. Individual treatment plans will be drawn from the results of these assessments.

Families are encouraged to contact CARD Austin to be determined if they are eligible for this grant funded program. CARD Austin can be contacted at 866-833-3898 or CARDAustin@centerforautism.com

About Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS):
DARS is a state agency that works in partnership with Texans with disabilities and families with children who have developmental delays to improve the quality of their lives and to enable their full participation in society. To find out more about the agency’s services, call the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115. Information about DARS is also available at www.dars.state.tx.us.

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) diligently maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Founded in 1990, CARD follows the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). CARD develops individualized treatment plans and is proud to provide autism services around the globe. CARD was founded by Executive Director Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D. To find out more about the organization visit www.centerforautism.com.

Learn About an Effective Autism Treatment Program for Ages 8-21

Click on image to ENLARGE

For more information about CARD II,
visit: www.centerforautism.com/cardII

“This presentation will introduce parents and practitioners to a comprehensive and proven treatment program for individuals with autism between the ages of 8 and 21 years,” says Sarah Cho, CARD II presenter and Managing Supervisor of CARD Fresno. “The broad scope of this unique curriculum allows therapists to individualized treatment for a wide range of skills and deficits.”

Specifically, the program can assist students whose families require support managing problem behaviors, as well as teaching basic communication skills and adaptive skills (i.e.: toileting, dressing and making meals). CARD II can also assist students who are mildly affected and may need assistance only to acquire more complex social skills and apply them with their peers in their natural environments. The CARD II goal is to teach independence skills, appropriate social activities and relationship building, as well as many others.

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that is marked by the presence of impaired social interaction and communication and a restricted repertoire of activities and interests. The prevalence of autism has been estimated to affect as many as 1 in 150 children and is four times more common in boys than in girls.

CARD II Presentation

Friday, August 07, 2009, 4:00pm – 6:00pm

4928 E Clinton Way, Suite 105
Fresno, CA 93727

Childcare will be provided.

MANDATORY RSVP:

a.mitchell@centerforautism.com

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) diligently maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), we develop individualized treatment plans for your child. We are proud to provide autism services around the globe. CARD was founded by Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D, in 1990.

Autism Conference Takes in Much More Than Docs

By PAUL DAILING, The Beacon News

ST. CHARLES -- Liz Schneider, Teri Richards and Teresa Paul were among the 1,500 who attended the Autism Society of America's 40th National Conference and Exposition on Autism Spectrum Disorders.

But the three aren't doctors, therapists, behavior analysts or other health professionals.

They're mothers of children with autism.

Unlike many conferences geared entirely for professionals, the Autism Society of America conference going on this week at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles is also designed for people with autism and their loved ones.

Autism is a developmental disability that in 2007 was found in an estimated one in 150 8-year-old children, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected to release new, higher numbers on those affected.

Although autism rates have skyrocketed over the last several years, the ASA has been around for more than four decades. This year marks the 40th conference.

"For people who are non-professional, it gives them a chance to hear the new information coming from the professionals," Chief Operating Officer Barbara Newhouse said. "For people who are on the spectrum, it gives them a chance to have their voices heard."

Newhouse estimated attendance is 60 percent professionals, 20 percent people somewhere on the autism spectrum and 20 percent family members.

Schneider, Richards and Paul, all of Springfield, took advantage of that mix on Wednesday, lunching with applied behavior analysts Lyndsay Ori and Sarah Steinberg, both of Chicago. The five spent lunch brainstorming ways to right the imbalance in intensive support services between the two cities.

"In Springfield, we have no professionals who are providing support in our community," Richards said.

Ori said the professionals who deal with autism must go where the jobs are. Unfortunately, that is often to the detriment of smaller communities, she said.

"There are not a lot of opportunities," Ori said.

That disparity is just one of the challenges facing autism professionals and people affected by autism. One major problem the ASA is trying to combat is a relative lack of services for adults with autism compared to the services available to children with autism, ASA media associate Carin Yavorcik said.

"At age 21, it sort of drops off," said Yavorcik, whose brother has autism. "After that, there aren't as many services."

Autism affects four times as many males as females, according to the CDC Web site. It can be detected as early as 18 months. It impairs social interaction and is found in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

"It's a whole-body, whole-life condition," Yavorcik said.

CARD GETS DARS GRANT TO HELP FAMILIES IN TEXAS

Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-District 8, is proud to join with the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to announce the selection of two new grant recipients to provide high quality services, including Applied Behavioral Analysis, for children with autism between the ages of 3 and 8 in San Antonio and Austin.

"I am pleased that more children will benefit from the early and intensive autism services that these providers offer," Senator Shapiro said. "This program will help us identify the service delivery models that best serve children with autism and will enable us to strengthen the state's efforts to serve this growing population."

The program began in 2007 when DARS awarded $5 million in state general revenue, through a competitive procurement process, to four service providers. Senator Shapiro fought for additional funding in the 81st Regular Session that enabled DARS to expand the program.

Any Baby Can of San Antonio will provide services in Bexar County and the surrounding contiguous counties.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, located in Austin, will provide services to the greater Austin area. The four existing providers, located in the North Texas and Harris County areas, will extend their services for two more years.

"The number of children with autism continues to grow, so it's vital that we provide avenues for access to proper educational and behavioral interventions that can help them achieve success throughout their life," Shapiro said. "Through Applied Behavioral Analysis and other behavioral therapies, this program helps address some of the most prevalent challenges of children with autism."

Click here for more information about the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), based in Austin, Texas.

Autism Clinic In Austin Raided By Federal Authorities

By Mary Ann Roser

CARE Clinics, an autism clinic on Bee Cave Road that was being investigated by insurance companies over insurance claims, was raided
by the FBI and IRS agents.

The clinic has been closed, perhaps permanently.

Agents are removing dozens of boxes of documents, but they declined to say what they are looking for. They directed inquiries to Special IRS Agent Mike Lemoine, who did not immediately return a call.

Kazuko Grace Curtin, owner of the CARE Clinics, said in a brief phone call that the clinic at 4201 Bee Cave Road has “finally closed.” She said she was on the property talking to “a man and a woman” but didn’t know what was going on. She declined to comment for this article.

Kurt Simons Co., property manager of The Schoolyard, where CARE Clinics once had a 9,000-square-foot space, locked out clinic employees this morning because of “outstanding matters,” said Karen Wendler, the company’s vice president. The clinic had recently reduced its space to 2,700 square feet.

Soon after the company locked out Curtin and her staff today, the federal agents showed up. The lockout was not related to the raid, Wendler said.

Wendler declined to say what problems led to the lockout.

“We helped her get started and we did not have a history of any problems,” Wendler said.

Traffic at the clinic had slowed, she said.

In a previous Statesman article, Curtin said three major insurance companies were investigating billings by CARE Clinics, causing her financial problems. She had cut staff and clinic hours and had unpaid bills, she said.

CARE clinics mainly treated children with autism using alternative therapies typically frowned on by mainstream doctors. Though some parents who brought their children to CARE Clinics say they’ve seen improvements in their child’s autistic behaviors, critics say the clinic uses therapies that lack strong scientific evidence. The clinic commonly uses intravenous chelation on patients, a controversial treatment that introduces a chemical solution into the body to bind with a metal or other substance to be removed.

Please Note:
The Center for Autism & Related Disorders (CARD) is in no way affiliated with CARE Clinics in Austin.

CARD remains open and our clinicians are available
should parents have any questions about our services.

For more information about CARD Austin,
please contact:
Erica Worcester, CARD Austin's Managing Supervisor
3001 Bee Caves Rd. Suite 150
Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (866) 833-3898

ORANGE COUNTY , CALIFORNIA PILL SWALLOWING WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS

Pill Swallowing Workshop for Parents
July 21, 2009
Garden Grove , CA

Register today! - Click here...

CARD Classes

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) offers a variety of customized, hands-on classes and seminars that provide ongoing development for families, caregivers, professional educators, clinicians, and students with the opportunity to benefit from over 150 years of combined experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

CARD Classes are held at a variety of CARD office locations, as well as community centers around the country.

Please click on the links below to learn more about each opportunity and register today!

If you have any questions, please contact:
Daphne
818.345.2345 x270.

Join Dr. Granpeesheh in South Africa Next Week!

Listen to her interview on South Africa FM Radio

We welcome your feedback!

Difference In The Way Children With Autism Learn New Behaviors Pinpointed By New Study

As written online at Medical News Today

Researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have collaborated to uncover important new insights into the neurological basis of autism. Their new study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, examined patterns of movement as children with autism and typically developing children learned to control a novel tool.

The findings suggest that children with autism appear to learn new actions differently than do typically developing children. As compared to their typically developing peers, children with autism relied much more on their own internal sense of body position (proprioception), rather than visual information coming from the external world to learn new patterns of movement. Furthermore, researchers found that the greater the reliance on proprioceptive, the greater the child's impairment in social skills, motor skills and imitation.

Previous research has shown that children with autism have difficulty with motor skills, which appears to be associated with abnormalities in how the brain learns motor actions. To study the models formed in the brain when children with autism learn a new movement, researchers measured patterns of generalization as 14 children with autism and 13 typically developing children learned to reach using a novel tool. They then examined how well children were able to generalize what they learned in two separate ways - one that detected how much they relied on visual information to guide learning and one that detected how much they relied on proprioceptive information to guide learning.

"These findings can lead to important advances in methods for treating autism. Applying the knowledge gained in the current study, targeted interventions can be developed that enhance visuo-motor associations in children with autism as they learn new skills," said Dr. Stewart H. Mostofsky, study author and a pediatric neurologist in the Department of Developmental Cognitive Neurology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. "

If done early enough, this could help to improve development of motor, social and communicative skills in children with autism. Further, it could also improve their ability to understand social cues because the brain systems critical to forming internal models of behavior that guide our actions are also critical to developing an understanding of the meaning of those actions." The study findings also provide support for observations from previous studies suggesting that autism may be associated with abnormalities in the wiring of the brain; specifically, with overdevelopment of short range white matter connections between neighboring brain regions and underdevelopment of longer distance connections between distant brain regions.

The findings from this study are consistent with this pattern of abnormal connectivity, as the brain regions involved in proprioception are closely linked to motor areas, while visual-motor processing depends on more distant connections. "These findings not only demonstrate why children with autism have difficulty learning motor skills, but also provide real insight into why these children have difficulty learning to interact with the world around them," said Dr. Reza Shadmehr, senior study author and Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine. "If the way their brain is wired is not allowing them to rely as much as typically developing children on external visual cues to guide behavior, they may have difficulty learning how to interact with other people and interpret the nature of other people's actions." Potential next steps include the use of neuroimaging to investigate whether or not proprioceptive versus visual feedback is actually associated with abnormal patterns of structural and functional connectivity in the brain of children with autism.

Additionally, researchers may study if patterns of motor learning can be altered to increase visual connections in specific regions of the brain. Through interventions such as cortical stimulation, biofeedback and behavioral approaches, researchers are looking to investigate if there is an improvement in children with autism's ability to rely on visual input to guide how they learn a range of behavioral skills. Source: Megan Lustig Kennedy Krieger Institute

Autism and the new Celiac Disease Link

By: Cate Nelson
As published on http://ecochildsplay.com

Kids of moms who have an autoimmune disease such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease have up to a three times greater risk for autism, according to a new study.

The first two have been linked in earlier research. But the surprise might be the last disorder, which is more commonly recognized as an intolerance to gluten. (Not “intolerance” as in: “I don’t want you in my club,” but as in “My body gets crampy and nasty and sick when I eat you.”)

Coincidentally, perhaps, there has been a four-fold increase in the incidence of celiac disease over the past 50 years.

Researcher William W. Eaton, chairman of the Department of Mental Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, said of the study,

This finding reinforces the suggestion that autoimmune processes are connected somehow with the cause of autism and autism spectrum disorder. This finding is on the pathway of finding the cause of autism.

There may be an overlap in the genetics of some of the autoimmune diseases and autism that would not be trivial. Autism is strongly inherited, but we don’t have the faintest idea where. But this may point a flashlight to areas of the genome that connect to autism.

He pointed out that these sensitivities might be factored in with environmental triggers.

Indeed, recently we’ve brought you news on various environmental factors in ASD. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastic may play a part. PVC has been linked to autism. And there has been a longstanding belief that thimerosol, a mercury-laden preservative in many vaccines, was a culprit. Mercury is a known neurotoxin.

And we also must notice the UC Davis M.I.N.D. study that discounted better detection as the rise in cases of ASD. The researchers there said that chemicals we are exposed to are strongly suspected and should be studied further.

Currently, genetics research is given much more funding than environmental research in the ASD field, approximately 10 to 20 times more.

In this case, data was collected on 3,325 Danish children diagnosed with ASD. Data on family members with autoimmune diseases came from the Danish National Hospital Register.

Eaton said that those diseases provided a link, but not a definitive cause.

The increased risk for type 1 diabetes is a little less than two times, for rheumatoid arthritis it’s about 1.5 times and for celiac disease it’s more than three times. That’s enough to impress an epidemiologist, but not enough to make anybody in the general population start changing their behavior.

Autism Nutrition Guide Named Most Progressive Health Book

Leading autism nutrition expert earns gold medal award for book that validates physicians & parents use of special diets to improve autism symptoms.

A groundbreaking autism book that validates diet as an essential and effective way to help reduce the symptoms of autism has been awarded the 2009 1st Place Gold Medal for "Outstanding Book of the Year -- Most Progressive Health Book" at the Independent Publisher Book Awards (The IPPYs). "Nourishing Hope for Autism" was chosen over 4,000 entrants and acknowledged for "the courage and creativity necessary to take chances, break new ground, and bring about change."

Cover: Nourishing Hope for Autism, by Julie Matthews

Outstanding Book of the Year -- Most Progressive Health Book

the courage and creativity necessary to take chances, break new ground, and bring about change.

Julie Matthews has done an incredible job with her book

nutrition is a key to healing autism.

Autism diet is an exciting area of study--parents are seeing results as they help their children follow specific diet principles

I am honored that this learning is helpful to parents and recognized by the judging committee at IPPY as 'most progressive.'

The patient's gastrointestinal symptoms rapidly resolved, and signs and symptoms suggestive of autism progressively abated.

It is recommended that all children with neurodevelopmental problems be assessed for nutritional deficiency and malabsorption syndromes.

Diet is the most important key to healing. No therapies will work as well unless you are using diet and healthy nutrition.

I have personally seen children who didn't speak, start to talk after a diet change.

Authored by Julie Matthews, a San Francisco nutrition consultant who specializes in nutritional intervention for autism, ADHD, and other childhood disorders, "Nourishing Hope for Autism" comprises eight years of clinical nutrition experience and research. The book includes the scientific explanation of how and why diet helps children with autism and guides parents and clinicians to use diet effectively for maximum healing results.

"Julie Matthews has done an incredible job with her book," says Dr. Kurt Woeller, a top medical expert who treats children with autism at Stillpoint Center for Integrative Medicine, "nutrition is a key to healing autism."

"Autism diet is an exciting area of study--parents are seeing results as they help their children follow specific diet principles," says Julie. "I am honored that this learning is helpful to parents and recognized by the judging committee at IPPY as 'most progressive.'"

According to the National Institute for Health, one in 150 children are diagnosed with autism. It is the fastest growing childhood epidemic. Traditional treatments recommend behavior and communication therapies, and medicines to control symptoms. Now, scientific data and anecdotal parent experience support special autism diets as a strategy for relieving autism symptoms.

Diet for autism is based on the practical conclusion that the psychological and behavioral symptoms of autism are impacted by physical and medical issues within the body of the child with autism. Diet specifically addresses the gut-brain connection, which is critical for children with many different levels of autism symptoms--physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral. Because the brain is directly impacted by the digestive systems of these children the foods they are fed can either help them or harm them.

This nutritional approach is supported by scientists in a new case study published June 29, 2009 in the Journal of Child Neurology. It is reported that a boy with gluten intolerance (Celiac Disease) and autism removed gluten from his diet and experienced marked improvement in his health and autism symptoms. "The patient's gastrointestinal symptoms rapidly resolved, and signs and symptoms suggestive of autism progressively abated." The report concluded, "It is recommended that all children with neurodevelopmental problems be assessed for nutritional deficiency and malabsorption syndromes." Research like this and other studies worldwide support the work in "Nourishing Hope for Autism" and the results that thousands of parents document -- special diets help children with developmental delays.

Kimberly Mahurin, a mom and "Rescue Angel" with Generation Rescue, Jenny McCarthy's autism organization that lends support to families, encourages parents to read "Nourishing Hope for Autism." She says, "Diet is the most important key to healing. No therapies will work as well unless you are using diet and healthy nutrition."

Jenny McCarthy, autism activist and founder of Generation Rescue, implemented diet as an integral part of her son's healing protocol when he was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. According to Jenny, her son has made a full recovery using diet, supplementation, behavioral therapy and medication.

Speech Therapist Dawn Winkelman adds, "I have personally seen children who didn't speak, start to talk after a diet change." Parent survey results by the Autism Research Institute report that most children who follow a nutrition-focused autism diet see improvement in autism symptoms such as behavior and communication.

"Nourishing Hope for Autism" outlines all of the major autism diets. Included are detailed steps for dietary intervention and a roadmap for getting started and customizing the varied dietary approaches. Author Julie Matthews educates parents and physicians at the nation's leading conferences on autism treatment and advocacy. This year, she presents for Defeat Autism Now!, Autism One, US Autism & Asperger Association, Autism Society of America, National Autism Association, and has already keynoted conferences in Canada and Australia.

To learn more visit NourishingHope.com.

About Julie Matthews:

Julie Matthews is a Certified Nutrition Consultant specializing in autism spectrum disorders. Her book, 'Nourishing Hope for Autism', and her work are based in extensive research and understanding of the biochemistry of autism and the role of nutrition to restore health. She educates at national autism conferences, leads autism cooking classes, and hosts a weekly radio program. Julie has a private nutrition practice in San Francisco and assists clients from around the world.