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In This Issue
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Prevalence in Utah
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Picture Books
·
Readers Recipe
www.utaharts.org
connecting you to art
www.ebay.com
Buy the Co-founder Tim Wilson’s marbles right
now
www.usautism.org
US Autism & Aspergers Association
www.utahparentcenter.org
April 13-14 Family Links North located in Sandy
various sessions for all disabilities
www.carmenbpingree.com
April 19th 8:30-2:30Spring Parent Conference Contact
Marin at
(801) 581-0194
www.playproject.org
May 10th-11th register through The Children’s Center;
this workshop will help understand and implement “floortime” concepts
http://www.marblesformiracles.org
brooke1@marblesformiracles.org
tim1@marblesformiracles.org
Diet change the first steps
Services you are entitled to
Alternative therapies
Stress relief for parents
Support groups for family
Organic food choices
GFCF, SCD, LOD Which diet does your
child need.
Going GFCF
DAN! Doctors
Biomedical treatments
Supplements
Speech therapy
Occupational Therapy
The Star Program
Floortime
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments
Coping with OCD
Setting a routine in place to benefit
child and family
IEP process
GI issues the minds connection
Environmental Toxins
Sibling Issues
The P.L.A.Y Project
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Prevalence in Utah
Utah has one of the highest autism rates in the study
released on February 9th. The study, sponsored by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), facilitated by University of Utah researchers on the prevalence of autism in Utah, stated as many as 1 in 133 children in Utah may be autistic. Utah was one of 14 states that participated in this
study.
Utah ranked No. 1 in boys vs. girls, at 7 to 1. Utah ranked No. 2 among boys, at 1 in 79. Utah ranked third in terms of prevalence based on
population, with a rate of 7.5 per 1000 children, placing it about 12 percent
higher than the national average. The new national average is 1 in 150, which
previously had been 1 in 166. New Jersey had the highest rate, at 1 in 94, while Alabama had the lowest rate.
Another way Utah leads is more of our children have a history of
regression or loss of skills. Meaning more children begin to develop
typically and then return to a previous stage of development. Based on the
group studied, one third of the children sustained some form of regression. Utah regression numbers were higher than all the
other states that participated in this study.
The study concluded that
Utah’s autism rate is now 20 times higher that it was two decades ago. Why
are we seeing such dramatic increases, referred to as epidemic by some? Are
the numbers simply higher because of progress, better diagnosis including
milder cases? The three counties
examined in this study (Davis,
Salt Lake and Utah) showed no difference in terms of prevalence.
Are Utah’s numbers higher than the other 14 states
because we have better records, more access to the records? Researchers did
express the records were complete and easily accessible.
The study did raise some
awareness and created some media attention. Unfortunately that attention
lasted for approximately 2 weeks and now we are left wondering what will
happen next? The study showed that autism is a major health concern in our
state, yet state officials have not moved into action to address the problem.
Recent economic studies
say the cost of autism over a lifetime is over $3 million dollars for each
autistic individual. This amount includes costs to the family for both
medical and non medical treatments, society costs and lost earning potential.
There has been controversy over the
cause and treatment of autism; bottom line, the families are left to cope
with the cost.
Picture Books
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In today’s age of digital photography, picture books can help an
autistic child in so many ways. Originally this idea was suggested by an occupational
therapist. She suggested taking pictures of everything: favorite toys, the TV
on, the TV off, the room clean and dirty, foods, etc. This creates a
picture exchange system, with familiar objects that are easily recognized.
Take it a step further, buy souvenir photo albums where ever you go
or the cheap ones in simple colors. Then take pictures everywhere, like at
the zoo. Children will connect things better if they are in the picture,
recognize someone in the picture or can recall the time it was taken.
Picture books can help build vocabulary, correct routine sensitivity, bring
your child out of his world and give you something to share with him/her.
Sitting with the photo albums and allowing him/her to lead you through the
pictures is fun for all involved. You can also use your own photographs to
create social stories for specific tasks.
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Reader’s Recipe
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Nutty Fruit bars
1 cup
almond butter
½ cup
honey
½ tsp.
gfcf vanilla extract (alcohol free)
1/3
cup raw sunflower or sesame seeds
2/3
cup raisins
1/3
cup dried shredded coconut
1/3
cup gfcf chocolate chips (optional)
3 cups
gfcf crispy rice cereal
¼ tsp.
coconut oil
Mix
almond butter, honey and vanilla until smooth. Add all other ingredients
except rice cereal. Mix until well coated. Add the crispy rice gradually
while stirring. When well mixed, firmly press the mixture into a greased
square baking pan. Cover and refrigerate 1 day prior to serving so the bars
can set up. Cut into bars and serve.
This recipe is GFCF.
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