Marbles for Miracles

September 15, 2007

Volume 2, Number 9

In This Issue

· Routine. Routine. Routine.

· Family to Family Network

· Rules by Cynthia Lord

· Reader’s Recipe – Heather Cropper

Links

www.utaharts.org

connecting you to art

www.timwilsonglassart.com

View the Co-founder Tim Wilson’s art

www.usautism.org

US Autism & Aspergers Association

Upcoming Events in Utah

www.utahkids@yahoogroups.com

Oct. 6^th 11am-1pm Early Intervention Celebration @ CSHCN Building

www.marblesformiracles.org

Nov. 17^th Location TBA

2^nd Annual Royal Food Fight Fundraiser

http://www.marblesformiracles.org

brooke1@marblesformiracles.org

tim1@marblesformiracles.org

Topics for Upcoming Newsletters

Diet change the first steps

Services you are entitled to

Alternative therapies

Education options

Keeping a Routine in place to benefit child and family

So as the bus pulled up last week, my son says “Who is that man?” “That nice man is going to take you to school today,” the babysitter replies. He screamed, “NO HE IS NOT!” Well luckily the routine wasn’t completely off or I doubt he would have gotten on the bus, fortunately for us the routine aid was there just a different driver.

Routine and structure are important to most, but to a child with autism it can mean to melt down or not to melt down, and to a family of an individual with autism it can mean sanity. Routine is important but flexibility has to occur occasionally. So how do we ease our children into change? SLOWLY! Prepare them when at all possible, give fair warning.

Once in a while things happen and no warning is available and that is ok too. When something unexpected happens and throws off your game, try to maintain some since of “schedule.” Reinforce that change is ok and soon you will go back to common routine. For example, you get stuck in traffic so everything is now behind, take the time to catch up, but maybe sacrifice something so that the bath still happens at 7:30, if you can do that from then on you are back on track.

Family to Family Network

The Family to Family Network is a statewide association of local, community-based, grassroots, parent/family run, peer support and information groups. The Local Networks are supported by three Regional Networks. All are under the general governance of a State Governing Board for the Networks that is comprised of elected, representative members from the Networks and other partner agencies and organizations.

The mission of the Family to Family Network: To educate, strengthen, and support families of people with disabilities. The Family to Family Network is a grassroots volunteer group composed of family members across Utah who have a relative with a disability. You can learn what services and resources are available, including, local monthly meetings, information and referral, family-to family support and advocacy.

For more information call (800) 468-1160. Get connected with your local network!

Rules by Cynthia Lord

To the many of us that have “typical” children in addition to our autistic child, we struggle to address all family members’ feelings. This book is fantastic for siblings. It is based on a 12 year old girl who has a younger brother with autism. She is often embarrassed by his behaviors and over a summer learns to look at “what is normal” a little differently. This story addressed so many things that my 10 year old feels and expresses; I recommend it for all siblings of brothers or sisters with disabilities.

Cynthia Lord is a mother of two children, one of whom has autism. She says, “I wrote Rules to explore some of my own questions about living with someone who sees the world so differently than I do, but also to show a full experience to family life with a child with autism: the happy moments, the heartbreaking ones, the ones that make me laugh.”

There is a lot of truth and “I can relate” throughout the book. It is available through scholastic, so keep an eye out for it in your children’s book order forms they bring home from school. My daughter checked it out from her school library and it is also available through amazon.com.

Reader’s Recipe

This recipe comes from Heather Cropper. Her son Sam was diagnosed with Autism in April 2006.

GFCF Chicken Nuggets

1 lb. boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1"cubes
1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
2 tsp. gluten-free seasoned salt (such as Gluten Free Pantry)
2 eggs
canola oil
gluten-free barbeque sauce

Directions:

Beat eggs in a medium bowl. In another medium bowl, combine flour and seasoned salt. Dip the chicken cubes in the beaten eggs and then dredge them in the flour. Fry in a frying pan with 1 inch of oil. Serve with a barbeque sauce.

Tip: These chicken nuggets freeze very well. Double the recipe and freeze extras for a fast microwavable meal.