Recovering Ty

and the apathy continues...

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:20:00 +0000

Well, I know that some (many people actually) find Obama to be doing a great job. People (several)in my own family have said he inspires them, though I think one can find inspiration from anyone who is successful. Nevertheless, Obama and his administration have done nothing and continue to do nothing for the autism community. I am not surprised since he was pretty clear during his campaign that autism was a genetic disorder and not a priority on his list if things to "fix". You can disagree with me that Obama is doing a poor job on several fronts, but it is a fact that nothing has changed and has even gotten worse for autism under his administration. Changing health care while NOT including autism is insane. You must understand that this is not getting better. This affects everyone even if you don't have children. On a societal level, we should be focusing on helping these kids reverse the autistic symptoms early on and making sure we reduce the environmental factors so we lower the amount of children who contract (that's right, CONTRACT autism). Actually, this is a fabulous article from Mark Blaxill in today's Age of Autism that explains the less than stellar job that people under the Obama administration have done. As Mark states, It's clear that H1N1 has been the focus. Please read the full article here.

Autism Heroes

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:52:00 +0000

Here is a video that ran on AoA thanking autism heroes. I've met some of these people, seen them speak, and even had dinner with one. They are amazing people.

Recovered!! Alec

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Recovered!

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:08:00 +0000

Read Ricky Mize's recovery story HERE.

Kim Stagliano in today's AoA

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:24:00 +0000

Mainstream Media to Autism Families: Let Your Children Burn.
By Kim Stagliano

Your pretty red house is on fire. You're on the second floor with your kids. The stairs are gone. You call the fire department. They tell you they don't go to red houses. They assure you that your house is not on fire, it's just your imagination. They hang up on you. Then they disconnect your phone lines. Smoke is choking your children, flames licking their feet. Do you throw them out the 2nd story window or let them burn to death having been told your house is not on fire? You may choose to let your kids burn to death. Good on ya. Get out of my way, though. I'm throwing my girls to safety.

That's my response to the Chicago Tribune accusing us of performing "uncontrolled studies" on our kids. (Our medical doctors are thorough and safe, by the way.) The AAP and mainstream medical doctors have abandoned our sick kids. They offer us nothing. Do they really expect us to let our children suffer? And why does it bother journalists like Trine Tsouderos and Pat Callahan that some of us are improving our children's lives?

Who on earth would tear down progress for so many kids and moreover, why?

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor for Age of Autism.

Russell Blaylock, MD

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:12:00 +0000

I saw Dr. Blaylock speak at the Autism Conference. His work is simply amazing! Check more at his website HERE

National Autism Conference

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:41:00 +0000

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to spend some time with the most amazing moms, researchers, doctors, and advocates that our community has. This was the first time I've attended an event with a nearly recovered child, so there was definitely a different feeling for me. I remember the DAN (Defeat Autism Now) conference I attended a year and a half ago when I was desperate for some help and for some answers. I remember feeling like I didn't want to belong to the group or the subculture I was in. I remember the Green Our Vaccines Rally holding up a picture of my son who was still so sick. I remember praying that I would one day be able to say that I had a recovered or nearly recovered child.

This conference was different. I felt so at home with other parents and doctors who share my same passion for more answers and for real studies and for transparency that shows how the environment and toxins are claiming the normal and healthy lives of so many of our Earth's children. I no longer care that I am not one of the majority of Americans who puts blind faith in the drug companies who care for their bottom line well before they care about the health of our children. I know there is something much larger than genetics going on here. I see the facts that many Americans continue to ignore because it's easier and less work to trust some pediatrician who believes whatever the AAP is saying. The same AAP who is taking money from the drug manufacturers. The amazing moms I met are pissed off enough to have the energy to fight and heal their children, yet still walk around with a smile on their faces and love in their hearts to give others. These conferences house some of the nicest, hard working, hopeful and determined people I could ever know.

I learned a lot and while I hope no one else joins our club, it's a club I'm appreciative to be a part of.

Flu shot propoganda!

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Wow, a new low has been reached here. I was watching Sid the Science Kid with my vaccine injured four year old and the whole episode was a propoganda ad on why we all must get the flu vaccine. This is insane. What next!!??!!

Dr. Oz on the GFCF diet

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:26:00 +0000

Thank you, Age of Autism, for running this story. Yet another doctor explains why our struggling kids should be on a specialized diet.

1 in 91

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:40:00 +0000

It's been asked before....what if one in 91 children born in the United States was born blind or became blind in the first year and a half of their life? Would there be outrage? You bet! Where is the outrage for our children??? Today the official new numbers came out. Autism is no longer 1 in 150, but 1 in 94. That's not even counting those with ADHD and other developmental delays. Think this is not your problem? Guess what? who will be paying for all these kids when they are older? What about the entire generation of little girls who have yet to give birth? The number is only rising. Where is the public outcry? What is the government doing? We are still looking for the genetic component??? I think it's safe to say we've got something much bigger than genetics going on here. Doctors agree there is "something" environmental at play, but are willing to make no changes in the environment for pregnant women or babies. I'm disgusted. This is shameful. This is as shameful as anything we have had in our society. Thank God for some pissed off mothers and fathers...if not for us, many parents of newly diagnosed kids would have no idea what to do.
You can check out this mediocre FOX story HERE

Yummy GFCF (egg and soy free,too!) Wraps!!

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:31:00 +0000

I made a new item today and it was a big hit (two years into the diet and I'm really starting to find my groove!)

I saw these Millet and Flax wraps by Sami's Bakery at the local organic market by my house. usually any of the bread I try comes out too rubbery and my kids won't eat them. I decided to take a chance. I ended up putting some olive oil in a pan, laying the wrap down to get the outside a little crispy (kind of like a quesadilla). I added some turkey breast that I baked a few weeks ago and froze the leftovers. After I thawed the turkey, I shredded it up and added it in the wrap. I added some organic ketchup in it, folded it over, and my son had a sandwich....really for the first time using any kind of bread!!

Check out Sami's bakery HERE

Typical Ty

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:28:00 +0000

I read this awesome book several years ago, long before autism entered my life called, Freakonomics. These two economists statistically look at random stuff in society. One of the things mentioned in the book was baby names. They say that what you name a child can affect what they become later in life. For example, if you name your son "Dennis", he is likely to become a dentist (get it, Dennis and dentist sound alike). I once got pulled over by officer "Speed" and I've heard "Dr. Beaukus" is one of the best plastic surgeons if you want a nose job. All according to these authors, is no coincidence. What IS a coincidence is that I had only one dream for my son, and that is to be typical. How fitting that the first two letters of that word spell Ty.

I have been subbing at my son's preschool all week. Not in his class, but in a neighboring room. The window to my classroom overlooks the playground. I've been able to witness him playing, socializing, laughing, and having a great time with his friends. I could see him having snack time outside, eating lunch outside, walking in the hallway, doing projects in his classroom... You know what I saw? Typical Ty. The only real issue this kid still has is language fluency. He just can't spit out a sentence with ease like other kids his age. He's four; we have time and we have patience. Better than that, I have a child with the determination and will of steel. I honestly believe he will become anything he wants to be.....regardless of what he has been named.

Two Years

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Two years ago today, I decided to try something that virtually all parents of recovered kids had done. I put my child on a GFCF diet. He was already dairy free, so I knew I could do it. It was challenging at first because I hardly knew what gluten was, so I wasn't sure what foods I could give him, but over time it became so much easier. I will never forget what happened just two weeks after starting the diet....I took my son outside where lots of kids and parents were hanging out and my friends in the neighborhood could not believe what a difference two weeks had made. he had eye contact, he was engaging, and he was playing. I knew that I was on to something. Not every kid is responds so quickly, but I know this diet has worked for my son. I think all parents owe it to their struggling kids to just try it. At least give it 30 days and see if it works. My son is now gluten free, casein free, egg free, and soy free (GFCFSFEF). He is also pesticide and preservative free as well. I look at food completely differently now. Food is medicine. It's true, we are what we eat. I'm so happy I didn't listen to any mainstream doctor or therapist and tried this diet on my own. The transformation that has taken place over the pace two years is nothing short of miraculous.

If you are wondering how to begin this diet for your own child, check it out HERE.

H1N1/Swine Flu

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Living a rich life

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:45:00 +0000

I've heard many times that having a special needs child (or a child who needs medical attention) brings the family a rich life. You know, it's so true. I would never hope my situation for anyone, but I am a changed person. There was a time, in the not so distant past, when I worried about the brand of clothes I wore or the kind of car I drove...don't get me wrong, I still enjoy nice things, but it does not define me like it once did. I am a deeper person, one who understands living life with priorities. I care about the environment more...not in the sense that I want to save every fish from extinction, but that putting so many chemicals into our soil and water and air does come with a price; our health and the health of an entire generation of children who have suffered from our past mistakes. When you have a child who is struggling and you decide to sacrifice yourself for a while and give what you can to that child, it is amazing how your life can be transformed.

I often hear moms complain about the most mundane and stupid stuff. I feel blessed that I don't fret over ridiculous things. I see children whose diets are terrible and loaded with toxic chemicals. I am grateful that I found out what that can do to a child, especially eating like that for a lifetime.

In the end, the parents I know in this community are some of the best people I've ever come to know. They are people willing to put in the hard work to help the whole family. It's not easy, but hard work sure does pay off. We take nothing for granted and feel truly blessed by each stride our child or the other children in our family make. It is true, we live a challenging, yet rich life.

The Battles Continue

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:46:00 +0000

I am currently taking courses towards ABA therapy certification (BCaBA). I do not believe that any one therapy works for all kids. People in the ABA field think their way is the only way and people in the RDI (another form of behavior therapy) field their way is the only way. No two people are alike, so no one therapy will work for all kids. I do think ABA has helped my son (though his therapist uses lots of RDI methods, too) and right now it is the only certified training that insurance companies under the new autism insurance bills will take.

I must watch about 5 hours of lecture a week in preparation for the class. While watching today's lecture, the PHD Guru that heads the whole program mentioned some very unflattering things about Jenny McCarthy. He said he hopes people wouldn't waste their time reading her book, that none if it has ever been proven, and then he proceeded to call her a stripper. You see, I have a big problem with this. He is training the future therapists that will be walking into the homes of parents who are trying to give their children some sort of normal existence. I thought he was fair with his reply. I will note that his campus is in very close proximity to one of the largest DAN doctor groups in the country.

The following is the email conversation between the two of us. I have left out his name and the school for his privacy.

The emails:

Dear Dr. (name withheld)
I am currently enrolled in (course withheld) I enjoy watching your lectures and hearing your stories. I respect you and realize that you have been in the field of autism probably longer than I have been alive, but I was saddened by something you said today in one of your online lectures. You completely discounted biomedical treatments for autism. You said they are no proven studies regarding anything Jenny McCarthy says in her book. You see you should be a little more sensitive because many of the new therapists getting their BCBAs are mothers who are working towards recovering their children from autism. I am one of those moms. Maybe you don't believe in autism recovery, but I have seen in in my own home with my own eyes from my four year old son. ABA along with biomedical treatments (the combination of both) is improving the quality of life for many (thousands and thousands) of children. You may never believe that (though children ARE recovering from autism), but please watch what you say on the videos. I decided to work towards my BCaBA after watching two years of behavior therapy for my own son. While ABA helped him, our DAN!(defeat Autism Now) doctor in Miami, Dr. Andrew Levinson changed his life. He looks like any other typical four year old on planet. He is enrolled in a typical pre-k program without a support specialist. One would never know by looking at him that he once had autism.

Jenny McCarthy is so much more than a stripper...SHE saved my son's life. I've often heard you say Skinner was not God and he didn't know everything. Time will show (as many more children reverse their signs of autism), that biomedical approaches work for many children with autism.

I hope you know how much I respect you and the program. I'm just looking for some sensitivity. (school withheld) should not be training BCBAs to discount the right of a mother to try a GFCF diet along with her ABA therapy.

Sincerely,

His response:

Hello ,
Thanks for your positive and, specially, for your corrective feedback. I really need to be more careful in how I present my opinions. I do hope some day there will be well-controlled research showing the benefits of bio-medical interventions and that these findings are published in peer-reviewed journals. I have read literature reviews such as the ones found in the book by Jacobson, J.W., Foxx, R.M., & Mulick, J.A. (Eds.) (2005). Controversial therapies for developmental disabilities, fad, fashion, and science in professional practice. New York: Routledge. They cannot find any scientific evidence for these treatments. Our local DAN doctor charges lots of $ for hyperbaric chambers, Auditory Integration, chelation, and many other procedures. Some of the parents of kids we work with say they can only afford a few hours a week of ABA therapy because they spend so much on these other treatments. You and I both know ABA works. It is a shame when parents cannot afford what works partially because they spend thousands of dollars in these other treatments. But perhaps they do help some children. I am glad that some of these treatments appear to have helped your son and perhaps even "saved" him. I will keep an open mind and be more careful in my wording next time.

Regards,

The Anger That My Community Faces

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:40:00 +0000

You know, I normally wouldn't give credence to such a ridiculous comment that was left below, but I think it's important to show what we (the "autism is not solely a genetic issue, therefore symptoms can be helped and reversed" community) are up against. I know that some people think I'm crazy. Maybe some even feel sorry for me. I don't really care because I know and have seen many kids with autism and my kid, the one who is on a detoxification protocol, looks like virtually any other "typical" four year old on the planet. Even if he didn't, improving a child's diet, any one's diet, by eating healthier improves life. I think the medical community is in agreement that you can reduce your risk of cancer or heart disease by eating healthier. So this was a comment that was left by some coward in response to my article "Autism and The American Dream"

By Anonymous:
You do realize that you don't have to feed your kid all that soy stuff. Organic has no affect on autism, therefore, it is a waste of money, and possibly time if you spend a lot of time looking for it. Autism is not the result of toxins, "I have decided to heal my child with food, vitamins, and detoxification," therefore, you are wasting your money on things better spent. How do you think your son will manage later on in life? Will you babysit him? When you die, what then? Your short sightedness is pitiful. Your son will go into remission. He will never have your "American Dream". Autism is nature's way of weeding out genetic inferiorities. Your actions, they are for naught.

In response:
The irony here is that this person thinks I'm leading a pitiful life by improving the quality of my child's and my family's life. Actually, my son will be a tax paying citizen, so he will be improving the quality of America. The reality is, leaving such hatred on my site and hiding behind "anonymous" is the complete definition of someone leading a pitiful life.

I can only imagine that people who are this angry have unsuccessfully tried to recover their own kids. For that, I'm sorry for you and for your child. In the end, I have made a significant contribution to my son, my family, and society. Not only is my life not pitiful, it is filled with richness and purpose. Some people search a lifetime looking for that in their lives.

My piece in Age of Autism

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:46:00 +0000

My favorite daily on line newspaper ran my piece today, Autism and The American Dream. Feel free to go over and comment. You can see it HERE.

Autism and The American Dream

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:56:00 +0000

I realize that with the terrible state of the economy these days this piece could be about the bad housing industry, but for me and my situation it is not just about that, it is about autism. My husband didn’t lose his job and I can find work if I had to, but instead my son is a victim of insurance discrimination.

Four years ago when my oldest son was just a few months old we moved into our brand new single family home. I remember sitting on the carpet with my beautiful baby and thinking that everything I had longed for in life was finally come true. I was raised by a hard working single mom who often struggled financially. I grew up dreaming about owning my own house one day and having some extras for myself and my family. I waited to get married and have children until after I graduated college, had a little money in the bank and a career going for myself. I thought if I played by the rules, everything would be okay. I always believed that if I worked hard and did what I was supposed to, the sky was the limit for me and my future family.

Two years ago when my son was two and a half, my husband and I were at a loss as to why he was becoming increasingly withdrawn and had lost the few words he had ever spoken. We also felt overwhelmed with his gastroenterological problems, his eczema, and his severe allergic reactions. I took him to his first speech therapist when he was just over a year old because he wouldn’t eat table food. We had him evaluated by three different speech therapists by the time he was two, and I kept hearing things like sensory issues and speech delays. It wasn’t until I saw Jenny McCarthy on Oprah that I realized my son had autism. We started a GFCF diet right away and scheduled our DAN doctor appointment. We were kicked in the stomach when his ADOS scores came in as moderately (not mildly as I had thought) autistic. To say I was devastated would be putting it mildly. I was in a haze during those early days after diagnosis, but I knew from the beginning that I would do anything and everything humanly possible to recover my son. My husband and I quickly figured out that our insurance, the plan that we had paid huge premiums for, was worthless when it came to helping our son. We knew to give him the best opportunity to have any type of functional life; we couldn’t worry about how much it was going to cost. Over the past two years, he has had behavior therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, speech therapy, and developmental therapy. We have been to see the DAN doctor at least twenty times. We feed him organic and preservative free food with no gluten, casein, egg, or soy. All of this comes with a huge price tag. We have been very fortunate to have members of our family sponsor therapy hours, but the money goes quickly.

Thankfully, our son is nearly recovered. He functions pretty normally in a typical world. He goes to a typical pre-school and he is in a gymnastics class for typical kids his own age. To outsiders, it seems that we live a very normal existence in the neuro-typical world. Behind the scenes, there are hours and hours of hard work and thousands upon thousands of dollars that have been put into it. My husband and I came to a point where we just couldn’t afford to keep our home and give our child the therapy and biomedical treatments that have been working for him. Saving a house or saving a child was really a no brainer for us, so we sold our home. I sit here and write this as I am surrounded by boxes and moving mess. This is my last day of living in our house. Tomorrow night we will be sleeping in the rental home we leased down the street. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a dream and that I will wake up soon. I can hardly believe that my son was injured and that our insurance doesn’t cover him. Early on we realized our child had hardly any chance of reaching his full potential unless we gave him lots of early intervention that we had to pay for out of our own pocket, follow a group of parents that the mainstream thinks are crazy and lose the support of our son’s pediatrician, allergist, and gastroenterologist. In addition and hardest of all, is knowing some friends and family members think I am crazy because I have decided to heal my child with food, vitamins, and detoxification instead of pharmaceuticals or accepting what someone with a medical degree says, which in our culture seems to be the answer to everything.

As for us, my husband and I can try again later to recoup everything that autism has taken away from us. What about this generation of children whose American dream was stolen from them right at the beginning of their lives? Not only are warrior parents trying to restore our own dreams, but we are diligently attempting to give our kids a shot at their own American Dream.

WalMart Super Star

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:08:00 +0000

I live about a mile from a super WalMart and having been taking Ty there ever since he was three months old. No matter how terrible he is doing, what regressive phase he is in, he is always a super star at WalMart. I think part of it is that since he's been going there for so long (seriously, some weeks I'm there two or three times!)he feels really comfortable in that environment. He always says hi to people in the isles, he chats with the cashiers...he has always looked completely typical at WalMart. My husband and I always tell each other how well he does at WalMart. That was even the first public restroom we took him to when he was potty training. I actually use WalMart as part of his therapy. He helps with groceries and he sometimes pays. I've often joked that I'm going to set up his next ADOS in the middle of the WalMart!!

Chelation

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:35:00 +0000

I've said in the past that chelation has been one of the biggest pieces in Ty's progress. Ty knows that he will get "strong like daddy and Superman" when he gets his IV, so he doesn't give us much grief when it's time for it. His urine levels are still showing massive amounts of lead being pulled from his system and high levels of aluminum, too. We IV chelate about every 5-8 weeks now. It's amazing what transformations take place within 48 hours of his IV.

For anyone that thinks chelation is scary, it's not. I hope to chelate myself one day when I have a few dollars to focus on myself (haha!).

July 19th

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:14:00 +0000

My life is full of irony and strange coincidences. The odds of crazy stuff happening to me has always leaned on my side; that's the way it always has been. July 19th is a bittersweet day for me. July 19, 2006 my first son Ty was given nine vaccines during his two year old well check. He would never be the same. One year later on July 19, 2007, my second son Brett was born. We just celebrated my son's birthday. Through all the joy and fun I can't help but remember that while it marks the birth of one son, it also marks the damage to my other son. Since both boys are doing well, we were able to enjoy our small family party for Brett. Happy Birthday, baby.

"A Bump in The Road?" By Julie Obradovic

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:46:00 +0000

This is a post that was in today's Age of Autism by Julie Obradovic. Many of the things she says are phrases that have come out of my mouth. It is raw emotion and very real. I can completely relate.

You can read her article HERE.

"What's Autism?"

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:48:00 +0000

As my son gets closer and closer to recovery, there are a few things I wonder how I will deal with. One thing I ponder is do I tell him he has/had autism? If so, what age does he need to know that? I've wondered when he needs to know what autism even is. My husband and I don't use the word autism in front of Ty because I'm not quite ready to deal with answering these questions. When my son learns a new word, he tries to fit it in his vocabulary whenever possible until he gets it right. He heard me say Motrin a few times when he had a fever and he used Motrin whenever and wherever he could. Once he pinned down the exact meaning of Motrin, he used it appropriately. If he or my little son does not feel well, he will be the first to say "get the Motrin." I'm not ashamed of the word autism, I just don't want it used in front of Ty. My mom and sister where just here for a visit and they word autism came up a time or two in front of Ty. I simply explained we don't use the word, and that was fine. My husband and I will spell "A-U-T" when we need to, as in "she works with kids who have A-U-T." Yesterday, Ty's behavior therapist asked me where I ordered some emotions cards. When I gave her the website, she said she couldn't find them. She asked "did you get them under the category specifically for autism?" and then it happened, Ty looked at her right in the face and asked "what's autism?" .....she ignored him and asked him to do something, but I know the question is coming again. I have to decide how to answer this complex question. Then, I have to decide when he will find out he had it.

Puzzle piece mystery

nraimann@yahoo.com (hopefaithbelieve) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:15:00 +0000

Every child with autism is different. When "they" say autism is a spectrum, boy "they" were right. Many people have asked me what my definition of autism is since I seem to differ with many in the mainstream medical profession. I found this definition in today's Age of Autism by Julie Obradovic. It really puts into words my position on autism for my son's case:

Position 1: Autism is a Treatable, Medical Disease

People who take this position believe the first problem with Autism is its name. Autism by definition in one dictionary means “preference for fantasy over reality”, an inexplicable cluster of behaviors and symptoms that manifest for some unknown reason. (That particular definition makes it sound like it's even a choice.) It is categorized as a psychological disorder.

But for these people, Autism is hardly a mystery. They believe it is a treatable and preventable whole-body disease that occurs in a genetically susceptible group. Genetics is not the cause of the problem; it is simply a factor in developing it. So are toxins. So are vaccines.

While not precisely known, they believe Autism is a collapse of the immune, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems that eventually manifests itself physically and behaviorally, only appearing to be psychological in nature. Addressing medical issues in those areas can often reverse the disorder in its entirety or at a minimum relieve the intensity of its symptoms.

This position is hopeful; it does not believe Autism is a lifelong irreversible disorder for which there is only behavioral therapy. It embraces a whole gamut of possibilities for treatment, recognizing that while the root causes are similar, each child is unique and needs specialized treatment.

You will never see a puzzle piece sticker on my car or a puzzle piece pin on my lapel. The puzzle piece has never represented my experience with autism. For me, it has never been a mystery.