Sunday, April 29, 2012

AMC Sensory Friendly Movie Pirates! Band of Misfits!

Sensory Friendly Version Coming to AMC Coral Ridge 10!

AMC Entertainment® and the Autism Society of America have teamed up to bring families affected by autism a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis.
With Sensory Friendly Films, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up, the sound turned down and no previews.  For those families who don’t get to go to the movies because it’s too difficult, this is the movie for you!!! It’s an event that the entire family will enjoy!!!!

Here's the "When and Where" for this event...

Saturday, May 5, 2012
10:00am until 12:00pm
AMC Coral Ridge 10
3401 NE 26th Ave
Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33306
(Just east of Federal Highway, north of Oakland Park Blvd – Behind Target)
            954-566-9677    

For tickets to this unique experience, please visit the theatre’s box office the day of the event. Tickets are $5

Upcoming Shows
June 16 - Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

*Please note all dates and films are subject to change
Never miss a movie!
Sign up for the Autism Society's free e-newsletter for updates on upcoming Sensory Friendly Films, as well as the latest info on autism news, advocacy, research, education, conferences and resources!

Insync with Autism

Jonathan is absolutely going to LOVE this...
Update...
We're here and Jonathan is REALLY into the music!


insync with autism 


A Harmonious Experience For Individuals With Autism

 
TO RSVP CLICK HERE
Please include name, phone, and # of seats in email.
Help us support future concerts by purchasing gift items!
INSYNC With Autism is pleased to announce their sixth event to be held at the New Horizon United Methodist Church on Sunday, October 31st, 2010.
We are excited to present "The Florida Youth Orchestra" for this event. 
***Please come in costume for Halloween!
***Pre-Concert Trick-or-Treating and Art Activities start at 2:30PM, concert from 3-4:15PM
The hands-on musical program, INSYNC With Autism – A Harmonious Experience for Individuals with Autism, will feature an interactive musical performance that can be enjoyed by the entire family. This musical performance will be presented free of charge to individuals affected by autism and their families through funding by The Rotary Club Of Weston in partnership with UM NSU Center For Autism and Related Disabilities.
INSYNC With Autism aspires to improve the quality of life for families affected by autism by providing them with a safe, fun community experience.
The concert series is specifically tailored to be “autism friendly” and will enrich the lives of those with autism through the power of music. INSYNC With Autism provides a unique opportunity for individuals affected by autism, their families, and friends from the community to experience the concert in a relaxed environment. The theatre provides an open space for individuals to dance, jump, or relax to the music without the difficulties that a larger venue might bring. Audience members will be given the opportunity to learn how music can enrich the lives of individuals with autism by actively participating with different percussion instruments.
TO RSVP CLICK HERE
Please include name, phone, and # of seats in email.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Epsom Salt for Autism?

We're always looking for light reading between tasks on what we can do for our son to overcome the negative effects of Autism, and so I was intrigued when I found an article on Epsom Salt.  I guess what kind of stuck out in my mind was the fact that lately, we've had to give him Miralax for constipation and I know that the active ingredient in Miralax is actually Magnesium.  Well, Epsom Salt is not really salt, it's really just Magnesium Sulfate.  Not to go too much into another subject, but another article we wrote here, about a Tylenol and Allergy Link, it turns out that the Sulfates in Epsom Salts, can replenish the Sulfates used up in the Liver, due to taking Tylenol.  It should be noted however, that some studies make it unclear if both should be taken at the same time, so talk to your doctor.
To make a long story short, I've been putting a cup in Jonathan's bath every other day and I've found that he sleeps better, has less allergic outbreaks and seems to be able to concentrate on tasks we give him a bit longer than before.  The only thing I would like to say though, before continuing on to read the article, is to double check with your doctor, since the Magnesium or the Sulfate might interact negatively with Medication your child might be on.
Here's the Article, and you decide.


My mother taught me about Epsom salts for aches and pains. She would swear by it and I would ignore it; chalking it up to another old wives tale she told me. But then autism entered our lives and suddenly I was reading about the magic of Epsom salt baths. Could my mom actually have been right about this? Well, yes.
The reason I learned about Epsom salt baths for my son with autism was due to the research I was conducting on some of his physical and behavioral symptoms he displayed. It turned out that he has trouble with his PST (phenol-sulfotransferase) system and the processing of phenols and salicylates.
Symptoms of PST/sulfate deficiency (problems with phenols/salicylates) are reddened ears, hyperactivity, inappropriate laughter, night sweats, black under eyes, excessive thirst, eczema, facial flushing, trouble falling to sleep, disturbed sleep and odorous bed-clothes.  Your child doesn’t have to exhibit all of these symptoms in order to have trouble with phenols.  My son gets most of these symptoms and he not only becomes very hyper, but he starts to stim and he has trouble with emotion regulation.
Ready for the medical science behind this? One very important sulfotransferase enzyme is the one that attaches sulfate to phenol compounds, called phenol-sulfotransferase (PST). The PST is under active in the majority of autistic children. Without the PST enzyme working properly, the liver will have trouble eliminating the phenols in food.  PST is a Phase 2 liver enzyme that detoxifies leftover hormones and a wide variety of toxic molecules, such as phenols and amines that are produced in the body (and even in the gut by bacteria, yeast, and other fungi) as well as food dyes and chemicals.
OK, so what are phenols?  Phenols are present in food dyes, artificial flavors, preservatives and in highly colored fruits and vegetables, in bioflavonoids, and in carotenoids (carotene, lutein, lycopene, xanthophylls, and zeaxanthin).  Almost all foods have phenols, but in varying amounts. Salicylates are a subgroup of phenols.Salicylate is a group of chemicals related to aspirin. There are several kinds of salicylate, which plants make as a natural pesticide to protect themselves.  Foods high in natural salicylates are tomatoes, apples, peanuts, bananas, oranges, cocoa (chocolate), red grapes, coffee, all berries, peppers (bell & chili) to name a few.  My son can’t tolerate too many phenols/salicylates. He reacts to tomatoes (yes, ketchup and pasta sauce!), chocolate, red grapes, and artificial colors/flavors.
Most children on the autism spectrum are very low in sulfate due to a deficiency in this PST pathway.  Since sulfur intake is low, and its oxidation is slow in many autistic children, phenols and salicylates that requires or uses up sulfate ions during its metabolism, will make the situation worse.  Tylenol is phenolic and one or two minutes after a dose of  Tylenol, the entire supply of sulfate in the liver is gone!
So, what’s a mother to do? Well, listen to their mother. Epsom salt baths. One way to enhance detoxification is to supply more sulfate.  This increases the amount of toxins processed out. Sulfate ions may not be absorbed well from the gut, so simply giving more sulfur directly by swallowing supplements may not produce satisfactory results.  This may be because their body is unable to convert the sulfur to the needed sulfate form. Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate which is readily available to support the PST pathway. You can purchase Epsom salts at Costco, Wal-Mart or your local grocery and health food stores. Be sure to purchase U.S.P. (United States pharmaceutical grade).
When given an Epsom salt bath, the magnesium and sulfate in the salts are absorbed into the body through the skin. Because the sulfur is already in the sulfate form, it does not need to be converted like other forms of sulfur do. Sulfate is thought to circulate in the body up to about nine hours. Any Epsom salts left on the skin may continue to be absorbed as long as it is still on the skin, offering continuous ‘timed-released’ input into the bloodstream.
I put 1.5 to 2 cups of Epsom salts in hot bath water to dissolve and then add the cold water to balance the temperature. My son will soak for about 15 minutes before I use natural soaps or shampoos. Others add baking soda and lavender oil to enhance the relaxation effects.  I give my son an Epsom salt bath at least 5 nights a week, others do less.  It really soothes and calms him for bedtime.
I’ve finally decided to take heed to my mother’s old wives tales she’s been sharing with me for the past 40 years. There is something to be said about listening to your mother.  But perhaps we should refer to them as “old wise tales” from now on.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Milk Egg and Soy Free Cake

I found this FANTASTIC Recipe at Milk Allergy Mom

Milk and Egg Free Cake



This is our go-to cake recipe every time! It's yummy, moist cake that nobody will know is dairy/egg free.

Known as 4-H cake/depression cake/crazy cake/wacky cake.

This recipe is for 12 cupcakes, a 9x9 cake, and an 8x8 cake.

Double ingredients for 24 cupcakes, double layer round cake, or 9x13" cake.

Heat oven to 350.

Grease pan(s) with an allergy safe food if you are making this for someone with food allergies. We have luck with most Pam sprays and Fleischmann's Unsalted Margarine Sticks.

1.5 c flour
1 c sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup oil
1 c cold water

Combine ingredients and pour into greased pan or muffin tin. Bake in oven until done, when cake springs back to the touch or a toothpick comes out clean. Time varies on the pan you use, 15 to 30 minutes possibly.

Our favorite icing for this cake is Pillsbury Creamy Supreme from a tub. It comes in flavors of Chocolate Fudge, Classic White, and Cream Cheese, and for now they are all dairy free. They all contain soy. Check labels because Pillsbury WHIPPED icings DO contain milk.

Substitutions:

Vanilla CakeOmit cocoa. Double the vanilla. Add 1/4 more cup flour. 

Spice Cake: Omit cocoa. Add 1 Tb pumpkin spice. Add 1/4 more cup flour. 

Orange Cake. Omit cocoa & vinegar. Use orange juice for the water. Add 1/4 more cup flour. 

Lemon Cake: Omit cocoa. Use lemon juice for vinegar. Can add some lemon extract. Add 1/4 more cup flour.

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