1. Aquatic Therapy | Organic Seasonal Produce | Homeopathy
J U N -J U L 2015
I S S U E 62
Providing Hope and Help for Autism Families
Get Some
Z-Z-Zs
SleepStrategies
for theWhole
Family
Give Autism
a Chance
Breakingnewground
at the 2015 Summit
in Austin
Summertime Fun!
Autism-friendlyactivities
fromDeirdreImus
TOXIC MOLD
MENACE
Keep your
FAMILY
SAFE

2. Intuitive and Fun Picture-to-Speech
Communication for Nonverbal Children
Introducing Avatalker AAC
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see Avatalker AAC under Education.
For a full video tour of our
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3. AUTISM FILE 1
POLLY TOMMEY
Editor-in-Chief
Polly Tommey is one of the
world’s leading advocates for
children and families impacted
by autism spectrum disorders.
She has presented at the
European Parliament and
given voice to autism issues
before leaders of industry and
government. She is the founder
of both The Autism Channel, on
Europe’s Sky Television, and also
Autism File magazine, where she
serves as Editor-in-Chief. Her
book, Autism: A Practical Guide
to Improving
Your Child’s
Quality of Life
(co-authored
with Jonathan
Tommey) is
available via
Amazon.com.
POLLY’S PIECE
Spring Into Summer!
Use the (relative) calm of this special time of year
to make some memories with your family...
B Y P O L L Y T O M M E Y
W
elcome to the
June/July issue
of the Autism
File. This is one of my favor-
ite times of the year with the
laid-back pace of warmer days
and thoughts of backyard bar-
beques, fireworks, and fun in
the sun filling my mind. Be-
cause autism is such a huge
part of our lives, our family
ratchets up the vigilance factor
as being in the great outdoors
does present additional opportunities for bolting away from safe environments.
If one of your children is prone to wandering, be sure you have safeguards in
place at all times and refer to the National Autism Association’s safety website
http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/awaare-wandering/naas-awaare-
site/ for wandering prevention strategies.
This issue is packed with ideas for autism-friendly summertime activities.
Be sure to check out all the tips and strategies for getting the most out of the
season from Deirdre Imus on page 15. If you’re concerned about your child
losing momentum in achieving IEP goals over the summer, don’t miss the
vacation/education tips from Natalie Maddison on page 54 and also read about
the benefits of backyard aquatic therapy from Cara Koscinski on page 13.
One of my family’s favorite things to do throughout the summer is to visit
the many farmers’ markets in our area. No matter where you live, you can
take advantage of the summer’s wonderful produce options by buying locally
grown organic fruits and vegetables. Maria Rickert Hong has excellent sug-
gestions for choosing locally grown produce on page 48. And if your child is
a picky eater—as so many kids on the spectrum are—summer is the perfect
time to work on widening his dietary preferences. Dr. Lisa Sulsenti has some
sure-fire strategies for your picky eater on page 10.
From everyone on the Autism File team, we hope your family enjoys a safe
and fun-filled summer! 

This issue is
packed with ideas
for autism-friendly
summertime
activities.

© david_franklin / Dollar Photo Club

4. 2 2 FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS
Editor-in-Chief
PollyTommey polly@autismmediachannel.com
Executive Editor
Rita Shreffler rshreffler@autismfile.com
Art Director
Mary Francis McGavic production@autismfile.com
Advertising
Director of Advertising and Marketing
KimberlyLindermanklinderman@autismfile.com•309.368.9186
Editorial Advisory Board
Mary Holland, Esq.
Mary Holland is managing director of the Elizabeth
Birt Center for Autism Law and Advocacy, and a board
member of the Coalition forVaccine Safety.
Julie Matthews, CNC
Julie Matthews is a Certified Nutrition Consultant specializing in
autism, and author of NourishingHopeforAutism and CookingtoHeal.
Maria Milik
Maria Milik is the mother of two boys on the autism spectrum
and a long-time advocate for families affected by autism. She has
developed a wide network of parents and professionals seeking
answers for the many challenges an ASD diagnosis brings with it.
James A. Moody
Jim Moody is a practicing attorney and Founder of Citizens
for a Competitive Economy. He is very active in cause-
related advocacy and has dedicated himself to serving
the autism community for nearly two decades.
Shannon King Nash, Esq., CPA
Shannon is an attorney who has been featured as a tax,
finance and legal expert in numerous publications. She is
co-founderofColoredMyMind,anautismoutreachnonprofit.
Stephen Shore, EdD
Stephen Shore is an assistant professor at the Ammon
School of EducationatAdelphiUniversity,teaching
specialeducationwithanemphasisonautism.
Carol Stott
Carol Stott is a Chartered Psychologist and epidemiologist
specializing in the identification and assessment of children
and adults with autism and related conditions, and the co-
founder of BeginningwithA, (BWA), a diagnostic training
and assessment consultancy based in Cambridge, UK.
Anju Usman, MD
Anju Usman specializes in biomedical interventions for children with
ADD, autism and related disorders, and is co‑founder of the Autism
Center for Enlightenment, a non‑profit which supports research,
education and biomedical therapies for families in need.
PaulWhiteley, PhD
PaulWhiteley has researched autism spectrum and related conditions
for 15 years. His blog (www.questioning-answers.blogspot.com)
focuses on discussing various facets of autism and related research.
AndrewWakefield, MB, BS
AndrewWakefield is an academic gastroenterologist who has
published over 130 original scientific articles, book chapters, and
invited scientific commentaries.
The content of the letters/articles and advertisements in AutismFile
reflect the views of the respective contributor/advertiser, and not
those of the editor/publisher.
Jodie A. Dashore, OTD, MS, OTR/L, HHP
Dr. Dashore is a Board Certified Doctor of Occupational Therapy, special-
izing in pediatric neurology. She completed her BS and MS (Pediatric
Neurology) in 1991 from King Edward Medical School in Bombay,
India and her Doctorate from Rocky Mountain University in 2004. Dr.
Dashore received a post-doctoral certification in Sensory Integration from
University of Southern California and is Board Certified in Holistic and Energy Medicine
and Homotoxicology. Dr. Dashore is the founder and Medical Director of Integrative
Neuro-Sensory Associates, LLC , a functional medicine and Sensory Integration practice in
Marlboro, NJ working with children and adults from across the country who suffer from
autism, Lyme Disease, PANDAS, autoimmune disease, and much more.
Deirdre Imus
Deirdre Imus, founder of the site devoted to environmental health, www.
imusenvironmentalhealth.org, is President and Founder of The Deirdre
Imus Environmental Health Center® at Hackensack University Medical
Center and Co-Founder/Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids
with Cancer. She is a New York Times best-selling author and a frequent
contributor to FoxNewsHealth.com, and Fox Business Channel. In her quest to clean
up the environment for our kids, Deirdre developed the award-winning Greening The
Cleaning® program and product line, which replaces the hazardous ingredients commonly
found in cleaning agents with environmentally-responsible, less toxic ingredients whenever
possible. The program and products are used throughout the country in schools, healthcare
facilities, and businesses.
Terry Katz
Terry Katz is a licensed psychologist and Senior Instructor with
Distinction who has worked with children with ASD for over 25 years.
She is the co-founder of an ASD sleep clinic at the Child Development
Unit, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Department of Pediatrics Section of
Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Colorado
School of Medicine. Dr. Katz is also on the faculty at JFK Partners, University of Colorado
School of Medicine, Colorado’s University Center of Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities (UCEDD) and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
(LEND) Program. Her research focuses on sleep difficulties in children with ASD.
Beth Malow
Beth Malow, Burry Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development, and
Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University, is a sleep
neurologist with expertise in ASD. She is the director of Vanderbilt’s Sleep
Division. The focus of Dr. Malow’s research is on treatments of sleep
disorders in ASD, with an emphasis toward behavioral approaches. She is
also the parent of two children with ASD, and brings this valuable perspective to her work.
Amelia Orozco
Amelia Orozco is the senior editor and writer at the Chicago Zoological
Society/Brookfield Zoo, a regular contributor of Gateways, its mem-
ber magazine, and has contributed to the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums’ Connect magazine. She is the lead person in Hispanic
engagement and actively participates in community events and prepares
Spanish-language materials for the zoo’s exhibits and website. As a director on the Village
of Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, she works to connect the zoo experience with the
surrounding communities, fostering relationships between local residents and business
owners. Amelia is part of the zoo’s Arcoiris Committee, a diversity and inclusion group,
which plans and oversees diversity initiatives at Brookfield Zoo. She is also a freelance
community and entertainment reporter for several publications.
Leslie Phillips
Leslie earned an MBA from the University of Houston while pursuing a
career in marketing and public relations. Later, she worked for a contrac-
tor at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, coordinating experiments on the
effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body. She currently
serves on the boards of the National Autism Association and Katy Autism
Support. Discouraged at the lack of support families were receiving in their faith com-
munities, Leslie founded the Katy Faith & Disability Network. A graduate of Disability
Leadership Network of Houston, she has also received advanced advocacy training.

5. JUNE–JULY 2015
in this issue…
f e a t u r e s
 SUMMERTIME FUN By Deirdre Imus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
No other time of the year offers so many opportunities to enjoy
the great outdoors.
 A NATURAL CONNECTION By Amelia Orozco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Innovative autism programming puts a whole new spin on visiting the zoo.
 AUTISMANDBIOTOXINILLNESSBy Jodie Dashore. . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Exposure to toxic mold can have far-reaching health effects.
 THEPOWEROFSLEEPBy Terry Katz and Beth Malowe. . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Help your child on the spectrum attain healthy sleep habits.
 GIVEAUTISMACHANCEBy Leslie Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
The Autism Trust’s annual Summit in Austin breathes new life into advocacy efforts.
d e pa r t m e n t s
 ALLWECANHANDLEBy Kim Stagliano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Making some time for you and your significant other can boost
the entire family dynamic.
 NUTRITIONFRONTBy Dr. Lisa Sulsenti. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Have a picky eater on your hands? Try these palate-stretching strategies!
 THERAPY,BEHAVIOR,ANDLIFESKILLSBy Cara Koscinski. . . 13
Now’s the perfect time for some backyard aquatic therapy!
 ALTERNATIVETHERAPYBy Sandra Weizman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Heilkuntz homeopathy is a family affair.
 NUTRITIONSOLUTIONSBy Maria Rickert Hong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Take advantage of the season’s locally grown organic produce.
 CARINGFORTHECAREGIVERBy Tali Berman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Battle autism burnout with these sure-fire strategies.
 EDUCATIONBy Natalie Maddison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
The ABCs of IEPs: What you need to know.
r e g u l a r s
 FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . 2
 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. . . . . . . . . . . . 6
 MIND’S EYE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
 PRODUCT PICKS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
 THE WAY I SEE IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
 TIPS FROM THE TEAM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
 SPECTRUM MUMMY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
The Brookfield Zoo is launching
innovative commuinty-based practices
to benefit families affected by autism.
Mold exposure can create new health
complications while exacerbating
existing ones.26
Need more Z-Z-Zs? You’re not alone!
Use these expert sleep strategies to
benefit the entire family.32
Check out our autism-friendly
summertime activities and safety
strategies.
ON THE COVER: Editor-in-Chief Polly Tommey’s children Toby, Bella, and Billy Tommey.
Photo by Robyn Ross.
15
20

6. 4 MIND’S EYE

7. MIND’S EYE 5
“What I like most to
draw are maps,”
Jason Cantu says.
“That’s what I was first interested in
growing up. I like to travel and get
the populations of towns. I have a
very good memory. For example, the
population of Fresno was 461,000
when I went there last.” Shawn, Ja-
son’s mom, says Jason was interested
first in trains, and then maps and
populations came after that. “He
still can recite the population of just
about any town,” she says.
Jason has gone from drawing
literal maps of places he’s visited to
metaphorical maps. His Heart Map
drawing is a representation of his
heart surgery he had last summer.
He also created another image of
his trip from Los Osos, his home
town, to UCLA for his heart surgery
titled What a Long Strange Trip Its
Been. Jason almost lost his life last
August because of congestive heart
failure. He and his mom give credit
for his miraculous recovery to the
amazing cardiac team at UCLA and
to Jason’s unwavering positive atti-
tude. He’s doing better than he had
been for a long time but doctors
felt it best to implant a pacemaker/
defibulator and keep his name on
the heart transplant wait list.
Jason recently made good use of
the associate’s degree in broadcast
communications that he acquired
at Cuesta College. He acquired his
own weekly, hour-long spot as a disc
jockey on a Morro Bay radio station,
“97.3FM, The Rock,” which can be
heard live-stream online. His moni-
ker is “Captain Retro,” because he
plays his favorite music from mostly
the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and he loves
sharing the many interesting facts
he knows about the songs and mu-
sicians. Jason is also an actor and
is currently involved in a new film
production, a sequel to The Curse of
Blue Harbor.
“Autism doesn’t limit me. In many
ways, it has enhanced me. I’ve al-
ways been interested in going to new
places, having new experiences and
expanding the knowledge of what I
know,” Jason says.
“He never ceases to amaze me,”
says Shawn. “He’s uber-smart and
so authentic. He could never be dis-
ingenuous. He’s such a good person,
and I’m so proud of him. Authentic
and autism seem to go together.”
When asked about his struggles
Jason says, “I’ve had speech difficul-
ties, trouble making and keeping
friends, recognizing faces and ac-
cepting constructive criticism. But
just like any challenge, I do my best
to handle each one and overcome
any obstacle in my way. Muhammed
Ali once said, ‘Impossible is noth-
ing.’ And I am inclined to agree.
The only limits in the world are the
ones in your own mind.”
Jason Cantu has participated in
many Art of Autism art exhibits and
is part of both of Debra Hosseini’s
books The Art of Autism: Shifting
Perceptions, and The Art of Autism:
Shattering Myths. 
Mind’s Eye
Art Across the Spectrum
B Y D E B R A M U Z I K A R
 CAP & GOWN—In May of 2010, Jason received an associate’s degree in broadcast
communications from Cuesta College.
 “WHAT A LONG STRANGE TRIP ITS
BEEN”—Jason’s work chronicles the journey
from his home town to UCLA for heart sur-
gery last year.

8. 6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Speak Your Mind
Cover Classic
I always look forward to each issue
of your magazine not only for the
wonderful articles but also for the
beautiful photos you feature. Your last
cover (April/May) was truly stunning.
Cathy Jameson and her son made
this particular cover a classic—and
I love that it’s in black and white as
it somehow gives the image greater
impact. Thanks as always for being
such an incredible
resource for families
affected by autism.
—Ginger
Therapy Basics
After years of wondering
what was really going on
with our youngest son,
now five, we finally received
the diagnosis we’d been
dreading: autism. I was numb
for a few days afterwards
but then started looking at
various resources online and
asked a couple of friends for
ideas. Fortunately, one of them was
already a subscriber to the Autism File
and sent me a link to the April/May
issue. I have now read it cover to cover
and cannot express my gratitude for
having so much relevant information
all in one place. Being so new to the
diagnosis, I am especially grateful for
the article by Cathy Jameson on autism
therapies. I’ve now subscribed to the
magazine and have sent the April/
May link to many friends and family
members. I’m looking forward to
receiving each issue and again, thank
you for such a helpful publication.
—Tara
My husband and I have implemented
tons of biomedical interventions over
the years for our 12-year-old daughter
who has Asperger’s. Some have been a
waste of time and money while others
have made a huge difference for her
and were definitely worth the invest-
ments of time and financial reserves.
However, I’ve given little thought to
the traditional autism therapy “basics”
since getting the diagnosis seven
years ago. Many thanks for reminding
me that sometimes the interventions
that have been around awhile can
also have a positive impact. We are
re-investigating those very things
right now.
—Michele
Behavior Battles
My son is definitely a “hitter, biter,
thrower, and screamer” so your April/
May article on addressing these types
of behaviors could have been written
just for me. He is seven now and more
than a handful each and every day.
The strategies from Tali Berman have
been amazing for our family even
after only a few weeks of putting them
into place. Thank you, Ms. Berman
and Autism File for making such a
difference for not only my son, but
our entire family.
—Susie
Homework Hassles
Your strategies for dealing with
homework have been so timely in my
current situation. We have been going
through such nightmares for the past
couple years with our ten-year-old
who is on the spectrum. Although
he is high functioning and capable of
completing assignments, they almost
always disappear somehow between
our house and his school. It’s a relief to
know I’m not alone in this particular
situation—but even better, we are
trying all of Dr. Sulsenti’s homework
helpers during summer school while
things are a bit more relaxed. I’m
feeling very hopeful that by the time
regular school starts up in the fall,
we’re going to be able to take the
bull by the horns when it comes to
homework. Thank you!
—Vicky
Adolescent Angst
I’m a long-time fan of both
Kim Stagliano and the
Autism File. I love all the
articles in the magazine
but usually read Kim’s
column first—and then
re-read later when I’m
feeling the need for a
good laugh. I have two
girls on the spectrum
who are just now
entering the teen years
and I can’t tell you how
much Kim’s articles resonate with me.
The most recent one was especially
effective—I learned a lot and laughed
a lot. It doesn’t really get much better
than that so I thank you, Kim and
Autism File.
—Mary
wewanttohearfromyou! Email your
letters and photographs to us at the Autism File,
rshreffler@autismfile.com.Letters may be edited
for length, clarity, and style. Your correspondence
is important to us and we value your input; however
we’re unable to publish or respond to every letter. All
letters submitted become the property of the Autism
File magazine.

9. PRODUCT PICKS 7
ONTHEBOOKSHELF
Top reads to help you and your child navigate the world of autism…
Asperger Syndrome and
Long-Term Relationships
Written by the wife of a
man with Asperger’s
Syndrome, this second
edition fully updates the
bestselling relationship
guide, clarifying the new DSM-5
diagnostic criteria. Readers learn
how ASD behaviors can so easily
be misinterpreted, providing solid
strategies for living with the more
uncompromising facets of the di-
agnosis while highlighting the
strengths that can be of benefit to
a healthy relationship. Using illus-
trative examples and suggestions,
the book demonstrates how arriv-
ing at a better understanding of
the intentions and motivations
behind behaviors associated with
autism can lead to enhanced com-
munication and more fulfilling
relationships.
Ashley Stanford
(Jessica Kingsley Publishers)
Functional Behavior
Assessment for People
with Autism: Making
Sense of Seemingly
Senseless Behavior
Caring for individuals on the
autism spectrum often
means encountering chal-
lenging and baffling
behaviors. To effectively deal with
behaviors including aggression and
noncompliance, many experts recom-
mend that a functional behavior
assessment (FBA) be conducted. This
updated edition contains new
research, case studies, and anecdotes
in explaining how FBAs are carried
out both in and outside of clinical
settings—at school, at home, and in
the community. Written in a thought-
ful and straightforward manner, the
authors encourage readers to realize
that they don’t have to be profession-
als to effectively conduct an FBA.
Beth A. Glasberg and Robert H.
LaRue (Woodbine House)
SensoryStoriesfor
ChildrenandTeenswith
SpecialEducationalNeeds:
APracticalGuide
This handy guide provides
a step-by-step program
for creating and using
“Sensory Stories”—short
stories of just a few lines each which
communicate themes and actions
through a combination of words and
sensory experiences. These stories
are made affordable and accessible to
both parents and schools by using
everyday items found at home and in
the classroom with accompanying
lesson plans, games, and activities—
all of which can be adapted for
application with various diagnoses
and ability levels. Written by an edu-
cational consultant and author, the
guide provides a way to make the
stories engaging and fun while pro-
moting learning strategies by sharing
stories in a sensory way.
Joanna Grace
(Jessica Kingsley Publishers)
Send your tips on great reads and useful
products to info@autismfile.com

10. 8 ALL WE CAN HANDLE
As a n It a l i a n
American wom-
an of a certain
age (omerta prevents me
from disclosing the num-
ber), Frank Sinatra’s mu-
sic is in my blood. When
I sat down to share some
thoughts on relation-
ships, one song sprung
to mind, “Love and Mar-
riage,” made famous by
the Chairman of the
Board himself. The song
debuted in 1955, back
when the autism rate was
fewer than one in ten
thousand. Fast forward
60 years and the rate is
one in 58.
“Love and Marriage” was also
the theme song of the Fox TV show
Married With Children.
I think most relationships in our
autism community, including mar-
riages, are more Al and Peg Bundy
than Carol and Mike Brady. Autism
adds such a level of stress, work,
devotion, frustration, commitment,
financial hardship, family and friend
barriers—the list makes my head
spin. You know it. I know it. Having
a child with autism challenges all of
our notions of “typical” family. And it
challenges relationships too.
That’s OK.
I think of relationships in terms
of our kids as they journey through
school. Every few years, there is a
transition. It’s painful! We dread it.
We worry. Early intervention is ter-
rifying. We survive. First grade feels
like sending your child to the moon.
We survive. Middle school makes us
break out in a cold sweat. We sur-
vive. We panic over high school. We
survive. And then comes adult tran-
sition. We run to the bathroom and
“spill” as my daughter calls vomiting.
We survive.
ON THE BACK
BURNER
Our relationships, all of
them, go through tran-
sitions. Some make us
stronger as a couple.
Some keep us mov-
ing forward. And oth-
ers might split us up.
Divorce happens across
the population. I’ve
never been sure if there
really is more divorce
in autism families than
ot her p opu l at ion s.
Doesn’t seem so to me.
But there is divorce. And
life after divorce.
I’ll tell you a secret.
I’ve talked to other moms
who say, “Divorce would mean I get a
break every other weekend? I’ll take
it!” We say that in jest, sort of, most-
ly...but it’s reality for some families.
I’m not making light of it.
If you follow me on social media,
you know I spend a lot of time in
the kitchen cooking and baking. I hit
“Bake 350” at least four times a week on
my oven, break out the ingredients—
sometimes gluten-free—sometimes
gluten-full—and enjoy the planning
of executing a recipe.
Cooking savory dishes allows me to
“wing it” and add a dash of this and a
speck of that until the dish tastes right.
Baking is chemistry and has rules to
ensure a good outcome. Baking soda
makes the goods spread, baking pow-
der makes them lift—there are dos and
don’ts that would thrill an ABA thera-
pist. (Kim will add the right amount of
baking soda 4/5 times…)
What about marriage and rela-
tionships? They are also like cooking
Keep the Home Fires
Burning
Taking care of yourself and cultivating interests can spark renewed focus on
relationships despite the challenges autism places on families…
B Y K I M S T A G L I A N O
KIM STAGLIANO...
…is author of All I Can Handle I’m No Mother Teresa: A Life Raising Three Daughters
with Autism and 101 Tips for the Parents of Girls With Autism, co-written with Tony
Lyons. Both books are from Skyhorse Publishing. She also wrote a novel called
House of Cards available as an e-book on Amazon. She writes for Huffington Post
and other national blogs, is Managing Editor of Age of Autism, and speaks around
the country about issues related to autism. Stagliano finds that humor, much of it
self-deprecating, helps connect readers both in and outside of the autism and
special needs community. She trains in Shito Ryu Karate, Matayoshi Okinawan Kobudo (weapons)
and teaches kickboxing and self-defense. She lives in Connecticut with her family. You can reach her
at KimStagliano@gmail.com. 
 TOGETHER TIME— No matter how crunched you are for time, carve
a regular spot in your schedule to be with your significant other.
©FocusPocusLTD/DollarPhotoClub

11. ALL WE CAN HANDLE 9
and baking. Sometimes we wing
it—trust our heart and our emo-
tions, and sometimes we need to just
follow the “rules” to get through the
day. The rules of courtesy, patience,
respect. Those are the times we may
love our spouse, but we don’t like
her (or him). That’s when “things”
can go south.
You know the phrase, “I’ll put
that on the back burner,”? It means
that you can ignore that pot while it
cooks, taking care of the pot on the
front burner, which needs your im-
mediate attention. We often put our
spouse or partner on the back burner
because our kids hog the front burn-
ers all of the time. We can’t help it.
We don’t mean to ignore our signifi-
cant other, yet we do. Over time, the
pot on the back burner might scorch
away to nothing.
CLEANING THE POT AND
STARTING OVER
I’ve seen “rock solid” marriages dis-
solve. I’ve seen couples I thought
could barely tolerate each other stay
together. I have no answers as to what
keeps us together with a partner or
not. I will say this: it’s imperative that
you take care of yourself and have
some sort of interest that is just for
you. Happiness, contentment, and
internal peace starts from within,
not without. No one can create that
for you.
Our kids are exhausting. Do we
adore them? Of course. Do we spend
our lives trying to help them? Yup.
Still, they take their toll on us.
So find something that takes you
outside of autism. That’s right, I said
“outside of autism.”
We can do that? Heck yes, and I
am giving you carte blanche to do so.
Do you have to find the same hob-
by or activity as your partner? I think
it’s nice if you can. You need some
shared time where you are adults and
yes, sexual beings. (That rather man-
dates the same activity then, doesn’t
it? HA HA!)
If you’re single, that’s probably a
good way to meet someone. If you’re
married or in a relationship, make
sure your partner has something of
his or her own too. For me, karate
has been my saving grace. For my
husband, it’s golf. My husband will
never ever don a gi and kick and
punch. I will never ever step foot on
a green. Mark has always golfed. I
found karate at age 47.
It doesn’t matter when or what
you do—just get your head out-
side of autism and into something
where you can have fun and, im-
portantly, mark progress. I’ve often
said to friends, “My kids, although
I adore them, don’t give me tradi-
tional feedback in terms of parental
accomplishment.” The average mom
and dad watch their child grow into
the teen years, get a driver’s license,
maybe go off to college, experience
heartbreak, get married and then
have children—grandchildren.
Mark and I have none of that—nor
will we. There’s no pat on the back
for a job well done as a parent. No
“finish” line. No “Now my kids can
take care of me.” Not ever. So Mark
being able to shoot a low score, win
a tournament, or watch his handicap
drop provides a taste of success. My
training and improving and earning
the next belt gives me a tangible
show of achievement. I won two gold
medals in my first karate tourna-
ment. (Disclaimer: I was the only
female in my age group!)
IT’S THE SIMPLE THINGS
You think our kids are the only ones
who need incentives and rewards?
Nope. We do too. And so do our
relationships. It sounds so cliché—
so shopworn: “Carve out time as
a couple.” You’re laughing, right?
What? With the $.03 we have left
over after our expenses? Yes, with
the $.03. I’ve never considered
myself a “cheap date,” but guess
what? I AM! Dinner at a hole in the
wall, with a Lite beer and a burger
is fine by me. I’m past shining fancy
trappings. It’s really one of the good
things autism has given me: a sense
of finding value and enjoyment in
the simplest things.
What about sex? You getting any?
Giving any? We’re grown ups here,
right? Sex is free. Have some. You’ll
like it. It will help you grow closer,
or at least distract you for... (insert
time here.)
I encourage you to have a close
friend in whom you can confide
your troubles. And if your troubles
get beyond the scope of friendship,
seek counseling. For yourself and/
or as a couple. Your partner can
never change anything if he or she
doesn’t know that there’s a prob-
lem. My dad, now 92 years old, told
me something decades ago and it
has stuck—and it is true. “Women
expect men to be mind readers.”
I am so guilty of that! We think
they should just KNOW when we
are angry, hurt, miffed. We use so-
cial communication differently from
most men—and that can lead to
hurts no one intends.
Talk to your religious leader if
that’s comfortable for you, or find
a good counselor. In our town in
Connecticut, we have counseling
at very low rates available through
the health department. The sound-
ing board of a counselor can be a
safe way to let off steam that might
explode otherwise.
Autism controls so much of our
lives. I think it’s important for all of
us, just once in a while, to be able to
look back and say, “I did it MY way.” 
 OLD BLUE EYES—Frank Sinatra debuted
thepopularsong“LoveandMarriage”in1955.
“FrankSinatra2,PalJoey”byColumbiaPicturesCorporation
LicensedunderPublicDomainviaWikimediaCommons

12. 10 NUTRITION FRONT
It’s common for many children
with Autism Spectrum Disorders
to avoid a nutritious and varied
diet while navigating towards comfort
by eating only a few of the same foods
every day. You are not alone in the
huge challenge to implement a more
nutritious and diverse diet.
Many children on the spectrum
avoid foods due to oral, motor, and/
or sensory issues. Orally, they may
struggle with food placement in the
mouth, chewing, and swallowing.
Motor issues may keep a child from
being able to move the food around,
chew and swallow, as well as pick
up food. Sensory issues can create
problems such as the taste or smell of
foods causing a gag reflex or a desire
to run away from the horrible smell.
Even the sight of certain foods can
create this desire to get away.
Just know: it is real. Neurologically,
sensory issues create actual physical
pain. My son would get very sick ev-
ery Thanksgiving from just the smell
of the turkey cooking in the oven. He
couldn’t go near it or even be in the
same room. This was common with
many other foods for him, but turkey
for some reason created great physical
pain for him and frustration for us.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Identify Sensory
Food Problems
Children with food issues related to
Autism Spectrum Disorders bene-
fit from a sensory evaluation. Quite
often, picky eating problems occur
in conjunction with sensory prob-
lems—taste, touch, sounds, sights,
and smells can all be factors in mak-
ing food choices. Oral therapy with
an occupational therapist may be
recommended to help the child’s ner-
vous system learn how to regulate
and handle sensory related problems.
Some strategies you can do at home
to help with oral sensory and motor
issues are blowing bubbles with a
straw, blowing a ping-pong ball across
the table with a straw, using a vibrat-
ing tooth brush along roof of mouth,
tongue and inner cheeks, and playing
a harmonica.
Make Food Fun
Allow your child to play and have fun
with his food at home. Yes, that is
correct. This freedom to explore foods
quite often creates a bond and love
between you and your child with vari-
ous aspects of food. Food can be fun,
creative, and delicious. Taking a grate-
ful approach where food is adored is
key in getting your picky eater to like
food. Your child must first build a
trust and likeness for food which will
allow him to feel safe as he explores
new and strange foods.
Start by choosing a food your child
likes, allowing him to smash, squeeze,
and make a fun mess with it. Add to
the fun by entering a new food into the
mix. Try mashing a banana with a play
hammer or put some through a play-
dough squeezer. Use outdoor shovels
and strainers. Try using an apple as a
target with a safe Nerf gun or catapult a
strawberry. Having fun with food helps
your child overcome sensory problems
such as touching, smelling, and tast-
ing foods. As you play, ask your child
to kiss, lick, or try the foods you pro-
vide. This can be very fun during the
spring and summer months. A favorite
is putting different types of juices into
water guns; who wouldn’t try to drink
it that way?
Shop Together
Part of creating a love for good nutri-
tion is to explore the world of healthier
food choices together. You can easily
start this by having your child create
a shopping list with you, go to the
grocery store and search for healthy
foods to cook with you at home. This
may sound overwhelming at first, but
kids really are great helpers when you
give them a leadership position. Some
kids surprise their parents by learning
which ingredients are acceptable and
which to avoid very quickly. There are
Tricks for the
Picky Eater
Although often a challenge, broadening and
optimizing nutritional choices can have a
huge impact on your child’s health…
B Y D R . L I S A S U L S E N T I
DR. LISA SULSENTI ...
...is a chiropractor, nutritional practitioner, advocate and author. She received a
bachelor degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Delaware and
her doctorate degree in Chiropractic from Life West Chiropractic College. Over
the past 17 years, she has helped thousands of patients with various health
problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, digestive problems,
allergies, ear and sinus infections, back and joint pain, headaches, Autism
Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorders, ADD/ADHD and weight
gain. Dr. Lisa is a member of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors. She is the creator of
DrLisaSulsenti.com, a website dedicated to creating healthy and thriving families with Autism
Spectrum Disorders; and owner of the one-of-a-kind online nutrition and food program, My Food
School. She is the author of The Overtilted Child: Creating a Sensational Classroom for Kids with Autism
Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorders and ADD/ADHD. For more information please visit
www.drlisasulsenti.com. 
© Tony Northrup / Dollar Photo Club

13. NUTRITION FRONT 11

Your child must first build a trust and likeness for food which will allow
him to feel safe as he explores new and strange foods.

great apps now available allowing kids
to read ingredient labels and find out
which ingredients are toxic.
Consistently educating your
child on healthy food choices and
exploring real, raw, and wholesome
foods such as veggies and fruits is
the number one way to get him to
ultimately eat them. Kids may need
to be around a certain food—see-
ing it, learning about it, touching it,
smelling it and cooking with it—nu-
merous times before they try it, but
once you build trust with a particu-
lar food, next comes like and then
maybe even love for it.
Talk About Food
Anytime you introduce a new food,
talk about it. Google it. Tell your child
why a carrot is orange and how it can
make him see better, create healthy
skin, keep his teeth strong and help
protect him from cancer. Quite often,
we expect kids to automatically know
what foods are healthy and to eat
them. I believe in not babying chil-
dren when it comes to food. Teach
them about the various diseases that
can be influenced by nutrition, and
explain how something as beautiful
as a carrot that you can grow in your
backyard can help prevent some dis-
eases while keeping the body healthy
and strong. Of course, keep it age
appropriate, expanding his food wis-
dom as he grows and matures.
Cook It Up Together
Pick out some recipes together, start-
ing with foods your child already likes.
If he loves strawberries, try making
a homemade strawberry smoothie
together. Have your child list the ingre-
dients, shop for them, and talk about
the health benefits of strawberries.
Then wash and chop them with your
child before blending the ingredients
into a smoothie. When cooking with
your child, give him age appropriate
responsibilities, allowing him to make
a big part of the recipe. This helps him
to get involved in touching, smelling,
and event tasting foods.
Grow a Garden Together
This doesn’t have to be a farm. Simply
pick one or two fruits or veggies to
grow so your child can see how it
grows from a seed into a plant, and
then a raw healthy food loaded with
goodness. You can plant strawberry
seeds in a planter and watch them
grow. Teach your child that he must
tend and nurture the plants just as he
does his body. Our insides are much
like gardens:
when we put
harmful toxins
into our inner
soil (our cells,
organs, blood,
and ner vous
system) we can
harm it just as if
we put harmful
toxins into the
soil of the straw-
berries. Teach
your child that
he must water
them just like
he must drink water so that he under-
stands the connections.
Try Food Mapping
Food mapping involves evaluating
a child’s favorite foods as you try to
expand what he will accept into his
diet with foods similar to his favorites.
Each week, choose one new food item
that is similar to one of his favorite
foods. For example, if your child loves
Cheerios, try an organic version such
as Cascadian Farm’s Honey Nut Os.
Food mapping can take time, but
don’t give in. Try the following food
mapping exercise at home:
`` Pick one of your child’s favorite
food items (at this point, it’s okay
if it isn’t healthy). For example,
chicken nuggets from Mc Donald’s.
`` Next, explain to your child that
you are going to play a food
mapping game where each week he
will try a new chicken nugget from
a different place. You can make this
fun and keep track.
`` Try Burger King, Wendy’s, and
other fast food chicken nuggets that
are similar.
`` Try a frozen brand from your local
grocery store. Keep changing the
frozen brands as you did with the
fast food brand so your child is
slowly getting used to different
textures and choices.
`` Make a healthy chicken cutlet
or homemade nuggets, as your
ultimate goal is to have your child
try a healthy chicken cutlet grilled
at home.
No matter how fiercely your child
has fought against branching out
from limited food choices, don’t give
up. Consistency and patience are def-
initely required, but are well worth
the effort involved considering that
you are setting the stage for a lifetime
of healthy nutritional choices! 
 MAKE IT FUN—Whether you’re choosing
produce from a farmers’ market or growing
your own, do it together!
©patriziolari/DollarPhotoClub

14. 12 THE WAY I SEE IT
Reflections on the blurred lines between obsession and persistence…
B Y S A M R U B I N
When I am talk-
ing, I often
tend to focus
on what interests me. The
mistake I make, I think,
is to assume that what I’m
talking about is of interest
to others.
Recently, my parents
have pointed out that
they “tune out” when I
launch onto some of my
favorite topics: Anything
having to do with Michael
Jackson, from his music
to his to his lawsuit, to his untimely
death; evolution, particularly the
debate between science-based and
faith-based interpretations of the
world; and comparisons between the
Abrahamic religions which are really
cousins of one another and why,
even with similar ideas about God,
are they are fighting one another in
today’s world?
I do notice my parents’
eyes glazing over when I go
off on my soap box about
these things. When I don’t
get the responses I expect,
I ask, “Did you hear what
I said?” In the past, they
would hang on my every
word. But now, they point
out that it’s not a dialogue.
It’s my obsession.
I am a loving guy.
Anything that smacks of
hatred or meanness eats
away at me. So, I’m trying
to work all this out by talking about
it. For example, the holy books in
the so-called conflicting religions
don’t preach hatred. But I see ha-
tred in action in the world. Michael
Jackson was a powerful and sensi-
tive artist, but people put him down.
Philosophically speaking, evolution
and intelligent design are relevant
lenses for observing life.
Life’s contradictions, however,
seem to create anxiety, and not just
for me. If I’m really obsessing, this is
what’s at the heart of it: I worry about
blame as a means to wield power over
others. But, I am told this is human
nature.
Regardless of the lens through
which we view it, we share the same
world. The way I see it, if I keep at
it, my words could confront blame
and build bridges to deeper conver-
sations. Soapbox or not? Interesting
or obsessive? Want to talk about it...
um...ad nauseam? 
SAM ETHAN RUBIN...
…is a 21-year-old actor,
filmmaker, writer and vocalist.
He is the author of And...Action!
My TAKE on Autism (and Life),
available on Kindle, and plays
the character Rocket in “The
Rocket Family Chronicles”
(The Autism Channel). His two-man opera,
Samlandia, is due out this Spring and he is in
pre-production on a new film. He lives with his
family in Oakland, California. 
Am I Boring You?
©thinglass/DollarPhotoClub

15. THERAPY, BEHAVIOR, AND LIFE SKILLS 13
Who wants to jump into a
cool pool on a hot summer
day? Your child does!
Since play is the main way
children learn, giving your child
aquatic tasks designed with play in
mind can be both fun and thera-
peutic! Aquatic therapy has been
around since ancient times. The
therapeutic benefits of the water
are tremendous. While submerged
in water, we feel effects that mimic
weightlessness. Exercising in the wa-
ter provides relaxation and gives both
proprioceptive and calming input. By
adding some well-planned activities
and games to your child’s summer
routine, you can increase muscle
strength, endurance, balance, and
work on social skills. Coordination
in all body areas can also improve
greatly with pool games. Adding
peers into the summer fun can
also help our children with special
needs to build confidence and last-
ing friendships. Whether you have
access to an in-ground pool in your
neighborhood or backyard or a small
above ground pool, all of these activi-
ties can be adapted to the dimensions
at your disposal.
PLAN YOUR AQUATIC
ACCESSORIES
While there are a variety of prod-
ucts specifically marketed for aquatic
therapy, you can easily duplicate them
CARA KOSCINSKI MOT, OTR/L ...
…is a longtime pediatric occupational therapist, an award-winning author, a
sought after speaker, and mom to two boys with autism and other special needs.
Cara’s books, The Pocket Occupational Therapist For Families of Children with Special
Needs and The Special Needs School Survival Guide: Handbook for Autism, Sensory
Processing Disorder, ADHA, Learning Disabilities, & More! provide parents, caregivers
and educators comprehensive, easy-to-follow explanations, suggestions and
activities to help children with special needs become more successful within the
home, school and community. Cara is a native of Pittsburgh and lives with her husband and two
sons. For more information, visit: www.pocketot.com 
Aquatic Therapy in
Your Own Backyard
Keep cool with relaxing, therapeutic water exercise…
B Y C A R A K O S C I N S K I M O T, O T R / L

Remember that there
is no wrong way to
exercise in the pool as
long as appropriate safety
measures are taken.

© Iuliia Sokolovska / Dollar Photo Club

16. 14 THERAPY, BEHAVIOR, AND LIFE SKILLS
with a little creativity. Swim vests are
critical if your child is not a confident
swimmer. The added security of the
vest is a good way for children to build
up their confidence slowly. Aqua vests
can be purchased at local swim stores
or at websites such as aquagear.com or
swimoutlet.com.
Purchasingafewdifferently textured
pool noodles is a must. Since the skin is
the largest organ in our body, providing
a variety of textures is important. The
more variety you can find in the shape
and texture, the more different tactile
(feeling) experiences your child will
have. For example, there are smooth
noodles, bumpy noodles, noodles made
out of foam, and some made of plastic
that are blown up.
KNOW YOUR NOODLES
Once you’ve got your pool noodles
handy, there are a wide variety of
activities you and your child can dive
right into! Here are just a few:
`` Ride the noodles like a horse.
Your child must “ride the horse”
across the pool to feed him out
of a bucket and “ride” back to the
starting point. Do this back and
forth across the pool.
`` Loop the noodle in a U shape and
have your child sit on it like he
is sitting on a swing. Have him
maintain his balance while tossing
a ball to you.
`` Use the noodle as if jumping
rope.
This is a fun challenge and
works the arm muscles
to push the noodle under
the water.
`` You can hold one end of
a large towel or noodle
and have your child hold
the other end. Pull him
around the pool in different
ways. Adjust your speed and
pull him quickly then change to
a slow pace. For example, ask him
to hold on with both hands while
he is laying on his back, next, try
it while he lies on his tummy, then
on his side.
BE CREATIVE!
In addition to pool noodles, myriad
possibilities exist for therapeutic pool
activities. Take advantage of your and
your child’s imaginations and the pos-
sibilities are limitless. Here are a few
ideas to get you started:
`` Use flippers on the hands or feet
to increase resistance and work on
strengthening muscles. Pretend
your child is on a scuba excursion
and drop interesting things on the
bottom of the pool for him to search
for. Have him place the items in a
bucket on one side of the pool so
that he has to swim back to it each
time. Of course, adding cuff weights
made specifically for water use is
a good way to exercise muscles
during any pool activity.
`` A large raft can be used as a pretend
boat. Your child can sit on top of
the raft and hold a paddle with
both hands. He can pretend he
is on a canoe. The work he
is doing while alternating
the paddle across his body
works on body awareness,
crossing the midline, and
bilateral integration (using
the arms together for
functional tasks).
`` Large water shooters such as the
“Max Liquidator” are large enough
so that a child must use both
hands to complete the task of
filling them up and shooting them.
Make a bulls-eye pattern on a
tree or large box at the edge of the
pool and see who shoots the most
accurately.
`` Make up an obstacle course where
he holds onto one kickboard
with both hands or two smaller
kick boards, one under each arm.
Both kickboard activities work
on building strength in the arms,
legs, and body core. At one station,
provide a watering can to fill with
water and lift up to pour into a big
bucket placed on the pool’s ledge.
Another station can include putting
on articles of clothing such as
shirts or socks. Have children race
to see who can “get dressed” while
wet for added fun. Swimming
with the added weight of wet
clothing gives input to the pressure
receptors of the body.
Remember that there is no wrong
way to exercise in the pool as long as
appropriate safety measures are tak-
en. Make sure adult supervision is a
priority and a constant part of any
activities that take place in or near
water. Virtually all aquatic activities
your child does will help him to de-
velop muscles and key skills that will
benefit him outside of the water. The
most important thing to keep in mind
is to have fun and relax. You are help-
ing your child to make memories and
skills that will last a lifetime! 
 NOODLE KNOTS—Pool noodles are
inexpensive and versatile accessories for
aquatic therapy.
 SAFE & SOUND—If your child isn’t yet
a confident swimmer, a swim vest is a
critical part of the program.
©smikeymikey1/DollarPhotoClub
©paulprescott/DollarPhotoClub

17. THERAPY, BEHAVIOR, AND LIFE SKILLS 15
Have a Safe,
Sun-Kissed Summer!
Enjoy autism-friendly fun in those lazy, hazy, crazy days ahead…
B Y D E I R D R E I M U S
Despite longer days and a slow-
er pace, summer goes by in
a flash. We squeeze the most
out of every drop of sunlight, each
muggy night amidst the mosquitoes
and crickets. And yet, the season can
feel like it’s over before it even begins.
Weekends fill up with commitments;
weekdays melt one into the next.
We long to laze in summer’s special
spark, but then reality sets in. And by
reality, I mean our kids.
No one loves summer more than
children, with their boundless en-
ergy and disdain for homework. The
burden to fill this extended time,
however, falls on their caregivers:
the parents, grandparents, aunts,
uncles, siblings, babysitters, and
anyone else charged with creating
meaningful activities that will not
only stimulate children’s develop-
ing brains, but also kill a few hours.
For the sake of everybody’s
sanity, this time is best spent away
from television and other technol-
ogy that takes us out of the present
moment. There are almost too
many ways to entertain kids of any
age in the great, green outdoors—
and maybe even enjoy yourself a
little bit in the process (I won’t tell).
Grow a garden—no
matter where you live
Parks are fantastic, and parks are
ubiquitous, and we should all spend
as much time as possible in these

There’s something magical
about planting, nurturing,
and enjoying vegetables or
flowers grown by your own
hand. This is true when
you’re 50 and also when
you are five.

© Alekss / Dollar Photo Club

18. 16 SUMMERTIME SPECIAL
prized places. But gardens are pretty fantastic too, and un-
like a park, you can create one in your own backyard—or
front yard, or on the side of your house, or in a window box.
Studies have shown gardening can decrease stress, and it has
also been found to promote physical activity in kids.
There’s something magical about planting, nurturing,
and enjoying vegetables or flowers grown by your own
hand. This is true when you’re 50 and also when you are
five. Gardening is an excellent way to teach children the
value of hard work, of patience, and of caring for some-
thing other than themselves. Plus, kids can see, smell,
or eat the outcome of this labor, which is a nice dose of
instant gratification.
As a bonus, gardening provides the opportunity for
the entire family to consider more seriously just where
their food comes from, and how it is grown. Growing
your own organic produce helps you avoid eating geneti-
cally modified crops. Remember, the DNA of genetically
modified foods is purposely altered, and it’s not something
I recommend introducing into your body. If you’d like to
read more research on the perils of genetically engineered
foods, I recommend the book Altered Genes, Twisted Truth
by Steven M. Drucker.
Avoid pesticide perils
Eating food from your own organic garden also pro-
tects your family from pesticide consumption. Pesticide
use in conventional farming is rampant; its effects are
long-lasting and wide-reaching. Our many chemical
exposures—beginning in the womb—stay with us
throughout our lives, according to the Pesticide Action
Network North America. We encounter pesticides not
only when we eat fruits and vegetables that have been
sprayed with these chemicals, but also
in the air, water, and soil that has been
consequently contaminated.
As I’ve noted before, eating foods treat-
ed with pesticides is especially risky for
children. Studies have found that children
whose mothers were exposed to pesticides
during pregnancy might be at an increased
risk for autism spectrum disorders. Pound
for pound, kids eat more food, breathe
more air, and drink more water than adults.
Their developing bodies are still maturing,
and according to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), pesticides may
block the absorption of important food
nutrients necessary for normal, healthy
growth. When you grow your own food
in carefully sourced soil, you can rest
(just a little bit) easier at night. Check out
BeyondPesticides.org for the latest news on
pesticides, and healthy alternatives.
Sunscreen safety
Whether in a garden or somewhere else, chances are you’ll be
spending more time outside this time of year, which means
more interaction with pesky bugs and powerful sunshine.
It is more important than ever to protect your entire family
from the critters that want to bite, and the sun that wants
to burn.
Finding a natural sunscreen free of harmful chemicals
is no easy task; many of the substances that help keep the
sun’s harmful rays at bay are toxic in other ways. As the
Environmental Working Group (EWG) notes in its excel-
lent Guide to Safer Sunscreens, many of the most common
sunscreens on the market contain chemicals like oxyben-
zone and avobenzone. While they are effective in blocking
some of the sun’s harmful rays, these ingredients also
penetrate the skin and get into the bloodstream.
Studies have found that sunscreen chemicals may mim-
ic hormones in the body, and oxybenzone in particular can
cause allergic skin reactions, as well as an increased risk for
endometriosis and lower birth weight in daughters, accord-
ing to information provided on EWG’s website. Mineral
sunscreen, by comparison, is made using zinc oxide and/
or titanium dioxide, usually in the form of nanoparticles,
which don’t penetrate the skin.
When selecting a sunscreen, EWG cautions against us-
ing sprays, which can be tempting given children’s tendency
to wiggle and inability to stand still for lotion application.
However, aerosolized sprays pose serious inhalation risks,
especially to people with existing respiratory conditions
like asthma.
Another trap to avoid with sunscreen is buying one with
a high sun protection factor (SPF). While the adage that more
is better may apply when it comes to eating vegetables or
 GROWING TOGETHER—Whether it’s planting
flowers, fruits, or vegetables, nothing compares to
gardening with your child.
©SolisImages/DollarPhotoClub

19. SUMMERTIME SPECIAL 17
running miles, higher SPF may actually give people a false
sense of security, causing them to spend more time in the
sun. SPF refers only to protection from UVB rays, which
cause burns, but it does little to guard against harmful UVA
rays, which penetrate the skin and can cause skin cancer.
What’s more, a higher SPF product requires higher
concentration of the risky sun-filtering chemicals
I mentioned earlier. EWG suggests avoiding
any sunscreens with SPF higher than 50;
for more information on the healthiest
lotions check out their website: http://
www.ewg.org/sunsafety
Nearly five million people are treat-
ed for skin cancer in the U.S. each year,
and rates of this deadly cancer are only
increasing according to the Skin Cancer
Foundation. It has never been more per-
tinent to practice sun safety, and while
applying natural, non-toxic sunscreen is key,
there are other ways to protect your family from
the sun’s harmful rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation sug-
gests seeking shade, especially between 10am and 4pm;
covering up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat;
and wearing UV-blocking sunglasses. And don’t forget to
examine the whole family head-to-toe once a month for
any suspicious skin changes.
Battling bugs safely
When it comes to that other summer per-
il—bug bites—long sleeves and long pants
can go a long way towards protection, but
are unfortunately not the most practi-
cal apparel for heat and humidity. Many
people are prone to trust the harshest of
chemicals when it comes to warding off
mosquitoes and ticks, but these repellents
can attract other health problems.
If avoiding DEET or other powerful
chemicals is paramount for your family, there
are botanical options for keeping bugs away. Some
Organic Produce: A Bounty of Health Benefits
Ideally, we’d all grow organic food in our gardens and live
happily ever after. In reality, this commitment would be-
come a full time job, something many of us already have.
Which is why when you can’t eat from your own garden, it’s
more important than ever to buy organic produce, prefer-
ably from a local farm. Research has found organic produce
has more healthful properties than its non-organic counter-
part, and supporting local farms means less fuel is needed
to deliver the goods from the farm to your table.
Cutting down on, or eliminating, transport time is also anoth-
er major reason to grow your own fruits and vegetables—not
only because it will improve your carbon footprint, but be-
cause produce loses a bit of its luster in transit. The sooner
you eat a tomato after it has been picked, for instance, the
more nutritional benefits you’ll derive from that sucker. Visit-
ing your local farmer’s
market or participating
in community supported
agriculture (CSA) has nev-
er been more prudent, or
more possible. For more
information visit www.
localharvest.org
But wait! There are
more benefits to extol
when it comes to gar-
dening, which can be
done any time of year,
really, but like many other outdoor pursuits is best in sum-
mer. Not only is the harvest more exciting, but in most
parts of the country it’s simply not that fun being outside
in the cold weather. And if being outdoors feels good,
that’s because it is good for you: research published in
2010 found that being outside in nature makes people feel
more alive, which in turn may make us more resilient to
physical illness.
Part of the reason nature can be so energizing is because
it promotes both physical activity and social interaction.
Gardening may seem like a solitary undertaking, but plant-
ing and pruning and picking plants has never been more
interactive. According to a 2014 report by the National
Gardening Association, there was a 200 percent increase
in community garden participation in the U.S. between
2008 and 2013. There
are more than three
million community
gardens in this coun-
try—surely you can
find one near you!
Check out the web-
site for the American
Community Garden
Association to find
one near you: https://
communitygarden.
org/find-a-garden
©MykolaVelychko/DollarPhotoClub
© Krzysztof Wiktor / Dollar Photo Club

20. 18 SUMMERTIME SPECIAL
of the more popular natural bug repellents contain castor
oil, cedar oil, citronella oil, clove oil, geraniol oil, lemon-
grass oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil and soybean oil,
per the EWG. Though most of these repel bugs for only a
short time, this route guarantees you will avoid introducing
chemicals into your environment. It’s also important to do a
body check for ticks after you and your children have been
in the yard, or a park, or hiking in urban and rural areas.
Hit the road!
Many of us seize the opportunity to escape our environ-
ments altogether this time of year and travel far from home,
which is challenging no matter how many kids you have,
no matter where they fall (or don’t) on the autism spectrum.
Journeying by plane can be particularly stressful, but there
are ways to keep the pandemonium in check so that vaca-
tion isn’t ruined before arriving at the destination.
You’ve probably heard stories or experienced firsthand
the nightmare of flying with children. The process is nerve-
wracking for even the most well-traveled adult going solo;
throw some kids into the equation, especially kids with
autism, and all bets are off. Luckily, a growing number of
airports around the country now allow individuals on the
autism spectrum to “rehearse” for air travel.
Wings for Autism, an initiative created by The Arc, is
specially designed to alleviate some of the stress that ASD
families experience when traveling by plane. The program
allows them to practice entering the airport, obtaining
boarding passes, going through security, and boarding the
plane. Though it may not benefit all families with special
needs kids, it can be especially helpful for many. Plus,
Wings for Autism also provides an opportunity for airport,
airline, and security personnel to observe and interact with
these individuals and deliver optimal services to them.
As with anything, preparing ALL of your children ahead
of time for some of the inevitable frustrations of air travel is
advisable. Delays, long waits, and turbulence are madden-
ing and frightening for even the most seasoned air traveler.
Pack soothing, familiar toys, games, or snacks for an anxious
child, and alerting flight attendants ahead of time to a child
with special needs could be helpful, too. And maybe don’t
venture to the other side of the country or to Europe until
all members of your brood are more accustomed to flying.
Backyard benefits
If staying close to home—really close to home—is more
your speed, look no further than your own backyard.
Driving hours away to a remote destination to experience
 CLOSE-BY CAMPING—Sometimes there’s no place like home when it comes to summertime fun!
©TylerOlson/DollarPhotoClub

21. SUMMERTIME SPECIAL 19
the great outdoors is fun for
a bunch of adults, but with
kids, the wails of “Are we
there yet?” may begin before
you’ve even hit the high-
way. Camping out in your
own backyard offers many
of the same benefits, with-
out the requisite chaos that
almost everything with chil-
dren entails. As a child, I
have wonderful memories of
making lemonade, arranging
fresh cut flowers, and shuck-
ing corn all summer long.
Other ideas for backyard
fun include a game of “drip,
drip, splash” (think “duck, duck, goose,” but with a cup of
water); cloud-gazing to get your kids’ imaginations going;
kite-flying on windy days; or setting up an outdoor screen
and hosting your very own outdoor movie night (it’s not
as hard as you think). For more ideas, check out Babble’s
list of backyard activities for kids: http://www.babble.com/
home/25-backyard-activities-for-kids
As we get older, the memories forged during summer
stick out a bit more in our minds, maybe because summer
breaks up the monotony of a year bookended by school
days. It is more precious in part because we treat it that
way, and while it may not be feasible for all families to
leave their comfort zone and travel far away, plenty of fun
can be had just outside your door. 
covering content that matters, in every issue
Each edition of Autism File covers a diverse range
of issues critical to ASD families:
` Nutrition
` Education
` Therapy, behavior & life skills
` Biomedical treatments and interventions
` Research
` Try It—Taste It—Worth Reading
` Day-to-day assistance and support
Reach a highly targeted and receptive audience, who are deeply engaged
with the content because it covers issues that uniquely matter to them.
Contact Kim Linderman, Advertising Director
klinderman@autismfile.com (309) 368-9186
“I love Autism File and
always recommend it to
friends and fellow support
group members. It truly
is a springboard for
recovery. I love that!”
Sylvia, Granite Bay, CA
Hope and Help for Autism Families
Garden Fresh Recipes | Latest Research | Nutrition News
J U N E -J U LY 2013
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JUNE-JULY 2013
AUTISMFILEJUNE–JULY2013issue50SUMMErTIMESMArTSSAFETYTIpSTocoNqUErwANdErINgINcIdENTSASd&vIoLENcE:SETTINgThErEcordSTrAIghTwww.AUTISMFILE.coM
dispLaYUNtiLJULY1,2013
Parent Power
How working as
a team Can Make
a Difference
Summertime
Smarts
FamilyFunThat
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YourBudget
11
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tIPS
to Counter
wandering
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Autism File, a bi-monthly publication, is now available
as a FREE digital download when you click here to sign up!
©andreusK/DollarPhotoClub

22. 20 SUMMERTIME FUN SPECIAL
Brookfield Zoo
introduces innovative
autism programming…
B Y A M E L I A O R O Z C O
A Natural
Connection

23. SUMMERTIME FUN SPECIAL 21
Who knew that cute and cuddly
animals could be so power-
ful? At the Chicago Zoological
Society’s Brookfield Zoo, which is lo-
cated just minutes from downtown
Chicago, children diagnosed with
Autism Spectrum Disorders are explor-
ing nature and animals through special
programming. Inside the 216-acre park,
there are many opportunities to see
these exciting developments in action.
Early childhood programming is one
of a series of autism innovations being
advanced by the Chicago Zoological
Society both at its Brookfield Zoo and
in surrounding communities. As autism
becomes more prevalent, now affecting
one in 68 children—including one in
45 boys—according to the Centers for
Disease Control, the Society is fostering
innovative collaborations with academic
partners and other non-profit organiza-
tions to redefine the role that accredited
zoos and aquariums play in the lives of
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
How can a zoo, a not-for-profit organization, whose mis-
sion is to “connect people with wildlife and nature,” use its
resources to contribute to the field of autism therapy? To date,
Brookfield Zoo has been a household name since it opened
its gates to the public in 1934; it has developed a worldwide
reputation with its many advances in the field such as state-
of-the art animal care and research. It is accredited by the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and has reached many
important milestones in animal breeding, exhibit design,
and visitor satisfaction. Through this
process, the Society has also success-
fully trained an empathetic staff and
developed customer service training
to include sensitivity for people with
disabilities. In addition, it has always
emphasized inclusion, which can be
seen in all of its programs, from zoo-
keeper chats to summer camp.
Team members are trained to
fine tune their senses for the needs
of their guests, and to accommodate
them as much as possible. In essence,
the Society prioritizes addressing the
“people” compo-
nent in its mission
statement, but has
not stopped there. It
is now also materializing
solutions for real-world issues
that affect individuals long after
they have left the zoo, even impact-
ing those who may not yet have visited
the zoo.
A HANDS-ON APPROACH
Today, the Chicago Zoological Society
is enjoying the benefits of the prepared-
ness that comes from this training, and
is backed by its unique position in the
field of zoology and its reputable stance
in global and local communities. By
partnering with other organizations
and private entities to make an even
greater impact on the lives of those it
touches, it is having a greater impact on
a broader audience. And by leveraging
its resources, including its empathy-
driven and inclusion-trained staff along with the expertise
of its partners, the Society is testing and developing innova-
tions that are mission-based and that support people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those
on the autism spectrum.
The goal is to help people with disabilities reach their full
potential, live enriched lives, and become active members of
the community. This includes providing job opportunities,
job shadowing and training, and life readiness coach-
ing. For example, there are inclusive summer camp and

The ultimate goal is
to establish a model
that all accredited
zoos can replicate
and use to enhance
guest experiences, to
launch innovative zoo
and community-based
programs, and develop
innovative partnerships.

 IMPACTFUL INTERACTIONS—A child
makes eye contact with a Brookfield Zoo play
partner as he interacts with a guinea pig.
©Tetyana/DollarPhotoClub

24. 22 SUMMERTIME FUN SPECIAL
first-of-its-kind zoo-based
social networking events
for young adults with au-
tism. During networking
hours, participants can ad-
vance their communication
skills and workplace behaviors
in a fun and nurturing commu-
nity-based setting. Typically developing peers—along with
autism therapists, job coaches, and Society staff—help
facilitate dialogue, transitions in conversations, model
behaviors, and soft skills. This hands-on approach by
Brookfield Zoo staff and volunteers has been key in the
success of these programs.
SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT
Since being diagnosed with autism, five-year-old Cody re-
ceived early intervention and early childhood therapy at both
home and at school. Yet it was at Brookfield Zoo where this
Chicago resident excelled at one of his developmental goals,
making eye contact. In fall 2013, Cody and his parents par-
ticipated in an innovative program at the zoo. The initiative,
a collaboration with Easter Seals, was based on two pieces
of recent evidence-based research that found that children
with autism attempt to communicate and demonstrate more
pro-social and adaptive behaviors when around animals and
in inclusive and experiential environments such as a zoo.
The groundbreaking project took place in October and
November of 2013 in partnership with autism therapists
from Easter Seals. Together, Brookfield Zoo and Easter
Seals developed a family-based and animal-centric cur-
riculum to advance sensory, communication, social, visual,
and fine and gross motor skill goals of children with au-
tism ages three to six. Positive feedback from participating
families, like Cody’s, confirmed that the pilot project was
a tremendous success.
Brookfield Zoo’s pioneering work in support of children
with autism disorders was hailed by Cook County Board
President Toni Preckwinkle and the Board of Commissioners
of the Forest Preserves of Cook County as a “national model.”
The ultimate goal is to establish a model that all accredited
zoos can replicate and use to enhance guest experiences, to
launch innovative zoo and community-based programs, and
develop innovative partnerships. All this, of course, is done
to continue supporting children and adults with develop-
mental and intellectual disabilities.
TAKING IT ONE STEP FURTHER
Eight miles from the zoo on the west side of Chicago, the
Society is prototyping a partnership with Growing Solutions
Farm, a produce garden in an underserved community that
employs young adults with developmental disabilities, in-
cluding autism.
The garden is slated to provide Brookfield Zoo with fruits
and vegetables for its animals. The Society’s nutritionist, Dr.
Jennifer Watts, toured the garden and met with the staff. She
was inspired by their great work and is excited about using
the zoo’s resources to support a greater social purpose and to
serve up some well-cultivated food to her animals at the zoo.
SOCIAL INNOVATION INITIATIVE
Following the successful launch of these programs and an
unparalleled effort to build greater relevance in the lives of
people and communities, the Chicago Zoological Society
recently became the first cultural institution of its kind to
launch a high-impact, institution-wide Social Innovation
initiative. Through this initiative, the Society is working to
maximize its impact in the lives of Chicago’s most vulnerable
populations through inspired collaboration and
mission-centric investments that yield measur-
able social change. It has begun to evaluate
its existing programs to see how they can
be enhanced to provide a greater good to its
participants.
In the broader context of sustainability,
Social Innovation at Brookfield Zoo is viewed as
just as important as advancing animal welfare,
conducting field conservation work, driving
attendance, or building new exhibits. Matthew
Mayer, who previously served as the Society’s
Vice President of Public Affairs, was responsible
for developing the Society’s autism innovations,
and was recently named Senior Vice President
 NATURE PLAY—A child and his parent help har-
vest plants in the Family Gardens at the Hamill Family
Play Zoo.

25. SUMMERTIME FUN SPECIAL 23
of Social Innovation + Sustainability, the first-of-its-kind po-
sition for any organization. Mayer works cross-institutionally
and externally to help advance economic and social mobility
in underserved communities, empower people with intel-
lectual and developmental disabilities, and enrich the lives
of those affected by domestic violence.
“Through Social Innovation, we can better harness the
social purpose of accredited organizations by advancing
breakthrough social change and achieving maximum impact
in the lives of our community’s most vulnerable citizens,”
Mayer said. “For early learners like Cody who participated
in our autism program, we want Brookfield Zoo to be more
than an autism-friendly cultural destination. We want our
zoo to be an empathy-based organization that leverages its
resources and partnerships to support him in reaching
his full potential,” shared Mayer.
The framework for Social Innovation
at Brookfield Zoo is in large part
based on a problem-solving concept
known as “design thinking,” pioneered
at Stanford University’s famed “d.school.” Mayer
introduced the use of design thinking at the zoo when he
developed the Society’s initial early childhood program for
children with autism. “Design thinking will change the
way we innovate at Brookfield Zoo,” Mayer said. “Rather
than starting our innovation process with a focus group or
in a conference room with spreadsheets and trends, we are
now embracing a new starting point—empathy—where we
immerse ourselves in the end-user’s world and, as a result,
are better equipped to identify unmet needs and gain new
insights on how the zoo can better support them and help
address complex social problems,” he said.
According to Mayer, social innovations
at Brookfield Zoo represent bold, new,
game-changing impact investments that
are scalable. Accredited organizations
can evaluate ways to align their business
operations with a broader (and local)
social purpose and subsequently develop
impact metrics to better measure the social
good they are contributing. “Introducing
a new concept like Social Innovation was
 INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT—Brookfield Zoo education staff receive
training to maintain and grow inclusion practices with guests of all abilities.

26. 24 SUMMERTIME FUN SPECIAL
easy,” Mayer maintains. “Our trustees, staff, and stakehold-
ers see how creating social good in mission-centric ways
allows us to redefine the role that cultural institutions play
in the lives of people with development and intellectual
disabilities,” he added.
A SNAPSHOT OF BROOKFIELD
ZOO INNOVATIONS
Special events at the zoo are not the only time
there is attention to detail at this world-class zoo. In order
to ensure a most memorable visit—anytime of the year—
Brookfield Zoo offers some useful tools for
guests with disabilities. Visitors can find on-
line visual schedules and social stories, which
are useful when preparing to visit the zoo.
In addition, there are CareKits (see sidebar)
which are available for families to borrow
when they arrive at the zoo.
The Chicago Zoological Society is making
great strides in advancing the role played by
zoos, through its animal programs, innovative
practices, and most of all, caring professionals.
The overall goal is to provide opportunities for
people with disabilities that would allow them
to live full and enriching lives.
VIEWING CHALLENGES
AS OPPORTUNITIES
Brookfield Zoo has transformed the role that
zoos play in the lives of children with Autism
Spectrum Disorders. The central challenge
in advancing forward is that it is different
and new, and not many people may know
what this means or how it is relevant to a zoo.
By collaborating with socially conscious and
optimistic individuals, the Society is better
positioned to promote its impact on invest-
ments and social outcomes. Its members also
play a key role in supporting these programs
by patronizing the zoo on a regular basis, and
investing in annual passes and programs.
As it continues to advance innovations in
autism programming, the Chicago Zoological
Society has established a scalable framework,
which can be used by other zoos, and can be
easily replicated by other cultural organiza-
tions. The goal is not just to achieve maximum
impact in the lives of Chicago area residents,
but also to create a national movement.
Non-profit, cultural organizations like the
Chicago Zoological Society will always be
recognized for their advancements in animal
welfare, for their pioneering work to save
animals from extinction, and for creating
zoo and aquarium experiences that change
peoples’ attitudes and behaviors concern-
ing wildlife and nature. Through Social
Innovation, the Society has embraced a new
moniker, one that defines its future: “agent of
social change,” by investing in what is most
important—people. 
EMPATHY-BASED AMENITIES
The Chicago Zoological Society is implementing its years of experience
through empathy-based programs and services which include:
`` Job training and life readiness skills for high school students with
intellectual and developmental disabilities
`` More than 10 community-based events that reach more than 1,000
individuals with disabilities
`` CareKits available at the zoo’s entrance that contain visual schedules,
noise dampening headphones, self-identifying autism stickers, and name
badges and ID cards (for guests who may wander away from their group)
`` Advanced customer-service training for front-line zoo staff
`` Special Recreation Association Day, providing more than 1,000
campers with a free fun day at the zoo
`` Annual Autism Awareness Day, providing over 1,000 families with
autism-friendly activities
`` Innovative partnerships with organizations including Aspire, Best
Buddies, Community Support Services, Easter Seals, and Helping Hand
`` Zoo Camp for All which includes advanced training for zoo camp
counselors to support campers with diverse needs
`` Annual Best Buddies of Illinois Zoo Walk, providing more than 1,000
Best Buddies a day of friendship and fun at the zoo

27. 25

28. 26 BIOMEDICAL UPDATE

29. In my personal experience recovering from As-
perger’s, along with the numerous children on the
spectrum I see in my practice, the journey is often
one of uncovering many stones and addressing numer-
ous layers of issues that affect the brain, the gut, and
overall well-being. My own autoim-
mune symptoms flared one week-
end while cleaning in our aspergil-
lus contaminated basement. When
I say “aspergillus contaminated”, I
mean a fine film of white “mildew”
on walls in the unfinished section of
our basement. I thought it was harm-
less. Wrong!
That same week, I began having
heart palpitations, brain fog, panic
attacks, muscle cramps, nightmares,
and many other symptoms. My then
breastfed son slowly began to regress
at the same time. About six months
later, we received his Asperger’s diag-
nosis. About a year later, we received
an atypical asthma diagnosis and
about two years after that, we realized
it actually was chronic inflamma-
tory response syndrome (CIRS) due
to mold exposure and mycoplasma
pneumoniae as a co-infection of Lyme.
While I know there are other neuro-
toxins that can cause autism (vaccines,
thimerosol, viruses, etc.), I believe that
mold and biotoxins (poisons produced
by and derived from an animal or
plant) can be major factors.
The majority of patients in my
practice have ASD complicated with
PANDAS and tick borne diseases.
What I have found is while Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia,
Ehrlichia, viruses, yeast, and other microbial factors
did play a role, it was not until 2006 when I read the
book Mold Warriors, by Ritchie C. Shoemaker, MD that
I considered the possibility of mold as another key part
of the systemic body burden people on the autism spec-
trum may have to deal with. Mycotoxins—secondary
metabolites produced by microfungi—have the potential
to affect the immune system and make autism more dif-
ficult to treat. Dr. Shoemaker has found that exposure
to Lyme disease can make one more
susceptible to mold illness, and vice
versa; exposure to mold can make
one more susceptible to Lyme disease.
Both have the potential to affect the
immune system and make the other
more difficult to treat—especially in
children on the spectrum.
A widespread
health concern
Exposure to water damaged buildings
is only too common in America. The
intent behind this article is to suggest
a more expanded view of ASD and
to consider that both environmen-
tal exposures to toxic molds, and the
production of mycotoxins resulting
from fungal colonization in the body,
can be significant issues in terms of
symptom presentation, as well as
both the severity and duration of the
illness. I would like to share what
I’ve learned from many sources and
extensive study.
The degree to which one is made
ill by mold and mycotoxins has been
associated with one’s genetic predis-
position. Through Dr. Shoemaker’s
work we can see that the evidence
for an association between environ-
mental exposure to biotoxins and
inflammatory sequelae is predictable in individuals with
certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic patterns
whose physiology has been primed by a previous inflam-
matory storm. In the overall population, the inability to
adequately recognize and excrete mold toxins is about
BIOMEDICAL UPDATE 27
AUTISM and
BIOTOXIN ILLNESS
Exposure to toxic mold can exacerbate existing health issues
while creating new ones…
B Y J O D I E D A S H O R E O T D , ( N E U R O L O G Y ) , H H P, C . H O M .

…exposure to Lyme
disease can make one
more susceptible to
mold illness, and vice
versa; exposure to mold
can make one more
susceptible to Lyme
disease. Both have the
potential to affect the
immune system and
make the other more
difficult to treat—
especially in children on
the spectrum.

©RioPatucaImages/DollarPhotoClub

30. 28 BIOMEDICAL UPDATE
25%. However, in those with chronic
illness, this number is much higher.
When one’s immune system can-
not recognize and tag a biotoxin, the
body is unable to effectively identify
and remove that toxin from the sys-
tem. Mycotoxins may be excreted via
the kidneys into the urine or via the
liver and bile into the feces. Further,
enterohepatic recirculation of toxins
is a common problem. As toxins are
released in the bile and move through
the gastrointestinal system, they are
reabsorbed rather than excreted, as
they are not recognized as harmful
by the body. As a result, a person
becomes and remains highly toxic un-
less the practitioner intervenes with
an appropriate treatment protocol.
Biotoxins and mycotoxins
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker deserves tremendous credit for
being the voice that brought mold illness to our aware-
ness. His “biotoxin pathway” and treatment protocol
have been instrumental pieces of the puzzle for many
struggling with chronic biotoxin illness. Biotoxins are
toxins created by living organisms. Mycotoxins
are a subset of biotoxins and are produced by fungal
organisms. No article on the topic of mold illness would
be complete without a mention of his important contri-
butions, and his work has been life changing for many,
myself included. I’ve been mentoring with Dr. Shoemaker
for almost a year now and there are newer studies re-
garding genetics and biotoxins that
will be emerging soon. People with
a genetic susceptibility to mold will
find these very useful indeed.
Mold and Mycotoxin Publications,
in April and December 2013, evalu-
ated for the presence of aflatoxin,
ochratoxin A, and trichothecene.
The conclusion of the first study was
that mycotoxins could be a cause
of mitochondrial dysfunction in the
CFS population, which may explain
fatigue and other symptoms. The
second study looked at sources of
ongoing mycotoxin exposures that
may be involved in chronic illness. It
suggested that the sinuses were the
most likely colonizing site for molds,
leading to the ongoing production of
internal mycotoxins.
Essentially, once molds colonize
in the body, even if one is removed
from the environment where water
damage may have led to ongoing
mold and mycotoxin exposure, my-
cotoxins are produced internally,
which serves as a constant source of
additional toxic body burden. It is
LIFE CHANGING FIND—The presence of toxic mold often explains the appearance of several
“mysterious” health concerns in those living or working nearby.
I’ve been seeing Eli and his little brother Jacob who were diagnosed
with high functioning autism when they were both two years old.
After two years of steady improvement on the DAN protocol, Eli devel-
oped acute anxiety, sleep issues, ADD and seizures. Jacob, who was almost
fully recovered at the time, developed aggressive behaviors, ADD, muscle
aches and pains, often deemed by his pediatrician as “growing pains”.
Their parents brought the now debilitated Eli (on seizure and ADD medica-
tions) to me having heard I had successfully treated many complex cases of autism.
Lab tests revealed what I clinically suspected—namely Lyme disease in the brain
or neuro Borreliosis, Babesia microti, methylation blockages, parasites and a yeast
overgrowth: leaky gut and a leaky brain.
Eli’s parents chose to go the holistic route and we treated the infections with
herbals and European biological treatments along with Dr. Shoemaker’s biotoxin
treatment protocol. Eli improved by leaps and bounds, especially with the under-
lying spectrum issues. The seizures, anxiety and sleep issues continued though.
Upon further evaluation, it was determined that the family had been living in a
condo for nearly 10 years that was contaminated with numerous molds, including
Stachybotrys, better known as “toxic black mold.” Removing themselves from this
constant, daily exposure to an environment that was conducive to recovery was
an important step to take. Moving to a safer setting was one of the best things
that I did as part of the journey back to health. Little Jacob and Eli, along with their
mom—who had developed thyroid issues—all found immense relief after their
move to a clean safe residence.
CASE STUDY
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31. BIOMEDICAL UPDATE 29
as if there is a mycotoxin factory open for business 24
hours a day, seven days a week, with the end result being
a toxic, polluted body. It has been known for some time
that people with chronic rhinosinusitis harbor numerous
fungal organisms.
What is CIRS and how does it occur?
The proper definition of chronic inflammatory response
syndrome is “An acute and chronic, systemic inflamma-
tory response syndrome acquired following exposure to
the interior environment of a water-damaged building
with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not
limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and mycobac-
teria as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).”
In most places in America, we have an unusual build-
ing situation. We have wood framed structures with a
plastic bag wrapped around them—a perfect, warm,
and nurturing environment to grow mold as soon as
the circumstances present themselves. This is essen-
tially what they do in labs to create mold. The quality
of wood beams used for framing can also be suspect in
many cases. I’ve personally observed contractors trying
to comingle old wood beams, clearly blackened with
mold spots, with new wood beams during my basement
remodel. These were probably left over from a previous
job and are usually left outside or in non-climate con-
trolled storage sheds. Had it not been for my training
with Dr. Shoemaker and the numerous stories I’d heard
from my patients, I would never had caught this. Most
of us never consider the wood beams when evaluating a
musty basement situation.
Internal turn-off valves for outside faucets are another
area of concern that needs to be carefully monitored.
Even though most are deemed “frost free”, in harsh win-
ters these pipes can freeze. As soon as the ground thaws,
there can be leakage behind the walls unbeknownst
to home owners who probably don’t attempt to turn
those on till late spring when they turn sprinklers on
for the season. It’s often too late by then as mold grows
in insulation, drywall, and wood—and the warming
temperatures are enough to spur the growth further.
A huge source of concern is EMF/RF (electromagnetic
frequencies) and radio frequencies. The list of sources is
long: wireless routers, boosters, cordless phones, smart
meters, dirty electricity thru faulty electrical panels and
wiring, cell phones, iPads, wireless computers, satellite
dishes, and more. In one study, when two mold struc-
tures were separated and one was exposed to EMF while
the other was not, the one exposed contained 600 times
more toxic biotoxins—and the growth rate was dozens
of times faster!
Research and anecdotal evidence show that you can also
get a CIRS illness from a brown recluse spider bite; from
fish that have been contaminated with ciguetera; and from
Borrelia burgdorferi, the bug that causes Lyme disease.
CIRS Symptoms
The following CIRS symptoms list is adapted from the book Mold
Warriors by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker. According to Dr. Shoemaker,
"Symptoms exhibited from the exposure to biotoxins affect
everyone differently. This extensive listing is here to help you un-
derstand the many ways biotoxin illness can manifest itself. This
listing does not mean that those who suffer from biotoxin illness
will exhibit all of the symptoms listed here."
`` Body aches (joints, muscles, and sinus)
`` Allergies
`` Bleeding gums
`` Body temperature regulation problems
`` Shortness of breath
`` Chronic fatigue syndrome
`` Cognitive problems: difficulty assimilating new information;
difficulty retrieving words; difficulty focusing; difficulty thinking
or accomplishing other executive functions such as organizing
and planning; difficulty with math or handling numbers;
difficulty with short-term memory; short-term memory loss
`` Mood issues
`` Dizziness and vertigo
`` Fibromyalgia
`` Hypoperfusion (decreased blood flow through an organ)
`` Inflammation
`` Insomnia and sleep apnea
`` Insulin resistance and weight gain
`` Migraines, seizures, blurred vision, light sensitivity
`` Mood swings
`` Rashes
`` Seizures
`` Static shocks
`` Sinus infection and congestion
`` Burning tongue
`` Frequent urination
`` Muscle and general weakness
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32. 30 BIOMEDICAL UPDATE
How is CIRS diagnosed?
There are several steps in investigating mold and bio-
toxin illness. The first step is a thorough patient history
and consideration of any coexisting conditions. Visual
contrast sensitivity (VCS) testing is often a very useful
biotoxin screening tool that can be performed online.
Mycometrics ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness
Index) is arguably one of the best evaluation tools for the
presence of mold in an indoor environment. Numerous
lab tests brought to our attention by Shoemaker’s work
are listed below. Keep in mind that biotoxin illness is
a multi-system illness and based on individual patient
clinical presentation. Not every patient needs all of the
lab tests mentioned below; this is a clinical decision to
be made. Once exposure has been established or even
if suspected, I run the following labs:
`` Deep nasal swab to identify MARCoNS (Multiple
antibiotic resistant coagulase negative staph
bacteria)
`` Several parameters run by the national labs Quest
and Labcorp. These include HLA testing for
genetic susceptibility, transforming growth factor
Beta 1 (TGF- B1), C4A, melanocyte stimulating
hormone alpha (MSH), anti-diuretic hormone
(ADH), osmolality, vasoactive intestinal peptide
(VIP), leptin, matrix metalloproteinase - 9 (MMP9),
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
`` Urine testing for the actual mold toxins Aflatoxin,
Ochratoxin and Trichothecene
`` A complete lipid, metabolic, and endocrine panel is
often needed.
`` Anti-gliadin and anti-cardiolipin antibodies
`` Brain MRI: NeuroQuant. This method can make
quantitative MRI measurements of the volumes
of the hippocampus, ventricles and other brain
structures and compare these volumes to norms.
Numerous brain changes have been reported in
recent research studies in patients with mold
exposure and biotoxin illness.
All in all, treatment is generally offered if a patient
meets the case definition for CIRS. The following factors
generally constitute a case definition for CIRS:
`` Potential exposure to a water-damaged and
microbial contaminated building, ideally proven
by ERMI testing, plus multisystem symptoms, and
absence of confounding factors
`` Presence of at least three of the following factors:
`` VCS deficits
`` MSH deficiency
`` MMP-9 elevation
`` Evidence of HLA susceptibility
`` Evidence of ADH/osmolality dysregulation
`` Evidence of cortisol/ACTH dysregulation
`` Presence of at least two of the following factors:
`` A positive response to cholestyramine, with an
abatement of symptoms and/or resolution of VCS
defects
`` Improvement of MMP-9 results to the normal
range with treatment
`` Improvement of leptin into the normal range
`` Other factors to consider:
`` Presence of multi-antibiotic resistant coagulase
negative staphylococci in deep nasal spaces
`` Presence of anti-gliadin antibodies
How is CIRS treated?
Dr. Shoemaker’s 11-step protocol is the treatment method
of choice. Dr. Klinghardt uses a holistic aspect to this pro-
tocol if patients are unable to tolerate or prefer the natural
route. Both methods have been shown to work very well.
Many patients may need to stay vigilant of WDBs for life.
Those genetically predisposed do not recognize the of-
fending toxins as foreign. Without this recognition, the
antigen presentation system is never activated against
these particles. There becomes no effective way for the
body to rid itself of the toxins. That is where the protocol
steps in:
`` REMOVAL from exposures
`` REMOVAL of biotoxins
`` ERADICATION of MARCoNS
`` ELIMINATION of anti-gliadin antibodies
`` CORRECTION of androgens
`` CORRECTION of osmolality
`` CORRECTION of elevated MMP-9
`` CORRECTION of low VEGF
`` CORRECTION of elevated C3A
`` CORRECTION of elevated C4A
`` CORRECTION of elevated TGF Beta-1 and
correction of VIP
Some patients with additional complications will
also need to treat capillary hypoperfusion, especially
those comorbid with tick borne infections and autism.
Capillary hypoperfusion is an important problem of its
own in CIRS, and can be due to decreased VEGF levels,
reduced VIP levels and the reduced anaerobic threshold
that occurs as a result. Once VEGF and VIP levels have
been normalized as per previous steps of the biotoxin
pathway, a graduated exercise program can be intro-
duced, which remains within the patient’s anaerobic
threshold. The cardiopulmonary anaerobic threshold
can be approximated through the VO2max on a cardio-
pulmonary stress test.

33. 31
Mold growth occurs when conditions are favorable. Mold is an
opportunistic pathogen, which means it will take advantage of
any conditions favoring its growth.
These conditions include:
`` Moisture (humid air, leaky pipes)
`` Food (dry wall, wood, paper, cotton)
`` Temperature (Mold growth can occur even inside the refrigerator
as we know but warm and humid temperatures expedite growth.)
`` Timing (The longer humid conditions are allowed to exist, and the longer
the water intrusion, the worse the situation gets.)
`` Stagnant air (poor ventilation)
`` EMF/RF levels in the environment
Mold growth: Factors to Consider
Toxin avoidance goes beyond merely addressing home,
school, and work. The Environmental Protection Agency
and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health suggests that 50% of U.S. structures are WBD. Small,
brief exposures may not trigger symptoms immediately, but
as one approaches the “sicker quicker” phenomenon, very
brief exposures (measured in minutes) can lead to a pro-
found worsening or reactivation of illness. Some patients
are uniquely sensitive and can identify a WDB immediately.
Some get headaches, others stomach problems and some
“just don’t feel right”. Regardless
of the symptoms, their bodies are
telling them to avoid that build-
ing. I encourage my patients to
listen to those warnings.
Don’t forget to schedule regu-
lar follow-ups with your mold
specialist to make sure your lab pa-
rameters are within normal ranges.
Ideally, following the preceding
steps, the patient’s VCS should
have normalized, or become nearly
normal. CIRS-specific lab results
should have returned to near nor-
mal. These should stay normal after
all biotoxin treatments have ceased
and the patient is not exposed to
any water damaged buildings. In
lieu of some measure to minimize
disease re-activation, avoidance of
WDB is a lifelong strategy. Though
I counsel every patient on this, I have seen many relapses in
patients who had become asymptomatic because they failed
to be diligent in preventing re-exposures.
Some specialists recommend an annual VCS test as a
good follow-up measure to ensure reactivation of CIRS
has not taken place. Although challenging to do and of-
ten expensive, this 14-step protocol for CIRS offers hope
for a normal life in affected patients, whose lives may
be severely compromised due to the
resultant health problems. 
 RESPIRATORY INVOLVEMENT—Exposure to toxins can contribute to asthma or worsen
the condition.
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34. The Power
of Sleep
Helping Children with
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Sleep Better…
B Y T E R R Y K A T Z , P H D A N D
B E T H A M A L O W, M D , M S
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