Our Autism Fight Is Personal

By J.B. Handley

Author

How To End The Autism Epidemic 

My wife, Lisa, and I never started out with the goal of being lightning rods in the national debate over autism and vaccines in the United States.  We just wanted to understand what happened to our 2-month-old son Jamison and how we could help him.

The year was 2002.  After Jamison received six separate vaccines, his health deteriorated and he never rebounded.  He developed eczema all over his body.  He didn’t sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time.  He developed dark circles under his eyes.  His stomach became distended, and he looked skinny and frail.  He sweated profusely at night. 

By the time he was 18 months old, Jamison was sick, needy, rarely sleeping and his behavior was changing.  His speech regressed.  Lisa and I decided to have him tested and he was diagnosed with autism. 

As time went by, we absorbed the grief but decided we needed to know more about autism and vaccines.  The more research we did, the more we realized that the medical community was split into two camps.  One believed autism was a genetic condition, sort of like Down’s Syndrome.  If a child had autism, he always would.  They believed parents should accept their child’s fate.  The second camp believed autism was an environmental illness, mostly (but not only) caused by the recent massive uptick in the number of vaccines given to kids.

Luckily, we both had significant research experience, so we decided to dig in and see which camp we would believe when it came to our son’s health.  We were fortunate to find Dr. Lynn Mielke, who was a member of a group called “Defeat Autism Now,” known as “DAN!” 

Dr. Mielke, a graduate of Indiana University’s medical school, had completed her psychiatry residency at UCLA.  She had been a practicing psychologist until she watched her son disappear into autism after his vaccine appointments, just like our son.  Her research led her to the DAN! movement.  Her son’s symptoms improved, so she opened a clinic to help other children. 

Unlike other doctors we had seen who had dismissed our questions about the relationship between vaccines and autism, she answered our questions and said frequently it is the vaccines that “pushed them over the edge.”   

We removed gluten and dairy from his diet and took Dr. Mielke’s advice on giving Jamison a combination of nutritional supplements, cod liver oil and probiotics.  The regimen flattened Jamison’s belly, and he stopped leaning on furniture to alleviate his gut pain.  He started to have more eye contact with us, and the dark circles under his eyes were going away.  We could tell he was more aware of the world around him.  Although not cured, he was clearly much better.

So once that happens to your child, how do you stay quiet?  How do you not want to tell others?  How do you not want to do all the research you possibly can so you can help not only your child but others who may be in the same boat? 

Contrary to what the pharmaceutical industry wants you to believe, all children and all vaccinations are not created equal.  There are tests available that can determine which children should not receive which vaccines.  Plus, there are other factors that should be taken into consideration like if the child has been sick prior to getting a vaccination.

Children in the 1960s had three vaccinations – today they get 38.  I would ask our critics to follow the money – who is benefitting from all these additional vaccinations?  The revenue for big pharmaceutical companies went from $170 million in the early 1980’s to more than $60 billion today.  In 1986, the US government granted vaccine makers blanket indemnity.  So the more vaccines they can come up with – and the more of their existing vaccines they can make mandatory for children – the more money they make. 

Not only had the pharmaceutical industry’s lobbyists been successful in getting the government to prohibit anybody from suing them, but I found there was little government oversight of the industry.  A studypublished in 2013 in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation concluded that the pharmaceutical industry “masterfully influences evidence base production” and also “exerts direct influences on professional decisions and health consumers.”

So that is our story into how we began the long journey into the world of physicians, the pharmaceutical industry, vaccinations, and autism.  Lisa and I have learned more in the last 15 years on this subject than we ever thought we would learn about anything.  But the bottom line for us is our son and his well-being and helping others in a similar situation.   Every minute that we have devoted to finding out the truth about autism is dedicated to him. And if that makes us a target for those who want unlimited vaccinations on children without comprehensive oversight about the possible dangers and without screening for our most vulnerable children, that is a price we are gladly willing to pay.

About J.B. Handley

J.B. Handley is the co-founder and chairman of Generation Rescue, a non-profit organization focused on helping children recover from autism that was inspired by the journey of his son, Jamison, who was diagnosed with autism in 2004. Author of the bookHow To End the Autism Epidemic(https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/how-to-end-the-autism-epidemic/), he is also the co-producer of the documentary film Autism Yesterday and the co-founder of the Age of Autism blog. Handley co-founded Swander Pace Capital, a middle-market private equity firm with more than $1.5 billion under management where he served as managing director for two decades. He is an honors graduate of Stanford University and lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Lisa, and their three children.

5 Reasons Pre-School Years Are A Prime Time For Learning

Much of the discussion about education focuses on the K-12 years, but some early childhood education experts suggest serious learning can start even earlier and pay dividends for the child in years to come.

 “Young children have the capacity at a very young age to be academically challenged, and we need to educate them strongly during those years instead of waiting until they are older,” says Alise McGregor, founder of Little Newtons (www.littlenewtons.com), an early education center with locations in Minnesota and Illinois.

“Children’s minds are like sponges when they are very young. Under age 5 is the most important time for development and our best opportunity to set up children for success. If we strongly educate children at a very young age, while their brains are so pliable, by the time they reach kindergarten, their brain capacity is much higher.”

Recent research confirms that the first five years of life are particularly important for the development of the child's brain. Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child reports that in the first few years, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second, building the brain’s architecture. 

This growth of the brain’s network establishes a fertile foundation for learning, thus an opportunity to be better prepared for grade school and beyond, experts say. One analysis of several studies, “Impacts of Early Childhood Education on Medium- and Long-term Education,” showed that children exposed to high-quality pre-kindergarten education performed better academically in later years. Early education also led to higher graduation rates, fewer special education placements and less grade retention.

McGregor suggests five reasons parents should consider ramping up their pre-K child’s education:

• Socialization. Socialization with people other than the child’s family in a safe environment is an essential foundational element. “It’s important to introduce our children to other children and support their transition into their own friendship groups, and the earlier we do this, it helps children overcome shyness and gain self-confidence,” McGregor says. 

• Personal experiences. These assist the brain’s organizational development and functioning in many situations, helping children develop learning skills as well as social and emotional abilities. “A good early-education center creates an environment where imagination, love and innovation all come together for a daily adventure,” McGregor says. 

• Enthusiasm for Learning. Lessons can be given in a fun and exciting way that will encourage children to be effective learners. “Feeling inspired and excited to learn takes root in preschool,” McGregor says, “and can last a lifetime.”

• Learning respect for others. A fundamental building block for happiness, friendships and success in life starts early by learning how to share, cooperate, take turns and be nice. “By carrying on conversations, following rules, listening, accepting consequences of actions, the child learns early how to start getting along in the world,” McGregor says. 

• Resilience. It’s important that early childhood educators and parents work together to develop resilience in children as early as possible. “By creating a consistent and stable environment with clear expectations and predictable consequences, children can develop skills in managing themselves and their emotions,” McGregor says. “They may experience bumps, bruises or losing a game, but this is the foundation for building coping strategies for greater challenges in life.”

“The first five years of life are the most critical,” McGregor says. “It is far easier to train a child than it is to fix a broken adult.”

About Alise McGregor

Alise McGregor is the founder of Little Newtons (www.littlenewtons.com), an exceptional child care center focusing on early childhood education with four locations in Minnesota and one in Illinois. She is the author of an upcoming book, Creating Brilliance. Also a nurse, she has a B.S. in Exercise Physiology with a cardiac rehabilitation emphasis.

Does Your 7-Year-Old Really Need Braces?

Braces are often a rite of passage for middle school students with overbites or crooked teeth.
But the oral problems those braces are solving likely started way back in elementary school – possibly as early as first or second grade.
So perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that the American Association of Orthodontists recommends children make their first visit to an orthodontist no later than age 7.
“That doesn’t mean they are going to get braces,” says Dr. Jamie Reynolds, an orthodontist, national and international lecturer and author of “World Class Smiles Made in Detroit” (www.AskDrReynolds.com). “In fact, it’s pretty unusual to put braces on a child that young.”
But with those early visits, the orthodontist might be able to head off problems before they get worse. Reynolds says these are a few of the things an orthodontist would be checking with your child:

• Are the jaws growing properly? You would think the upper jaw and the lower jaw grow pretty much in tandem, but you would be wrong. The upper jaw stops growing around age 8 while the lower jaw keeps on growing like the rest of the body. That means orthodontists can spot problems with the upper jaw earlier and recommend treatment if it’s needed, Reynolds says.
• Is there enough room for the teeth to grow in? Sometimes permanent teeth don’t have enough room to grow in properly, possibly because a baby tooth is in the way. Generally, baby teeth fall out on their own, but occasionally a stubborn one needs to be pulled so that the permanent tooth doesn’t start growing in an awkward direction and become impacted. “Removing a misbehaving baby tooth is often the simplest and best solution to a problem that could become much bigger,” Reynolds says.
• Are there too few or too many teeth? One of the things an orthodontist would do when examining a young child is to make sure the correct number of permanent teeth are forming. Extra teeth can be removed, but if a child is a tooth or two short the orthodontist will wait until all the permanent teeth are in before starting any treatment. “Before I went to dental school, I assumed everyone had the same number of teeth – 32,” Reynolds says. “But it’s not unusual at all to see people with missing teeth or with extra teeth.”
• Does the child snore?  Snoring is a potential sign of sleep apnea, a condition in which a person stops breathing while sleeping. It can cause serious health problems and has been diagnosed in children as early as 4 or 5 years old. One common and treatable type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airways become partially or completely blocked by the tongue or fatty tissues of the throat. An orthodontist can widen the child’s palate so the upper jaw expands, and that expands the nasal passages. It also provides more room for the tongue so it rests on the roof of the mouth and not the bottom.

“Usually, orthodontists offer complimentary exams so it really is a good idea to have your child checked out by an orthodontist at age 7,” Reynolds says. “The odds are that no treatment will be necessary. But if problems are starting to develop, early detection could make a big difference.”

About Dr. Jamie Reynolds

Dr. Jamie Reynolds (www.AskDrReynolds.com) is recognized on an annual basis as one of the top orthodontists in metro Detroit. His book, “World Class Smiles Made in Detroit,” puts an emphasis on the many benefits of having a great smile. Reynolds – who is a national and international lecturer on high-tech digital orthodontics and practice management – attended the University of Michigan for both his undergrad education and dental studies, and did his orthodontic residency at the University of Detroit-Mercy.

Coloring and Reading for the Pre-Teen

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I was sent some very adorable books to review. One is a coloring book and the other is what you would call a guide to lifestyle book for pre-teens. Both are very elaborate and beautiful also detailed. The coloring book is very sturdy compared to most and almost reminds me of a journal. The guide covers so many things a young soon to be teenager would like to know. Examples: babysitting, guys and how to guides on other interesting things. In all honesty I really wish I could have been gifted this book. Be sure to click the links below if you are interested in purchasing any of them.

Help Your Child Avoid Summer Tantrums with These 5 Tips from Brain Balance

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Dr. Melillo is a clinician, professor, brain researcher and author of several bestsellers, including Reconnected Kids and Autism — The Scientific Truth About Preventing, Diagnosing and Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders, and The Disconnected Kids Nutrition Plan. An expert in ADHD, Learning and Behavioral Issues, Processing Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Dr. Melillo has been helping children overcome learning and developmental challenges for more than 25 years.


Confession time: I absolutely hate summer sometimes. I know—summer is supposed to be full of blue skies, popsicles, and sprinklers. But it can be a lot of pressure to keep the kids occupied when school is out. It's hard for me to set the kids up with activities that keep them learning and engaged. It can be particularly tough for parents of kids with behavioral, social, or learning difficulties. 
 
So I partnered with Brain Balance [www.brainbalancecenters.com]—a drug-free, holistic approach to addressing the challenges of behavioral, social, or learning disabilities—to try some of their summer activities, and to share a little bit about their philosophy. And let me tell you, their activities actually work. I'm so excited to keep this momentum going into the summer! 
 
First, here's the context I learned from Brain Balance about why my children sometimes act up. We all know about the left and right halves of our brain—but did you know that the root cause of most learning, behavioral, and social difficulties is an imbalance between them? Left hemisphere dominant children are very detail oriented and logical, while right hemisphere dominant kids tend to be more emotional. It's because of this imbalance that programs that combine sensory motor stimulation, academic stimulation, and nutrition can correct brain imbalance and ultimately improve achievement. The activities are great for children without difficulties, too! 
 
Now are some of those Brain Balance summer tips I told you about. 
 
TIP 1: GET YOUR CHILD MOVING
Activities that involve active physical motion help children to read with greater comprehension and retain more information. Enjoy the spring sun by taking your child on an outdoor gallery walk, or take the fun indoors to an exploration-style, hands-on museum. Additionally, children should maintain a daily practice of prescribed left/right brain stimulating activities, including primitive reflex, core, and eye exercises. 
 
TIP 2: COME UP WITH A DAILY SCHEDULE WITH YOUR CHILD
Routines keep children grounded—and they are especially necessary during breaks, when the regular school schedule goes out the window. Let your child have input into their schedule—it will give them agency and make them feel empowered. 
 
TIP 3: SPEND TIME IN THE KITCHEN TOGETHER
Sugar-free, processed-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free foods bring tremendous benefit to your child's overall health and development. Spending time as a family cooking together also allows everyone to enjoy discovering healthy eating through a fun and engaging activity. It's also a great idea to let your child do simple activities like measuring ingredients, dividing up portions, and reading recipes. This reinforces their reading and math skills without making them feel intimidated. Plus, it helps you with dinner!
 
Let me tell you about what these tips did for my children...
 
I try to offer options to keep from wasting time. Usually it will range from 2 to three activities to choose from. Plus I try to allow her a reasonable amount of time with her tablet but on the grounds of cut off time on something that is stimulating for her with educational value. Rewarding afterwards if she does something without me asking her to. If there is discouraged behavior I try to talk to her on her level.
 
Turns out, my children love activities! I tried taking them to museums, on walks... activities I never thought they'd try. And while they were a little iffy about my ideas the first couple of times, they ended up really enjoying the new experiences! The more they tried, the more they were willing to do in the future. 
 
They loved getting out of the house, but I was also surprised to learn that they really enjoyed helping me with in-house activities, like dinner. These activities don't "feel" like learning, but I noticed my children were practicing skills they'd normally hate (like reading and math) with pleasure. I tricked them into learning, and it felt great! While I loved that they were learning, I know that they loved getting to eat all their creations—so it's a win-win.
 
It feels so good to turn summer into another opportunity to keep my children engaged, and I'm excited to try more of Brain Balance's summer tips. 
 
Not sure whether your child has a right- or left-brain weakness? Check out this simple online assessment to gain some preliminary insight into your child's functional strengths and weaknesses: https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/our-program/childs-personalized-plan/online-assessment/. 
 
Brain Balance Achievement Centers are located all over the USA, and you can find one near you here: https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/locations/?zip=. 
 
Would you like to get more summer activities straight from the source? Check out Brain Balance [www.brainbalancecenters.com].
 
How do you plan to make your child's summer productive? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Encourage your child to learn about Emotions with "Moodsters".

Often at times, children realize they have a reaction to what is going on. However they do not understand them, because it just happens naturally. We should encourage them to learn about our moods and what kind of reaction we normally display when something happy, sad or even makes us mad happens. This way, we can encourage them to show how they feel. With this open line of communication we can better understand one another and grow from it. That is why I love this little Moodster kit I got for reviewing purposes.

Brightly colored and fun of helpful tips for you and your child. One kit has a Moodster buddy that comes with his own story book. Ours was based on Quigly, who is scared. You can press his belly and he says phrases of I'm scared or be brave and a few others. He is a darling shade of green and very soft to the touch. My four year old daughter loves him. The storybook has vivid pages with lots of things for you and your child to interact with.  There is also stickers for you to place on certain pages to complete puzzles and mazes. The whole book incorporates how we deal with being scared and what we can do. The other kit is a cute little notebook that has a spinner where she can show me how she is feeling. Inside are pages to read or draw on. Kit also comes with big crayons for those little hands.

I really enjoyed this product and so did my daughter. I find it is very educational and worth the purchase. All products are very well made and can be purchased here.



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Don't Speak Book Review

So I have another interesting book to tell everyone about. It's called "Don't Speak" by J. L. Brown. It is quite riveting and keeps you on your toes with each chapter. If you are interested in murder mystery type of books then this would be a fun read. At first glance I wasn't sure if I would like the book, especially because the title and cover do not catch my eye. However it truly fooled me once I started reading. Kept me on the edge of my seat. It is very well laid out and keeps you aware of what's happening in the story. The only thing I kind of was disappointed about was the length of the chapters. The chapters were super short so that really threw me off. Other then that its a great read with giving you a great feel for the killer in the story and what he felt.

Here is a excerpt from Amazon:

The nursery rhyme was wrong. Words can hurt you.

Ambitious, twenty-something FBI Special Agent Jade Harrington cuts her vacation short to investigate the murder of a conservative radio personality only to discover that he may be the victim of a serial killer. Whitney Fairchild, the elegant and charismatic Democratic senator from Missouri, campaigns in a cutthroat race for president of the United States. Cole Brennan, the most popular conservative talk-show host in the nation, battles nightly to save his country and help the incumbent Republican president maintain his ‘inner conservative’ to win re-election.

The lives of Jade, Whitney, Cole, and the killer—who has an agenda of his own—are on a collision course. That course will not just impact them each in ways they could never have foreseen, but also the future of the United States of America. Amidst a backdrop of contemporary power politics driven by the influence of talk radio and social media, DON’T SPEAK thrills even as it explores many of the complex issues facing Americans today.

Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo

I did a bit of light reading over the past few weeks and I must say it was a pretty good read. In my opinion if a book can catch my attention within the first chapter or two then I know it will be good. Have you ever wanted to hear a first hand experience about another country, or lets say Tokyo as a example? If so I have the book for you to check out that was funny but yet very helpful. It gave me great insight into a whole another world I do not get to see. It's called "Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo.

I'm sure you are probably thinking what could be so great about that book. Well I can assure you that the way the author places himself there you will understand. Each chapter was covering over things like day to day life like food, social settings and even down to their temples and beds. I found it enjoyable how he mentions most of the culture didn't understand American slangs but yet would wear funny catch phrase shirts. Or how lack of space there is and having to learn a new way of life without so much belongings and coordinating carrying on bicycles. The author made it funny by using his personal experience from it all then just quoting random facts. This is all real life so it makes you more interested. The more I read the more I seem to really get a feel for the culture. I typically do not read Essays or anything talking about culture but this really grabbed my attention. It grabbed my attention in ways to keep me reading so I personally do not see any flaws with the book.

If you would like to find more information about the book or to purchase please click here.

"Cards for Brianna" book overview

If you are a book worm like myself, then you will love this. This book "Cards for Brianna" touched my heart and I could truly feel what the mother who wrote this felt. Dedicated for her her daughter and husband its full of emotion.

"Cards for Brianna"  is a real life story of a young mom who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She walks you through chapter by chapter of snapshots of photos and everyday life. She discovers that with little time left she wants to leave a imprint in her daughters on going life. Whether her daughter faced a break up or for her 21st bday there would be a special card for her to read.

I love how you feel what she feels. She gives you laughter about what most people would see sadness.  When she was down and out she still found a way to push through to leave behind something for her daughter.

My mission for my readers, take time out from your life. Write a letter or a card like I did to someone you know. Uplift them and let them know how much you care. Sometimes the simplest thing leaves a ongoing effect on people. I wrote a card to my boyfriend who I love dearly. My best friend of 6 years and has always been there.

Another thing to know about the book is:

A portion of the proceeds from first-month sales will benefit METAvivor, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that funds research for metastatic cancer.

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Children's Chapter Book

I had the pleasure of reviewing a small chapter book for children. The title of the book is called "The Central Park Tales" written and illustrated by Marcus Meesters.  It is available in copies of hardback and ebook. Such cute photos of the characters throughout the stories that gives the child a idea of what is going on in the story. I find that this would be a cute book to add to to the nighttime ritual. It is calming and witty all in one book. Each chapter holds another tale for a character. One chapter is called the The Tooth Fairy, ideal to read when your child has lost his/her tooth. Other stories include a frog being tricked and a mouse meeting a mythical moth. I have enjoyed looking over this book and look forward to reading it with my 3 year old at night.


You can purchase this book here.

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Get your Bento Box On!

Parents kids need a bit of variety in their lunch so why not try out the bento box idea. I received a book that is packed full of ideas that are super easy to follow that even the kids can help you make. Now if you haven't heard of bento boxes then you are in for a treat. To save some time for you click here and read about it. I am sure you will want to immediately buy this book and get your kids involved in super fun of creating and making lunch or any meal time extremely fun.

The book I received to review was called "Yummy Kawaii Bento" by Li Ming Lee. It is full of images to show you step by step and what the outcome looks like.  The first time I ever saw anything like bento boxes I thought that has to be super hard to do. How on earth do they make rice balls look like animals? Or what should I even put in the box. I assure you that each idea is full of color and fun that it will get your kids to eating healthier. It is hardback and each page is going in great detail of what tools you will need and what recipes to use that are included in the book. I am just amazed! So get your book and get creative. There is many ideas to make like sleeping kitties and penguins also a teddy bears!

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Funny Toddler Tales

If your looking to add another book to your shelf to read then grab this one. "The sh!t no one tells you about Toddler". A very humorous book about what majority moms go through in the toddler stage. It's funny and packed full of real life stories and mishaps. The author is very funny and gives you a run down of all the things she has dealt with. I have enjoyed sitting down and reading this book because I caught myself many times laughing out loud. This is the guide to Surviving the Toddler Years.

Trust me after reading this, you will no longer feel like you are the only one. Whether it is the tantrums, the pouting or constantly hurting themselves, the guide covers it. Each chapter just keeps you laughing about what real life moms and the author have gone through. Even included is professionals to give their insight. So grab the book and read it for yourself or give it as a gift!

What people are saying:

"Frank and funny in her approach (the first chapter is entitled “You Suck at This”), she also deals soberly with such weighty matters as balancing work and family, reconciling parenting styles, and keeping marriages and partnerships together...Dais offers a commonsense yet comical view of the toddler years, which she wryly sums up as a “confusing cluster-f of a time.”
—Publishers Weekly

“It's a perfect gift for expecting parents who have a good sense of humor and appreciate a frank, candid look at the ugly-yet-wonderful side of parenting.”
—Motherhood Moment

“Not only does it comfort me by informing me that my toddlers' alien behaviors are common and that I'm not alone, it provides a lot of comic relief, and it also provides a lot of great tips on how to address common challenges that many parents of toddlers face.”

—Hawaii Mom Blog

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