Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the world. With 1 child in 150 receiving a diagnosis of autism, (statistically, that’s 1diagnosis every 20 minutes in the United States!) families everywhere are seeking a message of hope.

While autism is generally considered neurological disorder, it is not uncommon for autistic children to face additional health challenges, including digestive difficulty and intestinal inflammation. Sensitivities and food intolerance plague children on the autistic spectrum, so common diet modifications for these children include a gluten-free, casein-free diet, or the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.

Enzyme supplements have been indicated as supportive. Dedicated to the digestive health of all children, (not just those with health challenges) Enzymedica, a leader in digestive enzyme care provides financial support and educational
outreach to the autism community. In 2009, the company will sponsor the Autism Grass Roots Tour, an initiative of the nonprofit Autism Hope Alliance (AHA), a foundation created by Enzymedica to raise funds for autism awareness and treatment.

The Autism Grass Roots Tour features Raun Kaufman, CEO of the Autism Treatment Center of
America^TM, along with Kristin Selby Gonzalez, the Director of Autism Education for Enzymedica, and he mother of a son with autism. The tour will crisscross the country over an eleven month period, sharing how to begin after a diagnosis of autism, what to add to existing treatments, and how to stay inspired.
The events are free and open to family members and health professionals seeking autism
education.

According to Gonzalez, “Our experience working with children on the spectrum is that they
appear to have difficulty digesting their food. Some examples of this are infrequent stools, loose stools and undigested food in the stools. Using enzymes along with a specialized diet can help promote proper digestion. This will also help support the proper absorption of vitamins and minerals found in the therapeutic foods we feed our children.”

In addition to their sponsorship of the tour, Enzymedica will be donating 100 full tuition scholarships for families to attend a Start-Up program at the Autism Treatment Center of America^TM. The Center is the home of The Son-Rise Program®, a unique treatment for children and adults challenged by Autism and other developmental difficulties.

Raun Kaufman has said, “Autism is not a life sentence.” Innovative play therapy, biomedical
treatments and enzyme supplementation have been shown to breathe new life into children
facing what was once felt to be a condition with little hope.

To learn more about the Autism Hope Alliance, to register for an Autism Grass Roots Tour event, or to get involved.

For more information, visit the Autism Grass Roots Tour website at www.agrt.org.

Link to us at:  Enzymedica – http://www.enzymedica.com/blog

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I sat in the administrator’s office at the school district, nervously clasping my hands. Okay, so I knew my son had autism, but at least now I would learn how we would begin to “fix” this. I loved my son more than I felt my heart could contain. When I looked at Jaxson, his sweet round face immersed in a world all his own. I knew with crystal clarity that I would do anything-absolutely-anything to help him. The grayed hair administrator sat across from me, ready to tell me, so I thought, what I needed to do to bring my little boy back to me.

“The first thing you need to know is that he’ll probably never talk,” she said.

My brain was reeling, desperately trying to compute this sledge hammer blow.

“I…I ‘m sorry. What? What do you mean he’ll never talk? He’s only two-and-a-half years old? How can you know that?”

“Mrs. Gonzalez, please. The only way this is going to work is for you to be realistic. I have been doing this for a long time. Autism is something you can’t fix. This is a lifelong condition. Now we have services-free-services that we can set you up with for your son. What we are trying to do is to make your son’s autism more tolerable to live with. The best we can hope for is that he eats with a spoon and fork and is potty trained by the time he eight years old. Usually at that point the children get put into group homes.”

Her voice was like listening to nails on a chalk board. » Continue reading “Part 2: The Prognosis : By Kristin Selby Gonzalez Director of Autism Education for Enzymedica Mother of Jaxson, diagnosed with autism”