GFCF Daily Recipe: French Toast

Another awesome recipe from a personal fave, Kimmy Krocker on YouTube.

Soft MySpace Gets A New Look

Soft is spring cleaning. Out with the old, in with the new. We got a whole new look, and want to invite you to be our friend, and explore our colorful world on MySpace.

AUTISTIC MANNERISMS REDUCED BY SENSORY TREATMENT

Public release date: 25-Apr-2008

Contact: Eryn Jelesiewicz
dobeck@temple.edu
215-707-0730
Temple University

Parents of children with autism are increasingly turning to sensory
integration treatment to help their children deal with the disorder,
and they're seeing good results. In 2007, 71 percent of parents who
pursued alternatives to traditional treatment used sensory
integration methods, and 91 percent found these methods helpful.

A new study from Temple University researchers, presented this month
at the American Occupational Therapy Association's 2008 conference,
found that children with autistic spectrum disorders who underwent
sensory integration therapy exhibited fewer autistic mannerisms
compared to children who received standard treatments. Such
mannerisms, including repetitive hand movements or actions, making
noises, jumping or having highly restricted interests, often
interfere with paying attention and learning.

The children assigned to the sensory integration intervention group
also reached more goals specified by their parents and therapists,
said study authors Beth Pfeiffer, Ph.D., OTR/L, BCP, and Moya
Kinnealey, Ph.D., OTR/L, from the Occupational Therapy Department in
Temple University's College of Health Professions. The children made
progress toward goals in the areas of sensory processing/regulation,
social-emotional and functional motor tasks.

Sensory integration is the ability of the brain to properly integrate
and adapt to the onslaught of information coming in through the
senses. Dysfunction in this area makes it difficult for people with
autism to adapt to and function like others in their environment.
They may be hypersensitive to sound or touch, or unable to screen out
distracting noise or clothing textures. Their response might be
impulsive motor acts, making noises or running away.

Pfeiffer and Kinnealey are part of a group of researchers seeking to
bring more scientific understanding to occupational therapy using a
sensory integration approach.

"It's been heavily documented that children on the autistic spectrum
have differences in the way they process sensory information and
respond motorically," Pfeiffer said. "While more families are seeking
out the sensory integration approach because of its positive results,
more research is needed to scientifically establish its effectiveness."

Children receiving sensory integration therapy typically participate
in sensory-based activities to enable them to better regulate their
behavioral responses to sensations and situations that they find
disturbing or painful. A child who is oversensitive to light touch
may enjoy rolling and playing in a giant foam pillow, after which he
might be more able to calmly explore, touch and play with other
textures. This in turn makes self-care such as dressing and washing
and classroom activities that require touch more manageable.

Interpreting the child's behavior as intentional and controllable and
not recognizing the underlying cause and hypersensitivities is common
in educational and home settings, but is an approach that Kinnealey
discourages as stressful for the child.

The study took place this past summer at a camp near Allentown, Pa.,
for children with autism. Participants were between the ages of 6 and
12 years old and diagnosed with autism or Pervasive Developmental
Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

One group (17) received traditional fine motor therapy and the other
group (20) received sensory integration therapy. Each child received
18 treatment sessions over a period of six weeks.

A statistician randomly assigned the participants to groups; this
information was provided to the project coordinator at the site. The
primary researchers were blinded to group assignment and served as
evaluators before and after the study.

Parents were also blinded to the interventions that their children
were assigned to and were not on site. However, there was the
potential for the verbal children to talk about the activities that
they participated in, which may have influenced the blinding for the
parents.

For their outcome data, researchers used a series of scales that
measure behavior. While both groups showed significant improvements,
the children in the sensory integration group showed more progress in
specific areas at the end of the study.

"This pilot study provided a foundation for how we should design
randomized control trials for sensory integration interventions with
larger sample sizes," Pfeiffer said. "Specifically, it identified
issues with measurement such as the sensitivity of evaluation tools
to measure changes in this population.

"Sensory integration treatment is a widely used intervention in
occupational therapy. There is a real need for research such as
randomized control trials to validate what we are doing with sensory
integration in the profession," she added.

###

The other presenter was Kristie Koenig, Ph.D., OTR/L, Steinhardt
School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York
University. Funding was provided by Autism Speaks, which is dedicated
to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention,
treatments, and cure for autism and raising public awareness about
autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society.

Celebrate Earth Day with Soft

We just added a brand new tote to our collection in honor of Earth Day. Go green and celebrate the planet with Soft!

Use this tote instead of plastic bags to do your part for the environment, and to support our clothing line for kids with sensory sensitivity.

Whole Foods Market Inc. has expanded its ban on disposable plastic bags to include all of its 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, including the two shops it runs in Central Ohio. A few months ago, the company said its goal is to be plastic bag-free by Earth Day on April 22. See what they did today. San Francisco was the first city ever to ban plastic bags in exchange for recyclable or compostable sacks. Following restrictions on them introduced in 2007 in Hongkong, China has now introduced a ban and taxes to curb plastic bags, a blot on landscape that threatens health and causes floods. Using cloth totes instead of plastic was my new years resolution...so come on...join a national food chain, a large American city, China, and me...and say goodbye to plastic bags!

To purchase this tote, click here.

Clothing Sensitivity and Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, and More

I found an interesting article, titled: "

Understanding Sensory Sensitivities versus “Behavior”
in Indigo Children with Autism"

Here is an excerpt about clothing textures:

Skin can be exquisitely sensitive. Children might be limited in the types of fabric that their skin can tolerate, such as cotton. Clothes that feel fine to the average person might need to be washed repeatedly to soften them; tags might need to be cut out. Sometimes used clothing is preferable, since it has a long history of being worn.

Do not get caught up in power struggles around clothing, compelling kids to wear clothes they reject and interpreting their communication through rejection as "non-compliance." Listen to words or behavior that communicate things like "these clothes scratch." People with autism are often inherently blatant and direct. If someone says clothes scratch, it is because they do; figure out where and why and take measures to make it right.

For the full text, click here.

Gluten-Free Quinoa Cupcake Recipe from the Cupcake Project

*GLUTEN FREE ONLY (not GFCF)

• 2 1/2-3 C diced apples (about 2 medium sized apples)
• 1/4 sugar (I used vanilla sugar)
• 1 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 C water
• 1/4 C dark rum
• 4 large eggs
• 9 T butter (1 stick + 1 T)
• 1 C sugar
• 1 1/3 C cooked quinoa (You cook quinoa in the same way that you would cook rice. Read part one of quinoa for breakfast if you need more detailed cooking directions. I started with 1 C of uncooked quinoa and ended up with enough for this recipe plus plenty left over to have for breakfast or any other meal. I used Red Inca quinoa, hence the dark spots in the cake.)
• 1 3/4 C rice flour
• 1 t baking powder
  

1. Simmer the apple cubes with the water, sugar, cinnamon, and rum until the apple is cooked and almost all the liquid is evaporated. Try very hard not to eat it all before putting it in the cupcakes. There will be some left over. I ate it with the leftover penuche frosting. You could just make the apples and frosting and forget the cupcakes entirely and be quite happy.
2. Whisk the egg and sugar and add the melted butter. Stir well.
3. Add the quinoa, mix well, and then add the flour and baking powder. Stir well.
4. Fill 12 cupcake liners about 1/3 full with batter.
5. Add a layer of apples.
6. Top with another layer of batter so that they are all about 3/4 full.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until the tops bounce back when you touch them.

Alternative: Mix the apples in with the batter instead of doing layers. I have not tried this, but I think it might be even better than the layered method.

Penuche Frosting Recipe

I got the penuche frosting recipe from Southern Food on About.Com.

• 1/2 C butter
• 1 C brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 C milk
• 2 C sifted confectioners' sugar (I only used about a cup)
  

1. In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter.
2. Add the brown sugar.
3. Bring to a boil and lower heat to medium low and continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Add the milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
5. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually add sifted confectioners' sugar. (I would highly recommend sifting this confectioners' sugar. It's such a pain to sift, but it ensures that the frosting will be extra smooth.)
6. Beat until thick enough to spread. If too thick, add a little hot water.

Tactile Therapy Products for Sensory Processing Disorder

Here at Soft, we talk a lot about "tactile defensiveness," which is defined as the tendency to react negatively or with alarm to sensory input which is generally considered harmless or non-irritating to typically developing persons. Also described as hypersensitivity, it is often a symptom associated with Sensory Processing Disorder, and also Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD , and a range of Developmental Disabilities.

The children I have worked with in the past who have experienced tactile defensiveness, have benefited from a range of therapeutic treatments, from intense tactile experiences (playdoh, skin brushing, fingerpaint) to more clinical approaches through Occupational Therapy. Whatever the approach, it usually requires the use of STUFF. Occupational therapists often prescribe "sensory diets". This is a therapy that is tailored to the individual in which he/she gets to experience calming sensory stimuli that help to balance his/her sensory system.

To browse some great tactile products like my personal fave pictured above, for sensory diets or just good ole tactile input, click here.

May Issue of Redbook Magazine has Article on Autism

The article in Redbook Magazine, part of a continuing series on Autism, features three essays from parents of children with Autism.
For the full text of the articles, please visit Redbook Online, or pick up a copy of the May 2008 issue.

Gluten Free Trading Company

I am constantly searching for new places to shop locally for Gluten free-Casein free, and even though I live it New York, it is not always easy to find what I need, which is why I tend to look online to fill in the cracks of my shopping list. I recently came across Milwakee-based "Gluten-Free Trading Company," who are "strongly committed to the idea that although the gluten free diet can sometimes be a nuisance, it should not be a burden." Explore their online shop here.

KIDS WITH AUTISM MAY HAVE GENE THAT CAUSES MUSCLE WEAKNESS

From the American Academy of Neurology:

CHICAGO Some kids with autism may have a genetic defect that
affects the muscles, according to research that will be presented at
the American Academy of Neurology 60th Anniversary Annual Meeting in
Chicago, April 12 19, 2008.

The study looked at 37 children with autism spectrum disorders who
were evaluated for mitochondrial disease, which causes muscle
weakness and prevents a child from being able to participate in
physical activities and sports. Mitochondrial disease occurs when
genetic mutations affect the mitochondria, or the part of the cell
that releases energy.

A total of 24 of the children, or 65 percent, had defects in the
process by which cells produce and synthesize energy in the muscles,
or oxidative phosphorylation defects in the skeletal muscles.

"Most children with autism spectrum disorders do not have
recognizable abnormalities when you look at genetic tests, imaging,
and metabolic tests," said study author John Shoffner, MD, owner of
Medical Neurogenetics, LLC in Atlanta, GA, and member of the American
Academy of Neurology. "But a subset of these children does have
significant defects in this area. Identifying this defect is
important for understanding how genes that produce autism spectrum
disorders impact the function of the mitochondria."

The study was supported by Medical Neurogenetics, which conducted the
testing.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit
www.aan.com.

Green Our Vaccines Rally

From the TACA website, an important opportunity to send a strong message to our national health agencies:

Green Our Vaccines Rally
With Jenny McCarthy & Jim Carrey

RALLY INTRODUCTION &
GENERAL INFORMATION

Please join Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey for the most historical event of 2008, the Green Our Vaccines Rally. Jenny and Jim are working hard to eliminate all toxins from our children's vaccines and have our national health agencies reassess the mandatory vaccine schedule, as our children are receiving TOO MANY, TOO SOON. While Jenny and Jim support the vaccine program, like many, they feel vaccines are too toxic. This country has the ability to provide a safer vaccine supply and schedule to our children and they ask you to join them to demand this for our country's greatest asset, our children.

Who:		Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey, sponsored by Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), Generation Rescue, HEAL Foundation - Healing Every Autistic Life and Moms Against Mercury
What:		A March and Rally to give everyone who loves a child with Autism a day for their voices to be heard.
When:		June 4, 2008 9:00 a.m. – Gather in DC (see March info below) 10:00 a.m. – March (PROMPT START TIME) 12:30 p.m. – RALLY CONCLUSION
Where:		Washington, DC
Why:		Demand Congress take action to Green Our Vaccine Supply while reassessing our current vaccine schedule. Ask Congress to reenact legislation that would eliminate mercury and other toxins from our children's vaccines, study the instance of Autism and other neurological disorders in vaccinated versus unvaccinated children, and to extend the statute of limitations to allow all children affected by vaccine induced Autism to file in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP).
How:		You must register online to attend the Rally.

Is this date & location confirmed: YES. Permits and policy participation for this important event have been secured. This venue is safe for parents and children to attend. Register online.

March:

• We will start lining up for the March at 9 a.m. at the corner of 4th Street SW, and C Street SW, just past the Holiday Inn Parking (Colonial Parking Deck).

• There will be a large number of people, so it is very important for all marchers to be on time so we can assemble and go over instructions. We will be in motion at 10 a.m.

• For those who cannot march, you can meet us at the rally site in front of the of the Capitol Building, West Capitol Grounds. There will be a team of rally staff, that will be easily identifiable, to guide you and inform you of all marching rules and regulations.

• It is vital that you register for the March and Rally.

Stay Tuned with the LATEST RALLY INFO:

• Join the JennyDcAutismRally Yahoo! Group for the latest in updates and news as it relates to the rally. Arrange carpool, ask other state representatives questions, etc!

• How to Join? Send an email to: JennyDcAutism-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Questions: Please email us at GreenOurVaccines@aol.com

Special thanks and appreciation to the team of volunteers & family participation to make this event happen beyond words. Thank you.

Let's show our gratitude to this courageous couple, Jenny & Jim, who are working so hard to support our cause in honor of our children, by attending the Green Our Vaccines Rally.

This is the day our voices will be heard.

So let's join together and be LOUDER THAN WORDS

ADHD and SPD: The Sensory Belt Helps Both

You may know that weighted items: vests, blankets, belts, help children with Sensory Processing Disorder by enhancing proprioceptive feedback (awareness of the body in space). I have recommended weighted vests and belts to several of the families I work with, and the one that I have heard most about from them is the "Sensory Belt." They offer belts for children and adults, and may benefit people with:

• Autism
  
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
  
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  
• Angelman syndrome
  
• Aspergers syndrome (AS)
  
• Ataxia
  
• Cerebral Palsy
  
• Down syndrome
  
• Dyslexia
  
• Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
  
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS)
  
• Peripheral Neuropathy
  
• Rett syndrome
  
• Sensory Integration Disorder (SID)
  
• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

For more info including testimonials, here is their website.

Scientific American: Is There Really an Autism Epidemic?

I got this article in my inbox this morning, thought I'd share:

Is There Really an Autism Epidemic? by Scott O.Lillienfeld & Hal Arkowitz Is There Really an Autism Epidemic? A closer look at the Statistics suggests something more than a simple rise in incidencew. By Scott O.Lilienfeld and Hal Arkowitz of Scientific American magazines' BODY magazine. February.26,2008

If the statistic"One in l66" has a familiar ring,perhaps that's because you recently heard it on a television commercial or read it in a magazine. According to widely publicized estimates,one in l66 is now the proportion of children who suffer from autism. This proportion is astonishingly high compared with the figure of one in 2,500 that autism researchers had accepted for decades. Across a mere l0-year period-l993-statistics from the U.S. Department of Education revealed a 657 percent increase in the nationwide rate of autism.
Not surprising,these bewildering increases have led many researchers and educators to refer to an "autism epidemic,"Representative Dan Burton of Indiana,also declared in 2;001 that"we have an epidemic on our hands." But what's really going on?
Before we explore this question,a bit of background is in order, Autism is a severe disorder that first appears in infancy.Individuals with autism are characterized by problems with language,social bonding and imagination. All suffer from serious communication deficits,and some are mute. They do not establish close relationships with others,preferring to remain in their own mental worlds. They engage in highly stereotyped and repetitive activities,exhibiting a marked aversion to change. About two thirds of autistic individuals are mentally retarded. For reasons that are unknown,most are male.

The causes of autism remain enigmatic,although studies of twins suggest that genetic factors play a prominent role. Still,genetics influences alone cannot account for such a rapid and astronomical rise in a disorder's prevalence over a matter of just a few years. As a consequence,investigators have turned to environmental factors for potential explanations. The causal agents proposed include antibiotics,viruses,allergies

,enhanced opportunities for parents with mild autistic traits to meet and mate,and in one recent study conducted by Cornell University researchers,elevated rates of television viewing in infants. Few of these explanations have been investigated systematically,and all remain speculative.

ARE VACCINES THE PROBLEM?

Yet one environmental culprit has received the lion's share of attention: vaccines. At first blush,vaccines would seem to make a plausible candidate for the source of the epidemic. The debilitating symptoms of autism typically become apparent shortly after age two,not long after infants have received vaccinations for a host of diseases. Indeed,many parents claim that their children developed autism shortly after receiving inoculations,either following a vaccine series for mumps,measles and rubella(German measles)-the so-called MMNR vaccine-or following vaccines containing thimerosal,a preservative that contains mercury.

Much of the hype surrounding a link between vaccines and autism was fueled by a widely covered investigation of l2 children published in l998 by British gastoenterologis Andrew Wakefield and his collegues. the study revealed that symptoms of autism emerged shortly after the children received the MMR vaccine.)Ten of the l3 authors have since published a retraction of the articles' conclusions.) Public interest in the vaccine-autism link was further stoked by the provocatively entitled book Evidence of Harm(St.Martin's Press,2005),written by investigative journalist David Kirvby,which was featured in an extended segment on NBC's Meet the Press.

Yet recently published research has not been kind to this much ballyhooed link. The results of several large American,European and Japanese studies demonstrate that although the rate of MMR vaccinations has remained constant or declined,the rate of autism diagnoses has soared. In addition,after the Danish government stopped administering thimerosal-bearing vaccines,the rates of autism continued to rise. These studies and others summarized by the Institute of Medicine suggest there is little evidence that vaccines cause autism. It is possible that vaccines trigger autism in a small subset of children,but if so that subset has yet to be identified.

(here is the rest of the article)

Jackson News: Can sensitive skin, attention disorder be connected?

Um, yes. YES!

Lets see what they have to say about it:

"Kudos for parents who look into any brain-body connections when their kids have attention problems."

"This boy may have oversensitivity to tactile experiences. We call this tactile defensiveness," says Michelle Yoder, owner of Touchstone Therapy, a private practice in Pineville, N.C. "Children with tactile hypersensitivities may avoid certain textures or seek out activities that help them regulate that incoming input."

Sometimes what kids feel is so annoying that they are unable to concentrate on important and relevant things such as teachers and schoolwork.

"I always use the shirt-tag analogy, because most of us at one time or another has had one that has bothered us," Yoder says. "We can either cut it out or eventually we adjust to that nagging input."

Some children are never able to block out the feeling of the shirt tag, and they fixate on it all day. In turn, they are not able to pay attention to anything else.

"Certainly, we see this in feet as well," Yoder says. "Many times children with tactile defensiveness walk on their toes. They may avoid walking in the grass or sand. Sock seams can bother them, too."

Depending on a child's walking problems, she says, they could be related to tactile defensiveness. Consult an occupational therapist who specializes in children with sensory processing disorders, Yoder suggests.

A sensory processing disorder is a complex brain dysfunction that causes children to experience sensations - taste, touch, sound, sight, smell, movement and body awareness - differently than their peers. For kids who are either over- or under-sensitive, difficulties can result in challenges at school, at home and at play.

A former office nurse in York, S.C., agrees that itching can add to a child's inattention: "My own ADHD child had a similar issue. We took him to a dermatologist, who prescribed various ointments that didn't seem to help much."

But after an allergist was able to solve the itching problem, the child's ability to pay attention increased remarkably, the mother recalls.

Marvin Woll of Raleigh, N.C., a semiretired elementary school counselor, agrees that the parents need to find the cause of the sensitive skin. If the cause is found, the ADHD symptoms might disappear.

Also, Woll suggests, look at the child's diet. Avoid sugary and high-caffeine drinks. He should eat a healthy diet with good protein and foods with calcium, as calcium is vital to the nervous system. Kids also need iron.

check out the full article here.
For seamless socks while you wait, check out the soft sensory shop here.

Communication Boards

When I worked with children with Autism in a self-contained classroom several years ago, communication boards were key to helping the children express their needs, developing their language skills, vocabulary, social interaction skills and overall reducing their frustration. The boards gave the children a real sense of control over their environment, and this sense of security helped to create a better learning environment. It is important that communication boards be used correctly and consistently, and so if you think that this augmentative communication system may benefit your child, consult your child's therapist or special education teacher and develop/learn the system that will work best and is most appropriate.

elliecards™ has a very comprehensive of images -- laminated photographs with Velcro® on the back. They come assembled in a binder organized into categories by plastic color-coded pages. The cards were developed by parents, who chose photographs rather than symbols, as they proved more effective and less abstract. There are benefits to both, as I believe that symbols can apply to more than one specific thing, but photographs are more true to life, and you can always photograph/laminate something which they don't have a card for.

View the elliecards shop here.

Autism Learning Materials on ETSY

Etsy, if you don't already know, is an exciting site where you can buy and sell all things handmade, from batik wall hangings, to engagement rings, to Autism learning materials! The Brooklyn-based company started small, with a great concept and some very creative people, and has grown exponentially. The other night I was lucky enough to meet an Etsy employee who has been there since the very beginning, and who inspired me to check out Etsy in more depth. What I found really surprised me. Here are my top recommendations:



PECS based games and learning tools from PREKLEARNING GAMES

Communication boards and more from AutismCreations

Bag of Sensory Manipulatives from Ainsleyandoswald

Search keywords like sensory and Autism for more handmade helpful treasures.

Parents share tales of raising children with autism through iReport.com

As part of CNN's full day (today) coverage of World Autism Day, iReport, an unedited, unfiltered community managed news portal, is actively collecting and sharing stories from families who are living with Autism in some way. If you have a story to share, this seems like a great way to do it, especially now that CNN is promoting it. It is a great way to raise awareness and understanding about this important issue. It is still incredible to me, even after all the attention Autism gets in the news, and even TV and movies, how misunderstood the disorder still is (I still get lots of "Rainman" references from very informed, educated individuals). Stories from real families that balance the challenges with the rewards are needed.

Welcome to Our New Education Blogger and Networking Guru!

Soft is very happy to welcome our new contributer to the Soft Blog, the lovely Simone Wilson-Millaud! Simone received her BA from the University of California, Berkeley majoring in African American Studies and Social Welfare, and has an MA in English Education from Columbia University's Teachers College. A native of California, Simone currently teaches English in New York City Public Schools, and works as a writing instructor for the Harlem Educational Activities Fund.

A true Renaissance woman, Simone loves music, can dance for hours, tries to read a book a week, and believes that Netflix is one of the most amazing things ever invented. Simone brings her passion for children, social enterprising, and all things creative to Soft, and will be contributing regular articles to our blog, as well as getting the word out on our project to investors, collaborators, colleagues, parents/children and anyone who will listen. Welcome Simone!

GFCF BBQ Sauce (with apron)

Spring is peeking through the cracks of winter. Its almost time to fire up the grill. Here is a great recipe for your GFCF kids who love BBQ, and need some sauce:

BBQ Sauce

1 cup gfcf ketchup ( Heinz Organic)
¼ cup vinegar (Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar)
½ cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon gfcf soy sauce (San-J Organic Tamari Wheat Free Soy Sauce)
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Pinch celery salt
Pinch mustard powder

Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Store in a glass jar.

source

The Soft BBQ Apron (pictured above) is one of our promotional products, which helps to support our development. All proceeds from the Soft Shop go towards funding market research, which helps us tailor our clothing line to meet the individual needs of children with sensory disorders.


To get a closer look at the Soft BBQ Apron, click here.