Taking Multi-Vitamins

Autism Community Connection=

Autismcc Yahoo Group Responds!

Our group is comprised of parents, educators and professionals in the autism community.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> We welcome parents to ask question= s so that together we may share our wealth of collected knowledge and insight.

www.autismcommunityconnec= tion.com - http://health.= groups.yahoo.com/group/autismcc/

Topic: Holiday Stress and Autism

The holidays are stressful on everyone, but even more so for those with special needs children. Anyone that is feeling overwhelmed at any time is welcome to post their frustrations with = our group. There are over 500 par= ents who can share their own stories and offer suppor= t when you need it most. You are not alone. We all get it here.

These posts also prompted an article called Holidays, Autism & Tolstoy that can be found on our ACC downloads page. Our parents have come to the concl= usion to enjoy the holiday on their child’s terms and not on the preconceiv= ed perceptions of everyone else. Do good by your child and enjoy the happy moments that come along. Do not worry about what others thi= nk.

Christma= s

From one of our moms:

“X-mas and holidays are a joke for us. I am going to have to= make excuses for my kids again. I have to make other people feel better about the boys’ reaction to their presents. They are not asking for it but I see their disappointment. I know = how it is to be excited about giving the perfect gift, but that isn't how it is fo= r my boys.”

Laurie said,

It's not your responsibility to make other people feel better about gift choices. Easy for me to say, since after years of trying to choose the 'perfect' gifts my family ju= st started sending me money so that I can do the shopping. That way if s= he doesn't like it, I'm the only one to blame! :) Your kids a= re little, though, so give yourself a big break -- you'll figure out how to better plan and manage to enjoy the holidays next year. For this year, since it's so close now, maybe try focusing on finding even= ONE moment each day when your kids are happy or having a good time with a relative or sib. That used to help me during those dark, rough y= ears before I figured out a few key strategies to help make Christmas and holidays enjoyable for my daughter.

Lee found this great holiday letter to give to family members:

This article appeared in the holiday 1999 issue of ASAP News! (Volume 3.5) The Autism Support and Advocacy Project, and Potential Unlimited Publishing.

"Dear Family and Friends:" was written for the purpose of it being sent to relatives and hosts of holiday gatherings who might need a crash course in = what to expect from their guest with autism.

Dear Family and Friends: " I understand that we will be visiting each other= for the holidays this year! Sometimes these visits can be very hard for me, but here is some information that might help our visit to be more successful. As you probably know, I am challenged by a hidden disability called Autism, or what some people refer to as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). Autism/PDD is a neurodevelopmental disorder which makes it hard for me to u= nderstand the environment around me. I have barriers in my brain that you can't see, = but which make it difficult for me to adapt to my surroundings.

Sometimes I may seem rude and abrupt, but it is only because I have to try so hard to understand people and at the same time, make myself understood. People with autism have different abilities: Some may not speak, some write beautiful poetry. Others are whizzes in math (Albert Einstein was thought to be autistic), or may have difficulty making friends. We are all different and = need various degrees of support.

Sometimes when I am touched unexpectedly, it might feel painful and make me want to r= un away. I get easily frustrated, too. Being with lots of other people is like standing next to a moving freight train and trying to decide how and when to jump aboard. I feel frightened and confused a lot of the time. This is why I need to have things the same as much as possible. Once I learn how things happen, I can get by OK. But if something, anything, changes, then I have to relearn the situation all over again! It is very hard.

When you try to talk to me, I often can't understand what you say because there = is a lot of distraction around. I have to concentrate very hard to hear and understand one thing at a time. You might think I am ignoring you--I am not. Rather, I am hearing everything and not knowing what is most important to respond to.

H= olidays are exceptionally hard because there are so many different people, places, = and things going on that are out of my ordinary realm. This may be fun and adventurous for most people, but for me, it's very hard work and can be extremely stressful. I often have to get away from all the commotion to calm down. It would be great if you had a private place set up to where I could = retreat.

Susie recommended,

Have your children open their prese= nts a little later in the celebration, and in private. Perhaps they can play with the toys (assuming that's what they receive) alone for a bit, and then either thank = the giver themselves, if they are able to, or

you can tell "Aunt Jean" = or whoever, that "Johnny's having such a great time playing with (fill in= the blank). Thank you so much". It seems to me that all<= /p>

children (and most adults) would ne= ed some downtime in such a large gathering, I don't believe you should have to make apologies or feel guilty about that.

Dawn suggested,

Help your relatives interact with y= our child. This can be done in subtle ways. "Oh ________ really loved our = trip to Disney World. If you ask h= im he'll tell you all about it."

"___________ has a hard time answering those kinds of questions. If you give him a choice or make it a y= es or no question, he'll be able to answer."

"_______ really loves to be chased. Why don't you tell him and see if he'll

play."

"When ________ makes those sou= nds he's really excited but can't put it

into words."=

The more you can put your family at ease with autism, the more comfortable you

will feel attending family gatherin= gs.

http://autism.about= .com/od/copingwithautism/f/holidayfaq.htm?nl=3D1

Handling the Holidays with a Child = on the Autism Spectrum - from About.com's

Autism and Family Life section.

Melissa said,

We have always found it helpful to = have a room our son can go to when he needs to get away from everyone - his room here at home or the guest room or basement at my parents house, for example= . We don't require him to sit down and eat with everyone because it is just too = loud and distracting for him. Everybody understands now, but it wasn't always ea= sy. I think you just have to

learn to say "this is what wor= ks for us" gently but firmly and then change the subject. People who have= a problem with it will just have to deal with it, you know?

Kristin responded,

I think I am just beginning to get comfortable with the holidays again. This year I didn't buy any toys I want= ed the kids to like – I bought toys I thought they'd want. Small shift of words, big shift of emphasis.

For the first time since the diagno= sis 5 (!!!!) years ago, we made Christmas cookies this year. But they don't loo= k a thing like Christmas cookies - they look exactly like chocolate chip cookies made from ready-made dough. My kids love to scoop the dough out of the tub = and, more importantly, it's the only kind of cookie my son eats and he loves the= m. Better to do something together than have a plate of beautiful cookies that= no one cares about.

I've been struggling with what to p= ut in my holiday letter this year. Maybe I should just share what our Christmas looks like with those w= ho can't be here to share it with us. I bet we have more fun, albeit strange f= un, than just about anyone else.

Hallowee= n

From one of our moms:

"While fun holidays like Hallo= ween are great for people with typical kids, for families like us, costumes interfere with sensory and candy doesn't fit into a GFCF and allergen-free diet. It's not happy, it's very sad to think that my son is missing part of what should be a happy childhood. Every day is a struggle but yesterday even more so. I couldn't even get it (Halloween costume) on him to get a picture. (Even though he wore= a costume last year.) People who don't have a

child with autism don't understand = what we go through. That's not a criticism of you in any way. Yesterday was just= a very sad day for me.”

Some suggestions on making Halloween fun for our ASD kids included:

Back when my family was in the LADSE school district area, my son's ECE class

went out into the neighborhood and practiced trick or treating along with the teacher's and aides. They gave m= e a key ring with two-inch boardmaker pics that outlined the process for him. D= ress up, knock on door, say trick or treat, get candy, say thank you. The key ri= ng really helped because he loved to flip through the pictures and remember the sequence. And then it was cool to him to actually do the sequence for real.= We went from no trick or treating, to a couple houses to now full blown trick = or treating and picking out his costume by age 7.

If you have a gluten free child you might convince him/her to donate the candy.

I think some scout organizations do that and I remember Dist. 204 Indian Prairie pre-k having a drop off for ca= ndy. For those kids that don't want to venture out I would also suggest that the= y be the official candy giver. We buy trinkets from Oriental Trading company to = hand out and I'm always on the look out for "close out" toys--you can still be gluten free and have fun on either side of the door.

This list of gluten casein free can= dy came from www.gfcfdiet.com

READ LABELS EVEN IF PRODUCT LISTED = AS NEW

(When ordering via phone or online ALWAYS specify that products must

be gluten free and casein free .)

This is not a complete listing of a= ll GFCF Chocolate/Candy/Ice Cream

Always Read Labels even if product = is listed as new!

Gum

Dubble Bubble Original bubble gum www.dubblebubble.com

Wrigley chewing gum #1-800-824-9681=

WARNING: Trident For Kids & Tri= dent Advantage contain Recaldent, a

milk-casein derivative.<= /span>

Assorted Candy

Nestle 1-800-456-4117

Sweet Tarts

Spree Chewy Candy=

Regular Spree Candy

Willy Wonka Candy Factory (Nestle 1-800-452-1971) www.wonka.com

Gobstoppers

Bottle Caps

Pixy Stix

Nerds

Runts

NO Oompahs!

NO Wonka Bar!

READ LABELS

Farley Candy 507-945-8181

gummy bears

Mason Dots www.tootsie.com

Mike & Ike candies (all flavors) #1-800-445-5787

Zours

Jelly beans

Hot Tamales

Necco Wafers Necco www.necco.com

Mary Janes and Mary Jane Peanut But= ter Kisses

Necco Wafers

Sweethearts

Conversation Hearts (Valentines onl= y)

Canada Mint and Wintergreen Lozenge= s

Necco Candy Eggs (Easter)

Candy Stix

Talking Pumpkins (Halloween)

Peach Blossoms (Christmas)

Necco Ultramints<= /p>

NO Haviland Thin Mints

NO Haviland Peppermint

NO Wintergreen Patties

NO Clark Bar

Rock Candy (pure sugar)<= /span>

Ce De Candies 908-964-0660 www.smarties.com/index.htm

Ce De Candies, U.S.A. makes the following candy products:

Kidz Rings

Candy Fruits

Candy Lipsticks

Smarties

WARNING: Do not confuse "Smarties" made by CeDe Candies with a

product Nestle's makes which is also called Smarties AND contains

wheat. Nestle's Smarties are chocol= ate, covered with a crunchy

shell...similar to M&M's.<= /o:p>

Stretch Island Fruit Leathers 1-800-863-7836 www.stretch-island.com

Specify GFCF when ordering

NOTE - following exceptions - grain alcohol in natural flavorings

the following:

No Chunky Cherry<= /p>

No Truly Tropical=

Halloween Molds, etc. for making GF= CF TREATS!! www.special-

occasion.net

Stand-up Jack O Lantern Cake Pan Se= t

Scarecrow Mold, Haunted House<= /o:p>

Pumpkin Cookie Mold, Tombstone & Halloween

Candy Mold, many more!

Jelly Beans

Jelly Belly www.jellybelly.com 1-800-522-3267

A sample list of some acceptable GF= CF Jelly Beans from Jelly Belly.

The following list does not include every GFCF jelly bean. Check

website for more acceptable jelly beans.

Juicy Pear

Luscious Peach

Delightfully Tart Green Apple<= /o:p>

NOTE: Trace amounts of dairy derivatives may be present in these

flavors: Café Latte, Buttered Toast, Caramel Corn, Buttered Popcorn,

Chocolate Cherry Cake, Chocolate Pudding and Strawberry Cheesecake.

They do not use any wheat, rye, bar= ley, or oats in the basic recipe

for Jelly Belly jelly beans. The modified food starch used in the

manufacture of their jelly bean can= dies is cornstarch. However,

trace amounts of wheat derivatives = may be present in the Buttered

Toast flavor. (Dec. 2002)

Jolly Rancher #1-303-423-2366<= /o:p>

Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans

Jolly Rancher Hard Candies

Mars Inc. 1-800-222-0293=

Jelly Beans

CHECK LABELS!!