Hi this is Dave Angel. Welcome to the twenty-first edition
of “The Parenting Autism & Aspergers Newsletter”…

Inside this edition you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion - Asperger Syndrome -
Does a Gluten-Free Diet Benefit?

2. In the News – More Students With Asperger Syndrome
Going to College

3. Parenting Tips - Protect Your Child

4. Prominent People Linked with ASD - Joy Adamson, Naturalist

Thanks

Dave

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1. Hot Topic of Discussion - Asperger Syndrome and a
Gluten-Free Diet

A current Aspergers topic in the news is the possibility that
allergic reactions to various foods may make Aspergers Syndrome
worse. Many parents have found that by limiting the amount of gluten
(from the proteins in wheat, rye, oats, barley) and casein
(a substance found in dairy products) in their child’s diet,
Aspergers symptoms improve.

Children with Aspergers often have gastointestinal problems, such as
acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and hiccups. These
problems occur when foods containing gluten and casein are not
completely digested, leading to lactose and casein intolerance.
Undigested proteins enter the bloodstream and interfere with other
body functions.

The undigested proteins can become toxic, causing the Asperger
child to crave dairy foods and wheat. Symptoms of gluten or casein
intolerance include: red cheeks and ears, dry skin, runny nose,
headaches, hyperactivity, tantrums,and odd-looking bowel movements.

Because of this, for many years some experts have recommended a
gluten-free, casein-free diet for Asperger Syndrome children and
adults. However, it is a very restrictive diet and usually
used as a last resort.

The results of the diet vary, but there is usually some improvement
in Aspergers symptoms. Parents report improvements in sleep, speech
and communication, focus and attention span, social skills, personal
hygiene, motor skills, and a reduction in tantrums.

Based on the results, a gluten-free, casein-free diet is worth trying.
Start slowly and eliminate one group (either gluten or casein)
at a time. Once you are comfortable without one of them, then
eliminate the other. You can substitute gluten-free flour in cakes,
rolls, pastas, and desserts. However, gluten-free bread is not very
tasty.

To read the full article please go to: Asperger Resources:
http://www.aspergerresources.com/glutein-free_diet.html

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2. In the News – ABC News
More Students With Asperger Syndrome Going to College,
Some Schools Have Programs to Help Autistic Students
By THEA TRACHTENBERG
April 2, 2008

As many autistic young adults enter universities for the first time,
colleges are trying to find ways to deal with the first generation of
Asperger students. A decade ago the idea of Asperger students
attending college seemed impossible. Today, with early diagnosis and
therapy, Aspies are entering college in record numbers and
colleges are trying to adapt.

Marshall University, in the United States, has one of the few programs
specifically for those with Asperger syndrome. If the student attends
two classes for 50 minutes a day, the rest of the day is spent on
campus.

“So it is that community that is hard to navigate many times — to know
where to go to feel safe or where to go to get support — and that’s
where our program really fits in,” said program coordinator Marc
Ellison.

The university has graduate students who work with the 14 students in
the Asperger program, reviewing assignments and helping with classroom
behaviour and expectations. Autistic students also have weekly life
skills meetings. Though programs like this are rare, other schools are
beginning similar ones.

In order to find the best fit, parents are advised to find a school
that offers the right support systems for their child.
“Some students really need a real hands-on disability coordinator or a
program specifically for Asperger Syndrome. Other students would not
take part in that and really want to be anonymous on campus,” said Jane
Thierfeld, who has worked in disability services for three decades.

To read the article go to:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/TurningPoints/story?id=4568471&page=1

People mentioned above as having Asperger Syndrome may
or may not have actually have been diagnosed with it.

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3. Parenting Tips - Protect Your Child by Domonville, May 26, 2008

Domonville writes, “I went to the police station to add us, my ASD son
and me, to their computer system database. I highly recommend everyone
do this. It only takes 30 minutes to gain peace of mind. It is
especially useful for those times when melt-downs and aggression happen
in the home or in public and police get involved…or if you have a “runner,”
an ASD kid who wanders off or runs away. If the police have you and
your ASD kid in their files to look up, they will be prepared as to
what to expect when they encounter him or her and, most importantly,
what they should NOT do! Medications needed, allergies, and close
friends for emergency contacts can be listed. It is simple and if
your child is hurt or lost they know what to do to contact you.”

Thanks for the great tip Domonville.

Please post any tips that you have and I will publish them.

You can post them at:

http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/parenting-tips-wanted/

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4. Prominent People Linked with ASD - Joy Adamson, Naturalist

Joy Adamson (1910-1980) was born in Austria. She is best known as
the author of the book, Born Free. She was a noted naturalist
and wildlife preservationist.

Joy Adamson and her third husband, George, were among the most famous wildlife conservationists of the twentieth century. Joy went to Kenya
in 1937, where she married George Adamson, a British game warden, in
1944 and remained in Kenya. An accomplished painter, she specialized
in collecting and illustrating African wildflowers. Joy used her
talents as an artist to paint 600 portraits of Kenyan tribal members
that were later published in her book, The Peoples of Kenya.

The Adamsons acquired Elsa, a lion cub, in 1956, after George killed a
lioness in self-defense. Elsa and George trained the animal to return
to the wild, and the book Adamson wrote, Born Free (1960), was a
success. Adamson followed the book with Living Free (1961) and Forever Free
(1962). All three of the books were successful and films were made of them. Born Free was made into a television series. The stars of the films,
Virginia McKenna and her husband, Bill Travers, were so affected by the
work the Adamsons were doing that they founded the Born Free Foundation in England to support wildlife conservation.

In 1962, Joy Adamson went on an international tour to speak about
wildlife preservation and became a founder of the World Wildlife Fund and the Elsa Wild Animal Appeal. The royalties from her books were used to set
up animal reserves and to fund preservation organizations.

Joy and George separated in the 1970s, and on January 3, 1980 Joy was
found murdered in a remote part of Kenya. Paul Nakware Ekai, a Turkana
tribesman, who was employed by Adamson, was convicted of her murder in 1981 and sentenced to life in prison. In 2005 he recanted his
confession.

Through the years, there was speculation that Joy may have had Asperger
Syndrome, but not much proven evidence is available. People mentioned
as having Asperger Syndrome, such as Joy Adamson, may or may not have actually been diagnosed with it.

Books by and about Joy Adamson:

Adamson, Joy, Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds, Pantheon, 1960.

Adamson, Joy, Forever Free, Harcourt, 1963.

Adamson, Joy, Living Free: The Story of Elsa and Her Cubs, Harcourt,
1961.

Adamson, Joy, The Peoples of Kenya, Collins & Harvill, 1967.

Adamson, Joy, The Searching Spirit, Harcourt, 1979.

Adamson, Joy, The Spotted Sphinx, Harcourt, 1969.

Cass, Caroline, Joy Adamson: Behind the Mask, Weidenfeld & Nicolson,
1992.

House, Adrian, The Great Safari: The Lives of George and Joy Adamson,
Morrow, 1993.

To see the full text of the articles on Joy Adamson, go to:

http://incorrectpleasures.blogspot.com/2006/09/referenced-list-of-famous-or-important.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/joy-adamson

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I hope you have enjoyed the articles in this newsletter as much as I
enjoyed researching them.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in August.

And as ever … please send in any inspirational stories
that you know of, any questions that you would like our team
of experts to answer, any topics that you wish to be discussed
and news stories that you want to share VIA THE BLOG.

We will publish as many as we can.

Until next month………

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

http://www.parentingaspergers.com

P.S. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your
friends.