Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) and President of the Board of Autism Care and Treatment Today (ACT Today!). Dr. Granpeesheh received her Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA and is licensed by the Medical Board of California, the Texas State Board of Psychologists and the Arizona State Board of Psychologist Examiners.

Dr. Granpeesheh holds a Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has been providing behavioral therapy since 1979.

In 1990, Dr. Granpeesheh founded the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) and through its 20 offices world wide, she has provided diagnosis, assessment and behavioral treatment for thousands of children with autism and related disorders.

In 2005, Dr. Granpeesheh founded ACT Today!, a non-profit organization that provides support and funding to families of children with Autism. In addition, Dr. Granpeesheh is also a principle member of the Thoughtful House Center for Children, a charity organization that provides behavioral services in collaboration with medical treatment and research.

Dr. Granpeesheh is member of the Defeat Autism Now Executive Council, on the Scientific Advisory Board of the US Autism and Asperger’s Association and First Vice Chair of the National Board of Directors of the Autism Society of America. Dr. Granpeesheh is also the executive director and co-producer of the award-winning documentary, RECOVERED: Journeys Through the Autism Spectrum and Back.

visit AutismCalgary.org for details about “Keys to the Treasure Chest”

Stephen Shore, Ed.D.

Dr. Stephen Shore shares his autobiographical journey from the nonverbal days as he relates his life to the many challenges facing people on the autism spectrum. Some of the areas discussed include classroom accommodation, teaching of musical instruments, as well as issues faced by adults such as relationships, self-advocacy, higher education, and employment. At a conference, he will end a session with a short audience activity demonstrating what it feels like to have autism and to struggle through some of the challenges surrounding communication and socialization.

The focus of Dr. Shores dissertation towards doctorate was the true comparison between educational, behavior and developmental approaches for working with children on the autism spectrum. Qualitative research was initiated to investigate the following about Applied Behavioral Analysis, TEACCH, Daily Life Therapy, Miller Method, and DIR. Through written correspondence and face to face interviews, the developers of these varied approaches were queried on how they define autism, think about children with autism, and would handle carefully designed case studies representing the spectrum of autism. Some preliminary findings suggest that current definitions of autism are lacking and a more multi-dimensional approach is needed, some techniques are applicable across approaches, and a general sense that people with autism have something valuable to contribute to the community as a whole.

Achieving a best outcome for a productive transition to adulthood requires intervention in the three main areas of behavioral/developmental/educational, biomedical, and sensory integration. The importance of the interplay between these three areas of intervention as well as approaches focused on addressing social and self-awareness necessary to navigate the adult worlds of employment, relationships, continuing education, interdependent living, and appropriate self-advocacy shall be examined. Join Stephen Shore as he shares his incredible journey personally and professionally through a spectrum of information.

Visit Autism Calgary for more information about the conference

Temple Grandin, Ph.D. – Special Keynote Lecture

At the time of this writing, the HBO movie “TEMPLE GRANDIN” featuring Claire Danes received 15 Emmy Nominations and tells the phenomenal biographical success story of world-renowned Dr. Temple Grandin, “Temple”. Meet Temple in person, up close and personal to learn what has made her the inspiration and role model to hundreds of thousands of families and persons with autism worldwide.

In Temple’s unique presentation, she eloquently and candidly describes the challenges she has faced and offers no-nonsense ideas on how others dealing with autism can meet these obstacles and improve the quality of their own lives. Backed by her personal experience and evidence based research, Temple shares her valuable insights on a wide variety of topics, and offers useful do’s and don’ts. She will also share parts of her movie journey in working the incredible Claire Danes who portrayed her magnificently in the movie.

By attending, participants can modify the learning environment to accommodate sensory challenges, recognize and accommodate neurological differences in home or classroom settings, distinguish between voluntary behaviors and involuntary behaviours, responsibly utilize alternative and/or conventional medicine to the best of their advantage and assist individuals in developing their gifts and talents down a succinct career path.

Temple is one of those once in a lifetime individuals that if you have the opportunity to meet, you don’t want to miss it. She is an amazing, caring compassionate example of how you want your child, your student or your client to turn out in life! Meeting Temple face to face is phenomenal and you will remember the experience always as a highlight in your life travelling through the autism spectrum.

Dr. Temple Grandin will be in Calgary this November at a special appearance “Keys to the Treasure Chest”

Visit www.autismcalgary.org for more details

November 22 at 8:00am – November 23 at 5:30pm

MacEwan Hall – 402 Collegiate Blvd NW Calgary, Alberta

Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, and Karen Simmons. Two-Day Workshop focusing on “Strategies for Behavioral Management for Autism Spectrum Disorders”.

Strategies for professionals, family and caregivers for overcoming challenges, behavior, and relationships. Inspiring and informational, this event brings a new level of hope and understanding.

http://www.autismcalgary.org/index.html

We are learning about the importance of healthy digestion, elimination and nutrient absorption for those on the autism spectrum. While many people, not just those with autism, have problems within their bowels, these disorders can be especially problematic for those with autism.

Many of us may have bowel problems and not even suspect it. Advertisers are appearing every which way now (even from the pharmaceutical companies!) on TV and the radio the importance of probiotics. Donna Gates and Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride talk about how we, as a society, eat so many processed foods, we may not have enough beneficial bacteria in our systems.

Experts in the biomedical field discuss these issues quite extensively on an ongoing basis. There are tests available today to find out if you or someone you know may have bowel disorders. Check with your doctor if you suspect you may have problems. Then, get on the right track to bowel health!

When I was down in Alabama visiting my mother, I asked my mother’s pharmacist if he recommended probiotics. He answered yes, and said he takes them religiously!

When I think of the old phrase “you are what you eat” and consider that I am a living being, I choose to put living food in my body. This is the path I am on daily. If I don’t put at least some living foods or supplements in my body daily, I can certainly tell the difference.

This is not always that easy to do, when every time we drive down any street, there is a plethora of fast-food chains. The good restaurants are getting so expensive with today’s economy, and many people do not understand the concept of putting a healthy meal together – especially a to-go healthy meal.

First, food does not have to be complicated. A salad, for example, does not have to be cut up and all mixed together and floating in sloppy dressing. Put some foods together that are healthy that will support your gut. Then, pack your food to go, to resist those weak moments in the fast-food game. It’s not that hard to plan ahead if you have the right food containers. You will be ready when you or your kids are! Carrot sticks, ants on a log, kefir, with blueberries (high in antioxidants) and a cut up banana (potassium) with a scoop of pure whey protein to add some sweetness.  Sliced favorite veggies with their favorite dip (my grandkids like honey/mustard dressing)–or make your own dip. Wraps using lettuce leaves are easy and delicious. You can get as creative as you wish or just go simple. I have a recipe for almond butter balls. From my understanding, the very popular peanut butter can cause digestive problems because of the mold on peanuts.

Second, getting your daily allotment of probiotics (good bacteria) to help bowel flora is so easy these days with the products on the market today. People say “oh yes, I eat yogurt” – okay, I’ll go that! Also, kefir is another great product, like yogurt. Yogurt is great, but yogurt typically only has one probiotic – acidophillus and many brands are processed and sugar laden. Also, most yogurts are  made from dairy, which many people are restricted from on their diet. Our bodies need a variety of probiotics to function properly, which can be obtained relatively inexpensively in supplemental form.  My favorite is kefir (explain a little about what kefir is) You can buy kefir or make it yourself easily enough with kefir starter. If you are not eating dairy, you can make your own coconut kefir or coconut yogurt It is so simple and healthy!

I could go on and on, but you get the picture? Take a look at what you are eating and pay attention to how you feel!

Get in touch with some great nutritional products and supplements here!

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“TREVOR’S WORLD” (Submittals for Chicken Soup For the Soul; Children with Special Needs)

I have a son named Trevor
he’s not like you and me
when he was born he changed our life
in ways we couldn’t see

In his crib we hung up mobiles
he loved to watch them spin
but his cows never quite “jumped the moon”
as we sat and wondered when:

He would communicate, or talk to us
we looked for any sign
but he didn’t progress in a “normal” way
he was “locked” inside his mind

And so began the visits
to the hospitals, and such
but when they came back they always said
“we can’t do very much”

He is autistic, also PDD
and epileptic too
he’s apraxic with low muscle tone
“there’s not much you can do”

So, medications special diets
and therapy we tried
to help our son in every way
as we sometimes sat and cried

He had no sense of danger,
could not tell right from wrong
he could not be left alone at all
we would watch him all day long

He would climb on tables and TV’s
would stand and reach from chairs
he was more adept at mountain skills
than he was on normal stairs

And if left alone in a yard or lot
he would just begin to go
there was nothing that would stop him
and he didn’t even know

Where he wanted to end up
it mattered not one bit
because hours and days could pass on end
before he chose to sit

He is thirteen now and at a school
which is a very special place
where there are angelic saints who teach him
with care and gentle grace

Trevor knows what he is saying,
he communicates by sign
he makes you understand him
it just takes a little time

We communicate by touching
there’s some things which give him calm
like running thread along his leg
or by massaging his little palm

It surprises me when I meet the ones
who care for him at school
or the ones who he rides horses with
or the instructor at the pool

He can’t play sports or army
and scouts and bikes won’t do
but there’s another world for kids like Trev
that these people take them to

Its a place that lets them know
that they have ability and right
to participate in all we do
regardless of their plight

And while its hard on families
to care for kids like this
Trevor has released me,
and has shown me what I missed

With my other kids I’d focus
on achievement and on grades
on pushing hard, cause it takes so much
to succeed in things these days

But Trevor’s goals are not the same
as they are for me and you
to watch him simply laugh and smile
he’s as happy as he can be

I go with him into his world
away from all the “stuff”
from the things that drive us crazy
which really is all fluff

He smiles and signs “I love you”
his way of saying thanks
“for doing this little thing with me”
he knows how much it takes

I think he knows more than he says
or can communicate to me
but if he wasn’t born this way
there’s a place I’d never see.

As parents of disabled kids
though hard beyond belief
they have a way of taking back
a small part of that grief

And God or nature works this way
by allowing us to deal
by finding something, however small
in a way to make us feel

That our efforts are not all in vain
that there really is a plan
that teaches us all to learn
“accept me as I am”

Though immune from all the problems
that most of us do face
he doesn’t care, he brings me there
to his special little place.

My sweet sister Susan loves to write too! Here is a new one of hers I think you will enjoy

Turning the Autism Table, by Susan Simmons

The following story is a hypothetical scenario of what I would like to see in the future, and what I think will happen in the future:

There was a time, long ago, when the word autism brought sorrow to people’s faces. When someone said the word “autism” people shuddered and grew their eyes wide with dispair. They shivered, clammed up, and said “I’m sorry”. They turned away in shame (for you), because there was a person with autism in your family. They rattled off a plethora of words they could pull out of their hat that mean stupid, crazy, less than perfect, disabled, retarded, and unacceptable. Or if you were at a party, they turned either turned away or tried to change the subject. Their empathy was overwhelming.

During this same time, children with autism were coming out of their structured classroom “shells” and into the regular classrooms. Teachers were scrambling every which way, going to conferences, workshops, getting training materials, taking classes, and becoming special education teachers. This was a time when the big table in the sky was turning ever so slowly.

That was a time when people didn’t know any better. They were not educated. Or, at least there were not enough educated people to know better. Autism is not necessarily a disease, or a terrible affliction, ready to put a person away.

But one day, the table did make it all the way around 180º and the world saw autism on the flip side.

In the ‘Learning Disabilities’ world, some label children as “learning disabled”, when in fact they are not disabled at all. They just have a unique learning style different than the way we have been teaching for hundreds or even thousands of years. We just don’t teach or assess to their learning style, thereby earning the badge of LD (learning disabled).

Temple Grandin says autism is a spectrum “disorder”.  Asperger Syndrome is along that spectrum and many people with Asperger’s are highly capable, intelligent people with gifts to bring the world that the “normies” just cannot provide. We would not have the kind of wonderful things in the world we have today, had it not been for those with Asperger’s. Who would have invented the light bulb (Edison)? Who would have written The Marriage Of Figaro (Mozart)

Well, people kept on learning about autism and Asperger’s. They learned that many people who had been diagnosed as learning disabled (LD), were in fact not disabled at all. We just did not teach according to their specific learning style. You see, people with autism and Aperger’s,  have very different learning styles from the normies. Some think in pictures, like Temple Grandin, able to see a picture in their head before it exists. Temple can completely test-run livestock handling equipment in her head before it is even put down in the design phase!

We learned so much about autism over the years, that we finally learned how to teach people with autism, as well as how to test them.  We learned that by teaching them in such a way that fosters their strengths and at the same time addresses their challenges, they became the most productive, creative and famous people in the world!

Pretty soon, everybody started saying “I have autism”, because they don’t want to me a “normie”.

And that’s the way it happened!

Temple Grandin is very specific about how she describes autism, how to foster success in the autistic child, why the world needs people on the autism spectrum.

Autism is a very big continuum, from severe (nonverbal) to brilliant to (scientists). The kids growing up now can be the next great inventors.

There is a fine line between nerd and someone with Asperger’s. Many times, these ‘nerdy’ types or kids that can’t get focused on their assigned lessons in school get pushed aside because teachers just don’t know how to deal with them. They don’t know what to do with them and they don’t have the resources to help them flourish. Temple’s deep concern is expressed “…one of the things that really worries me is where is the younger version of those kids going today? They’re not ending up in Silicon Valley, where they belong!” (Grandin, 2010).

The autistic mind is a ‘specialist’ mind. Some are visual, photo realistic thinkers and are poor at algebra, They see thoughts or words just like “google for pictures”. The autistic brain picks out the details, but the ‘normal’ brain ignores a lot of details. She says if a bridge designer ignores the details, it will crumble and fall!

There are pattern thinkers, who are good at math and often have problems with reading. There are verbal thinkers, which are poor at drawing, but know every fact about everything.

Temple learned very early that she had to sell her work, not herself. Social people sell themselves in a job interview, more so than their work. Temple showed her amazing drawings! She also learned the importance of manners at an early age, through intensive mentoring as a young child.

It’s important to show kids on the spectrum interesting stuff to get them excited about learning whatever their specialty is. A mind can be social or ‘geeky’. The autism mind is less social, to the severity of being non-verbal. To take art, drafting, music out of the schools is a critical mistake, as autistic kids need to have these programs to nurture their ‘fixation’. These kids are really smart, and teachers need to know how to direct these kids.

We need to get these kids ‘turned on’. Take notice on what they fixate. If they can’t get their mind off horses, then center the [math] lesson around horses. Maybe they should skip math altogether, if they aren’t pattern thinkers! Temple cannot emphasize enough the importance of  a good mentor for helping a child develop his or her autism special talents

“Autism in a New Light”, by Susan Simmons

I had the fortunate experience of “realizing” an autism episode yesterday just like the ones I’ve been reading about in my educational studies, books, and blogs. It was really quite interesting, as the child’s actions were literally replicated to the ones the experts write about. I knew from the onset of this memorable episode that it was indeed autism.

I was with my cousin and her family in their favorite candy store in Boulder CO, when suddenly a little boy started to profusely scream, thrash, and carry on like there was no tomorrow!

His temper tantrum found him in a position not standing, but pseudo-emotionally stirred like a dancing frantic starfish, barely balancing himself upright with the help of his mother and her friend. It seemed he may have wanted something, but was not allowed to have it or maybe didn’t want something – that part is unclear to me. Or, the candy store just may have been too much stimulation for him.

It may have been the stimulation of too many colors, smells and choices of candy, florescent lights, or the ambient rumble of the crowds. Nevertheless, he was clearly and deliberately unhappy and disturbed. The boy’s mother and friend attempted to escort him out of the store, but his body had taken charge of his relentless insistence.

With belabored effort, they managed to manipulate his thrashing body near the front of the store, but he somehow managed to adhere himself to a fixture just inside the front door like a monkey might have adhered to a tree if his very existence had been threatened. He had literally wrapped his arms and legs around the giant gumball machine that guarded the entrance from any hasty candy resisters.

The shrill shriek of his voice may have shattered the giant ball containing the multi-chromatic balls of gum, had it been made of glass. “I wish I had a picture of this” his mother commented, with a carefree chuckle as they delaminated him from the colorful globe of desire. Mom and friend slowly, but deliberately peeled him off the gumball machine with all their strength and finally managed to maneuver him over to the bench just outside the store. The boy thrashed and screamed for quite some time in his own private frenzy, resisting any attempt to diffuse his tantrum.

The experience was not only educational, but also very moving and emotional for me. I had read about such episodes in Little Rainman, and other books, but I took the experience just a step further. I calmly and lovingly went over to the bench where the family was sitting just outside the candy store with their screaming, thrashing child, and greeted them with a friendly smile as I sat on the bench with them. “I know all about it” and “It’s all okay”.

All the while, between the lines, but written in my eyes, I was saying, “I know what autism is, I understand what you are going through. I understand it, I am not one of those people ‘judging’ you as ‘bad parents’. I know, by our brief  but deep glimpse of each other, your boy is a loving and beautiful child. Your child is accepted in my life and some day I hope to touch your child’s life, directly or indirectly, in a positive way through intervention. I know your parenting is not only adequate, but beyond measure. I advocate for your child and revere your patience, love and understanding.” Never once using the word ‘autism’ or implying that their boy had the affliction, I assured them that it would all be okay, and he world will eventually catch up.

Autism is more prevalent in our society than many of us even realize. It is a growing concern that requires immediate attention, with an open mind and compassionate disposition. One in 110 are currently diagnosed with autism today, previously compared to approximately 1 in 11,000 in 1975.

The reason I share this memorable experience, is to share with others what autism is like and to hopefully foster a sense of acceptance of autism among those who do not live with autism. My hope is to encourage a sense of urgency as well as compassion among our society to learn all we can about autism, inspire advocacy and acceptance, and help make the world a better place, among those with and those who live with autism.

© Susan Simmons, Autism Today, Conference Liaison