sensory vests and nutrition (2 questions)

July 8, 2008

Hello everyone --

Finally, a non-Peace Corps related post (well, half of it)

1) I'm about to finish my service here in Romania within the next

month, so I have one last question that could help my work here. I'm

currently doing a month-long volunteer project where I go with

high-school students (whose maturity and generosity with their time

never fails to amaze me) to the local institution/orphanage for kids

with disabilities. I had Wilberger sensory brushes and sensory deep

pressure vests donated from the States, especially for use with the

children with physical disabilities that don't receive much

stimulation and as a result have pretty severe sensory issues. My

problem is that while I've been trained in using both of these (in the

States), I don't have experience with training others. If anyone

knows of online resources that explain how to use both in simple

terms, that would be great. It's really key in teaching the staff to

use the materials, otherwise I'm afraid they won't make the effort.

2) After I finish Peace Corps I'm returning to MD to help my dad with

his organization Chesapeake Gardens Inc on a project called Broths for

Wellness. CGI makes healthy organic soups and Broths for Wellness is

currently trying to test the health benefits for conditions such as

Crohn's disease, mental illness, as well as autism (I guess the apple

doesn't fall far from the tree). They (or, I guess, we) currently

have/are building partnerships with the University of Chicago, Kennedy

Krieger and s Hopkins. My question is: does anyone know of other

organizations (preferably on the east coast, but really anywhere) that

are currently working on the connection between nutrition (that is,

beyond Gluten-free research) and autism? Please let me know.

And not to shamelessly plug, but if anyone is interested in more

information (or just local organic food, it's also a cafe in Glen

Burnie, MD) the website is:

Thank you everyone. And as this is likely my last post from Romania,

I want to thank everyone for your information, advice and support.

It's amazing to find a group so full of knowledge and compassion --

I've learned a lot from both asking questions and general lurking. So

I thank you, and I'm sure my organization here does as well.

Thanks,

Eileen Magan

Peace Corps Romania 2006-2008

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