Barnhill Named Nutrition Director for Defeat Autism Now!

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Barnhill Named Nutrition Director for Defeat Autism Now!

ARI is excited to announce that Barnhill, CN, CCN, has agreed to

serve as our Nutrition Director.

is the Director of the Nutrition Clinic and the Clinical Care

Coordinator at Thoughtful House Center for Children in Austin, TX.

is designing a two-day training for nutritionists, dieticians,

and healthcare professionals, in order to make affordable, appropriate

treatment possible for more people with autism. The program will debut

at the spring 2009 Defeat Autism Now! Conference in Atlanta on April

15th and 16th. (More information about continuing education credits

from various nutrition- credentialing boards is forthcoming.)

We believe that appropriate diet and supplementation are the

foundation upon which all further treatment must be built. No child

will improve on a corn chip and French fry diet, and parents waste

time and money by skipping ahead with higher-level treatments.

We are very excited about this new program, because first-rate

physicians who implement the Defeat Autism Now! approach in their

practice are often overwhelmed, and waiting lists can be lengthy. If

more families begin treatment with a nutritionist, physicians can

focus on higher-level treatments and leave the implementation of

appropriate diets to specialists (few medical schools devote more than

a week to the topic of nutrition; in fact, we expect many healthcare

professionals will come to learn more). An added benefit is that

nutrition counseling is covered by most insurance plans.

If you are licensed as a nutrition or diet counselor or healthcare

professional, come join us in Atlanta!

Million Dollar Puzzle Update

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Autism Puzzle Pieces Distributed:

1,895 packets = 94,750 puzzle pieces

Locations: 43 states, Singapore, and two locations in Canada (273 cities).

We are not yet in Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,

Utah, or Wyoming.

A Success Story:

'Gluten-Free' Joe Spancic - the proprietor of G.F. Joe's Market in

Tumwater, Washington - is raising awareness about research that makes

a difference by adorning the walls of his store with million-dollar

puzzle pieces in support of ARI.

Image BlockedWhile he is not a parent, Spancic understands the

importance of diet in managing health and behavior and the struggle

families can face: " I used to drive hundreds of miles each month to

buy gluten-free food. " He opened his specialty food store earlier this

year to support his community's fellow celiac sufferers and soon

learned that families living with autism and other neurodevelopmental

disorders were accounting for nearly 40 percent of his business. When

he asked a local autism mom how he could give back, she suggested the

puzzle piece campaign and he decided supporting research that makes a

difference for ARI was the right fit.

Since June, more than 100 puzzle pieces have found their way to the

wall behind the check-out stand at his store. He is impressed with the

level of autism awareness, and with the generosity he's observed in

the community. " One woman came in and said -- I can't fill out 20

puzzle pieces -- but can I offer to pay you $20 for just one? " Joe

cheerfully complied with her generous request.

Thanks Joe - You are a Missing Piece!

Want to Start Your Own Puzzle Piece Campaign?

Request puzzle pieces online and the Puzzle Piece Project committee

will send you packets of 50 and give you the return information as

well as a poster to display with the puzzle pieces, and a letter to

present to business owners. Lynda's goal: " Let's put these puzzle

pieces across the entire US and support the research we all want and

need. "

Request Puzzle Pieces

Read Puzzle Piece Success Stories

Share your Success Story

Donate to ARI Online