Moving off the spectrum

[Guest guest]

We have also had so much success with the gfcf diet. It has been a piece of a

comprehensive program but a very significant piece. We have done auditory

integration training, intensive DIR (Greenspan/floortime) approach, the gfcf

diet, speech language therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, peer

playdates etc. We continue to do these therapies. Our son (now four years five

months) continues to have many challenges but there are many professionals who

feel that he is no longer on the spectrum. He attends a co-operative nursery

school where none of the parents (who work in the program on a rotating basis)

are aware of the original concerns. I know that he still has speech and language

and fine motor issues as well as some others but he is engaged and social almost

ALL of the time and has two special friends that he hangs out with, seeks out,

plays with, pretends with, and adores. Because I am a speech language

pathologist I know where he needs to go and I know that we are not done yet but

his progress has been continuous and amazing. Children CAN improve to the point

where they are more typical than atypical. Personally I don't buy the autism is

a lifelong disability speech. Never have. I think that some children improve to

the point where they are difficult to distinguish from their peers and some do

not. I never let anybody put a ceiling on my guy. Interesting tidbit.....one of

the professionals who saw him at two and gave me the " autism is a lifelong

disability " speech now says that he probably was never there (on the spectrum).

She seems to need to cling to the belief that once ASD always ASD.......give me

strength!

Happy Easter, Happy Passover to all.

Cindy