Autism-in-the-Christian-Home Blog

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The items listed below are the newest additions on this website and the most interesting tidbits about autism, health and Christianity.

I hope you enjoy this blog!

Take care!

Valerie L. Richey, MD, ND

Autism Testimonial

Would you like to share a great autism testimonial about autism treatments and therapies? Your testimonial may be published on this page or this website in the near future.

Wilbarger Technique

What is the Wilbarger Technique? The Wilbarger Technique uses a surgical scrub brush to provide tactile inputs and joint compressions to provide proprioception inputs for individuals with autism.

Homeschooling Curriculum

What is the best homeschooling curriculum? An individualized homeschooling curriculum should meet the needs, interests, and learning styles of your children. Learn all about homeschooling!

Christian Homeschool Group

Are You Looking For A Christian Homeschool Group? Do You Live Near Mount Orab In Brown County, Ohio? Then, I want to tell you all about our Christian homeschool group in Mount Orab, Brown County, Ohio

American Heritage Girl

How Can You Use American Heritage Girl (AHG) Badges In Your Homeschooling Curriculum? American Heritage Girl (AHG) badges are exciting unit studies on an enormous variety of topics!

Vision Therapy

Should I consider vision therapy for my child with autism? Vision therapy is often beneficial for children with autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities.

The Healthy Path

The Healthy Path - Helping You Along The Path Toward Better Health! You can be healthy with or without autism!

Hyperbaric Chamber

Who Can Benefit From A Hyperbaric Chamber? Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber can help autism and many other conditions.

The Listening Program

The Listening Program (TLP) has significantly helped my children with Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, ADHD, CAPD, and Sensory Integration Dysfunction.

Autism Books

What are the best autism books? Autism books help you to understand autism and your child with autism much better.

4-H Project

How Can You Use 4-H Project Books In Your Homeschooling Curriculum? 4-H project books are terrific unit studies on a huge variety of topics which follow the classical education approach!

Cause of Disease

What Is The Underlying Cause Of Disease? The underlying cause of disease is a result of your relationship with your microorganisms and the condition of your terrain.<

Weighted Vest

Where do you find a custom weighted vest? A weighted vest provides appropriate proprioception needed for optimal learning.

Weighted Blanket

How does a weighted blanket help individuals with autism? A weighted blanket provides secure pressure that many individuals with autism need in order to slepp well.

Directions

What are the directions to The Healthy Path? The Healthy Path and Valerie L. Richey, MD, ND is located near Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hands of a Child

Homeschool your special needs child with In the Hands of a Child Curriculum. This curriculum uses the Charlotte Mason and unit study approach to learning.

Dance Therapy

How can you learn dance therapy (dance movement therapy)? Dance therapy (dance movement therapy) is particularly effective for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Interactive Metronome

The Interactive Metronome program enhances internal brain processing speed. The Interactive Metronome is beneficial for individuals with autism.

Natural Health Consultation

I would like to help you along the path toward better health with a natural health consultation!

Sensory Diet

What is a sensory diet? A sensory diet helps to modulate and improve the nervous system for individuals with sensory integration dysfunction.

Home Exercise Plan

Are you thinking about starting a home exercise plan? Do you need an exercise tip?

Woggler

Why Would You Want The Woggler? The Woggler provides terrific occupational therapy, physical therapy and home gym exercises right at home!

Glyconutrients

Glyconutrients are absolutely essential simple sugars that are beneficial with cellular communication for everyone!

LASIK Vision Surgery And Sensory Integration Dysfunction

I just had LASIK vision surgery two days ago to correct my severe nearsightedness with significant astigmatism. In other words, I was as blind as a bat without my glasses.

I also have sensory integration dysfunction especially with hypersensitivity to sights, sounds, smells, oral, and vestibular.

What I did not know was that there are lots of strange sights, sounds, smells, oral, and vestibular sensations associated with LASIK!!

I would like to tell you about my experiences so that you can be better prepared for your LASIK vision surgery. I hope that this LASIK description will help you!

LASIK Description

What Sensory Experiences Are Associated With LASIK Vision Surgery? Learn About The Surgical Procedure From This LASIK Description.

Xylitol Products

How can you prevent and even repair dental cavities with xylitol products? Xylitol products are available as mints, gum, toothpaste and more!

Irlen Method

The Irlen Method reduces sensitivity to colors, patterns, lights, glare and contrast with the use of Irlen Colored Filters, Irlen Colored Overlays, and Irlen Lenses.

Kinesthetic Learning For My Daughter With Autism

I have recently discovered that my 9 year old daughter with PDD-NOS is a kinesthetic learner.

Now, I knew that she had ADHD along with her autism, and that she loved activity! She takes frequent breaks from homeschooling by using her mini-trampoline and bouncy ball. I allow her to squirm and wiggle as much as she desires.

But I really did not understand that she actually learned in using a kinesthetic style until I read The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias!

I am an extremely strong visual learner, and so are my other two children. So, this kinesthetic learning style seems so foreign to me.

But I learned much more about kinesthetic learners while reading this book. In particular, I learned that they crave hands-on activities in addition to movement.

For example, this summer we made a paper mache horse for her horse unit study. While she was making the horse, I was explaining anatomy to her. She was eager to learn anatomy this way and she even remembered various parts.

Previously, we had been reviewing various pictures of horse anatomy which is a visual learning approach, but the entire process was such a struggle for her.

When we need to discuss or write something about horses, I encourage her to hold and play with her paper mache horse in the process. She is much more receptive to other visual and auditory approaches if I can incorporate some hands-on activities at the same time.

We took a field trip to the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History this summer. She loved playing (Oops! I mean learning!) in a water and sand demonstration about erosion. Afterwards, she was excited to tell me what erosion was, and how to prevent erosion. She learned so much more from actually doing this activity than she ever would have learned if I just told her about erosion or if she saw pictures about erosion in a book.

Yesterday, she started making a leather Indian pouch. She would walk around the house while lacing the pouch. Periodically, she would come to me to discuss the way Indians lived and to learn more about Indians.

In addition, I find that she remembered her times tables much better if she recited them while jumping on her mini-trampoline.

I certainly enjoy the big smile on her face while she is learning now.

And I am learning to appreciate and experience the world in a much more sensory manner also!

I have planned many hands-on activities for her homeschooling this year. These activities are difficult for me and take much more time for me. However, I remind myself that Proverbs 22:6 says that we are to train up our children in the way they should go. Well, she is obviously designed to go with a kinesthetic learning style! So, it looks like I will be doing much more hands-on activities this year and in the years to come!

Delacato Method

What is the Delacato Method of autism therapy? The Delacato Method is used to correct faulty neurological development.

Play Therapy

Play therapy uses play to help children with autism express their feelings, and to develop social and communication skills.

Floortime

Floortime is the foundation of the DIR developmental and relationship approach for autism therapy.

Squeeze Machine

What is a squeeze machine? Ia a hug box for children? Yes! It is great for autistic children!

Do You Have A Child With Autism Who Gets Lost Often?

My 14 year old son with Asperger’s Syndrome wandered away last week at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History.

We had just had a talk about staying together about 30 minutes beforehand because he has wandered away previously at other locations.

Not one time. Not two times. But many times!

When he was younger, he used to play hide-and-seek in department stores. But he always forgot to mention that the game was starting. So, there he is hiding before I even know that he is missing!

He also wandered away at amusement parks like Disney World and Kings Island. He just gets interested in something and becomes separated from his family and gets lost.

Last year he wanted to go ahead on a trail in the Great Smoky Mountains. We decided to let him since he had not wandered away in over a year. However, we gave him strict instructions to stop at the waterfall where we planned to turn around. He agreed and repeated back his instructions. Well, we get to the waterfall and he is not there! He had decided on his own to continue up the mountain!

Of course, we panic because we have a lost autistic child! But he does not know that he is lost. He knows where he is. He thinks that we are the ones who are lost!

Although the incidents are further apart, the situation still has not changed much after 14 years. He is determined to go wherever he wants to go whenever he wants to go there!

So, what have we done to discourage his independent wanderings? We use rewards and consequences!

Various charts and systems are available to track rewards and consequences. However, we found that it is best to use the reward and consequence as soon as possible after the behavior. We always informed him about the rewards and consequences ahead of time.

Some of the consequences included leaving his favorite activity, or holding hands, or sitting in a cart. And some of the rewards included Lego, or extra time at his favorite activities. Now, we use computer time currency!

We have managed to alter his behavior on most occasions, but he still does not understand the concept of why the group needs to stay together. He is not worried about us and can not figure out why we worry about him!

So, we also emphasize safety issues in case he gets lost anyway. For example, we always discuss meeting locations in case we get separated. And we have medical alert tags on his shoes.

He did eventually show up at our meeting location at the museum just after we had notified security about our lost autistic child. He was soooooo embarrassed that we had sent security after him.

Hopefully, this embarrassment will prevent future wanderings!

And perhaps, he will get it one of these days!

Pet Therapy

How can you do pet therapy at home for individuals with autism? Pet therapy improves communication and social skills in a fun way!

Weighted Neck Wrap

What is a weighted neck wrap and why would you want one (or more!)? A weighted neck wrap can ease neck tension and improve concentration.

Weighted Lap Pad

What do you do with a weighted lap pad for your child with autism or ADHD? A weighted lap pad helps children remain comfortably seated for longer periods.

Art Therapy

What is art therapy? Art therapy improves communication and social skills as well as behavior for individuals with autism.

Music For Babies

Can you help brain development with Music for Babies? The Music for Babies Collection can improve intellectual potential.

Sound Health

What is Sound Health? The Sound Health Series is a unique collection of classical music arrangements that provide valuable stimulation to your brain and enhance your life.

Music Therapy

Can music therapy be beneficial for individuals with autism? Music therapy is athe appllication of music for the improvement of a variety of developmental disabilities.

Antioxidant Supplement

What is the best antioxidant supplement? Antioxidant supplements protect against free radical damage.

Whole Food Supplement

Why is a whole food supplement the best type of supplement? A whole food supplement provides a wide range of easily bioavailable nutrients.

What Do You Say When Your Children With Autism Want To Know Why They Need Math?

My kids always asked me many times everyday why they need to do and know math. They are good at math, but they just do not like to do computations or to solve problems.

I have tried over and over again to point out real world uses for math, but it just did not convince them.

Their questions still kept coming at me all day long!

But then I realized that God is extremely mathematical! Math is the language of God. His universe has all sorts of mathematical relationships.

Just look at the structure of DNA, the symmetry of nature, the law of gravity, and the fact that 2+2 always equals 4!

Furthermore, I also realized that math problems are designed to build character. You can not just read about math or just memorize math solutions.

You have to make a deliberate attempt to dig in and to understand the problem. You must persevere in order to obtain the solution. You may not see the solution, but you must work through the problem one step at a time.

It is just like following God one step at a time. We often do not know where God is leading us, but he does show us the next step.

God does not want us to give up when faced with adversity. But he wants to lead us to a solution.

Math is the best training for understanding God and developing a relationship with Jesus!

Now I know what to say when my kids ask why they need to do their math!!

Make Your Own Website

Make your own website for the ultimate homeschool unit study! Learn to make your own website from an all-inclusive company!

Autism and Vacations

We just returned from a two day vacation to Pleasant Hill Shaker Village, Old Fort Harrod, and the Perryville Battlefield in Kentucky. And we had fun!

How did we manage to have a successful vacation with 3 kids in the car?

Well, we have discovered some helpful tips about autism and vacations over the years. These tips helped us to have a great time on this educational vacation.

First, do not overplan. I was tempted to make this trip in just one day, but decided to spread it out over 2 days to allow us to proceed at a more leisurely pace.

Make sure to plan occupational and physical therapy activities for sensory integration dysfunction. In our case, we found a county pool for the kids. My son also was able to juggle the soccer ball.

We also designed this trip around the special interests of our autistic kids. My son has a keen interest for battles and weapons. And my daughter loves animals. Fortunately, two places had farm animals for petting and two places were about the frontier and Civil War.

We also kept two coolers of food handy. If the kids (and husband!) are well fed, they are much happier!

Of course, car activities and games are also beneficial!

Each child was responsible for packing and unpacking their own bag. After several trips, they are getting the hang of it!

Instead of staying in one crowded hotel room, we opted for two adjoining rooms instead to avoid sensory issues.

Overall, this trip was delightful for everyone especially since we remembered our tips! You can successfully manage autism and vacations!!

Shop At Home

Do you shop at home? Do you want discounts, rebates, coupons, giveaways, free gift cards, and free trials when you shop online?

Living With Autism

Living with autism is easier with these great tips! You will find worthwhile words of wisdom about living with autism right here.

Autism Treatment

What is an autism treatment? Discover the most effective biomedical treatment options for autism.

Christian Books

What are my favorite Christian books? Christian books are very personal.

Books On Autism

What are my favorite books on autism? Find out about my personal recommendations for books on autism right here!