
Welcome to “On the Horizon”
Issue 46: One Step Back, Three
Steps Forward: Dysregulation and Development
On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.
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Insight Into Child Development
A Note from Nicole: Research Project; Autism Society of America Annual Conference
Idea of the Week: Dinner by Candlelight
Feature Article: One Step Back, Three Steps Forward: Dysregulation and Development
The Horizons Team Recommends: Parent Success Cards; CORE Approach Program
Upcoming Events: Sibshop; CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar; Parent Chat


Hi Everyone!
It has been a very exciting week around here, as we received an invitation to collaborate in a very important research project related to autism and treatment. I’ll be able to give you more details in the coming months, but we are honored to be participating in what has the potential to become part of the body of research literature that is changing how we understand autism and appropriate intervention. If you know families with children on the spectrum who are between the ages of 6 and 12, please have them contact us for information on how they can participate in this important study.
I wanted to give you a heads-up and let you know that Erin and I will be at the Autism Society of America annual conference in Chicago this July. I hope if any of you are planning to attend that you will find us and say hello! More details to come as the event gets closer.
This week’s feature article is an extended version of a piece I wrote a while back. The topic is pertinent to all of us who are parents or work with children. I hope it provides some good food for thought!
Have a wonderful week!
Looking to the horizon,



Dinner by Candlelight
You don’t always have to go to a fancy restaurant or have a romantic meal to enjoy a candlelight dinner – it may be fun to have dinner by candlelight with the whole family. Turn down the lights and light the candles. Have some music playing in the background and see what the kids think about this variation to dinner.


One Step Back, Three Steps Forward: Dysregulation and Development
By: Nicole Beurkens, M.Ed.
I’ve been thinking about dysregulation and developmental “growth spurts” lately, as my 9-month old daughter has had a weeklong stretch of frustrating behavior. Normally she is a very easy baby; content to hang out with us and do whatever. She generally likes to be held, likes to play with toys on the floor, sleeps through the night, etc. Two weeks ago she learned to crawl —that funny army crawl where babies kind of use their elbow and knee to propel themselves forward as they move across the floor (OT’s in the audience-yes I know the importance of doing a cross-crawl but for now she is doing it this way!). She wants to get everywhere and she is FAST! There is now a lot of time spent telling her “no you can’t go there,” and picking her up to move her back to a space where she can be. She has also started to wake up quite a bit in the
night; crying out and banging on her crib rails. I’ll go into her room to see her trying to pull herself up in the bed. Then she gets mad when she falls down onto the mattress. During the day she seems to be is frustrated and upset about everything! She doesn’t want to be on the floor unless she is allowed to crawl wherever she wants to. She doesn’t want to be in her jumper or her exersaucer; but she doesn’t really want to be held either. Basically she just wants to be on the go and exploring her newfound mobility, and if she can’t then she is MAD!


Parent Success Cards
For CORE Approach Program families, these cards provide reminders of the main principles of CORE Approach such as the importance of experience sharing, guiding, slowing down, staying focused on the marathon, finding small moments for remediation, and much more. You will find them an invaluable source of inspiration and guidance as you focus on remediation.
Set of 50 heavyweight full-color cards in a sturdy box with lid – $24.95
Purchase the set or view more samples here

CORE Approach Program!
Finally – Hope and Real Improvement is Possible for Individuals with Autism and Their Families!
If your child has been diagnosed on the autism spectrum, or with a related neuro-developmental condition, you simply cannot afford not to investigate the CORE Approach Program. If you are ready for a change; ready to step away from the status-quo; ready to stop doing things that aren’t getting you where you want to be; ready to really understand the core deficits creating obstacles for your child; ready to significantly impact your child and your family for the better – then you are ready for CORE Approach.
Watch the video and learn more here

Please join us!
- CORE Approach
Parent Teleseminar with Nicole & Erin – To Be Determined (Horizons Families Only)
Thursday, February 19 2009, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
- Horizons
Parent Chat: Objective Support with Michelle & Erin
(Horizons Families Only)
Monday, March 2, 2009 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM EST
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday March 14 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
- HANDLE® Intermediate Training
April 6-11, 2009 and May 4-9, 2009
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday May 16 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
- Sibshop- Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday July 18 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
See our Event Calendar for more details…
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