Welcome to “On the Horizon”

Issue 134:  Candida, What?

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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Very Useful Resources

A Note from Nicole: Meetings & Speaking Engagements

Idea of the Week:  Winter Beach Party!

Feature Article: Candida, What?

The Horizons Team Recommends:  Learning as We Grow

Allergen-Free Recipe of the Week: Gelatin Fruit Puree

Upcoming Events:
Horizons Events, Teleseminars & Workshops

Hi Everyone,

I wasn’t surprised to see all the snow on the ground here in Grand Rapids upon my return from Florida, but it was a touch disappointing.  It was great to soak up some sunshine and enjoy time outside without coats and mittens!  We had a wonderful time at Disney World, and the kids wish we could have stayed even longer.  I’m not sure being on a trip to Disney with four kids classifies as a vacation for Bill and me, but we did have a great time.  Now I’m headed to the west coast for some meetings and speaking engagements.  I wish I enjoyed flying more than I do…

This week’s feature article is the next in Erin’s series on nutrition.  Yeast is a very real issue plaguing many adults and children, and she provides a clear introduction to why you need to know about this issue.  Once you’ve read the article, feel free to comment on it and share your thoughts and experiences with our community of readers.

I hope that whatever your week has in store for you that it goes well.  Find time for some great moments of connection with your kids.  I’ll be missing mine while I’m away!

Looking to the horizon,

Winter Beach Party!

Bring that fun-in-the-sun feeling into your home with a winter beach party. Spread beach towels on the living room floor; wear your swimsuit and a pair of flip-flops (why not?); build a fire so you can roast hot dogs and make smores; make castles out of clay and play-dough; and don’t forget to take pictures!

Candida, What?

By: Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP

Candida Albicans, or ‘yeast,’ is a harmful agent that can cause disease in our system.  For most of us, the yeast balanced out by the good bacteria in our intestinal tract; but some people don’t have enough good bacteria to combat the yeast, and overgrowth occurs.  When yeast overgrowth is present, many things can happen that negatively impact our ability to function.

Candida can occur from taking antibiotics.  The more antibiotics we take, the worse the overgrowth can become.  This is not the only way that yeast overgrowth occurs, but antibiotics can certainly contribute.  This is not to say that if you are ill you should not take antibiotics; but it may be helpful to limit the amount of yeast producing food your child is eating during antibiotic use.  It will also be helpful to monitor your child to ensure that yeast overgrowth has not occurred.

Read more …

Learning as
we Grow

You’ve Been
Asking For It – The Resource for Applying Principles of Remediation in
School Settings is Finally Here!

This long-awaited book is written for parents and
professionals who want to be more effective in their work with students
who have neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.

You will learn how to:

• Identify the core features of neurodevelopmental disorders
  that create communication, learning, and relationship challenges for
  your students
• Shift from a mindset of working around deficits
  (compensation) to correcting the root issues that create obstacles for
  your students (remediation)
• Modify your communication to promote your students’
  communication and thinking abilities
• Identify the unique strengths and obstacles of each student
  in order to determine appropriate placement and programming
• Achieve meaningful outcomes for students that allow them to
  reach their greatest potential

Gelatin Fruit Puree

Whether you have just started a special diet with your child or you have been following one for years, it can be difficult to come up with what to serve. We decided to try to make that just a bit easier by providing you with a new allergen free recipe each week.

While it is impossible to meet every person’s unique food sensitivity needs, we hope you will find these recipes helpful and delicious. Please feel free to adapt the recipes to meet your needs and taste buds; we do it all the time.  Enjoy!

Gelatin Fruit Puree

(no gluten, milk, soy, egg, corn, or nuts!)

From: page 187 of “The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook.” Written by Pamela J. Compart, M.D. and Dana Laake, R.D.H., M.S., L.D.N.

This is a great way for children to enjoy gelatin as part of a meal or dessert without the added sugars and preservatives of the boxed versions. The nutritional content of this real fruit version is far superior and more tasty. This recipe is also a way to sneak in a few vegetables. Pureed carrots or sweet potato will mix nicely with the fruit. For a sick child, this is an easy way to increase liquids via the healing and soothing qualities of gelatin.

Ingredients:

• 1 envelope (1 tablespoon, or 7 g) gelatin
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) hot juice (apple, pear, white grape, or grape)

Get the complete recipe…

Please join us!

• Teleseminar
  Fitness and Movement for Individuals with Autism and Other Special Needs Teleseminar – Suzanne Gray from Right-Fit
  (Horizons Families Only)
  February 17th from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern
• Horizons Mom’s Day

  (Horizons families only)

  February 19th from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• Rhythmic Movement Training Levels 3 and 4

  Hosted by Horizons

  See http://www.rhythmicmovement.com for details

  February 24th – 27th

• Michigan Council for Exceptional Children annual convention in Grand Rapids

  Nicole and Erin will be presenting

  March 3rd & 4th

• It’s Your Time Conference at GVSU in Grand Rapids

  Nicole and Erin will be presenting

  March 5th

• MiAEYC (Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children) Early Childhood Conference in Grand Rapids
  Nicole will be presenting
  April 2nd
• Autism Society of Wisconsin Annual Conference

  Nicole will be presenting

  April 14th – 16th

• AutismOne Annual Conference in Chicago
  Nicole will be presenting
  May 25th – 29th