How to detox a child with autism

Detoxification and Autism - The Autism Community in Action (TACA)

At first glance, many would think that autism and detoxication have nothing to do with one another. However, it has been shown that kids with autism have impaired detoxification. Furthermore, one in six children has a neurodevelopmental disability. Elevated levels of pollution in the air, water, and land, along with increased use of chemicals, have had a detrimental effect on our children. Shockingly, only 1% of chemicals we use today have been safety tested. Supporting detoxification through gentle methods can help kids with autism achieve greater health, better cognition, and improvements in behavior.

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification is the metabolic process of changing toxins into less toxic or more readily available excretable substances. Detoxification interventions are aimed at supporting the body's ability to restore balance.

First, the detoxification process begins in the cell, goes to the liver, and finally, to an organ for excretion. Fat-soluble toxins enter the liver, go through two different phases of the liver, and exit the liver as water-soluble waste products. From here, they are eliminated from the body via the gall bladder to the bile to the stool. Similarly, toxins may be sent to the kidneys to be excreted in the urine.

Methylation Cycle & Transsulfuration Pathways

In autism, we find that both methylation and transsulfuration pathways are often impaired. These are phase 2 liver processes that remove toxins from the body and produce the body's #1 antioxidant, glutathione. However, toxins interfere with this pathway and thereby reduce the production of glutathione. In fact, blood tests are being studied that can diagnose kids with autism simply by measuring methylation and sulfation metabolites in their blood. These blood tests are amazingly accurate but not yet on the market.

To begin with, there are chemical reactions that take place within each cell. These provide energy for vital processes. Among thousands of metabolic reactions in the body, the methylation reaction is one of the most important and universal. It has numerous functions, including controlling inflammation, repairing genetic DNA and RNA, controlling neurotransmitters, and energy production. Methylation works to recycle glutathione, the body's biggest antioxidant, which is needed to help the body detoxify.

By contrast, the transsulfuration pathway is the primary method of metabolizing sulfur-containing amino acids. Subsequently, it plays an essential role in providing cysteine to make glutathione.

For these reasons, measures to enhance methylation and transsulfuration detoxication processes may help kids with autism.

How Do Toxins Affect Us?

Symptoms That May Indicate a Need for Detoxication

Hence, if you notice any of these symptoms in your child, detoxification measures may be helpful:

Dark circles under the eyes
Pale skin
Cognitive Impairment or Confusion
Regression
Slow GI motility
Stimming
Aggression and irritability
Picky eating or food avoidance
Low energy
Speech impairment
Failure to thrive
Allergies

Toxin Avoidance

The first step in detoxication is removing the source of toxicity. This is an underestimated and truly important step. You cannot lower the body's toxic load until you stop introducing toxins into the body. For more detailed information on avoiding and replacing toxic items in your life, please read TACA's article titled Avoiding Toxins.

Best Ways to Detoxify

Sleep
Above all, sleep is critical to healing. During sleep, the brain's cerebral spinal fluid increases, washing away toxins that build up during waking hours. Because there is a correlation between sleep disorders and brain disease, children need deep, restful sleep. You can learn more about how to help your child sleep here.

Epsom Salt Baths
Another simple way to detoxify is with Epsom salt baths. To clarify, Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. Using Epsom salt in a warm bath gives the benefit of allowing both magnesium and sulfate absorption through the skin. Studies show that ASD kids are low in sulfate. This is because they have trouble converting the less usable form, sulfite, to the more bioavailable form, sulfate.

Specifically, the sulfate in the Epsom salt goes to the liver, where it assists in sulfation. Sulfation is the process where toxins attach themselves to sulfate and are then excreted via sweat, urine, and stool. This pathway eliminates excess neurotransmitters, bacteria, some environmental toxins, drugs such as acetaminophen, and food dyes. You can find more information about Epsom salt here.

In the beginning, most parents start with 1/4 cup plain Epsom salt in a standard-size bathtub with warm water. Next, they work up to 1 cup per bath. Additionally, some large kids can tolerate up to 2 cups per bath. Kids sit in the bathtub for about 20 minutes. Otherwise, for those kids that will not sit in a bathtub, Epsom salt foot baths work as well.

Please note that a small subset of kids with autism experience increased hyperactivity with Epsom salt baths. In this case, your doctor may suggest going much slower by starting with a very small amount of Epsom salts in the bath, such as a tablespoon.

Keep Bowels Moving
When a child is constipated, old stool containing toxins that are meant to be excreted sit in the GI tract, fermenting and wreaking havoc. Furthermore, those toxins may leak into the bloodstream through perforations in the GI wall, also known as leaky gut. Undoubtedly, constipation is a leading reason for poor behavior in any child. Therefore, it is extremely important to deal with constipation before addressing other concerns. You can find TACA's article on constipation here.

Support Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 Detoxification
Phase 1 liver detoxification requires a family of enzymes called cytochrome P-450. The following nutrients can help support phase one detoxification.

Vitamin C - helps protect liver enzymes and liver tissue from oxidative damage.
Vitamin E
B vitamins
glutathione
Phospholipids

Phase 2 liver detoxification makes the toxic byproducts of phase 1 liver detoxication water-soluble, so they can be excreted. This process is known as conjugation. It is important to realize what the body needs for this process.

Glutathione
- In addition, Pycnogenol helps the body recycle glutathione
- NADPH also helps the body recycle glutathione
Sulfate (Hence, Epsom salt baths)
Calcium-D-Glucarate
Amino Acids
Glycine (which helps the body break down cytokines)
L-Carnitine (which carries fat into the cell to be converted to energy)
Methionine (inhibits oxidative stress)
Taurine (defends the liver against free radicals and toxins)
Sulforaphane
N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), which is the precursor to glutathione

Eat Your Way to a Healthy Liver
Most importantly, foods that support the liver are:

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower.
Foods rich in B vitamins such as grass-fed beef, liver, and salmon.
Foods rich in folate, such as leafy greens.
Flavonoid rich foods such as beets and carrots.
Vitamin C rich foods such as citrus.
Foods that help the body make glutathione such as garlic, grapefruit, and asparagus.
Foods from the allium family such as onion, garlic, and shallots.
Foods rich in amino acids such as organic meat, salmon, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

In addition, foods high in antioxidants help with free radicals in the body.

For example, blueberries, cranberries, green tea, dark chocolate with greater than 80% cocoa.
Herbs including cinnamon, thyme, turmeric, ginger, parsley, and basil.

Support Cellular Function
Supporting detoxification at the cellular level is a significant part of the process. In order to do this, you need to open blocked pathways by supporting the mitochondria and methylation. In addition, certain herbs can support detoxification.

Mitochondrial support
- Most mitochondrial supplements support the liver, thereby supporting detoxification. Here is the TACA article on mitochondrial dysfunction that lists the supports.
Methylation support
- Methyl B12, folinic acid or 5MTHF, and B6.
Herbal support
- Numerous herbs work to support detoxification including dandelion root, milk thistle, red clover, and turmeric.
- Many companies sell combination detoxification liquid tinctures that are fairly easy to take.

Always be sure to check with your child's functional medicine doctor about the best products for your child's particular needs.

Use Binders if Necessary
Occasionally, your functional medicine doctor may explain that you need to use binders to support detoxification or when you are treating bacterial or fungal overgrowth. Binders attach to toxins so that they can pass through the digestive tract without being reabsorbed in the gut. For instance, binders include:

Activated Charcoal
Modified Citrus Pectin
Bentonite Clay
Zeolites (both lab-produced and natural)
Silica-rich spring water
Humic and Fulvic Acids

There are a few essential things to note about binders. Accordingly, they must always be used keeping the following things in mind:

Binders are constipating, so it is very important to ensure bowels are moving well before dosing and to give with plenty of water. For example, binders can make constipation problems much worse if you are not careful.
Most binders come from the earth. As a result, they may be contaminated with heavy metals. For this reason, caution with sourcing is incredibly important. Always know where your product is sourced.
Binders can bind to nutrients, so they should always be taken AWAY FROM food, other supplements, or medication. A good rule of thumb is at least an hour before or after a meal, supplements, or medication.
While some doctors recommend binders preemptively, some do not, and this is not always a problem. Moreover, we need to be particularly careful with kids who already have nutrient deficiencies or low cholesterol because binders may deplete the body of minerals.

For more great information on using binders and easing the effects of detoxication, this article is very helpful.

Far Infrared Sauna
Using light to create heat, a far infrared sauna warms your body without warming the air. The skin is the body's largest organ and its sweat glands help our skin filter toxins out of the body. Therefore, supporting detoxification through perspiration may be helpful for those kids that do not perspire or cannot exercise enough to work up a sweat.

Most functional medicine doctors can give a gentle protocol listing times and temperatures to follow with your child. However, it is important to inquire about the brand's EMF levels. Close exposure to EMFs may cause a problem for sensitive individuals. Additionally, make sure to verify the glues used in construction are non-toxic.

Ionic Footbaths
The soles of the feet are especially porous, so ionic foot baths have become a popular method of detoxification. An ionic foot bath uses ions to charge the water and draw out toxins from the bottom of the feet. One ionic footbath company measured levels of glyphosate (Round-up) in urine before and after following a footbath protocol. Their data shows the footbath helped with glyphosate excretion. However, testimonials of improvement in children have proven to be the most compelling when considering the use of ionic foot baths. Before purchasing, please make sure you buy from a company that grounds all wires for safety. Above all, the company should be willing to give you your money back if you do not see improvement.

Lymphatic Massage
As a crucial part of the immune system, the lymphatic system removes bodily waste and carries white blood cells that aid in infection prevention. Lymphatic massage is a gentle type of massage that encourages the movement of lymph fluids to the liver. Consequentially, the fluids can then be processed and excreted. The following resources explain lymphatic massage thoroughly.

This article details the benefits of lymphatic massage and how to safely massage to move lymph.
This video gives a detailed explanation of how to do a lymphatic massage to relieve congestion.

Limit EMF Exposure
Electromagnetic fields are areas of energy that surround electronic devices. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that electric fields are created by differences in voltage. Electric current flows create magnetic fields. According to WHO, electromagnetic fields affect us because our human bodies have their own electric and biochemical responses. For example, the nervous system, digestion, brain function, and heart function all use some kind of electric currents. Therefore, it stands to reason that exposure to EMFs may interact with your body in adverse ways. There is ongoing research in this area of study; however, many families report much better sleep, digestion, and focus when away from electromagnetic fields. For this reason, these interventions may help your child:

Limit screen time.
Unplug your router at night.
If letting a child use a tablet, put it into airplane mode first.

Conclusion

In summary, detoxication is an important part of the healing process. Above all, be mindful of symptoms that may indicate a need for detoxication and learn about gentle methods to support it. Your functional medicine doctor should be able to guide you on your journey to a healthier, happier, and more independent child.

Additional Resources

Avoiding Toxins
DETOX the Die-off and feel amazing again! [our roadmap to success]

A Guide to Autism Detoxification

Nowadays, the word detox has gained profound popularity. Metal detox, caffeine detox, and even social media detox are common among us. Although it might seem extreme to some, the reality behind our need for detoxing lies in the fact that our food is not the same as it used to be 100 years ago, not even 20.

Chemical, toxins, and even metals are present in the food that we consume daily and it affects us more than we realize. Things like brain fog exhaustion, gut issues, and even depression can be eased with the right detox procedures.

Today we will analyze how to implement a safe autism detoxification protocol into your child’s life.

Where Do Toxins Come From?

You might think that eating an organic diet is enough to keep your child and yourself away from toxins, but the reality is that it is not enough.

We live in a world that is filled with toxicity. Our water, plants and air are filled with pollution that affects our body process. Even the little things in our life like mattresses, body fragrances, toys, and cookware are filled with chemicals and toxins that affect us more than we realize.

The Need For Detox In Autism

Most children on the spectrum suffer from impaired immune systems, and guts. This makes them even more susceptible to toxins in their bodies.

These toxins affect their biological and biochemical cycles thus increasing autistic behaviors and worsening the symptomatology.

The Goal Of Detox

Although the main goal of detoxing is the reduction of autism symptomatology detoxification can also be a great way to get rid of common autistic challenges such as:

Nutritional deficiencies (Vitamins and minerals).
Gut issues.
Body burdens caused by metals.

The Safe Detox Protocol For Autism

In spite of the fact that detoxing for autism can sound overwhelming and hard to attain, it is possible to obtain incredible results by making simple changes in your life!

1.- Less is More: A good way to get started with eliminating unnecessary toxins from your child’s life is to check out your cleaning items and look for simpler choices. Cleaning your bathrooms and floors with organic white vinegar is an amazing way to get rid of bacterias without adding harmful substances to your floor and surfaces. Using coconut oil soap during the shower, washing your teeth with baking soda, and using organic coconut oil as moisturizer are great ways to eliminate unnecessary toxins from your cleaning routines. Find out ways to make your own cleaning products by clicking here.

2.- Right Nutrition: Detox processes take place mainly in your child’s gut. This is one of the top reasons why nutrition is the key to supporting his/her natural detox processes. Feeding your child with sulfur packed veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, and kale can help eliminate unnecessary chemicals and toxins. Increasing your child’s probiotic intake is also a must, for it eliminates bad bacterias and increases the growth of good ones. Foods like yogurt, kimchi, and kefir are great sources of probiotics that are child approved.

3.- Right Supplementation: Since most autistic children suffer from sensory issues, food can be a challenge for them, thus manifesting itself, in many cases, as nutritional deficiencies The following supplements are the most commonly used for Autistic conditions, however, we recommend medical advice over the specific quantities recommended for your child.

Calcium: If your child is under a dairy-free diet, calcium intake in the form of supplement is a must.
GSH: GSH is a tripeptide composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. As a dietary supplement, it is used as an antioxidant to protect the body from toxins and toxic metals. ***
DMG/TMG: Their intake supports the production of hormones, antibodies, neurotransmitters, amino acids, and other essential substances in the body. In ASD children, it helps improve speech/communication abilities.
Enzymes: Digestive enzymes are necessary to enhance digestive processes and increase the number of good bacteria in the GI tract.
Probiotics: Aside from enzymes, probiotics are a great way to improve the immune system and GI functioning.
Magnesium and Melatonin: Most ASD children battle with staying asleep, so magnesium and melatonin are incredible ways to help them improve their sleep quality and quantity.
Glutathione: Helps detoxification and reduces oxidative stress.
Carnitine: Increases energy and decreases autistic symptomatology.
NADH (B3) and Ribose: Improves sleep, relaxation, and eases oxidative stress.

-The following vitamins and minerals are also great choices when it comes to ASD supplementation:

Vitamin A: Enhances the immune system functioning, suppresses viruses, and improves thyroidal conditions.
Vitamin B6: Helps with detoxification, and enhances cerebral functioning neurotransmitters.
Vitamin C: Boosts the immune system, and helps in the detox process.
Vitamin D3 and Vitamin E: Improves calcium absorption, anti-inflammatory (great for gut issues), and boosts the immune system.
Zinc: Increases appetite and aids the immune system.

4.- Water: 20 years ago, nobody would ever guess that not all purified waters are the same, and when it comes to autism this can make a tremendous difference. Fiji water is a great option for ASD families for it enhances the body‘s natural way of eliminating aluminum, a highly present metal in autistic child’s brain.

The reason for it is that Fiji water contains silica that can cross the blood barriers and eliminates bind aluminum in the brain.

5.- Detox Bathing: Since many of the toxins that we receive are taken through our external body, thus the skin is also a good way to get rid of them. Epson salts and bentonite clay are ancient ways to eliminate toxins during bath time in a safe-healthy way. We encourage you to do this at least twice a week to gently eliminate toxins from your child’s body.

Although these are all-natural ways to bring a healthy detox process into your child’s life, we highly encourage you to visit your family doctor before taking detoxing far from natural ways.

The goal of this article is to provide you with an overview of the most utilized detox procedures and supplements for children with autism so that you can further work with your child’s doctor to determine the best treatment approach. Remember, with patience and effort you will see your child achieving great results!

At WSCC, we offer support for autistic families and their children with Stem Cell Therapy treatments that can transform autistic conditions by healing the gut, decreasing inflammation and improving brain function. We also created an autistic community on Facebook that is destined to offer support and companionship for ASD parents and their families on their journey.

Remember, you are not alone!

https://worldstemcellsclinic.com/

Sources:

https://imsimplyadad.com/autism-detoxification-protocol/

https://thegreenparent.co.uk/articles/read/make-your-own-cleaning-products

How a boy with autism became a professor

Anna Cooke
for bbcrussian.com

March 7, 2018

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Video Caption written by Stephen Shore - an American professor, one of the leading experts on autism, who himself has this diagnosis.

Dr. Shore shares his story in the book. In the early years of his life, he was a non-verbal child, banging his head against the sides of a crib. But, thanks to the efforts of his parents, he was able to go to school, learn to play several musical instruments, graduate from university, get married and become a world-famous expert in the field of autism, who is also known and respected in Russia.

I met Dr. Shor through Facebook, and at the end of December 2017, he unexpectedly announced that he was coming to lecture in London and would be glad to meet. Shor also added that if parents of children with autism are interested, he will be happy to make a presentation for them.

Living with autism: eight years, normal flight
How to let people know your child is special
Living with autism: my family story

I immediately announced this on autism social media groups, including in Russian. And now all those who responded are already sitting in the auditorium of the most beautiful building of the London campus of New York University and listening to the presentation of Stephen Shore.

Image copyright Anna Cook

Image caption,

Stephen Shore and Anna Cooke

For about two hours, Dr. Shore told us about his experience of living with autism, down to everyday details. He always wears a cap to protect his eyes from the annoying flickering of fluorescent lights, and always wears loose-fitting T-shirts due to his hypersensitivity to tight-fitting clothing.

He touched on many topics: the importance of music lessons, how to tell a child about his autism, about relationships with brothers and sisters. I will talk about some of them in more detail in future blogs.

Anna Cook's video blog: how my daughter's autism affects the whole family

After Steven's keynote presentation, I interviewed him for the BBC Russian Service, in which I asked him to answer the most common and controversial questions parents of children with autism .

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The End of the Story Podcast

Anna Cook: Steven, for me, as for many other parents of children with autism, you are a dream come true, a miracle. From a non-speaking child with behavioral problems, you have become a world-famous professor who travels around the world to lecture and help others understand autism better. And in this you see, mainly, the merit of your parents. Can your parent's approach work a similar miracle for every child with autism?

Steven Shore : In terms of my parents' efforts, I'd like to believe that a productive, meaningful life may well become the norm, rather than the exception, for most people with autism.

Instead of talking about a "miracle" that only happened to a handful of people with autism, let's make it happen to everyone!

What my parents were doing would now be called an intensive early intervention program at home.

They used movement, music, sensory integration, imitation and commentary on everything.

At that time (more than 50 years ago) the concept of early intervention simply did not exist. And now something similar is called the Miller method.

Photo copyright Anna Cook

Photo caption

Stephen Shore met with parents of children with autism in London

Can this "miracle" happen to anyone? Everyone is at a different level of development. We can help parents and educators establish an initial trusting relationship with their child and then move on.

Some children will respond better to music or movement, others will choose another. Fortunately, we now have many approaches. We cannot say that one method is better than another, we can say that some method is better for this particular child.

Anna Cooke: But if this is possible, why do so many people with autism not work, do not realize their potential, spend years in specialized leisure centers?

Stephen Shore : This happens very often. Now, instead of concentrating on the abilities and capabilities of a person with autism, we are concentrating on his problems, limitations, functional disorders.

And we need to get rid of the "disadvantages model" - in favor of recognizing the merits of each person. Find out what this person can do? What are his strengths?

All the successful people with autism I know have been able to apply their strengths and "special interests" to their work and have built a career on it.

Anna Cook: What are the most common mistakes parents make with children with autism?

Steven Shore : One of the most common mistakes is that parents do not see the true reason for the child's difficult behavior and think that he behaves badly on purpose.

But the fact is that, as a rule, the child does not deliberately try to ruin your day, it's just that something happens in the environment that he cannot understand.

Therefore, we need to find a way to teach the child to cope with problems, to develop in them a better understanding of what is happening. And don't forget that your child with autism has limitless potential - just like any child's potential.

Photo copyright, Anna Cook

Photo caption,

Stephen Shore tells his life story in Beyond the Wall

Anna Cook: Where can parents draw strength and energy to take care of their child? I get a lot of messages from Russia from emaciated mothers who are in despair and do not know how to pull themselves together and support their child.

Stephen Shore : First of all, parents should take care of themselves in order to help their child later. During a demonstration of safety rules on airplanes, they say that first you need to put on an oxygen mask on yourself, and then help a child sitting next to you. If you do the opposite and start helping the child first, you will pass out due to lack of oxygen. Same here.

Living with autism: how not to forget yourself and not go crazy

Anna Cook: How did your mother take care of herself and restore her strength, because she had three children?

Stephen Shore : My parents had a lot to worry about. There were three of us - me with autism, my brother, who was diagnosed with mental retardation, I think seasoned with autism, and my older sister, also with a set of problems.

But the parents were able to find support, first of all, from their relatives. My grandparents moved closer to our house, they were always there.

Also, my parents turned to various organizations for support - then there was the Association of Mentally Retarded Citizens of the United States.

I don't remember Mom and Dad going to support groups often, but at least they had the support of loved ones.

Photo copyright, Anna Cook

Photo caption,

Steven's parents relied on the support of loved ones

Now parents of children with autism can find support in various organizations, as well as other parents. In any school, you can find parents in the same situation as you.

Anna Cook: One of the most difficult questions parents of children with autism ask is diet and biomedical intervention, detoxification. Is this really the key to making a child with autism better?

Stephen Shore : The most effective way to help a child is to find an approach that meets the needs of that particular child.

There are children with food intolerance who need a gluten-free and casein-free diet. But not everyone! I know people with autism who eat a very limited set of foods, feeding them is a terrible problem. And there are people with autism on an "omnivorous" diet - they see food and eat everything.

So some people have health problems and need to diet, and others don't.

Living with autism: a diet for a "starving brain"

Unfortunately, there are many different "doctors" who promise a cure for autism if you buy a certain cream, naturally very expensive, and only from this person. Such stories ruin the reputation of biomedical intervention.

The best biomed doctors look first at the child's general health and medical problems. That is, they assess the condition of the child from a medical point of view, regardless of whether he has autism or not.

Anna Cook: What about vaccinations?

Steven Shore : The problem is that autistic traits begin to appear in a child when the "autism bomb goes off" - in other words, regressive autism sets in.

Its manifestation coincides in time with the vaccination schedule - when the child is one and a half to two years old.

But at the same time, we do not have a clear understanding of the causal relationship between vaccines and autism, and this is very important.

I am not a medical doctor and cannot speak for physicians, but common sense dictates that each case should be considered on a case-by-case basis. If a child has a bad reaction to vaccinations, then it is necessary to analyze this problem from a medical point of view.

Anna Cook: Specialized school or regular school?

Steven Shore : The best place for a child with autism is where he will make progress. Ideally, every child should study in a regular school, because the world is not a special school, but a large society. However, often a regular school cannot provide the child with the necessary support.

In order for a child to develop successfully, it may be necessary to look for a special school. It doesn't have to be for the entire school year. Maybe for the next couple of years, and then he can go back to regular school.

Ordinary school: must accept, but...

I think if we change the school system and better train teachers who work with children with autism, then we will be able to shift the focus from the so-called "skill deficit in autism" to strengths of the child, on his ability.

Nobody builds a career on what he does badly. And I have noticed that students with autism spend more time than other children completing tasks that are difficult for them.

Anna Cooke: For example, when teachers force a child to write in cursive, and he has problems with fine motor skills? My daughter is very bad at writing by hand, and she does it every day.

Yes, that's a good example. I think it's better to shift the focus away from the calligraphy and find a way for her to communicate. For example, she may be more suited to communicating using a keyboard. I know many people with autism who are much more comfortable typing than writing.

Photo copyright, Anna Cook

Photo caption,

Stephen Shore has visited dozens of countries giving lectures on autism

Anna Cook: You have been to Russia, Britain, other countries. Where are the best conditions for people with autism?

Stephen Shore : I have visited 47 countries to lecture on autism. It's best to talk not about the best country, but about the best program that you can ideally find in your country in order not to move, although you may have to move.

Almost everywhere I've been, I've noticed that the best organizations and programs were founded by parents of children with autism.

Parents get together, create a center, 5-10 children of these parents study there. Parents study literature, find the best programs, they put together everything "on their knees". And in the end, they do a great job, they grow into a large center. For example, in Moscow there is a wonderful center "Our Sunny World".

Anna Cook: But Moscow is not Russia. I received comments from mothers from the Russian hinterland who are suffering a lot, they are in isolation, they cannot go out. They are ashamed of their children because society dictates such behavior to them.

Yes, that's why education is so important! Maybe you should meet with other parents, tell them about autism. Some parents carry small cards with information about autism. If suddenly something happens in a public place, and other people look at the child with condemnation, you can distribute such cards.

These cards usually say "My child has autism. He is not dangerous. He perceives the world around him differently. And therefore he behaves this way."

Anna Cook: You have been happily married for over 27 years, but you never talk about whether you have children. Sorry for the personal question.

No, no, nothing too personal. We decided that we would not have children, and not because there was a possibility that a child with autism would be born. What if I was born without autism? And what will I do with a child without autism if I understand autism better?

This is just a personal decision of us as a couple. There are thousands, millions of children with autism in the world that I can play with at any time.

Anna Cooke: Do you think that as a person with autism, you understand children with autism better than neurotypical people?

Stephen Shore : In a way, yes. If I observe a certain type of behavior or mode of communication, if I see a child's extreme interest in some narrow issue, I think I understand such things better.

But at the same time, when two people with an autism spectrum disorder communicate, this does not mean that they necessarily understand each other or like each other. As well as people of any group. For example, two Russians do not necessarily love and understand each other.

Photo copyright, Anna Cook

Photo caption,

"Anna and Lisa - best wishes from Stephen Shore"

Stephen Shore gives the impression of a benevolent, endearing person. It is unbelievable that many years ago doctors strongly advised his parents to place Stephen in a special institution.

If Steven and his parents succeed, will Lisa and I succeed?

This can be answered with Stephen Shore's famous quote: "If you met one person with autism, you met only one person with autism."

There is no secret. There is no "magic pill". We must do everything possible to find an approach specifically for our child. And to know that even if the results of our studies are not always noticeable, they are. The quality of life of the child in any case will be better than without these activities. Even if he does not later become a world famous professor.

Photo caption,

Anna Cook

Journalist Anna Cook has been living in England since 2007. Her eldest daughter was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Anna maintains a blog "Life with Autism" on the BBC Russian Service website.

We are here: how to help people with autism not get lost in the big city

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.

The better the weather, the more we walk and generally move in space. There are many people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among us. In a stressful situation, under unforeseen circumstances, people with ASD can become confused and lost. What to do to prevent this from happening? What should you do if it does happen? How to help?

Last year, a call for help went around all social networks - a 20-year-old boy with autism got lost in the subway. Mom entered the car, but he did not have time. The police in the subway refused to track his movement on video cameras. Volunteer search organization "Lisa Alert" joined the search. In the evening, volunteers found the young man in one of the city hospitals. The police, and then the paramedics, mistook him for a drug addict and sent him to the toxicology department. They tied me to the bed, began to carry out "detoxification", administer sleeping pills. For the young man himself and his loved ones, this is not just stress, but a real trauma. Alas, there are even tragic cases that end in the death of the guys. It is important for everyone to understand what the peculiarities of the behavior of people with autism are, what situations can be dangerous for them. This knowledge can save more than one life. Specialists of the "Anton is right here" center told "Philanthropist" how to help those who are lost.

The author of the drawing is Ruslan Sosiev

Crowds, light and noise

The most uncomfortable places for people with autism spectrum disorder are crowded places, places where there is a lot of bright light and noise. “We receive a lot of information from the outside at the same time — visual, tactile, audio information,” says Tatyana Balchukova, curator of the behavioral team at the Anton Is Right Here Center. A light is flashing, someone is saying something, a computer is buzzing. It is difficult for a person with autism in such a situation to distinguish what is really important from this, it is difficult to concentrate. All these signals come to him with equal force. The more of them, the higher the likelihood of stress. People with autism can be trained to feel at ease in the movies, malls, and subways. But sometimes things can go wrong."

Person with autistic disorder in a stressful situation:

When in a stressful situation, a person with ASD can wave his arms, scream, cry, stand and sway, jump in one place, circle in one place, fall into a stupor and nothing do not react, bite your hand, hit yourself on the head, repeat strange words or phrases.

As a rule, he reacts badly or not at all to others until he calms down. If a person is able to speak, then he can answer inappropriately, repeating words over and over again, which he uses simply to distract himself from stress.

The author of the drawing is Sergey Tisnek

Trackers, passports, stickers

The main recommendation for parents of children with ASD is to purchase GPS trackers. It's helpful to have special stickers on clothing with brief information, such as the words "I have autism" and a phone number to call in an emergency. An alternative to such a sticker or patch is a bracelet with the same text.

“Even if a person with ASD is highly functional and speaks well, in a stressful situation, he may stop using speech. It is very difficult for him to answer questions and tell something about himself,” says Tatyana Balchukova.

- You should definitely ask if you can touch him to see if he has a patch or a bracelet. You need to speak very briefly. It is better to write questions - perhaps it will be easier for a person to answer. It is important to try to take him to a quiet place with subdued lights, where there is less visual and sound chaos, and not let him harm himself. It happens that passers-by begin to get scared, asking why he is behaving so strangely. If you're willing to take on some responsibility, you can say, "He's fine, I'm doing fine." Extra talk and extra attention can make things worse.”

The Anton is Right Here Center has developed a document – a “passport” for a person with autism. It contains brief information, recommendations for interaction and a contact phone number. But it is not always possible to get a passport.

Sometimes it is even difficult to catch up with a person - he can move forward very purposefully and quickly cover long distances.

“If we know for sure that we have a person with special needs, we can overtake him, stand in front of him and, without touching him, say: “Stop! It's okay, I'm here!" If this does not work, you can follow him, controlling the situation so that he simply does not get into danger, ”Tatiana advises.

The author of the drawing is Ruslan Sosiev

Artem “walked and sang loudly”

One day Artyom was returning home on his own in a social taxi. While his sister came down after him to open the door, Artyom left. Independent searches yielded no results. The young man's mother turned to the charitable organization "Prospects", to the center "Anton is right here", to the police. Volunteers combed the entire area. The search took six hours. Late in the evening, Artyom was found by the police - he was walking down the street not far from the center, where he usually went to classes. Despite the cold, Artyom was in an unbuttoned jacket and looked lost.

One more time Artyom got lost when he was in a tent camp - he went in the wrong direction at a very fast pace, along the river bank. Walked and sang loudly. Again, the search continued for six hours. This time they found him without the help of law enforcement officers. “Now he doesn’t go anywhere without me,” says the young man’s mother, Galina. We are going to buy him a GPS bracelet for the summer. It is important to immediately contact everyone who can help - the police, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, all public organizations, raise everyone who is nearby in search, and the sooner the better. It’s better not to run on your own, not to look for it - only time is lost in this way. ”

Artem and mother Galina

When "Anton is nearby" receives information about the lost person, the Center's employees immediately contact the search organization "Lisa Alert". Sometimes caring people call - they say that they see a person who behaves strangely, they clarify if he is missing.

"Anton is right here" even managed to start talking to the police - at the end of the meetings, at which the district authorities are present, the Center's employees conduct a small educational program. They teach to distinguish a person with autism from a person in a state of alcoholic or toxic intoxication, show videos, explain why people with ASD should not be sent to psychiatric hospitals: autism is not a disease, but a feature.

Unfortunately, there is an internal regulation according to which police officers, faced with inappropriate behavior that lasts longer than 15 minutes, must call an ambulance (inadequate, by the way, even innocent jumps on the spot are considered inadequate).

Regular ambulance calls psychiatric. Regulations are reviewed rarely and slowly, but experts convince the police to first try to calm the person, call not the ambulance, but the parents. The specialists of the center note that many policemen are cooperative, try to understand the topic and listen to such recommendations. But sometimes it still comes to a psychiatric hospital, where children with ASD are injected with sedatives. People with autism do not need such drugs at all and are even harmful. It is not always possible to rescue a person right away, and such a “treatment” can last for a whole week.

Alas, the police in the subway is a separate system, and awareness among its employees may be lower than among ordinary police. When communicating with police officers in the subway, it is especially important to explain that you first need to call your parents and only as a last resort - an ambulance.

“You are a bespectacled man, just like me!”

Vanya speaks well, is very sociable, but in a state of stress he can behave strangely from the point of view of "ordinary" people, he can get nervous when he is offered to go through a security check in the subway. Usually in such cases, he is kicked out of the subway, but recently the head of the station called the relatives of a young man and asked how it would be better to be. Vanya's relatives suggested using an escort service for people with disabilities. As a result, Vanya went down to the subway, accompanied by four employees of the service, had a great conversation with them and safely went about his business.

Vanya and Father Victor

The boy's father, Victor, says that difficulties begin when it comes to an ambulance. One has to either call hospitals or go to the accident bureau, although there is a delay of three hours for information. Alas, they are allowed to meet with Vanya in the hospital only on visiting days. “He lies there for at least a week, comes out all chipped, and then comes to his senses for at least a month,” says Victor. - Doctors in these cases are also forced to act according to the protocol and give strong sedatives, they themselves say that this is not necessary, but they cannot violate the protocol. And they say: make sure that they don’t take him away, for him it’s always stressful. ”

Sometimes strangers interpret Vanya's sincere words as tactlessness. For example, one day he approached the cashier in the subway and cheerfully said: “And I see you are bespectacled, like me!”. The woman was offended.

It happened that Vanya was dropped off the bus by perplexed passengers. At the same time, the father of the young man was reprimanded: “Why are you letting such a difficult guy go alone?” “Well, what can I say? Viktor answers a question with a question. Let's lock him up? Do you travel by bus, do you want to go somewhere? And he wants to! Yes, sometimes it is difficult for him to cope with his emotional state. This is his feature. Someone has high blood pressure, someone has a thyroid disease. And he has an autism spectrum disorder. When this is explained to people, they understand and begin to react normally.”

If Vanya is shouted at, he simply cannot perceive the information. Once in such a situation, he got off the bus - in winter, at minus 30, in the dark, on the Road of Life. Moreover, the phone with the program showing the father of his movements ran out of battery. Fortunately, everything worked out, although Vanya's relatives had to worry.

“Kids with autism don't like to be treated harshly. Recently, my son began to say to me (and I am grateful to him for this): “Be kind to me!” You change the tone, and everything is in order, says Victor. - He clearly reads the slightest tension from those around him. The smallest things that we would not notice upset him.