Autism Awareness Month

Kids with special needs aren't weird or odd. They only want what everyone wants...to be accepted. Can I make a request? Is anyone willing to post this and leave it on your status for awhile? This is in honor of all children that God made in a unique way. You'll never understand the situation they are in until you are faced with it. This is Special Education week & Autism Awareness Month.

A trail of illnesses and broken pathways…..

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Spectrum Mum in Malaysia

We went on holiday to Tioman Island recently. It is a beautiful island off the coast of Peninsula Malaysia, where the movie South Pacific was filmed at in 1958. It was our first holiday in a long time. The girls made friends with another girl there, they swam in the ocean, built sandcastles, fed the fishes and ran free all day. More importantly, it was our first holiday without the nanny. Ever since Maya was born, we have always travelled with the nanny because Maya was so difficult and fussy. We needed 3 pairs of hands. At times, my parents were kind enough to accompany us on some of our trips. Even then, 5 pairs of hands weren’t enough at times.

When Min was born, then when May regressed and eventually Min too regressed, we needed all the help we could get. We were always a little bit envious of parents who didn’t need a maid, we couldn’t cope without one. Well, we could. But we’d be exhausted, the house would be in shambles, the girls would be neglected and we wouldn’t have the energy to nurture our marital relationship. Mums who do it all leaves me feeling just a little bit ineffectual, though I know that it’s because their children are easier. As a friend said, my 2 girls were the equivalent of 4 boys. 4 boisterous, hyper, angry boys. That was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me, because it validated what I felt at times. When it got too overwhelming and the feeling of despair because I couldn’t manage just one small child.

Sitting on the pier

So for us to go on the family holiday together, without a maid and actually enjoying ourselves was an entirely novel experience. There was no stress, no anxiety and no dramas. We coped very well, we didn’t miss the extra pair of hands and no one cried. We followed the natural rhythm of island life and chilled out. Just like what a vacation should be like. One day, after a rainy afternoon, the hugest and most glorious rainbow came out, rising out of the ocean. It brought to mind the first rainbow Maya ever saw in Singapore. That fateful day when May said “Look Mummy, there’s a rainbow in the sky!”. We sat at the pier and watched the rainbow for the longest time.

3 island beauties

I am eternally grateful for where my girls are right now, their future is brighter than anyone ever thought possible. But it tears me up that they are so sick so often. They never seem to get a break healthwise. Many are under the mistaken belief that everything is rosy perfect in our home now, because the girls no longer have autism. Yet I still feel like I’m fighting a dirty long drawn-out war even though both parties have called truce. The clean up job is taking longer than the actual war.

I’m mindful of friends with young babies, most of the time I have to cancel a playdate because one of my girls are always either just about to fall sick, are in the middle of an illness or just recovering from one. I wouldn’t want to pass on the virus to another child, I feel a strong social responsibility. I absolutely hate it when people come to my home or a social gathering and don’t have the decency to mention that their child is having a high fever or the flu. Though dragging a young child around town when he is sick boggles my mind. Or worse, when they themselves are sick and they try to kiss and hug my girls! A little bit of common sense goes a long way ya know?

Feeding the fishes

Anyway, with the girls’ impaired immune system, every little infection turns into a long drawn out period of illness, more often than not turning into more severe infections. If we’d exercise a bit more hygiene practice, perhaps we will need less vaccinations. After all, most of these infections occur through contact or airborne transmission. If you or your child are sick, stay home. Please don’t send a snot-bucket, drippy-nosed, hacking up, vomitting, feverish, phlegmy kid to school.

We are now doing classical homeopathy after a brief fling with functional homeopathy and no longer do any diets or biomed supplements. I can’t predict whether it will be 100% successful, just as no one can predict if a particular course of treatment will work for your child. I have a sinking feeling that at some point I may have to crawl back to mainstream allopathic medicine or biomedical sciences. But for now, I have to hang on and stand true.

Min has been battling a cough for the past 2 months. Allopathic medicine gives me the shudders right now, it’s at the point where all we hear are steroids and the dreaded word ‘suppressing’. As if suppressing the immune response is something to be proud of. I feel that I’ve tried everything, though I know I haven’t. Can you just hear the exhaustion in my voice?

Getting a foot massage

As a mum I will continue to seek better health for my children. Yes, they are recovered from Autism the diagnosis. But no, they are still a trainwreck of immune dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory illness and failure to thrive just to mention a few. No more worries about language, social impairment or cognition though- must remind myself to count my blessings every single day. But still a bunch of health issues, which if left unchecked will give rise to bigger and more serious medical illnesses. The healing is taking a long time, it requires more work and cracking my overburdened mind for inspiration and smarter solutions that most times are hard to come by.

I don’t have the luxury of wallowing in denial, in disbelief, in remorse or the myriad of emotions we are flooded with daily. If I could, I would hand over the care of the girls’ health to someone better, smarter, stronger. But I can’t, I’m their mother, it is my sworn duty. I can’t wait until I get a 100% endorsement from whomever, to guarantee me that a particular treatment will work. No one can predict the future. For better or for worse, I keep trying. Even when Autism still kicks us in the ass. I pick myself up and I keep going. For the sake of my children.

I am still fighting for the girls’ better health, constrained by geography, bureaucracy, finances and personal conflict. In spite of all that, I will never shortchange my daughters, they deserve the best. If we can beat the autism diagnosis, we can beat the medical fallout that autism has left us.

As a Warrior Dad friend recently wrote, Autism leaves a trail of ruined memories. Another Warrior Mum said that her husband can’t get in touch with his sadness, for it feels bigger than an ocean. For me, I haven’t had the time or the energy to look back at the collapsed hopes and dreams that I had for my girls. What I see is a trail of illnesses and broken pathways…..But I force myself to look away from the destruction that Autism has left us. For right now, they are sitting quietly and drawing together. They are happy, contented and wonderful little girls. It’s a beautiful day. Until nighttime, when May’s anxiety and negative thought process comes to the fore (again) and Min’s coughing and congestion is so bad that I fear one night she won’t be able to breathe. And I’m back looking at the trail of illnesses and broken pathways…..

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A Silent Walk in the Night

Thursday June 23, 2011
Walking in solidarity

CHILDREN and youths with learning disabilities will walk together during “A Silent Walk In The Night” event on July 2.

To be held at Central Park Bandar Utama 1, the focus of this event is to celebrate milestones and help integrate special children into the community.

The event is organised by volunteers made up of care-givers, educators and members of the public, with the support of Dignity and Services Bhd, an advocacy movement for persons with learning and intellectual disabilities.
All smiles: Yim (centre) with special children at a performance recently.

Calling themselves “Raise Voice @ Dignity and Services”, the volunteers want to emphasise on reinforcing awareness, greater support for consultation and advocacy, more interaction with special children and parents/care-givers, and fundraising — for continuous awareness programmes like this.

“Through an event such as this, we wish to remind society that these children with their own aspirations can shine brightly if given a helping hand,” said Rebecca Jane Thomas, an educator who works with children with learning disabilities.

“We all have a responsibility towards creating a change and making a difference in the lives of special children.

“The struggles and difficulties faced by this community and their care-givers cannot be ignored.

“We should strive more to empower and integrate them into society.

“The walk provides an opportunity for everyone irrespective of age, colour, creed and status to participate, emphasise and get to know children and youth with learning disabilities.

“Anyone who has a heart can participate and by doing so will be supporting caregiving, education, advocacy and research,” she added.

“A Silent Walk In The Night” will showcase several musical performances by special children.

There will also be entertainment by guest artiste Brian John Yim, games, creative and educational activities.

The carnival-like atmosphere will kick off with registration at 3pm and finish at 8pm.

In the last hour, there will be a 60-minute walk in silence with lights such as candles, lanterns or torches to show support towards enhancing the lives of children and youths with disabilities.

Prizes will be given to the most creative lights. To participate in the walk, the public have to pay a minimum registration fee of RM10.

For details, contact Rebecca Jane Thomas (016-220 7091), Neena Raina (017-875 9456, Chrissy Loh (012-267 1783), Aishath Amira (012-350 9362 or Vanaja Dhanan (012-219 8161).

Father Knows Best

A father's dedication to his disabled child

15 June 2011

Chong is his happiest when he is with his children.

By WONG LI ZA
Photos by AZHAR MAHFOF

Chong Yu Xi n was born premature at six-and-a-half months. Her mother’s water broke while she was mopping the floor, resulting in an emergency delivery.

Now 10, Yu Xin suffers from spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy where the person’s arms and legs have abnormal stiffness. Her right arm is also shorter than her left by about one foot (0.3m). She also has attention deficit disorder (ADD) and very poor eyesight. She wears leg braces and walks with the help of a walker.

Yu Xin and her brother Kai Jet, eight, are taken care of by their father Chong Hoi Khow, 42, who operates a noodle stall in Ampang Tasik Permai in Selangor.

Their mother left when they were younger but now visits them two or three times a month. She also takes Yu Xin for her medical checkups.

Currently, Yu Xin can converse in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Cantonese. Her voice is soft and she breaks into a smile easily. It has been six years since Yu Xin started going to the Special Children Society of Ampang (SCSOA) in Selangor – the not-forprofit organisation where she learns to read and write. She also undergoes an hour of physiotherapy every morning, as well as hydrotherapy and fine motor skills training. Her father pays RM300 a month for all the sessions and lessons.

“Since going to SCSOA, she has become more talkative and sociable, and has learnt to speak English and Bahasa Malaysia. The centre has done a lot for her physically, too,” says Chong. When Yu Xin first enrolled there, her legs were crossed over and it took five teachers to hold her during her physiotherapy sessions.

Chong takes his daughter by motorcycle to the Special Children Society of Ampang every weekday.

Chong sends Yu Xin by motorcycle to the centre every weekday morning. After she finishes class at noon, the society’s van takes her to her father’s stall in a coffeeshop, where she waits for him to pack up at about 2.30pm before they head home together.

The girl is a familiar face with the shop owners and patrons, many of whom have a soft spot for her.

Yu Xin reads while her dad works at his noodle stall in a coffeeshop.

“She can be very cheeky. When she hears customers order kopi-o, she will also order a cup. She understands everything and can answer questions posed to her,” says Chong in Cantonese, with a hint of pride.

Home to the family is a rented place nearby, located above a shoplot. Chong shares the small unit with his sister, who works in the hotel industry.

He usually carries Yu Xin all the way up the dark and dank stairway.

Chong carrying Yu Xin up the stairs to their rented home in Ampang Tasik Permai.

He then bathes Yu Xin.

“She loves to take her bath and fiddle with the tap,” says Chong.

After her bath, she plays with simple things like plastic boxes and coins in a container; sometimes she flips through her brother’ s old school books, or watches TV.

“She loves to listen to Malay songs and sing them, too,” Chong adds.

Despite his hardship, Chong maintains a jovial disposition.

His hope for the future is that Yu Xin will be able to walk without aid.

“Most important is for her to learn to walk and take care of herself. The doctors initially told us she should be able to walk by seven or eight years old. Now, she is already 10,” says Chong, in a somewhat dejected tone.

“Sometimes when I think about her future, I will worry,” he says.

Chong helping Yu Xin to put on her leg braces. (Below) Chong, after work, with Yu Xin, who also has poor eyesight, and her brother Kai Jet.

The Children

NEW INTAKE JUNE 2011






Name/ 姓名 : Blessing Lian
Age/ 年龄 : 3 month/ 3个月

Bayi lelaki yang mengalami masalah HIE grade 2 (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy).Ibunya berasal dari Myanmar berumur 17 tahun. Ditinggalkan oleh ibunya sejak lahir.Dilahirkan dalam keadaan normal.Semasa dalam kandungan ibunya berniat mengugurkan kandungan tersebut tetapi tidak berjaya.Selepas melahirkan anak ini ibunya sekali lagi hendak membunuh anaknya dengan menutup mukanya dengan bantal. Pihak Hospital telah menyedari perkara ini dan berusaha untuk menyelamatkan bayi ini. Keadaan bayi pada masa itu sangat kritikal di mana sangat lemah dan kekurangan oksigen. Oksigen juga tidak sampai ke otaknya menyebabkan dia mengalami masalah HIE grade 2.

Pihak PKKII telah mengambilnya pada 08/Jun/2011 daripada Hospital yang diserahkan oleh UNHCR. Kos keseluruhan rawatan dan perubatan sepanjang berada di Hospital selama 2 bulan lebih ialah RM 12 ribu lebih yang di tanggung oleh UNHCR dan Persatuan Tzu Chi. Minum susu Efalac A+ rumusan khas A.R yang berharga lebih kurang RM 90.10 bagi 900gram. Bayi ini perlu membuat rawatan susulan setiap bulan di Hospital. Kami memerlukan tajaan daripada orang awam untuk menaja kos perbelanjaan bagi bayi ini seperti pampers, susu, pakaian dan perubatan.

它是一名患有HIE第二级（Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalipathy)的脑伤男婴。D它的母亲今年17岁，来自缅甸；他一出生就被母亲所遗弃。当它还在母亲的肚子里时，它的母亲已有堕胎的念头；但是最后并不成功。在产下它过后，它的母亲再度动杀机；用枕头盖着它的脸想要使到它窒息而死。院方发现此事后尝试拯救它，但由于它的情况太过虚弱了；氧气无法传送至脑部而使到它脑缺氧，因而患上HIE第二级。

UNHCR于08/06/11从医院将它转交给大马大爱照顾。它在医院住了长达2个月的时间。所有治疗和药物的费用高达12千，全数由UNHCR以及慈济所赞助。医生说它必须饮用Efalac A+ rumusan khas A.R的奶粉。这奶粉的价格相当昂贵，一小罐（900克）就售价大约RM 90.10。它还必须每月回到医院做复诊。
在此，我们希望能够找到善长人翁以赞助它的一切开销如：尿片、奶粉、衣服及医药费。

The Children

NEW INTAKE JUNE 2011




Name/ 姓名 : Loke Weng Chun (Eugene)
Age/ 年龄 : 18 Tahun/ 18岁
Disorder/ 病症 : Asperger Syndrome/ 阿斯伯格综合症

Si kacak ini boleh urus diri sendiri.tahu bercakap dalam bahasa Melayu, English dan Mandarin. Pernah bersekolah. Suka buli bapanya dan akan pukul orang kalau orang pukul dia. Emosi dan kadang-kadang panas baran. Semasa bersekolah dahulu, dia pernah mencuri duit cikgu, juga mencuri makanan orang lain dan buli kawan yang lain. Suka main Piano.

这位帅哥懂得自己照顾自己，会讲国语、英语和华语。曾经念过书。喜欢欺负他的父亲，会打人若别人先打他。情绪化，性格有时会很暴躁。以前读书的时候，曾经偷过老师的钱，也偷吃过别人的食物和欺负其他的朋友。兴趣是弹钢琴。

古灵精怪的Sam

此照片是Sam在office即兴的其中一项余兴节目。猜猜他在做什么？
把卷起的草席用来当吉他来弹，还边弹边唱！

Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism

Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism

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Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
(Revised: December 2002)

Good teachers helped me to achieve success. I was able to overcome autism because I had good teachers. At age 2 1/2 I was placed in a structured nursery school with experienced teachers. From an early age I was taught to have good manners and to behave at the dinner table. Children with autism need to have a structured day, and teachers who know how to be firm but gentle.

Between the ages of 2 1/4 and 5 my day was structured, and I was not allowed to tune out. I had 45 minutes of one-to-one speech therapy five days a week, and my mother hired a nanny who spent three to four hours a day playing games with me and my sister. She taught 'turn taking' during play activities. When we made a snowman, she had me roll the bottom ball; and then my sister had to make the next part. At mealtimes, every-body ate together; and I was not allowed to do any "stims." The only time I was allowed to revert back to autistic behavior was during a one-hour rest period after lunch. The combination of the nursery school, speech therapy, play activities, and "miss manners" meals added up to 40 hours a week, where my brain was kept connected to the world.

1. Many people with autism are visual thinkers. I think in pictures. I do not think in language. All my thoughts are like videotapes running in my imagination. Pictures are my first language, and words are my second language. Nouns were the easiest words to learn because I could make a picture in my mind of the word. To learn words like "up" or "down," the teacher should demonstrate them to the child. For example, take a toy airplane and say "up" as you make the airplane takeoff from a desk. Some children will learn better if cards with the words "up" and "down" are attached to the toy airplane. The "up" card is attached when the plane takes off. The "down" card is attached when it lands.
2. Avoid long strings of verbal instructions. People with autism have problems with remembering the sequence. If the child can read, write the instructions down on a piece of paper. I am unable to remember sequences. If I ask for directions at a gas station, I can only remember three steps. Directions with more than three steps have to be written down. I also have difficulty remembering phone numbers because I cannot make a picture in my mind.
3. Many children with autism are good at drawing, art and computer programming. These talent areas should be encouraged. I think there needs to be much more emphasis on developing the child's talents. Talents can be turned into skills that can be used for future employment.
4. Many autistic children get fixated on one subject such as trains or maps. The best way to deal with fixations is to use them to motivate school work. If the child likes trains, then use trains to teach reading and math. Read a book about a train and do math problems with trains. For example, calculate how long it takes for a train to go between New York and Washington.
5. Use concrete visual methods to teach number concepts. My parents gave me a math toy which helped me to learn numbers. It consisted of a set of blocks which had a different length and a different color for the numbers one through ten. With this I learned how to add and subtract. To learn fractions my teacher had a wooden apple that was cut up into four pieces and a wooden pear that was cut in half. From this I learned the concept of quarters and halves.
6. I had the worst handwriting in my class. Many autistic children have problems with motor control in their hands. Neat handwriting is sometimes very hard. This can totally frustrate the child. To reduce frustration and help the child to enjoy writing, let him type on the computer. Typing is often much easier.
7. Some autistic children will learn reading more easily with phonics, and others will learn best by memorizing whole words. I learned with phonics. My mother taught me the phonics rules and then had me sound out my words. Children with lots of echolalia will often learn best if flash cards and picture books are used so that the whole words are associated with pictures. It is important to have the picture and the printed word on the same side of the card. When teaching nouns the child must hear you speak the word and view the picture and printed word simultaneously. An example of teaching a verb would be to hold a card that says "jump," and you would jump up and down while saying "jump."
8. When I was a child, loud sounds like the school bell hurt my ears like a dentist drill hitting a nerve. Children with autism need to be protected from sounds that hurt their ears. The sounds that will cause the most problems are school bells, PA systems, buzzers on the score board in the gym, and the sound of chairs scraping on the floor. In many cases the child will be able to tolerate the bell or buzzer if it is muffled slightly by stuffing it with tissues or duct tape. Scraping chairs can be silenced by placing slit tennis balls on the ends of the legs or installing carpet. A child may fear a certain room because he is afraid he may be suddenly subjected to squealing microphone feedback from the PA system. The fear of a dreaded sound can cause bad behavior. If a child covers his ears, it is an indicator that a certain sound hurts his ears. Sometimes sound sensitivity to a particular sound, such as the fire alarm, can be desensitized by recording the sound on a tape recorder. This will allow the child to initiate the sound and gradually increase its volume. The child must have control of playback of the sound.
9. Some autistic people are bothered by visual distractions and fluorescent lights. They can see the flicker of the 60-cycle electricity. To avoid this problem, place the child's desk near the window or try to avoid using fluorescent lights. If the lights cannot be avoided, use the newest bulbs you can get. New bulbs flicker less. The flickering of fluorescent lights can also be reduced by putting a lamp with an old-fashioned incandescent light bulb next to the child's desk.
10. Some hyperactive autistic children who fidget all the time will often be calmer if they are given a padded weighted vest to wear. Pressure from the garment helps to calm the nervous system. I was greatly calmed by pressure. For best results, the vest should be worn for twenty minutes and then taken off for a few minutes. This prevents the nervous system from adapting to it.
11. Some individuals with autism will respond better and have improved eye contact and speech if the teacher interacts with them while they are swinging on a swing or rolled up in a mat. Sensory input from swinging or pressure from the mat sometimes helps to improve speech. Swinging should always be done as a fun game. It must NEVER be forced.
12. Some children and adults can sing better than they can speak. They may respond better if words and sentences are sung to them. Some children with extreme sound sensitivity will respond better if the teacher talks to them in a low whisper.
13. Some nonverbal children and adults cannot process visual and auditory input at the same time. They are mono-channel. They cannot see and hear at the same time. They should not be asked to look and listen at the same time. They should be given either a visual task or an auditory task. Their immature nervous system is not able to process simultaneous visual and auditory input.
14. In older nonverbal children and adults touch is often their most reliable sense. It is often easier for them to feel. Letters can be taught by letting them feel plastic letters. They can learn their daily schedule by feeling objects a few minutes before a scheduled activity. For example, fifteen minutes before lunch give the person a spoon to hold. Let them hold a toy car a few minutes before going in the car.
15. Some children and adults with autism will learn more easily if the computer key-board is placed close to the screen. This enables the individual to simultaneously see the keyboard and screen. Some individuals have difficulty remembering if they have to look up after they have hit a key on the keyboard.
16. Nonverbal children and adults will find it easier to associate words with pictures if they see the printed word and a picture on a flashcard. Some individuals do not under-stand line drawings, so it is recommended to work with real objects and photos first. The picture and the word must be on the same side of the card.
17. Some autistic individuals do not know that speech is used for communication. Language learning can be facilitated if language exercises promote communication. If the child asks for a cup, then give him a cup. If the child asks for a plate, when he wants a cup, give him a plate. The individual needs to learn that when he says words, concrete things happen. It is easier for an individual with autism to learn that their words are wrong if the incorrect word resulted in the incorrect object.
18. Many individuals with autism have difficulty using a computer mouse. Try a roller ball (or tracking ball) pointing device that has a separate button for clicking. Autistics with motor control problems in their hands find it very difficult to hold the mouse still during clicking.
19. Children who have difficulty understanding speech have a hard time differentiating between hard consonant sounds such as 'D' in dog and 'L' in log. My speech teacher helped me to learn to hear these sounds by stretching out and enunciating hard consonant sounds. Even though the child may have passed a pure tone hearing test he may still have difficulty hearing hard consonants. Children who talk in vowel sounds are not hearing consonants.
20. Several parents have informed me that using the closed captions on the television helped their child to learn to read. The child was able to read the captions and match the printed works with spoken speech. Recording a favorite program with captions on a tape would be helpful because the tape can be played over and over again and stopped.
21. Some autistic individuals do not understand that a computer mouse moves the arrow on the screen. They may learn more easily if a paper arrow that looks EXACTLY like the arrow on the screen is taped to the mouse.
22. Children and adults with visual processing problems can see flicker on TV type computer monitors. They can sometimes see better on laptops and flat panel displays which have less flicker.
23. Children and adults who fear escalators often have visual processing problems. They fear the escalator because they cannot determine when to get on or off. These individuals may also not be able to tolerate fluorescent lights. The Irlen colored glasses may be helpful for them.
24. Individuals with visual processing problems often find it easier to read if black print is printed on colored paper to reduce contrast. Try light tan, light blue, gray, or light green paper. Experiment with different colors. Avoid bright yellow--it may hurt the individual's eyes. Irlen colored glasses may also make reading easier. (Click here to visit the Irlen Institute's web site.)
25. Teaching generalization is often a problem for children with autism. To teach a child to generalize the principle of not running across the street, it must be taught in many different locations. If he is taught in only one location, the child will think that the rule only applies to one specific place.
26. A common problem is that a child may be able to use the toilet correctly at home but refuses to use it at school. This may be due to a failure to recognize the toilet. Hilde de Clereq from Belgium discovered that an autistic child may use a small non-relevant detail to recognize an object such as a toilet. It takes detective work to find that detail. In one case a boy would only use the toilet at home that had a black seat. His parents and teacher were able to get him to use the toilet at school by covering its white seat with black tape. The tape was then gradually removed and toilets with white seats were now recognized as toilets.
27. Sequencing is very difficult for individuals with severe autism. Sometimes they do not understand when a task is presented as a series of steps. An occupational therapist successfully taught a nonverbal autistic child to use a playground slide by walking his body through climbing the ladder and going down the slide. It must be taught by touch and motor rather than showing him visually. Putting on shoes can be taught in a similar manner. The teacher should put her hands on top of the child’s hands and move the child’s hands over his foot so he feels and understands the shape of his foot. The next step is feeling the inside and the outside of a slip-on shoe. To put the shoe on, the teacher guides the child’s hands to the shoe and, using the hand-over-hand method, slides the shoe onto the child’s foot. This enables the child to feel the entire task of putting on his shoe.
28. Fussy eating is a common problem. In some cases the child may be fixated on a detail that identifies a certain food. Hilde de Clerq found that one child only ate Chiquita bananas because he fixated on the labels. Other fruit such as apples and oranges were readily accepted when Chiquita labels were put on them. Try putting different but similar foods in the cereal box or another package of a favorite food. Another mother had success by putting a homemade hamburger with a wheat free bun in a McDonald’s package.

BLOOD DONATION

Penderma darah adalah istimewa. Ini adalah kerana tidak semua orang layak untuk menjadi seorang penderma darah. Terdapat beberapa kriteria yang melayakkan seseorang itu untuk menderma darah. Di antara kriteria yang ditetapkan adalah seperti berikut.
不是每个人都有捐血的资格；如果你有，那么恭喜你！捐血者需具备以下的条件:

1. Sihat tubuh badan pada hari pendermaan.
捐血当天必须是健康的。

2. Berumur di antara 18-60 tahun.
年龄介于18至60岁之间。
- Bagi yang berumur 17 tahun, perlu mendapatkan kebenaran bertulis daripada
ibubapa atau penjaga.
17岁的捐血者必须得到父母或监护人的同意书。
- Bagi yang berumur 61-65 tahun, perlu mendapatkan kelulusan bertulis daripada
doktor mengenai tahap kesihatan badan.
61至65岁的捐血者则需获取医生证明的健康报告。

3. Berat badan melebihi 45 kg.
体重超过45公斤。

4. Tidur melebihi 5 jam pada malam sebelum hari pendermaan.
捐血的前一天，睡眠时间须超过5小时。

5. Tiada masalah kesihatan.
身体健康。

6. Tidak mengambil sebarang ubat-ubatan.
没有服食任何药物。
a. Tidak mengambil antibiotik dalam tempoh 7 hari sebelum hari pendermaan.
捐血前7天，没有服食抗生素。
b. Sila rujuk pegawai perubatan bertugas untuk ubat-ubatan lain.
请询问药物官员有关其他的药物。

7. Telah mengambil makanan sebelum menderma darah (tidak berpuasa).
不能空肚捐血。

8. Tidak terlibat di dalam sebarang kegiatan berisiko tinggi seperti berikut.
没有参与以下高风险的活动:
a. Hubungan jenis sesama jantina (homoseksual)
同性恋
b. Hubungan jenis dengan kedua-dua jantina (biseksual)
双性恋
c. Hubungan jenis dengan pekerja seks komersial / pelacur
嫖妓
d. Bertukar-tukar pasangan hubungan jenis
交换性伴侣
e. Mengambil dadah secara suntikan
针孔吸毒
f. Menjadi pasangan hubungan jenis kepada mana-mana golongan di atas.
曾与以上族群发生性关系

9. Pendermaan terakhir sekurang-kurangnya 3 bulan untuk penderma darah penuh (whole
blood), dan 2 minggu untuk penderma aferesis.
捐血者须相隔3个月后才能再度捐血。

10.Untuk penderma wanita.
女性的捐血者:
a. Tidak mengandung.
不是孕妇
b. Tidak datang haid.
并非月经期
c. Tidak menyusukan anak.
没有喂母乳

11.Jangan menderma darah jika anda:
不要捐血，若你...
a. Pernah tinggal di United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales,
Isle of Man atau Channel Island) atau Republik Ireland dari tahun 1980 hingga
1996 untuk tempoh 6 bulan atau lebih.
曾经于1980至1996年居住过英国（英格兰、北爱尔兰、苏格兰、威尔士、马恩岛或频道岛）或爱尔兰共和国长
达6个月或以上。
b. Pernah tinggal di benua Eropah dari tahun 1980 hingga sekarang untuk tempoh 6
bulan atau lebih.
曾经于1980至现在居住在欧洲长达6个月或以上。


NASIHAT KEPADA PENDERMA
给捐血者的忠告

Setiap kali selepas menderma darah, anda adalah dinasihatkan untuk memberi perhatian terhadap perkara-perkara berikut.
捐血后，您必须注意以下几件事:

1. Tekan kuat pada bekas cucukan jarum sambil berehat sekurang-kurangnya 10 minit di
atas katil sebelum bangun.
在起身之前；紧紧按着伤口，在床上休息最少10分钟。

2. Ambil sedikit minuman dan makanan ringan yang disediakan sebelum meninggalkan
tempat pendermaan.
离开之前，在休息处获取一些饮料及小吃。

3. Ambil sebiji tablet zat besi dan asid folik yang dibekalkan sehari sekali selepas
makan. Ini akan membantu anda membina kembali sel-sel darah merah yang telah anda
dermakan.
用餐过后，服食一颗zat besi和asid folik的药丸。这能助于帮助红血球再生。

4. Berhati-hati semasa memandu atau sewaktu bekerja menggunakan mesin.
小心驾驶或需要用到机械的工作。


Dalam masa 24 jam selepas menderma.
捐血后的24小时:

1. Elakkan diri daripada aktiviti-aktiviti sukan atau senaman berat, atau mengangkat
barangan yang berat.
避免运动或举重的物品。

2. Elakkan minuman keras.
避免喝酒。

3. Lebihkan meminum air
多喝水。

4. Jika anda mengalami sebarang reaksi atau tindak balas seperti pening atau rasa
ingin pitam, baringkan diri anda selama beberapa minit dengan kedua-dua kaki
dinaikkan melebihi paras kepala.
若出现晕眩，躺下并高举双腿至头部。

Sekiranya anda berasa tidak sihat/selesa, ataupun terdapat tanda lebam, bengkak atau sakit dibahagian yang dicucuk, sila hubungi segera Pegawai Perubatan Pusat Darah Negara di nombor 03-2693 3888 / 03-2695 5564.
若有不适或在伤口处发现淤伤，肿或疼痛；请即联络国家血库中心：03-2693 3888 / 03-2695 5564。

Dermaan anda merupakan sumbangan yang tidak ternilai kepada masyarakat. Adalah diharapkan agar anda jadikan pendermaan anda ini suatu amalan yang berterusan di dalam hidup anda.
您所捐的血对社会有无比的贡献，请持续下去。


Keistimewaan Penderma Darah
捐血者的福利

Penderma - penderma darah yang menderma di Pusat Darah Negara dan lain - lain Tabung Darah di Hospital Kerajaan adalah layak mendapatkan rawatan percuma seperti di jadual berikut.
捐血者可以得到免费的医疗服务如下：

Jadual Keistimewaan Rawatan Penderma Darah di Fasiliti Kesihatan (Hospital, Institusi dan Klinik Kesihatan), Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia mengikut Surat Pekeliling KPK 5/2005 bertarikh 20 Julai 2005.
捐血者的福利，按照卫生部的通知KPK 5/2005于2005年7月20日。

KEKERAPAN MENDERMA DAN KEISTIMEWAAN RAWATAN
捐血次数 和 医疗的福利

1 kali/ Percuma rawatan pesakit luar dan
rawatan perubatan (tidak termasuk
bayaran X-ray dan pembedahan) dan
wad kelas dua untuk tempoh 4 bulan.
1 次 免费门诊治疗（不包括照X-光和手术），和二
等病房为期4个月。

2 kali (dalan tempoh 12 bulan) Percuma suntikan pencegahan Hepatitis B
2 次（1年内） 免费注射B型肝炎的防御针。

2 ~ 5 kali Percuma rawatan pesakit luar dan
rawatan perubatan dan wad kelas dua
untuk tempoh 4 bulan.
2 至 5 次 免费门诊治疗，医疗和二等病房为期4个月。

6 ~ 10 kali Percuma rawatan pesakit luar selama 1
tahun dan rawatan perubatan dan wad
kelas dua untuk tempoh 6 bulan.
6 至 10 次 免费门诊治疗为期1年，医疗和二等病房为期6个月。

11 ~ 15 kali Percuma rawatan pesakit luar selama 2
tahun dan rawatan perubatan dan wad
kelas dua untuk tempoh 1 tahun.
11 至 15 次 免费门诊治疗为期2年，医疗和二等病房为期1年。

16 ~ 20 kali Percuma rawatan pesakit luar dan
rawatan perubatan dan wad kelas dua
untuk tempoh 2 tahun.
16 至 20 次 免费门诊治疗，医疗和二等病房为期2年。

21 ~ 30 kali Percuma rawatan pesakit luar dan
rawatan perubatan dan wad kelas dua
untuk tempoh 3 tahun.
21 至 30 次 免费门诊治疗，医疗和二等病房为期3年。

31 ~ 40 kali Percuma rawatan pesakit luar dan
rawatan perubatan dan wad kelas satu
untuk tempoh 4 tahun.
31 至 40 次 免费门诊治疗，医疗和头等病房为期4年。

41 ~ 50 kali Percuma rawatan pesakit luar dan
rawatan perubatan dan wad kelas satu
untuk tempoh 6 tahun.
41 至 50 次 免费门诊治疗，医疗和头等病房为期4年。

Lebih 50 kali Percuma rawatan pesakit luar dan
(bagi penderma“Whole blood”) rawatan perubatan dan wad kelas
dan Lebih 150 kali satu untuk tempoh 10 tahun dan wad
(bagi penderma aferesis) kelas dua seumur hidup selepas
10 tahun di wad kelas satu.
超过50次（Whole Blood)和超过150次（Aferesis) 免费门诊治疗，医疗和头等病房为期10年。10年过后，
终身免费二等病房。

Biomedical Causes of Autism (and Other Developmental Disorders)

June 4, 2011

Biomedical Causes of Autism (and Other Developmental Disorders)

This is a very, very simplified summary of all the known physical, biological and chemical problems that cause autism, as written in this book:

Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians

by Dr. Bryan Jepson, with Jane Johnson







In this book, Dr. Jepson has compiled ALL the existing scientific studies that have been published on the cause and treatment of autism to date (2005). These physical causes of autism forms the basis for biomedical treatment. (Biomedical = physiological or biochemical problems.) If you want to delve into the science of autism, this is THE book to read.

Causes of autism (and other neurodevelopmental disorders):

1. Genetic susceptibility

People with autism have a set of genes turned off. These genes control methylation - the process by which the body gets rid of toxins. A problem with methylation means the body is unable to detoxify itself.

2. Impaired detoxification, metabolic abnormality

The body produces glutathione, a substance which binds to toxins and carries them to the liver for disposal. Lack of glutathione allows toxins like mercury, lead, arsenic, etc. to accumulate to dangerous levels in the body. These toxins remain in the fatty organs (liver, kidneys and brain) and causes much more damage than it does to someone who can excrete them quickly. Oxidative stress (cell 'rusting') further impairs cellular function.

Treatment: Supplementary glutathione and precursors. (Here is a super excellent explanation of methylation problems and how it's treated.)

3. Abnormal immune system

Autoimmune problem - body attacks harmless things and creates excessive inflammation. Mercury and aluminium (from vaccines) causes the immune system to turn to inflammation as a method of defense.

History of inflammatory diseases in the family - heart disease, cancer, lupus, arthritis, allergies, asthma, eczema.

Inflammation can be in the brain and/or the intestines (where most of the immune system is based). Child is prone to infections as body is busy attacking itself. Inflammation in brain kills neurons - brain cannot grow or function normally.

Symptoms - manifests as rashes, eczema, asthma, red under-eye patches, lines under eyes (pic).

Treatment: Reduce inflammation and boost immune system.


4. Viral infections

When the immune system is weak, it cannot get rid of the virus quickly and tissue is inflamed or damaged by the virus or from the immune system trying to kill it. A chronic viral infection means chronic inflammation. Child gets repeated infections because virus was never killed completely. Some viruses can infect the brain, leading to brain inflammation (killing brain cells).

Treatment: Antivirals and supplements to boost immune system.

5. Leaky Gut Syndrome

Inflammation in the gut destroys the mucus membrane, leaving microscopic holes in the intestines. Molecules that are usually too large to be absorbed leak into the bloodstream. These are poisonous because they are only partially digested.

Treatment: Omega-3.

6. Food intolerances

Child with autism and after recovery

Some children are unable to digest proteins like gluten (in wheat) and casein (in cow's milk). These proteins have structures similar to opiates like morphine and heroin. A leaky gut allows these semi-digested opiates to leak out. When the opiate travels to the brain, it causes an effect like someone high on drugs. Child looks 'stoned', eyes are unfocused, lives in own world. High dopamine levels makes the child "self-satisfied" - lives in own world, no need to seek satisfaction from interacting with the outside world. Child often eats a few favourite foods and not much else, as it gives him a high. They are literally addicted to these foods as opiates are addictive.

Some children are also sensitive to dyes, MSG and chemical food additives - these can cause ADHD in those who cannot tolerate them.

Symptoms - dark under-eye circles (food intolerances), looks stoned, picky eater, small range of favourite foods.

Treatment: Stop eating offending foods. Read more about the Gluten-Free/Casein-Free (GFCF) diet.

7. Measles

From MMR vaccine. Weak immune system cannot fight virus, virus goes to the brain and creates inflammation, inflammation destroys brain cells. Results in cerebellar ataxia (gross incoordination of muscle movements), autism, mental retardation or permanent brain damage. Parent will report that child developed normally, then at a certain age, lost speech and stopped responding.

Milder negative effects - chronic inflammation, allergies, asthma, autoimmune disease.

Treatment: Antivirals.

8. Gastrointestinal disease

Child exhibits strange whole-body movements (abdominal discomfort), presses abdomen over the arm of a chair. Has mushy stools, gas, diarrhoea, constipation, wears diapers till a very late age, vomiting, night wakings, night terrors, yellow or dirty eye whites (constipation, poor elimination).

Read more about constipation and diarrhoea in autistic children.

9. Candida (yeast overgrowth)

Physical symptoms - white patches in mouth, white coating on tongue, dark under-eye circles, but often no visible symptoms.

Behavioural symptoms - short attention span, hyperactive, slow thinking, brain fog, dull, unfocused gaze, inappropriate laughter.

Yeast eats up nutrients and starves the brain. It produces alcohol and toxins which enter the brain, causing psychological/behavioural problems. Child with impaired detoxification suffers even more. Alcohol causes child to be 'drunk', with constant giggling or inappropriate outbursts of laughter.

Treatment: Antifungals, probiotics. (Read more about yeast here.)

10. Nutritional deficiencies

Intestinal problems causes poor absorption of nutrients, yeast eats up nutrients, causing brain and body to starve. A starving brain cannot grow or function well.

Symptoms - impaired visual perception, attention and language, involuntary movements of the eye and extremities (tics), impaired detoxification, slow thinking, poor memory, numbness in extremities, anaemia, thirst, frequent urination, dry skin or hair, eczema, sleep disturbances, ADD, ADHD.

Treatment: Antifungals, digestive enzymes, probiotics.

See also:

Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder
by Jaquelyn McCandless, Teresa Binstock and Jack Zimmerman




11. Mercury toxification

From mother's mercury ('silver') dental amalgams or dental work during pregnancy, thimerosal (mercury added to vaccines as a preservative), seafood, pesticides in food, broken thermometers or broken fluorescent light bulbs.

Before birth, mercury comes from mother - mercury is 40% more concentrated in cord blood than in mother's blood. Foetus has no blood-brain barrier, so 100% of the mercury in the cord blood goes into the foetus's brain.

After birth, baby gets mercury from vaccines.

If body cannot excrete mercury, it lodges in the brain and kills neurons. Hair and urine test will show low levels of mercury (not excreted, stored in organs).

Symptoms of mercury poisoning:

Psychiatric - social deficits, repetitive behaviours, flat affect (no emotions), anxiety, irritability, aggression, tantrums, no eye contact.

Speech and language - loss of speech, dysarthria (very weak mouth muscles, drooling past appropriate age), speech problems (echolalia - parroting, pragmatic errors).

Sensory - tingling in mouth, hands and feet, hypersensitivity to sound, light and textures (toe-walking), blurred vision, deafness, Auditory Processing Disorder.

Motor (movements) - hand flapping, rocking, poor coordination, weaker on one side of body, poor eye-hand coordination.

Cognitive - low IQ, uneven development, poor attention, poor auditory memory, poor visual perception.

Unusual behaviours - head banging, ADHD, unprovoked crying, staring spells, sleep problems.

Physical - hypertonia (tight muscles - stiffness in limbs) or hypotonia (low muscle tone, weak), very poor coordination, low muscle strength esp. upper body, incontinence (wears diapers to a late age), leaky gut, tingling in extremities, constriction of visual field (no peripheral vision - damage to retina or optic nerves).

Treatment: Chelation.

12. PANDAS - Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococci

Streptococcus infection - white patches at the back of the throat, sometimes no symptoms. Strep bacteria goes to brain, causes inflammation.

Symptoms - fits of aggression.

Treatment: Antibiotics.

13. Lyme Disease

Bacteria transmitted by ticks carried by animals. Affects brain, causes psychiatric disturbances.

14. Hypoxia (low oxygen)

Before birth - maternal high blood pressure, smoking, placental bleeding, alcohol, drugs, birth drugs, anaesthesia reduce oxygen supply to foetus. No oxygen = brain cells die.

During birth - stuck in birth canal, strangulation by umbilical cord, clamping cord too soon, cutting off blood and oxygen supply.

Symptoms - problem in all areas (same as mercury but minus inflammation), ADHD.

Treatment: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).

15. Premature birth

Lungs are not mature enough to absorb oxygen, brain starved of oxygen. Lower birth weight means greater damage from standard dose of vaccine meant for larger child. All organs are under-functioning, cannot eliminate toxins.

Symptoms - problems in all areas, especially sensory problems.


The biological causes of autism is a combination of the above. Those who have just one problem or a few mild problems may have a learning disability (dyslexia, ADHD). Those who have more severe problems would fall into the autism spectrum.

Biomed should be the first course of treatment, otherwise therapy has limited effectiveness because the brain is unable to develop due to ongoing poisoning, inflammation and starvation.


See also:

• The Basics of Supplementation

• What is Biomedical Treatment?

• Recovered from Autism: Danny K.