Expert Advice

"I know it may sound self-promotional but I would truly encourage parents to read my book, because I honestly think it's the best explanation of what is actually happening in our kid's brain and to clear up misconceptions that many parents have. The other thing personally is that I really like what Autism Speaks puts out with their 100-Day kit for parents who have just received the diagnosis. It covers what parents should do in those first 100 days after diagnosis, which I think is really helpful and appropriate."

"I first ask the parents to define what their short-term and long-term goals are for their child. Are they in crisis or do they have this nice, quiet, verbal child with social issues? I ask them to define their top three issues whether it's behavior, diet, constipation or whatever is most important to them. That way I know if we need to start with a gut protocol, an immune system protocol or something else. It is very much dependent on the individual child because you probably know the saying that is so true. 'If you've seen one child with autism, you've seen one child with autism.' They are each very unique, and they each require a unique approach."

"The first piece of advice I give parents is to never ever give up hope. Parents get that autism diagnosis and it's crushing, but it's not a death sentence. It's actually not the end of the world, just the beginning of a new one. These kids can still grow and change. They have their whole lives ahead of them. Don't quit looking for answers. Get educated. A lot of this is in the hands of the parents, because there are many different activities they can do with their kids to enhance different areas of the brain. We can do a lot for these kids at our center, but the parents can and should continue that work at home to enhance the progress of their kids as much as they can."

"I would say to have faith, not only in modern medicine, but also in the support groups that exist around the autism condition. There are many that can provide support and as human beings, having that support from others is a great way to see through the difficult times."

"I tell the parents to get started on the diet changes first. Just do it. Nothing else matters starting out except for getting the wheat and dairy out of their diet immediately. Get the sugar out of their diet too. Remember not to kid yourself, though, by only doing the diet 10% or 50%. Do it 100% because otherwise you're just lying to yourself and continuing to feed the bad bacteria and yeast. Do it 100% as if your child's life depends on it, because you know what? It does."

"I give the same advice now that I've been giving for years, which is don't just automatically believe everything you're told by the so-called experts. Do the research yourself because nobody knows your child better than you! Get out there, do the research, do the work, and figure out how best to apply that newfound knowledge to your child."

"Do whatever you need to do in order to get to a place of acceptance because it will not only be to the benefit of your child but on the other side of acceptance of the diagnosis is the ability to feel joy again. Then you're able to focus on your child again and accept them as they are, and when you do this, a whole new world will open up for you."

"I tell parents not to reinvent the wheel. Go where others have gone before you and build momentum from there. Build your resource network and get some folks around you that are like-minded and caring and supportive that are truly going to be there to help you when you need it."

"I would say go out and be a part of the autism community because it is really humbling to see these families come together and work on the struggles that they're having together. If you can  get involved, it's a great way to meet people who really understand what you're going through because they are too. Join in, be a part of the community and attend as many events as you can."

"The number one piece of advice I have is for parents to invest in the iLs program for their child and to have it in their home and written into their IEP for school and to get started right away. As a mom and a professional, I think it's truly the best investment they can make in their child's future."

"I tell parents that it's natural when you receive the autism diagnosis to go through a bit of a grieving process because all of a sudden your expectations for your future and that of your child has changed. You may have had expectations for your child being all these different things and then you realize it's going to be quite different now with this diagnosis. So I encourage parents to take care of themselves, to make sure they are getting their own needs met, because it can be so stressful. I really just want them to know how important self-care is so they can be in the right mind and headspace to help their kids to grow and thrive."

"As a parent who has been through this, I wish I would've known in the beginning how important my input was and how much I could do, but also how it really does take a village and it takes an entire team. I'm so grateful for all the doctors, therapists and everyone else who is out there for us but I think the parents need to know how crucial their involvement is and how much they can actually do themselves to help their children succeed."

"The first thing I tell parents is to take a deep breath. You're going to need to prepare yourself with knowledge and education. The more you learn, the better you'll be able to manage the challenges. Also, make sure you develop relationships with other parents so that you can provide support and education for each other, and to try to find as many local resources as you can to see you through the tough times and get you where you need to be."

"I think the key answer is for parents not to panic. Do not just accept the diagnosis of autism, trust your instincts. Fight for your child as an ill child, because that is what they are. You have to understand your child doesn't just have autism, they have encephalopathy, not just a developmental disorder as you have been told. It's a battle but once you get to that understanding, then you can actually seek out the help your child so desperately needs to heal."

"The first piece of advice I tell parents is trust themselves and not get too wrapped up in other people's opinions. The second thing is to remember how important it is to play with your kids. Don't just turn into their therapist, get down on the floor and play! That is how your child truly learns to be social. They take the model of you playing with them and apply it to other children they interact with. So always make sure you have lots and lots of playtime."

"First, I tell parents to take a deep breath and tune in to their own inner voice because they are the ones that know their child best and they need to trust their own gut and their own knowing. To see a child go from autism isolation and to see them grow and learn and blossom with different therapies like AIT is a wonderful thing to experience."

"I tell parents that there are many options and resources out there and to always have hope. Even if they are not in a major metropolitan city, there are still many resources available through the internet with wonderful autism organizations like Generation Rescue and others that promote various treatments as a possibility. I think that is probably the most powerful message - that there is always hope for your child and that you have many options for improving their health."

"I encourage parents to offer as much enrichment for their child and to encourage areas of interest to foster further development through reading with their child, playing, and interacting as much as possible on the child's level. I also remind them that their autistic child has some incredible strengths, and to work diligently to help others recognize those strengths. There are so many things these special kids have to offer and sometimes that gets lost when we focus too much on their atypical behaviors."

"I tell parents to slow down and understand that whatever choices you make for your child will be the correct ones. The biggest problem I see is that these parents are overwhelmed and easily frustrated when there is not an exact answer or decision handed to them. It's going to take some problem-solving and a lot of work, but if you can slow down and relax a little about the process, you should feel confident in knowing that whatever choice you make for your child will be the right one."

"Use digestive enzymes to help your child's compromised GI tract to break down what goes into their mouth - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, starches, etc. These things must be broken down into the smallest possible unit for the best absorption by the small intestine to give the body what it needs in order to work right. Digestive enzymes work by assisting the body to enhance digestion, bolster the immune system, improve elimination, and to develop the gut-brain connection."

"Be hopeful, but also be direct in your approach. Become as educated as you can and stop living in fear about implementing some of the therapies. The information is out there. There are a lot of support groups, doctors, therapists, and other parents out there waiting to help you. If you can open your heart and mind to the possibilities that incredible things can happen for you and your child, they will."

"Don't ever give up hope. There are many resources out there. I would say of all the things under a parent's control, there is diet. Diet is a great place to start. The benefits of a gluten and casein-free diet (GFCF) is backed by peer-reviewed science. My findings and experience show that if your child is a responder, if your child does well on the diet, then they are likely to respond favorably to other biomedical interventions as well. Don't ever give up hope, be strong, and seek out every possible resource available to help your child."

"I would say the most important thing you can do is to connect with other parents and other professionals. Align yourself with others; don't isolate. You have to work through all of your emotions to get to a point of acceptance. Acceptance is key, because if we hold onto the pain and sorrow, that's what will come through when we interact with our child."

"Keep the basics in sight. Step back and play with your child. Go swimming and to parks and museums. Play at any level you can and continue to challenge, up level, and have fun adventures with your child. It will help the two of you bond and your child to grow."

"I would say treat your child as a child first, and the autism second. Too many times, the parents say, 'Oh, he's not eating his peas because he has autism.' He's not eating his peas because he's a child! The more you focus on the autism part, the more you're ignoring the fact that you've got a great kid here."