We first came to Malaysia in October 2002 at the
request
of the Malaysian Autism Support group
Parent's Resource for Autism
. We returned to Malaysia in April 2003 to continue our work. We also
visited
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Sarawak and Ipoh during our tour. We spoke at the
PR4A meeting in Kualar Lumpur, and at Kuching State Library, Sarawak in
May.
The principle reason for the visit was to review
the
progress of the families implementing the lutein-free diet program with
their
autistic children. Out of the original group of 70, we saw 50 children
for
the second time, and saw a further 60 children for the first time.
The progress of the children continues to be
excellent,
and will be the subject of a review that we are now preparing. The two
month
follow-up reports are available here:
Two-month progress report
The way to recovery
To aim for recovery in autism, we first have
to identify the cause. We believe that the most common cause of autism
is an immune system choice during development which leads to the
targeting
of a dietary pigment - lutein - by the immune system (we have
described
how and why this happens, and the evidence for it, in our literature).
This
immune choice also leads to a cascade of reactions which differ
according
to various factors, (immuno-)genetic, environmental, family history,
diet,
and the inherent strength of the individual. Treating the individual
means
assessing all of these factors, designing an individual diet with
supplementation
if needed, and recommending additional interventions and supports based
on how the individual is responding.
One of the most significant findings in autism
is an immature development of the limbic system - the
emotional-language-learning
system of the human and mammalian brain - leading to delay or arrest in
language and emotional development. We believe that the continual
immune
response to dietary lutein is registered by the amygdala - the central
clearing house of the limbic system - as a panic (fight-or-flight)
reaction.
Learning cannot proceed as long as the emotional center is in a state
of
panic - the mammalian experience of immediate threat to survival.
After approximately 12 days lutein-free, the
immune system begins to calm down and we often see the first signs of
improvement. It usually takes up to 16 weeks to see the first signs of
an awakening of the limbic system, emotional expression and the
availability
for learning. This time frame is fairly consistent.
Once awakening begins, we assess where the
individual
is developmentally, and look at many therapeutic, educational,
behavioral
and sensory strategies which can bring about progress in these areas.
This
was the focus of many of the discussions we had with parents and
professionals,
as we plan the next stage in the recovery program. Together with the
various
autism organisations that we network with, we are planning to open a
network
of therapeutic, educational, recreational and crisis centers to cater
to
the needs of the autistic population in that country. We are also
teaching
parents strategies which can be carried out cheaply by the parents in
their
own home. We are training parents in 'Professional Parenting'
techniques
based on the work of Dr. Bob Jones, Appalachian State University, USA.
We
are making recommendations to schools for classroom modifications and
educational
programs based on a combination of the best programs and resources
available.
For some, we will help the parents develop a unique home-schooling
environment
specific for their child (See the article
Sam, a boy with Asperger Syndrome
for a full account of one boy's success with such a program). We also
assess
and continue to monitor the health status, through lab testing where
applicable,
to identify common problems such as gut dysbiosis, heavy metal toxicity
or metabolic differences that might call for additional nutritional
supports
or medical (allopathic, naturopathic or homeopathic) treatments.
A model of success We would like the programs we are
developing in Malaysia to be seen as a model of success in autism
recovery programs, which can be implemented anywhere in the world. It
is clear that there
is an enormous gap in resources for families in crisis as schools and
social
services struggle to cope with the enormous influx of autistic
children.
Doctors and hospitals do not have specific training in the needs of
autists,
especially as the paradigm is changing from a psychological to a
biological
condition. Where do parents go for help? We believe the answer is in a
center
or network of centers and resources specifically for autists in every
community,
providing respite and emergency uptake, advice, crisis management,
intensive
therapeutic and recreational programs, training for teachers, doctors
and
therapists, education in diet and nutritional programs, and
availability
of specialized educational and recreational tools. The goal is not to
take
the children out of their schools and homes, but to give short,
intensive
programs that bring the children forward behaviorally and
educationally,
to get them prepared for re-integration into their communities. This is
the
model that we are developing now as a prototype in Malaysia. The
Malaysian
team are professional and include doctors, educators and founders of
autism
organizations dedicated to carrying through the program to success. The
climate, modern infrastructure, enthusiasm and dedication of the autism
professionals and parents, and an availability of quality foods
unequaled
anywhere in the world makes Malaysia a perfect location to continue our
work.
We believe that the autism recovery program that we provide can be
implemented anywhere in the world. Our program is not dependent on
expensive
products or supplements, or require the recruitment of professional
therapists.
Most of the people using the dietary approach are parents applying the
program
in their own home. We have worked with individual families, parent
support
groups, schools and residential facilities in countries around the
world
for the past 8 years, including India, Europe, Africa, North America
and
the Middle East. The program can be home-based or centered around a
school
or residential facility, or a 'model of excellence' community providing
a
range of services and programs. More information is available on our
website
and in our first book The Power of
Exile:
Autism - A Journey to Recovery.
A new book 'Autism Stories' is planned for later this year.
