Come to Kelly Dorfman's book signing of

"What's Eating Your Child"

Wednesday, June 8
MENDHAM BOOKS
84 East Main St
Mendham NJ 07945
7:00 PM talk/signing

Backed by cutting-edge science and the know-how gained from a 29-year career in clinical nutrition, WHAT’S EATING YOUR CHILD? by Kelly Dorfman, MS, LND, reveals the surprising role nutrition plays in healing children’s ailments. No ordinary nutrition book, WHAT’S EATING YOUR CHILD? is refreshingly unique because it pairs practical, scientifically-supported advice with fascinating case studies that read like medical mysteries. As a mother of three, Dorfman understands the challenges parents face and she empowers caregivers to become Nutrition Detectives by revealing simple, practical ways to uncover the clues behind a child’s health problems and find an accurate, nutritional treatment immediately.

Win a copy of Kelly Dorfman's new book "What's Eating Your Child"!

WHAT’S EATING YOUR CHILD?, by Kelly Dorfman, is a must-read for parents, doctors, teachers, and anyone interested in the relationship between nutrition, health, and wellbeing.

MAKE A COMMENT TO WIN a signed copy of WHAT'S EATING YOUR CHILD? 1) To enter, please comment on this post (Click on "comments" below.) 2) Post your comment by 11:59 pm on JUNE 8, 2011. One entry per person, please. 3) One winner will be chosen by random and announced on Thursday morning, JUNE 9, 2011. 4) NOTE: If you wish to be contacted by e-mail if you win, please include your email address in your comment or make a comment and then email us your comment at rsvpNAANYC@naanyc.org. Otherwise you must check back on Thursday, June 9, 2011 to see if you have won. Unclaimed prizes will be forfeited to another winner after 72 hours.

How Sound Therapy Influences the Social Nervous System

On Monday, May 16th the Westchester sub-chapter of the NAA NY Metro chapter was delighted to have Sarah Gayle Schoenbaum present. Sarah an very experienced Occupational Therapist (OT) presented information on the therapeautic program, Solisten®, which is the portable application of the Tomatis® Method. She described how Solisten's revolutionary sound training program strengthens the ear and energizes the brain, improves many areas including auditory and sensory processing, stress, speech and balance. Furthermore, Sarah discussed how hearing is composed of both air and bone conduction . Solisten stimulates both of these as well as the vestibular receptors in the ear. The result is a nervous system that is more efficient including speed and accuracy. With this efficiency the body trusts its own resourses to keep it safe. This may include safety in a complex social environment and safety in a physically challenging environment.

Solisten particularly addresses the social nervous system which is the part of the nervous system that helps us to efficiently respond to complex social situations by stimulating the cranial nerves that help our mouth move and our eyes move and our eardrum hear. This is why solisten is so helpful in reducing the anxiety in children on the spectrum because their social nervous system is brought on line.

The social nervous system is part of the polyvagal system. It is the part of the nervous system that is on line when one feels safe. When one does not feel safe one looses the efficient use of this system and has to rely on the sympathetic or dorsal vegal system which causes fight, flight or freeze. We have all seen this response in our kids. Besides supporting the social nervous system Solisten can positively effect balance, motor planning, auditory processing, and visual spatial awareness. Sarah recommended Stephen Porges' new book The Polyvagal Nervous System to further delve into the intricate nervous system.

The take home message was that children & adults with autism spectrum disorders are in stress and they freeze or overreact to their environment due to dysregulation. By balancing the nervous system through listening therapy one can become balanced and more equipped to handle the surrounding environment.

Sarah Gayle Shoenbaum, MA OTR/L has been in the field since 1979. Sarah is an instructor and clinician of occupational therapy, craniosacral therapy, neurodevelopemental treatment (NDT) and sensory intergration. For more information you can contact Sarah at insidemoves@optonline.net

NAA NY Metro Chapter Presents: Mealtime Success for Kids on the Spectrum

Mealtime Success For Kids on the Spectrum
with Susan Roberts, MDiv, OTR/L
Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Time: 6:00 pm - Networking /6:30-8:30 pm - Presentation
Location: Rebecca School
40 East 30th, 5th Floor New York, NY 10003

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders have difficulties during mealtimes for a variety of reasons. Poor muscle control affects lips, tongue, jaw, facial muscles, hands and core body movements—all of which impact our ability to move food into the digestive system. Sensory processing problems produce aversions or obsessions with specific smells, textures and tastes that compromise good nutrition—which in turn increases hunger and food cravings. Mealtimes nourish our souls as much as our bodies, through the sharing of conversation and social relationships. Instead of a time for enjoyment, mealtimes often become battlegrounds—nourishing no one.

SUSAN L. ROBERTS, MDiv, OTR/L, teaches a seminar on this topic and recently returned from appearances throughout the nation. Come join us on June 22nd for the opportunity to share Susan’s expertise in this area and to share your own thoughts and concerns.

Ms. Roberts is an award winning Occupational Therapist with more than 30 years of experience in school-based pediatrics, as well as home health care, rehabilitation, ergonomics, long-term care, adaptive driving and psychiatry. Susan earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Boston University. Research interests in the sensory aspects and neurobiology of healing rituals led her to complete a Masters in Divinity from Harvard University.

Ms. Roberts’ current practice places a special emphasis on transforming behavioral issues in families with non-verbal and pre-verbal children. Her clinical and research interests lie in the primary occupation of childhood, play, as well as the use of mind/body approaches for achieving optimal health and wellness. Ms. Roberts gives lectures & seminars around the USA on how to help children enjoy mealtimes, playtimes & school. Through individual coaching, play experiences, and support groups, she provides a safe space where children (and the adults who care for them) can discover their own path to happiness and healing.

NAA NY Metro Chapter's First Mom's Night Out

Calling all Moms!
NAA NY Metro Chapter would like to celebrate you and give you a much needed night out. Come spend time with other special mom’s. We know that in the course of your busy busy day caring for your children, shuttling them back and forth to appointments and doing research late at night on the computer-it just doesn’t leave a lot of room for you! So come out and enjoy en evening among your peers. This is a great opportunity for you to exchange ideas, talk about treatment options and just meet some new and interesting people. There will be plenty of allergy friendly food to give you some new ideas to serve your family as well as cocktails. Please enjoy this “night off”, since we all know that you definitely deserve it!

On Thursday, June 9th 7-9pm
At 408 East 79th Street, 2nd Floor
Join us for NAA NY Metro Chapter’s first Mom’s Night Out!

For more information go to: www.naanyc.org

NAA NY Metro Chapter (Westchester) Parent Roundtable-AutismOne Conference Highlights

Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 7 to 9pm
Washington Engine Fire Company
130 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY
(across from blding #150)

Tricia Zarro and Lisa Rudley, Co-Leaders of the Westchester NAA NY Metro sub-chapter will moderate a parent roundtable to discuss AutismOne Conference Highlights. AutismOne Conference information: http://www.autismone.org/ This conference is being streamed "live" see AutismOne's website for details.

Tricia the mom to three children and a Special Needs Teacher in Westchester. Her youngest son has a diagnosis of ASD. She has been a facilitator of a local Westchester support group for the past five years. Tricia has a wealth of experience using special diets, biomedical treatment options and rehabilitative therapies.

Lisa is the mom of three children and a Special Needs Financial Planner. For the last five years, she has utilized a variety of healing modalities to help her son with ASD and many others in her community to improve the lives of children with autism and their families. Lisa has worked extensively with Homeopathy, Reiki, and various supportive therapies including Neurofeedback, HANDLE, NAET, Vision Therapy, Brain Gym and Tomatis. Lisa also moderated a local Westchester support group for the past four years.

Both Tricia and Lisa have combined efforts this January to form the Westchester sub-chapter of the NAA NY Metro Chapter. This Westchester sub-chapter holds 1 to 2 meetings monthly and alternates between the Tarrytown and Briarcliff Manor locations.

For more information, please visit our website http://www.naanyc.org/

NAA NY Metro Chapter (Westchester) Bike Clinic for Children with Special Needs

NAA NY Metro Chapter Invites you to our special event Bike Clinic For Special Needs Children
With Maria Bizzaro At the Law Memorial Park Fields ,Briarcliff Manor, NY On Saturday, June 4th 2-4pm Raindate: Sunday, June 5th 2-4pm

Come teach your child to ride a bike or further their existing riding skills!
Learning to ride a bike can be a frustrating experience for both parent and child. So come learn some easy techniques to apply to teaching your child how to ride a bike. Maria Bizzaro has years of experience teaching children to ride a multitude of things such as skateboards, roller blades and scooters. She will break it down for each individual child’s level. There will also be “NY Bike” trained volunteer therapists on hand from The McCarton Center www.mccartoncenter.com, Holistic Learning Center www.holisticlc.com, and Watch Me Grow sensory gym www.watchmegrownyc.com to help parents apply these new teaching techniques. So it doesn’t matter if your child is brand new to bike riding, on training wheels or has been riding for a while and still needs those extra skills to master it.

Maria Bizzarro, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Therapeutic Studies, and a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy at Boston University. She is licensed in New York State and certified as a therapist with pediatric emphasis by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Maria currently works as the Director of Occupational Therapy for The McCarton. Her areas of interest include enhancing participation of all children in the natural environment, vestibular habilitation, listening therapies, and combining behavioral science with a sensory integrative approach. Maria is a member of the Avanti network and is currently working towards becoming a mentor for Vital Links.

The event will take place in the fields behind Atria Nursing Home at 1111 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510. Please make sure to bring a bike if you have one helmet. We may be able to have a few extras to be used on a first come first serve basis. Refreshments will be served.

Please rsvp to daraberger@nyc.rr.com by June 1st.
For more information, please visit our website www.naanyc.org