Autism Parenting Secrets

Welcome to Episode 162 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This episode focuses on the epidemic of allergies in children.  

Our guest this week is Heather Fraser, an advocate for holistic health & health choice and author of The Peanut Allergy Epidemic. 

This discussion explores the many factors that gave rise to the sudden and increasing prevalence of allergies in children.

Our journey to support our son involved both moderate/severe autism and life-threatening allergies, especially to peanuts.

In many ways, the peanut allergy was the greater challenge.

And we know it wasn’t bad luck that our son has a peanut allergy and many others.

The secret this week is … 

Peanut Allergies AREN’T Random

You'll Discover:

• Red Flags To Watch Out For (3:22)
• The Shocking Prevalency Of Childhood Allergies Today (5:15)
• What You’ll See In Schools That You Never Used To See (9:37)
• Why The Hygiene Hypothesis Doesn’t Explain The Allergy Epidemic (14:31)
• How The Words Allergy and Anaphylaxis Came Into Existence (19:05)
• A History Of The Many Things That Changed With Immunizations (21:39)
• The “Bystander Effect” (26:28)
• The Long-Term Impact of Antibiotics (28:38)
• Why We Need To Say NO To Normalization (35:49)
• Why GRAS IS So Concerning (42:27)
• Anxiety Never Helps (49:53)
• Why You Need To Keep Your Eyes Wide Open (54:54)

About Our Guest:

Heather Fraser is a health choice advocate and author of The Peanut Allergy Epidemic. Its third edition features a foreword by another allergy parent, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. 

From Heather…

Some experiences can change the course of your life completely. In 1995, this happened to me when my one-year-old child reacted violently to a taste of peanut butter.

We sought treatments such as were available at the time and urgently adapted to a state of hypervigilance. I studied nutrition and energy-based modalities looking for ways to recover. At the same time, I scoured the medical literature. I wanted to know what had happened, how and why my child and, by the late 90s, scores of other children had suddenly become atopic and anaphylactic to common foods.

Today, I am an advocate for holistic health and health choice. My studies have included BodyTalk, Quantum Touch, iridology, bioenergetics, and nutrition through IHN (Toronto).  I have a special interest in consciousness-based practice. In this context, I make two muscle testing tools that are available through Ergopathics.

In 2017, the third edition of my book The Peanut Allergy Epidemic was published with a foreword by another allergy parent and friend, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and a preface by my child, Cat Fraser-Boychuk. This book is a deep dive into the complex and deeply challenging world of health politics. 

​In addition to studies in health, I hold an MA in Art History from Queen's University and two undergrad degrees in Art History and Education from Western University. 

Heatherfraser.ca

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 161 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This episode focuses on the importance of the self-care of the parent.  

It’s not fully appreciated and usually falls to the bottom of the priority list for parents who want to do everything they can for their child.

NOT ok.

There are many reasons for this, and this episode makes the case for why putting yourself last hurts everyone around you, especially your child.

Our guest this week is Stephanie Locricchio, advocacy and outreach manager for Children’s Health Defense.

Stephanie makes a compelling case for why your self-care matters so much more than you think.

The secret this week is … 

Self Care’s NOT Selfish

You'll Discover:

• There’s Power In Saying NO (3:04)
• What You Need To Let Go Of (8:02)
• One Of The Biggest Tools Of Self Care (11:41)
• The Opposite Of Self-Care (13:33)
• Why Boundaries Are Essential (17:50)
• What To Do When You Get Stressed Out (20:47)
• The First Thing To Do Each Morning (27:37)
• The Big Shift To Make Now (29:01)
• One Belief To Drop And Another To Embrace (34:08)

About Our Guest:

Stephanie Locricchio is the advocacy and outreach manager for Children’s Health Defense. As a certified holistic health coach and yoga instructor, she recognizes the importance of self-care to remain vital and strong in the movement. She’s the founder of the Wellness Warriors Revolution, a movement of warriors on a mission to raise healthy, happy families the natural way.

In 2012, Stephanie pursued her passion for holistic living, enrolling in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. After graduating, Stephanie created the Wellness Warriors Revolution and has assisted thousands in reaching their health goals. Her signature programs address the four pillars of wellness: mindfulness, self-care, nourishing foods, and yoga. Her mission is to empower others to step into the healthiest, happiest, most powerful versions of themselves and to raise awareness on issues that impact our well-being and health freedoms.

Stephanie is a fierce advocate and influencer in the health freedom movement. She was a key leader in New Jersey during the Battle of Trenton and continues to fight for health freedom. She lends her voice and social media platforms to educate, inspire and empower people to advocate for their families and take meaningful action to preserve freedom.

Stephanie hosts The People’s Testament on CHD.TV and provides a safe space for those who have been injured and censored to share their stories. She’s also one of the rotating hosts for Good Morning CHD — to provide the latest news to our followers and supporters.

In her role as advocacy and outreach manager, Stephanie works to amplify the voices of those fighting for issues impacting the health and freedom of our children. She provides support, encouragement, and connection so our advocates know that they are part of a global freedom family and are never alone.

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/conference-bios/stephanie-locricchio/

References in The Episode:

• Children’s Health Defense  https://childrenshealthdefense.org
• The People’s Testaments  https://live.childrenshealthdefense.org/chd-tv/shows/the-peoples-testaments/
• {daily affirmation book to be included}

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 160 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This week we explore why chiropractic care can make a huge difference for your child.  

Our guest is Dr. Nancy Tarlow, a neurologically-based Chiropractor who has been practicing since 1993. 

The benefits of chiropractic care to address physical pain and discomfort are well known.

But the impact on the brain is not widely understood or appreciated.

This discussion dives into the neurological and emotional benefits that occur from the right adjustments and corrections.

And for your child on the spectrum, there’s one big reason why chiropractic care from the right professional can be game-changing.

The secret this week is … 

CHIROPRACTIC CALMS The Nervous System

You'll Discover:

• It’s About So Much More Than Back-Pain (8:05)
• How Chiropractic Care Can Help Your Child (10:26)
• The Sympathetic and The Parasympathetic Nervous System  (12:39)
• One Way To Determine If Your Child Is In Flight or Fight (17:01)
• How To Do Deep Belly Breathing (20:53)
• Some Specific Techniques That Calm (25:45)
• Why It’s All About Energy Flow (30:27)
• A Powerful Two-Pronged Approach (36:59)
• How To Find The Right Chiropractor (39:16)

About Our Guest:

Dr. Nancy Tarlow is a neurologically-based Chiropractor and has been in practice since 1993. She decided to become a Chiropractor after a life-changing experience of chronic health problems (environmental allergies, chronic sinus & bronchial infections, regular illness) to become allergy-free and healthy in just a few short months!

Her focus has been primarily on family care with a special interest in working with children taking primarily post-graduation classes in pregnancy and children's care since '97. In 2000, she did the Chiropractic Nutrition post-graduate program, whose focus was on inflammation and how it affects health with learning how inflammatory foods break down in the body vs non-inflammatory foods. Incorporating this work has been essential to the health of her patients in healing the gut and the brain, along with the work of the Weston A Price Foundation.

In 2008, she made a startling discovery that when she used a Chiropractic technique that stimulated The Relaxation Response, an adult woman's chronic severe constipation of only moving her bowels every 10 days improved to daily. That prompted a focus on using these types of techniques with all of her patients that were in a chronic "fight or flight" state that was impeding their healing. She started teaching her patients about how to stimulate the Relaxation Response on their own and the importance of how stress affects every aspect of health. 

Nancy will be offering webinars on this type of information online for anyone that is interested in decreasing inflammation and stress in their body for the healing of the gut and brain. 

www.mBodyHealth.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/truthlovingdr

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drnancyt/

Facebook: Tarlow Chiropractic https://www.facebook.com/DrNancyTarlowDC

References in The Episode:

• Weston A Price

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 159 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This week, we focus on minerals, one of those essential building blocks of health.  

Our guest is Jeff Thurston from Master Supplements and U.S. Enzymes.

Perhaps the biggest mistake a parent can make is to think that the food their child is eating doesn’t matter.  That it won’t make a difference.

The right nourishing food matters a lot.

It profoundly impacts our physical health and wellness, our resilience, how we think and how we behave, and the emotions we feel.

All likely things that you are wanting to improve for yourself and your child.

Food is not about calories - it’s about nourishment.

Giving the body what it needs to thrive - nutrients, proteins, fats, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

The right foods are the answer but it’s getting harder and harder to get everything your body needs from foods.  

The secret this week is … 

Don’t Tolerate MINERAL Deficiencies

You'll Discover:

• Why Soil Just Isn’t What It Used To Be (5:28)
• Why Buying Local Is So Much Better Than Supermarkets (11:15)
• The Things That Matters Even More Than What You Eat (12:48)
• A Simple Way To Chart Progress (20:44)
• The Food That Is More Expensive Than Organic (24:31)
• Testing Option for Minerals (31:24)
• Why You Need To Be Extra Careful Choosing Supplement Brands (35:41)
• The Magic of Broccoli Sprouts and Sulforaphane (41:26)

About Our Guest:

Jeff Thurston believes that our microbial world must be understood. Our internal microbiome and the earth we walk on. A 1964 graduate of Bemidji University, Jeff began his career as a Jr Virologist at National Drug Company working with pathogenic organisms. He was then promoted to flu vaccine manufacturing. The light went off and Jeff exited that side of the business. A sales career led him into organic agriculture and back to the bacteria in the ground. It was in this field he met his partner Randy Porubcan and the beginnings of Master Supplements, Inc. in 2002. To that end, Master Supplements and U.S. Enzymes manufacture the highest-quality supplements for intestinal health. Jeff specializes in the patented delivery and stimulation of the best, compatible probiotics along with digestive/systemic enzymes and prebiotics to create an environment conducive to their survival.

Master Supplements https://master-supplements.com/

U.S. Enzymes https://usenzymes.com/

References in The Episode:

• EarthBOX
• Sulforaxym
• Minerals for the Genetic Code by Charles Walters
• Nutrient Levels In U.S. Food Supply

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 158 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This episode focuses on getting the most from the TEAM of people around you. 

Our guest this week is Jan Stewart, she’s the mother of two children and a highly regarded mental health and neurodiversity advocate.

She’s the author of Hold on Tight:  A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness.

She shares our mission to inspire and empower parents.

All parents leverage the expertise and skills of others to help their child thrive.  

We’re talking about doctors, practitioners, therapists, educators, family & friends.

There’s no shortage of help if you’re willing to ask.

But it’s up to you, the parent, to assemble and manage that team.

You’re In Charge.  

Make sure the team dynamics work FOR your child.

The secret this week is … 

Go For INTEGRATED Partnership

You'll Discover:

• The Most Important Thing To Demand Of Your Team (8:15)
• The Approach That Works The Best (10:30)
• Why Your Team Must Be On The Same Page, Especially At School (15:55)
• What To Consider As Your Child Pursues Employment (18:55)
• How To Move With Your Partner/Spouse (30:14)
• What To Do With Unsupportive Family & Friends (35:44)
• A Powerful Approach to Take (38:51)

About Our Guest:

Jan Stewart is a highly regarded mental health and neurodiversity advocate, author, and recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award®.  Her best-selling memoir Hold on Tight:  A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness describes her emotional roller coaster story parenting two children with multiple mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.  Her mission is to inspire and empower parents to persevere, have hope, and know they are not alone, as well as to better educate their families, friends, healthcare professionals, educators, and employers.  Jan chairs the Board of Directors at Kerry’s Place Autism Services, Canada’s largest autism services provider, is a Today’s Parent columnist on autism, and was previously Vice Chair at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.  She spent most of her career as a senior Partner with the global executive search firm Egon Zehnder.  Jan is a Diamond Life Master in bridge and enjoys fitness, genealogy, and dance.

https://janstewartauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/janstewartauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/janstewartauthor/

References in The Episode:

• Hold on Tight:  A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness by Jan Stewart

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

The importance of your HABITS is the focus this week.  

What do you do automatically, without fail each and every day?  

Upgrading your daily habits yields big results over time.  

And you’ll see the impact faster than you think.

The secret this week is…

HABITS Matter More


You'll Discover:

• The Best Predictor Of The Future (3:02)
• Two Strategies That When Combined Accelerate Momentum (5:41)
• The 2-Minute Rule (8:45)
• What WON’T Help You Get Better Everyday (14:11)

References In This Episode:

• The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Amotic Habits by James Clear

Additional Resources:

• Apply for The All-In Parent Intensive
• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts to get automatic episode updates for our "Autism Parenting Secrets!"

And, finally, please take a minute to leave us an honest review and rating on Apple Podcasts. 

They really help us out when it comes to the ranking of the show and we read every single one of the reviews we get. 

Thanks for listening!

In this short episode, we share the benefits of slowing down.  

There is power in the PAUSE.  

Tune in to better understand why creating more space can help you get to where you want to go faster.  

Both you and your child will benefit when you slow down to speed up.

The secret this week is…

Hit The PAUSE Button

You'll Discover:

• Why You Want To Create “Space” Throughout The Day (3:50)
• What To Do Once A Day To Prevent Burn Out (7:34)
• The Key Questions To Ask Yourself Each Week (9:24)

References In This Episode:

• Mel Robbins’ High Five

Additional Resources:

• Apply for The All-In Parent Intensive
• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts to get automatic episode updates for our "Autism Parenting Secrets!"

And, finally, please take a minute to leave us an honest review and rating on Apple Podcasts. 

They really help us out when it comes to the ranking of the show and we read every single one of the reviews we get. 

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to Episode 155 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This episode explores the many ways having a service dog can help your child.  

Our guest is Taylor Dyer from 4 Paws for Ability, an organization that enriches the lives of people with disabilities by placing life-changing service dogs.  

Welcoming a service dog to your family can have a profound impact by creating a safer, calmer, and more joyful experience for your child. 

But it’s an investment and not a quick fix.

Tune in to better understand this opportunity.  

It could be one of the most impactful moves you can make.

The secret this week is … 

Service Dogs Can Be LIFE-SAVING

You'll Discover:

• The Three Most Common Tasks A Service Dog Perfoms (4:59)
• How Service Dogs Help With Behaviors (5:16)
• What is Tethering (7:20)
• A Powerful, Potentially Life-Saving Task (10:10)
• How To Get Set Up For Success With A Service Dog (20:15)
• The Process of Getting A Service Dog (24:48)
• The Difference Between Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals (32:56)
• How Service Dogs Help With Seizures (38:09)

About Our Guest:

Taylor Dyer is the Client Service Coordinator at 4 Paws for Ability, an organization that enriches the lives of people with disabilities by placing life-changing service dogs.  They breed, raise, and train our service dogs in preparation to assist their partner with specific tasks and skills that mitigate the impacts of their partner’s disabilities.

References in The Episode:

• 4 Paws For Ability  https://www.4pawsforability.org/

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 154 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This episode goes deep on a powerful and counterintuitive concept: The Practice of JOINING.

Our guest this week is Camila Titone, Senior Mentor & Trainer at the Option Institute where she teaches The Son-Rise Program® to parents, caregivers, and professionals.

Your child on the autism spectrum is likely exhibiting behaviors that you are NOT wanting.

Like many parents, our initial objective was to make all of our son’s ‘problem’ behaviors stop.

And while that makes sense for unsafe behaviors, many of the things our kids do may seem strange but actually serve a valuable purpose for them.

Listen to this episode to get a new perspective that could lead to the breakthrough you’re looking for.

The secret this week is … 

Move WITH Your Child’s Behaviors, Not Against

You'll Discover:

• What Exactly Is “Joining”? (3:39)
• The Doorway Into Your Child’s World (7:57)
• The Basis Of All Relationships (17:46)
• A Key Question To Ask Yourself (22:41)
• The Best Time To Teach Your Child Anything (29:52)
• Why and How To Show Up Bigger With The Three “E”s (37:19)

About Our Guest:

For more than 19 years, Camila Titone has provided personalized guidance, practical educational insight, and emotional support using The Son-Rise Program® to empower parents and professionals to make the biggest impact in their children’s learning process and to see themselves as their child’s best resource and advocate. Originally from Brazil, Camila Titone came to The Autism Treatment Center of America® in 2004. She has spent thousands of hours working one-on-one with over 800 children and adults on the autism spectrum aged 2 to 32 from every inhabited continent. She has taught The Son-Rise Program® to parents, caregivers, and professionals in individual and large group settings. A respected lecturer, Camila has addressed audiences in person and online from all corners of the globe, tackling issues such as verbal communication, attention span, social skills, aggressive and intense behavior, toilet-training, sleep difficulties, and anxiety struggles.

References in The Episode:

• The Son-Rise Program Start-Up
• The Son-Rise Program Family Training Course
• Option Institute International Learning & Training Center Option.org
• The Autism Treatment Center of America autismtreatmentcenter.org

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 153 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This week we discuss the importance of the stories we tell ourselves.  Our BELIEFS.

Bringing more awareness into this area will pay huge dividends for you and your child.  And few organizations are equipped to help parents like you do this important work.

One of the most impactful organizations on our journey was the Option Institute International Learning and Training Center.  

Our guest this week is Suzanne Pruss.  She is a Senior Mentor & Trainer at the Option Institute and we focus on this perhaps the biggest secret we learned along our journey.  The insight that most influenced how we felt navigating our journey with our kids.

The secret this week is … 

Your BELIEFS Influence EVERYTHING

You'll Discover:

• The Big Weight That Fuels Unhappiness (6:19)
• What Happens Immediately When You Change a Belief (16:39)
• What is Happiness IQ? (18:12)
• What To Do If You Feel Like Your Family Has Abandoned You (24:15)
• The Option Institute And The Origins Of The Son-Rise Program (34:36)
• Why You Are The Creator Of Your Experience (41:22)
• A Simple Tool To Unearth A Belief (44:27)

About Our Guest:

Suzanne Pruss is a Senior Mentor & Trainer at the Option Institute® International Learning & Training Center.  She has been practicing the Option Process since 1995.

She first arrived at The Autism Treatment Center of America in 1992 and fell in love with the teachings and techniques of the Son-Rise Program: a home-based program for parents with children on the autism spectrum. 

She was enamored with how respectful, loving, fun, and creative she could be connecting with a person on the spectrum of any age. She had intended to stay and volunteer for two months but, instead, found her calling and has been affiliated with the Option Institute ever since. 

Her biggest joy is having worked one-on-one with over 1,200 children on the autistic spectrum and their families world-wide. 

She feels blessed to be able to assist parents and their team members to learn this beautiful way to connect, inspire and support children on the spectrum to grow to their fullest potential. 

She most especially loves teaching parents how to be comfortable, have fun, and be awesomely capable as they support their child’s growth.

Suzanne grew up in Australia and attended a one-room primary school, ‘Little House on the Prairie’-style. She loves nature, animals, painting, anyone with autism, and comedy. She has traveled the world extensively, was born in Vietnam, and has ‘family’ world-wide.

References in The Episode:

• Option Institute International Learning & Training Center Option.org
• The Autism Treatment Center of America autismtreatmentcenter.org

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.