News and Notes from The Johnson Center
Autism Is A Spectrum
JCCHD | Mon, February 18, 2013 | [Autism Treatment][Assessment Corner]Fully understanding autism can be difficult, especially in the beginning. Many of us have preconceptions of what autism “looks like.” These are often influenced by people we know, or representations in the media. Some of us imagine autism in its most severe form, while others think of it as simply “quirkiness.”
One of the most important things to understand is that autism is not a one-size-fits-all. No one …
Q and A: Why doesn’t The Johnson Center directly bill insurance?
JCCHD | Thu, October 04, 2012 | [Autism Treatment][Healthcare][Q and A ]The variability of insurance benefits, the restrictions, and the staffing required to process insurance claims makes contracting with insurance companies cost-prohibitive. Our goal is to provide families with quality services at the most reasonable rate possible, without the restrictions that are often attached to in-network billing.
Our staff can assist you in getting the reimbursement for services that your insurance company allows; we provide you with …
Read moreQ & A: I read online that kids with autism need B vitamins, fish oil, and calcium. Can I start with those basic supplements and see where we get before seeing a doctor or nutritionist?
JCCHD | Mon, October 01, 2012 | [Autism Treatment][Healthcare][Q and A ]We know nutrient imbalances, whether levels are deficient or excessive, can cause health problems. Although nutritional supplements can promote good health in those with developmental delays, it is always best to work with a practitioner who is knowledgeable about proper dosing and drug interactions. Just because supplements are over-the-counter and considered by many to be “all natural” does not mean they can be taken safely, particularly in this sensitive population, without proper supervision. Just like prescription medications, supplements can have powerful side effects, but when used appropriately they may be able to improve certain health conditions.
Children affected by autism often have special dietary and nutritional needs that require an …
Read moreQ & A: No ABA providers work near us. What should we do?
JCCHD | Thu, September 27, 2012 | [Applied Behavior Analysis][Autism Treatment][Q and A ]The first step is to check with the providers who are in your larger region, to see if they can provide a long-distance program. These are often called workshop services. Workshop services at The Johnson Center involve a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) helping family members hire and train their own local therapists so that they can provide in-home ABA with ongoing support from the BCBA (i.e., visits, email, video review of sessions, or video conferencing). Ideal candidates are college students studying autism, ABA, or a related field (Special Education, Speech-Language Pathology, Psychology, etc) who can work part-time in your home or child’s school. An option for a mid-level consultant …
Read moreFamily and Food: Melons
Kelly Barnhill | Mon, September 24, 2012 | [Family and Food]We continue to harvest my summer garden’s bumper crop of melons here in central Texas. We planted these in three waves this year – our first seeds went in the ground in March with the help of our young friend, Sophie, and we planted again in May and early July. This was the first year we planted seven different varieties – and I held my breath and was eager to see the results. Having purchased grocery store and local melons of different types for years, I was truly unaware of the depth and breadth of flavor to be found in this fruit.
Melons are members of the same family as other gourds—some scientists refer to
Family and Food: Amaranth - the “Pseudo Cereal”
JCCHD | Thu, September 06, 2012 | [Family and Food]The name amaranth comes from the Greek word amarantos, meaning “never fading” or “one that does not wither.” This is evident in the bright purple, red, or gold flowers of amaranth, which remain vibrant even after harvesting and drying. Amaranth originated in North and South America, but is known to have been grown in areas such as China, Nepal, Eastern Africa, India, and Mexico. Today, a few thousand acres are grown in the United States for …
Read moreQ & A: Intervention for my child is taking over our life. How do we get back to “normal”?
JCCHD | Fri, August 31, 2012 | [Autism Treatment][Q and A ]The first step to getting your “normal” life back is to realize that your current situation IS normal. Yes, your child’s life may be different than some of his or her peer’s, but that isn’t necessarily abnormal. Many parents are worried that the amount of therapy and intervention hinders children from living an ordinary life. In reality, the guilt of negatively affecting your child’s life can be more anxiety-provoking than the intervention itself. The important thing to remember about intervention is that a lot of it is play-based—or designed to give the child skills needed to be able to play—because developmentally, children use play to grow and learn. Intervention that incorporates play can be helpful in integrating this important step into your child’s life. Interventions that are not …
Read moreQ & A: Why is early intervention important?
JCCHD | Thu, August 30, 2012 | [Applied Behavior Analysis][Autism Treatment][Assessment Corner][Q and A ]One of the first things parents of children with developmental delays may hear about is early intervention. Often services for younger children will initially be provided by the local ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) agency. When researching interventions, parents often come across research on Applied Behavioral Analysis - ABA. This research says children with an ASD diagnosis need intensive, early behavioral intervention in order to have a chance to return to a normal developmental trajectory.
While the principles of brain plasticity, development, and healing a child before more issues are present make sense to most, this “magic” window of early …
Family and Food: Beans
JCCHD | Thu, August 23, 2012 | [Family and Food]Beans come in many varieties and shapes - over 4,000, in fact. Over many generations, different varieties have evolved and continue to evolve.
Beans are not only good sources of fiber, protein, and beneficial carbohydrates, they also contain significant amounts of folic acid and thiamin. Adding beans to a meal can help lower the glycemic index of the meal, resulting in a more gradual rise and fall in blood sugar (gradual is healthier). Participants of a study in Australia reported that supplementing their diet with chickpeas or garbanzo beans helped them feel full, and also improved bowel function (issues with digestibility and preparation reportedly discouraged regular intake of …
Read moreYou Are Invited To Our Back-to-School Bash
JCCHD | Tue, August 21, 2012 | [Community][Events]Open any newspaper and you will see back-to-school-sale flyers filled with happy scenes of kids getting ready for the new year. Ice cream socials, pool parties, and last-minute shopping trips for supplies are on the agenda for many families, but for families with children with autism or other developmental disorders, the big day can be intimidating. The new school year brings a new schedule, new IEP goals, and new teachers, and the change is sometimes overwhelming.
A few years ago a parent told us that this time of year always inspired …
Page 16 of 23 pages ‹ First < 14 15 16 17 18 > Last ›
