Tommy wasn't like our two other children. He spent most of his time in his own world. He had an unusually long attention span for piling his toys between his legs then mixing them up or  lining his toys up over and over again. He spent hours in front of the television flapping his hands with excitement. Eye contact was rare. At best, it was a fleeting glance. His sleep patterns were erratic. The most disturbing thing for me was, he wasn't talking.

My parents questioned whether he was deaf, but he would always come running when a Barney movie was turned on. To finally know that he was "autistic" was both a shock and a relief.

My research began the same evening as the pediatrician's appointment. Before this visit, my husband and I had been asking questions for a year but were constantly reassured that children developed at their own pace.

"Do you have a feel for what this is?" I asked the pediatrician. He had been observing Tommy for the last 50 minutes and asking numerous questions.

He nodded. "Autism Spectrum Disorder. More specifically, Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified."

I wrote it in my day timer. "So what can we do?"

His answer included a few websites and a drug called Zoloft, an antidepressant, as a possible prescription. I wrote this down too and we got up and left.

The Internet allowed me to find information that described many of Tommy's symptoms as well as many possible biological interventions. In a desperate attempt to get help for our child, my husband went to the health food store in search of some of the supplements I had been reading about. There, it was reaffirmed that cow's milk was something we should consider removing from his diet. We took Tommy off cow's milk that day. Over the next two weeks, we began to notice subtle changes. Tommy was attempting a few more words and his diarrhea was less frequent. This was the beginning of an incredible journey.

As fate would have it, we came across an expert in the attitudinal/educational program Son-Rise. He had worked with hundreds of autistic children and their families while employed at the Option Institute in Sheffield, Massachusetts. In my first telephone conversation with him, he told me about Dr. William Shaw's book, Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD.

After a few tests, the decision was made to eliminate casein (cow's milk) and gluten (wheat,  rye, oat and barley) from Tommy's diet. We also decided to eliminate artificial sweeteners and colourings, refined white sugar, baker's yeast and all foods containing vinegar. This was to combat a candida yeast overgrowth.

With the aid of a holistic nutritionist and her team, we eventually eliminated Tommy's food allergens and began a supplementation and detoxification regime. We supplemented his diet with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, digestive enzymes and essential fatty acids.

For detoxification, we used a herbal formula consisting of red clover, milk thistle, dandelion, echinacea and cleavers as well as chlorophyll and vitamin C. Rebounding was an encouraged daily event as it helps in the detoxification process.

As Tommy became more tolerant of people, we introduced chiropractic adjustments, cranial sacral therapy and NAET acupuncture. He bathed in Epson salts and we incorporated squeezes and massage whenever possible. We also used various homeopathic remedies. What a regime!

Biological interventions alone were not the miracle answer. The other essential piece of the  puzzle was Tommy's one-on-one, home-based program. His program was made up of the attitudinal/educational program Son-Rise, Intense Behaviour Intervention (IBI), Brain Gym and other learning methods.

Son-Rise is a child-centered, home-based program based on the Option Process described in the book and TV movie Son-Rise written by Barry Neil Kaufman. We converted a room in our basement into Tommy's playroom. The walls were plain and the floor was vinyl. The door to the playroom had a two-way mirror that allowed us to observe Tommy and to provide feedback to volunteers and eventually workers who worked with him. The room featured a mirror on the wall and toys on high shelves. The room eliminates the distractions of the outside world.

Tommy had total control of everything in the playroom, except the door, which was locked. We never physically manipulated him. We didn't judge him or his behaviors. When Tommy chose to escape into his own little world, we joined him wholeheartedly. We followed his lead and used what motivated him to help him learn. Excitement, energy and enthusiasm filled the air with every glance and word. We showed him that with the slightest effort, he could have an impact on his world. What a dignified program for a child who is simply trying to look after himself and do the best he knows how.

The combination of biological interventions and the one-on-one, home-based program has made Tommy a different boy today. After following this strict regime for three years, Tommy no longer garners the label "autistic". His diet is no longer restricted, although we eat healthier as a family. All the repetitive behaviours have dissipated and he sleeps through the night. He is indistinguishable from other kids.

Three years have passed since Tommy entered grade one with no educational assistant and no individual education plan. Today he goes to birthday parties, sleepovers and summer camp. He has a phenomenal memory and wonderful sense of humour. In grade two, he received a certificate for academic achievement for maintaining a grade average of 80 percent or better. In grade three, he received the Citizenship Award. Teachers, principals,  rofessionals, parents, neighbors and family are all in awe of what a different little boy he  has become.

In an effort to inspire other parents and share the message that autism is treatable, I have accepted the position as Executive Director of Autism Canada Foundation. Working alongside a dedicated Board, many themselves parents of autistic children. I am in a position to help. We believe that Autism Spectrum Disorder is a defined neurological condition that dramatically affects not only brain function but also many other systems within the body. By establishing autism as a medical condition and treating it as one, our intent is to encourage more research towards a cure. We aim to expand the understanding of autism beyond current thinking so that new innovative ways of treating Autism Spectrum Disorder can, in time, be developed. This is our vision for the future.

We are all good people doing the best we can do. There are real children who do recover. I know this firsthand. There are many more who make great progress. There's hope out there.

Laurie Mawlam is the Executive Director of Autism Foundation Canada. Autism Foundation Canada is hosting a conference November 3rd and 4th in London, Ontario. Visit www.autismcanada.org, e-mail info@autismcanada.org or call 519-695-5858 for additional information.

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