Curing autism?

So my cousin and I are getting ready to start a modified version of the gaps diet... Because of other problems i am not capable of all the specifics but we are fully ready to tackle what we can.

BUT there is something that is severely pissing me off. I am autistic and every story I read has to do with "curing" someones autism. 1. you cannot "cure" autism... its a genetic thing. 2. it may be annoying at times but it is the characteristics that make that person who they are

Its number 2 that is really bothering me. Yeah, the characteristics can be very annoying and super frustrating at times. But what about the incredible things. The bonds that are made? The sensitivity to special things? Even, the odd memory functions can be helpful. Most autistic people are really smart. I even have an eidetic memory.

SO however much the gut flora can be helped to control neurological symptoms. Stop assuming you are changing the human. It's just not fair.

PS... it is my ability to know where my patients are coming from that will make me better at achieving the behavioral goals....

Print v Web

Writing for print and writing for web is a whole different process. It can be the same content but has to be given in different forms. I think the web is easier to write for because you can put straight links and you can use bullets to put out information. Here are a few ways they differ.

See look! Bullets!

Print:

• There is only so much room to put something so it has to be detailed enough to let the reader know whats up, but short enough to fit in the space provided. 
• Linear order- Read beginning to end. Nowhere else to look but another story.
• Timeliness.... You may have to wait a week to find out who won the game or who shot who if you only read the newspaper. It has to be sent to press before it can be sent to you.
• Nut graphs and leads: You absolutely have to answer the who, what, when, where and why of the story before anything else. 
• In the above you will notice that there is no comma after where. That is because this is being put on the web, not printed, therefore I need no comma. See, another difference. The grammar rules.

Web:

• Write short and too the point. Nobody has got time like they do when they sit down and read the paper
• There is an immediacy too it. It happens and it's online within minutes. 
• Like I already said.... You can put straight links and make it interactive.
• Videos! Sound! There is nothing like hearing and/or seeing the person being quoted saying it themselves.
• And of course my favorite! Bulleted lists! You don't have to write things out in full sentences!

I hope my bullets made you as happy as they made me and that the information was helpful! Those are the 5 differences of web and 5 of print. 

 

Curiosities for the Campus Cafe

Welcome to the world of microwaves and ignorance

The hardest thing about moving away from home is a toss-up between doing your own laundry and not eating home-cooked food anymore. For some, one is harder than the other. Personally, I have been doing my own laundry since I was 14, but the inability to cook my own food is the problem. I am severely allergic to gluten.

Gluten allergies can range from being a simple sensitivity to full-on *celiac. Most colleges are slowly making their way to gluten-free menu possibilities. However, smaller schools and buffet styles are slower to adapt. I happen to go to a REALLY small school that is buffet style. They simply do not have the available resources or a large enough population to accommodate. I was smart enough to get my stuff together before I went to school, which included plenty of microwavable food and precooked meals were packed and ready to be eaten. After a very extensive meeting with the school cafeteria chef and manager, I knew what I could eat from a list that I was given.

This is a list of major ingredients that the cafeteria staff must be aware of:
Whey, Modified Corn Starch (celiac only), Barley, Wheat, Soy Lechitin (celiac only)

Access this site to see a more extensive list that celiacs must avoid. Even if you do not have celiac, however, you should be aware of these:

http://www.celiac.com/articles/182/1/Unsafe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Unsafe-Ingredients/Page1.html

These are the major foods to look out for:
Sauces, marinades, fries, burgers, pizza, pancakes, cheeses, baked goods, dressings, ice cream and anything else you would usually check for the no-no ingredients.

And in addition, these are just a few questions to ask and things to tell:
May I see an available menu?
May I read the ingredients in my favorite options?
Do you have an available gluten-free website to order from? (ask for bread and hamburger buns)
I do have to get nutrition, and microwavable food tends to not be as healthy as has severely limited choices (especially on a budget).
What kind of oil do you cook with?
Do you put pancake mix in your eggs?

Being allergic to gluten is very complicated. It is an extremely difficult allergy to have, and there are not many food options available. Doing things like eating a salad or asking them to change their gloves before handling a bun-less burger is something you get used to. My college's cafeteria staff is beginning to learn who I am and what to do whenever I come in. They are adjusting to what to make and how to make it. The chef even gave me his office extension so I can call him and ask him to make something un-marinaded if I wanted.

So the questions is: How likely is your cafeteria to not only understand but to accommodate??

*Celiac- A genetic problem that occurs in the lining of the intestines. The basic breakdown of wheat is done by a protein enzyme in that lining. Celiacs have a protein enzyme insufficiency in that area.