Turnabout for Autism Provides Practical Tools for Parents and Caregivers
Anat Baniel Presents the Nine Essentials of This NeuroMovement® Approach
Turnabout for Autism was the first interactive, multimedia workshop designed for families of people with autism. This one-day event in Pleasanton, California, featured expert speakers, hi-tech collaborative tools for engagement and participation, and actionable “idea lists” for families.
Dr. Martha Herbert opened the event with an inspiring presentation, both in the content and the feeling of possibility and hope that she communicated.
Martha presented her multi-level, complex system, total load approach to autism. This approach is in clear contrast to trying to find the ONE cause for this condition, such as one gene, or one environmental factor. She also spoke about what is called signal-to-noise ratio, which is what I talk about as the ability of the brain to perceive differences. And the perception of differences is the source of information for the brain which allows it to make sense of the world and organize movement, thought, feeling, and action. Martha looks at the metabolic processes that underlie the brain’s ability to notice and perceive difference and where they may have gone off.
Understanding autism in this manner provides the opportunity for change, growth, and recovery. Learn more about autism and the ability to perceive differences.
The presenters at Turnabout for Autism—Dr. Suruchi Chandra, Andrea Starkey, Lenae Crandall, and the others—were wonderful. We learned about creating a healthy home, ways to homeschool your child, the Soma® RPM (Rapid Prompting Method) for communication, EMFs, edible gardens, and more. The event organizers, Pramila Srinivasan and Elizabeth Horn, did an awesome job.
As for my presentation, the goal of Turnabout for Autism was to give parents and caregivers practical tools to bring home to use with their child on the spectrum. For that end, I first introduced my understanding that autism can be understood as a NeuroMovement® disorder, not just a cognitive and behavioral disorder. The child’s brain on the spectrum is challenged in its ability to perceive difference and hence, usually from very early on, one can observe issues with motor and perceptual development that evolve into the more recognized challenges.
I then introduced a few of Nine Essentials of Anat Baniel Method® NeuroMovement® as a powerful way to help the brain improve its ability to perceive differences and to learn and heal. (Learn more about Anat Baniel Method NeuroMovement and the Nine Essentials.)
I was so happy to get the following message from Pramila after the event:
“Your passion and energy made a lasting impression on the speakers. Many parents came and told me after the event, ‘I had decided to give up on my child, but today I again feel renewed to work with my child.’”
The fun part is that they created an app for all the presenters and participants. They are so high-tech! 🙂 You can go to www.turnaboutforautism.com to check out their mobile app to collaborate. The app is available through the Apple Store or Google Play.
Thank you to all the organizers, presenters, and participants for creating this powerful and successful event!
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