World Community Autism Program

[Guest guest]

World Community Autism Program

True Potentials Tour

Malaysia and the Far East 2003

Helping children with learning disabilities reach their True Potential

Max and Desorgher, directors of World Community Autism Program, will be

based in Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia for an extended tour of Far Eastern countries in April and May

2003.

Since October of 2002, the Malaysian Autism Support group 'Parent's Resource

for Autism' has

been the focus of our progress in implementing a fully comprehensive recovery

program for children

with autism. The True Potentials team will be returning to Malaysia in April to

continue the

implementation of this exciting project. We will also be in Kota Kinabalu,

Sabah, Sarawak and Ipoh

during our tour. Public meetings and media engagements are planned, and some

openings are still

available for parents who wish to join the recovery program.

The way to recovery

To aim for recovery in autism, we first have to identify the cause. We have

found that the most

common cause of autism is an immune system choice during development which leads

to the targeting

of a dietary pigment - lutein - by the immune system (we have described how and

why this happens,

and the evidence for it, in our literature). This immune choice also leads to a

cascade of

reactions which differ according to various factors, (immuno-)genetic,

environmental, family

history, diet, and the inherent strength of the individual. Treating the

individual means assessing

all of these factors, designing an individual diet with supplementation if

needed, and recommending

additional interventions and supports based on how the individual is responding.

One of the most significant findings in autism is an immature development of the

limbic system -

the emotional-language-learning system of the human and mammalian brain -

leading to delay or

arrest in language and emotional development. We believe that the continual

immune response to

dietary lutein is registered by the amygdala - the central clearing house of the

limbic system - as

a panic (fight-or-flight) reaction. Learning cannot proceed as long as the

emotional center is in a

state of panic - the mammalian experience of immediate threat to survival.

After approximately 12 days lutein-free, the immune system begins to calm down

and we often see the

first signs of improvement. It usually takes up to 16 weeks to see the first

signs of an awakening

of the limbic system, emotional expression and the availability for learning.

This time frame is

fairly consistent.

Once awakening begins, we re-assess where the individual is developmentally, and

look at many

therapeutic, educational, behavioral and sensory strategies which can bring

about progress in these

areas. Many of these strategies can be carried out cheaply by the parents in

their own home. We can

train parents in 'Professional Parenting' techniques based on the work of Dr.

Bob ,

Appalachian State University, USA. We can make recommendations to schools for

classroom

modifications, or we can help the parents develop a unique home-schooling

environment specific for

their child (See the article 'Sam, a boy with Asperger Syndrome' in our

literature for a full

account of one boy's success with such a program). We also assess and continue

to monitor the

health status, through lab testing where applicable, to identify common problems

such as gut

dysbiosis, heavy metal toxicity or metabolic differences that might call for

additional nutritional

supports or medical (allopathic, naturopathic or homeopathic) treatments.

Clinical Trials

The lutein-free approach is currently being clinically tested by a leading

research hospital in

Kuala Lumpur. At the same time, WCAP and PR4A are monitoring the progress of 70

autists as they

progress with the lutein-free diet. See: 'Two-month progress reports' on our

website. As we return

to Malaysia this time, most of the participants will have passed the 4-month

calming period, and

should be ready to move forward with individualized strategies for progress.

A model of success

We would like the programs we are developing in Malaysia to be seen as a model

of success in autism

recovery programs, which can be implemented anywhere in the world. The Malaysian

team are

professional and include doctors, educators and founders of autism organizations

dedicated to

carrying through the program to success. The climate, modern infrastructure,

enthusiasm and

dedication of the autism professionals and parents, and an availability of

quality foods unequaled

anywhere in the world makes Malaysia a perfect location for our work.

We believe that an autism recovery program can be implemented anywhere in the

world. Our program

does not involve expensive products or supplements, or require the recruitment

of professional

therapists. Most of the people using this approach are parents applying the

program in their own

home. We have worked with individual families, parent support groups, schools

and residential

facilities in countries around the world for the past 8 years, including India,

Europe, Africa,

North America and the Middle East. The program can be home-based or centered

around a school or

residential facility. More information is available on our website and in our

first book The Power

of Exile: Autism - A Journey to Recovery. A new book 'Autism Stories' is

planned for later this

year.

and Max Desorgher, directors of World Community Autism Program can always

be reached by

email at: desorgher@...