Chicago Special Parent Magazine 2008

Finding a way out of the darkness black and white photograph of a beautiful blond-haired 3-year-old boy with smiling eyes squatting in the grass hangs in Johanna Vernick’s family room. A year later that little boy would be lost in the world of autism—and his family would spend the next several years fighting to bring him back. As Clark retreated farther into a dark place away from his family and cried out in pain several hours a day, Vernick and her husband Mitch went from doctor to doctor looking Charlie’s Gift Autism for answers. Center in Hinsdale “All the (630) 323-7500 ext. 230 doctors wanted www.charliesgift to do was give autismcenter.org him pharmaceuticals and to a point where he was either a zombie or drooling,” she says. Then they found Thoughtful House, a group of doctors in Austin, Texas. Testing revealed that Clark would benefit from a gluten-free and casein-free diet and from chelation therapy, partly because of severe constipation and dozens of ulcers in his intestines. Although these alternative therapies might be considered controversial, she is comfortable with her choice. “We’re not masking the problem,” she says. “We are looking at why is this child not sleeping? Why is this child not eating?” “It’s not scary,” she says of trying non-traditional methods. “What I find scary is the list of side effects the A LEARN MORE Frank Pinc/Chicago Parent pharmaceuticals have.” In fact, Vernick wishes she tried nontraditional methods sooner. Clark might not be 100 percent but he is 100 times better than he was years ago. Today Clark is a freshman at Elim Christian School. He loves Star Wars, history and reading the Bible. He also is a young man who recognizes he once lived in a world that he no longer wants to visit. The Vernicks are reaching out to Clark Vernick other parents of autistic children. With the help of many others, they have been the force behind Charlie’s Gift Autism Center, housed at The Community House in Hinsdale. “Charlie is every child. The gift is the gift of therapeutic intervention,” Johanna says. Polly Stanoch Rix THERAPIES from page 27 helps children with eating difficulties due to sensory impediments. He also suggests asking a family member or friend who sees the child infrequently to make an assessment, too. McGuffin suggests parents set a time limit at the onset of a new therapy. “Always ask about a timeline and what are some of the ways they will continue on with therapy,” she advises. Above all, recognize there are no simple answers. “We as a society want treatment to be easy and answers to be black and white,” Lewis says. “But there are no black and white answers in medicine.” Is it working? Before beginning a therapy, measure where your child is physically, emotionally, socially and academically. Then set benchmark dates to make follow up assessments, Lewis says. Polly Stanoch Rix is a journalist and editor who lives in Downers Grove with her husband. She has two children. ChicagoParent.com | Specıal Parent 2008 CHICAGO | 29 http://www.charliesgiftautismcenter.org http://ChicagoParent.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Chicago Special Parent Magazine 2008

Chicago Special Parent Magazine 2008 Contents In Our Shoes Of Mothers and Mission Control A Love Story Keeping the Whole Family Well What Do I Do? Resources God's Special Child Our Kids Inspirations

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