1. February 2013
KIDS BE AWARE, INC.
Volume 2, Issue 2
Autism and Infectious Disease
According to likely a combination of genetic,
the Centers for immunological and environmental
Disease Control factors, and may encompass several
(CDC, 2013), 1 in diseases with distinct
88 children has origins” (Goines, Ashwood and
been diagnosed with Autism, a Water, 2006). Goines, Ashwood and
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Water point out that
(PDD). Because the symptoms of children with autism often
autism differ from child to child, it suffer from gastrointestinal immunity
defined as a “spectrum” disorder (abdominal pain, bloating, and Table of Contents
because symptoms vary from child to constipation) and autoimmunity (a CEO’s Corner ............... 2
child and can go from the lowest end condition where antibodies can
Highlights ......................... 2
of the spectrum, to include mental attack the body‟s own tissue). If
impairment and lack of language, to autoimmunity occurs in the brain
the highest end, keen knowledge of during development, it can cause Featured Articles:
certain items of interest but severe significant impairment to the Central
social deficits and some “odd” Nervous System. Autoimmunity thus Healthy Recipes.............. 3
behaviors. Autism is found in The makes children with autism more Body Wellness ................ 4
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of susceptible to infectious diseases. In
........................................... 5
Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition 2001, parents across the world were
(DSM-IV-TR, 2000), under the shocked and frightened when a study
category of Pervasive Developmental appeared in the British Medical
Disorders and includes: Autism, Journal that reported a connection
Rett‟s Disorder, Childhood between Thimersol, a mercury-based
Disintegrative Disorder, Asperser's preservative, and the Measles,
Disorder and Pervasive Mumps and Rubella vaccination
Developmental Disorder Not (MMR). This correlation was made
Otherwise Specified (Including public by lead researcher, Andrew
Atypical Autism) (pp. 69-84). Think of Wakefield, Ph.D., after he and his
PDD as an umbrella and beneath the team conducted a study in Britain
umbrella on the left end is the lowest and found the correlation. Upon
functioning form of autism and on further investigation and additional
the right end is the highest studies, the CDC found no Our Mission and Vision
functioning form, or Asperser's, with correlation between the MMR To increase disease
the other disorders previously vaccine and autism. As a safety awareness among children
mentioned, making up the middle of precaution, Thimersol was removed and parents; To promote
the spectrum. The three primary from the MMR vaccine (CDC, 2011). healthy behaviors, reduce
characteristics of autism include As panic set in, many parents across the spread of infections,
impairments in social interaction, the country opted not to vaccinate and to reduce health-
communication, and repetitive and their children and, according to a related issues in our
stereotyped behaviors (DSM-IV-TR, report by CNN Health (2011), by 2004,
nation’s children.
p. 75). Although the actual cause of the number of MMR vaccinations
autism has yet to be identified, “it is given in Britain dropped by 80%. The

2. Page 2
KIDS BE AWARE, INC.
CEO‟s Corner...
Howdy! The current need of this
organization is to get
Great News! We are volunteer to help us
opening our center March conduct the center’s
1st, 2013 at 600 West upcoming activities.
Cummings Park Woburn, Together, we can raise your support and hope
MA 01801 . disease awareness among that you find it in your
children and parents. heart to help us decrease
We are currently looking
We have been growing our health disparities among
for volunteers to help us
face book community and our children.
with children’s activities.
invite you to have friends Also I wanted to bring to
I’m always overjoyed to and families like our page. your attention the talk
bring more good news to We are also selling T-Shirt show that I host every
you all each and every Mugs and Notebook for other Saturday from
month and hope that you fundraising need and hope 12:00PM Eastern time
enjoy reading us as much as that you will help us in our until 1:00PM. Please listen
we enjoy writing these continue effort to sustain to us online as we bring to
articles for you. our organization mission. you many subjects and
On Behalf of KBA, we are resources necessary for
We have sent out grant
asking for in-kind your day to day life. We
application to a couple of
donations. All donations strive to bring better life
foundations and hope to get
are tax deductible. to all and we work hard
a positive outcome from at
everyday to accomplish
least one of them. From our modest
this.
beginnings, and with only a
We are eager to partner little bit of help, we are “Teach me about health so
with organizations all growing and we still need that Tomorrow I may
around town whose mission your financial support that teach others” Together we
and vision is in line with will enable us to expand can!
ours. While we are pleased our Kids Be Aware mission, Cheers and Peace to You!
in the many milestone of and to uphold our vision for
our organization, we are children everywhere.
conducting our first Jeannette Bryant, CEO
Annual a dance for your You may donate by going
health May 4th and hope at our website: http:// “We strive to partner with
www.kidsbeaware.org or schools, churches, and
that we will organize this
simply by mailing in your organizations to focus on the
event within our own
checks. At Kids Be Aware, health and well-being of our
center. Parents and children”
Children are invited to sign Inc. PO BOX 2173 Woburn,
up for our program MA 01888 We are seeking NEW Enrollment!
beginning February 20th. We are seeking Volunteers for various roles.
I thank you in advance for
Contact us and Volunteer!

3. KIDS BE AWARE, INC. Page 3
Healthy Treats for children
Cheese Kabobs Peppermint Stick Hot
Chocolate
The protein in this kid-friendly
Nutritional Information
snack keeps energy levels high
until dinnertime. We like to stick Amount per serving
salt-free pretzel sticks into Calories: 194
cubes of low-fat cheese to make
"satellite snacks," but you can also make cheese Calories from fat: 18% Fat:
more interesting to kids by cutting it into fun 3.9g Saturated fat: 2.3g
shapes with a cookie cutter and making kabobs Monounsaturated fat: 0.0g
with your favorite fruit. Polyunsaturated fat: 0.0g Protein: 7g
Carbohydrate: 34g Fiber: 0.8g Cholesterol: 10mg
Iron: 0.6mg Sodium: 96mg Calcium: 32mg
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/lunch-box-
recipes-kids-00412000072333/page5.html
The vegetable
group is where you Naturally sweet and
find many of na- juicy, fruits are also low
ture‟s healthiest in calories, fat, sodium,
foods. Vegetables and cholesterol and are
are full of fiber, bursting with an array of
vitamins, and miner- vitamins and minerals.
als and are low in Fruit may already be a
calories, fat, so- staple in your house, so if
dium, and choles- that‟s the case, keep it
terol. Vegetables are divided into five sub- up! Remember to intro-
groups based on nutrient content—dark- duce kids to all types of fruit because each offers
green vegetables, orange vegetables, beans its own assortment of nutrients. And try to choose
and peas, starchy vegetables, and a group for whole fruit or cut-up fruit over fruit juices to get
all others. Serve your child a variety of vege- more fiber and fewer calories per serving. Be sure to
tables from all the subgroups each week. cut fruit into appropriately sized pieces for younger
children.
Nutrients: Fiber and abundant vitamins and Nutrients: Carbohydrates, fiber, folate, vitamin C,
minerals, which vary by vegetable potassium
Servings: Approximately 1 1/2 to 2 cups for Servings: Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 cups for kids and 1
kids and 2 to 3 cups for adults 1/2 to 2 cups for adults
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/lunch-
box-recipes-kids-00412000072333/ http://www.cookinglight.com/food/lunch-box-
page5.html recipes-kids-00412000072333/page5.html

4. Page 4
KIDS BE AWARE, INC.
Body Wellness
Putting the Pieces Together:
When your Child is diagnosed with Autism
There can be nothing quite like it- the moment that a provider tells you that
your child has autism. It may be that you wanted, no needed, to know the name
for this that you are going through with your child. While there may be relief in
knowing what you are dealing with, the apprehension soon sets in when you
realize that you are unsure where to go from here.
Experts have determined that parents of newly-diagnosed children may exhibit
certain patterns after hearing the diagnosis such as: shock, sadness, anger,
denial, loneliness, and then gradually move into acceptance. These experts also encourage parents to
become involved in support groups where they can meet and learn from other parents whose children also
have autism. While your provider may not have explained how to cope with your child‟s needs, parents who
live with autism day in, and day out, may actually have tips and resources that may work for you.
Often providers will prescribe a course of action (school and home behavior modifications and monitoring)
in an attempt to help the autistic child with daily functions. Parents tend to research autism on their own
in an attempt to learn what to expect. This is a necessary and very useful route to take for parents new to
autism. Even for parents who have been living with autism for years, may find some new and relevant
information that will help them manage this child.
Obtaining more information as parents is vital: the more we know about autism, the better we may be at
working through changes such as school, puberty, and socialization skills. Parents should also evaluate their
state and local resources for programs that work expressly with autism and children on the spectrum. Some
of these programs may include an agency-paid staff member that provides support to parents at home, and
with teachers at the school. Techniques for managing difficult behaviors are continually being developed.
While none of these techniques totally resolve the child‟s autism, the techniques often prove to be
effective to some degree over time.
Agencies such as: the Autism Society, and Autism Speaks, are excellent resources for parents of autistic
children. The websites for these organizations have been included here for your convenience.
While this month‟s newsletter has additional information on Autism, I encourage you to seek additional
support if you have an autistic child. Sometimes the very best that we can be as parents, will happen when
we are refreshed and rejuvenated after we let someone help. You do not have to do this alone. There are
struggles and that is true but there is positive progress to be made just as well! We at KBA, wish you and
your child, all the very best!
By: Susan Ruiz, MS
Chair, Kids Be Aware, Inc.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/autism-your-family
http://autism.about.com/od/supportforparents/Support_and_Ideas_for_Parents_of_Children_with_Autism.htm
http://autism.about.com/od/inspirationideas/bb/notcrazy.htm

5. KIDS BE AWARE, INC. Page 5
References
Autism and Infectious Disease (cont.)
Centers for Disease and Control Prevention
CDC reported the rate of measles in the United
States significantly increased in 2008, compared to (CDC). (2011). Vaccine safety. Retrieved on February 13,
rates from 1997 and more than 90% of those
infected had not been vaccinated or their 2013 from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/
vaccination status was unknown. According to the
Mayo Clinic (2012), avoiding vaccinations can cause thimerosal/thimerosal_faqs.html
children to be more susceptible to catching and
spreading infectious diseases, such as such as CNN Health. (2011). Medical journal: Study link-
pertussis (whooping cough), measles and mumps.
ing autism, vaccines is „elaborate fraud‟. Retrieved on
February 13, 2013 from http://www.cnn.com/2011/
The United States Department of Health
and Human Resources (DHHR) have created a HEALTH/01/06/autism.vaccines/index.html
program entitled Healthy People 2020. This
program encourages the use of vaccines to prevent Mayo Clinic Foundation. (October 6, 2012). Au-
17 vaccine-preventable diseases across the lifespan
to include: Viral hepatitis, influenza, and tism: causes. Retrieved on February 13, 2013 from http://
tuberculosis (TB), which are leading causes of
www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348/
illness and death and are the most widely spread
diseases in the United States. Healthy People 2020 DSECTION=causes
also pointed out that immunization schedules after
birth (e.g., DTap, Td, Hib, Polio, MMR, Hep B, and U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.
varicella vaccines) has saved 33,000 lives, prevented
14 million cases of disease, reduces direct (2012). Immunizations and infectious diseases. Healthy
healthcare costs by $9.9 billion dollars, and saves
$33.4 billion in indirect healthcare costs. People 2020. Retrieved on February 13, 2013 from http://
www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/
In addition, although these statistics
indicate that progress has been made, there are still overview.aspx?topicid=23
approximately 42,000 adults and 300 children who
die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. ~Article Written By Renee Sullivan~
There were 140 reported cases of measles in 2008;
three times the number of cases from 2007.
Together, we can prevent the spread of
infectious diseases by promoting awareness and
taking necessary precautions to protect our
children. To ensure the health and safety of your
child, discuss available options to prevent the
spread of infectious diseases, as well as other ways
you can keep your children safe and healthy.

6. Page 6
KIDS BE AWARE, INC.
Kids Be Aware, Inc.
PO BOX 2173
Woburn, MA 01888
Monthly Highlights
We are seeking NEW “We strive to partner with schools, churches,
Enrollment! and organizations to focus on the health and
We are seeking Volunteers for
well-being of our children”
various roles.
Contact us and Volunteer! We welcome any donations to help us with the
expansion of our program
Kids Be Aware, Inc
Center opening Listen to our Talk Show
March 1st We are on the Web! on BBS Radio Station 2
Every two weeks
Woburn, MA Visit us at: www.kidsbeaware.org Beginning at 12:00PM
To donate to our organization please use this link:
http://www.kidsbeaware.org/donate
KBA Board Members
Jeannette Bryant CEO kidsbeawarenow@gmail.com 781-354-2701
Tiffany Henderson Treasurer donald_and_tiffany@yahoo.com 678-431-6543
Susan Ruiz Chair susan.ruiz@waldenu.edu 301-302-4215
Teresa Godley-Chase Co-chair Teressa.godley-chase@waldenu.edu 240-515-4222
Renee Sullivan Co-Chair renee.l.sullivan@gmail.com 478-718-1306
Regina Rainey Board Member reginarainey@ymail.com 864-303-2151