Author Archives: Building Ben's Brain

Did you grow up like me, learning that Pluto was a planet then one day, it wasn’t?  Every single one of us had to unlearn that fact.  I find unlearning things quite difficult.  It means I have to let go of a belief that might be rooted deep in my belief system and replace itContinue reading “Unlearning”

“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”–Carlos Castaneda As the cost of autism, ADHD, severe food allergies, and mental health issues skyrocket and the systems held in place continue to be challenged to their breaking point, we as a nation are eventually going to haveContinue reading “The True Social Change Makers”

In 2012, my sister in law started telling me about an international clinic in Philadelphia that helps kids and adults with Cerebral palsy, autism, Downs, ADHD, genetic issues, stroke, Parkinson’s, etc. I completely dismissed learning or even researching about it for 2 years! My sister in law and brother in law would keep encouraging meContinue reading “It’s easy to dismiss. It’s more difficult to understand”

Are you familiar with the bible story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish? MK 6:34-44 When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now itContinue reading “Accept the Challenge and Trust”

I know the last 6 blog posts have been the ultimate highlight reel for implementing a comprehensive neurological approach. We have had great success and hopefully those 6 posts have gained an audience. I want people and professionals to know about a comprehensive neurological approach. Sadly, a comprehensive neurological program doesn’t completely line up withContinue reading “There is power in numbers and power in unity.”

“By crawling a child learns to stand” is an African proverb and is an excellent way to introduce to you how effective crawling and creeping is for brain development! My son couldn’t follow a two step request, write, draw, or communicate his thoughts or emotions for 14 years of his life. His brain was stuck.Continue reading “By Crawling A Child Learns To Stand”

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”–Maya Angelou As the special needs population grows, so are the number of parents questioning, “What could I be doing better?” Ben started receiving early intervention in 2006 for autism. He was 2.5 years old. I did what the speech, OT,Continue reading “Second Chances”

How is it possible for an innocent green pea to invoke such a ghastly, volcanic gag reflex? Why does he eat such bland foods? Why does he tend to eat only orange foods, but God forbid eat an actual orange? Why does it matter what he eats? Kids being picky eaters isn’t a new challengeContinue reading “Doomed to Fail…once a picky eater always a picky eater”

There will come a day that you will come to terms with the fact, you are a special needs parent. Everyone processes and accepts that fact in his/her own way and will be faced with the decision on how best to develop his/her child/teen’s brain. There are quite a few modalities to choose from inContinue reading “Slowing down, to change our course”

Neuroplasticity takes extra effort. Let that sink in. Neuroplasticity takes extra effort. As a special needs parent everything you do takes extra effort. We as special needs parents know this all to well. Well kids can just fly through the brain development stages. They start talking, making friends, and seeking their parents for praise andContinue reading “Extra Effort Brings Extra Blessings”