AUTISM ADVOCACY
matic stress disorder (PTSD), and
more. Schools are adopting their
kinetic learning modules for neu-
rotypical kids, too.
LOCATION: Headquarters is lo-
cated in Austin, Texas, but satel-
lite locations are located all over
North America and Europe with
new programs starting in South
America and Southern Africa.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Rupert said
their main achievement is that they
are the only autism program that
they know of led and mentored by
people with autism. Because of this
base, along with mentoring from
Dr. Temple Grandin and others
from the start, they achieved the
results they wanted. Rupert said
they reached out to several neu-
roscientists including those from
the University of California and the
Marie Curie Institute in Paris to bet-
ter understand WHY the program
was so successful. The consensus
was they had figured out a way to
make the body move that shuts off
the cell danger response (stress)
that impairs learning and which, in
turn, switches on the cerebellum
(motor and social skills), Purkin-
je cells (communication between
the different parts of the brain), the
vestibular system (balance and at-
tention, i.e., long-term learning),
and producing brain-derived neu-
rotrophic factor (BDNF), which ups
the IQ and engages the logic and
reasoning centers of the brain.
Rupert added, “The fact that we
got here by following what autis-
tic people themselves told us to
do, rather than imposing theories
from the outside, is probably our
greatest accomplishment.”
INSPIRATION: Rupert said his son
Rowan, diagnosed with severe au-
tism in 2004, is his greatest inspira-
tion. At 15 years old Rowan has a
job, a life, and a whole world of his
own creation and is the most em-
pathetic, quiet, egoed, yet brilliant
young man Rupert has ever met.
GOALS: To consign to the histori-
cal trashcan, where it belongs, the
notion that anyone, let alone chil-
dren, let alone children with au-
tism, need to suffer to learn. The
science just doesn’t support it.
ADVICE FOR FAMILIES AFFECT-
ED BY AUTISM: “Celebrate the
gifts—the amazing memory, the
ability to focus interest and in-
tellect, the quiet ego that is so
healing just to be around. Fol-
low the child’s interests and ob-
sessions and design his or her
world and learning around those.
Spend hours a day in nature away
from bad sensory triggers. Elimi-
nate those home triggers (fluo-
rescent lights, cleaning solvent
smells, cigarette smoke, perfume,
rooms that echo, and all the other
well-documented negative trig-
gers). Get a nice big quiet dog.
Put a trampoline in the backyard
and USE it. Go slide in the mud on
rainy days and go to the pool on
hot days. Regard autism as a set
of gifts, not a problem to be fixed.
Teach life skills but don’t make
someone feel bad about who
they are. Consult with adults with
autism and follow their advice.
Learn the basic neuroscience of
how the brain’s learning centers
work and apply them by taking
our online Movement Method
course.”
Websites: kidsmustmove.com & horseboyfoundation.org
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 72 |
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