The Social Diet® Newsletter

-Our Philosophy/Mission:

Happiness does not come from fame or fortune. We believe that
people receive the greatest joys in life by having meaningful
relationships with others. The mission of The Social Diet® is to
provide the education and the tools necessary for individuals, and
families who are touched by autism or related social disorders to learn
how to make life-long social connections that affect their quality of life.

To My Readers: From the Desk of Dr. Stacy Goresko

As a mother with a child on the autism spectrum, I can not think of a more precious
gift in life than to give our children the gift of being and feeling connected to others.
I have dedicated myself and my career to help families achieve this for themselves.
My book, “The Social Diet®” (due out in 2018) is for anyone who loves a child or
adult with autism or related disorders. The book is a culmination of what I have
learned over the past decade. The book is for the parents of these amazing children
and for the dedicated professionals who have chosen to help them.
I believe that The Social Diet® will broaden your understanding of autism and leave
you with a fresh perspective. My vision is for every child or individual to live a more
socially-connected life. The Social Diet® will give you the tools and education
necessary to make this happen.
Ultimately, my goal is to inspire you and your family to lead a rich and fulfilling life!
I look forward to hearing from you.

-Inspirational Quote of the Month:

“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go and see what
happens.” Mandy Hale

-The Social Diet®, The Book!

This month Dr. Goresko shares a letter from her own son with autism. It is guaranteed to touch your
heart.
I care. I probably care too much but I get results. I want to share with you a letter
I got from my son for Valentine’s Day. My son’s name is Ylann (Elon) and he is 12
years old with autism. The letter speaks for itself and is the reason why I have chosen
to write this book. The moment my son handed me this letter and read it, I solidified
a vision I always knew was possible. My son and the work that I do every day is a
testament to all of our families out there who are touched by autism. I see a vision. I
see a vision that is to become our new reality! I see it. It is my quest to get all of us
to see it and live it. I invite all of us, collectively as the autism community in the
broadest sense possible, to see that we are not just here to survive but we are meant to
Thrive!

It is my heartfelt wish that all you Mom’s (and Dad’s) out there receive a letter like
this. It is purely from the heart and has and will forever touch me profoundly. When
I read it, the world is good. I hope I can make your world better too.

Dear Mom,
“In this world love is a fortune. As a nice, generous Mom you’ve been the best Mom
in the world. For 12 long years you’ve taught me respect and discipline. For me
being in the world, I was different. I had autism. You’ve been there for me and
you’ve not sent me to that autism program that just would not help me. For 12 years
you have the experience of being a great Mom. Mother, I credit you for these things:
honesty, trustworthy, deployment as a parent, leadership, great parenting and a great
soul. I love you so much that you have made love for me loving you. My love is
always in your heart everyday and you’ve been there for me. You have made me,
Glen and Yael loving you. My tears are going to burst out for loving this card. I will
always love you. Your love is a fortune!

Your son, Ylann Goresko.”

The Social Diet® is what has allowed Ylann to write such a heartfelt letter. As
a family we have been practicing The Social Diet® ever since Ylann was two years old.
It has grounded our way of thinking about autism and has become the foundation of
our day to day life. It is my compass that guides me on how to be the best parent I
can for my child. It is the vehicle which has permitted my son Ylann to be able to think
for himself, problem-solve, connect to others and learn to put others before himself.
If you ask Ylann “What is the most important thing in life?” He will answer “To be a
good person!” Yes, my son with autism knows this. Not because he has memorized
the phrase, but because together we strive to live it every day.
I can not predict what anyone else’s child will look like in the future. I can only give
you the tools that have worked for me and for those families with whom I have
worked. I bring to you my passion and a fierce dedication to want to help you and
your family in profound ways. Like my son, I too speak from the heart. Always have
and always will. I know that there will be some nay-sayers out there and I welcome
that. My job is not to convince anyone of anything. My job is to speak my truth-
to speak about my path, what I have learned and my desire to share it with. If what
follows resonates with you, you will know. I hope it touches, moves and inspires you
as much as it does for me.
In the end, if we can regain that which we thought we might have lost forever-a true
connection with our autistic children-, it will have all been worth it the fight.

-Educational Insights for Parents and Professionals:

This month’s article is entitled, “Help, Where do I start? Tips for Parents who are at the
beginning of their journey.”

As in any field, the best way to start is by educating yourself. If you are a parent with a
child on the autism spectrum you need to be proactive and find out as much as you can.
To begin, I highly recommend that you talk to other parents who have been down this
road to really get an insider’s perspective of their experiences. If you need help finding
these families, contact your local Autism Society chapter and ask.
I caution you all parents. Even though it is tempting, do not try every treatment under the
sun at the same time even if you are in a financial position to do so. Just because
something worked for “Johnny” across the street does not mean that it will work for your
child. Remember, each child on the spectrum is different. During the initial months,
your job, for now, is simply to collect information. Keep it, think about it and when you
have done your research and are no longer in a “reactive” mode, take out your notes,
know who your child is and then proceed to make an informed decision about what you and
your family want and are able to take on.
I can not emphasize this point enough. You do not want to make such an important
decision- one that will most likely shape your child’s life– if you are in the crisis state.
Too many parents, once they get a diagnosis, rush into the first approach they hear about
thinking that there is no time to waste. While this is true, believe me, your time is better
spent educating yourself about what is out there before plunging into any kind of therapy.
The exception to this rule is speech, occupational (OT), and/or physical therapy (PT).
They can do no harm.

-Ask Dr. Stacy –What’s on your mind? Each month Dr. Goresko will
answer your questions.

-Heartfelt Connections: What’s making a difference in your lives?
With our “Heartfelt Connections” section, you can share your
inspirational stories. Email your story to stacy@thesocialdiet.com

-Testimonial: “Stacy has been a Godsend and an answer to our
prayers. She has been a friend and has been part of our family’s pain,
frustration and our triumphs! As a mother, I feel blessed to know her
and truly believe that she will help my child realize her full potential.
We are bonding as a family and actually enjoying our child like never
before, thanks to her!”  -Esther M.