Rett Girl Store!

Do you know we have our very own store at RettGirl.org?

We have lots of amazing Rett parents, grandparents, and other Rett family members who sell great products that we would like to share with you!

Rachel Dalton – Homemade Bracelets (all proceeds support GP2C)

Aaron Bax - GP2C – Cure Rett Bracelets (all proceeds support GP2C)

Linda McInnis - Special Creations – weighted blankets and lap pads

Nicole Mast – Little M’s Accessories – hairbands, flower clips and hat for girls

Jan Erickson – Armbraces.com – arm braces and more!

Jeanna King – Popem.org – cake pops

Ronna Reid – Special Bows For Special Girls – hair clips

Kristin Hileman – Thirty One – amazing bags and other organizational items

Marla Black – “All About Angels” - pendant necklaces

We have a place to list Free Stuff or things you'd like to give away to the community.

We have a Needed section where you can list things you are looking for. We'd love this to become a place where we can trade with each other.

We have a link to the GP2C store where you can find all kinds of awareness goodies all while raising money for research.

Hope to see you there soon!

Happy Shopping!

Terri V~For RettGirl

iPad for Christmas!

We know many of you are considering or already have Apple's iPad under the tree for your RettGirl. We want you to know that we are here to help!

On our Homepage you can find a link directly to our iPad page. We are constantly adding new accessories and info on apps to help you along the way. And if you have something to share with us, please do!

We are hearing amazing things from parents about Apple’s iPad. For girls with retained hand function this can be used as an amazing tool for communicating, educating and entertaining.

It is an excellent tool to train and prepare girls for more sophisticated communication device via this easy, simple-to-use choice-making platform.

Parents of girls with little to no hand function still say the iPad and many of the apps provide endless entertainment for their girls. Definitely worth checking out or putting on that wish list we all have. The iPad and Apple have apps that play music, movies, read books and much more.

A few suggested iPad Apps for girls with Rett Syndrome (more listed on RettGirl.org!)

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Easy: Requiring just a touch anywhere on the screen to activate

Pocket Fish Pond – FREE
learn more
see it in action

Uncolor- $.99

The screen starts out black. When the screen is touched, that part of the screen begins to show the image underneath. The more she touches, the more of the image is uncolored.
learn more

Talking Tom – FREE with optional upgrade

Hilarious and perfect to interact with other children. Whatever you say into the mic, the cat repeats. You can tickle him and whack him and even knock him over. You can record all of the words actions to create mini movies. It is fun to have other kids speak messages into it for your daughter to hear.
learn more

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EDUCATIONAL:

ABA Receptive Identification – FFC Combined-$.99

- Clear, Colorful, Concrete Images
- Benefits to both Visual and Auditory Learners
- Classical Music with Visual Reinforcement
- Sound can be turned “on” or “off”
- Concisely Pronounced Audio

Check out all of kindergarten.com’s ABA apps for endless fun and learning

learn more

In My Dreams- $.99
Have fun with reading, matching, and sign language. “In My Dreams” uses animation and repetition to promote literacy. Each page has the same sentence structure and reinforces understanding of nouns, verbs and prepositions. “In My Dreams” is an instructional app designed with illustrations that provide language cues. Personalize the app for your child, student or client by adding their photo!
learn more

Choiceboard Maker-Creator-FREE

ChoiceBoard Maker is the perfect app for creating customizable choice boards for the unique needs of individuals with communication challenges. It reinforces correct choice by expanding the selected image as well as playing the customized auditory rewards.
It is an excellent tool to train and prepare users for more sophisticated communication device via this easy, simple-to-use choice-making platform. The possibilities are as much as your creativity can go.

Features include:

•Large buttons, and black/white contrast to facilitate visual attention
•Clean board design to minimize visual distraction
•Space between choice buttons to avoid inadvertent hits
•Customizable to 2,3,4 or 6 choices

learn more

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COMMUNICATION:

ANSWERS YES/NO HD – $3.99
Simple large YES and NO buttons for simple choice making. Answers: YesNo HD Features:

- Large buttons with ample selectable borders to assist with activation

- 5 Yes-No voices: man, woman, cartoon, boy, and girl

- Custom buttons with user defined color, text, audio, and pictures

- 5 lesson plans, each consisting of 6 pages of custom button pairs

- Enhanced navigation options

- Visual cue of selected buttons for the hearing impaired

- Multi-language support

learn more

SoundingBoard by AbleNet – $49.99

Communication Board program — comes with images or you can upload your own!
learn more

TapSpeak Sequence – $29.99
Acts like a step-switch sequencer/talker. With the added benefits of being able to access/create unlimited sequences that are saved, plus using any photo you want — OR connect it with a Boardmaker set of images.
learn more

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OTHER:

Picture Pusher- $.99
very simple, just pushing images into a “box”
learn more

Dr. Suess ABC – $3.99

A must have! Fun and easy. Page turn with a swipe of the hand. There are about 10 Dr. Suess books available. One Fish, Two Fish is good too! You can set it to read the book page by page with activation, or just to read through. When the child touches different images, the word for the image appears and speaks the word.
learn more

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BOOKS:

Mee Genius-A collection of free and purchasable books that highlight words as the story is read to your child. A favorite. Choose “read to me” and sit back and watch her follow the words.

learn more

Story Boy-Auto read books and fun apps for all girls. Pages change automatically or with a swipe. Prices vary and are affordable with many free.

learn more

Impossibly Easy Pumpkin Pie! Gluten Free

Happy Holiday's RettGirls!

This week I thought I would share my Impossibly Easy Pumpkin Pie recipe with you. Actually it was my Grandma's..or I thought it was. Turn's out it's from good ole Betty Crocker. Shhh. My family thinks it's mine.

You can find this recipe, among others, at RettGirl.org under Diet/Nutrition then click on Recipes then Gluten Free!

The best thing about this recipe is it is a no crust recipe. I always pick mine away anyway. You can make it the regular way or gluten free by changing up which type of Bisquick you use, either regular or gluten free. Both call for half a cup. I have never had a complaint, empty plate or a person who hasn't asked me for the recipe. We are on our 4Th pie since Thanksgiving here.

Enjoy!

Impossibly Easy Pumpkin Pie

1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) 1/2 cup Gluten Free Bisquick® mix 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup evaporated milk 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs Whipped topping, if desired 1.Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease 9-inch pie plate. 2.Stir all ingredients except whipped topping until blended. Pour into pie plate. 3.Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Check first at 45. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until chilled. Serve with whipped topping. Store covered in refrigerator.

Dairy free substitutions:
each makes 1 cup
option 1:
3 cups vanilla rice milk
1/2 sugar
(simmer and reduce to 1 cup)

option 2:
3/4 cup silken tofu
1/4 cup honey
blend together in a blender

Terri V~For RettGirl

Shop GP2C!

Good Day RettGirls!

I know in this season of giving many of us are stuck on things to get our girls, their caregivers, siblings and more. We wanted to let those of you who were not aware know about our store at GirlPower2Cure.

How fantastic would it be to get that loved one something they would love, raise awareness and funds for Rett Syndrome all in one place?

Our parent site has it and we'd love you to go take a look!

Here you will find
t-shirt - $15

* note sizes in the "leave a note to seller" box
Available sizes: Youth XS, S, M or Adult (Women's cut) S, M, L and XL

car decal (vinyl removeable) - 3 for $5

Plant a flower on your car!

cinch sac (specify purple or green) -
$5 (+ $2/shipping)

The Purple Card -
100/$29.95 | 250/$39.95 | 500/$49.95 | 1000/$59.95

Read more about our awareness card "The Purple Card" and how families are using them!

cell phone/iPhone/iPod skin - $12.99

NOTE: After we receive your order, we'll be in touch to get your exact phone information.

Also, if you are interested in a skin for a Kindle, iPad, laptop skin, or anything else email us!

music cd - $11.99 (through CDBaby.com)

Download this awesome CD that was made just for girls!

Must order through CDBaby.com

[download]

DOWNLOAD THE SONG

"I'll Fly" - $0.99

by Canadian Artist

Dana Marie

[proceeds benefit GP2C]

http://rettgirl.org/store/for-sale/from-girl-power-2-cure/

Terri~For RettGirl

Some "Tips" for the Holidays

With December upon us, and holiday decorations sprouting up all over, we are all gearing up for a special season. Yet, the biggest thing to overcome during the holidays is just pure stress. Everyone out there feels it, but when you have a disabled child thrown into the mix, stress can rise to a whole new level. Stress of disappointment over your daughter’s condition, stress of your daughter’s anxiety as the routine and activity level changes, stress of how family and friends act towards her, stress of travel, stress of food choices. Mix this in with some certain lack of sleep and it is a recipe for disaster.

So, think about changing things around, being more open to doing things differently, and being more open with those around you about what they can do to help make this holiday a more positive experience. Do not try to fit your daughter into your traditional routine. It is time to make some new traditions, keeping her needs in mind.

Handling anxiety and sensory overload – two key issues for Rett girls.

Anxiety often comes from not knowing what to expect. Talk to your daughter about events coming up several times before they happen. Explain to her where you are going, who will be there, what will happen, and what is expected of her.

TIP: Consider bringing along a portable DVD player with her favorite videos as a fallback. Although it is heartbreaking to feel she is not included, sometimes it is just better for her to be engaged with something familiar.

Sensory overload can strike us all. If your daughter can’t tolerate being amidst all the festivities – gift opening, big dinner, singing, etc – be sure to have a plan for her and talk with her about it.

TIP: Tell your daughter, “Today is a very special day. We have people coming to visit. If you are feeling anxious, you can stay in your room with your music or television. And then this afternoon we will have a special time where each person will come to you and spend a little time with you and give you a gift. I will help you give them their gift, too. Maybe we can even have pictures of each person and you can pick you who would like to see and give your gift to next!”

Creating a more relaxing environment:

Rett girls usually love twinkly lights. Consider having them in more places than around the tree and outside. How about in her room?

Opening presents: Traditional paper gift wrap can be a nightmare. Rett girls will get paper cuts and even try to stuff the paper in their mouths, so maybe someone else handles opening for them. But imagine the combination of loud ripping paper and someone else opening your gift? I think I would cry too.

TIP: Wrap her gifts in fabric. Even if it is just one of your colorful T-Shirts with a big bow! It will look pretty, feel soft, and it will be quiet – and she can actively help open her own present!

Help from visiting family members and friends:

This is a great opportunity to be a really big help! Even just 5 or 10 minutes here and there with your special Rett girl will be very welcomed. Consider these things:

Read her a book.
Brush her hair and put pretty bows in for her.
Help feed her.
Take her for a walk.
Give her a foot massage.
Listen to some music together.
Sing her a song.
Tell her a story from your past holidays.

Make this holiday a real team effort. Start talking with you family now about ways to help.

And be sure to check out our Holiday Gift Idea List! Happy Holidays everyone!!! I hope you each find that magical moment that makes your heart skip a beat and brings a smile to your face.

- Ingrid

RettGirl. We've Got that!

Good Day RettGirls!

Over the last week or so while viewing other Rett Syndrome Support Boards or while on Facebook I kept noticing a trend. Is it possible people really don't know about RettGirl?

Over and over I watched as people asked advice on what to get their daughter for the holiday. We've got that! Find a wonderful list and links to lists past by clicking on our Holiday Gift Ideas button on our Homepage.

Just moved to a major metropolitan area and are at a loss about where to find a Doctor or Clinic near you? Chances are we have that. Just click on Doctors/Therapists at the top of our Homepage.

It doesn't stop there - we have one click access to EVERYTHING Rett. Don't see what you need? Send us your question or info you would like to see! We want to keep everything organized and searchable so more families can learn from our Rett community.

We have tips from parents just like you.

We have product reviews on:

Feeding

Communication

Clothing/Shoes

Sensory

Positioning

Mobility

Media

Sleep

Toys

Travel/Camps

The list goes on and on.

Do you need ideas for apps for an iPAD? We have a button just for that where you will find
apps, accessories and more.

Would you like to see videos of our girls thriving and achieving? We have that!

What about a place just for school stuff where everything you need is all in one place?

Websites

Care Notes

Example IEP's?

From Constipation to Communication, we have all that and then some at RettGirl.org!

Come visit us today and share with your friends, coworkers, and staff!

Have a great week everyone!

Terri V~For RettGirl

Gluten Free Goddess

Good Day RettGirls!

This week at RettGirl.org we are featuring this incredible blog called Gluten Free Goddess! We have this website listed under Gluten Free in our Diet/Nutrition Category!

Last year I struggled with including my daughter in our Thanksgiving Meal because we had just found out she was allergic to wheat. At the time I had no idea how to cook or bake without wheat/gluten. Especially for a meal like Thanksgiving Dinner. Rolls, Pie, Noodles. What about Abby? Would we just sit and eat in front of her?

Gluten Free Goddess is THE place to go for everything Gluten-Free. This week she is featuring Gluten- Free Thanksgiving Recipes and Tips. We aren't talking a pie and roll recipe either. She has absolutely everything.

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Tips from the Gluten-Free Goddess:

Key Tips for a Safe and Delicious
Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Holiday Season

If you're new to gluten-free living here's a Gluten-Free Diet Cheat Sheet to print out and keep handy. Because gluten is devious. Label reading is a must.

Marinades and soy sauce, broth and bouillon may use wheat or barley in flavors and seasonings. Although I urge you to check your turkey for gluten-free status, most I've seen are safe- if you avoid the seasoning or gravy packet.

Bottom line?

Know your bird. Know your source. And know your ingredients.

For thickening gravy, whisk in a tablespoon or two of sweet rice flour or an arrowroot starch slurry. Potato flour is another choice- but be careful you don't add too much and end up with gravy you have to slice and serve.

For a non-dairy sub in pumpkin, squash and sweet potato recipes try using coconut milk- it's creamy and delicious (full fat tastes best). If you can't do coconut milk, soy milk works beautifully. Or try one of the neutral tasting nut-based milks, or even hemp milk (though hemp milk is an acquired taste and may be too grassy for the uninitiated). Rice milk is generally too thin.

Another tasty non-dairy vegan choice is orange juice or apple cider. I cook carrots or cubes of winter squash with a splash of orange juice or apple cider for a lovely flavor boost. Then I drizzle a touch of pure maple syrup.

For creamy mashed potatoes that are dairy-free I use a light and fruity extra virgin olive oil instead of butter. I add a little of my favorite vegan butter spread for flavor (I'm using Earth Balance lately). If I want to add creaminess, I whip in some warm non-dairy milk- coconut, soy, and nut milks all work. A light gluten-free broth works, too.

Read more: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-recipes-tips-for-gluten.html#ixzz1dmnYxW3G

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Wow, so many simple things you can do. Who would of thought? Incredible tips! Want more? How about some Thanksgiving recipes?

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Thanksgiving Sides

Acorn Squash with Attitude
(green chiles)
Calabasitas (zucchini, corn and onions with green chiles)
Cider Roasted Vegetables
Cinnamon Applesauce
Colesalw with Peanut Dressing
Cornbread Stuffing with Curried Apples and Cranberries
Crunchy Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs for Topping

Dijon Roasted Vegetables
Karina's Kicked Up Colcannon
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash
Pinon Rice Bake with Artichokes, Corn and Goat Cheese
Pomegranate Glazed Green Beans and Portobellos

Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf
Quinoa Salad with Baby Spinach, Apples or Pears in Maple Vinaigrette
Quinoa with Butternut Squash + Cranberries
Roasted Winter Vegetable Ragout with Shaved Parmesan
Ruby Applesauce with Cranberries

Santa Fe Brown Rice Bake
Two Potato Salad with Sweet Potatoes
Zucchini Gratin

How about a few desserts?

Sweets

Apple Crisp- new
Apple + Pear Crisp
Apple Cake with Cranberries
Coconut Flour Apple Cake
Cranberry Peach Crumble
Maple Frosted Pumpkin Cake

Pie Crust Recipes
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Icing
Pumpkin Pie- easy
Pumpkin Praline Pie with Coconut-Pecan Crust
Sweet Potato Pie

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What we have listed here doesn't even touch on the resources, tips, recipes you can find at Gluten-Free Goddess. Many Many Dairy-Free Recipes too!

We hope you enjoy! Have a Healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!

http://rettgirl.org/2011/11/gluten-free-goddess/

Terri V~For RettGirl