Each One Teach One. This phrase originated in the US during a time when African Americans were denied education which included learning to read. If someone learned to read, they were responsible to pass that skill along and teach another to read. Each One Teach One. The phrase has been used a great deal in education and can even be found in classrooms where the students become the teacher and teach their classmates something new they have learned. Powerful, to take on the responsibility of sharing what you have learned so others may benefit too.
From the moment we began looking at my son’s autism through a medical lens, the greatest source of knowledge and information we found has been other parents. Parents who have taken the knowledge that they have gained and turned around to educate the next family. From the beginning I have found more answers to my questions from fellow autism moms and dads than any of the doctors we ever saw combined.
I will never forget walking into our new pediatrician’s office after our move with my three-year-old, and his thin little medical folder, and my five-year-old with autism who was an inch shorter than his brother, and his massive medical binder that went along with it. You see, my son stopped growing. After I explained that my older son has autism and a lot of medical conditions that we have been concerned about, this pediatrician proceeded to go into a lengthy explanation of what exactly autism is. Seriously? You are going to sit there and explain that my son has a hard time making friends as if I don’t already know this information? Insulting at best.
So here’s where I get a little irritated and start explaining, perhaps with too much aggravation in my voice, all the information we have found out already through our testing (because this doctor has still not opened said huge binder). At each turn we get some defensive comments or dismissive statements. HELLO! Our son has stopped growing. HELP US. Yadda, yadda, yadda . . . cursory ‘well visit’ over. The pediatrician on his way out makes the statement, “You probably know more about all this than I do.” And leaves the room.
What??? I figured out I knew more than this doc in the first minute, but did he really just admit it? I then look at the physical form for school. He signed off on a medical waiver for my son’s vaccines that were due and I refused after showing him titer levels that proved immunity. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I also realized that I was not going to get myself knowledgeable about how to help my son sitting in a pediatrician’s office.
The work that goes into helping our kids become healthier is going to be done by US. The parents. All of it done in the name of love. Because the fact of the matter is, we love our children with every cell in our bodies and want to see them healthy. We want to see our children grow. We want to see them happy, and thriving and free from pain. And we want to see your children healthy too. All our children.
What is beautiful and special about our community of parents is their willingness to help each other and share information. We tell each other what is working and what isn’t. We will spend hours on the phone with a newly diagnosed family, and send books and email links to dietary interventions. We do this because this is what other parents have done for us. The ones that came before. Each One Teach One.
After my recent post about our travels to see a new practitioner, I had another mom ask me who we went to see. Though a series of PMs back and forth and a discussion about our children’s health problems, she explained what she did that brought about miraculous growth for her child. I was so inspired by her story that I had to investigate further. After some thorough research and a lot of thought, we went ahead with the intervention. She passed along what she has learned to me, because in our community of love and support that is what we do. It comes so naturally. Each One Teach One.
In the last month since we started on this new path, my son has gained three pounds! Thanks to the exchange of information between two parents, we are seeing some long-awaited weight on my son’s small frame. Each One Teach One. The sharing of information is a powerful thing that can change a life, make an impact, create a different outcome.
A big thank you to Kelly Wooldridge for helping us find what truly seems to be finally healing my son’s digestive system. No matter how long you are on the road to healing your child, there is so much more to be learned from other parents that are on the journey too. I am grateful to the TMR community and the biomed community as a whole for always actively supporting one another.
We would love to hear your stories of support and healing! How have you benefited from the practice of Each One Teach One? And, how have you helped other autism parents along the way?
~Sunshine ☼
For more blogs by Sunshine, please click here.
Oh, I am so glad I found this place! My son was diagnosed 5 months ago, and we’re just now almost starting treatment. Officially. Of course, I’ve been living with him for 10 years now, and I keep trying things out, looking for ways to teach him to cope and to learn.
I’ve been coping on my own with nothing but medical doctors telling us what to do. Luckily, I mostly trust my own instincts when it comes to the MD’s, but it’s hard sometimes, to stand up to them and say, no, we’re not doing that. It’s miserable to be brushed off by someone who is ignorant, yet arrogant.
Thank you for your post, it gives me hope that there are other Moms like me.
Great post! Can you please send me the info on the intervention you are using for growth?
Thanks!
What a wonderful message. I honestly don’t know where I would be without the support of the other “Autism Mommies”, they have provided me with 100% of the information that has helped my son. We don’t have recovery yet but at 42 months old he’s doing so well that I already feel like I owe these women my life. I hope someday to know a fraction of what they do and be able to pay it forward.
Can you also share with me what the intervention is that you did with your son? My son is still struggling with his height….once at the 95th percentile for height he is now at the bottom of the charts.
Hi everyone! I think I sent emails to everyone who asked for one. Please let me know if I missed you. Sad how many of our kiddos are struggling with growth 🙁 Much love you you all! ☼
Hi Sunshine,
I would LOVE to know what has been so helpful for growth issues! My son just turned 17 years old and we’ve been doing biomeds/homeopathy and all that jazz since he was dx’d at age 3. However, at 17 years old, he weighs only 94.5 lbs. and is about 5’5″ tall. He’s gained about 5″ in height in a relatively short time, but lost 3 lbs. at the same time! It’s his weight that I’m more concerned about really. If you see this and can share that info, I would be most appreciative 🙂
The concept and phrase “Each One Teach One” was developed by educator and missionary Frank Laubach in 1929. He achieved his long-standing ambition of settling among the Moros, an Islamic tribe on Mindanao. There, in the village of Lanao, he developed a technique for reducing the Moro language to writing, with symbols closely correlated to their spoken words. This not only made it possible to teach them to read in only a few hours, but permitted them immediately to teach others. The famous “Each One Teach One” program was born, and with the generalization of his linguistic methods the foundation was laid for his worldwide efforts to promote literacy, beginning with India in 1935. During his last thirty years Laubach was an international presence in literacy, religious, and governmental circles.
The concept of Each One Teach One was the brainchild of Dr. Frank Laubach in 1929. In 1929 his long-standing ambition of settling among the Moros, an Islamic tribe on Mindanao. There, in the village of Lanao, he developed a technique for reducing the Moro language to writing, with symbols closely correlated to their spoken words. This not only made it possible to teach them to read in only a few hours, but permitted them immediately to teach others. The famous “Each One Teach One” program was born, and with the generalization of his linguistic methods the foundation was laid for his worldwide efforts to promote literacy, beginning with India in 1935. During his last thirty years Laubach was an international presence in literacy, religious, and governmental circles.
Love this article and it is right on time! Just today I had a concerned mother ask me if she could ask questions about autism and the link with vaccines! I told yes of course, if I can help just one person understand everything we have gone trough, it is worth it. Each one teach one is exactly how we are going to show the world the truth about autism and the hope of recovery!!!
I am not sure what your friend shared with you about helping a child to gain weight, but what has done it for us is AC chelation and the supplements that go along with it. My daughter has always been at the top percentile in height, but way below in weight. She now weighs 100 pounds and is 11 years old!
I would love to hear what you are trying. My 13 year old son is in the same position.
Thanks so much!
Hi Sunshine,
Your write up what great to hear. I have to say it struck a cord with me. One of my twins stopped growing and gaining weight. His twin brother is growing and gaining weight. I can’t figure out what is going on. I would be greatful if you could email me the information of what it was that worked with your son. I need all the help I could get. Best regards, Michelle
I, too, would love to know what this intervention is! My two sons were both growth-restricted preemies and I thought that might have to do with the growth issues. Please share if you don’t mind, and thank you in advance!!
Wonderful post!! I am so thankful for all of experience that other parents have shared with me. Please share the e-mail Sunshine.
Sunshine, I am new here. So glad I found you! My son is a good weight, but very short for his age. I am wondering if the information you received will help him/me. Could you please e-mail me? We have been on this journey for quite a while, and have received great information from many wonderful parents over the years, and I have “taught” what I’ve learned many times. Each One Teach One… always.
Our son, too, is bypassed in weight and height by his sister who is three years younger. Really interested in this information. Please share.
I once heard a mom say that autism was like walking through the woods in the night during a snowstorm.It can be done; but it is much easier to do if there are footprints of someone else in the snow to guide you. I loved that image. It has helped me for the past seven years on my journey and on the journey of the many, many others who walk with me through this “devastating snowstorm”.
Each one teach one is a beautiful mantra for our autism community to have and the only way we can weather this autism blizzard together.
Please, if you wouldn’t mind, add me to the list as someone who would like to know what intervention helped your son with weight gain…my guy is falling off the charts.
With gratitude-
Tricia
Could I please join the queue for the information? My four year old son has not put on any weight in the last year and a half, and his younger brother is nearly the same height as he is now. 🙁
And I highly agree – passing on information to the next family is the only way we’re going to get more kids healthy and recovered!
Martina, I know exactly what you are going through. My kids are almost two years apart exactly. My younger son is at least 3 inches taller and 10 pounds heaver than his older brother. Sent you an email, and some love.
Can you add me to the email list of people you are giving the intervention info to? Thanks xo
Consider it done!
Sunshine, I would love this info too, if you can email me.
Just did!!
I am really interested to know what helped your son grow. My son has only recently been diagnosed, but he stopped growing well before then. He has grown at his own rate, but he is so much smaller than other kids. This in addition to many other things has made him such a target for bullying.
Oh no…the bullying is so heartbreaking. Check your email, Trina. Big hugs too.
Great post, my son would not be where he is without the many parents that have helped us along the way, he has come far but many many miles to go. He also struggles with growth as well, what helped your son? I would love to know…
Check your inbox, Livvy ♥
My boys would not be where they are without the help and support and guidance of others. Taca family, online friends, and even those outside of the autism community who help keep my sanity by taking my mind OFF autism for a moment. My Zack would certainly not be on the road to recovery without all of them.
I will always be there to support others on their journey to health, as I have been supported.
I love you’s, man 🙂
Jackie
Love you right back, Jackie! ♥
Fantastic post Sunshine!! Jack’s path to healing was completely transformed and set on a glorious path last summer with the amazing influence from Mama Mac. She knows how her taking the time to chat with me has changed my son and our life as a family forever, and as repayment I will pay it forward and forward and forward again for the rest of my life…Each One Teach One…yes, yes, YES indeed!!!
Thank you…and thank you for your recent guest blog! I ended up buying the book 🙂
This is such an inspirational post and I’m delighted that you are constantly able to reach out to other parents for support, ideas, encouragement and inspiration. I wish many blessings on your family and will share your story with others!
Thank you!
Wonderful post! and I agree, we all need to help each other!
My son is 13, and is NOT gaining weight..he has actually lost 2lbs in the last couple of months….I’d love to know what you did to help your child gain weight….I am desperate.
Lori, sent you an email 🙂 Let me know if you don’t get it.
Thanks! Checking my inbox now!
Sunshine, I love this entry–it’s the same experience that we’ve had: help through moms and dads more than anything on this path. What I am really interested in is you teaching me now what you did for your son. Mine is growing, but not at the rate that he should. I would love to know what you did that made the difference. Thanks!
Kim, I sent you an email. Check your inbox!
Great article–
Thank you, Sam!
Beautiful post Sunshine. Inspiring but also another reminder that we are not alone. That we must continue to strengthen this community. One request though, would you please please please share the intervention you are talking about? As a mother with a kid with ongoing severe gut issues who has tried MANY MANY things, I would love to hear what you’re trying. I know it’s not the point of the piece, but I am ONE who is dying to learn what you have to teach. You can contact me on email if you prefer. [email protected]. Thanks.
Check your inbox, Sylvia!