Book Review Disconnected Kids

My youngest son is Autistic; this book has helped his mother and me positively.

little boy in wheat field
Photo by JESSICA TICOZZELLI on Pexels.com


“Disconnected Kids: The Groundbreaking Brain Balance Program for Children with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Disorders” by Dr. Robert Melillo is a comprehensive guide to understanding and treating neurobehavioral disorders in children.

Dr. Melillo is a chiropractic neurologist and specialist in functional neurology. He has developed a program called Brain Balance, which focuses on correcting imbalances in the brain that can cause behavioral and learning difficulties. The program is based on the principle of neuroplasticity, which means that the brain can change and adapt in response to stimuli.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the concept of brain balance and explains how it can affect behavior and learning in children. Dr. Melillo describes how the brain comprises two hemispheres responsible for different functions and how imbalances between the hemispheres can lead to various problems. He also discusses the cerebellum’s role, which coordinates movement and balance, and how issues in this area can affect behavior and learning.

The second part of the book outlines the Brain Balance program. Dr. Melillo explains how the program works and what it entails. The program involves a combination of physical exercises, sensory stimulation, and cognitive training designed to stimulate the brain and promote balance between the hemispheres. The activities are tailored to each child’s needs and designed to be fun and engaging.

The third part of the book provides practical advice for parents and caregivers. Dr. Melillo offers tips on creating a brain-healthy environment for children and supporting them through the Brain Balance program. He also discusses diet and nutrition and how certain foods affect brain function.

Throughout the book, Dr. Melillo provides real-life examples of children who have benefited from the Brain Balance program. He also includes case studies and testimonials from parents who have seen improvements in their children’s behavior and learning after participating in the program.

Overall, “Disconnected Kids” is a valuable resource for parents, caregivers, and professionals who work with children with neurobehavioral disorders. Dr. Melillo’s approach is based on solid scientific research and is designed to address the root causes of these disorders rather than just treating symptoms. The program he has developed is comprehensive and holistic, addressing the physical, sensory, and cognitive aspects of brain function. The book is well-written, easy to understand, and includes practical advice and tips that can be applied in everyday life.

Part One: Understanding Brain Balance In the book’s first section, Dr. Melillo explains how the brain is organized and functions. He discusses the roles of the brain and cerebellum hemispheres and how imbalances between these areas can lead to behavioral and learning difficulties in children. He also explains the concept of neuroplasticity and how it can be harnessed to promote brain balance and improve outcomes for children with neurobehavioral disorders.

Part Two: The Brain Balance Program The book’s second section explains the Brain Balance program. Dr. Melillo outlines the program’s components, including physical exercises, sensory stimulation, and cognitive training. Next, he describes how these different activities work together to promote brain balance and improve behavior and learning outcomes for children. The exercises are presented in a clear and easy-to-follow manner and are designed to be fun and engaging for children.

Part Three: Supporting Your Child The book’s final section provides practical advice for parents and caregivers on supporting their children through the Brain Balance program. Dr. Melillo offers tips on creating a brain-healthy environment at home, including suggestions for diet and nutrition. He also guides working with schools and other professionals to ensure children receive the support they need to succeed. In addition, the book includes numerous case studies and testimonials from parents who have seen improvements in their children’s behavior and learning after participating in the program.

In addition to the book’s main sections, “Disconnected Kids” also includes appendices with additional resources and information. These include a glossary of terms, a list of recommended books and websites, and a summary of research studies on brain balance and neurobehavioral disorders.

Overall, “Disconnected Kids” is a comprehensive and accessible guide to understanding and treating neurobehavioral disorders in children. Dr. Melillo’s approach is based on a deep understanding of brain function and neuroplasticity. His program has been effective in improving outcomes for children with various conditions. The book is well-written, informative, and engaging and is an essential resource for anyone who works with or cares for children with neurobehavioral disorders.

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Life Try’s to Throw a Punch

Cleaning up the wreckage of the past. Mop bucket after mop bucket of old muck. It is enough to wear anyone out.

“I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.”–Walt Disney

This holds true for me as I clean up old messes. What is more, it brings you right back to the place you left so long ago. Past garbage must be picked up even though you may have long since moved on.

Today was one of those days for me. The rug gets jerked right out, and bam, you hit the floor, saying, “what the hell was that?” At this stage, you can either get up, or you can wallow in the mire of despair.

It is hard but chooses to get up. Swift kicks to the gut hurt for a moment, but you can breathe again. Overnight, I was able to find my hope still. Messes can be cleaned up and moved past. Not allowing myself to fall into a pit of self-induced hell was an achievement!

Today these are steps I took to bring myself out of what could have been debilitating fear:

  1. Give it to God. I simply told God I did not understand why, but I was not going to lose faith in him.
  2. Took time to just breathe for a minute. Fear will stifle any hope. Sighing and taking a minute to say, “the world is not coming to an end, how do we fix this?”
  3. Keep telling myself repeatedly, “all is well, God has this!”
  4. Reminding myself that when all this began, I am a hell of a lot further today than I was when this all started. All for the better!
  5. Hope always exists, and for me, when I can feel hope in my heart. I know everything will be okay.

We all get life kicking us in the gut when we least expect or need it to happen. Rolling with it and having the expectation all will be well. Easier said than done, however, over time as we practice our faith. Moving with life becomes more natural.

Spiritual, Christian Life, hope

Feeling stronger as faith grows is something that happens. It took a long time for me to believe that my inner strength could be called upon to pull me through the toughest of times. Why, because I am not alone. God will stay with me through my tough times.

With all things, we must practice, practice, practice. Over and over, I say, “God has me.” As I write this, it occurs to me that I have been reading the bible and other Christian books more so than average. Perhaps I have stirred the enemy to throw his life stone at me to see if I will falter. Fall apart and lose what I have. Not this time!!!

Two years ago, I made a commitment that I would no longer lose in life. For once in my life, I intend unequivocally to not miss!

Questions or comments:

Robert Bruton books available at Amazon

Organize to Win in Life

Just released my new book. Organize to Win in Life. Here is the Introduction to the book, I hope you enjoy. 

Why people fail often is a lack of organization. Not truly understanding the difference between activity and productivity.

What if you could learn to manage your life for success?

Are you tired of trying only to fall short of goals?

Are you living in your Gift?

Life skills!

Self Improvement!

When the alarm clock goes off, are you bouncing out of bed excited, hurrying to get ready for a day you can’t wait to begin? If not, you’re are not living your best life, your Gift. God has a whole lot more for you!

If your ready, keep reading!Christian book, Life Change, Organize

Of course, anyone would love to learn how to manage life for success. Yet very few can. This book will give you skills with exercises to help you learn to organize for success.

How to plan a day with production.

How to achieve goals because we had a daily routine towards its achievement.

What some will begin to say is a couple of things:

  1. I don’t have time; my schedule is so full.
  2. I won’t live my life on a time clock.

The first thing we will learn is how to get rid of the “I can’t!” Yes, you can, and together, we will overcome negativity creeping into our thoughts.

Fear:

“Fear can be good when you’re walking past an alley at night or when you need to check the locks on your doors before you go to bed, but it’s not good when you have a goal, and you’re fearful of obstacles. We often get trapped by our fears, but anyone who has had success has failed before.”—Queen Latifah

Let’s touch on this for a moment. Fear is a natural response from within you. Fear moves you out of harm’s way. When your brain begins to feel stress, you will naturally jump back out of fear. “oh, this may hurt me.”

Learn that fear can be overcome with practice. You may fear to speak publicly. However, over time it will become second nature to you. When we do things, enough fear will disappear.

Remember, while learning anything. Ounce, you do anything enough times. When comfortable, fear will simply move away.

Procrastination is the leading cause of failure. Your own ability to get yourself to do nothing. Put off to tomorrow what you need to do right now.

Decide what you want. Plan. Work on that plan every day. Devote yourself to the life you want to have, not the experience you have to have. A significant difference in doing what you want to do versus what you must do!

One of the critical components you will learn in this book, Activity vs. Productivity.

When you master this, life will open in ways, your only option is smile.

We’re going step-by-step to learn how to totally organize our life for success. However, nothing in this book will work unless you are ready to change. You cannot quit because change is hard.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.”–Erma Bombeck

Available on Amazon Click

Resources vs. Resourcefulness

“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your future. Make your hope. Make your love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen… yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.”—Bradley Whitford

In my research, the one common denominator that stood out to me more than anything. Peoples fear a lack of resources. We don’t have the right equipment. I don’t have a proper education. We don’t have enough money.

All great excuses if you don’t want to win. Throw in the towel before you even get in the ring.

Let’s dispel a few things.

The definition of resourcefulness as it appears in the dictionary:

noun

the ability to find quick and smart ways to overcome difficulties.

“his films show remarkable technical resourcefulness.”

You are learning to become clever. If you say you can’t be clever, I am going to scream.

Yes, you can!

Let’s work a couple of scenarios:

You want to start a photography business. You have no gear or at least not too much.

  • Some of the gorgeous photographs taken with a smartphone. Apple®, for example, has photo contests for its products.
  • Have you seen how many commercials shot on the phone? YouTube®
  • Pentax® introduced a new point-n-shoot and shot all the national promotional commercials with it.
  • Rent gear. Several cool shops offer this service for any camera you can think of including Cinema cameras. I should know I rent equipment all the time.
  • Free editing software. I use an editor called Resolve®. It’s free and very robust. Even pay software is not that expensive to use.

With a little research, you can get smart enough to start your business. Besides, most great videographers prefer simple equipment. You don’t need a $50,000 camera to shoot incredible shots. It’s the eye, not the gear! The expensive gear will come, be great the gear companies will come to you!

How about relationships. Who says you can’t find the right person? Say your supper, shy. Social occasions, you freeze, cold sweats, and disaster.

  • In chapter one, we learned volunteers. Do something you are passionate about that helps people. My guess is you do something in your life that you do well, and the shy you fade away. Helping others is a great way to get out of your head.
  • Teach people something. You can go to the library and offer a class. Can you potty train a puppy, do you cook well, can you bowl, what can you do that you could teach someone else to do?
  • Read to kids at the library. Kids are funny and will keep you on your toes.

Find something that will help you strengthen yourself to have confidence. Then we go out and tackle the big fish. Use things you’re comfortable to do to help you develop.

Most people I meet that are shy are afraid of social interaction. Why? Because of a lack of being in that environment. I get there are clinical issues that can go beyond this simple process. What I am suggesting is if you’re comfortable, to try simple things like volunteering. It’s easy to exit these situations if needed.

The more we can put ourselves in situations that allow us to grow from our fear. The less likely we are to fail.

Resourcefulness is fun to challenge the mind to find solutions to the impossible. My favorite comeback when asked what I am doing at work; “I am making Ice Cream out of dog shit.” Talk about resourceful, forget about it.

However, let’s stop for a second. You would have to be resourceful to make ice cream out of dog poo. The extreme that I want to take you too. If we lack in resources, then we better learn to make this ice cream.

How pray-tell do we achieve this smelly task, you ask? Knowledge, read, research, we learn how. Did you know that Warren Buffet reads much of his day? Other veracious readers include Bill Gates and Mark Cuban. My thinking is if these guys gather this much knowledge, seeing what level of success they enjoy. Well, there is something to the power of education.

When we have a lack of resources, maybe gaining knowledge that shows us how to be resourceful to overcome an obstacle will serve us well. Even if we have the resources, would you not prefer to solve a problem vs. writing a check cleverly?

witty, clever, smart

Something I have learned along the way about having funding for a business. Of course, who would not want a million in the bank to begin a business? However, many who start a business with funding often fail. It makes you complacent. Take more risks in advertising, or we need this piece of equipment. When reality says no, you don’t.

Let me share something with you that I thought was one of the most profound statements ever. Robert Stephens, the founder of Geek Squad®, made this vague statement; “Advertising is the TAX you pay for being Unremarkable!”

What does advertising do it begs people to buy your stuff cheaper than anyone else? Have you ever seen a Cartier® commercial that says; THIS SATURDAY ONLY WE’RE BLOWING OUT ALL OUR ENGAGEMENT RINGS AT 50% OFF OUR LOWEST PRICE. Are you kidding me? Cartier® does not even open the store on Saturdays. If you can’t come during the week, you can’t afford to shop there. Moreover, they’re remarkable!

Think about that metaphorically. You could apply this statement for every aspect of your life.

 Are you remarkable?

  • Remarkable Human Being
  • Remarkable Spouse
  • Exceptional Parent
  • Outstanding health

This statement speaks to resourcefulness. People are much more impressed with cleverness than they are any amount of money.

I could hire a ghostwriter, or I can write my books myself. Writing requires me to be smart. If I can’t keep you engaged in the book, I won’t sell to many. Amid this, I still hold down and everyday Joe job that is a stepping stone to my new life.

Learning to become resourceful will help you gain a great many new skills when no choice exists but to do something or try something. As you journey into that abyss, you will retain more because your focus is more.

You can teach yourself to do just about anything. The question is how bad you want your dreams to come true. Are you willing to invest in your success? The question applies to any aspect of your life. A great deal of what I’m writing sounds like a business success story. This information is all-encompassing.

The only way you can ever expect to win is to have more knowledge than the other guy. Allow you the resourcefulness to amaze. When you can solve issues without having to buy your way out or in, my friend that is genius. Who would you do business with a talent or a dude that has a lot of money (keep in mind money comes and goes)? The genius has a higher long-term yield.

Apply this to a relationship. Who will win the girl? The clever man or the guy with money? The clever man will have to work much harder and do even more spectacular things to win a girl’s affection. A good woman is going to weigh out and respect more the guy who must come up with unique ways to make the girl feel special. Money might buy you a good time, may purchase good food, but a resourceful guy wins over the heart.

If people can see your ability to solve problems consistently, that will take you to the finish line every time! Money comes and goes. Intelligence if forever.

I go back to the photography business. It’s not the gear; it’s the photographer’s eye. You can see the subject in a way that inspires. You can give a $50,000 camera to someone that never guarantees a Pulitzer prize.  For that matter, a decent photo.

Being resourceful solving issues, seeing life in a way that you embrace challenge you don’t freeze because things get tough. Seeing the opportunity in all things is our minds destination. For years, I did not, and gave up. No more!

Today I am always looking at how to improve a bad situation. Looking to be resourceful helps me hone my skills.

This is a Chapter out of Tying it All Together. Link to Amazon

book, eBook, paperback book

Tying it All Together, Sneak Peek

This is a little sneak peek from the new book I am working on Tying it All Together. So many books out there that fix this or that. As part of the Life Research Project, we begin to pull all of my books into one. 

What was always lacking for me in self-improvement was solving a little piece of the puzzle when I needed a complete life change, total immersion. 

Enjoy this from a current book project Tying it All Together.

self improvement, self help, life

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”—Thomas A. Edison

First, we get out of our language anything to do with lack. The “I can’t” or “I don’t have” is not part of the English language of your new life.

Second, nay Sayers are just that. People who can’t do a thing themselves and naturally you can’t either if you listen to that bilge. What you’re now looking for are Mentors, people who uplift you.

Throughout history, people have done things that others said could not be done. Or invented things that folks need. All the while, naysayers are “It can’t be done.” Horse hockey!

Limiting beliefs are placed in our sub-conscious over years of saying I can’t. This is also not limited to just that phrase. Years and years of self-defeating language has us convinced we cannot.

Dogpile on top of that, family, friends, managers, whomever, telling you that you don’t have what it takes, you don’t have the education, people who do that are gifted. What? You can teach yourself anything.

Okay, I give. You can’t teach yourself to be a brain surgeon. My point with this statement is I doubt you’re looking to become a brain surgeon, don’t overthink what your ability can or cannot achieve. Start, try, give it a shot, jump, swim, just begin is the point!

So, in this chapter, we’re going to start replacing limiting language and thoughts. How you say, well I have an answer for that. Without this step in the process, later in the book, you will have more difficulty if you don’t make the changes now.

What do we have to change:

  1. Replace limiting thoughts with thoughts of okay how do I achieve this (the what is irrelevant at this point).
  2. Be aware of the language, the words that we use. I can’t, is NO longer a word in your mind’s dictionary. Don’t worry; I am going to share how to get rid of this stuff.
  3. Self-defeating actions. Self-sabotage, and worst of all, procrastination.

There is a lot more to the life changes than just the three I listed. You get a general idea.  As we move through chapters, we will cover a great deal more ground.

For many years we teach ourselves unknowingly that we can’t achieve certain things. Limiting beliefs are ingrained in our subconscious mind over the years. Taking time now to change this old habit and create new ones will take work and time.

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