Prior to beginning Brain Highways, Hazen was enrolled in physical therapy, occupational therapy and vision therapy. He had past diagnoses of: Cerebral Palsy, Lack of Coordination, Sensory Processing Disorder, Deficiencies of Smooth Pursuit and Fusion with Defective Stereopsis (vision processing difficulties).

Hazen would fall down frequently, bump into things, had no visual depth perception, would wake frequently during the night and was up for the day at 5:30am. He would also cry and scream when he would wake from a nap and was inconsolable for up to an hour. He would have frequent meltdowns throughout the day and was fearful of many things. He would also run and throw himself into the couch repeatedly and couldn't slow himself down. I had his IQ tested, and his score was very close to being in the "low" range.

Since beginning Brain Highways: All of Hazen's sensory processing disorders are resolved. He also no longer cries upon waking, will sleep through the night and sleeps past 5:30am. He no longer bumps into things/people and has excellent coordination. He is able to ride a bike without training wheels. He is no longer fearful. He is calm and happy.

I pulled Hazen out of occupational therapy once we began Brain Highways to see how Brain Highways could help him. After seven months of Brain Highways, I took him back to his occupational therapist who was amazed by his progress. I was told that he no longer needs occupational therapy.

He also went back for a visual processing exam, and I was told that he no longer needs vision therapy. His depth perception issues, tracking issues and teaming issues were all resolved.

After nine months of Brain Highways, I took Hazen back in to have his IQ tested. The psychologist and I were both amazed to see that his IQ had jumped 26 points! He no longer qualifies for any of his past diagnoses. He is at the top of his class academically and has many friends.

Brain Highways was by far the BEST program we have ever come across. We will be forever grateful to Nancy, Kiley, and all the Brain Highways staff for guiding and supporting us.

Before beginning Brain Highways, Creed had an intense anger problem. What used to set him off were seemingly small things to his dad and me. If his train cars were not perfectly lined up, someone invaded his space, or he attempted to ride his bike, he would go into a massive rage.

Several times a day, he hit and bit both others and himself. He would scream at the top of his lungs and throw things across the room. We read every book and tried every technique we could think of to help him, but by the time he was four, we were frazzled, overwhelmed, and at times hopeless. We thought we would never have a happy little boy. Instead of maturing out of his tantrums, as many people promised he would, they got worse and more violent.

Thankfully, one day out the blue, a friend mentioned that Creed needed Brain Highways, and she was right! We were willing to try anything at this point. After only a couple of weeks of starting the program, we saw the first ever so slight change. He climbed the rock wall at the park for the first time. That may seem insignificant to some, but it was huge to us. He was always too nervous and cautious to try it before. That was our first glimmer of hope that something was changing.

After a few more months, with a lot of work, and brand new techniques provided by Brain Highways, his fits of anger had almost completely subsided. We were in awe.

Creed is a different kid than he was less than a year ago. He is now able to control his outbursts. Hitting and biting others is a thing of the past. We hadn’t realized how chaotic and tense our home had become until it was peaceful for the first time in years. Our family and friends also marvel at some of the changes they’ve seen, even though they’re unaware of half of what is different!

This brief description doesn’t even scratch the surface of all the changes we’ve seen in Creed. So many of them were behaviors or "ticks" we had no idea were even related to his brain development! Of course, he’s not perfect, and neither are we. But life is completely different now. It’s calm. We can communicate as a family and go out in public without worrying if Creed will be set off by something. We also know that there are still many more changes to come.

We are truly grateful for the opportunity to have gone through the Brain Highways program. We feel it’s helped to give us the family we were hoping for!

When it comes to adoption, many would-be adoptive parents believe that all you need is love. But, in my experience, adopted kids, especially internationally adopted kids, need something more. Love all by itself can’t overcome the trauma of abandonment, institutionalization, and the lack of a family structure during the first months of their lives.

I found out the hard way with Ruby.

After having a biological daughter, we were told by a fertility doctor that the odds of conceiving a second kid weren’t good. Years later, we were on our way home from China with a 10-month-old baby who was not a tiny, docile girl by any means, but 23 pounds of solid muscle with a bulldozer mentality.

Looking back, my first few months with Ruby are a blur. We had some fun times, and I’d take her to Chinatown every Thursday to give her a small taste of the culture she’d left behind.

But other times, it was rough. She screamed so loud that I lost hearing. She would get so upset at naptime that I’d literally have to hold her until she wore herself out and fell asleep. And she launched herself out of three different-sized cribs, until we finally gave up and let her sleep in a bed.

Nights were the worst. She would wake up screaming with night terrors, and I would run her down the street corner, and hold her up to a flashing red stop light, the sight of which would somehow calm her down. Three years went by with no change.

When Ruby was four, I learned what the Brain Highways program was all about. Nancy said that many kids today didn’t get the “tummy time” they need to build their highways because they’re always in a car seat, or a jumper, or stroller, or some other contraption. I instantly flashed on a video I’d seen from Ruby’s orphanage, where babies were propped upright in disabled walkers for feeding. “That’s the key to Ruby!” I exclaimed!

And so, for the next year and a half, Ruby did the Brain Highways program long-distance. She and I hit the floor together—every day. Within a few weeks, the changes were startling:

• The night terrors completely went away.
• The night diaper she used to wear was staying dry, and eventually dispensed with altogether.
• She started wearing a coat when it was cold (a sign of midbrain development) and stood out at gatherings of adopted kids, when she was the only one wearing one.

And there was something else. Little by little, Ruby developed more calmness, a center, a self-confidence. She didn’t always like the exercises, but she liked organizing her brain. And she was proud of it.

But equally profound were the changes in me. You see, the program gave me a way to connect with Ruby like never before. I was actively and excitedly helping her.

Two years later, Ruby qualified as a Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) student.

Today, she’s a straight-A student at Berkeley High School, a camp counselor in training, and a highly sought-after babysitter. In some ways, she’s a typical teenager, but in other, more profound ways, she’s not. I’m very grateful she had the opportunity to rise above her history and become her very best.

Prior to starting Brain Highways, Kevin was in a Special Ed class, mainly due to behavior issues. Although he was never formally diagnosed, it was suggested that he may have ADHD and/or Asperger’s.

The doctor had put him on medication to help him focus and follow directions. He had physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy at school.

But Kevin was still struggling with school, sensory processing issues, and motor skills. He had a terrible time following directions, had frequent meltdowns, and would trip over his own feet. He also had major issues with anger, fighting, and not respecting others’ personal space.

Kevin would be scared of so many things to the point where he could not sleep without a light on in his room. It would take hours for him to get anything we asked done, and he would have multiple temper tantrums, screaming and crying.

Since we started Brain Highways, Kevin has been dismissed from physical therapy and speech therapy. His occupational therapy reports have improved drastically. His handwriting is much more legible.
Kevin has also improved his behavior and grades in class, enough for the IEP team to agree to mainstream him into 6th grade at the start of the school year.

We have reduced his medication to weaning him off all meds. His vision, eye teaming and tracking have improved where he no longer needs his glasses. He sleeps without any lights on now.

Kevin is now able to do his homework without spending hours of screaming, hair pulling, and tantrums. He volunteers to do work and chores at home. He helps with his baby sister, and even on several occasions, changed her diaper to give us a break.

He takes more initiative, like during the snowstorm, he cleaned both cars so we would be ready on time. We have also been able to get out of the house on time to make it to school and work.

We have already seen so many positive changes and improvements. So, we are also excited to see the completely transformed Kevin continue to shine at home, in school, and in life once he has finished organizing his brain.

Before I did Brain Highways, people had to repeat things many times to me. I would always just say, "What? What? What?" until people got mad at me for not hearing them. Also, a lot of times when work was too hard for me, I would just give up and not do it.

When I graduated from Brain Highways, I saw a huge change in my life. People stopped getting frustrated with me because I understood them the first time they told me something. Now, even if I think things are hard, I still give them a try and try to enjoy it instead of "having to do it.”

I finally learned how to solve math problems quickly and more efficiently. I started writing very detailed essays in English, and I learned not to get pressured during sports and to "drop the story" (not start thinking about something bad that happened before).

Thank you, Brain Highways!

Moses had always been an incredibly active child, literally bouncing off the walls. Moses found going to sleep difficult. His speech was slushy and three years of speech therapy did not help.

Moses did not enjoy colouring, drawing, or sitting down to play. At five-years-old Moses was diagnosed with a Sensory Processing Disorder. He began to see an occupational therapist, which was helpful in managing his behaviour; however, it did not deal with the cause.

That is why I love Brain Highways! We have been able to directly address the cause of the Sensory Processing Disorder—namely, incomplete brain development.

Since starting Brain Highways, we have seen Moses’ speech develop exponentially—his language is so clear that I often catch myself in wonder as he is speaking to us. I have had a couple of people comment recently that he has a great vocabulary.

After 20 hours of floor work, Moses drew two of his favourite Star Wars characters from memory. The best part is watching him discover new details in the world around him that he didn’t have the capacity to notice before Brain Highways.

A little example that reveals so much about his progress: Just the other day, Mo said to me, “Mum, when we lived in Australia, I never realised there were different types of cars. I thought they were all just cars. Now I know so many different kinds.” This is true! Every drive in the car, Mo gives a running commentary on what types of cars are driving around us . . . such a sweet example of how the world is becoming richer and more detailed to him.

We feel truly blessed to have been able to embark on the Brain Highways adventure and be the recipients of your knowledge, experience, and wisdom. I believe Moses' life will be forever changed for the better.

Brain Highways is helping Quentin to become more independent. He is more adept at taking care of his own needs, and feels a sense of accomplishment in doing so.

Within the first two weeks of starting the pons course, Quentin began waking up in the morning and (without prompting) dressing himself completely. Prior, he was able to undress himself, but was not able to dress himself without help.

He has also been daytime potty trained for over a year, but he still wore pull-ups for nighttime and wet heavily during the night. At about Week 2 of brain organization, he told me he wanted to wear regular undies to bed, and he stayed dry for two full nights! Dry nights were off and on for a few weeks, but since Week 5, he has stayed dry all night, every night.

Quentin also handles transitions more smoothly and is not as easily over-stimulated when we go into public places. He is a child who previously liked to be in control, but is now able to be more relaxed since his parents have taken charge of the household. He is able to be a kid, and we have been seeing him enjoy that more and more over the past few weeks.

Overall, we are thrilled with the changes we've seen in such a short time, and we can't wait to see what lies ahead as Quentin builds more highways!

Caden was a smart, sweet, ten-year-old boy, who struggled with ADD. He loved learning, but had a hard time at school because he couldn’t accomplish the work and was a huge distraction to other students.

We had been told he was lazy, unfocused, and the worst case of ADD in his teacher’s twenty-year career.

Caden hated reading, could not accomplish chores at home, and seemed to live to annoy everyone around him. But we knew there was a gifted kid underneath this ADD covering.

We started Brain Highways with high hopes, but also with a little skepticism. Why would this help when nothing else had?

We started Brain Highways in the summer, and this school year has been a total reversal. Caden does not disrupt others. He enjoys reading because he can read faster and retain the information. He LOVES to write and has actually started writing a book. He’s on chapter three, and you wouldn’t believe the vocabulary he uses. His national test scores are all at the 99th percentile.

We were surprised that he has also gotten better at sports, sinking basketballs when he couldn’t before. He even picked up his dusty guitar and started to play songs without any lessons or prompting.

Brain Highways has changed our lives for the better.

Kindergarten was hard. First grade was even harder. Lily was having a hard time keeping up with reading and writing in first grade. She wasn't able to focus during circle time and was not only easily distracted, but was distracting others.

In class, seat work wasn't getting done, and homework was a battle. We needed help, and Brain Highways was the answer!

After the first few weeks we began to see amazing changes. Lily's teacher noticed, too! She was able to complete seat work.

After completion of the pons course and a few weeks into the midbrain course, we saw a drastic change in Lily. It was like the switch had been turned on! She was focused during class, was able to sit during circle time, and was reading and writing with ease.

The real testament is that not only can Lily read and write, but she now also enjoys it! She has a new confidence about her that is priceless! Thank you, Brain Highways!

Before I started Brain Highways, I had a really hard time reading, writing and focusing in class. Making mistakes made me very anxious.

I threw a fit at home when I didn’t get my way. I hated yelling, but I still did it. I also didn’t get along with my older brother and used to overreact to everything.

Now, I love reading, and writing is much easier for me. I participated in a reading competition at school with other 4th and 5th graders and was placed in advanced reading for the first time. I never could have done that without Brain Highways.

I don’t overreact or throw fits anymore when I don’t get my way, and when I’m angry about something, I know how to stay in my cortex and calm myself down instead of yelling and making it worse.

I’m not afraid to make mistakes anymore. I know that mistakes are part of learning and really do help me learn more.

The best part of Brain Highways for me is that everyone in my house is calmer and happier!

Prior to beginning Brain Highways, Jayden was a very angry and frustrated boy. Anytime he was asked to do something or asked a question, he wouldn't say anything. He would look down, fold his arms, then a few minutes later would run off crying, screaming, yelling in a rage, and slam the door behind him. Hitting others and throwing toys across the room in anger were other issues. His behavior was very defiant, strong willed, and disobedient.

Jayden also struggled in riding his bike and could not tie his shoes. He was often very quiet and very much to himself. He was sad and angry a lot. When playing with others, it was too rough, and he did not know his own strength.

Jayden was never diagnosed with having any medical conditions. Overall, he was very healthy, aside from his outrageous behavior. We knew we had a strong-willed child on our hands, and it was going to be a hard journey.

After months of heartache, endless discipline, tears, frustration, and anger, we had a breakthrough. After crying and praying and completely at my wits end, something happened! A friend told me to check out Brain Highways. I did and was completely overwhelmed in tears knowing we just may have found our answers.

Since doing Brain Highways, Jayden has become a very loving and compassionate young boy. The fits of rage have ended. There is no more slamming doors, and he is able to articulate and communicate what is on his mind. He loves to tell funny stories, has a great sense of humor, and an amazing imagination.

Jayden has learned to read, tie his shoes, and loves to teach his 4-year-old sister. He is a quick learner and an amazing teacher. He loves to spend time playing with his siblings and realizes his own strength. He now plays well with others. He loves to be with friends and is very artistic. Has a heart and compassion for animals like no other.

When I asked Jayden what’s the best part about Brain Highways, he said, "I can talk now, Mom".

Our son is full of joy, love, and laughter. We no longer have behavioral issues on a regular basis. He knows how to take care of business without fits of rage and in a self-controlled cortex manner. His heart of compassion and love for others is beautiful. Joy has filled his heart again.

The best part of Brain Highways is our lives have changed forever, and we will never go back to the way things once were. Our brains are amazing and can be changed. We are living a new life and know there is so much more to come! We are blessed, grateful, and amazed with who we are and what we were created to be!

Our words cannot express our gratitude and thankfulness for what Brain Highways has done for our entire family. You all are amazing! Thank you, Kiley and your staff, for your love for others. We love you guys!

Looking back, one word describes our lives before Brain Highways—struggle. Evan tried so hard, but everything was clearly so challenging for him.

He would struggle at home, at the grocery store, at a restaurant. Struggle to read and write, to eat dinner, to go to sleep, and to wake up.

And the frustration wasn’t just his. We struggled to give him a sensory-rich diet, to keep him from getting over-stimulated, to keep him calm and safe if he was over-whelmed. Struggled not to lose our tempers. Struggled not to get angry. We knew he had Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD, and we struggled to help him.

The sweet, kind, generous boy who was constantly struggling is now finally free. Evan is the same kid he always was, but so much better. Calmer. Regulated. Focused. Rational. Easy-going.

He’s still physical, but he finds appropriate outlets.

And the change it’s brought to our family . . . well, I don’t know if I can put that into words. Relief? Peace? Joy? Hope? Yes . . . all of those and more.

Sofia used to have a hard time reading and tracking letters, as well as lines. Since Brain Highways, she has become a much better reader. She is now reading age-appropriate books and making way less errors. Her handwriting is also much clearer, as well as her ability to control the paper.

The Brain Highways taking care of business games have been so useful. Many prior sibling arguments and fights have been avoided. Everybody (including mom and dad) are more engaged in their cortex, thus eliminating the constant bickering.

We have seen wonderful changes, and it is especially evident when watching Sofia read!

Prior to beginning Brain Highways, Joshua had just been diagnosed with having an amblyopia eye or a "lazy eye.” His eyes were not "teaming.”

But basic life for Joshua was a struggle. From an early age, his clothing, socks, pants, and tags would bother him. Foods and textures caused a lot of anxiety. He was unable to tie his shoes.

Joshua was constantly moving. He was unable to just sit still for more than five minutes. Doing any form of schoolwork was miserable. He could not read or write without high anxiety, meltdowns, or fits of rage.

Learning anything new was a challenge. He had a very short attention span. He was very easily frustrated and would quit almost immediately with any given task.

Joshua also had a very hard time processing information and was unable to stay on task when asked to do something. For example, when asked to pick up toys, help out his brother, or clean up his room, he would always find something along the way that distracted him, and he would forget what he was asked to do.

At mealtime, Joshua would constantly be moving up or down or get up and walk around. He was unable to sit down to have a meal.

Playing and running around was difficult, as well. He would run into corners and fall down or trip over sometimes nothing at all. His coordination was minimal.

Evenings consisted of having a hard time falling asleep and then waking up numerous times in the middle of the night. He did not want Mom to give him a kiss on his face.

After being diagnosed with amblyopia, we thought vision therapy and thousands of dollars was our only avenue to helping our son. I cried. I prayed, and then it happened.

Two days later, a friend emailed me the Brain Highways website. I watched the videos. I cried again, and I signed up!

Since doing Brain Highways, Joshua no longer has clothing issues. He can tie his shoes and is reading chapter books on his own. He loves to cook and is trying new foods. He can sit down with us at mealtime, and we laugh and talk.

Doing and completing tasks are no longer an issue. He loves to help out wherever we go! We have found new ways to implement schoolwork, and his joy for learning has flourished!

His creativity has exploded. He is an amazing artist with an incredible imagination. He will take on a project and work diligently for long periods of time. He is enthusiastic about life again and has a drive like no other! No doubt he is going to be a world changer! He takes the initiative to resolve issues and is a great leader!

The joy of playing with others is actually joyful now since Joshua no longer trips and stumbles because of lack of balance or coordination. He loves to be kissed and loved on! He no longer struggles with going to sleep and sleeps through the night.

Joshua said the best part about Brain Highways is he can read now. The best part for all of us is basic life is no longer a struggle. We have joy back in our family!

Thanks to Brain Highways, their hearts, time, and dedication to changing lives. Our lives have been changed forever! We are forever grateful.

Wyatt is so much calmer since he started Brain Highways. He used to get mad, sometimes would just blow up when we would say, "Okay, let's get started on our homework.”

He would actually go into such a meltdown that he would hit and kick us, turn over furniture, and throw things. Yet, this was so out of character for him because he was usually easy going, and in school, he was a model citizen.

But since completing the pons course, there are no more meltdowns or any of the over-the-top behaviors he used to have since he’s no longer having to compensate (we didn’t understand that before) for incomplete lower brain development.

Wyatt now goes with the flow and is using the tools given to him in the class and materials provided. Wyatt will tell you that he likes Brain Highways because he feels it has improved his basketball skills, but he also says he is doing better in math at school.

Wyatt used to sometimes struggle with new concepts in math and would only comprehend the new skill after several tries. Now, we see that he grasps skills on the first introduction, flies through his basic math facts, and has gained incredible confidence in math. He also is self-motivated in reading and now even reads when we are driving in the car.

Wyatt knows we are having a party this weekend, so he came home from school, grabbed a bucket with soap and water, a rag, and went to work wiping off all of the tables and chairs on the patio. We didn't mention we were going to do this or that this chore needed to be done. He just took care of business and recognized our need to clean the patio. So powerful.

We took Nate to the Brain Highways’ screening to “test” the system. He was the one we considered as our “good” child and didn’t have concerns for him. At the screening, we came to realize that Nate’s anxiety was a product of underdeveloped lower centers of his brain.

During our courses at Brain Highways, we also realized that Nate would not defend himself when bullied by his brother. Now that Nate has completed 160 hours of floor time, we see how much his confidence has improved. He talks more readily with those around him. He defends himself with his brother (and others). He speaks up for what he believes in. He takes initiative to complete homework independently. He is an avid reader.

Nate has even returned to playing baseball, is confidently handling the stress of competition, and is excelling at the sport, too! As Nate said one time, “Just because you’re smart in school doesn’t mean you don’t need Brain Highways!” —and he was right!

When Alexia was 22 months old, we found out that she had a condition called Auditory Neuropathy. She was profoundly deaf in one ear and severely deaf in the other.

When she was three years old, she got her cochlear implant, which dramatically improved her hearing. But her speech was severely delayed. Things still didn't seem right, and we sought help from our health care provider. At the age five, it was confirmed that Alexia was on the autism spectrum.

When we started Brain Highways, Alexia's was 12 years old. Her verbal communication was limited to three to five word sentences, which only occurred when prompted. She would get frustrated very easily, often times resulting in a complete "meltdown.”

Homework, which usually consisted of spelling, math (addition and subtraction problems), and reading, was always a challenge to complete. Her eye contact was virtually none existent which made it hard to "connect" with her.

Alexia has now been creeping and crawling for approximately 40 hours. The first thing we began to notice (after approximately 20 hours of creeping) was that Alexia started making eye contact with us every time we spoke with her. That gift alone was enough! But it didn't stop there. The "meltdowns" we had experienced before were not happening as often nor were they as intense.

Alexia now regularly does her homework without being told. We have noticed an improvement in the legibility of her written work, and she looks forward to writing her stories for speech class. She is now speaking in complete sentences, initiating conversations with people, and asking questions when she is curious about something. She has also started reading more and when reading aloud, she is much easier to understand.

The changes in Alexia have been wonderful, and as we progress through the program, we are sure we will be seeing more!

Kids are supposed to have fun . . . doing anything. But, when Tegan was three, this was his life—crying when I dropped him off with grandma and grandpa; crying when I dropped him off at school; freezing during performances with his class; hiding when meeting someone new; taking forever to “warm up” at the park before playing; afraid to join the team during practices. He couldn’t even blow out his own birthday candles at his 3rd birthday because he was frightened by all the people, even though it was all family.

In fact, there wasn’t much that didn’t present worry—for Tegan and therefore myself.

My worry—what was going to happen when he started kindergarten? How would he keep up? How would he be able to stand out in a class full of so many kids when he had such little confidence?

Yet, after only a short time developing his pons, the REAL Tegan emerged. I always knew it was there because I would see his confidence, humor, and intelligence in so many other ways during the day. Without those highways in place, however, it was almost impossible for him to be able to show the rest of the world.

So, with about 75 hours of pons and midbrain development, what actually happened the first day of kindergarten? He SHINED with CONFIDENCE! He walked into that classroom with his brain wired and ready to learn. Absolutely enjoying every moment without stressing or worrying about . . . anything. Each teacher conference has been nothing but positive remarks about him both academically and socially. He even took on a speaking role in his class performance.

But it’s not just at school where Tegan shines. He just finished his first flag football season, which he totally loved and is eager to try more sports and camps. He loves to ham it up just about anywhere he goes and is quick to say a witty punch line.

He’s also now curious about all of life around him. He wants to go zip lining. He loves having play dates. My husband and I went on vacation for over four days and he had a blast while we were gone—no stress—no worries—just pure joy as a kid.

I know some people might think he just out-grew everything. But, if that’s the case, then why are there so many kids in his kindergarten class (and even older) who still have the behaviors that he did . . . as a preschooler?

So now, as Tegan finishes up kindergarten, we work to finish his midbrain development. That way, Tegan never has to experience walking into a classroom without an organized brain—and all the struggles that might come without having the highways in place. Rather, he can approach each new challenge with a brain that is working at its fullest potential so he can truly shine!

When I had originally looked into Brain Highways I was looking into it for Abi’s older brother. As I watched the videos on the website, there were a few things that reminded me of my daughter. The biggest one was the fear of literally everything—the dark, strangers, being alone, going to the bathroom, the flush of the toilet, etc. It was almost crippling her.

She also wouldn’t play outside without someone with her. She had to sleep with full lights on and often got up and went to our room to sleep. She couldn’t go into her own room if it was dark. I couldn’t go to the restroom alone, and if I tried, she would sit outside the door and impatiently wait for me. If I took too long, she would begin to cry.

She also did this funny thing when she was reading. She would tilt her head slightly or tilt the book or paper to read it. I didn’t know it at the time that she was only using one eye to read with and this was her way of compensating for poor eye teaming.

We also knew she was an incredibly smart girl, but she would become very frustrated if she struggled in the least bit with understanding any new material. And then, there was the shyness. That was probably the worst for us. She was afraid to try anything new, afraid to speak in any new situation and would get so upset and cry if she was asked to do something unfamiliar.

Long past is that little girl. Abi is constantly trying new things. Her latest challenge, she wants to learn the guitar and because of all her new highways she is picking it up very quickly. She can’t wait to be in the 6th grade so she can be part of the drama program! She is determined to learn Spanish and sign language. She is outgoing, funny, sweet, and kind. She speaks her mind in all sorts of situations and is up for new adventures and challenges.

She no longer tilts her head or the materials to read. She remains calm when faced with new material at school. She is the head of her class and loves to take on class leadership responsibilities, even being a teacher’s aid when an unknown substitute comes into class.

She was determined to be the first girl in Colorado to graduate from both creeping and crawling, and our darling girl met that goal. She wasn’t embarrassed at all that all eyes were on her. She was proud of her accomplishments.

Brain Highways helped her develop her cortex in a way that the world is able to experience her more fully and completely. I am so glad we had her screened, as well, and put in the work when it would have been so easy to dismiss her issues as minor or “normal.” Our little girl is incredible, and the entire world is able to see that now, especially Abi.

Prior to starting Brain Highways, we weren’t really sure what was wrong with John. Although he had no formal diagnosis, he struggled with transitions, had no bilateral coordination, would perseverate on a thought for what seemed like forever, and it felt like he was zoned-out in his own little bubble a lot of the time.

His verbal skills were nowhere close to how other kids his age were talking, and he was very clumsy. He would bite and hit us when he was frustrated. His meltdowns were frequent and lengthy. He rarely made eye contact with us. He was also seeing a physical therapist at his preschool because he had retained primitive reflexes.

Since starting Brain Highways, John seems like a different kid. He is expressive. He talks all the time, and his language skills have vastly improved. John can now jump and pedal a bike. Transitioning is a breeze now, and he can almost dress himself with no help.

While we still have more highways to build, we couldn’t be happier with the progress John has made over the last year. John himself puts it best when he says he likes how it feels when “his big boy brain is in charge!”

Before Brain Highways, I was having trouble completing assignments and keeping up with my schoolwork, as well as just remembering what I was supposed to do. I got angry often and would have outbursts. I tried to be an adult in our family and not the kid that I am.

Now I am not getting as angry. I pause and count to ten and take care of business with those around me. I am being a kid and enjoying my family more. My memory is improving, and I am keeping up with my assignments on my own.

I also have gotten over my nighttime fear/compulsion routine for getting ready to go to bed.

As early as 17 months, Koa seemed to react to every situation with alarm. He saw everything as an emergency—another child brushing against him on the playground, tripping and falling on the sidewalk, dropping a fork on the floor at dinner, spilling food or water on his clothing, a Lego toy coming apart—the list goes on.

Koa would literally run around making an alarm sound, or he would constantly interrupt me so he could explain every alarming situation. I sensed this reaction was something that was beyond his control. I always felt like it was so challenging for him to just relax and have fun. I felt like he was missing out on being a kid!

As a 3 and 4-year-old, his little “alarm sound” turned into temper tantrums when he got upset (which was a lot of the time). He would go in his room, throw all his bedding on the floor, make growling noises, and tell us he was running away (at 3-years-old!).

As a baby and toddler, Koa avoided many sensory experiences, such as walking on the beach, walking through grass, driving with the window down, eating certain foods, and wearing tight clothing. He avoided roller coasters and many other amusement park rides. His first trip to Disneyland was a sensory nightmare for him.

Koa felt uneasy up high on any ladder or slide at the playground and would literally shake as he attempted to climb. He also had extreme difficulty with gross and fine motor development throughout preschool. Opening packages, dressing himself, pressing buttons, using scissors, and holding any writing tool were so uncomfortable and unnatural for Koa. I also thought it was unusual that he still wet his bed at 5-years-old.

As an elementary school teacher, I was sure something was “going on” with my child, but wasn’t sure what it was. He was so incredibly intelligent, yet his basic functions didn’t reflect his intellect.

When he started kindergarten, his teacher was perplexed as to why such a smart kid couldn’t even draw a picture, write any numbers, or even write a simple sentence. I just knew at that moment that I had to do something different. For two years, a mom had mentioned that I check out the Brain Highways website and my response was always, “No, I’m working with Koa at home.” Finally, I listened!

After taking the pons and midbrain classes at Brain Highways and completing 100 hours of floor time, my son Koa has changed in countless ways! What stands out most to all to those who know Koa is his newfound calmness. Now, he enters each situation with calmness and confidence. When he goes to parties, restaurants, or school, he is no longer in a constant state of alarm. He doesn't come and interrupt me every five minutes, and he can finally just have fun and be a kid!

If he does get upset about something, it no longer turns into a tantrum. He still has feelings, but he can manage those emotions. I never thought I would see the day when Koa would spontaneously grab paper and pencil to express himself, but he does that now! He draws, writes stories, and colors without my direction or encouragement. He actually loves it.

When Koa was two, I set up a little desk area equipped with paper, pencils, crayons, markers, paint, and scissors so that he could be creative and experiment. I imagined that he'd make things . . . anything, but he never touched it. That desk just sat there for three years—unused. Until now! He makes cards, posters, books, signs, and lengthy stories. The other night, we even had a family coloring night.

Before we started the program, I would've said, "He's a boy. Boys don't like to write and color as much as girls." Not true! He just didn't have the highways for it.

He also learned to tie his shoes. He can open most any package, and he has stopped wetting his bed.

Koa also rides roller coasters now! We’ve had annual passes to Legoland since Koa was a year old and never went on any of the roller coasters with him until this year . . . he’s six!

He now loves climbing play structures, ladders, trees, and rocks, and he doesn’t shake at all. As a teacher, I know change is possible with typical maturation, but not this amount of change in such a short period of time.

I am awestruck when Koa shows us he is capable of something new or that something that used to be a big deal is no longer a big deal. It's like his mind and body are free to do things he never thought possible . . . that we all never thought were possible.

Going back to organize the lower centers of the brain has allowed Koa to do things without fear, anxiety, or inhibition. The potential is unlocked.

I can't wait to see what the future holds for Koa and our family! Isn’t that what we all want for our children?

Before Brain Highways, I was a very different person. I used to talk back to my parents all the time, felt angry without knowing why, and always fought with my little brother. I also had to be asked multiple times to do things. I used to yell and slam doors when I got angry.

I have autism, and I process information slowly, which made it really hard to keep up in school. My autism also makes it hard to do things, but Brain Highways has made it easier. School has gotten easier because I understand instructions much better now.

I participated in my first “team” sport ever and really enjoyed it. It’s also much easier to make new friends, and I made several this year.

I’m not angry like I used to be, and I’m getting along with my little brother much better now. I stay calm when I get mad and no longer “trash talk” and throw tantrums when my favorite sports teams lose.

It’s also easier to try new things because I now believe in myself that I can do it if I always try my best.

Aidan started receiving occupational therapy and physical therapy at the age of two. He has been diagnosed with low muscle tone and Sensory Processing Disorder. He has always struggled with handwriting, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills, in general. Even though he is super smart, he struggled in school with completing his work and organizing himself.

Since starting Brain Highways Aidan reports," I love to write now!" His handwriting is now legible and he will write an entire page versus one sentence. School is much easier for him, and he does homework without complaining.

We have "built into the structure" so that Aidan is getting the proprioception and sensory input he needs both at home and school. He is remembering to bring home his water bottle this year which tells me his organization is improving!

A surprising benefit is that Aidan now has an appetite and recognizes when he is hungry! We have struggled for years to get him to eat. At the age of seven, I could count on one hand the number of times he came to me and said, "Mom I'm hungry." He now comes home from school and eats dinner and then has dinner again a few hours later. He is also developing a sense of rhythm and really enjoys music class!

Before enrolling in the online program, Seth was locked away in his own world due to a series of stroke activity and oxygen deprivation early in life. At the time of enrollment, he had gained some mobility, but was profoundly developmentally delayed.

Beyond scripting/echolalia, Seth was pretty much nonverbal, felt no pain, constantly spun around, and crashed into everything. He couldn't even move his head from left to right, had poor muscle tone, saw a variety of therapists weekly, and wasn't toilet trained at 5.5 years old.

His sensory, visual, and auditory processing were poor, and his oxygen saturation remained severely low. We weren't given much hope and can't tell you the number of doctors that couldn't help us or even provide a diagnosis that would fit. None of them seemed optimistic that Seth would have much of a quality of life. We spent thousands of dollars and thousands of hours researching treatments. Somehow, we never gave up searching, and kept believing, he wasn't too far-gone, and we could find something that would help.

Since our family began building highways (yes, our entire family) nearly two years ago, we have seen such dramatic improvements in Seth. Yes, our story is extreme, and we have had a longer journey than most, but the results are irrefutable, dramatic, and have been absolutely amazing!

Today, Seth makes his bed, dresses and feeds himself, is toilet trained, ties his shoes, rides his bike, helps with chores, is incredibly generous and compassionate to others, and—a parent favorite—sleeps through the entire night in his own bed.

He continues to try new foods, new activities, is flexible with routines, and transitions easily. Perhaps one of the other favorite changes we've witnessed in Seth is an explosion in communication. Two years ago on Mother's Day, he hadn't yet said "I love you,” couldn't look me in the eye, and would repeat what I said. But he could not express his own thoughts. This Mother's Day, not only did Seth look me in the eye and share his love for me in his own words, but answered my "why" questions with curious and imaginative responses. He can now carry on full-blown conversations, loves learning, regularly joins us in our world, such as playing games, telling jokes, and engaging us in discussions about whale sharks or presidents.

Seth’s doctors are amazed by the radical changes in him, including integrating retained primitive reflexes, stabilized oxygen saturation, and overall increased muscle tone.

Seth now really wants friends, connects deeply with family members, and loves giving presentations in front of his peers, without fear or hesitation. As parents, we have renewed hope and with 100% confidence know that our son is an overcoming champion with limitless potential.

Parents who have lost hope: Please don't think that your child is too far-gone or too severe to benefit from this program. You will learn tools that will help you see your child's potential, the importance of your role as a leader and facilitator, and will learn so much about the brain's amazing abilities to make connections, organize, and change.

Recently, my husband and I were on a marriage retreat and were able to see first hand the power of hope and dropping the story (a Brain Highways reference to staying in the present, rather than rehashing the past). We were with other parents of kids with special needs, and they described their children by their diagnosis, not other adjectives like bright, funny, curious, and creative. Instead, we heard: High functioning, on the spectrum, Autistic, Asperger’s, cerebral palsy.

They asked us about Seth and we (at the very same moment) blurted out: "He's our overcoming champion!" We talked about his love for learning, curious nature, amazing spirit, etc.

They probed. "No, what's his diagnosis?" My husband said, "We are working on brain organization and neuro function due to a series of strokes and oxygen deprivation early in life."

"So, is he on the spectrum? Does he have SPD? Do you have a Katie Beckett waiver? How many therapists do you have?"

We both just said that we believe the brain can change. Nothing is impossible. We were no longer comfortable with labels, especially when the doctors can't even agree. I love how my husband explained that we don't define our experience by a diagnosis, and how today, we are now ambassadors of hope and Brain Highways.

Nancy was right. The strokes are a part of our past story, and sometimes we struggle between what was said over him, versus our reality now. This morning, during our conversations with other parents, it even more solidified our desire to spread the word about Brain Highways. We just forget how powerful hope is. It's so critical! Our children need hope-filled leaders, not beat-down zombies. Brain Highways makes that possible.

Before we started Brain Highways, we had several concerns about Ellis and how he interacted with his peers. He wouldn’t acknowledge when a person was talking to him. Instead of responding with a simple “hello,” he would look away and act like there was nobody around. He would never look people in the eye, and he would very rarely use a person’s name when speaking directly to them.

Not only did we notice social behaviors that seemed a bit “off”, but we also noticed that he was very slow at many things (tying shoes, answering questions, etc.). Daily organization (getting ready for school) was a huge task for him that took hours to complete. He was forgetful and many times would not bring the correct homework home from school, or he would forget to stay after school for a weekly activity (band or choir).

These events would trigger negative self-talk, and he would become easily depressed. He was a kid who seemed to always be in his “own little world.” Because of this, we were always fearful that he would not be aware of his surroundings and end up seriously injured. We felt like he would always be dependent on us and not lead a productive life.

Since beginning Brain Highways, we have noticed several changes. He gets ready and out the door in less than 30 minutes with very little prompting from us. His memory has increased exponentially. He no longer forgets activities and is the one reminding me of what is on the agenda for the day.

He no longer talks down on himself. We now feel that he is a responsible young man and have given him some pretty big tasks that he has openly accepted (mowing the lawn and babysitting his younger siblings).

His humor has emerged, and his teachers comment on what an outgoing and quick-witted kid he is. At our year-end ice cream social and yearbook signing, Ellis addressed his friends by their names and was always the first to go out of his way to talk to someone. I have never seen this happen! Later that evening he came running up to me, very excited, and said "Mom, NOW I know why I don't know a lot of these people's names even though they know mine. I met them BEFORE I had my highways in place!"

Sabrina is a beautiful little girl with a diagnosis of autism.

Before Brain Highways, Sabrina had difficulties with her reading and writing. She is in first grade, but she was at reading level 2. Basically, by the end of first grade, she is supposed to be at level 21. We could not understand why she was not able to see some of the words like of, the, it, she, he, etc. when trying to read.

She also had trouble with her penmanship. We could barely see or read what she wrote.

Within two weeks of Brain Highways, we were able to read her handwriting. She was able to put more pressure on the pencil. Her reading improved within 4-5 weeks of Brain Highways. Currently (four months since starting Brain Highways), she is now at reading level 11.

Before Brain Highways, Sabrina had trouble using her words in a sentence, and she would always whine or point to objects that she wanted. She understood everything we said, but she would refuse to respond or ask questions.

Within a few weeks of Brain Highways, she would use full sentences like, “l want to eat pasta, or “I want some milk, please.” Even today, she has not plateaued on her speech. Every day, we are amazed with the words she comes up with.

Before Brain Highways, Sabrina had difficulties going up and down the stairs without having to hold on the rail. When she started Brain Highways, Sabrina even had trouble with creeping. She couldn’t roll to the left or the right. In fact, the neurologist stated that she had trouble isolating her movements.

Within a couple of weeks of Brain Highways, Sabrina carried a bag of her stuffed animals up and down the stairs without holding onto the rail. We were quite surprised how independent she had become.

We didn't get to witness this, but the teacher emailed us and told us that Sabrina jogged/walked a complete lap without giving up. Everybody cheered her to finish line. My heart swelled with joy when I heard this.

Today, she can run (Sabrina's style), jump with both feet, perform some yoga movements (downward dog, child pose), raise her knee and touch it, touch her nose with her index finger. She can go to the zoo up to three hours, without using the stroller.

Before Brain Highways, we were not sure whether Sabrina was aware of surroundings. She did not want to go anywhere or even get out of the car.

The best day of our life was when she asked us to take her to the zoo or Sea World because she wanted to see the animals. One day, she would ask us to take her to see the zebras (which are now her favorite). Another day, she would ask us to take her to Sea World so she could see the Orcas. She was fascinated with the Orcas swimming in the big tank. She wanted to touch the dolphins and starfish. It was almost like she was finally waking up and wanted to soak in her surroundings. She was also able to deal with all the stimulation without asking to go home. Sabrina even started asking to go to birthday parties.

Before Brain Highways, Sabrina had difficulties looking at us in the eyes. She would avoid our eyes at all cost. Within a few weeks of Brain Highways, she was able to look at us (without us prompting her) and communicate with us without any difficulties. Now she wanted to play with other children and would attempt to ask them to play with her.

Overall, there are so many improvements in Sabrina in all areas. As Nancy stated, “Start dreaming of a very different future.” Yes, I can now dream of what Sabrina can be. Every day, we see a slight improvement in all areas.

I am so happy to have Brain Highways in our life. Thank you for keeping up with us.

David used to be extremely impulsive and not think about the consequences. He has stopped that behavior and now uses his cortex to think things through.

David used to cry and have meltdowns whenever he felt frustrated with somebody or something. This has dramatically improved as he now has tools to deal with his frustration. He will take a walk, squeeze a rubber ball, and engage in some proprioception or vestibular activities. He understands what "never-ever" behaviors are, as well as the reasons why they are not tolerated.

David is much calmer and able to control his impulsivity.

Brain Highways has also given our family a multitude of information to deal and help with organization, eye tracking, as well as auditory activities.

Prior to Brain Highways, Everett had difficulty attending library events, concerts, or other group functions due to sensory overload. At these events, he was typically hyper and disturbed the children around him with impulsive/aggressive behavior. Everett also had high anxiety regarding school assignments and assessments.

Now, thanks to Brain Highways, Everett's anxiety over homework assignments and assessments has diminished. He is able to complete all his required school assessments, and his handwriting has greatly improved.

He enjoys interacting with his peers, uses his words to communicate frustration, and can calmly attend group functions. He even surprised us by singing and playing an ukulele solo for his classmates.

Previously, any type of performance invoked a tremendous amount of anxiety.

When Ben was four years old, we took him to the pediatrician to address the many concerns, including: talking too loudly, troubles sleeping (he would curse and yell in his sleep), troubles at preschool (stomping his feet and making faces at his peers), yelling/cursing/spitting on family members, significant anxiety when others would greet him (he would stand behind me and growl), difficulty tolerating light touch, squealing, extreme language, rigidity to rules/routines, and the cyclical nature of his days (he would just wake up some days and be struggling more).

We were referred to mental health, who mentioned ADHD and mood disorder, but they couldn’t offer us any suggestions on how to help him. As a speech-language pathologist, I sought out the help of colleagues such as OTs, PTs, school psychologists, and other SLPs.

When we found the Brain Highways website one day, it was as if a light had been turned on in what seemed to be a very dark and confusing tunnel.

After 150 hours of floor time so far, we have seen a lot of changes in Ben. He sleeps better at night. He is excelling in school academically, has become an avid reader, and completes homework readily.

Ben also now tolerates riding in the car, and seems to be getting carsick less frequently. He interacts less physically with his brother. He responds to directions more readily and calms himself more quickly.

The biggest compliments that we receive from family members and close friends who have watched this transformation is that Ben seems happier and will more confidently talk to others now, even initiating conversations!

We can’t wait to see the other ways our champion will shine.

Before beginning Brain Highways in January 2010, Bianca had mobility and learning issues because of her cerebral palsy (left side hemiplegia), epilepsy (with occasional seizures, despite taking medication), learning delays, and attention problems. At school, she struggled with verbal communication, reading, and writing. So, we decided to take her out of school to do an intensive program of brain reorganization (Brain Highways).

Within the first six months of creeping and crawling, Bianca went from being a child who answered questions monosyllabically to being a very talkative child, who would express herself well on her own initiative. During these months, she was seizure-free, which prompted us to gradually reduce and ultimately stop her medication altogether.

Now, after 800 hours of brain work, Bianca no longer suffers from epileptic seizures, and her improvements have also been dramatic. She is more mature and calm in interpersonal interactions, overall more patient and less impulsive.

Bianca is able to focus for long periods of time doing her homework and handcrafts—she has beautiful handwriting and is able to express thoughts and feelings through her writing.

She has learned to ride a two-wheeled bike and rides through the streets of Shanghai confidently and enthusiastically. She is more independent in self-care and participates more in household chores, like making her bed, putting away her clothes, setting the table, and loading the dishwasher.

We think that these years of brain work have significantly contributed to the growth we see in our daughter. Bianca still faces challenges, but we look forward to achieving her full potential through more brain work.

Noah was diagnosed with high functioning autism, severe ADHD, and severe auditory processing disorder. He was functioning at about a 1st grade level with a lot of assistance when we started Brain Highways. He was on four medications to help control his moods and stabilize his aggression and anxiety. Our family was held captive by his moods and behaviors, never knowing what would set him off and how his aggression would manifest itself. If he hurt himself, that would set off inconsolable crying, and screaming for several minutes.

On the day of writing this, I was downstairs watching our champion Noah do his creeping. He went from barely being able to go a few feet to being able to creep for 30 minutes without breaking a sweat.

Today, Noah mowed the grass and even asked, “Mom does this look okay?” before he finished. He is able to keep his bathroom clean and neat. He does his own hair and gets himself ready for school and to his bus without me even being home. He remembers what day of the week it is, when he is going to his dad’s house and when he has his weekly appointments or events at school. He is helpful with his younger siblings, especially the two youngest. It is not uncommon to see him helping them find their shoes, reading them stories, or pushing them on a swing. He takes just one medication now.

When Noah finds himself frustrated, he is able to calm himself down and make cortex choices instead of hitting, slamming doors or breaking toys. He talks a lot about his need to quiet his mind, and he is now able to take space, as he needs it. He is also actively working to manage his anger and frustration and looking for ways to use his cortex instead of his baby brain. When he hurts himself, he no longer has a meltdown and screams. He will calmly tell us what happened and what hurts and what he thinks he needs to help him feel better. He usually is able to joke around about it, even if there is blood involved.

At his IEP meeting, we found out that Noah has made a 2.5 year leap academically and is now working at a 4th grade level. His handwriting is not only legible, but he is also able to write in cursive, draw amazing cartoon characters, make hilarious videos, and write very detailed pieces. He is increasingly more thoughtful to those around him and will buy us gifts with his own money, ask how we are feeling and how our days went. These are all things he wasn’t able to do when we arrived at Brain Highways.

I joke and say we have therapied him to death. I am so glad I have never given up on trying new things.

When I heard about Brain Highways, for me, it just made sense, and I was willing to put in the work to help the world see what an incredibly brilliant boy Noah is. Two hundred hours later (of the brain work), I have never regretted that decision.

As a friend commented recently, “Noah is a completely different child.” This is by far been the best investment we have ever made for not only Noah, but our entire family. It has been the most affordable and yielded immeasurable results.

We are excited to see what other changes will come as Noah works to complete his brain organization.

We love getting to know our son with all his new highways in place. I don’t know what we would have done without Brain Highways.

Jack was diagnosed with severe Sensory Processing Disorder when he was 18-months-old. He struggled with social interactions and eye contact, was unable to sit still, had extreme difficulties with sleeping and potty issues, and avoided most foods. He was labeled failure to thrive and developed severe food allergies and eczema. He also had extreme meltdowns, chewed on his clothes, and was unable to control his body.

As his mother and an early childhood educator, I knew that early intervention was key. I called Child Find, the State of Colorado's early intervention program and he started occupational therapy at 1 ½ years old.

After two years of occupational therapy, he started preschool. Keep in mind he attended the preschool where I work, and his grandmother is the director. Therefore, he should have been extremely comfortable because we spent a lot of time there on the weekends playing, even when he was an infant.

On his first day, he hid under the table and rolled a car in front of his face for two hours. I was heartbroken. After four weeks, this behavior continued, and he also had extreme meltdowns and refused to go to the bathroom in the potty. He would hide in the corner and cry. He was extremely anxious, and we felt hopeless. I was worried he would never be able to attend a regular school, and we talked about getting him an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) for children with special needs.

Then, one of our preschool families told me about Brain Highways. I was VERY skeptical, but figured that nothing else was working, so why not try?

The changes were almost instant. In two years of traditional therapy, we saw very little results. In four weeks of Brain Highways, Jack was pooping on the potty, he was interacting with others, saying hi to people in the grocery store, trying new foods, and sleeping through the night!! His preschool teacher said she had never seen such drastic changes in a child.

He is now in Pre-K, and his teacher said he is ready for kindergarten. He was also released from the Child Find Program after three months of Brain Highways. They said that he no longer needed any type of therapy.

We are so optimistic about his future, and it is all thanks to this program. As an educator, we have told many people about this program and they have also seen amazing changes in their children! We love Brain Highways!!

Before Brain Highways, this awesome kid was in speech therapy, Special Ed at his charter school, and we were teetering on the brink of having a diagnosis given so that he could receive even more services because the gap in social and academic checklists was growing.

At home, he was whining and complaining all day and a picky eater. Loud noises were frightening and painful, while other distorted fears plagued his daily life.

Since organizing his brain, Joseph has had so many changes. His reading has gone from not being able to read at all without memorizing the book to opening up a beginning reader and reading it with no help!

His eye highways are starting to come in line. From cub scouts, he went from missing his target with his bb gun at camp in August 2013 (before Brain Highways) to hitting all shots on the target and two in the bull’s-eye in April 2014 (after 80 hrs of the brain work).

Joseph can now try new foods without a meltdown. There is no more daily whining, and he has conquered one of his distorted fears of the dark by playing outside with boys his age at the park!

We love organizing our brains!

Lance had several diagnoses from professionals regarding behavior and academics; however, we always knew that there was something "out there" that would work for Lance.

We initially steered away from the usual drugs and tried acupuncture, herbs, O.T. (Occupational Therapy), meditation, private schools with small class settings, and several other things instead. All of those helped a little, but we saw minimal progress.

Lance had almost daily meltdowns, problems with peers at school, issues on the playground, issues in a private music class, difficulty focusing, and the list goes on. We knew in our hearts this was not who Lance truly is. We knew that he was not able to show the world the beauty in his heart and his truly loving, kind nature.

So, we decided to give the ADHD drugs a shot. That lasted two weeks—three different prescriptions—but it was a disaster.

Next, we went to a psychologist because we wanted to find out about using something called EMDR. She listened to us and suggested that we look into a program called Brain Highways as she had seen it really help some kids she knew who had similar struggles to Lance. We did our research and found that the program sounded promising, went to the screening orientation, and decided to sign up.

To say this program has transformed our lives is an understatement. Many of the above issues are gone or diminished. Lance is now calmer, and we see him choosing activities that he could never focus on previously. For example, he is choosing chapter books and is able to sit down and read.

As Lance continues to grow and learn to use the tools shown to him in Brain Highways, we see changes, all for the positive. He has been making great progress in all academic areas in school, and we are confident he will continue to shine and show the world who Lance really is.

We are starting to see the real Lance emerge as he finds calmness and happiness in his daily life. We just received a note from Lance’s teacher because she wanted to share that she had observed him make 21 positive comments to his classmates during the course of one lesson. He has also earned an award that he had been wanting to get all year long.

Lance has many days now . . . where he is just beaming.

Diagnosed at age two with a Sensory Processing Integration Disorder and with severe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and anxiety at age 6, Ashur struggled with many things other kids his age continually told him were “fun”—learning to read, throwing or kicking a ball, coloring and painting, and writing stories.

He didn’t want to write or even draw, because his hand hurt so much from holding his pencil too tightly. He refused to read, but begged for stories to be read to him.

His highly creative drive did not stop him from trying, and Mom and Dad encouraging him to express himself in his own way. He played Minecraft, memorized songs, danced, sang and loved to snuggle. He was a whiz at math and had a laugh that could part the grayest of Colorado storm clouds.

Ashur’s potential for greatness was bubbling just under the surface, but his struggles kept him from feeling confident enough to try new things. He was never sure of himself in his own body, or in a space with other people. His unorganized and underdeveloped pons and midbrain meant Ashur needed (with great urgency) to always be moving his body, to wiggle in his seat or sit on one foot or tap his pencil or chew on his fingernails or touch EVERYTHING in sight. This created a great deal of anxiety for those around him who did not truly grasp what a special kid he was.

Transitions needed at least a 10-minute warning and several layers of bribery or huge distractions to mitigate tempter tantrums and meltdowns. Loud noises, such as hand dryers, created such fear in him. He refused for nearly two years to even go into a bathroom in public because of what it might contain.

Unfortunately, as Ashur got older, it did not get easier. School became an absolute nightmare. Within a week of starting kindergarten, he was forced from a full-day program to a half-day program simply because the administration and teachers were not equipped and unwilling to find ways of accommodating Ashur’s needs.

As school progressed, teachers reported he was easily distracted, that he never finished his work, negotiated his way out of assignments and class work, and he was incredibly defiant when asked to participate or just said, “Huh?” when asked questions. Teachers said he didn’t listen to instructions, even when they were looking right at him. They’d let him just zone out, because it meant he wasn’t melting down and bringing the entire classroom with him.

After starting Brain Highways and moving to a new school where his needs are accepted and his strengths encouraged and supported, Ashur has learned to love to read and is now doing so far above his grade level. He has learned that writing and coloring can be fun, and crayons aren’t specifically designed to break, and pencils don’t have to hurt your hand.

He can’t wait to develop his brain even more, so riding his bike is easier, that learning to swim is not something that terrifies him, but excites him. He’s found that making friends is easy and rewarding and making people laugh is far superior to annoying them.

He no longer avoids eye contact, tries new foods—even if he doesn’t think he’ll like it, whereas before, even the thought of something he didn’t know was so anxiety inducing he often would refuse to eat at all. He is currently working on his writing and letter sounds because he wants to write a book about swords and to make his own board game. His body, though still nearly constantly in motion, is no longer the wrecking ball it once was. With more coordination and spatial awareness and confidence, he wants to play sports, hike, play on the monkey bars and most of all, he reports, he wants to teach his baby sister to creep and crawl to develop her brain, so she doesn’t have to “get in trouble” like he did.

Our son Noel came to Brain Highways at nine years old. My husband and I were quite literally out of options (or so we felt). We had gone to Occupational Therapy, we had tried medications, we had tried diet, we had tried alternative therapies . . . everything.

But the fact was, our son could not sit still, and he reacted negatively to pretty much any type of stimulus (lights, sounds, textures) and had crippling anxieties (about dogs, bees, water, strangers, and a host of other things). He had already been to two different elementary schools, and we’d finally decided to move him to a private school due to him being overwhelmed by the ever-swelling public school class sizes.

Noel had spent another afternoon in the principal’s office. It was becoming a daily event; Noel was starting to run out of his classroom, hide, and generally exhibited lots of behaviors that showed us he was in crisis. We put it out there on Facebook: Can anyone suggest something that would help? Someone suggested Brain Highways because it had helped their family.

We went to the orientation with little hope. Our son acted out, didn’t follow directions, bounced off the walls. I left crying, ashamed at my son’s behavior once again, hearing in my mind all the negative voices from friends and people who didn’t understand that kids with ADHD and Asperger’s don’t see the world in the same way. But the Brain Highways people were kind. “Just try it,” they said.

We did. We signed up for both the Pons and the Midbrain classes starting in May of that year. It was harder than I could have imagined. Noel balked at every turn. We diligently did the exercises (again, very difficult). For the first few weeks, I felt like I had made yet another bad decision, something else that wouldn’t work. But we were determined to see it through.

Slowly, Noel started to integrate into the group. Slowly, he stopped arguing about the exercises. Slowly, he started to change. At the end of the Pons class, we saw some glimmers. But we still weren’t sure. However, we had a small flicker of tangible hope. We kept going.

We continued with the Midbrain class, and something amazing started to happen. Noel started to embrace the exercises, to find creative ways to do them, to challenge himself. He proudly came to class prepared, followed the rules, and paid attention. In the meantime, I saw another child in our class, one who was severely autistic, start to be able to sit still, to listen, to contribute in small ways to group discussions. What was happening?

Their brains were physically being rewired. I wasn’t sure I believed it when we started, but today, Noel is 11, and he is living proof that the program worked.

Is he absolutely normal? No, and thank God! He’s quirky, interesting, and, like all kids, occasionally difficult. But here’s what he has done SINCE completing 75 hours of Brain Highways: overcome his fear of dogs to the point where he wants one (and he used to climb up my leg whenever he even saw a dog); gone snorkeling in Hawaii (after being unable to get into a swimming pool deeper than his ankles); wears jeans every Friday (he had never been able to wear them at all); joined an improvisational comedy class and performed in front of people (he was terrified of audiences or even of standing up in class); was chosen for a team of five students from his school to participate in a county-wide Music Bee; has been receiving A’s and B’s on all his academic subjects; slept overnight on the Star Of India despite great fear of being away from home; and he can now let go of things when they don’t turn out the way he thinks they should (less rigidity of thinking).

Noel now easily engages strangers and others in appropriate conversations, and in fact, makes friends very easily. He can explain in detail how his brain works, and what he does to help it work.

Is he perfect? No. Does he still have problems because of his unique neuro situation? Absolutely. But we are so very proud of him (and ourselves) for sticking this out and doing the program. Just last week he explained to a doctor how his brain works, detailing the job of the pons and the cortex. He can explain many things about his own neuro development. He empathizes when other kids have similar control issues. We’re all still a work in progress, and we continue to help Noel grow and develop in other ways.

But Brain Highways quite literally saved our emotional and family life. Without it, I do not know where we would be today.

I thought I was going to Brain Highways to help my sons, but the truth is . . . I needed it for me, too. I know that I was able to fool others into thinking that I was cool, calm, and collected, but it was a mask. I was anxious about everything and was easily overwhelmed by big tasks. I was depressed a lot, even considering medication. I worried a lot about what others thought about me.

After doing some of the floor time, it dawned on me one day that I felt “different.” I am happier. I think more positively about life. I stand up for what I believe is the right thing to do, no matter what others think about it. I give hugs more freely, too.

As a Speech Language Pathologist, this life change has also made me a better professional. I am grateful for the chance to teach others about what I have experienced and seen firsthand through my involvement at Brain Highways.

We found out that our daughter was profoundly and severely deaf at the age of 22 months old. It was a struggle, but we learned sign language and got her all the assistance she needed through a variety of sources available for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

When she was three years old, she got her cochlear implant which did improve her hearing. However, things still didn't seem right, and we sought help from our health care provider.

That was the first time we were told that she may be on the autism spectrum. At the age five, it was confirmed that she was, in fact, on the spectrum. We did not know where to go or what to do.

As many of you may already know, raising a special needs child is challenging, to say the least. After twelve years of struggling, I found myself running out of ideas to deal with certain behaviors, running out of patience and, at times, feeling hopeless. It seemed like every day brought on new challenges, and we tried to adjust our responses to her with each new behavior that manifested itself.

My wife and I were overwhelmed, at times, but still no guidance or help was available. We both feared what would happen to us as a family and what would happen to her quality of life when we were gone.

Then an acquaintance told me about Brain Highways. Seeing the enthusiasm in her face when she talked about the changes her child went through prompted me to look further into the program. After meeting Nancy and much of her staff, we decided to give it a try.

It has been a lot of work, and we soon realized that Brain Highways was more than just a program for the kids . . . it was equally as important for the parents.

I'm 18 weeks into the program, and I've been creeping and crawling for approximately 40 hours. I haven't felt this positive about my involvement with Alexia since her diagnosis. The techniques taught in the program are empowering, and I have seen how both Alexia and I have benefited from them. I no longer feel helpless and unable to cope with the behaviors of a special needs child. I've been making time for myself and have resumed restoring motorcycles (a hobby I had prior to Alexia coming into our lives). We have finally been given guidance and help to give our little girl the tools she needs to live a happier and more productive life.

We know that we have a long way to go, yet now there is hope for a brighter future for my daughter and our entire family. Thank you, Nancy and all of the Brain Highways staff.

When I was younger I was diagnosed with having ADHD—Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder.

Prior to doing Brain Highways, my life was all over the map. I would move from one task to the next, unable to stay focused or complete a task. I was very easily distracted. Communication with my family was minimal. I screamed and yelled and was easily agitated by little things. Being a housewife, a home-schooling mom, and parent was very overwhelming. I would shut down and quit easily.

I would not read because I was unable to comprehend what I read. I would have to re-read the same sentence over and over. My thoughts would often wander, so learning anything knew was difficult. I was unable to process information. I had a lot of anxiety when speaking in front of others or groups.

Since doing Brain Highways, life has changed immensely. I am able to stay on task; even with distractions I can stay focused. Communicating with my family (instead of yelling) has been very rewarding. Our relationships have changed and grown like never before. My husband and I can agree to disagree without going into our pons, and we resolve any issues that arise right at the moment and still love each other! ☺

I am no longer overwhelmed by being a housewife, a home-schooling mom, and parent. In fact, I have never had so much joy in doing what I do! I now enjoy reading like never before, and I can comprehend what I read. I no longer fear or have anxiety about speaking in front of others or amongst others.

At the age of 44, joy has been brought back into my life, and life is so much easier. The overall dynamics of my life has changed, and it is so beautiful. Thanks to Brain Highways and all of their hearts and dedication to changing lives. I am forever grateful.

My name is Mike Guzman. My whole family is enrolled in Brain Highways. We were looking for help for our son Max who we thought might have ADHD. One thing that was not an option for us was putting Max on medication.

We found out about Brain Highways through my wife's co-worker. We did our research and then we immediately signed up for the screening orientation. After that, we enrolled in the Brain Highways Program.

I’ve been creeping for a little over 20 hours now. Some changes that I have noticed in myself are: It seems like I can do multiple projects a lot more efficiently. I also enjoy reading now more than before. I think the reason I’m enjoying reading now is because I used to have to go back and read a page or paragraph again to understand what it said. Now, I can read and retain the information, which makes me want to get more information—which makes me want to read more. Now, I also understand that if I don’t communicate clearly, it can cause a lot of confusion, which causes a lot of chaos.

I’ve also noticed a lot of changes in my son Max. No more meltdowns. He’s able to deal with situations that do not go his way a lot better. He doesn’t get distracted as much anymore when he is studying. He shows a lot of initiative by not waiting to be told to do something. Just those changes alone were well worth it, but I know without a doubt there are more positive changes coming in the future.

We are now enrolled in the midbrain class. I can’t wait to see the changes that are going to take place. Don’t get me wrong. It was a lot of work, and it didn’t happen overnight. However, it was well worth it for me, and my family.

Plagued by dyslexia through school, ADD as a young adult, and diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 37, I struggled my whole life with impulse control, obsessive behaviors, anxiety, and depression. School was never a focus, but a distraction from daydreaming. College lasted only a few semesters and focus of career training shifted from massage therapy, to culinary arts, to journalism, to theatre, to music, to web design, and so on. Nothing seemed to fit the bill. Nothing made an impression long enough for my restless brain that had trouble retaining information to create anything of lasting significance.

With my son, Ashur, I began Brain Highways with the, “Well, it can’t hurt, right?” mentality. I poured over the helpful parent supplements and took the time to further organize my own brain, and life stared to seem simpler and more focused.

Armed with several new tools to help parent my spirited child in a positive way, I was encouraged by the changes in myself, my son, and more days got easier. Soon, dealing with stress that life inevitably throws at us, didn’t have a detrimental effect. Fewer frustrations, an easier time focusing, and a greater sense of calm took place of the anxiety to be a perfect parent. That combination meant finding more joy in the day, which meant more smiles and fewer headaches. Actual headaches, not just emotional headaches—but fewer migraines! That is pretty amazing when you deal with them on frequent basis.

Less stress each day has opened the door to finding opportunities to truly enjoy life again, day-to-day.

I always had significant problems with balance. I couldn’t do yoga, stand on one foot, or even walk a straight line. My family thought it was hysterical that I couldn’t touch my nose with my eyes closed. I had no idea all of these things meant that I had problems with my lower brain. I just thought I was wired that way.

My son’s pediatrician suggested Brain Highways to help with his ADD, but I came away from it a better person. I feel so much more organized, mentally and physically. Great ideas just seem to pop into my head all the time. I am calmer, and my balance has significantly improved. I feel like I can handle anything that comes my way.

And yes, I could touch my nose with my eyes closed after only ten days of creeping!

I am a “see-it-to-believe-it” person. And when the idea of Brain Highways was introduced to me, there was a level of high doubt.

My daughter Grace, who was 7, was going through quite a stage at this time. We were beginning to feel close to hopeless about how to help her and how to understand why she was so emotional. She would have unbelievable long, tantrum-like meltdowns. Most of them occurred out of nowhere, at any place, and usually stemmed from something not going her way.

It caused tons of stress on our marriage. I was being too easy and sensitive, and my husband was being too harsh and insensitive. I would feel guilty and blame myself whenever these meltdowns would come. Along with this, Grace had no motivation in school. She was behind in reading, extremely shy around others, and seemed to lack confidence in herself and her schoolwork.

After doing some research about Brain Highways, we decided to go in and get screened. Why not? We felt that we were losing control quickly. My husband and I were definitely not seeing eye-to-eye, and Grace was losing herself more and more as time passed.

At the screening, I was able to meet other parents, other families that felt like we did—that there was something that we were missing. There was hope in every one of our eyes. We knew how incredible our children were, and how utterly sweet and amazing they really could be, but there seemed to be a missing part that we were all very eager to find.

Later that evening, my husband and I decided to commit. We figured we had nothing to lose. It made sense. And just like that we were off…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the beginning, it was difficult. It was challenging to stay on track, and implement the program into our busy schedules. My husband took the initiative with Grace, and committed to creeping everyday with her in the evenings that I worked.

My husband is a navy veteran, and he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He also had a lot of damage done to his body during his service.

Before Brain Highways, my husband always lived on the edge, without a lot of patience for anyone. A lot of his impatience stemmed from the time he served in the war, and there were memories that were haunting him.

Grace and he would have great days, but then, also not great days. Some of those days ended with him yelling (for her not listening) and then Grace getting scared at the tone of his voice, and endless nights of crying.

But, somehow, in all this creeping and crawling, he was able to reorganize his brain and his thoughts, allowing himself to let go of these images that were lingering in his mind everyday. He began to form patience, and a superior gentleness to him.

His relationship with Grace blossomed into one of the most incredible things I have ever witnessed. He became a listener. He became more nurturing and easier to talk to, and for the first time, in a long time, our marriage was growing together and stronger. Our family was in sync, and it was amazing. We bonded over creeping, learning about the brain, accepting the fact that the brain can change, crawling, swords, lizards, and eye exercises.

I had my own realizations by participating in the program. The reframing exercise was the hardest for me since I had to face why I had been too lenient with Grace, why I always gave in to her, and why she reacted as she did.

I will never forget the conversation I had with Nancy about the true reason of WHY I did all that. I had done the reframing at home and now brought it to class. Nancy pulled me aside and referred to my sheet. And she busted me! She just asked me why? WHY do I give in?

And at the moment I realized where this was all coming from, my FEAR was why I let Grace get away with acting out in ways that did not serve her well. And I said it, “I guess I’m just afraid that my daughter will have the same resentment towards me that I have with my father.”

And Nancy said (in her Nancy voice), “You mean you’re subconsciously projecting that thought onto Grace when she has no idea of how you feel about your dad and has no reason for her to feel that way about YOU?”

And it hit me; I blinked back tears, because THAT was true!

Later that evening, I let loose. And cried and cried. I so needed to cry and let these terrible emotions that had tied me down for so long go. I forgave my Dad for putting that on me, which he had actually carried down from his own mother. So, I forgave her too! And after twenty years, a weight was lifted!

Along with these positive eye-opening experiences I was having, Grace began changing, too. The more creeping that was getting done, the less the meltdowns were occurring. Grace started to look forward to school and writing. She asked me to teach her how to write cursive.

Her confidence grew, too! She went from never raising her hand and volunteering in school, to asking to go up IN FRONT OF THE CLASS to share her work.

Grace has now become an extremely confident child with ambition! She loves school, socializing, and is quick to come home and teach us all she knows! She isn’t shy around people any more, and she usually will strike up the conversation with kids she first meets! You cannot stop her! She sings and dances while being recorded (when before, she would shy away from any kind of camera). Grace has no more meltdowns, and she is a much happier child, now that she has total control of her actions and emotions.

It’s heartwarming to hear Grace tell people about Brain Highways (of all ages!). She is quick to explain all she knows about the brain and the things you can do to help change it!

Finally, we are a fun-loving FUNCTIONAL family. And it comes naturally. We all have more respect for each other and love doing things together.

The Brain Highways road was challenging in the beginning, but the ride to and through the finish line as a family was such a great prize for all of us!

I wasn't a particularly "ponsy" person previous to Brain Highways, but unfortunately, parenting is the one area where I have experienced more pons reactions than ever before in my life. I am now able to recognize those previous reactions to my child's behavior as fear-based responses. Using Brain Highways approaches enables me to recognize when those negative thoughts arise and take action to choose a different response.

Additionally, I have changed my vocabulary and perception of others due to my new understanding of brain development and how it affects everyday life and behavior. I now feel it is more productive to view behaviors as a reflection of poorly developed centers of the brain because it allows me to look at those behaviors more objectively, rather than subjectively.

For example, at times (as an optometrist), I will have patients who have pons reactions due to various experiences they have in our office. Prior to Brain Highways, not only did I have a flight reaction when presented with these complaints, but I also took the reactions personally.

Now, I'm able to see these types of reactions as related to brain development, and I’m also able to handle them by using a taking care of business approach (that I learned in the course). I’ve actually improved my approach to problem solving in all aspects of my life using the techniques I learned through Brain Highways.

Before Brain Highways, I thought I was not the one that needed it. It was for my son. I didn't realize that some of the anger and agitation I was feeling, as well as not being mentally clear, were signs that Brain Highways was definitely something I needed, too.

Since Brain Highways, I feel calmer during tense situations and am able to think through them more clearly. My whole family is on the floor, and we continue to see changes as we put in the time and effort.

I didn’t know I needed Brain Highways. I thought everyone struggled as much as I did. I thought it was difficult for everyone to catch a ball or organize their desks or complete a task or read a map—they just tried harder or had had more practice than me. I also assumed they did a better job compensating.

And then I started creeping. And my peripheral vision improved. And so did my balance. After 15+ years practicing yoga, I started to get exponentially better.

So many little things; noise, light touch, crowds, fans … that used to bother me, don’t now. I can wear my glasses without getting dizzy. Things that had never made sense to me started clicking into place. After seven years in my house, I realized that it faced east (I know!). I can stay calm in situations that used to send me spiraling.

It’s as if the fuzzy edges of my life have become clear and sharp, and I am happy.

Like many parents, I have high expectations for my kids. It was extremely frustrating for me if my son was not organized or his handwriting was illegible.

Once I began creeping, I became a lot less stressed out with my children, as well as their teachers. I was able to distinguish between which behaviors were learned and also what behaviors were related to incomplete lower brain development.

Building into the structure (which we learned) was a crucial part of really listening to my kids needs and acting on those notions. I was able to allow them to do their homework without correcting them constantly. Instead, I now gave them the space to “wrap myelin.”

Once my brain began to change and I managed my own stress better, I had a huge insight to what I had constantly demanded from my children who had incomplete pons development.

Also, for the first time ever, I recently flew without fear. I actually enjoyed a 10 hour flight, having all that time for myself! Before, I had never watched a movie on a plane. But on this flight, I watched three! Since then, I have flown numerous other times and have also been in my cortex the whole time! Thanks so much to Brain Highways for this new freedom!

After just 40 hours of floor work, we are all a much calmer, more organized, understanding, and peaceful family.

I came to Brain Highways on a friend’s recommendation, seeking “academic” help for my youngest son through the Family Program. Little did I know how much it would help me and the whole family.

Before Brain Highways, our family seemed to be in constant “crisis management,” running from here to there, with very little quality time for each other. Traditional punishments were rampant, as was yelling and frequent “explosions.”

But Brain Highways taught me how my own thoughts translated into my children’s behaviors and how many of those behaviors were attributable to underdeveloped lower centers of the brain. After only two weeks into the brain work, both my son and I were far calmer, and our attitudes were much more positive.

The more I learned, the more patient I became, not only with myself, but also with everyone around me. Seeing the positive changes encouraged my husband and older son to then complete the adult course.

Brain Highways has transformed all of our lives. Both of my sons have greater confidence in themselves, and I no longer “micro-manage” their lives. There is no more yelling, making our lives calmer, and dealing with life’s ups and downs is far easier than it was before.

There simply is NO downside to Brain Highways, and the upside is limitless!

Prior to Brain Highways, I was a mom who was trying to manage the chaos in my home from the effects of having ADD myself, as well as my kids having it. My son also has dyslexia, and my daughter exhibited Asperger traits, though she was not diagnosed with Asperger’s.

Since doing Brain Highways, things are much calmer in the home. Part of this is due to the benefits of the creeping and crawling for my kids, but also because of my own changes.

I was on the floor with them way before BH made it a policy for parents to do the program, because I felt that I contributed to the problem with my ADD. I found it difficult to think things through, manage my anger, and organize the chaos in my home. I reacted on my kids' ADD behavior because there was too much stimulation coming into my brain. I couldn't think clearly enough to calm myself down, let alone calm them down.

But I now feel more in control of my feelings because my brain can function better, i.e., is more organized.

You don't realize how much of your feelings are the result of a disorganized brain. I don't fly off the handle or yell at the kids hardly ever anymore. I now organize the day and can keep things on track.

When we first started BH, it felt like things got worse. But that was a temporary situation that began improving and steadily progressed. One thing I discovered with BH is that the changes don't dramatically announce themselves. They come in a subtle way. One day you just wake up and realize that your daughter is calmer or that your son is articulating his feelings better.

I also learned how my own attitude towards my kids had a huge effect on the success of doing the program. If I judged how they did the brain work, if they wanted to do it, or how much they did daily, I set myself and them up for failure.

It was hard not to try to control their program, especially when they resisted doing it. After all, I'm the mom! I'm used to "managing" them! I’ve been doing it since they were born!

But, I realized there comes a time when I needed to switch to a hands-off mom and honor their internal process. That doesn't mean I let them stop doing the program. I felt it was, and is, too important for them. But, I put things in place like incentives, "if/then" initiators, and modeling of my own behavior, to achieve the results we all wanted.

Since doing Brain Highways, all of us think more clearly, react less often, and are overall calmer.

Before Brain Highways, my life felt very out of control, raising four children with various degrees of underdevelopment. Not only was it exhausting parenting disorganized kids, but, it was overwhelming trying to find answers and help for my family.

For example, my 11-year-old would experience daily meltdowns over issues such as homework, food temperature, and social interactions with siblings and peers. During one-on-one playtime, he would be inflexible and territorial. In groups and public spaces, he would not engage and would often be in the corner alone. He was described by teachers as scattered, distracted, struggling with auditory learning, challenged with beginning new concepts, and preoccupied by chewing anything. Sports like soccer were unsuccessful because he would not pay attention to what is going on and would say he was bored.

Another one of my kids was described as a bull in a china shop and “Dennis the Menace.” He had difficulty with transitions and self-regulation. He had poor control over his body in space and, being big for his age, he often would inadvertently hurt his peers. He also struggled with fine motor skills (using scissors, pencil grip, weak pencil strength). At age 4, he was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, having significant delays in vestibular processing and proprioception and fine motor skills—and maybe ADD. He underwent a rigorous home exercise program under the guidance of an occupational therapist.

So, depending upon the expert, I was led toward medication, occupational therapy, dietary changes, friendship groups, auditory therapy, and eye surgery. We’d see some improvement, but progress would plateau and wasn’t lasting. When I found Brain Highways, I was excited, but wary that it would be “the flavor of the month.”

Since then, I have implemented the program for myself, and all four of my children. Today, we have clocked a total of 725 hours altogether!

I now feel like I am experiencing the family that I’ve always wanted. The frustration of parenting my kids has gone down dramatically and the enjoyment has increased significantly. For example, my child who used to have the frequent meltdowns is now a happy kid who is able to go with the flow. He can handle the ups and downs of life. He is also no longer as sensitive to food temperature and is willing to try new foods. He seeks to engage with friends (even in busy situations) and is making positive connections. He is taking an interest in reading and writing, which previously were difficult subjects.

He also enjoys sports now, as he can be “present” during practices and has fun with the whole experience. In fact, he has gone to the same summer camp for four years—but this is the first time I’ve ever received such a glowing report from the staff. They wrote, “Your son is doing splendidly this session! He has made friends with all the other boys in the dorm and is participating in everything! He was the first to volunteer to ride horses at the barn. He also acted as a foreman as he supervised the construction of a dorm fort we built one evening outside our dorm. He is a leader in the dorm and encourages everyone to join in on activities.”

Since doing Brain Highways, the changes in my son who was previously perceived as a “bull in a china shop” has been reported by family and teachers as “remarkable”, “night and day,” “a different kid.” He is now in control of his body. He can go to busy places and stay self regulated. People are experiencing his sweet nature and charm. Soon, he will be going to kindergarten. He is teaching himself to read, showing interest in addition, and making amazing Lego formations. For the first time in his life, I will not be requesting a special meeting with his teacher to warn her of his challenges. He’s doing awesome.

As for me, I just feel happier and more confident. I can see the big picture more easily now. I no longer get stuck in negative thought patterns. If I feel myself going there, I can quickly pull out of it and get to a positive place. Because of this, I do not feel depressed. I can also handle the challenges of raising a big family and working without feeling overwhelmed.

We still make mistakes, but we now have the highways and tools that are helping us get to the good stuff. Brain Highways has changed my life and the course of my family. I’m truly grateful. I’m so happy to have found answers and a life-changing process for my family.

Hi, I am Katia, and I recently turned 40. I am a mother to two fabulous boys ages 14 and 11. I work full time, and my work sometimes feels relentless. I am also divorced, and my boys split their time between two households. I share these details because maybe you have a similar story.

Brain Highways came about to me in a most unexpected way . . . via my kids’ stepmom and their dad. Talk about blessings coming in circuitous ways! I will be eternally thankful!

Until this spring, I had never heard of Brain Highways or pons development (or lack thereof), nor done ANY reading on telltale signs of an underdeveloped lower brain or retained primitive reflexes. I was aware of our reptilian brain and limbic system, and fight or flight mechanisms for a variety of reasons, but never to the extent of how these things may express themselves in childhood or adult life. Here was the eye-opener and a game changer for me, us.

After reading handouts, listening to audios, doing the assignments, I had nothing but some kind of strange positivity imbue my life. Brain Highways presented information that I could somehow internalize and take a stab at, practice; things that I could take to easily and actually DO . . . a little bit at a time.

I have been to counseling, but that never prevented me from losing my temper. For example, my youngest son recently lied to me about his reading time (they were supposed to read daily for 30 min or so).

I was disappointed to say least. In the past, I would probably have been incensed. While I was a bit upset, I made a concerted effort to not affront my boy with contempt or any behavior that did not exude anything but being a cortex parent.

I did not raise my voice. I explained a couple of things. I kept it short and I handed him his book gently (I would have flung it on the bed in other times). My boys would have probably been teary and redolent of excuses and anger in the past. But this time, his eyes got big and he just listened. I remained calm. And in return, I got a different reaction from my kid.

Overall, I notice that my youngest son is now more willing to move on from uncomfortable situations (go with the flow) and not be sullen if something does not go his way. He finds a way to be positive—we hug or joke, find a way to move on. That is particularly nice, since in the past we have fed off each other’s energy. We are more capable of breaking an unproductive cycle of arguments (negotiation was the behavior that I wanted to actually get rid off, and I think it has worked).

I could ramble about my Brain Highways experience forever. First and foremost, though, was this deep exercise into subconscious thoughts and seeing what connection it had on my kids’ behavior. As a result of a couple of exercises and putting myself in the kids’ shoes, I started seeing the effects of unproductive, subliminally messages I was sending!!

I think my huge wake up was when Brain Highways suggested that there could be a reason my boys acted the way they did that was not ill intentioned or as negatively as I had painted it—and therein lay the a-ha moment.

I became slower to qualify them or stopped altogether. When I saw my boys, especially the youngest, I simply thought, “This is all his brain can handle at this time. How can you (Katia) help out and not create more duress?” Things such as asking him to look at me when I scolded him have gone out the window. I feel bad for the time that we wasted and the tension I created due to silly things, such as asking for my child to look at me while I spoke to him.

I have learned to “connect before you correct” (a Nancyism that I remember). I have also learned to view my children with a lot more compassion and affection and a very strong and intense desire to not let them down by judging them. Instead, I now focus on what I can do to make them feel cherished, valued, and viewed, as an individual that is loved just the way that they are.

Brain Highways really creates an environment where everyone is empowered, especially by “taking care of business”—which taught us how to be aware of our own needs, others’ needs, and provide a doable if the situation is not very accommodating to someone’s needs/desires.

There have been too many gifts along the way to write about, i.e., in a house where tough love abounded, it was probably nice for boys to slouch when they ate and not be corrected by me 100 times! I also now understood what messages I transmitted when I was not kind or compassionate towards my very own self. I have probably learned to love myself more and give myself credit for what I do, if nothing else, the deep commitment that I have to fostering a great learning and safe environment for my boys.
Most of all, this is a HUGE change in me: I do not handle frustration the way I did before—no acting out, no slamming a car door, no indignant attitude that storms out of a room, no long rants.

Once again, I considered myself pretty “balanced or decent.” I never paid attention to the 8-10% of the time that I acted out when dissatisfied with my kids. I now realize that somehow I was showing and telling my kids that it was okay to act that way and that is the way to handle frustration, which it isn’t. I love my boys too much to perpetuate behaviors that do not take care of business. It is this commitment to showing them a better way that will stop me from going into my pons.

I also feel that I can now push myself to the edge often and can work with doubt, fear, and negative thoughts. I think I am on the path of becoming a better parent, of having a more solid relationship of trust with my children (which means the world to me) and that we will be able to communicate more effectively and cut out a bunch of noise (arguments, negotiation, shining the spotlight on someone else, whining, etc.).

As a closing note, when I started Brain Highways, my schedule at work was okay. But then, my schedule got painfully busy. However, I found that no matter how lousy the day had been, I looked forward to the positive or humorous audio clip that was in store. For 10 weeks, Nancy’s voice was my positive virtual companion—I felt it was like planting positive thoughts in my mind daily . . . a meditation of sorts ☺.

I truly feel that Brain Highways has been a blessing for me.

Before Brain Highways I was angry, easily agitated, and unable to keep track of more than a few daily routines or events. I often got stuck or replayed a situation or thought in my mind in an unending loop. My relationships with my kids and husband were suffering.

Since I've been on the floor, the changes just keep coming. I now no longer "react" or erupt at the slightest situation, and my relationship with my daughter and son and husband has improved so much—even they say it! I now can handle more on my plate, and if I get "stuck" on a situation, I pause to think what would help me most—reframing it or "jumping" on to something else.

My life has become much sweeter because of Brain Highways.