A scientific review of a current topic of interest. The Board of The Op Foundation will select one topic each quarter to cover in-depth in their on-line newsletter, Op Notes.

The role of the newsletter is to provide accurate, evidenced-based information that can assist health care providers, families and educators in making thoughtful decisions regarding a child's care. The Op Foundation will not make position statements.

Deciding on a particular course of treatment for a child can be a tremendous responsibility for both the physician and the parent. Years of treating patients and reviewing the medical literature gives your physician insight that cannot be underestimated. The parents' role in the partnership is crucial too and requires advance preparation to make each encounter a productive one.

Navigating the web for reputable sources of information can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Therefore, we will list several links that can assist you in reaching this goal. Keep in mind, this list will not be 100% inclusive but will represent the topic quite well.

Again, the information provided is presented to enhance the decision making process, strengthen the doctor-parent relationship and, most importantly, promote the health of the child.

In a perfect world, your child would,

			eat a variety of nutritional foods
			digest and break down food to a form that is easily absorbed
			have a lining in the bowel that absorbs nutrients and filters out toxins
			have a body chemistry that utilizes nutrients appropriately

Unfortunately, it's not a perfect world. Current literature shows that many children with developmental disabilities have difficulty with these areas. In our first issue of Op Notes, we will highlight some of the recent research as well as practical strategies to optimize your child's nutritional status.