Unconventional Foundation For Autism, Aquatic Center in Long Beach Help 80 Kids: Sam Sabzehzar

Over eighty autistic children will receive free aquatic therapy this Saturday at the California Aquatic Therapy & Wellness Center in Long Beach compliments of an event called "Joey's Hope."

The Unconventional Foundation for Autism has teamed up with many partners to provide the valuable service in an effort to raise awareness on the need of unconventional methods of treatment for children diagnosed with Autism, including aquatic therapy.

"Joey's Hope" is a free event that will provide 30-minute aquatic therapy sessions to more than 80 children, and made possible by the generous contributions from many sources, including Coconut Water, Sullen Clothing, and Steep Hill Laboratory, and Autism in Long Beach.

Representatives from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Kasier Permanente,  CIGNA, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Molina are expected to attend, as are several Long Beach elected officials.

"This is a dream come true for me," says an ecstatic Mieko Perez, who was able to provide the service for her son Joey last year, always envisioning expanding the service to others in the autism spectrum. She said she hopes the event, named after her 10-year-ld son, can also be brought to "other cities that show an interest in providing for a special needs community that continues to see their services cut when their budget is on the chopping block."

Perez created the Unconventional Foundation for Autism after approaching an unconventional heath care delivery method, medical cannabis, and found life-saving results for her son.

Joey eats a brownie every few days to engage his endogenous cannabinoid system, which in turn begins to regulate his immune system, which was shutting down due to ten years of pharmaceutical pill damage.

"Medical cannabis is only a part of it, granted a large part of the healing going on inside Joey, and other unconventional, holistic approaches are also crucial to a child's development, especially one diagnosed with a condition like autism," Perez said.

Long Beach, she said, "is the first step. Colorado or D.C. may be next, depending on our sponsors."

"NORML has recently stepped up at the national level in their support for UF4A, and the medical cannabis community has been one of our strongest coalitions... it's time to take this to Main Street now." (Full Disclosure: Medical Marijuana 411, for which I am president, is a Media Sponsor of this event.)

Roots Gourmet, a local Long Beach favorite that specializes in healthy foods, including vegan and gluton free options, will be providing the food, and Willow Creek Springs will be donating several gift baskets.