Zanna Heighton
Lic. Ac., Cert. ZB
Faculty, Zero Balancing Associaton, United Kingdom

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing this letter at the invitation of Kourosh Kashani who is at the centre of the Circle of One in Cabin John, MD – just outside of Washington DC. The Circle of One offers therapies for newborns, infants and children with developmental disorders of all kinds and they offer their help especially to disadvantaged children. This is unusual enough in itself – such centres are rare in the USA and non-existant in the UK – but it must be unique in that it is a non-profit making organisation that relies on outside funding to bring this healing work to those who ordinarily cannot afford it. These children have indeed had an unfortunate start in the world. This centre is offering them the chance to make the very best of the hand they were dealt. The therapies used at the Circle of One can make a real difference in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare. It is crucial that they receive this quality of holistic treatment from an early age whilst they are still developing and their tissue growth and repair rate can take optimum advantage of the support given to their vital systems.

I am a British therapist who works with autistic adults with severe learning difficulties. They range in age between 22 and 45. I offer them weekly sessions of Zero Balancing and Acupressure. They look forward to and enjoy these sessions whether they are of a compliant or aggressive nature. The unique touch used in Zero Balancing is accepted by them even when their tactile and kinesthetic feedback mechanisms are super-sensitive and they have avoided close contact as being too challenging or painful. Regular work results in a reduction of violent, self injurious and antisocial behaviours that have blighted their lives and those of their families and caregivers for so many years. Such changes are wonderful and open up possibilities for activities and communications that were hitherto unthinkable. As they integrate with the world around them their general health improves, particularly those with respiratory and digestive problems.

More improvement than that, however, is unlikely in some and impossible in others. They have adapted themselves to their disabilities and cell regrowth follows an established pattern, compounded by what appears to be premature aging, maybe just from the sheer amount of effort and stress involved in being autistic. How different their lives might have been if they would have had the kind of support offered by Kourosh Kashani and his team.

These therapies and others are used at the Circle of One and were mostly unheard of when my clients were children. It would have been unheard of for such children to receive anything but drug therapy. What extraordinary times we live in where a few people are inspired to adapt low-tech, care-intensive work to benefit the lives of the least able folk in our society. How much do they deserve all the emotional and financial support that can come their way, so that they can touch as many children as possible. I know that without such care those children, in spite of the efforts of their families and psychiatrists, face a very bleak future.

I'd like to mention the other, maybe even more significant way in which The Circle of One makes a difference in the world. They share their expertise with anyone who wants to know about it. And they do inspire others to want to know about it. Thus the information, the ideas, the understanding that has grown from working with a few children in North east America can influence what happens to countless children the world over.

This is mould-breaking, life changing, crucial work. Please lend your support.

With best wishes,

Zanna Heighton