      *  Helper method to add a UIComponent instance to either an IVisualElementContainer
      *  or DisplayObjectContainer. 
      */ 
-    protected function addComponentToContainerAt(component:UIComponent, 
+    mx_internal function addComponentToContainerAt(component:UIComponent, 
                                                  container:UIComponent, 
                                                  index:int):void
     {

     *  Helper method to remove a UIComponent instance from either an IVisualElementContainer
     *  or DisplayObjectContainer.
     */ 
    protected function removeComponentFromContainer(component:UIComponent, 
                                                    container:UIComponent):void
    {
        if (container is IVisualElementContainer)

     *  Helper method to add a UIComponent instance to either an IVisualElementContainer
     *  or DisplayObjectContainer.
     */ 
    mx_internal function addComponentToContainer(component:UIComponent, 
                                               container:UIComponent):void
    {
        if (container is IVisualElementContainer)
