Tzvi Schectman
Our Favorite Special Needs Resource Posts From 2014
The Friendship Circle Special Needs blog has been providing special needs resources for over four years. Starting with just a few readers and a handful of posts in 2010 it has grown into the largest special needs resource blog in the world!- Over 2.1 million visitors visited the blog in 2014.
- 231 Blog Posts Published in 2014.
- Readers from 226 Countries and territories (including from Antarctica!)
1. 10 Awesome Reasons Why Being a Speech Pathologist Rocks!
Back when I was in college and stumbled across the field of speech pathology, all I really knew was that I wanted to help kids communicate better. I had no idea that day when I changed from Liberal Studies to Speech Pathology and Audiology just how AWESOME the field really is. After almost 9 years in, here are 10 things I have found that ROCK about this profession.
2. The Ultimate Multi-Tasker: 89 Things Special Needs Moms are Always Doing
One of the most amazing things about being a special needs parent is realizing that you're capable of doing many things at once. While many of us thought that we were multi-taskers before, we learn quickly that we weren’t coming close to our ability to get things done. Here are ten things that special needs moms are always doing.
3. 10 Helpful and Compassionate Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting
During most discussions about IEPs, we talk about the times that things went wrong and disgraceful things were said. But not all IEPs are like that! Over the years, many helpful and compassionate comments have stuck with me. Here is a sample of supportive comments that have been spoken to me as a parent.
4. 7 Morning Sensory Tips for You and Your Child with Special Needs
How can you get yourself and your kids re-energized each morning to start the day off right? Here are a few tips to get those muscles moving and brain cells working right from the start of the day. These tips are written for your sensory seeking, sensory deprived or sensory sensitive kids, but feel free to try them out on yourself first!
5. 15 Airports That Offer “Rehearsal Programs” for Individuals With Autism
For children with autism and other special needs Flying is still an event. The change in routine, the noise, the unfamiliar surroundings, the crowds all contribute to an overwhelming and over stimulating experience that can cause some major meltdowns.Here are 15 programs that help to prepare children with autism for their first flight.
6. 11 Different Definitions of Inclusion:The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Inclusive education is still not widely practiced in schools across the United States. As a result, only the lucky few have seen what inclusion really is. Those that haven’t, are generally left to sift through myths, misunderstandings and the occasional truth. Therefore, there is quite a bit of confusion as to the real meaning of an inclusive environment. The following is a run-down of the different definitions of inclusion (the good, the bad and the ugly).
7. 21 Tips for a Stress-Free Haircut for Your Child with Special Needs
Hair… washing it, cutting it, braiding it, in fact going anyway near your child’s crowning glory can be a nightmare for many parents of kids with special needs. The sound of the scissors, water in the eyes, the sensation of clippers – it can all be too much for many children, especially if they have sensory issues. Here are 21 tips to a stress-free haircut for your child with special needs.
8. Toys for Children with Special Needs: What to look for and where to find them
For families of children with special needs we have collected 19 articles discussing toys for children with special needs in the hope that it will inspire some new ideas and make your toy shopping easier.
9. 18 Places to Look for Sensory Friendly Clothing
Finding clothing for someone with a sensory processing disorder can be a challenge. There are a lot of factors that can cause discomfort: itchy tags, harsh materials, and exposed elastic bands are just a few. Here are 18 stores dedicated to providing a comfortable and stylish wardrobe for children and adults with special needs.
10. Do I Have to Pick Up My Child with Special Needs Every Time the School Calls?
When your house telephone or cell phone rings between the hours of 8:00am-4:00pm on school days, does a feeling of panic or dread overcome you, believing that your child’s school is calling? If you answered yes, then you are not alone. That time, when our special needs children are in school, and out of our sight, makes our imaginations run rampant. Seeing the name of the school on the Caller ID, makes our heart stop, and sets our imaginations into overdrive. This article discusses the issue of having to pick up your children early from school.
11. 10 Things You Should Know about Feeding Therapy
Whether working with children with special needs such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Down syndrome or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or with a child coined the “picky eater” of the family, the ultimate goal of feeding therapy is to establish regular, nutritious family meals that are joyful for the entire family. Here are the top 10 things to know before your family begins feeding therapy.
12. 23 Tech Tools to Help with Behavior Management
Holiday Season can bring increased stress and disruptions in routine for our children with Autism and special needs. Here are 23 tech tools that can help with behavior management.
13. The 10 Biggest Challenges of Being a Speech Pathologist
Being an speech pathologist comes with many challenges. Here are 10 challenges to the profession of pediatric speech-language pathology that SLPs persevere because of their devotion to helping others.
14. 20 Apps that Can Help Individuals with ADD/ADHD
Though smart phones and tablets can provide distractions for someone with ADD/ADHD, they can also be used in ways to set reminders, organize to-do lists, or keep track of busy schedules and an overload of information. Here are a mix of apps here geared to both children and adults with ADHD.
15. 5 Myths And Facts About Inclusion
A few weeks ago, I wrote a short piece explaining what inclusion is and what it isn’t. The insightful comments, which were longer than the original essay, correctly pointed out that the article’s brevity masked the complexity of inclusion. So today I’ll tackle 5 myths and facts about inclusion and how it’s implemented in real life. 
