Summer vacation means a relatively relaxed daily routine. For my family, it’s the perfect time to model and teach life skills. Here are 10 summertime activities that introduce concepts in social skills, communication, organization, self-care and respect for self and others. 1. Get a library card Most public libraries have some type of summer reading [...]
Did you know that the presence of guinea pigs in a room can increase social behaviors in children with autism? Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia recently published a study demonstrating a significant measurable increase in talking, smiling, laughing, looking at faces, making tactile contact and social approaches when children with autism and their [...]
My son is the type who loves checklists, schedules, scripts, anything that will make his life predictable. But life isn’t predictable. Sooner or later, there will be a problem that he has to solve on his own. Everyone must learn how to adapt. Concrete thinking and rigid, inflexible habits are prominent features of many neurological [...]
We all remember our first bike, in fact, it’s one of the best parts about being a kid! Bikes give kids their own sense of freedom, pride and self assurance they just don’t get in the same way in other areas. In addition to the fun, it’s great socialization with friends, family and peers. It [...]
As with any product that’s been around a while, wheelchair vans have evolved in a number of ways, with a variety of conversion designs and peripheral equipment like wheelchair tie-downs, portable/removable seats, and powered ramps with manual override. Overall, today’s accessible vans are more reliable, easier than ever to use, and safer. If your child’s disability requires [...]
Though caring adults wish they could shield children from trauma and from it’s bigger, meaner cousin, post-truamatic stress disorder (PTSD), the truth is that we can’t. But we can become educated about childhood trauma and PTSD to become better advocates on behalf of kids touched by these mental illnesses. Previous posts in this series explored [...]
With the summertime arriving shortly you may be planning your summer vacation. It can sometimes be stressful if you are planning a visit to an unfamiliar city or country and you are concerned about whether the most popular attractions will be wheelchair accessible. London is considered to be one of the most accessible cities across [...]
“Just because a person can’t speak doesn’t mean they have nothing to say.” A very important reminder from a parent of a non-verbal child. Communication is a basic human need, allowing people to connect with others, make decisions that affect their lives, express feelings and feel part of the community they live in. People with little [...]
March 21st marks World Down Syndrome Day on the Special Needs Calendar. World Down Syndrome Day is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The day is is focused on raising awareness for individuals with Down Syndrome. In preperation for World Down Syndrome Awareness Day we gathered [...]
Have you ever heard of Microtia? Microtia is a little known congenital deformity where the outer ear and/or the ear canal is not developed causing hearing impairment. Microtia can affect one ear or both ears and occurs in 1 of every 8,000-10,000 births. Below you will find resources and information that will help you learn [...]
