News, Weekly Roundups
Autism invites its share of quacks. In fact, it might have more quacks in its vicinity than a duck pond. After almost a decade of watching "cures" and "treatments" come and go ... or stay and stay and stay.
Forbes
Jenny, as the 29-year-old likes to be called, is a high-functioning woman with Down syndrome who won a landmark legal battle against her placement in a Newport News group home this year. Now she is the symbol of a campaign by advocates, lawyers and others who want to give people with disabilities more control over their lives.
Washington Post
It's not hard to rev up the crowd when special needs kids score on the playing field. Many people take the ability to participate in sports for granted. Even those who may be out of shape or not athletically inclined assume that, should they want to go for a run, play a pick-up game of basketball, or participate in the family Thanksgiving Day football game, they can.
AMS Vans
It's fall, which means glorious leaves, crisp nights, roasted pumpkin seeds and a steady stream of Google alerts about kids with special needs getting special football treatment. Like this story about Noah VanVoreen, a high school senior in Wisconsin with Down syndrome and the Little Chute High School team's waterboy.
Love that Max
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children is real. That’s been the clarion call of this Friendship Circle series over the past few years.
For a child with special needs mobility is the key to finding personal freedom. In order to overcome such physical difficulties, a child needs some extra assistance.
Balancing work and childcare is never easy, but when you’re caring for a child with special needs, the challenges are even greater.The caring role can be extremely unpredictable; hospital appointments, therapy sessions, sudden illnesses … they can all mean having to take time off work.
I can’t count on my son responding to his name or owning up to his whereabouts. So I’ve learned to check all the usual hiding places for the usual suspects. The habit has become so ingrained that it doesn’t even seem odd anymore. So next time you’re looking for someone or something, try looking in these 10 hiding places.
Taking care of you child with special needs is an important job. I have compiled 13 Key things a caregiver must do for a child with special needs. I call these my Baker’s Dozen – This is in no way a complete list, and each and every family’s situation will have nuances.
Our son Evan is about to turn eight. He wants his birthday party at a roller skating rink but he asked that we make it “sensory friendly.” For Evan, sensory-friendly skating means no loud music, no dark skating rink and no flashing lights. Because these features are part of the ambiance skaters expect from a roller rink, hosting a skating party was not a viable option.We wanted to give Evan the party he requested so we found a solution that could benefit not only our son but other children with special needs and sensory issues.
This perspective is essential for special needs families. We can look too far ahead, feel the weight of responsibility, and become overwhelmed. This is why we are in constant danger of burning out. There may be no more dangerous threat to the life of the special needs parent than burnout. The moment we learn our child has a disability life changes. We enjoy the new addition to our family, but hanging over our head is the bittersweet reality of work ahead.
Trending Special Needs Topics: Scary Treatments, Sports, Family Time, and More!
Has it been a week already? It is time for another round-up of the top special needs topics of the week. Here are the stories you should know about!
5 Scariest Autism "Treatments"
Autism invites its share of quacks. In fact, it might have more quacks in its vicinity than a duck pond. After almost a decade of watching "cures" and "treatments" come and go ... or stay and stay and stay.
Forbes
Middle Schoolers Execute Life-Changing Play
CBS Evening News
People with a Disability Deserve the Same Rights as Everyone
Jenny, as the 29-year-old likes to be called, is a high-functioning woman with Down syndrome who won a landmark legal battle against her placement in a Newport News group home this year. Now she is the symbol of a campaign by advocates, lawyers and others who want to give people with disabilities more control over their lives.
Washington Post
Top Special Needs Blog Posts
Parents Cherish the Normalcy When Special Needs Kids Play Sports
It's not hard to rev up the crowd when special needs kids score on the playing field. Many people take the ability to participate in sports for granted. Even those who may be out of shape or not athletically inclined assume that, should they want to go for a run, play a pick-up game of basketball, or participate in the family Thanksgiving Day football game, they can.
AMS Vans
Should Kids with Special Needs get Special Sports Treatment?
It's fall, which means glorious leaves, crisp nights, roasted pumpkin seeds and a steady stream of Google alerts about kids with special needs getting special football treatment. Like this story about Noah VanVoreen, a high school senior in Wisconsin with Down syndrome and the Little Chute High School team's waterboy.
Love that Max
From the Friendship Circle Research Blog
4 Treatment Options for Children with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children is real. That’s been the clarion call of this Friendship Circle series over the past few years.
11 Websites to Find Mobility Devices for Individuals with Special Needs
For a child with special needs mobility is the key to finding personal freedom. In order to overcome such physical difficulties, a child needs some extra assistance.
6 Tips to Help Special Needs Parents Balance Work and Childcare
Balancing work and childcare is never easy, but when you’re caring for a child with special needs, the challenges are even greater.The caring role can be extremely unpredictable; hospital appointments, therapy sessions, sudden illnesses … they can all mean having to take time off work.
The Top Ten Hiding Places for my Child with Special Needs
I can’t count on my son responding to his name or owning up to his whereabouts. So I’ve learned to check all the usual hiding places for the usual suspects. The habit has become so ingrained that it doesn’t even seem odd anymore. So next time you’re looking for someone or something, try looking in these 10 hiding places.
13 Important Things you must do for your Special Needs Family
Taking care of you child with special needs is an important job. I have compiled 13 Key things a caregiver must do for a child with special needs. I call these my Baker’s Dozen – This is in no way a complete list, and each and every family’s situation will have nuances.
11 Sensory Friendly Entertainment Options for Special Needs Families
Our son Evan is about to turn eight. He wants his birthday party at a roller skating rink but he asked that we make it “sensory friendly.” For Evan, sensory-friendly skating means no loud music, no dark skating rink and no flashing lights. Because these features are part of the ambiance skaters expect from a roller rink, hosting a skating party was not a viable option.We wanted to give Evan the party he requested so we found a solution that could benefit not only our son but other children with special needs and sensory issues.
5 Ways to Beat Caregiver Burnout
This perspective is essential for special needs families. We can look too far ahead, feel the weight of responsibility, and become overwhelmed. This is why we are in constant danger of burning out. There may be no more dangerous threat to the life of the special needs parent than burnout. The moment we learn our child has a disability life changes. We enjoy the new addition to our family, but hanging over our head is the bittersweet reality of work ahead. 
