What’s it Like to Parent a Child who has Special Needs?

All children are unique. This means that your parenting experience will have some aspects that are different from what other parents may be doing. Sometimes, people will ask a mom or dad who has a child with special needs what it is like to parent their child. There isn’t a “one size fits all” answer to this question. Here’s a quick roundup of the answers given by some parents. NR Today has a post titled “Jemelene Wilson: Raising a child with special needs”. She is the mother of two children. One of her daughters is grown, and married. Her youngest … Continue reading →

Making Valentine’s Day Sweeter for Everyone

Valentine’s Day is typically seen as a day for couples. Those who aren’t in a relationship can feel very left out. Teens and young adults who have certain kinds of special needs may feel that this holiday isn’t for them to celebrate. However, this year several people made Valentine’s Day a little bit sweeter for everyone. Here is a quick round-up of happy Valentine’s Day occurrences. Northridge High School, in Layton, Utah, was having a Sweetheart’s Ball. Typically, this is the type of social event where it is required that you attend with a date. Two teens girls decided to … Continue reading →

Meghan Wins Spelling Bee With “Humility”

A Spelling Bee is a traditional academic contest. To win, you have to know how to correctly spell more words than the rest of the participants are able to. A nine-year-old named Meghan McCarty just won a Spelling Bee. She has autism and cerebral palsy and is part of a mainstream classroom of students. How well do you spell? Is your writing mostly typo-free, or do you heavily rely on the spellchecker? Read the comment section under any article on a major newspaper of your choice, and it is abundantly clear that plenty of people do not feel that being … Continue reading →

Mother Writes Lovely Blog About her Preemie

Every once in a while, it is nice to read a lovely blog that a mother has written about her child. There is a blog called Micro-Preemie to Miracle that mom Sarah Bollinger started about her son, Everett, who was born at 15 weeks premature. He’s come a long way! I always find stories about preemies to be very interesting. There is something fascinating about the story of a teeny, tiny, baby that struggles to grow and thrive. Often, their stories are uplifting and inspiring. It is nice to read something positive! Last December, I wrote about a preemie named … Continue reading →

ACA Will Increase Access to Mental Health Care

Since the tragedy that happened at an elementary school in Connecticut, there has been much call for a national discussion about access to mental health care. In 2014, the Affordable Care Act will provide for that. It requires health insurance plans to cover mental health care. Right now, it feels like a very long time until 2014 arrives. What happened in Connecticut, at Sandy Hook Elementary School, was a tragedy. No one wants to see this happen again. I’m sure everyone has heard the details by now, and I have no need to reiterate them here. After the tragedy, many … Continue reading →

Climbing a Mountain for a Cure

A group of very brave people is going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in order to raise money to find a cure for EE. Their goal is to conquer Eosinophilic disease, which currently has no cure. You can help support their efforts with your donation. You have probably heard about people doing a Race for the Cure or having a Walk for the Cure for various diseases. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a situation where people are going to climb a mountain for a cure. It isn’t just any mountain, either. It’s Mt. Kilimanjaro, the largest free … Continue reading →

Homecoming King Wins by a Landslide

If there is going to be a homecoming, then there must be a Homecoming King. In California, a student with special needs decided to run for Homecoming King. His fellow students made certain that he not only won, but won by a landslide. Finally, a happy story about this year’s homecoming events! The selection of Homecoming King, and Homecoming Queen, is a very big deal. I’m not certain exactly what these two titles were intended to represent, but I do know that it generally comes down to a popularity contest. The most popular teens win because they are able to … Continue reading →

Blogging From the Personal Side of Parenting

The internet has a wealth of information about a vast variety of special needs. It is fairly easy to look up medical information or news articles regarding a special need. Sometimes, it can be comforting to read a blog written by a parent about the personal side of parenting a child who has a special need. Here are a few interesting ones to explore. Parents can get online and quickly look up symptoms, recommended diets, help with IEPs, and news about health insurance coverage for their child’s special needs. What about if all you want is some conformation that your … Continue reading →

Inclusive Fun for Kids With Special Needs

Parents who have kids with special needs quickly discover that the majority of playgrounds were not designed to accommodate all children. Here is a brief list of places to play, and have fun, that do include kids who have special needs. We need more of these! Sky High Sports is an indoor playground with plenty of trampolines to bounce on and some foam pits to jump into. The Sky High Sports in Naperville, Illinois, sets time aside for kids who have special needs. On the first Tuesday of every month, from 3:00 in the afternoon until 6:00 in the afternoon, … Continue reading →

Caroline’s Cart Available at Grocery Store in Alabama

A mom in Alabama designed a specialized shopping cart that would help her to be able to shop with her daughter, Caroline. The cart is designed for children who have disabilities. Soon, Caroline’s Carts will be available in grocery stores in Birmingham, Alabama. Drew Ann Long, and her husband, David, are the parents of three children. One of their children, a daughter named Caroline, has special needs. She has Rett Syndrome. According to Mayo Clinic, Rett Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects the way that the brain develops. Nearly all of the children affected with this disorder are … Continue reading →