The start of summer vacation is like a mini-New Year's Day: We make resolutions about all the things we're going to get done in those sunny, school-free months, and then ... Read More

Right now, on the front door of our family refrigerator, there are the following items: End-of-the-year report cards, displaying grades that got my daughter her first-ever spot on the honor ... Read More

The saga of the T-ball coach who allegedly offered to pay a player to injure an autistic teammate continued yesterday with news that a judge found enough evidence against 27-year-old ... Read More

Should every child have a pet? For some children with special needs, an animal is a necessary helper, providing guidance, companionship and therapy. For others, they're just fun. Does your ... Read More

Did you catch the episode of TNT's "The Closer" with the autistic boy and the parents disagreeing on how to care for him? Dad was for maximum mainstreaming, Mom thought ... Read More

The Americans with Disabilities Act, which seeks to find a broader place for people with disabilities in U.S. businesses, workplaces and schools, became law 15 years ago today. In honor ... Read More

Well, I guess this is progress: In the latest reincarnation of the "Bad News Bears," one of the misfit players is disabled. It's not likely I'll be taking my kids ... Read More

There are some camp souvenirs you'll always treasure -- little crafty things, tie-dyed t-shirts, memorable photos -- and others you'd rather not ever let into your house. Head lice are ... Read More

Some survey results for a Saturday morning: With nearly 350 votes counted, Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney are squeaking by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt for the title of Most ... Read More

In a story that echoes the recent case of Katie Wernecke, who was removed from her parents' custody when they disagreed with her doctor over the need for chemotherapy, the ... Read More

Wouldn't it be great if you could send your child off to camp without labels, without meds, without warnings or precautions or supports or special diets? Wouldn't it be great ... Read More

In our very first Question of the Day, back on July 1, we asked: "Is Tom Cruise right about Ritalin? The votes on the actor's anti-med crusade have been pouring ... Read More

If you've ever worried about the kind of reception your child is going to get if you force him or her into the mainstream, here's a story that'll send chills ... Read More

Do your kids do much with the computer? Some parents complain that their kids are constantly IMing and chatting and using the 'net for purposes that require heavy-duty surveillance software ... Read More

The new Harry Potter is finally upon us, and children everywhere are either reading their copies right now or starting their countdowns for Harry Potter 7. What will they read ... Read More

Earlier this week, I mentioned my concern about getting my son through a visit with the neurologist without meltdown (his or mine). I'm happy to report that the appointment went ... Read More

It's a season of change in the Parenting Special Needs Forum, with the recent design changes now followed by a little bit of folder shuffling to keep the conversation lively. ... Read More

Type 2 Diabetes is on the rise among children, and many point to the overconsumption of sugary snacks and drinks as a primary cause. But is the connection between, say, ... Read More

Score one for uppity parents! Those who have seen the movie "Lorenzo's Oil" will be familiar with the fight of Lorenzo Odone's parents to prove that a mixture of vegetable ... Read More

Today is my children's annual visit with the neurologist, and I'm in my usual state of low-level panic. My son often picks this very day, this very visit, to pull ... Read More

My son walks around singing the Black Eyed Peas' "Don't Phunk with My Heart" with dangerously bad articulation. His friend from school quotes lines from 50 Cent's "Candyshop" that he ... Read More

A few items of movie interest: Fans of Luke Jackson's book Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome will be intrigued to learn that a movie is being made about his family. ... Read More

I mentioned earlier this week that my daughter's a faithful viewer of Disney Channel sit-coms, so the "That's So Raven" episode on food allergies that ran recently played in our ... Read More

Do you tell your special-needs child about tragic events like yesterday's terrorist bombings in London? Sometimes, there's no choice: My kids had already heard enough rumors by the time I ... Read More

I'll admit it: My kids watch a lot of TV. My daughter is stuck on all those Disney channel sitcoms and Nickelodeon Games & Sports competitions, while my son is ... Read More

Autism is an epidemic. Or is it? A study in the journal Pediatrics suggests that the oft-cited exponential rise in autism diagnoses may not reflect an increase in the actual ... Read More

A couple of weeks ago I wondered about kids like my own reading-challenged daughter who don't love Harry Potter, and offered some book suggestions for those little Muggles. Meanwhile, on ... Read More

It's the 4th of July, and for those in the U.S. that means big get-togethers, noisy fireworks, and overstimulated kids. Before heading off to that barbecue, be sure to review ... Read More

The latest "Weekly Quiz" is now up and running, covering the week of June 26-July 2 and devoting a really inappropriate number of questions to Tom Cruise (hey, the poor ... Read More

Our first Question of the Day, asking readers for their opinion on Tom Cruise's anti-Ritalin rants, was a smashing success, with over 750 responses as of Saturday morning. (As I ... Read More

Need a little fun to keep you going on these long, summer days? Want to vent a little about timely issues? Got an opinion to share on subjects that affect ... Read More