Looking for somewhere good to surf? Stop by this Site of the Day listing for a daily destination of interest to parents of children with special needs. Images generally indicate the topic under which the site falls. Listed here are the sites or pages featured each day in December, 2008. For more sites, visit the index.
1. For All the Ways You Care
Image by Terri Mauro
CVS's site featuring inspirational stories of caring is looking for new material, and passing out prizes to 10 people who do extraordinary things: $25,000 to the top winner, $10,000 each to the rest. From to the submission form: "Acts of caring can be as simple as helping an elderly neighbor take in the groceries or comforting a sick child. Sometimes, we are tasked with more difficult challenges. If someone has touched your life, or you have touched another's, we would love to hear about it."
2. Shmoop
Logo courtesy of Shmoop
Breaking down literature into something your kid's going to care about is the goal of Shmoop, which offers creative summaries of the kind of books and plays and poetry that gets studied in school. Written by graduate students and featuring categories like "In a Nutshell," "Why Should I Care?" and "Sex Rating," the entries also include chapter-by-chapter summaries and study questions. If you've forgotten too much of this stuff to be of much help to your reading-challenged teen, Shmoop may be able to come to the rescue.
3. Inspired by Diabetes
Image by Terri Mauro
The annual contest that asks "people moved by the triumphs and challenges of those with diabetes and those who care for them to express their inspiration and share it with others around the world" is back on again, with a deadline of March 31, 2009. From the site, you can learn more about the competition, download an application, and view last year's winners.
4. About.com Gluten-Free Cooking
Image by Terri Mauro
At a time of year when cookie-making is a treasured tradition, learning how to bake with gluten-free ingredients is an important part of keeping your diet-restricted kid in the holiday spirit. About.com's site dedicated to gluten-free cooking has recipes and advice on baking safely for your little sugarplum.
5. Fun Things to Do
Image by Terri Mauro
Your Saturday super-sized listing of amusements, including a family activity, a site for the kids, a shopping site, a site offering humor or inspiration about parenting children with special needs, and a site that's just silly or fun.
6. Weekly Round-Up
Catch up with everything you missed this week on the About.com Parenting Special Needs site.7. VIA Institute on Character
Image by Terri Mauro
The VIA Youth Survey on this site was recommended in the recently reviewed book Freeing Your Child From Negative Thinking as a way to pinpoint your child's strengths and positive qualities. You'll need to go through a free registration to get at it, and according to the book, it will take about forty-five minutes to complete.
8. Class Performance
If you saw the Hallmark movie Head of the Class on CBS Sunday night, you may want to know more about Brad Cohen, the teacher with Tourette syndrome who was the film's subject. Here's his website, with information about his book, his motivational speaking, and his teaching. You can download a chapter, read articles and blog posts, view videos, and send in questions.9. Myimageville
Image by Terri Mauro
The Imagifriends of Myimagiville were created by autistic artist D.J. Svoboda to "help the Autistic and handicapped know that they are special just the way they are." Drawing from his own difficult experiences in school, he created an imaginary place where "no one is ever picked on or mistreated in any way. They are loved and accepted for who they are. Everyone in Imagiville helps and cares for one another."
10. Autism Twitter Day
Image courtesy of Autism Family Adventures
Next Tuesday, December 16, Twitter-ers who are on the autism spectrum or have a loved one who is can participate in an event to raise awareness and spread information. Learn more about the event, when to join in, and where to register.
