Need a Laugh?

What alert level do you hit before going to your child's IEP meeting? Measure your risk of outrage and deception with this handy chart.

For parents of children with special needs, family gatherings -- full of doubting relatives, stressful situations, and typically developing kids -- can be a tough way to spend a day. Here are ten items to see you through, or at least give you a laugh to lighten the load.

Sure, we may pop up in a patient-of-the-week storyline here, a Very Special Episode there, periodic news or reality show, but surely the time has come for some TV shows that really shine a spotlight on the challenges of children with special needs, their families, and their schools. Here are ten I'd tune in to.

Our world is full of technological wonders, but when it gets down to everyday life with a child with special-needs, we're often still operating by our wits and our grit. Here are ten labor-saving, stress-cutting, anxiety-eliminating devices I'd like to see to make our days a little easier. What would you add to this list?

Family asking what you want for a holiday gift? Give them this list of things that will really make a difference for a parent of children with special needs.

Want to drop some hints about the perfect gift? Give your significant other this list of things that will really make a difference for a mom of children with special needs.

An excerpt from "Beyond Words" offers a mother's rebuttal to a specialist who was quick to dismiss her child's abilities.

Christmas is a time that fills most families with ho ho ho, but for families of children with special needs, there can be some uh uh oh! thrown in there too. Have a little fun with these Christmas carols that reflect the stress of the season for parents who feel their family's differences at the holidays.

The Special-Needs Christmas Carols from About.com Parenting Special Needs are now available on Christmas cards to download, print, fold, and send for a funny holiday greeting that's true to your family's experience. Follow the link to a page on which you can read the front and inside text and download the card of your choice.