Your Advice Needed - Share Your Special-Needs Parenting Experience
Give other parents the benefit of your experience by answering these questions about special-needs issues -- or let the contributions of other parents help you through a rough spot.
Where Do You Keep Your Child's IEPs?
Stuffed in a folder? Piled in a box? Stacked on desk? Goodness knows where? IEPs carry a useful history of your child's educational progress, but it's too easy to let all that paperwork slip into disarray until you can no longer find your way back. Have you come up with a great organizational strategy?
Stuffed in a folder? Piled in a box? Stacked on desk? Goodness knows where? IEPs carry a useful history of your child's educational progress, but it's too easy to let all that paperwork slip into disarray until you can no longer find your way back. Have you come up with a great organizational strategy?
What's the Worst Gift Your Child Ever Received?
Often gifts that are big hits with typically developing kids are all kinds of wrong for kids with special needs. The toy with too high a development level, too high a volume, too scratchy a texture, too clueless an intent ... what's the worst gift ever given your child? Let us learn from somebody's mistake.
Often gifts that are big hits with typically developing kids are all kinds of wrong for kids with special needs. The toy with too high a development level, too high a volume, too scratchy a texture, too clueless an intent ... what's the worst gift ever given your child? Let us learn from somebody's mistake.
What's the Best Present Your Child Ever Received?
Finding the perfect gift for a child with special needs can be a challenge, especially when developmental differences or offbeat interests make the standard popular playthings inappropriate. Have you ever just struck the right, magical thing that fills your child with delight? Share your inspiration.
Finding the perfect gift for a child with special needs can be a challenge, especially when developmental differences or offbeat interests make the standard popular playthings inappropriate. Have you ever just struck the right, magical thing that fills your child with delight? Share your inspiration.
Special-Needs Halloween Costumes
How have you dressed your child with special needs for Halloween? If you've found a get-up that accommodates a wheelchair, honors sensory preferences, encorporates obsessions, or otherwise works with your child's disability, share your instructions and a photo here.
How have you dressed your child with special needs for Halloween? If you've found a get-up that accommodates a wheelchair, honors sensory preferences, encorporates obsessions, or otherwise works with your child's disability, share your instructions and a photo here.
Your Organization Tools and Tricks
Have you developed a great tool for keeping medical or school records in order? Have you figured out a trick for juggling schedules and appointments? Share it here so that your fellow parents can benefit.
Have you developed a great tool for keeping medical or school records in order? Have you figured out a trick for juggling schedules and appointments? Share it here so that your fellow parents can benefit.
Your Learning Tools and Tricks
Have you developed a great tool that helps your child learn better? Have you figured out a trick for helping your child with homework? Share it here so that your fellow parents can benefit.
Have you developed a great tool that helps your child learn better? Have you figured out a trick for helping your child with homework? Share it here so that your fellow parents can benefit.
Your Communication Tools and Tricks
Have you developed a great tool that helps your child communicate better? Have you figured out a trick for getting through to your child? Share it here so that your fellow parents can benefit.
Have you developed a great tool that helps your child communicate better? Have you figured out a trick for getting through to your child? Share it here so that your fellow parents can benefit.
Your Behavior Tools and Tricks
Have you developed a great tool that helps your child behave better? Have you figured out a trick for behavior management or modification? Share it here so that your fellow parents can benefit.
Have you developed a great tool that helps your child behave better? Have you figured out a trick for behavior management or modification? Share it here so that your fellow parents can benefit.
What Do You Do When There's Nothing to Do?
How do you distract bored kids when you've got nothing to use but your clothes, your accessories, and whatever wits you have about you? I came up with 101 desperation-level amusements. Now it's your turn!
How do you distract bored kids when you've got nothing to use but your clothes, your accessories, and whatever wits you have about you? I came up with 101 desperation-level amusements. Now it's your turn!
Invent a Children's TV Character With Special Needs
The producers of "Arthur" ran a contest to allow children to design a friend with special needs for Arthur, Buster, Francine, Binky, and the gang. If you could develop such a character for any children's television show, what would that character be and why?
The producers of "Arthur" ran a contest to allow children to design a friend with special needs for Arthur, Buster, Francine, Binky, and the gang. If you could develop such a character for any children's television show, what would that character be and why?
What Child Discipline Techniques Have Worked for You?
Discipline involves teaching the way to behave more than providing punishment. Have you found a disciplinary trick that's made a difference for your child and family? Clue the rest of us in, will ya?
Discipline involves teaching the way to behave more than providing punishment. Have you found a disciplinary trick that's made a difference for your child and family? Clue the rest of us in, will ya?
How Do You Teach Your Child Vocabulary?
In the book "The Shut-Down Learner," author Richard Selznick describes a method for developing a struggling child's vocabulary at home. Do you have a trick of your own for helping your child know and remember new words? Share your strategy here.
In the book "The Shut-Down Learner," author Richard Selznick describes a method for developing a struggling child's vocabulary at home. Do you have a trick of your own for helping your child know and remember new words? Share your strategy here.
How Do You Teach Your Child Life Skills?
Children with special needs may have a harder time than most learning how to do chores like bed-making, teeth-brushing, shoe-tying. Have you come up with a great way for teaching these necessary but hard-to-pick-up skills? Share your strategies.
Children with special needs may have a harder time than most learning how to do chores like bed-making, teeth-brushing, shoe-tying. Have you come up with a great way for teaching these necessary but hard-to-pick-up skills? Share your strategies.
Why Did You Seek a 504 Plan for Your Child?
A 504 plan is intended to make education accessible to students with disabilities. If your child has one, please share with other parents why you got it, and what criteria were used to determine that your child was eligible.
A 504 plan is intended to make education accessible to students with disabilities. If your child has one, please share with other parents why you got it, and what criteria were used to determine that your child was eligible.
What Fun Things Do You Do With Your Child?
Every Saturday, I offer five fun things to do with your child -- an activity, a web site for kids, a shopping site, special-needs inspiration or humor, and a site that's just silly or fun. Here's your chance to add your favorite fun things to the list.
Every Saturday, I offer five fun things to do with your child -- an activity, a web site for kids, a shopping site, special-needs inspiration or humor, and a site that's just silly or fun. Here's your chance to add your favorite fun things to the list.
What's the Best Thing About Adopting a Child With Special Needs?
Sure, you're taking on a lot when you adopt a child with identified special needs. And there are plenty of people who will tell you all the hard and bad and worrisome things about that. But most adoptive parents would declare that there are good things about it, too, special blessings that come with special-needs adoption. Share your positive discoveries here.
Sure, you're taking on a lot when you adopt a child with identified special needs. And there are plenty of people who will tell you all the hard and bad and worrisome things about that. But most adoptive parents would declare that there are good things about it, too, special blessings that come with special-needs adoption. Share your positive discoveries here.
Share Your Positive School Experiences
Parents of children with special education often gripe about IEPs and swap tales of clueless educators, but there's another side of the story -- the teacher who goes the extra mile, the therapist who works miracles, the IEP meeting where everybody's out for the child's best interest. Let this be the place to let those success stories shine.
Parents of children with special education often gripe about IEPs and swap tales of clueless educators, but there's another side of the story -- the teacher who goes the extra mile, the therapist who works miracles, the IEP meeting where everybody's out for the child's best interest. Let this be the place to let those success stories shine.
Birthday Party Disasters
Maybe it was the party you threw for your child that no one attended. Or the one your child went to and wreaked havoc. Maybe it was the way the other moms looked at you, or the way all the gifts were far beyond your child's developmental interest. If you have a child with special needs, chances are you've been to kiddy parties that made you want to weep. Vent about those unhappy birthdays here.
Maybe it was the party you threw for your child that no one attended. Or the one your child went to and wreaked havoc. Maybe it was the way the other moms looked at you, or the way all the gifts were far beyond your child's developmental interest. If you have a child with special needs, chances are you've been to kiddy parties that made you want to weep. Vent about those unhappy birthdays here.
Do-It-Yourself Therapy Toys
Have you made some great developmental or therapeutic toys for your child that provide a cheap alternative to expensive equipment? Share those creations here.
Have you made some great developmental or therapeutic toys for your child that provide a cheap alternative to expensive equipment? Share those creations here.
How Do You Communicate With Your Child's Teachers?
How do you communicate with your child's teachers? Share your strategies, or your school's, with other parents looking for ideas.
How do you communicate with your child's teachers? Share your strategies, or your school's, with other parents looking for ideas.
How Do You Get Your Child Through Worship Services?
How do you keep your child with special needs quiet through worship services, or yourself calm and prayerful? Share your worship strategies, and pick up some tips from other parents.
How do you keep your child with special needs quiet through worship services, or yourself calm and prayerful? Share your worship strategies, and pick up some tips from other parents.
How Do You Help Your Child Survive Easter Stress?
With a heavy helping of church, family, scratchy clothes, and sugar, Easter can be a time more stressed than blessed for children with special needs. Do you have some tricks and tips for helping kids through the holiday? Share with your fellow parents in need.
With a heavy helping of church, family, scratchy clothes, and sugar, Easter can be a time more stressed than blessed for children with special needs. Do you have some tricks and tips for helping kids through the holiday? Share with your fellow parents in need.
How Do You Make Thanksgiving Special for Your Child?
Do you have a Thanksgiving tradition with your child that transforms this time of food- and guest- and dress-related stress into precious family moments? Share the little things you do to make Thanksgiving meaningful.
Do you have a Thanksgiving tradition with your child that transforms this time of food- and guest- and dress-related stress into precious family moments? Share the little things you do to make Thanksgiving meaningful.
How Do You Streamline Your Morning Routine?
Mornings are a "whatever works" time for parents of children with special needs, where getting everybody out the door on time and unstressed is the most important goal. Have you developed some good tips and tricks for making mornings manageable? Swap them here.
Mornings are a "whatever works" time for parents of children with special needs, where getting everybody out the door on time and unstressed is the most important goal. Have you developed some good tips and tricks for making mornings manageable? Swap them here.
How Do You Tell Your Child "I Love You"?
There's nothing wrong with saying those three little words every day to your child, over and over again. But many children with special needs are unable to respond to that loving message the way we'd like. You can get your message through in a more sincere and meaningful way if you show rather than tell. What ways have you found to connect with your child?
There's nothing wrong with saying those three little words every day to your child, over and over again. But many children with special needs are unable to respond to that loving message the way we'd like. You can get your message through in a more sincere and meaningful way if you show rather than tell. What ways have you found to connect with your child?
How Do You Use Up Leftover Halloween Candy?
Share your strategies for using up leftover Halloween candy -- or Easter candy, or Valentine candy, or goody-bag treats -- without putting your child into sugar overload.
Share your strategies for using up leftover Halloween candy -- or Easter candy, or Valentine candy, or goody-bag treats -- without putting your child into sugar overload.
How Have You Dealt With Fear of Escalators?
Some people have no problem hopping aboard an escalator and riding that moving stairway. For others, stepping on or off, riding up or down, can be so terrifying as to cause meltdowns or fervent avoidance. Have you found a good way to deal with your child's escalator fear, or your own? Share your strategies here.
Some people have no problem hopping aboard an escalator and riding that moving stairway. For others, stepping on or off, riding up or down, can be so terrifying as to cause meltdowns or fervent avoidance. Have you found a good way to deal with your child's escalator fear, or your own? Share your strategies here.
How Have You Handled Head Lice?
Have you found a good technique for vanquishing head lice? One that works well for children with special needs? Share your lice-battling wisdom here.
Have you found a good technique for vanquishing head lice? One that works well for children with special needs? Share your lice-battling wisdom here.
How Have You Planned for Your Child's Future?
Have you started preparing for your child's future with estate planning, special-needs trusts, letter of intent, and other legal preparations? Tell your fellow parents how you got going with that, and what tips and shortcuts you found along the way.
Have you started preparing for your child's future with estate planning, special-needs trusts, letter of intent, and other legal preparations? Tell your fellow parents how you got going with that, and what tips and shortcuts you found along the way.
Imagine Your Own Perfect Special-Needs Tool
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. I've shared 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? Brainstorm here.
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. I've shared 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? Brainstorm here.
Recommend a Special-Needs Camp
If your child has had a great camp experience, or found a place tailored to his particular disabilities, share that success with parents still searching for a summer program. Include the name of the camp, location, the special needs it serves, and a website for more information. Parents are the best resource!
If your child has had a great camp experience, or found a place tailored to his particular disabilities, share that success with parents still searching for a summer program. Include the name of the camp, location, the special needs it serves, and a website for more information. Parents are the best resource!
What Are the Job Requirements for a Special-Needs Parent?
In their book Helping Children With Complex Needs Bounce Back, Kim Aumann and Angie Hart offer a "want ad" listing the tasks involved in parenting a child with special needs. Read their suggestions, then add a few of your own.
In their book Helping Children With Complex Needs Bounce Back, Kim Aumann and Angie Hart offer a "want ad" listing the tasks involved in parenting a child with special needs. Read their suggestions, then add a few of your own.
What Are You Thankful For About Your Child With Special Needs?
What are you thankful for about your child with special needs? Share your blessings, and make a public declaration of our children's value.
What are you thankful for about your child with special needs? Share your blessings, and make a public declaration of our children's value.
What Are Your Special-Needs Strategies for Disney Theme Parks?
Have you developed some great strategies for surviving a Disney trip with a child with special needs? Clue your fellow parents in on your discoveries.
Have you developed some great strategies for surviving a Disney trip with a child with special needs? Clue your fellow parents in on your discoveries.
What Gluten-Free Candy Do You Give Your Child?
I've gathered up manufacturers' lists of gluten-free treats, but sometimes it takes parents researching and calling and trying to get the real scoop on what's safe and what's not. Have you found some great gluten-free treats for your sensitive child -- or found some that didn't work out at all? Share what you've found here.
I've gathered up manufacturers' lists of gluten-free treats, but sometimes it takes parents researching and calling and trying to get the real scoop on what's safe and what's not. Have you found some great gluten-free treats for your sensitive child -- or found some that didn't work out at all? Share what you've found here.
What School Accommodations and Modifications Does Your Child Receive?
Knowing what accommodations and modifications students are receiving for specific disabilities can help parents advocate for stronger IEPs and 504 plans. Share what your school is doing to ensure your child's safety and success, and include your child's diagnosis.
Knowing what accommodations and modifications students are receiving for specific disabilities can help parents advocate for stronger IEPs and 504 plans. Share what your school is doing to ensure your child's safety and success, and include your child's diagnosis.
What Special-Education Placement Works Best for Your Child?
What special-education placement works best for your child -- inclusion? resource room? a self-contained classroom? Help other parents know what to expect by sharing your child's experience.
What special-education placement works best for your child -- inclusion? resource room? a self-contained classroom? Help other parents know what to expect by sharing your child's experience.
What Special-Needs TV Would You Like to See?
Would you go with your child on a reality show or news interview? Or prefer to see a drama or comedy that directly relates to your experience? Read my lighthearted list of "Special-Needs TV I'd Like to See," then share your own programming ideas, for fun or for real.
Would you go with your child on a reality show or news interview? Or prefer to see a drama or comedy that directly relates to your experience? Read my lighthearted list of "Special-Needs TV I'd Like to See," then share your own programming ideas, for fun or for real.
What Would You Like Special Educators to Know?
In a recent article, I outlined eight things that parents would like special educators to know. Now it's your turn. What would you like special-education teachers -- or any school personnel -- to understand about you, your child, and your family? Share your thoughts.
In a recent article, I outlined eight things that parents would like special educators to know. Now it's your turn. What would you like special-education teachers -- or any school personnel -- to understand about you, your child, and your family? Share your thoughts.
What's in Your "Bag of Tricks"?
Most parents of children with special needs get used to toting around items to amuse, bribe, distract, or calm. What's in your "bag of tricks"?
Most parents of children with special needs get used to toting around items to amuse, bribe, distract, or calm. What's in your "bag of tricks"?
What's on Your Special-Needs Parenting Wish List?
If you could tell people what you REALLY want for a birthday or holiday gift, what would it be? Extra sleep? Respite care? Respect? Intimidating accompaniment at IEP meetings? Add your wishes to the list.
If you could tell people what you REALLY want for a birthday or holiday gift, what would it be? Extra sleep? Respite care? Respect? Intimidating accompaniment at IEP meetings? Add your wishes to the list.
What's the Most Outrageous Thing That's Happened at an IEP Meeting?
If you've had a child in special education for very long -- and even if the experience has been mostly good -- chances are you've had a moment at an IEP meeting that has made your jaw drop. Tell your tale of IEP woe.
If you've had a child in special education for very long -- and even if the experience has been mostly good -- chances are you've had a moment at an IEP meeting that has made your jaw drop. Tell your tale of IEP woe.
What's the Worst Thing a "Loved One" Has Said About Your Child?
What's the worst thing a family member or friend has said about your child or your parenting? Share your toxic tales here.
What's the worst thing a family member or friend has said about your child or your parenting? Share your toxic tales here.