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More Halloween Events for Kids with Special Needs

Halloween is happening soon! This year, the holiday is taking place on a Wednesday. This means that there will be events happening this weekend, and through the week. There are plenty of Halloween events that are designed for children who have special needs to attend. Here are some more of them to check out. On October 25, 2012, Marbles Kids Museum, which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, will host a Family Fun Night Spooktacular for children who have special needs and their families. Children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes. The event is set up to allow children who … Continue reading →

Twelve Year Old Boy From Georgia is Heading For College

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The classes at colleges and universities are designed to be challenging for the students who take them. Usually, students are at least eighteen years old when they start attending college, after having graduated from high school. So, it’s really impressive to hear that a twelve year old boy, who has autism, will be attending college in the Fall. Alex Beach lives in Georgia. His mother. Melinda Beach, says that he has a “genius IQ”, which I would believe, considering that Alex is fluently trilingual. He speaks both Japanese and Latin, in addition to his native language of English. He has … Continue reading →

Yoga is Helpful For Kids With Special Needs

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Yoga is not just for vegan college students, or people with a “new age” outlook on life. There are many benefits that come from practicing yoga that can help out people of all ages with a variety of physical ailments. Yoga is something that can be good for children who have special needs. Has your child attended a yoga class yet? There are a lot of good things about yoga. Practicing yoga can help to calm both the mind and the body. It can improve concentration and coordination. It is a good way to reduce stress. Yoga is a physical … Continue reading →

12 Year Old With Autism Revising Einstein’s Theory

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Jake Barnett is twelve years old, and has an IQ of 170. He also has aspergers syndrome. His interest in astronomy and advanced mathematics eventually lead him to question the calculations of Einstein’s theory of relativity. This, from a child who psychologists thought would always remain detached from the world around him. Asperger’s syndrome is a form of autism. It’s been described as high functioning autism. Symptoms tend to include an intensely focused interest in one particular subject to the point where the person knows everything about it. Other symptoms involve delayed motor skills, a lack of eye contact, and … Continue reading →

Journal Your Way through Your Teen’s Years

Next week my children return to school. It is hard to believe that my youngest is entering his first year of middle school, my middle child is entering her last year of middle school and my oldest child has just two years of school left. I am grateful that so far my children have faired well. We haven’t experienced many problems along the way. As each year passes without major incidences I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief. Yet at the same time, as each new school year approaches I can’t help but worry some. Middle school … Continue reading →

How Much Do You Pay Your Babysitter?

“Bankrupt by Babysitter!” It’s a mock headline, but one that is apropos after speaking to my friend in Atlanta, who claims her bank account, has been sapped by her babysitter. The babysitter she pays $15 an hour to watch her three kids (who are 2, 4, and 6). Fifteen bucks an hour! That’s more than I made working my first post-college job… and my second… and third—COMBINED! Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little (and by little I mean like 50 cents–COMBINED), but I think my exasperation is warranted. Fifteen dollars an hour for watching three well-behaved children watch TV for … Continue reading →

Special Ed Student Wins Judgement Against Atlanta Public Schools

A recent court case where a federal judge ordered Atlanta Public Schools to pay for the private education of a misdiagnosed student is just one of many of the victimizations of public school students that happened on a regular basis. When Mr. Draper was in fourth grade, he was evaluated to be mentally retarded, and so they did not teach him. It turns out that he is merely dyslexic. This happens far too often. My oldest stepsister had an injury that affected her speech as a baby. She stayed in Special Ed programs her entire school career. Still, she managed … Continue reading →

Helping Foster Care Teens Grow Up

My last blog talked about a problem most people rarely think about: the high rates of homelessness, unemployment, dropping out of school before gaining a diploma, and unplanned pregnancy found among older teens who suddenly stop being cared for by the foster care system once they turn 18. Many 18-year-olds are still in high school. Many more foster youth will not finish on time because of difficulties caused by changing schools due to frequent foster care moves. One agency providing tutoring to foster children estimated that their clients’ reading levels were 5-6 years behind their age—this means an 18-year-old reading … Continue reading →

Teach Your Child How to Dream

I’m a firm believer that children need to be taught how to dream. By “dream,” I mean having a driving hope for the future—a clear concept or idea of what they want to do or be. Every child needs to learn this, and children with special needs are no exception. Some children develop a dream for their lives from early childhood, but many children must be taught to dream. These are the kids that shrug their shoulders and say, “I dunno,” when asked about their future plans. Why Dream? A child with a dream has greater motivation to achieve. Children … Continue reading →

Best Buddies International – A Great Opportunity For Your Child

Parents of children with cognitive delays often worry their kids might be isolated from the real world and have difficulty making friends. Socialization is so important for children with intellectual disabilities. Through friendships with peers of similar age and average intellect, these special kids can improve the quality of their lives dramatically. They can learn, have experiences, and participate in activities they otherwise might never even imagine if left to only associate with other intellectually-disabled children. There is a fantastic organization founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver called “Best Buddies International.” Headquartered in Miami, Florida, it is non-profit organization … Continue reading →