Empowering the Special Needs Community
Most families with a child who has special needs know full well the concept of it taking a village. From medical professionals to educators and deep into our communities, we create a team of people to help. But within our family is where the deepest well of support and care usually emerges.
When the Autism Society and AMC films partnered together for Sensory Friendly Films, they were filling an important need – the chance for children with special needs and their families to enjoy movies on the big screen, in a setting specially designed for their comfort and enjoyment.
As children with special needs grow up, parents and caregivers are called upon to examine what happens next. As kids age out of programs and the availability of assistance and opportunities begin to shrink, parents of special needs people must plan for the next phase of life.
TED Talks are a set of global conferences run by the private, non-profit Sapling Foundation. Their slogan is “Ideas Worth Spreading” and we couldn’t agree more. Here are our five favorite TED talks on Autism – they teach, uplift and encourage those with Autism and the people who love them.
In 2007, The General Assembly of the United Nations designated April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day. The 2015 World Autism Awareness Day theme chosen is “Employment: The Autism Advantage.” People with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), their families, employers and society as a whole benefits from employment inclusion of people with ASD.
California resident Deb Peralta didn’t set out to be an Autism activist parent. In fact, parenthood was thought to be off the table entirely until it suddenly wasn’t – Devin and Darius were a miraculous gift for Deb and her husband, Dean, changing their lives in ways they couldn’t possibly imagine.
Helen Ezell has a deep understanding of the elopement concerns of parents of special needs children. As the mother of four amazing special needs sons – three diagnosed with Autism, two profoundly so – Helen lives with worries about her children every day.
It has been a little more than a year since the start of my journey to obtain a Medicaid waiver for my six-year-old son with autism, but I am relieved to say I finally walked through the “Front Door” and obtained a Medicaid Service Coordinator for my son – another step toward accessing additional therapy, family reimbursement and more.
Yes it’s February and currently theme of the month is – we must be in love. Well the truth is regardless of whether you have a romantic relationship or not we all feel extra pressure to make an effort when at every turn we are being bombarded with images of cupids and love hearts. When parenting a special needs child finding the space…
Lopsided and gloopily glued craft projects are a hallmark of childhood. Sharing time with your children to do these fun activities can present issues for kids with sensory issues, for example. Setting up a Valentine’s Day project that is attuned to their strengths and modified for comfort will make for a fun afternoon!