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About Special Education |
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Helping Children With Learning Problem |
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Your child may resist being read to or joining with you in the activities in this booklet. If so, keep trying the activities, but keep them playful. Remember that children vary a great deal in the ways that they learn. Don't be concerned if your child doesn't enjoy a certain activity that her friend of the same age loves. It is important, though, to keep an eye on how your child is progressing. When a child is having a language or reading problem, the reason might be simple to understand and deal with or it might be complicated and require expert help. Often,children may just need more time to develop their language skills. On the other hand, some children might have trouble seeing,... |
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Is Your Special Needs Child Included in Your Estate Plan? |
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You have undoubtedly made provisions for how your beneficiaries or guardians will handle your finances in the event of your death or disability. You’ve appointed a guardian for your young children and you’ve outlined instructions for how to handle your child’s education, finances and other expenses. Sure, you have a plan in place to provide for your child – but have you thought about special provisions for your Special Needs Child? Special Needs Children require special care when planning your estate. Because your child may not be able to care for himself, the first and foremost consideration for him in your estate plan is deciding who will be your child’s guardian. In the event of your... |
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Your Special Needs Child--Coping After Receiving a Diagnosis |
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As the parent of seven children, three with developmental delays, I have experienced both the heartache, and frustration as well as the joyful rewards that accompany any
parent’s journey in helping their child succeed under trying circumstances. That gray, icy March day, over eight year’s ago, that my oldest son was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delays, possible Autism, still sits like a dark shadow on the corner of my heart. My husband and I certainly were not expecting such a harsh diagnosis. Our sweet 2-year old son was simply not talking, we just wanted to know how we could get help from a Speech Language Pathologist, not an entire team of Neurologists, Phds, Occupational... |
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3 Things Every Parent Needs When Raising a Child with Special Needs
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When I travel by plane I'm always reminded of the "way things are". It is a fact of life that we must care for ourselves before we can effectively care for someone else. That's why flight attendants instruct us before every flight, "position your own oxygen mask before assisting others traveling with you". The lesson: You can't help anyone, if you are incapacitated. So I want to start this series by pointing out some critical things that need to in place for YOU so that you can be an effective parent and advocate for your child with special needs.
1 - A Personal Network of Support
Dealing with the emotional turmoil of a new diagnosis is difficult, however it certainly isn't the last emotional strain that you will face as you advocate for your child with special needs. It's important to develop your own ongoing, personal support system. And remember, "Wider is better"! Often just identifying and writing down all the support available to you will help you feel less isolated and more positive.
Tip: Consider all of the support options available to you - mentoring by another parent, local support groups, online discussion lists, web-based membership sites and decide which fits your needs and lifestyle the best.
Local professionals that can offer support and point you toward available resources include:
· Family doctor
· Specialist
· Physical therapist
· Occupational therapist
· Speech therapist
· Case manager
· Parent advocacy trainer
· Special education or resource teacher
· Inclusion specialist
· 504 Coordinator
Note: There are literally thousands of discussion lists, forums, newsletters, and experts available on virtually any diagnosis you could name. To find a variety to choose from, just type the following into your favorite online search engine:
"the diagnosis + type of support".
For example: "ADHD + discussion list" produced 27,800 choices in less than 1 second at my favorite search engine.
2 - A Problem Solving System
As this column continues, you will learn lots of practical advocacy strategies to help you in supporting you child, however even the most comprehensive advocacy training cannot possibly anticipate every challenge you may face. Because of this truth, an essential skill for any parent/advocate to develop is the ability to SOLVE PROBLEMS as they come up.
You need to know:
· Who to call
· Which experts to trust
· How to research options
The idea behind the Problem Solving Folder is to:
· Help you identify all of the help readily available.
· Organize contact information so that it will be easy to access in a few days or a few months when you need it.
· Offer you that sense of confidence that you aren't all alone in facing this challenge.
Instructions for making a Problem Solving Folder:
1. Select a brightly colored folder that won't be easily buried in mounds of paperwork.
2. Identify what information you want to keep in your folder. Possibilities might include:
· A list of your personal support network along with contact details.
· A reference list of the categories included in your advocacy notebook.
· Emergency contact information for professionals that you are likely to need (family doctor, primary specialist, emergency room, mental health center, mental health center emergency contact, respite care providers.
· An emergency information form for each child with special health care needs.
· A list of contact phone numbers or email addresses for mentor parents in your area (along with their area of expertise) who are willing to offer moral support and/or advice.
· A list of recommended area professionals who have experience with individuals who have special needs (this might include doctors, dentists, specialists, therapist, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, teachers, etc.)
· A list of recommended websites or online resources that offer reliable information, answer questions promptly by email or in their forum, and provide genuine support.
3 - A Stress Management Strategy
As one advocate put it:
"I don't suffer from stress. I'm a carrier!"
For most advocates -- stress isn't a possibility, it's a CONSTANT. So it's vital to have stress management techniques that WORK FOR YOU and that you are comfortable using. Times of high stress are not the time to be learning a new technique. So practice your stress management system of choice regularly and have it ready to PULL OUT & USE when needed.
Raising a child with special needs is challenging to say the least, but you don't have to do it all alone. Check back often and I'll help you navigate the maze -one hurdle at a time.
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From The Publisher...
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Use Children's Books To Encourage Kids To Read |
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As most parents know, reading skills are critical for preschool learning and childhood development. Studies have shown that children that are diagnosed with reading problems during their early school years, will continue having reading and learning problems through the 9th grade and beyond. Even more troubling, almost 50 percent of adolescents and young people with criminal records have reading difficulties. Sadly, many of today's kids would rather watch TV or play video games than read a book. Being a bookworm, or even showing an interest in reading, is percieved as a “nerdish” activity. Most of the heros in today’s society are professional athletes, actors, or music icons. But don’t despair, all is not lost. Getting your kids to read can be a challange, but with the use of quality children's books, it doesn't have to be an insermountable one. Here are some steps you can take in order to encourage reading in children: The first step to read to your child at an early age. Many adults have fond memories of their parents reading them bedtime stories when they were toddlers, and reading to your child will help foster a love of words and reading. Be a good reading "role model" for your children or grandchildren. Let them see you reading on a regular basis, and how much you enjoy reading books and magazines. Another good idea is to fill your child's room with books. Kids who grow up surrounded by books learn to think of them as friends, and allies in their pursuit of reading, learning, and wonderful new adventures. As your child grows and matures, introduce him or her to books that match their interests and hobbies. Show them how an informative book can deepen and expand their knowledge on a particular topic--and expand their horizons as well. Make sure your child or... |
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