Special Needs


Adaptive Toys for Special Needs Children
There are many kinds of adaptive toys available for special needs children, you just have to know where to find them. If you find that these toys are too expensive, you can learn to make adaptive toys for your special needs child.

How Assistive Technology Helps Students with Disabilities
For students with disabilities, assistive technology enables them to keep up with their classmates and to succeed in school. There is a wide variety of assistive technology available to help students with all types of special needs.

The Importance of an Individual Education Plan for Your Special Needs Child
It is vital for parents and guardians of special needs children to understand the importance of having an individual education plan. An IEP ensures your special needs child will get an appropriate education in the public school system.

Adaptive Equipment for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Children with cerebral palsy may need adaptive equipment to get through their day-to-day activities both at school and at home. Some examples include a stander, bath chair and adaptive car seat.

Coping with The News Your Child Has Special Needs
It can be a shock when finding out your child has a disability or special needs. In order to make the best of the situation it is very important to accept the reality of your situation which can be difficult to do.

Please Ask Questions
One of the hardest parts of having a child with cerebral palsy is other people staring at her. If people just asked questions and got to know her, they would find that she is not that different from other children.

Aborting Down Syndrome Babies
Ninety percent of all babies with Down Syndrome are aborted. One reason this statistic is so high is because of the medical community's negative spin on down syndrome.

Family Retreats - A Ministry for Families Affected by Disability
Families who are directly affected by disability are often under stress and feel isolated. Family Retreats is a Christ-centered ministry that offers these families hope.

What About the Boy - A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son
What About the Boy is Stephen Gallup's memoir that introduces readers to his son, Joseph who is found as a baby to have a brain injury. Stephen makes a pledge to his disabled son that he will help make him well. Little did Stephen know at the time the energy, effort, strength and endurance it would take to keep that pledge.

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
In the United States, the month of February is referred to as American Heart Month as a way to help promote heart health. But there is also a week in February that is dedicated to babies who are born with something wrong with their hearts and is called Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Week.

CHD - The Most Common Birth Defect
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defects. More than 35,000 babies in the United States are born with CHD every year. Learn about the causes, symptoms and treatments for congenital heart defects.

Adults Living with CHD
Adults with congenital heart defects (CHD) face issues that are very unique when it comes to their health care. There are also certain challenges they may face as they get older.  This article contains very useful information on living with CHD as an adult.

Can a Woman with CHD Still Have a Baby? 
Depending on what kind of congenital heart defect (CHD) a woman has, she may or may not be able to safely have a baby. There can be many risks which is why it is important for women to consult with their cardiologist before getting pregnant.



Most Popular Posts

My Little Vacay to Nebraska

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When one thinks vacation, they probably don't think about Nebraska, especially in November! But when I heard that a friend of mine was going be having surgery in Omaha, I began thinking about how great it would be to go down that way, especially since my sister, Tesa has lived in Lincoln for 17 years, and I have never had the chance to visit.  Lo and behold, my dad had also been talking about heading South to Texas in November to hunt wild pigs. My two respite care workers were available to look after Faith starting on a Friday morning through Tuesday evening. All I had to do was book a flight so I could get back home.  Despite all the details falling into place, I was still anxious about it. I haven't flown since Faith was a baby, so I was especially nervous about that part. I prayed about it and believed that everything would be okay.  On the morning of my departure, Faith woke up just in time and her respite care staff was able to get her dressed and take her to her da...
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My Tetanus Shot Ordeal: A Real Pain in the Arm

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Last Wednesday I had my yearly doctor exam and when she said I should get my tetanus shot updated, I didn't think twice about it. The nurse said my arm would be sore for a couple of days, gave me a handout and stuck the needle in my arm.  The next day my arm was sore and although I found it a little harder to pick up and carry Faith, I was glad the pain wasn't going to last long. Boy was I wrong! But not only was my arm sore, my whole body was. I felt achy and extremely tired. According to a medical site on the Internet, these were mild side effects of the Tetanus shot. If these were only mild side effects, I would really hate to have them at a moderate or severe level. My arm is still red and sore on day 2 after my tetanus shot. On Friday, two days after getting the shot I felt so tired that I took a four-hour nap after getting Faith off to school. Then on Saturday I took a three-hour nap up until 7 o'clock, but still felt tired and was able to go back to sleep around 10. ...
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Goodbye to Our Special Tomato Adaptive Car Seat

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Today we said goodbye to our Special Tomato adaptive car seat. And special it was. It helped Faith stay safe and secure in our Hyundai driving her back and forth to therapy appointments, shopping excursions, and many other activities. It also helped us through our time of not being able to afford an accessible van. Like all adaptive equipment , the special car seat was expensive and although it is the law that a child is secured in a car seat while traveling in a vehicle, neither health insurance nor Medicaid would pay for it.  Thankfully, we were able to receive funds from the fundraiser, the Great American Bike Race ( GABR ) which helps families pay for services and equipment that insurance doesn't cover for kids with cerebral palsy and related disabilities.  After doing research on the Internet and talking to Faith's physical and occupational therapists, we decided to go for the Special Tomato adaptive car seat. You would think something with that name would b...
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Guest Post: Who Needs Sympathy?

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Guest Post by Stephen Gallup Last week, a columnist for the local newspaper interviewed me in connection with a memoir I wrote that’s being published this year. It was a comfortable, low-key discussion in which he asked about the basic facts regarding my disabled son Joseph and what I’ve learned that might be of value to other families. It was the sort of dialog that required no special preparation in advance. I just sat down with him and talked about the subject closest to my heart. But looking back on it now, one thing bothers me. In concluding the interview, the reporter expressed heartfelt sympathy for everything I’ve endured. He was being more than polite. I mean, he laid the compassion on with a spatula. Startled, and already thinking ahead to what I had to do next that day, I just thanked him and said goodbye. But now that final note troubles me. I don’t want sympathy! First of all, from the point of view of a new author hoping to promote his book, sympathy...
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