Special Note for a Special Needs Mom

Special Note for a Special Needs Mom

When 8 year old Riley started screaming and throwing things in a North Carolina restaurant, things got a little difficult for his family—especially, his mother.  The ADHD special needs child with severe learning difficulties. The mom, Ashley England and her family thought they might just leave when they couldn’t get the child to calm down.  It was not the first time this had happened and before they left, feeling quite defeated.  This time was different.  Many of the customers were probably upset but one did something that made all the difference.  She paid for their meal and even sent the family a note via the waitress.  The witness, interviewed by Daily News (Wednesday 4, 2013), said she could hardly keep from crying when she talked to Ashley England.  She said, “I’ll try to do this without crying but another customer has paid for your entire bill and even sent you a note.  It read, “God only give’s special needs children to special parents.”  That simple gesture brought Ashley to tears.  I hope that someone reading this blog would be motivated to go a little out of their way, give a little bit, give a little extra effort  and make a big difference in a the life of a child with special needs and/or their families.  “God DOES give special needs children to special parents!” 

What do you think the biggest problem is for kids with special needs?

What do you think the biggest problem is for kids with special needs?

Jane McCready, on her blog article, “The biggest problems for parents of a child with special needs?” states that other people are.  She states that she and especially her 10 year old son are sometimes stared at as if “…he were a circus freak.”  Her son has severe autism and learning disabilities.  Yes, I’m sure he may not be like other kids but I’m also sure he’s a person worthy of all the respect any other child would be treated with.  She looks at how most parents look at her.  She realizes that they have no idea about the love, sacrifice and commitment a special needs child takes.   They have no idea of the financial commitment—the therapists, the tutors, the doctors, the medicines or the patience it takes to raise a special needs child.  I know I have a heart for children with special needs but I can’t imagine ANY sane adult treating ANY child in anyway other than with complete respect and understanding.  I see them at my church.  I see them at the mall.  I see them at school.  I see them everywhere.  I know that ALL of them are worthy of my most fervent kindness and that their parents are the true heroes on the earth.

Kids with special needs and the Internet Resources.

Kids with special needs and the Internet Resources. 

Most people know that the internet provides a bounty of resources and every topic under the sun.  One area that brought more resources to the home of a special needs child is the internet.  On it, you can find thousands of resources, support groups, bulletin boards, education, and information on any special needs area.   Care.com is once such site that gives advice for special needs caregiver, hiring a special needs caregiver, locations for respite care for the special needs parents, even school and special education resources.  Articles like “How do I find Respite Care?” and “8 Tips for tutoring a child with ADHD” are just some of the many examples of the countless articles on just this one site. It even has advice of the appropriate pets in regard to different special needs.  There are a whole section of article for military families, seniors/grandparents, nuclear families, blended families and single parents families.  With the coming of the internet comes one of the greatest source of resources for those with special needs and the ones who love and care for them.  Honestly, the resources are unlimited—all in the privacy of your home or school; even your park bench! 

Kids with special needs and Technology

Kids with special needs and Technology
 

Apps are the big thing now with every teenager.  They are also becoming quite the thing with special needs kids.  App makers are realizing not only their benefits through resources but also because it seems to be a breakthrough for many kids with special needs.  One such app is “Touch” for kids with Autism.  Used typically with an iPad, an object appears on the screen that the child will touch with his or her finger.  This app will help the child develop their gross and fine motor skills.  Many special education departments are utilizing “touch.” Another common app is called “Calm Counter.”  Used with a variety of special needs, this app is typically used in anger management.  The app allows the student to express his or her feelings by choosing different “faces” that correspond to their individual feelings.  Once they pick a corresponding “face,” the app talks to them and helps provide a therapy to calm the child.  Another app worth noting is called “ASLSpeechBuddy.”  This app is specifically designed for a child who is hearing impaired.  The app will first show a picture of an object of an action and then, once the correct icon is pressed, the ASL (American Sign Language) is demonstrated.  Once the student reaches a certain level of expertise, the ASL is giving first and the child with special needs will then be asked to select the correct object or action that corresponds to the sign language.  Apps are all the rage on Perterest and other similar sites.