Helping Your Child Transition into a New School Year

by Oran Tkatchov As our children put the past school year behind them during summer break, there might be many changes on the horizon that can be a source of anxiety for them.  A new teacher? New building? New classmates? New routines? These changes can be overwhelming for all kids, but especially for those who need additional guidance in establishing routines and developing new relationships.  Below are five suggestions that can help to minimize the […]

Parents See Adult Children Take Wing in L’Arche

BY BETHANY KEENER • PHOTOS PROVIDED BY L’ARCHE With 18 communities consisting of one or more homes in the United States, L’Arche provides support for daily living and a community of belonging where people with and without intellectual disabilities share their lives together. When Donna and Manny Ganzarain were told their fouryear-old son Mark was autistic, Donna was confused. It was 1976, and she had never heard the word. She thought the doctors were telling […]

Red Ribbion Academy

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT BY LINDA ZANI THOMAS From our families to yours, we are honored to present a description of the elements that make the Community Options, Inc. Red Ribbon Academy medical special needs day program work so well. Although told from the perspective of families of medically fragile adults with developmental disabilities, the basic premise of creation of a day program using self directed service options can be adopted for all types of developmental disabilities. […]