ANCORA IMPARO RICK RADER, MD ■ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF “Look at us, we’re walking! Look at us, we’re talking! We who’ve never walked or talked before…” “Look at us, we’re laughing. We’re happy and we’re laughing. Thank you from our hearts, forever more.” “There are so many other children, Who only speak with a silent prayer. For those who haven’t been so lucky, We hope and pray you will always care.” “Someday they’ll be walking. Someday they’ll […]
BY KIMBERLEE RUTAN MCCAFFERTY I’ve never been one for remembering certain types of anniversaries. I admit to forgetting the birth dates of beloved grandparents long passed, have only a passing acquaintance with the month and year they were buried. This doesn’t mean I don’t pay attention to certain milestone events–it’s just that I don’t feel constrained to remember them on one particular day. I keep special people alive by talking about them with my sons, […]
THE STATEWIDE PARENT ADVOCACY NETWORK INTRODUCTION We are families of children with special health care needs, including mental health needs. We are not here to tell you what to do with your child, because you are the expert on your child. We are here to support you in making the important decisions needed to ensure that your child with mental health challenges receives the services and supports needed for the best life possible. Children’s mental […]
BY ERNST VANBERGEIJK, PH.D., M.S.W. Without specific job training, individuals on the autism spectrum face rather bleak employment prospects. At best, the employment rate is 45 percent for this population. Anecdotal reports find that only about 10 percent of individuals on the autism spectrum find employment. Often, employment is part-time, minimum wage work which does not afford the individual a living wage. Entitlement programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance limit the amount of money […]
BY VANESSA B. IRA, EDITOR EP MAGAZINE Three outstanding Teachers of the Year are being honored in this edition of EP (Exceptional Parent) magazine, our Annual Schools & Camps Issue. These are teachers whose work requires extraordinary patience, sometimes in the midst of constant emotional outbursts. Teachers who must focus always on what a student can do – and not on what he or she cannot do. These are the teachers who celebrate with parents and caregivers when a student is able to […]
