Mental Illness: Maintaining a Healthy Relationship

Relating to someone you love who has a mental illness can be difficult and frustrating, but there are strategies you can use to improve your communication with them. There may be a lot you don’t know about how your relative sees things when they’re symptomatic. These tips can help you build a stronger foundation for your relationship. To get started on a better path in your relationship with your family member, first acknowledge that you […]

Learning to Help Your Child and Your Family With Mental Health

Having a child with a mental health condition can be a challenge, but there are ways to help make things easier. Each year, 1 in 5 kids aged 13-18 experiences a mental health condition. This means many parents have faced similar challenges and experiences as you. Be Attentive Begin by taking notice of your children’s moods, behaviors and emotions. Early intervention, especially with signs of psychosis, is critical because mental health conditions often get worse […]

Disability Etiquette

Introduction The United States Census Bureau reports that approximately 56.7 million Americans have a disability. This report is for anyone—with or without a disability—who wants to interact more effectively with people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was conceived with the goal of integrating people with disabilities into all aspects of life, particularly the workplace and the marketplace. Sensitivity toward people with disabilities is not only in the spirit of the ADA, […]

Development of Eating Skills for Children with Multiple Disabilities

Learning to eat and drink can be a challenge for many children who have multiple disabilities including a visual impairment. The way your child responds to food can be affected by factors such as his medical conditions, physical abilities, or resistance to trying new foods because of the texture or taste. Members of your child’s educational team will often have important information and suggestions for how you can work together on specific goals that will […]

Grandparenting a Child Who Is Deaf or Hard of Hearing

By Krystyann Krywko, Ed.D. “One of the hardest things about having a grandchild with special needs is knowing when to help, when to say something, and when to keep quiet,” says Charlotte Thompson, M.D., in her book, Grandparenting a Child with Special Needs. The news that a child is deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) can be a stressful time for families, especially when there is no experience with adults or other children who are […]