BY KAREN KABAKI-SISTO, M.S. CCC-SLP Your child ought to be a highly active participant in your family getaway – and more confident and excited than ever to share their experiences with others. Summer vacations, an important part of childhood, create lasting memories. You can help your child with special needs enjoy all of the awe and wonderment of those special family getaways with the following suggestions! BEFORE THE VACATION TIME CONCEPTS Mark the date of […]
I Can Have Conversations With You!™ is an app for learners with autism, PDD, Asperger’s syndrome, or social (pragmatic) communication disorder who are ages 6 and up. It is designed to help children with conversation and social skills. The app provides a unique solution to parents who want to empower their child to initiate, understand, and participate in conversations. This easy-to-follow, self-explanatory program, engages the learner’s interest within a fun, supportive environment so that learning […]
By Christina A. Samuels After years of steady decline, the nationwide count of school-age students covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has shown an upswing since the 2011-12 school year based on the most recently available federal data, driven by rapid growth in such disability categories as autism. The count of students ages 6-21 with disabilities fell to a low of 5.67 million in fall 2011, but had risen to 5.83 million by […]
BY LAUREN AGORATUS INTRODUCTION I wrote this manual to help other families of individuals with special needs and the professionals who work with them. My daughter now has five life-threatening conditions, and autism just to keep things interesting. We have been through everything from early intervention to currently going through transition to adult care. I hope this helps you on your journey. Part VII follows; to review Parts I – VI, see the September through […]
GENETIC ALLIANCE BY BY SARAH ROTH AND ROXANNE ROGERS From long hours, to intensive physical activity, to tests of patience that even humans wouldn’t be able to endure,the life of a therapy animal can be challenging. On a spring afternoon, Burton and Shellie Goldstein stride into the lobby of Sibley Memorial Hospital. The Goldsteins are slim, athletic. They wear identical polar fleeces and tote tie-dyed backpacks. They trail identical leashes behind them, attached to which […]
