Parents Resources- Special Needs


Parenting Special Needs Children

Special Needs Children- Whats Hot Now

Review: A Different Dream
Review of a collection of "meditations for parents critically or chronically ill children."

Excerpt From I Am Potential
In an excerpt from "I Am Potential," the father of a child with special needs describes his wife's struggle against rude comments, arrogant doctors, and low expectations for their son.

You Are Strong
Artful notes of support and encouragement for parents of children with special needs, suitable for printing and framing or giving.

Love Notes Mother's Day
Love Notes for Special Parents messages are now available on greeting cards for Mother's Day. Pick your favorite, download a .pdf, print and fold, and treat a mother you love to a heartfelt greeting.

Stay in the Day
An excerpt from "A Different Dream for My Child" suggests taking things day by day or hour by hour instead of giving in to big fears and worries.

Nut-Free Charoset
The Passover specialty Charoset is traditionally made with fruit and nuts, but if your child has a food allergy, that dish will need a do-over. Instead of just leaving the nuts out of your usual family recipe, try one of these five from around the Web that don't have nuts in the first place.

I Didn't Sign Up for This
In an excerpt from her book about living with blindness, author Katherine Schneider shares some tips for parents of children with special needs.

What Is ARND?
Defines the acronym ARND, describing fetal alcohol impairment.

Monitor Your Child's E-Mail
If you'd like your child to have an e-mail account, but worry about inappropriate correspondence or cyberbullying, set up a Google gmail account and set it to forward copies to your account. Here's how.

Keep a Contact Log
Setting up a system for keeping track of the conversations you’ve had with all those case managers, specialists, therapists and administrators will make you a more organized and effective advocate for your child. Here’s how to have all those details, recommendations, promises and proposals right at your fingertips.

Special-Education Transitions
Children in special education go through a variety of important transitions, each one needing parents to be informed and pro-active. Learn more about these stepping stones, starting at the move from early intervention at age 3 to release from the system after age 21.

Sensory Integration at School
School can be a difficult place for children with sensory integration problems -- academically, behaviorally and socially. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

Asperger's: To Tell or Not
In an excerpt from "Asperger Syndrome and Bullying," author Nick Dubin explains his views on whether kids should be told they have AS.

Say What You Mean
Children with special needs may have trouble deciphering figures of speech, tone of voice, body language, sarcasm. You'll have more luck getting your message through if you say just what you mean.

504 Accommodations
In this excerpt from "A Parent's Guide to Special Education," the authors describe 504 Plan accommodations for students with asthma, ADHD, bipolar disorder and epilepsy, and those who are emotionally disturbed.

What Is ASD?
Definition of ASD, with links to resources for getting more information.

Special-Needs Swim Gear
Children with special needs may face special challenges when it comes to water play -- from keeping ear tubes dry to finding extra-large swim diapers. Here's the gear they'll need to stay cool in the pool.

Steps to Independence
Teach your child self-care, home-care, play and information skills with this book's patient, step-by-step instructions and helpful techniques.

What should I bring?
In addition to nerves of steel, bringing these items to a meeting can improve your chances of success.

Help Your Child Sit Still
If your child's teacher constantly complains that he's out of his seat or squirming in it, suggest one of these techniques for increasing desk-chair comfort and control.

ODD at School
School can be a difficult place for children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder -- and difficult for those who try to work with them. Let the school know what your child needs to be successful with these tips and printouts.

After the Diagnosis
Information on the next steps to take after you receive a diagnosis for your child with special needs. Includes listing of fact sheets on the First Five Things to Do for specific disabilities.

IEP Meeting Alert Levels
What alert level do you hit before going to your child's IEP meeting? Measure your risk of outrage and deception with this handy chart.

Guided Relaxation
In an excerpt from "The Floppy Sleep Game Book," author Patti Teel describes a guided relaxation exercise that parents can use to relieve children's anxiety and sleeplessness.

Smother Head Lice
One non-toxic way to deal with head lice is to put a substance on the head that kills lice by smothering them and also makes the nits easier to comb out. Learn how to put this plan into action.

FASD Resources
Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

What Is Speech Therapy?
A definition of speech therapy, with a link to more information.

Pick a Student Planner
It's simple: If your child doesn't bring home information on the assignment, he or she can't do the homework. Planners are important, but what kind will work best for your student? Here are six options to consider.

Free Your Child from Anxiety
"Powerful, practical solutions to overcome your child's fears, worries, and phobias." This book will help with a lot of your worries, too.

Special Needs Children - What's Popular

What is a 504 plan?
Information on accommodations for disabled students under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Fun Things to Do
Running out of inspiration? Here's a handful of things to do -- with your kids, or for your own procrastinating self -- to keep you informed, amused and occupied.

School Behavior Plans
Blank forms and sample behavior management plans can help parents be active participants in the process of devising a plan for their student -- or proposing a plan themselves.

What Are "Special Needs"?
An explanation of the term "special needs," and a look at different children's diseases, disorders and disabilities that fall under that umbrella.

iTunes No Credit or Gift Card
It's now possible to start an iTunes account with no money or information down. Follow this step-by-step to set it up.

Sample 504 Plans
504 plans spell out accommodations and modifications necessary to keep students with certain disabilities safe and available for learning. Review these sample plans from around the Web before helping plan your child's.

What Is BIP?
Learn more about Behavior Intervention Plans and how they can help improve your child's behavior in the classroom.

504 plan vs. IEP
Learn about the difference between accommodations offered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and services offered through an IEP under IDEA. Both help your child with special needs survive in school, but only one will be appropriate.

Write a Good Paragraph
Organizing thoughts into a coherent piece of writing can be hard for children with learning disabilities. Here's how to help your child write a strong five-sentence paragraph, whether for an elementary assignment or a open-ended exam.

Tea Tree Oil for Head Lice
The dangers of pesticide shampoos have left parents looking for natural solutions to the problem of head lice. Tea tree oil shampoo can chase the bugs away and keep them away.

Make a Textbook Cover
An early homework assignment in a lot of schools is to cover textbooks. Here's how to turn a brown paper bag into a textbook protector -- just cut, fold and (if things look a little messy) tape.

Make Behavior Charts Work
Awarding points or checkmarks for jobs well done can be effective motivational tools for kids, but behavior charts are often too abstract for children with special needs. Here are some ways to make them work.

Printable Reward Coupons
Whether you need an easy gift add-on, a motivational tool for behavior charts, or a quick token to mark a job well done, these printable coupons give kids those little things they really want -- or lets them make you do those little things you don't usually want to do.

Emergency Time-Wasters
No matter how organized the parent, there will always be times when kids need distraction and there are no books or playthings at hand. Here are 101 informal time-wasters to amuse your child when you've nothing more than your wits about you.

Recognizing Emotions
Identifying emotions -- in other people, and in themselves -- can be hard for children with special needs. Here are five fun ways to help your child learn what facial expressions mean, how to recognize emotions in others, and what those same emotions feel like to them.

How do I get a 504 plan?
Learn how to get the accommodations offered by a 504 plan for your child with special needs.

Stop School Misbehavior
School behavior problems may start small, but they're a sign that something is not working for your child. Here are five ways to fix them before they get out of control.

Gluten-Free Brownies
Brownies are a delicious treat, but for kids with wheat allergies, they may be off limits. These recipes from around the Web take the wheat flour out but leave all that chocolatey goodness in.

What Is a Paraprofessional?
Learn more about the aides who help children and teachers in special education classrooms.

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
Medical authorities have answered that question firmly in the negative. Mothers and fathers who believe their children were damaged by vaccines have refused to take no for an answer. The continuing debate over the subject is often framed as a struggle between science and parents. But parents also battle among themselves on the issue, even parents of children with autism.

22 Ways to Tell Your Child "I Love You"
Inspirational ways to show your child how much you care.

Book Cover Step-by-Step
An early homework assignment in a lot of schools is to cover textbooks. Here's how to turn a brown paper bag into a textbook protector -- just cut and fold.

Cutting and Self-Mutilation
Excerpt from the book "My Kind of Sad: What It's Like to Be Young and Depressed" by Kate Scowen focuses on cutting and other forms of self-mutilation in teens.

iTunes Without a Credit Card
iTunes gift certificates and allowances can be great rewards and motivators for kids with special needs. If you want to set up an account for your child but don't want to provide unlimited access to your credit card, you can use a gift card or certificate to get the account started. Here's how.

504 FAQ
If your child doesn't qualify for an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) but still requires some accommodations and modifications to fully participate in the classroom, a 504 plan may be called for. Learn more about this tool for enforcing your child's right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education.

Emotional Disturbance
A fact sheet from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) offers the IDEA definition, incidence, characteristics, and educational implications for the classification of emotional disturbance.

Gluten-Free Candy
Where to find lists of candies that are safe for children on a gluten-free diet

Writing an Essay: Example 4
Example of the final step of writing an essay.: good paragraph how to write a paragraph good sentence essay example writing an essay

Write an Essay
Writing a standard five-paragraph essay can be difficult for children with learning disabilities. But how to do you help without just writing the whole thing? Here's how to help your child make an outline and turn it into a well-organized paper.

What Is an IEP?
Introduction to Individualized Education Plans.

Special Education Classrooms
Learn about the different types of classrooms special-education students may be placed in, and why each might be right -- or wrong -- for your child.

Smother Head Lice
One non-toxic way to deal with head lice is to put a substance on the head that kills lice by smothering them and also makes the nits easier to comb out. Learn how to put this plan into action.

Sensory Integration Tools
A listing of sites that offer products to help children with sensory integration problems.

School Behavior Chart
Communication is essential in keeping your special-education student safe and happy at school, but busy teachers often don't have time to write notes. Send in a simple chart to track progress on three goals, and reward your child for success achieved.

Speech Therapy Games
Chances are the word games you're playing with your child are already ones that help strengthen speech and language skills. Here's how to tweak them for some impromptu speech therapy.

Homemade Therapy Toys
Can't afford the fancy therapy items in sensory integration and speech therapy catalogs? Make or find your own using these 20 easy suggestions.

What Is FBA?
Learn more about Functional Behavioral Assessments and how they can help improve your child's behavior in the classroom.

Love Notes Mother's Day
Love Notes for Special Parents messages are now available on greeting cards for Mother's Day. Pick your favorite, download a .pdf, print and fold, and treat a mother you love to a heartfelt greeting.

What Is FAE?
Definition of Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE), with links to more information.

Writing an Essay: Example 3
Example of the third step of creating an outline.: good paragraph paragraph c how to write a paragraph good sentence essay example