It is that magic time called "Back to School." For most of my clients it is not so magic, more like nerve racking. Transportation seems to be the first issue that rears its ugly head:
School Supply Lists For Kids With Special Needs Can Be Full of Sheets by Lori Miller Fox
It’s that time of year again. Back to school. When parents all over the country, list in hand, ambush the stores in search of the perfect school supplies. Red, plastic, 8×12 pronged folder with pockets, green wide-ruled five-subject spiral notebook. Every subject has a specific pencil, every class a unique pen. But somehow those itemized lists never seem to apply to my son. Just seeing the word “Elmers” used to get me unglued, the word “ball point” would start me balling, and the word “scissors” would cut me to my very core. The only thing that seemed remotely useful was the mandatory box of Kleenex tissues to wipe away the tears, so I always bought an extra for my own supply closet.
After years of suffering in silence, I’ve put together my own, more functional list for kids with special needs, their families and the staff who “just don’t get them”.
The Time is Not Right…
As the school year winds down to the last few weeks for many children, what I hear from many school people is that various suggestions can not be done NOW because the year is almost over. Curiously, throughout the year the time never seems right.
Spring Fever and Behaviors
While I have not seen any scientific or statistical studies, in my personal experience the period from mid-April to the end of the year can be among the most problematic periods for serious behaviors in school. I do not think that it is an accident or happenstance that some of the worst violence in schools has occurred during this period of time. Bad things can happen in school at any time but during this period the odds seem higher.
Prepare to Advocate for Extended School Year (“ESY”) Now
Even though in Illinois it is the dead of winter with snow on the ground, this is the time to gather the data to advocate for Extended School Year ("ESY") services for the summer. Most school districts rigidly apply a regression-recoupment analysis to determine eligibility for ESY services. Regression-recoupment looks at whether a child will regress to a significant degree over the summer, and then whether the child will require significant periods of time to recoup the skills lost.
Toys That Work for Children With Special Needs
For most parents, the most feared words when it comes to toys is "some assembly required." For parents of children with special needs, the struggles with toys go beyond plugging peg A into hole B. There are all kinds of issues lurking, some more obvious than others. Is the toy too loud and over stimulating for a child with sensory issues? Is it still age appropriate to play with typical peers? Is it sufficiently accessible for hands that lack normative dexterity?
A trip to Toys “R” Us for parents of special needs children can be daunting. While fighting crowds and the stress of the holidays, you are left to make a judgment on the issues discussed above, among others. For the faint hearted and stymied, there are always musical selections, but buying music can be rather ordinary. It does not push the developmental envelope, nor does it require engagement with peers. After all, toys are fun, but they also serious business when it comes to the emotional and social growth of a child. Play has been shown to be an essential part of development.
At last, there is an answer for all of those parents, friends and family grappling with the toy dilemma. Lek-o-tek, the toy lending library, which has it headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, has launched an interactive website to assist in the selection of toys for children with a variety of special needs. The site is http://www.ableplay.org/. The purpose of the site is to provide:
[A] toy rating system and website that provides comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs so parents, special educators, therapist and others can make the best choices for the children in their lives with disabilities.
Maybe now with Ableplay, children with special needs and their families will have one less stressor this holiday season.
‘Tis the Season – by Wendy E. Handrich
The Holidays are rapidly approaching, bringing with them a host of festivities, and gatherings. For children with social disabilities and sensitivities to sensory stimuli, this time of year can cause increased anxiety and frustration. The noted “To be Jolly” Season can often be difficult for children with special needs as well as their families. One or more of the following suggestions my help everyone enjoy the Season and each other:
October 2005: Tricks for Halloween Treats for Children with Diabetes
Kids with diabetes face difficult challenges on Halloween. While their friends are trading candy corn for skittles and gorging on sugary treats overflowing from pumpkin buckets and pillow cases, children with diabetes must exercise caution and refrain from indulging on too many Halloween treats. However, Halloween can still be a fun and enjoyable holiday for children with diabetes, and with a little creativity and supervision, they too can indulge in the gooey sweetness of Halloween treats and festivities.
