Posts Tagged disabled children
Finding a Dentist for Your Special Needs Child
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life on September 1, 2010
When it’s time to take your child to the dentist, what dentist will you trust with your child? Finding the right dentist for your special needs child takes some time and planning.
To help you with that decision here are some key areas to consider when choosing a dentist for your child:
Experience
One of the most important factors in deciding on a dentist for your child is experience. This ranges from their training to hands-on experience with special needs children. After all, you want someone who knows what they are doing, right?
Here are a few questions to consider when looking at pediatric dentist for your child:
- What type of education do they have?
- Do they have training to work with special needs children?
- How many children with disabilities do they work with now?
- What are some examples of procedures done for special children?
- Is the facility setup to accommodate accessibility needs for wheelchair or other mobility devices?
Travel
Having a great dentist is one thing, having one nearby is another all together. You want to make sure they are close by to save on travel time and travel costs. You want to also make sure they are close by if there is ever an emergency such as a shattered tooth in the middle of the night.
Is There a Connection?
No matter how educated or close by the dentist is, if they don’t connect with your child, you will be looking for another dentist. I know they might be some nervousness for your child – this is the dentist we are talking about here. What I am saying is test the thing out and see how the dentist interacts with your child.
Most pediatric dentists should have a great demeanor with all children, but it’s always good to make sure this is the right dentist for your child.
Make a Decision
After you get all the facts in, it’s time to make a decision. Does the dentist fit all of your child’s and your needs? Even if they aren’t perfect, are they close enough to perfect? Finding a pediatric dentist that caters to special needs children is not always easy, but when you find the right one life will become so much easier.
LikeFun Ways to Spend More Time With Your Child
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life on August 29, 2010
Life is busy. You may have to travel, work, care for the house or even travel for work and not have as much time as you would like to spend with your child. For those busy parents, finding time while accomplishing everything else is critical.
So what can you do to spend more time with your child? Here are some simple ways to spend more time with your child while keeping everything else in check:
- Read a Book – Reading is not only a great way to spend time together, it’s also great for your child to learn.
- Watch TV or Movie– Just sitting together watching some of your child’s favorite programs or a good movie is bonding time.
- Listen and Play Music – Play some music with your child or just listen to some – just spend time listening.
- Cooking – Get your child to help with making dinner or even just a snack. Getting your child involved with cooking makes them feel wanted and it’s a great bonding experience.
- Take a Walk – It doesn’t matter if your child walks or drives a wheelchair, get out and just take a quick stroll around the neighborhood. Make games of things you see and enjoy your time together.
- Take a Ride – This is similar to taking a walk, but this time take a drive in the car – there are lots of things to see on the road.
- Color and Crafts – Making a picture, coloring or making crafts with your child is fun, educational and always brings a smile to your child’s face.
- Go to the Store – It doesn’t sound like much, but just walking around and shopping gives you time with your child.
- Talk – Just simply talking either together, on the phone or on the computer helps you and your child communicate – sometimes, that’s all your child wants.
You may not get all the time you want with your child, but adding in quality time with everyday happenings is a great way to spend more time together. Try out these simple ways to spend more time together and let us know how things go. If you have any other activities to add to the list, please let us know.
4 Videos on Special Needs Communication You Shouldn’t Miss
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life, Videos on August 25, 2010
We have talked about things like keeping medical records with video – now we want to give you some helpful and fun videos that focus on sign language and communication.
Do you have a child that isn’t able to speak, uses sign language or needs an assistive device to communicate? If so, check out these videos for some help and entertainment on communication for special needs and disabilities:
- Signing Time – Happy Birthday - Click here for videoThis fun video from Singing Time shows you and your child how to sing happy birthday in sign language.
- ASL Alphabet/ABC Song
This video is a must for those learning sign language – it gives a simple, but fun song and visual instruction for learning the alphabet in sign language. - Signing Animals
Do you know how to say things like horse or elephant in sign language – this video will show you how.
- AAC Communication Devices
This video is geared to parents – it tells more about AAC communication devices and how they help those without a voice communicate and find their voice to speak with everyone.
We hope you enjoy these fun and helpful videos on communication through sign language and assistive devices. Do you have other videos we should look at? Let us know – we would love to hear from you!
Small Ways to Take Time for Mommy and Daddy
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life on August 18, 2010
Are you having an issue with your marriage and think you have no time for each other? Think again.
Without Mommy and Daddy time, there will be more tension during family time – don’t let this lead to divorce for you and your spouse; this only tears apart the family even more.
No matter how small, taking some time for just you and your spouse not only helps your relationship, but also helps strengthen your entire family.
Here are some simple ways for Mommy and Daddy time:
- Have a shopping date – Having a small shopping date for groceries, at a department store or even shopping at a hardware store will help give some time to Mom and Dad.
- Movie date – Want to catch the latest movie out and have some time away? Take a day off and go to a matinee or have a sitter stay with your child for a few hours of movie time at night.
- Dinner – Just like a movie, a few hours at dinner helps Mommy and Daddy re-connect. If you get a family member or friend to help out with the kids, you have a few hours of food, conversation and quality time.
- Time after bedtime – When you don’t have help watching the kids, spend some time after bedtime to watch some TV, play a game or simply talk with your spouse.
- Time in the morning – If possible, try having a little time before everyone wakes up in the morning to connect with your significant other.
- Take a walk or drive – Get someone to watch the kids for a few minutes and just go and take a walk or drive around the neighborhood. It may seem small, but just a small time away will help mend the strings of your marriage.
Raising a special needs child is hard and does bring many stressful situations – this includes the marriage of the parents. Don’t let daily stress take a toll on you and your spouse. Take the time to have some small time for yourselves to keep that connection strong between Mommy and Daddy.
Going Back to School With Your Special Needs Child
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life on August 15, 2010
It’s that time again – school time. No more summer vacation or having extra time to get things done like doctor’s appointments with your child. Now comes the task of juggling school, work and other commitments for your special needs child.
Are you and your child ready for school to start?
Here are some helpful ways to prepare for the task of going back to school:
- Buy clothes and supplies – It’s that time again and that means new clothes and supplies for class. Depending on how physical your child is you may want to get a mix of light pants and shirts or shorts. My child is unable to stand or walk, so I usually get lots of pants due to holes in pants knees.Also check with your school on your child’s supply list. Most classes have a listed set of supplies required for class. Things like crayons, paper and glue might be on the list. Sometimes, your local store will also have lists of local school’s supplies there as well.
- Going over IEP – It’s always good to check over your child’s IEP again before school starts to verify the goals for the year and see how you will help your child accomplish them. If you have any questions or want to change something on the IEP, now would be the time to do so.
- Check school resources and schedules – Some schools have a meet the teacher night before school starts – this is a great way to connect with the teacher. If possible, have a brief meeting with the teacher and go over any concerns, needs or ideas for the upcoming school year.Now is also the perfect time to check on things such as bus schedules, lunch funding and alternative transportation. Now is the time to get everything put down on your school calendar – you have to make sure school schedules and other things like therapies sync up correctly.
- Adjusting your schedule – Now that your child is going back to school, if you need to adjust your own schedule, now would be the time to do it. With different appointments and school schedules, you may need to adjust your own personal schedule to fit around it.
Going back to school for your child brings the end of summer vacation. Getting everything scheduled and prepared beforehand is key to a smooth transition for your child and you.
How do you prepare for the upcoming school year?
Show Your Love and Encourage Inspiration With Love Notes
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life on August 8, 2010
Writing in your parenting journal is great, but what about when you want to write something special directly to your child? Special love notes are small, but personal ways to tell your child how much you love them now and years from now. What types of notes could you write to your child? Here are some to get you started:
Love Notes to Your Child
- Just to say I love you – There is no need for a special occasion to give your child a note to say you love them. Give them hope, inspiration and love with a note from Mommy and Daddy.
- Videos – A love note shouldn’t just be in writing, but in other formats as well. Using a basic video camera or web cam on your computer, you could create love notes that last longer and actually show your child how much you love them. Give this a try and see how your child reacts.
- Audio – Just like video, audio is a different way to express your love for your child. Audio is good for times when you may be away on business or give them a way to take you with them. You could load your messages on a MP3 player or CD and send it along with them to listen to for audio love notes.
- Daily reminders – A great way to bring a smile to your child is to give them a love note on a daily basis. Reminding them of how special they are and that they are able to accomplish anything serves as ways to boost their confidence as well as letting them know how loved they are.
Just as inspiration and moving forward is important for you, giving that type of love and inspiration to your child is extremely important.
Giving your child love notes from Mommy and Daddy on different occasions gives your child a boost in confidence, more inspiration and also a smile to their face – brighten your child’s day with a love note today.
4 Ways to a Good Night’s Sleep
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life on August 6, 2010
Getting a good night’s sleep is key to having the energy you need to face each day.
This is also true for your special needs child.
Sometimes, your child may have problems getting or staying asleep. To make sure you and your child get a good night’s rest, here are a few simple ways to help your child go to and stay asleep.
4 Ways to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
- Music – Sometimes, the right type of music helps calm nerves and relaxes your child when they are trying to fall asleep. Having a small radio, CD or MP3 player with some soothing and soft music will be a perfect companion for a good night’s sleep for your child. Also remember to have the music at a low-level, but enough to where it is heard, but isn’t overpowering.
- Medications – Unless your doctor prescribes medication for sleeping, I would recommend against medication for sleeping for your child. Some children have medication that they take before bed to help them sleep such as melatonin, anti-seizure medication or other types of medication. If your child is having a hard time sleeping at night, first check with your doctor to see if medication is something that would help give them a peaceful nights sleep.
- Drink – Sometimes a simple drink of water or maybe warm milk helps calm down your child for a restful night of sleep. There have been studies showing that certain drinks before bed actually help stabilize activity in the brain and help with falling and staying asleep. Give it a try and see how it works out for you.
- Stuffed Animal – Sometimes having someone to hold on to helps children fall asleep. Having their favorite stuffed friend within arms reach is a wonderful way to give them that sense of security. This also works great for their favorite blanket.
Remember, when your child gets a good night’s sleep, you get a good night’s sleep. Trying the above simple ways to get your child to go to sleep and stay asleep makes sure you and your child have the energy needed for the next day. Give them a try and let us know how it works out for you.
5 Ways to Find Inspiration While Parenting a Special Needs Child
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life on July 30, 2010
With the day-to-day stress of doctor’s appointments, therapy and other commitments, it’s nice to find some inspiration to give you that extra get up and go. When you want some inspiration, it’s usually not far away; checkout these simple ways to get inspired:
- Watch your children – Simple, huh? I have to tell you that nothing inspires me more than watching my children. They are the reason I keep going – they depend on me. Just spend a few moments watching your child; I bet you will get lots of inspiration.
- Talk to other parents – Speaking with other parents of special needs children not only helps your sanity, it also helps a few other ways. It helps you network and exchange information, you find others for play dates and over course other parents are a great source of inspiration. Connect with some other parents and see how they inspire you.
- Read other blogs and web sites – Do you read other sites that relate or have helpful resources for special needs parenting? These are some great places to find inspiration. Many of these sites will also lead to some great videos and interviews with some inspirational people.Here are a few I like to read:- Special Needs Parenting Coach
- About.com Special Need Parenting
- Love that Max
- Exceptional Parent - Converse with others on social networks – Social networks are a great way to find other parents and find information on special needs parenting. Doing a search on Facebook groups and Twitter conversations will bring up some great information and you may even make some new friends.
- Books on special needs and disabilities – Reading books that others have written on special needs parenting helps find information and gather inspiration from the authors of those books. Check out your favorite bookstore or so an Internet search on special needs books.
Yes, there is stress with raising a special needs child, but you don’t have to look far for some inspiration. Check out the quick and easy ways to find inspiration above and let us know how they work out for you.
What ways do you find inspiration?
Planning Out Home Accessibility Changes for Your Child
Posted by George Passwater in Family Life on July 25, 2010
Do you need to remodel your home to accommodate your special needs child’s accessibility needs? You are not alone – there are many other parents in your same situation.
When you look at making adjustments to your home, do you already know what resources are available to help or do you even know how to go about doing the work?
Not everyone is a do-it-yourselfer with the knowledge and resources to complete these changes. For those of us that need that help, here are some things you should look at first before starting your modifications.
Planning Out Modifications
Making changes to your home is not a simple process and you need to start with a plan. To get a better idea of why or where you need to make modifications to your home, ask yourself the following questions:
- Why is there a need for accessibility changes in your home? Can you accommodate your child’s needs without modifying your home?
- Are you only looking at modifications into or out of the home? Do you need interior work done like widening hallways or modifying bathrooms for ease of use?
- How will this benefit your child presently and in the future?
- Is there funding available for the changes or are there other resources to find funding?
- Is your current home capable of such modifications without negative impact to your home’s value or stability?
Asking these questions will get you started on where and how you need to plan out your home modification.
Home Modification Resources
Now that you have information to plan out your modifications, how will you put them into place? Do you know a contractor to do the work or maybe you could do the work yourself? What if you need more help?
Consider these other resources for help with modifications to your home for accessibility:
- HUD – Information for Disabled Persons
- National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification
- Infinitec.org Universal Design
- Homemods.org Resources
- National AG Safety Database Resources
- Department of Veterans Affairs Specially Adapted Housing Program
- National Resource Directory Resources
Remodeling your home for accessibility is not a simple task; it takes careful planning and sometimes help from other resources for things like: funding, home modification expertise and others. Take your time, plan out what needs to happen and ask for help – you’re not alone and there is help for you.
Helping Choose Toys for Children with Special Needs
Posted by Rich Silverman in Devices, Family Life on December 1, 2009
One of the great joys of the coming holiday season will be buying gifts for our children. But buying gifts for a child with cerebral palsy or other birth injuries can sometimes be problematic. Is it safe? Is this a toy my child will be able to enjoy? Is this an appropriate gift for a child with his or her particular disability?
Well, when you are finished reading this blog post, go right to ableplay.org and get answers to those questions. AblePlay is both a free rating system and a website run by a non-profit organization called the Lekotek Center in Chicago, a nationally recognized authority on toys for disabled children.
The toys featured on the website have all been reviewed and rated by having actual children play with them. Experts in early childhood education, special education and actual parents also add their observation. The children play with each toy several times so evaluators can make an accurate assessment.
Ratings assess the suitability of each toy for children with various types of disabilities, assigning ratings from five stars for exceptional to one for not suitable. The website is set up to make it easy to search for a specific kind of toy. You can search by category of disability, specific disability, category of toy, age range, manufacturer or product name.
In addition to the disability ratings, AblePlay gives a complete description and a picture of the toy, its price range and provides a link to the manufacturer’s website.
Since 1980, The National Lekotek center has sought to use toys and play to better integrate special needs children into society.
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The Sokolove Law nurse desk is led by Kathy McGinn, R.N., B.S.N., L.N.C.C., a 25-year nursing veteran who has worked in the field of legal nurse consulting since 1990. From early on in her career, Kathy was passionate about making patient advocacy the core of her nursing practice. She has been instrumental in cultivating a strong and knowledgeable team of nurses, each with a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others.