As the school year gets ready to begin again, there are a couple things all parents of students with special needs should be aware of. First, have you gotten all of your child’s school supplies? Many times we order from the school store or Walmart, but your child may need more. Children with physical handicaps, as my son has, may need some adaptations in equipment such as self-opening scissors, specialized rulers and handwriting paper, and a gripper, weighted pencils or crayon rocks.

Those with sensory dysfunction may do well with weighted products, colored overlays, positioners, or fidgets, and those who regularly use communication devices or PECS may do well with picture schedules or communication notebooks. However, we as parents cannot simply sit by and wait for the school to know what our children need. If it is not written in the IEP, (Individualized Education Plan), then it doesn’t exist to school personnel.

Have you conferenced with the school about what changes your child has experienced over the summer and new transitions he or she will experience  this year? Do NOT assume that your child’s teacher will know this or will understand how to implement what you want, or even has worked with children with disabilities before.

If you are new to the school setting, then you need to tell the school about your child and his needs. Do not try to ignore the disability and hope the school won’t notice. They will. Don’t assume it will go away on its own. Sometimes it does, but not usually, and if you are in a private setting, the school does not even have to work with your child!!  They may not be equipped, have trained personnel, etc.

Schedule a time to meet with your child’s teacher within the first two weeks of school. Take notes, create an action plan and a daily communication log. Feel like things are heading in the wrong direction? Call a conference immediately to get things back on the right track. Phone calls are equally as important as e-mail, both to follow up and because it is very difficult to discern tones in e-mails and things can get easily misconstrued. I firmly believe that schools and parents need to develop a proactive plan of action for working with children with special needs. If everyone is on the same page, there is less room for error, and more likelihood that both you and your child will have a great year!

Need more information on purchasing adaptive equipment, most under $50.00, and selected for quality and compatibility with children with special needs? Visit our on-line store, 2 Pirates Treasure Chest. Want a personal consultation or to try before you buy? Contact us to schedule your appointment today. Confused as how to get started with school conferences or communication? Need a Special Needs Advocate? Contact us via phone or e-mail and we will be happy to help!!

It is almost that time, parents!! Getting ready to go back to school is almost a full-time job in itself! Making time to buy the cutest jeans or latest backpack must have is certainly important, but don’t forget to think about a vision or hearing screening as well. Many children experiencing challenges at school are simply having difficulty seeing the board or following and understanding teacher’s directions over background noise in the classroom.

Did you know that we now offer vision and hearing screenings? We can even assess your child’s visual and auditory perception skills as well! We provide resources and referrals for parents. Wouldn’t it be great to take care of this before your child starts school this fall? Call or e-mail us for more information!

It is getting to be that time of the year where summer heat is beginning to kick in and parents see looming days ahead with no relief in sight. So what to do?Why not try some summer activities that will not break the bank but will ge kid using those academic skills in a fun, cool way, like….

• our old standby favorite… guessimating how many watermelon seeds there are and then counting them?
• making a summer time capsule of memories? these can be from a vacation, favorite song, favorite activity, food, etc. (Write a letter to your future self)
• make homemade ice cream or sidewalk chalk ( wow, and what a great way to practice those math skills)
• Write and act out a play based on the events of 1776, or pretend that George Washington or Ben Franklin were writing a blog today?!
• visit a science, nature, or art museum. So many of them are interactiv now, and it is a great way to spend the afternoon.
• Make your own freezer pops. Compare ad contrast the flavors and drinks you use!
• Try to make different bubble recipes. See which make te biggeset bubbles. Use differnt wands to see if that makes a difference, or create your own.
• Sand Art drawings are always fun, and a great way to us shells fromyour vacation. You could even draw a cartoon or animation to go with it, and upload it to You-Tube.
• Tye dye a beach towel or sun shirt. This is also a great way to find family members quickly on vacations in large places like Disney or Sea World.
• How about beading a pair of inexpensive flip flop straps or adding jewels to fabric straps?
• How about the zoo or the local aquarium?
• Any other ideas? Feel free to post them here!

IT’S HERE, IT’S FINALLY HERE!!

Our new website is here, and it is better than ever!! We invite you to check it out and see all of the new things we have added! You asked for it, and it is here! An updated calendar of events, new programs, supports…. Keep checking back to see as new things are added, including our Resource store, Treasure Chest, where you will find a variety of things to help make your child’s school life easier and to provide you with help and organization for any parenting or home/school challenges you may have. Thanks for stopping by, and we welcome your feedback. We can’t wait to see you again, and again, and again.

Adina

Pamper Yourself, Mommy!

May is typically the mom to honor mothers. It is also the time that kids are getting ready to get out of school. How’s that for irony? The good news is, it’s not too late to have your cake and eat it too, in the pampering sense.

First off, it’s really time to change our mindset on the whole treating ourselves business. It doesn’t even require a lot of the two things that moms today seem to have in such short supply; time and money.

Really on a budget? Check out these low or no cost options.

Call a friend and catch up on some juicy gossip or that tv show you tivo’d a couple of weeks ago. Read a book at the park. Spend some time at the gym.

Take a nap or a bubble bath. Cook a recipe you’ve been meaning to try. Make a paper bag scrapbook of your kids’ or family photos you have been meaning to put away for ages. Meditate.

If you have about $5 and ½ an hour…Take time to catch up with a friend over a cup of joe and a snack. Or pick up your favorite magazine or check out the ½ rack at your local bookstore.

If you have about $10 and a couple of hours… Catch that movie you wanted to see at the matinee or half price theater. Visit an exhibit at the local museum or arboretum. Go to that lunch with your mom, husband, or friend.

 If you have about $20 and an hour…. Check out the massage schools. Walk through your local specialty market and try a new fruit, delicacy, or snack.

If you have about $30 and a couple of hours….The early part of the week is slow at many area nail salons. You would be surprised at how reasonable a mani-pedi can be. Take a cooking class, art class, or try a new hobby. Hit a resale store, outlet store, or low cost department store in order to find yourself a real deal or a steal, or maybe just a special something you see.

Remember, the old adage is true. You will be better equipped to help others if you take care of you, and here’s to you, Mom…..

We, as parents, are constantly striving to broaden our children’s daily lives and knowledge.  Summer brings the perfect opportunity for this type of enriching adventure. My own personal memories would have been very dull without the summer camp experience . I know that my parents must have worried about leaving me in a strange environment to meet new friends and to try different and unfamiliar activities.

However, for the parent of a special-needs child, the experience can be as daunting as travelling to a foreign country. There are many things that parents need to consider when deciding on a camp for their child. First, there is a choice to be made about the type of camp. Should it be an overnight or a day camp? Maybe a special needs camp or a mainstream camp?  There are advantages and disadvantages to each. With a special needs camp, a parent can feel more secure knowing that the child will have like minded peers that can support them and understand exactly what they might be experiencing. Further, the camp can usually accommodate these campers more easily. For example, if your child has a life threatening illness or needs frequent medical care, these camps will have the most appropriately trained staff available.  Equipment is usually modified and accessible, and has been designed with the utmost safety in mind. Finally, although some of these programs are therapeutic in nature, they allow children the freedom to be kids and discover the joy of the camping journey.

Other parents may choose to mainstream their child. This option allows the special needs child to showcase talents or gifts, such as horsemanship, that portray them in a different light to a non-disabled peer. For children that have difficulty with social interaction, the mainstream experience will allow them the opportunity to experience turn-taking and social cues both first hand and naturally. A possible disadvantage for this type of camping adventure is that the other campers may not be as understanding when the pace of activities is slowed, or a disabled teammate is not able to participate at the same level.

When making the choice, be sure to visit with your doctor or therapist. They will have intimate knowledge of your child’s health needs, therapy goals, personality, and strengths and challenges. Once a program is selected, view videos or do a computer search with your child to familiarize him or her with the camp. Take a tour of the facility if possible. Speak openly with the camp staff, directors, and others who will be working with your child. Familiarize the staff with your child’s disability. It is important to discern whether they feel that the camp will be a good fit for your child. Coordinate a treatment plan with outside therapists if applicable. Determine travel arrangements. Speak with airlines, if necessary, regarding any required accommodations. Finally, create a to do and packing list, leaving yourself plenty of time to accomplish and check off everything.

I had a friend recently share an experience with me.  Her sister had planned to send her son to camp and had packed everything that she thought he would need. She also packed…herself! Yes, she stayed in a hotel near the camp in case her son needed her.  They did not call, because she had prepared them so well in advance of his arrival. With a little planning and foresight, your child, too can have an awesome time.  Bon Voyage!.

Adina Rich is the director of Rich Educational Consulting, LLC. Rich Educational Consulting assists parents with evaluating their child’s needs, planning an appropriate academic program, and finding and accessing community resources. They also offer in-services, workshops, and classes to parents, teachers, and, of course, kids!! Visit www.richeducationalconsulting.com or call 972-816-3100 for more information.

Is it REALLY necessary to give my child a special label?

When you become concerned about your child’s development, there are various tests and checklists that can help one determine a specific problem with a child’s functioning.  Many times, these tests lead to a categorical eligibility, DSM –IV eligibility, or a medical label.

People often ask me whether these labels are necessary. My answer is always, “It depends.” Many times labels are a means by which a district, doctor, or agency can assist a parent in getting services for the child. Many insurance companies and state funded entities rely on these labels in order to justify services which in any other case may be deemed too costly or medically unnecessary.

However, parents need to examine carefully the reasons they are seeking to label their child.   Labels, once assigned, are not easily removed, and sometimes not always understood, or mean different things to different people.  (i.e. autism –PDD, speech impaired).  Many times, children have to be subjected to more testing such as EEG, MRI, or genetic blood work in order to confirm the diagnosis.

Try to find other parents who can advise or assist you or who have walked the path before.  Take time to process through the ramifications of the label and disability.  It is very difficult to give up the dream of the perfect child. Look at this, though, as an opportunity to connect with your child on a special level. Be prepared to share differences with siblings, grandparents and caretakers.

Further, parents are often not prepared for what seems like an endless wait or the maze of phone calls and paperwork in order to access services. With the age of the internet, it is easier than ever to research various methodologies and modalities of treatment.  Research based practices are only a “google” away. Be open-minded.   Don’t discount anything until you are sure that it will not work for your child. Prepare a list of questions that you want to ask your clinician, doctor, school district, or agency. Look at different programs.  Find out the cost, benefits, and disadvantages of each.

Parents also ask if services are appropriate for their child.  Once again, I do not always have a crystal ball. Yes, most of the time, the school district or agency representatives are highly trained and knowledgeable professionals.  They seek to do what is educationally best for your child. However, you know your child.  If the agency’s recommendation or evaluation does not seem to be representative of your child as you know him/her, it is your responsibility to speak up and ask for clarification regarding the program or model that the child will be placed in.  You must be the advocate for your child!  Sometimes parents may not want the services that the school or agency proposes, or may feel that the services will limit their child’s possibilities later on. Once again, do your homework.  Find out if there are different programs or placements in your area or even in another part of the district.  Ask to see the programs or speak with teachers and professionals involved in your child’s care. Be realistic in your expectations for the program, the progress of your child, and the overall prognosis that the label implies.  This is not to say that you should impose limits on your child’s growth; just to be cognizant that change will probably take some time to occur and progress at times may be slower than you expected or wanted.

If the agency is reliable, they will be happy to accept you as a collaborator. Remember that it takes a village to raise a child, and it is likely that you will be working with this school and agency for a long time, so it is important that you build a collegial working relationship with them whenever possible. Try to be courteous, professional, and positive. The journey may be long at times, but don’t forget to notice how far your child has come.

Enjoy a podcast from:
Adina Rich, M.Ed
Director, Rich Educational Consulting
Certified Parent & National Trainer, Practical Parent Education