Special Needs

In the 20 years that I have been a mom, I can honestly say that I have never been as frightened to send my kids back to school as I am now. I have spent a lot of time...

Summer is the time of year when many families go on vacation to the beach, go camping, explore Disney World, and visit family and friends out of town. It can be a very fun and relaxing time. But if...

Growing up, I knew my cousin Mike was different. He was 16 years to the day older than me, but his speech consisted of mostly "yah" and "no." Occasionally, he would say a few other words, but for the most...

I love words. Boggle and Scrabble were some of my favorite childhood games. My main "love language" is "words of affirmation." Some of my favorite pastimes - reading, writing, crossword puzzles, blogging, talking with friends - all revolve around...

I enthusiastically raised my hand, volunteering to write a piece for Autism Awareness Month, although I had no idea what it was exactly I wanted to say. My feeds are ripe with stories of acceptance, awareness, inclusion and the...

I walked in to pick my daughter up from daycare and the teacher said those words that make any parent’s stomach drop... “Can I talk to you for a minute?" My daughter is shy and quiet, so I was racking my...

  When you have children with special needs, I think there are certain things you just come to accept and expect. You accept things like spending a ridiculous amount of time in too-bright waiting rooms; you expect things like the...

Children grow and develop at different rates and we are stuck in a purgatory -- reassuring a friend their child is fine, telling her there is nothing to worry about and “all kids do that,” but equally convinced that...

Whether you are the parent of a fairly healthy child, a medically complex child, or somewhere in between, navigating the rules of public schools with regards to medication and other medical needs can be sometimes a little frustrating. While...

I was walking through Target with my son and we saw the school supplies all being set out. The summer items were already dwindling and being replaced by crayons, markers, and notebooks. It’s July. Summers seem to be shorter and...

I don’t like to talk about things like my weight. I don’t like to talk about things like my struggle with depression. I don’t like to talk about things like my anxiety attacks. But I am going to write about...

Being the mom of a child with special needs requires a unique strength. Special needs moms have a different way of viewing the world. But there is something that makes them just like any other parent; they want to...

Engaging adults and children with sensory disorders can be a challenging task, especially in an environment where they don't feel in control. That's why Richland Library is excited to announce the opening of our interactive Southeast Multisensory Room (7421 Garners Ferry Rd.,...

In recognition of April being Autism Awareness Month I decided to sit down and chat with the best ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) specialist I know, who also happens to be my best friend. Her name is Amber and she...