Special Needs Kids and Bullying
Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Bullying has been all over the media, although we all know it has been around forever. Now a new report by non-profit AbilityPath.org called “Walk a Mile In Their Shoes…Bullying and the Child with Special Needs” shows that special needs students are even more likely than average kids to be taunted and picked on. The report also has guides for parents to help their children and recommends Social and Emotional Learning curricula, like one used in Illinois schools, to address the problem. The group has also launched a public service announcement starring Lauren Potter of “Glee”.
While 45 states have adopted laws related to bullying in the last five years, the report notes, few address the bullying of students with special needs in particular. California schools chief Tom Torlakson plans to include special needs children in anti-bullying legislation. What about your state???
Special Needs Kids, Dentists, Insurance, Oh My!
Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 12:07 pm
February is Kids National Dental Health Month. For some special needs children, everyday activities like getting a haircut or visiting a dentist can be a big challenge. My daughter recently needed to have a 
tooth extracted. Like many kids with special needs, she has been poked and prodded and now has a huge fear of anyone in a lab coat. She is less than cooperative. Her dentist decided it would be better to put her under anesthesia, so she would be relaxed and have no bad memory of the event.
Our insurance company didn’t agree with him, claiming it was a simple extraction for which they do not cover anesthesia. We ended up paying the anesthesiologist’s hefty fee out of pocket, even though the dentist’s office sent a letter explain the circumstances.
Looking back on the ordeal, I wonder if it was really even necessary. I think that when our special needs kids are concerned we are too quick to jump through hoops and get things done. Really, I don’t think would have been any terrible consequences in our case. Of course, this was not a medical emergency.
Learn from my bad mistakes – call your insurance company and discuss any upcoming procedures. Find out what is and isn’t covered. Until insurance companies understand the needs of special needs children, we must be their advocates.
For more information on dental care and special needs kids, check out another article I wrote here: http://www.examiner.com/special-needs-kids-in-los-angeles/dental-health-for-special-needs-kids
Tomorrow, AMC Sensory Friendly Screenings presents Yogi Bear
Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 12:15 pm
AMC and the Autism Society are again presenting first-run family movies in a supportive environment each month of the new year. This Saturday, January 8, 2011 the feature film will be Yogi Bear. All shows start at 10am. Admission prices are reduced for these showings. For a list of theaters nationwide, click here.
Although these showings began by the request of a parent of a
child with autism, many kids who like to wander around, chat during the movie or dislike overly loud noises will appreciate the Sensory Friendly Screenings program.
Add low-cost therapy items to your special needs child’s gift list
Last updated on March 12th, 2018 at 10:15 am
Raising kids is expensive, but raising special needs kids can be VERY expensive. Holly Robinson Peete even cites that fact as one of the reasons she and her husband created their Holly Rod Foundation. As the holidays arrive you might want to give your special needs child a gift that doubles as a therapy item (or suggest the item to Grandma or Uncle Richie). As this article by special needs mom Marj Hatzell points out, many therapy items can be found for a lot less than in those medical catalogs.
As you look around for items to help your child with his or her challenges, think about the skills they need to practice. Last Christmas while my daughter was working on her fine motor skills I gave her a Disney Princess craft kit, which involved scrunching up colorful papers and sticking them to a pre-printed picture. She loved it and scrunched happily for a long time, blissfully unaware that she was building her hand strength and coordination. Another year I found a collapsible play tunnel and a balance board in the clearance section of sporting goods at Target. When one of my daughter’s therapists saw it she actually ran out to see if they had any more.
Hatzell has great ideas for creating your own therapy toys, too. She’s also a fan of the prices at Target, and also of IKEA. Find your local IKEA store.
Other financial resources for families with special needs kids:
2010 Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids now available
Last updated on March 9th, 2018 at 12:16 am
This year’s toy guide for differently-abled kids is now available from Toys R Us online and in stores. Featuring actress, author, philanthropist and mother Holly Robinson Peete, the guide explains which developmental areas each toy addresses. There are also inspiring quotes from special needs parents sprinkled throughout the booklet.
All items in the booklet are available online with free shipping or at your local store. Layaway is also available.
***************************************************************************
Editor’s Note: There is a new version of the Guide available every September. To get on the mailing list to receive next year’s Guide, send an email to DifferentlyAbled@toysrus.com
The 2010 SNAP – Special Needs Adaptable Product Awards Winners
Last updated on March 9th, 2018 at 12:17 am
Is there a special needs child on your gift list? The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio has announced their 2010 toy award winners, including the SNAP – Special Needs Adaptable Product Awards to products that can be easily used by or adapted for special needs children. There are categories for various age groups, with explanations of how it benefits special needs kids. Most of the winning toys are available at your local Toys R Us store.
