A Sincere Thank You To Responsible Special Needs Caregivers…
Last updated on December 10th, 2019 at 02:24 am
I was literally brought to tears by yet another story of a special needs child who was mistreated by their alleged caregivers. So, as Thanksgiving approaches, I want to express my gratitude, appreciation and admiration.
Thank you…
To every caseworker, nurse and doctor who questions parents and caregivers diligently and actually follows up…
- To every teacher’s aide who forms a bond with a special needs student…
- To every therapist who really cares about every client, whether they make progress or not…
- To every child on every playground who has included a special needs child in play…
- To every teacher who spends personal time on assessments and IEPs…
- To every agency or non-profit worker who strives to bring special needs children experiences and opportunities…
To every special needs parent or caregiver who treats that child with love, especially if they are incapable of expressing it back…
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Editor’s Note: Children with disabilities may be at higher risk for abuse or neglect than children without disabilities. According to the CDC, this is what we know, and this is what parents can do to protect them
Would You “Sabotage” Your Special Needs Child For More Services?
Last updated on October 14th, 2019 at 10:28 am
We all know the bad news about the economy. We also know that raising a child can be expensive, and raising a special needs child can be incredibly expensive. Public schools and agencies can’t keep up with demand, so only the most extreme cases qualify for services. Usually this involves an assessment or examination. Many times I struggle with myself – I want my child to do well on these tests, but I also want her to get as much assistance and support as possible.
Other special needs moms say things like, “Well, I know he can do that task but he was tired so he wouldn’t cooperate,” and I wonder if they put their child to bed late on purpose. Or a caregiver will “forget” a medication, or let a dietary rule lapse before an appointment. And I wonder if they really forgot something they have done every day faithfully up until that point. Did they actually not know the ingredients of that food when they read all labels diligently? Or are they deliberately sabotaging their child in order to gain more assistance? And would I do the same?
It seems to be more and more cut-throat out there. Caregivers must constantly advocate for the special needs children in their lives. My fear is that anything my child is given means that another child with greater support needs might not get helped. I feel guilty about that. But on the other hand, anything my child is denied means she may never reach her true potential. She may have to learn to live with a challenge that she could have overcome if it had been addressed in therapy. Isn’t it my job to give her the best future possible?
So where do you stand? Where do you draw the line? Have you ever sabotaged your child accidentally, or on purpose? It’s okay, your secret is safe with me because I really, truly understand.
Research Trials Make Treatments Affordable for Special Needs Kids
Last updated on September 2nd, 2019 at 07:45 pm
When you have a special needs child, or a child who is ill or any child with a medical need you want to do anything to get them what might help them. Many times treatments are very costly and insurance doesn’t cover all of it, or any of it. One way to give a treatment a try is by getting involved in a research trial.
Many universities and hospitals run these tests, where a new medication or treatment is used and progress carefully monitored. Sometimes there are groups that get a substitute treatment or medication to compare against the group that got the real stuff. If you are uncomfortable subjecting your child to a new medication (and I don’t blame you there) you may not want to look into these tests, but think about how much progress has been made thanks to people who were willing to take a risk.
Sometimes the trials are for new treatments or techniques, and there are very little risks. I have been hoping to get my child involved in riding therapy, aka hippotherapy, for years, but insurance doesn’t pay for it and neither does our local regional center. They say there is no quantitative proof that it works, even though every involved parent I speak to raves about it. A physical therapist I know who is not easily impressed told me that she saw it work miracles. Plus, the kids have fun doing it, so how could it be bad? A parent whose child does it told me about a research study in the hopes of providing some proof. There were very specific qualifications, which my daughter meets, so with any luck she will get to be a test subject. Fingers crossed!
To find a research trial in your area check your local Craig’s List under ETC or call or write your local university or hospital.
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Editor’s Note: You can now also try searching for trials by checking the following:
- Center Watch – where you can search clinical trials by medical condition and location
- Clinicaltrials.gov – sponsored by the US National Library of Medicine – where you can search by condition or disease, other terms like the drug name and the country
Senseez Pillows: Vibrational Therapy to Soothe Anxious Kids
Last updated on July 22nd, 2021 at 04:09 pm
My name is Stephanie Mitelman. I am a Mom and I created the Senseez Pillows. The name Senseez means to ease the senses… Let me tell you the story of how Senseez was born…
When my son was 2, he was diagnosed with a special need. One of his difficulties was sitting in one place long enough to eat his meal, read a story, or sit for circle time.
I spoke to an occupational therapist who recommended a vibrating mat to help with this.I bought one for my son, and he instantly loved the sensations!
But one day, I wanted to take him to our local library for story telling, and though the mat would help… it was large, black, heavy, and had to be plugged in. I was also concerned about my son looking different or standing out with this large mat.
So I went on a search to find a small, lightweight, portable pillow that would offer the same sensations that he could take with him. I couldn’t find one!
So Senseez was born!
Senseez are colorful, lightweight, fun shaped vinyl pillows that offer a gentle vibration when they are squeezed or sat on. They operate on batteries and have a small pouch inside that can vibrate to offer sensations to relax, calm or soothe the body. They’re small enough to take anywhere and are made just for little bums!
Kids that have trouble sitting for meals, stories, car rides, shopping trips, school work, movies, or anything else will be comforted by the vibrations of Senseez. Kids that have trouble falling asleep will enjoy the relaxing sensations.
The original prototypes were sewn in the basement of our home! We made about 25 pillows by hand, and distributed them throughout schools and therapy centers in our area. Since Senseez was created to be taken everywhere and to be used by multiple children, we used a vinyl material, since it is considered to be the most hygienic and easiest to keep clean. The vinyl is also water resistant. We also created a Senseez furry option for children who would like more tactile input.
After we got some feedback, we hired an engineer to perfect the vibrating mechanism we needed. Once that was complete, we had the pillows tested by Canadian standards for lead, small parts and flammability.
We then connected with an importer who handled the production. Our first order was for 600 pillows. Once the word started getting out, we sold out within 9 months!
In April 2013, we were also invited to do a taping on the Dragon’s Den television show. Today, we have 14 different distributors across Canada and the US, and the pillows are now being used across schools, therapy centers and many homes! The feedback we get is so positive, and the ways in which the pillows are being used is so inspiring. Here is an example:
I wanted to share a positive story regarding your Senseez Pillows. I gave one of the pillows to my client who is part of our deaf blind program. Although she is very fluent in hand over hand sign language as well as Braille, she struggles a lot with expressive communication. We have been working closely with her to initiate requests, preferences, feelings…..communication in general. The pillow was introduced during a session as a sensory aid with vibration. She immediately started hugging the pillow and placing it behind her back ……all while signing the word “happy”.
While her expressive communication still remains a struggle, she is now on a regular basis asking for the “vibrating pillow”. She has created a sign that meshes together the words vibrate and pillow, which she independently will communicate to others!
It’s a huge break through!!!!!! It is the first time that she has communicated a want.
Needless to say, we will be needing some more pillows 🙂
Research shows that vibrational therapy has been used for many years in many different forms. Some children require the vibrations to help calm their bodies, while other children just enjoy the way it feels!
We are thrilled that our pillow is helping children, parents, teachers and therapists!
HEALTHFUL HINTS
Tips for working with children who have difficulty sitting in one place for any length of time:
- Some children do best with time limits. Let the child know how long they will have to sit for. A start and finish time can help. i.e: sit for 3 minutes to finish snack.
- Sometimes using a visual timer can help. Visual timers are available at most special needs stores.
- When training a child to sit for a period of time, start small and the build it up. One minute, goes to two, then five etc…
- It is okay to use outside reinforcers during this process. Children respond well to rewards, like their favorite treats. You want to build in a reward at the beginning and it won’t be long before long they won’t need it anymore.
- It is also okay to use other distractors like TV or iPad in the beginning. We want to calm the child during this hard task. For some children, TV and iPad can help reduce the anxiety of staying one place may cause. After a while, the distraction won’t be needed either.
- And you will need to verbally prompt at the beginning. Prompting is giving a gentle reminder about what the child is supposed to be doing, and reinforcing it when they do.
- It is always important to reinforce the good behavior (when they do sit in one place), and not only discuss when they don’t.
- And lastly, some children enjoy different sensations to help soothe their senses. Vibrations are helpful. Other sensations could be a weighted vest or blanket, or something that offers compression.
Note: Each child is different and you will have to experiment with what works with your child!
Hearing Loss In One Ear Can Cause Speech Delays
Last updated on September 2nd, 2019 at 07:46 pm
Most babies are given a basic hearing test when they are born. Usually kids don’t get another hearing test until they enter kindergarten. A 2018 article by the Cleveland Clinic shows that hearing loss in one ear can go undetected and often goes untreated. The problem is that “these children are exhibiting speech and language delays and are at risk for education problems, including an increased rate of failing a grade, the need for educational assistance in the classroom, and perceived behavioral issues”.
If your preschooler is behind in speech or diction or seems to only pay attention occasionally you might want to ask for a hearing screening. Being deaf or hard of hearing qualifies a child for special education. Although that disability may not mean there are any cognitive impairments the condition may prevent the child from taking in or accessing the information being taught. Children with hearing impairments also benefit from speech therapy and other strategies.
More details on how to recognize unilateral hearing loss (UHL) in children can be found at the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), where you can also find information on testing as well as tips for helping your child hear and learn better at home and at school.
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Editor’s Note: Links have been checked for accuracy and updated as needed
Special Siblings: How a Child Sees Special Needs
Last updated on September 2nd, 2019 at 07:48 pm
The other day my three children and I got into a discussion about special needs kids. They all go to a charter school with a mission statement of inclusion, and many special needs students are enrolled there. There are “paras” in each class – paraprofessionals who assist these special students. Each class has space for three special needs children. My 6-year-old son commented that his kindergarten class only has two of these kids.
I was shocked. His class does have three special needs kids – the third one is his twin sister! I told him this gently, not wanting to make a big deal about it. But he argued with me, saying that his sister didn’t need any help like that. The other two students in his class can have extreme behavior even though they have completely different conditions.
Since they are twins my son came along to every therapy session, doctor’s appointment, assessment and specialist. He was right there beside her for the entire journey – special equipment, toys, bottles, shoes and more. People came in and out of our house to work with her. We went to an inclusion mommy and me program and preschool. But he doesn’t remember most of it since he was a baby. As he got older, I guess he didn’t question it. I know he and his older brother get a little jealous because the rules are sometimes different for her, but for the most part she is just their sister.
For more on siblings of special needs kids:
- Check out the book by Holly Robinson Peete and her daughter at Amazon.com
- Here is a great article from the University of Michigan on Siblings of Special Need Kids
- Article from New York Times 2006
- Also, most Counseling centers and Regional Centers have support groups for siblings
If you have a special needs child have you dealt with situations like this?
