A Boy with Autonomic Dysfunction - The Miller Family - Our Special Life

By CafeMomStudios

Oliver was born after having suffered a stroke while in his mother's womb. The resulting brain injury is called Dysautonomia (Autonomic Dysfunction). His doctors believe the stroke was the result of the miscarriage of his twin. Oliver is completely blind and his underdeveloped brain stem makes basic physical functions a challenge. In spite of all this, he is a happy, go-lucky, 12-year-old boy, and his mom wants people to meet the real Oliver, not just his medical hardships.

Living with Severe Food Allergies - Our Special Life

By CafeMomStudios

Emma is allergic to every major food allergen, except for wheat. She is so allergic to dairy that if milk spills on her, she will have a reaction on her skin! In this episode, learn how she and her family (and even their friends) adjust their lives to keep her safe.

A Girl with Down Syndrome: The McClintic Family -- Our Special Life

From CafeMomStudios

Maddox has Down Syndrome. She's 2 years old and is a new big sister! Her mom Jamie not only does special care at home for Maddox, but that is what her day job is as well. 

A Child with Blindness -- The Planson Family - Our Special Life

By Editor from SpecialNeeds.com

Emma was born with underdeveloped eyes, though they have grown to the point where she can perceive some light and color. Emma (and her mom, Lori) is learning to read and write in Braille but otherwise attends classes with sighted children. She is an active 5-year-old girl in gymnastics and Girl Scouts.

Read more HERE.

Our Special Lives - Autism

By Editor from SpecialNeeds.com

CaféMom introduces the YouTube series Our Special Lives. Each episode features a different family with a special need child and we are able to take a look into their lives, their challenges and their joys.

In the first episode we are introduced to Sydnee Jorgl the mother of 11-year-old twins Jake and Ian. Jake and Ian were around 12 months old when Sydnee started noticing that Ian was not developing as fast as his brother Jake. It was then that Jake was evaluated and diagnosed with Autism.

“Having a child with autism is something I never thought I would have to deal with”, says Sydnee. “It’s really changed me, I think, for the better. I think it’s made me a better person”.

“Be proud of your child with a disability.” She adds. “They’re amazing, and they process the world differently. Just the fact that they’re doing what they’re doing is already amazing. They’re heroes really.”

Article HERE.

Being Bullied Tied to Anxiety, Depression in Special-Needs Kids

Special-needs youth with chronic medical conditions or developmental disabilities are at risk for anxiety and depression if they're excluded, ignored or bullied by other young people, a new small study says.

It included 109 youngsters, ages 8 to 17, who were recruited during routine visits to a U.S. children's hospital. The patients and their parents completed questionnaires that screen for symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the youngsters also completed a questionnaire that asked them about bullying or exclusion by their peers.

The patients in the study had one or more conditions such as: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (39 percent); cystic fibrosis (22 percent); type 1 or 2 diabetes (19 percent); sickle cell disease (11 percent); obesity (11 percent); learning disability (11 percent); autism (9 percent); and short stature (6 percent).

The researchers found that being bullied and/or excluded by peers were the strongest predictors of increased symptoms of depression or anxiety in the young patients.

Read more of the US News Healthday article HERE

You Make a Difference Award Nominees Needed!

Let us Celebrate! Honor! Acknowledge! Reward!

We are looking for you to nominate someone for the You Make a Difference Awards

Please send us your nominations for a person who has done an outstanding job providing support to a student with special needs in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. It is a chance to recognize those who went above and beyond for our children with special needs and to say thank you at a special awards evening. You can nominate staff, a teacher, principal, community member, parent, student, etc.

We look forward to all of your wonderful nominations. Fill out form: YMAD Form , or in Spanish and return to: Hilary Shen, Parent Liaison at Mt. Diablo Unified School District via email at: shenh@mdusd.org, fax at: (925) 609-9246 or mail to: 1936 Carlotta Drive, Concord, CA 94519.

A Question of forgiveness

By Holly Olmstead-Hickey, One Place for Special Needs

Have you ever gotten "that look" from a stranger when your child was having a meltdown in aisle five of the grocery? Have you even been "dodged" by a friend to get together, have a play date or just talk on the phone? Have you ever received advice from a well meaning aunt about your child's behavior that felt like a slap in the face? While trying to understand the questions of "how" and "why" regarding a child's special need, parents and families of those with disabilities need to find a sense of balance, peace and forgiveness.

Forgive...Who?

You might be surprised that the first person to forgive is yourself. Try and rid your mind and heart of feelings of anger, disappointment or sadness. “You didn’t ask for this to happen in your life,” says clinical psychologist Aimee Koerner-Frank, PsyD. of Charlie’s Gift Autism Center in Downers Grove, Illinois. “Circumstances happen. Life happens.”

Dr. Koerner-Frank speaks from experience. While she is a clinical psychologist working in the special needs community she is also a parent of a son with Down syndrome. Forgiving yourself will not only make a difference in your child’s life, but it will make a significant difference in your own life, too. “Quality of life is important to a special needs family,” says Dr. Koerner-Frank. “Being the parent of a special needs child has made me a better person and a better therapist.”

Forgive that stranger

“Can’t you control your child?” You’ve probably been there: in the store checkout line with a screaming child dealing with glaring looks from strangers. When the feelings of anger can no longer be ignored, is it easier to simmer in silence or lash out at rude strangers? Or is it easier to turn the other cheek, forgive and let it go? It probably depends on which warrior parent you are speaking to.

Living under a cloud of anger or exploding by making a public scene does not enhance your quality of life. Ask yourself, is yelling at other people for thoughtless transgressions really how you want to live your life? The healthier approach is to forgive ignorant comments and let it go. Vent your feelings with a trusted family member or friend. Post the incident on a special needs group site with an understanding audience.

“Life is too short to make a big deal out of it,” chimes in special needs parent Camille Gaughan of Carmel, Indiana. “…and karma happens.” When it comes into conversation, Gaughan explains her 11-year-old daughter’s mitochondrial disease in a very matter-of-fact way. Similar to muscular dystrophy, her daughter’s disease leaves her unable to convert nutrients into energy resulting in her inability to balance, walk or talk. From her wheelchair she is able to communicate well with sign language and through a picture exchange system.

Read complete article HERE.