It’s no secret that a traditional martial arts program is one of the best extracurricular activities a child can participate in. For children with special needs the benefits are invaluable because of the inherit structure and discipline the...
MoreReactive Attachment Disorder
Ahh…Reactive Attachment Disorder. It didn’t mean much to me when the therapist made that diagnosis of my then 8-year-old daughter. After all, I already knew her problems stemmed from the neglect she had suffered as a baby. From...
MoreBest iPad Apps for Special Needs
Mobile technology is changing the way people view therapy for special needs. In return, companies like Wynsum Arts and app developers are changing the way mobile technology works for special needs. Many lists of the best iPad Apps for...
MoreSpecial Needs
What exactly are special needs? Most of us have heard the term “children with special needs”, but the reality is that there are many different conditions that a child may have in order to fall into the category of being a child with special...
MoreIntegrated Lesson Planning for Special Needs
A few weeks ago, as I was sitting in a professional development meeting with a team of educators at New York City Public School PS79, located in Harlem, I was overcome with unexpected emotion. For several years, I have been a vendor to New York’s...
MoreGirl with Down Syndrome Signed as Model
Urban Angels, an elite UK child modeling agency, opens their books only twice a year in search of new talent. Little Taya Kennedy was one of 50 children chosen out of 2,000 applicants. The fact that she has Down syndrome “did not enter the...
MoreSpecial Needs Karate: Is Money the Big Factor
Thanks for coming back to my monthly article for children with special needs and karate. I hope to bring you closer to understanding the multitude of benefits the martial arts bring to our children. Over the years I’ve found myself answering the...
MoreHow to Find a Special Needs Day Care
According to the Children’s Defense Fund, 19 million children in kindergarten through eighth grade are regularly in nonparental care before and after school.
MoreMerrill Lynch Debuts Special Needs Calculator
Merrill Lynch has developed a financial calculator exclusively designed for families of children with special needs. This tool helps families structure their finances by factoring the costs of assistive equipment for homes, such as wheelchair...
MoreSpecial Needs
Special needs kids require extra care and resources from both their parents and educators. That much is hardly a secret. What is relatively unknown, however, is that those parents and educators don’t have to go about their work alone...
MoreNutritional Assessment for Special Needs
Nutrition therapy for children with special needs varies greatly and must be individualized for each issue. Swallowing difficulties, positioning and nutrient deficiencies are just a few of the variables that can have an impact on your...
More13-Year-Old Singer Has a Special Needs Cause
Not every 13-year-old girl with a powerful singing voice gets the opportunity to record it on an album. It is even less likely that she would have a single written for her by a noted producer. Rarer than that is when that girl wants to give a...
MoreSpecial Needs
What exactly are special needs? Most of us have heard the term “children with special needs”, but the reality is that there are many different conditions that a child may have in order to fall into the category of being a child with...
MoreSchool-Based Martial Arts Programs Revisited
School Based Programs Revisited My last article spoke briefly about afterschool enrichment programs as well as curriculum based programs during the school day. I’d like to discuss more about afterschool enrichment programs this month and next...
MoreSpecial Needs Advocacy 101
“Is my child getting all the services he/she needs or am I falling behind?” “My son is a year old, but all he does is make noises, I’ve never heard any words come out of his mouth. I’ve mentioned this to the...
MoreFiring the Butler and the Maid . . .
. . . A strategy for helping your child with special needs learn to problem solve.Moms and Dads of children with special needs tend to take on the role of butler and maid far too long for the well-being of their son or daughter. As a consultant I...
MoreEnrichment Programs Make a Real Difference for Young People with Autism and Other Special Needs
Parents of children with special needs often face a great challenge in finding afterschool, camp, and weekend recreational programs for their children. Most community-based programs are not designed to accommodate children with special needs. Yet...
MoreSpecial Needs App of the Day: ASL Dictionary
The ASL Dictionary includes 4,800 signed words accompanied by easy-to-follow videos to teach users Sign Language. It features common English phrases, the entire numerical system, dates, symbols, and 765 multiple meaning words, as well as 55...
MoreYogAbility for People with Disabilities
Jerry is a tall, lanky 19-year-old with autism and gastro-intestinal issues. He began coming to YogAbility, a nonprofit organization, 10 years ago. He used to have frequent tantrums, screaming fits, and wore a protective helmet. Since he began...
MoreMaintain a Healthy Body During Antibiotics
Studies continue to show that the use of antibiotics disrupts the delicate balance in the digestive tract and colon of patients with special healthcare needs. This compromises healthy liver, immune and bowel function. Research in the...
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