Tag: kids with special needs

Special Gift from UCF Students

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This week, I was reading my Pegasus U.C.F. Alumni magazine and saw a little boy with a prosthetic arm on the cover. I had seen something about it on the news earlier in the week but, really hadn’t thought too much about it.

What really struck me about the story in the magazine was the fact that Alex’s mother noticed the difference having the prosthetic makes in his life. I’ve spoken with many parents of children and people with disabilities and I know that emotions about disability run the gamut. Whether someone’s disabled at birth or a disability occurs later in life, it can be difficult for people to handle. One of the most important things is the support and love our parents give us to achieve our goals. I know living with a disability can be challenging for everyone affected but, positive results can always be achieved because of our outlook on life.  The way his parents have encouraged him and didn’t give up on finding the assistance he needed will impact him for the rest of his life. Not just because the end result was receiving the prosthetic, but also the other seeds the experience has potentially planted.

At the same time, sometimes prosthesis aren’t suitable for those who might be able to utilize them, depending on their particular circumstances. That’s okay too. We all find a way to compensate when we need to accomplish our goals. According to the article, although adjusting to the weight of the prosthetic has its challenges, it’s given Alex a new outlook on life. Although he may still have challenges ahead, I think this opportunity will start him looking at life in a different way, allowing him to begin his own adventure. Kudos also are in order to the team of students who had a part in completing this project. They unselfishly took the time out to positively impact someone else’s life. The difference they made will be felt for years to come by many not able to get this assistance by other avenues currently available.

How have different pieces of assistive technology impacted your life?

For more information check out the link below:

http://today.ucf.edu/fulfilling-6-year-olds-dream-ucf-students-design-build-arm/

Thanks for reading..

cr

 

 

Re-Thinking Halloween Costumes

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

As Halloween approaches, and I get ready to celebrate the trick-or-treating season with my son, I started thinking about Halloween for me when I was a little girl. I remember the year my mom took me trick or treating. I must have been about 6 years old or so. I was a witch and she painted my face green and spray-painted my hair. I remember it was a lot of fun. Other than that, I didn’t really celebrate Halloween again until I went to college.

In the past couple of years, I’ve noticed an increase in accessible costumes. Kids with disabilities are being included, it seems more often in advertising, so they can get in on the trick or treating fun too. I’m not sure this is a new trend because, it very well may not be but, it’s certainly a wonderful and welcomed one. Not only can all kids enjoy the Halloween fun but, it’s something they can do with their family and friends.

There are so many great and creative ideas I hadn’t even thought of as costumes. You could make your daughter’s wheelchair turn into a magical carriage if she’d like to be a princess. I remember I had casts up my legs once and my mom turned me into Wonder Woman! My casts were my boots because she put socks over them for me! That was great too. I don’t think I went trick or treating that year but, I’ll never forget how cool my casts looked! Suddenly, if you can make the assistive devices your kids use part of their costume, not only will Halloween be a lot more fun for them, it might make them look at their cane, wheelchair, cast or other device, in a different way.

All it takes is some creative thinking and a bit of planning to make their Halloween loads of fun and something they’ll probably never forget.

What ideas do you have for costumes this Halloween?

For more information you can check out the link below:

http://www.mychildwithoutlimits.org/act/family-life/halloween-costume-ideas-for-the-physically-challenged/

Thanks for reading..

cr

New Uses of Technology in Special Education

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

It’s been a few weeks ago now that I was watching the news and saw a report of how one of the local schools was using IPads with students in Special Education. This got me thinking about how far technology has come since I was in school. Advances like the IPad have far-reaching effects, not only on society, since we’re very much on-the-go and rely on devices that travel with us, but on the students in today’s classrooms too.

While I had certain accommodations in school, the thought of what the IPad may be able to do to help students reach their educational goals was very interesting to me. When I started doing some research, it was clear that the IPad was definitely an asset to the classroom. Students were more involved in their work as well as with their peers. Then a light bulb went off in my head when I read about the speech-to-text function. That’s perfect for anyone who has limited use of their hands and needs to type something.

Unfortunately, there’s limited research available on the usefulness of this device in the classroom. One can only hope that maybe as more schools get on board with the idea, someone will conduct further research to determine the positive and negative effects that exist. Although, like everything else, the IPad isn’t a substitute for certain things, and isn’t a feasible tool for all disabilities, it’s encouraging to know it can reach students in alternative ways. It allows students the opportunity to be excited about learning. Once you can engage students in the learning process, the outcome can’t be anything but positive.

What other advances currently available might be able to assist a special needs student in their quest to learn?

Thanks for reading..

cr

For more information go to these links:

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2013/09/09/Breaking-Down-Barriers-iPad-helpful-tool-for-special-needs-students/stories/201309090197

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/06/13/321058641/ipads-in-special-ed-what-does-the-research-say

Teacher Assaults Autistic Boy

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

As parents, we expect when we send our kids to school, they’re in good hands. After seeing a story on the news earlier this week, I was completely shocked about the subject of the report. A teacher had been caught on video assaulting a student with Autism.

When I started looking into the subject a bit more, I found out that unfortunately, this wasn’t an isolated incident. I’ve posted before on how students with disabilities experience more bullying by their peers than their non-disabled counterparts. What didn’t occur to me, until now, was the possibility that maybe the person bullying the student could actually be the teacher, and not other students.

Obviously, there’s no excuse for this behavior. It’s a shame that those we entrust with our kids feel they can use their position of trust and power in such a negative way. I feel the Superintendent of the school did the right thing by firing the teacher. Although the School Board reinstated her, I’m hoping the new investigation being conducted will result in the appropriate action to protect all children at the school, especially those with a disability.

I’ve had the pleasure to volunteer my time years ago at a local Middle School and realize the majority of teachers who take on the job genuinely care about their students. Although I’m not sure how, an extra safeguard should be implemented in the education field to ensure the people entrusted with the safety and well-being of our kids on a daily basis are doing exactly that. As a result, the kids can focus on learning instead of the physical abuse their teacher might inflict on them if they misbehave.

For more information check out the following link:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/9-investigates-teacher-accused-assaulting-special-/ngPHN/

Thanks for reading..

cr

Adoption of Special Needs Kids

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I’ve thought about this subject for a while.  There are so many kids that need good homes and for whatever reason, few people are given the opportunity to adopt them.  I was watching “The Little Couple” the other day and saw that Jennifer and Bill had adopted a child with special needs from another country.

Adoption in general takes someone who has the resources to go through the expensive process but, how many people are willing or even think to adopt a disabled child? There’s a family in Colorado that has done just that.  They’ve also tried to bring awareness to the fact that there are many disabled children in other countries that can be adopted.  I know that caring for a disabled child can be costly and emotional but they deserve a home like anyone else.

I know there are lots of children in need of homes and good people who want to take care of them.  Adoption of a disabled child is an option even in this country that few people consider but really should.  The rewards can be many for not only the adoptive parent but, the child as well.  Kudos to the family in the story below for trying their hardest to make a difference in the lives of so many children.

What further information would you need to know about this type of adoption to lend your support?

For more information check out the link below:

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/why-this-huge-colorado-family-is-so-special-220947752.html

Thanks for reading..

cr

Accessible Playgrounds

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

One of my favorite things to do is go with my son to the playground.  We’re very lucky that one of his mom’s friends doesn’t live too far and picks us up every week so that he can go and have some fun with his friends.  As a child, I remember going to the park in Brooklyn and playing on the swings but, not much else.  I also had a swing set at home and my friends used to come to my house and play for a little while when they could.

Last week, it occurred to me that most places don’t have accessible playgrounds where everyone has the opportunity not only to play but also interact with each other.  Then, I heard something on the radio about accessible playgrounds so, I did a bit of research.  There are some playgrounds in different parts of the country that are specifically constructed for kids with disabilities.  While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public places, like public playgrounds be accessible, these modifications only need to be made to playgrounds already in existence if they’re undergoing renovations.  Accessibility of playgrounds also applies to those playgrounds being newly constructed.

Then, another thought occurred to me.  Accessible playgrounds allow for disabled parents to play at the playground with their kids too.  That’s a wonderful idea since some of the best memories we have as kids are the times we spend having fun with our parents.

What do you think about the idea of an accessible playground?

To find out more information, you can go to:

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/27/213827534/for-kids-with-special-needs-more-places-to-play

Thanks for reading..

cr