You could say they “aren’t your grandmother’s toy dog,” except that Joy for All robotic pets are designed for grandmothers and other seniors. These amazingly lifelike toy animals are made to provide some of the benefits of pet ownership, where…
Category: Special Needs Family (page 8)
Choosing a Summer Camp for 2024
While July 2023 may seem early to be thinking about summer 2024, many camps fill their registration lists months in advance—especially with well-known or specialized programs. And it’s often easier to start the planning momentum when summer activities are already…
Assistive Technology for Hearing and Vision Impairments
In recognition of Deafblind Awareness Week this June 25–July 1, today we look at assistive technology for people with impaired hearing and/or vision. Worldwide, over 1.5 billion people have hearing loss; at least 175 million have blindness or low vision;…
Special Needs and Safe Homes
In recognition of June as National Safety Month and Alzheimer’s/Brain Awareness Month, today’s post looks at safety concerns for homes where someone has a disability—especially a disability related to aging or otherwise likely to worsen with time. Every parent knows…
Fathers and Kids: Bringing Disability Awareness to the Public
Our annual Father’s Day highlight features country musician Cooper Wade and his daughter Anna Kate. Anna is turning 21 and, despite cerebral palsy that severely limits her speech, excels as a Chick-Fil-A greeter, using a BIGmack recorder for assistive technology.…
Business Etiquette and Autistic Employees
A nod to National Business Etiquette Week, the first full week in June. Most workers who succeed in their professions are experts in the rules of business etiquette: If you’re on the autism spectrum or have an adult child who…
What’s a “Summer Bridge”?
As defined by the U.S. Department of Education, a “summer bridge program” is an organized program “designed to ease the transition to college and support postsecondary success by providing students with the academic skills and social resources needed to succeed…
How to “Think College”: Finding IDD-Friendly Higher Education
No question: it takes more than a high school diploma to prepare for the college world. High school is a right and a duty; college is an earned privilege. High school students are supervised by school faculty during class hours…
Facing Hurricane Season with a Disability
Hurricane season spans half a year—June through November—and, for many coastal residents, is also high-anxiety season. “Storm anxiety” is common enough to be recognized by the psychological world and major news media alike. It’s worse if you’ve previously lived through…
Crushing the Summer Slide | Parenting Special Needs Magazine
School will be out for summer vacation again soon. Will your family travel and explore new places or stay home to relax and recharge? No matter how your family decides to spend the break from school, if you are like…