• Visually defining space and marking belongings can go a long way in helping your child make sense of the confusion, chaos and change that comes with picking up the pieces after a natural disaster. Judy Endow on Ollibean

Providing Sameness and Routine While Living in Unfamiliar Surroundings

Judy Endow's  Strategies for Providing Sameness and Routine Many children with special needs thrive in an environment with a high degree of predictability, sameness and routine. In the aftermath of a natural disaster life is anything but what our kids need to succeed. Often entire families, neighborhoods or communities are in the flux of confusion, chaos and change and will be for quite some time to come. Putting sameness and routine back into your child’s life as quickly as possible will be helpful. How can you do that when you have no idea what life will hold for you and your

Parenting and Caregiving Relationships

Parenting and Caregiving Finding the balance between parenting and caregiving children with disabilities can be challenging -- there's a fine line between hovering and being there to assist when needed. The dynamics of the caregiving/care receiving relationship are complex. They are constantly changing as our children grow up; what's nurturing and helpful for a five year old doesn't fly at ten, what was okay at ten, doesn't work at eleven, and so on and so on. The media typically presents the perspective of caregivers, particularly parent caregivers, but rarely provides the perspective of the person with a disability who uses personal

  • Photo of a girl holding a sparkler. Text reads: Active listening is paying attention to all possible ways of communication an Autistic child uses. Amy Sequenzia on Ollibean

Parents, Are You Listening To Your Child?

As a non-speaking Autistic, I pay special attention to comments and statements made by parents of other non-speaking Autistics, especially children. Many times I see parents lamenting that they will never listen to their Autistic child say "I love you", or how much they long to hear those words.

Six Questions Before Publishing About Children

  Blogging About Children with Disabilities Protecting a child's privacy when parents write about their family's experience . How much information is too much when blogging about children with disabilities? The discussion revolving around #CrippingtheMighty, the hashtag created by Disability Visibility Project's founder, Alice Wong, is so important when considering writing or blogging about children with disabilities. It's imperative to listen to disabled people about their lived experience and the very damaging affects of content that objectifies and marginalizes disabled people like Inspiration Porn. At Ollibean, we believe in full inclusion and acceptance of all people and stories that objectify disabled people can’t exist in the same

We love “Love Explosions”

"Love Explosions" by the wonderful Beth Ryan is on our love list. The blog had us at the description - "When the love  for your child overwhelms you." You may already be familiar with the enormously  popular and helpful FB page - Parenting Autistic Children with Love and Acceptance, which had us at "name" :). Go check them both  out.    

  • Announcement. Your feelings about your children’s diagnosis are not as important as their right to privacy, dignity and respect. Amy Sequenzia, Ollibean Logo

Privacy, and Parental Behavior

I've written about this before: parents of Autistic children sharing very private information about their kids, sharing moments that show the kids being upset, or having meltdowns.   These parents share everything publicly, using pictures and videos, the children's real names, even if the children are adults.   Some say that they are trying to help other families, by showing the "real face of autism". These are the "martyr parents".   Others are very angry "at autism" and say they are doing what any parent who loves their children would do: “fight autism”. These parents call themselves "warriors".   Still

The Reason I Blog

This blog (The Autism Wars), and all the other blogs and projects associated with it, are for my autistic son, Mustafa. But this blog is actually not talking about him without him or about daily life with him with some rare exceptions for times when his daily displays of empathy, kindness, and love towards me move me to write. When I say it is for my son, I mean it is part of my activism and my exploration of what it means to try and ally myself to his cause. This cause is something that too many of us are aware of

Respectfully Connected: Journeys in Parenting and Neurodivergence

We are all about respect, so of course, Respectfully Connected is a Resource We Love!

  • It's A Holiday, So Let's Celebrate

Autism and Holiday Schedules

Autism and Holiday Schedules by Judy Endow As an autistic getting through the holiday time can be quite tricky. As an autistic parent with children who had different needs it was even trickier. Routine and structure can go a long way! They anchor the days that can otherwise be perceived by an autism neurology as totally chaotic, which in turn, often leads to being overwhelmed and experiencing meltdowns.   1.  Start by creating a visual schedule. You can simply use paper and pencil or use an iPad or computer to make your visual schedule. Words can

Visuals and Back to School Transitions

Our kids went back to school this month and likely many families are still struggling with the transition. It often seems that as the newness wears off, the getting-down-to-business-struggles begin. Autistic students have a particularly challenging time because their neurology does not permit them to automatically organize the world around them. Teachers and parents can support a child with autism to become more organized. For many it is an essential accommodation so they can be in a place to learn. Autistic students are often visual learners. This means that even though they may be verbal, as stress increases comprehension of

Attitudes – Grading People

Parents and family of disabled people should start demanding that everyone who is part of their children lives stops using functioning labels. We don’t need to be graded. We already have value.

How To Outsmart “Inflexible Thinking”

Because of my autism I have an autistic thinking style. One characteristic often attributed to me is “inflexible thinking.” Flexibility in thinking has to do with being able to adapt when circumstances change by adjusting or shifting from one expectation to another. This has never been easy for me, but I have learned how to live more comfortably with my autistic thinking style in a world where flexibility is much more highly valued than my inborn trait. First, I had to accept my own autism and the fact that I think differently (Endow, 2009). Self-acceptance doesn’t come easily for most

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The Impact of 250 Words on Literacy

Ollibean Literacy Lifehacks : Tools for parents and care providers without education backgrounds to easily provide literacy instruction. Sign up for our free Flashcards of the 250 Words that represent over two-thirds of captioned television.

Supporting Autistic Relationships

As an autistic my connections to other people are perceived visually. In fact, I often need to have a concrete visual available in order to be able to think about my friends. A challenge I am often faced with is the erroneous presumption and resulting behavior of neuro-majority people when I need a visual in order to maintain a relationship. Many Autistics Are Visual Thinkers For those of us who are visual thinkers it seems logical that visuals would play an important part in developing relationships with others and in maintaining those relationships over time. In fact, many of us

  • Blue rectangle "250 words = over 2/3 CC" at the top of image. TURN ON THE CAPTIONS is beneath the image. Screenshot of Jobs movie with a blue circle with Ollibean Literacy Lifehacks .Image of close up shot of Ashton Kutcher, a white male with brown hair and brown eyes and beard is speaking. Closed captioning in white "How does somebody know what they want if they've never even seen it?" Next to this image are 12 flashcards- how, does, some, know, what, they, want, if, they, never , see, it".

250 Words Represent Over Two-Thirds of Captioned Television

"There are more than 500,000 words in the English language, but a person who masters only 250 words will recognize more than two-thirds of all words shown in television captions—provided the 250 words are those that are most frequently used. Equally dramatic, a beginning reader could be taught just 10 words—the, you, to, a, I, and, of, in, it, that—and then recognize more than one out of every five words. Mastery of the top 79 words means being able to read half of all words captioned." Source: Perspectives in Education and Deafness, Volume 16, Number 1, September/October 1997 Henry and

Creating Visuals Instantly for Unpredictable Activities

As an adult with autism, knowing what will happen during each day is important to me. For children, who have much less life experience, it is often a deal breaker in terms of them being able to participate in life around them. Using visual schedules supports this need both at school and on ordinary days at home, but what about those times when life gets hectic or when spontaneity is in order? Why Visuals Work Having an autism neurology means that neither internal regulation (physical, sensory, emotions) nor external regulation (making sense of the world around us) just happens! We

  • "feed body and mind with whole foods"

The Benefits of Real Food

Guest post from Chasing the Spring's Dani Johnson on the life changing benefits of a blenderized diet made for her daughter. We were drawn to the great recipes Dani shares as well as her experience of learning from adult g-tube users.

  • It is the children with OI-the future of our community-who are particularly vulnerable to these messages, especially when they come from their very parents. Kara Ayers on Ollibean

Hashtag Hate and How Pride Can Prevail

Guest blogger Kara Ayers is the Advocacy and Dissemination Coordinator for The University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UC UCEDD) and has been featured on Disability Blog the official blog for Disability.gov. As a child, my family considered "hate" to be a bad word. We're teaching my preschool daughter the same. Someday I will teach her the tragic impact of hate and the freedom that it has stolen and continues to steal from so many. For now-I don't want her vocabulary or her mind limited by slurs and hate-filled language. As someone who works in social

  • "Acceptance starts at home" Photograph of teenage boy with white skin and brown hair with woman with white skin and dark brown shoulder length hair

Parents – Acceptance Starts at Home

Parents, home is the single most important place for our children to feel accepted. We must embrace ALL of our children with love and acceptance for being exactly who they are. Home is the first place our kids learn about being accepted and accepting others. It is our responsibility and privilege as parents to create a nurturing environment where each child feels valued, safe, loved and whole. Our children are always listening and picking up on our feelings and attitudes. They're listening to how we speak to them, about them, and closely watching  how we react to other people who

Crossing Sign Conundrums

Over the course of my life I have seen many kinds of crossing signs. When I go to a college campus I drive past a wildlife sanctuary where a duck crossing sign is posted. Each spring mama ducks line up near their sign and lead their babies across the road while the cars waited. There were lots of ducks and some days the wait for motorists can be up to ten minutes. Every winter when I drive along a county highway to visit a friend I see a snowmobile crossing sign. A snowmobile trail is on one side of the

Over 50, Autistic & Still Learning!

Yesterday I went to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store near my house with my laptop. It reminded me of just how far I have come in regards to technology in a few short years. It is hard to believe that I lived a half century on this planet before becoming versed in sending and receiving email! In 2005, my oldest, David, set up a Hotmail account for me and taught me how to do email. I had read an autism book and wanted to email the author. In a few months I had a few more people to

Who Should Speak For The Disability Community? – Think Inclusive

In a recent post for Think Inclusive, self-advocate Emily Ladau explores the idea of advocate-allies who work with self-advocates towards disability rights. She emphasizes the importance of putting the voices of self-advocates at the forefront of disability advocacy movements: "Don’t get me wrong – allies, or what I refer to as advocate-allies, are incredibly important to advocacy efforts. “Ally” implies being supportive, while “advocate-ally” paints a more accurate picture of people who join in along with self-advocates. And true advocate-allies deserve the utmost respect. But a real advocate-ally is someone who doesn’t overshadow the voices and efforts of the people

  • Black square with white text that reads" Is your child learning how to code?

Is Your Child Learning How to Code?

We hope all kids are learning to code. If they aren't being taught programming skills in school, there are so many great sites that can help them get started today.

Life for Lief ~ “See Me As Smart”

“Some people think that kids who are autistic can’t handle getting a transplant. Kids with autism can handle it.” Lief O'Neill

Real Consequences

Autism Speaks has been hurting autistics for too long. We are fighting back and we are stronger. It is time to say things like they are. This post is because I feel offended by people defending hateful speech.

How to Ignore the Media and Learn to Love Autism

Here are some suggestions on how to tune out the media's negativity and learn to love autism: 1)  Read Jim Sinclair’s “Don’t Mourn for Us”. 2)   Tell your parents, family and friends that are close (maybe even your boss) about your child's diagnosis, as you are going to need support. 3)   Let go of any preconceived ideas for birthday parties, trips to the supermarket and vacations.  Don’t worry if an event doesn't turn out exactly as planned. Sometimes the unexpected is just as wonderful. 4)   Discover what motivates your child and learn as much as you can about those topics.

Having to Prove Competence

But now and then I meet someone who has. They believe they are doing a good thing, a noble thing. They believe they are helping. They believe that the people they are trying to help are living happier lives as a result. They believe this with all their heart. They give words, as though gifts, in grammatically correct sentences, believing people can be trained to say things and do things that will be understood by the majority of the population. They think that if they can force someone to stop moving their hands or legs or twirling bits of string

From “Severe and Low Functioning” to “Kind of a Big Deal”

Some people consider it so abhorrent to entertain the possibility of having a child with autism they are willing to do a sperm screening that allows doctors to selectively choose only sperm that will produce female children to impregnate the mother. Since there are currently four times as many autistic boys than autistic girls the thinking is that only allowing sperm that will result in girl babies at least reduces the risk of autism. Read the article Baby Sex Checks here. There are ever so many areas to address in this article and others have done so here , and here, but

American Society for Deaf Children

We believe deaf or hard-of-hearing children are entitled to full communication access in their home, school, and community. We also believe that language development, respect for the Deaf, and access to deaf and hard-of-hearing role models are important to assure optimal intellectual, social, and emotional development. We believe that consideration of communication opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing children should be based on facts. Research consistently demonstrates that fluency in sign language and English offers deaf children (including those with cochlear implants) and hard-of-hearing children optimal opportunities for social and academic success, and thus both should be part of their language-rich

Don’t Mix Up Empathy and Civil Rights

Many times in the autism community parents of autistic children do not like autistic adults weighing in on situations that have to do with their autistic children. I am an autistic adult and often have parents telling me that I should not judge situations if I have not lived it – the “until-you-walk-a-mile-in-their-shoes” is told to me nearly every week as I post the latest news articles along with my comments on social media.

  • My diagnosis is about who I am NOT and what I cannot do – a measure of my limitations, deficits and difficulties. Being an autistic woman is about who I am – a human being who IS, who CAN and who DOES – measured by living a full life in her own way in this world. Judy Endow on Ollibean

Don’t Define Me By My Deficits

My advice for younger autistics and for those who love and support them would be to look at who you ARE as a human being.

Issy Stapleton: Emergency Information and Autistic Community Response

Emergency information is on here, followed by commentary. Emergency information for disabled victims is first, since they are in the most immediate danger. Unfortunately, many disabled victims of violence are at the mercy of their would-be-killers. Emergency information for people who are concerned that they might murder or otherwise injure a disabled person follows. Some links are en español. Read More Here.

IT IS WRONG TO MURDER YOUR AUTISTIC CHILD

  I know how it feels to be the victim, the mother, the caregiver and the social worker. And I know this: IT IS WRONG TO MURDER YOUR AUTISTIC CHILD. It's Wrong to Murder Your Autistic Child. Issy's Story   Issy Stapleton, 14, remained hospitalized in Grand Rapids, Michigan late Wednesday after her mother, Kelli Stapleton, allegedly attempted to murder her. State police Lt. Kip Belcher said two portable charcoal grills were burning inside the vehicle where Issy was found unconscious. He said the van's windows were shut and investigators believe Issy’s mother intended to murder her daughter. Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer

  • There is a big difference between HEARING what you are saying & UNDERSTANDING what you are saying. Linda Tossoonian on Ollibean

Deaf Parent Advocates for Communication Supports She Received from Same School 40 Years Ago

Deaf mother goes before Hillsborough County School District Board to advocate for son's necessary services. The 8th largest school district in the country has an operating budget of $ 3 billion. Despite being notified in advance of her attendance, the district was unable to provide any access .

Inclusion is a right not a privilege.

Inclusion is not only socially just, but research shows it improves academic outcomes for all students.

Sensory Tool Kit or Purse ?

Notebooks, silly putty, colored pencils, a favorite book.. I did many of these suggestions with all three of my kids when they were little. A mom carries around ever so many things in her purse to entertain kids in public places. However, if the kid has been diagnosed with autism you call all the junk in your purse a sensory tool kit. The difference here is if the kid is not on the spectrum it is a nice diversion and helps keep him better behaved. If the kid is on the spectrum the regulation offered by the stuff in your purse is

  • op one fourth of book cover is a white background" Black and White" written in black text with capital letters in large font "A Colorful Look at Life on the Autism Spectrum"Beneath also in black text with capital letters written in small font . Middle section contains a color photograph of blonde light skinned woman in profile . Text in right hand corner reads A Book by S.R. Salas Bottom quarter of bookcover has a black background with white text, small font that reads "Renee provides a fascinating insight to autism, I highly recommed (her) book..."- Dr. Tony Attwood "Black and White provides an inside positive view of autism..." - Dr Temple Grandin

Ollibean Spotlight: Renee Salas

" Talk to people with disabilities. As many as you can: Adults, adolescents, kids. These people are the real experts on disabilities. These are the people that can tell you what life with a disability is like." Renee Salas

  • Photograph of woman with brown skin and dark brown shoulder length hair looking down smiling while holding her baby.

Ollibean Spotlight: Kerima Cevik Pay It Forward Activist

"Equal access, level playing field, dignity, respect for my son and all his community. No separate classrooms separate doors or isolation from others. See I’m a woman of color. When I began my education you could still see the Colored Only bathrooms in the Deep South. If you put my son in one room and say he is not good enough to be where the law says he should be, with his peers, then red flags of segregation fly up at me. Many parents of color feel the wrongness of it organically, but they have been convinced that their neurodiverse children are not good enough for their neighborhood school and that their children are a distraction or threat to typical children in some way. The different operating system in their child’s brain throws them off, particularly when maladaptive behaviors are in the mix. It leaves them feeling guilty, helpless, afraid their kids will come to harm, and they listen to anyone, even if their gut tells them the advice is unjust. I am and advocate of Universal Design for Learning. I think my son can be with his peers in age as well as ability and everyone can benefit." Kerima Cevik

Much Needed Resource: “We Are Like Your Child”

"We are like your child. Your child is like us. And we may have difficulties, we are disabled--but there is no denying that we are also awesome."

  • Thinking Person's Guide to Autism

Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism

We love Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, a community of autistics, professionals, and parents sharing what you need to know about autism.

Believing in Your Child and Why It Matters

"No one affects a child's day, dreams and future like a mother. Of course we are never perfect, but perfect is never the goal." Tonya Whitlock

  • Photograph of blonde mother holding her blonde daughter in her lap.

Ollibean Mama Spotlight : Ariane Zurcher

"It means living in a society that embraces the diversity of human beings. It means inclusion is a way of life and manifests itself in every aspect of our culture, from the schools and education, to the work place and everything in between… It means paradise!" Ariane Zurcher

Mother

This is for every person who embodies the meaning of motherhood. This is for the ones who nurture and protect, who never consider their lives more important than the lives of the ones being nourished, educated, protected and loved.

Childhood Disability Rate Jumps Over 16% in Last Decade

According to findings presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, the prevalence of disability in children has jumped more than 16 percent in 10 years. The reason for this rise in disability prevalence is unclear, although, according to Disability Scoop, researchers believe it’s due to “increased diagnosis of neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions.” Researchers identified the rise in disability prevalence by comparing data from the National Health Interview Survey collected in 2009-2010 to those collected in 2001-2002. The National Health Interview Survey, conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a poll of more than 100,000

  • Presume Competence, Believe in Yourself, Treat Yourself Like You Are Your Own Best Friend, Breathe, Do Your Thing, Hug Those You Love..Every Single Day, Challenge the Paradigm, Take a Million Pictures, Play, Trust Your Gut, Keep All Records and Reports, Believe in Random Acts of Silliness, Be Informed, Think in Parallel, Turn It Up to 11, Appreciate the Beauty and Strength in Our Diversity, Question Everything, Love Deeply, Research, Own Your Difference ,Bust a Move, Know That Typical Is Overrated, Lean Into It, Embrace The Teachable Moments, Call on a Friend, Laugh, Laugh, Laugh, Laugh, Laugh, Sleep When You Can, We Are More Alike Than We Are Different, All of a Kind, Ollibean

Happy Mother’s Day Week : Turn It Up to 11

It's that time of year .... Mother's Day Week! Is there a song that makes you think about why you love being a mom? Or a song that just reminds you of your family? Share it here.

Autism Acceptance- All Created Equal

John Hussman on the MCIE Blog. "And then love them back. Not for who they might have been without autism, or for who they might be if they were “cured,” but as people who need to be nothing other than who they are, to be loved and accepted."

  • love.love.love.

Tiny Grace Notes: Open Heartedness

Because I am a person who prepares special ed teachers and doc students for a living, I meet a lot of people, and a lot of them are parents of kids, and a lot of the kids these parents have are kids with autism.  I get to know them over time, and see the wonderful work they do as pre-service teachers, and often keep in touch with what they are doing after they graduate.  These are good and loving people, dedicated to life-long learning.  This is my general background knowledge of other people’s parents.  This is hundreds or maybe by now a thousand-odd of

A Parent’s Story of Advocacy on The Inclusive Class

Teachers love a great resource! Especially a resource that is free and at their fingertips - literally. That's why I put together a list of... How do we help our children or students who are perpetually losing things, often running late and seem complete

  • EmmasHopeBook dot com

We Love Emma’s Hope Book

Ariane Zurcher is definitely one of our favorite writers. She writes with exceptional honesty, insight, and beauty.

Bright Not Broken Gifted Kids ADHD and Autism – Feb 14,2013

Chef Dean Neff, Executive Chef at Hugh Acheson's "Five & Ten" highly rated restaurant in Georgia, visits with Olivia Wilder to talk about his culinary career. Bobby Seale co-founder ofThe Black Panther Party was an African-American revolutionary socialis

I Feel Tired

Some parents understand that autism is a natural part of some children’s lives and they fight the societal attitudes toward autistics. That’s love. Some parents don’t, and they fight, and hurt, their own children. This is not love and is one of the things that make me very tired.

  • Woman with brown hair and white skin holding a painting by Larry Bissonette.

Advice from Someone Who Has Been There

I love Larry Bissonnette- artist and disability rights activist. If you have seen Wretches & Jabberers or My Life as an Artist, or seen Larry present- I'm sure you are right there with me. His paintings are extraordinary, his words brilliant, and his wit and personality beyond wonderful. He is an exceptional person I feel privledged to call friend. We have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Larry; a weekend at our home in Tampa, a week in Vermont (where we were able to visit Larry's studio and watch him create his paintings) and numerous conferences

Jennifer Byde Myers: Autism and the Quest for Knowledge

Great post by Jennifer Byde Myers at  jennyalice.com. Jack doesn’t fit the mold. Not the mold for a typical kid, not the one for cerebral palsy, not autism, not ADHD. Whenever we try to "box him up", another piece of him pops out, unexplainable by a typical convention.

When Autistics Grade Other Autistics

“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree…”We know how functioning labels are not helpful, despite being largely used by neurotypicals. But some autistics also grade members of our community and I want to understand why.

More Powerful than Energy and Entropy

Jeffrey Wright to his students ,"There is something a lot greater than energy. There’s something a lot greater than entropy. What’s the greatest thing? Love ."

Awesome Resource : Tiny Grace Notes (AKA Ask an Autistic)

We absolutely love Tiny Grace Notes. Check it out, you will too. Elizabeth (Ibby) Grace is brilliant, kind, and all around wonderful. Got a question about autism? Send it to Dear Ibby! Ibby is an education professor, a researcher, a mom, and Autistic. There is something about Ibby. She is one of those people who are easily able to convey warmth, respect, goodness, and so much information in  just in a couple of paragraphs. Read her blog, you'll see. But, carve out some time, you won't read just one.  

Raising Rebel Souls

We are huge fans of Raising Rebel Souls. Heather  is an incredible writer and advocate, and stood firmly with Henry:) Here's a bit about Raising Rebel Souls: Rebel Mommy: I am Rebel Mommy, also known as Heather. I have been given a lot. I am lucky in love. Yes, my hands are full, yes, I drink too much coffee, yes, my dishes are currently piled up and no, I am not a good housewife, but yes, I am a damn good Mother. I was born to do it. I swear to you, my life before my sons, was just me

Use Your Words: Non-Verbal, Speech, and AAC

I see a little girl every week at events that my child attends. She's great. She's nine years old, has a fantastic laugh, and a mischievous sense of humor. She loves puddles, chocolate cake, and apples. She has a small crush on my son. She's also non-ver

Emily Willingham “Autism Bingo: The Congressional Hearing Version”

Our science editor Emily Willingham live-tweeted Thursday's Congressional autism hearing from the perspective of a scientist, autism parent, critical thinker, and human. She Storified and annotated the experience, turning offensive keywords and laughable

Nathan Heller: Andrew Solomon’s “Far from the Tree.”

For Megan and Michael, a Los Angeles couple, the crucial turn of parenthood came not in the delivery room but eight months later, when they started to worry that something had gone wrong with their son. The baby, Jacob, didn’t respond to the surrounding

Th Inclusive Class Roundtable :”When Schools Say ‘NO’ to Inclusion”

This event brings together experts in the area of inclusive education to discuss and respond with practical techniques when schools say 'NO' to inclusion.

Why is a 13 year old protesting in order to go TO school?

How did we get here? How did we get to a point that our 13 year old son has to fight for the rights that are already his under federal law? How did we get to a place where a pretty reserved kid has the courage, the will, to do this?

I am the 20 % and the RNC

Henry takes his bi-partisan message of inclusion and civil rights for all to the Republican National Convention.

  • flowers, green leaves, red geranium, blue bells, hyacinth, ivy

A Sensory Garden for Zoë and Oliver

One of Ollibean's contributors, the lovely and amazing, Julie Lohoefener of Bloom Garden Shop, let's us in on some great tips on creating a non-toxic Sensory Garden with your kids.

Dr Thomas Armstrong – Neurodiversity – Aug 27,2012

Call in to speak with the host "Neurodiversity" by Dr Armstrong - Brilliance "Neurodiversity - Discovering the Extraordinary gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and other brain differences. This book has it all - what research tells us about the specific str

First Day of School

Today is the first time that Henry has not had a First day of School. He is not allowed to go to his neighborhood school that is about 200 yards from our home.

Sebastien’s Smile

Sebastien's Smile was created for the sole purpose of raising awareness for Mitochondrial diseases which affect the Setin's son Sebastien.

  • woman reading a book in lounge chair with ocean in background

Ollibean Mama Spotlight

Connect and learn with other parents like Tonya who presume competence and celebrate their children for being exactly who they are. #allofakind

Special-Ed Students at Greater Risk of Bullying, Being Bullied: Study

TUESDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Students with visible disabilities and those receiving special education services for behavioral problems are at greater risk of being bullied and of bullying others, according to a new study. These children also are m

  • parenting

Jedd Hafer of Love and Logic ® answers your parenting questions

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jedd Hafer, of Love & Logic® and asked him some of our questions. Jed's one of those people that you start talking to and feel like you've known him forever.

Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads presuming competence

Happy Father's Day to all of the amazing dads and stepdads raising children who do things differently- who love and appreciate them for exactly who they are. Thank you for setting a great example every day, for treating your children with respect, so your child expects that same respect from others. Thank you for believing in your child's capabilities, for seeing their strengths, so they grow up seeing their own and expecting others to do the same. Thank you for advocating for your child’s rights, for showing them their rights are worth advocating for. Thank you for fostering your child's

Everything’s fine, he’s doing great and other half-truths

Writing about Sebastien and the Setins for One Day without Starbucks for Sebastien and Mitochondrial Disorders, made me think about how difficult it can be to talk about your child's very serious medical issues, even with good friends. I have many dear friends who have children that are currently living with or have had life threatening issues. Every single one of those kids and their families, make it look easy. So easy, in fact, that some people don't realize how hard it can be for many  kids - going to a million doctors appointments, the surgeries, not feeling well. Often, it's hard

  • ollibean think tank inclusion advocate. talk show host. human. Nicole Eredics

Top 3 FAQs About Inclusive Education

Parents naturally want what is best for their child, particularly when it comes to education. If a parent is not very familiar with inclusive education or had a child in an inclusive school, they have many questions and concerns. While too numerous to list, here is the top 3 frequently asked questions about inclusive education: Why isn’t there an inclusion program in my child’s school? Inclusive education is not considered a program that can be offered by schools. Inclusive education is a philosophy that the entire school district must believe in and support. The belief that all children should have

One Day without Starbucks for Sebastien and Mitochondrial Disorders

Sebastien is an 11 year old boy, who likes to do things any other 11 year old boy likes to do- play video games, watch sports on tv (especially his favorite player, Lebron James), and play baseball.

The Setin Family and The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine

Sandra and Christophe Setin are parents to 3 great kids, their oldest, Sebastien, was diagnosed with MELAS when he was 3 years old, he is now 11. Sandra is on the Board of FMM, the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine and The Pepin Academies. Sandra and Christophe have created a spice, Chef Jean-Christophe's Provencal Meat and Poultry Rub to raise awareness and funds for a much needed cure for mitochondrial diseases. ALL profits go directly to research through The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine. Their spice is delicious, Christophe may be the trained chef, but Sandra is also a fabulous cook. Check out their

Marine returns from war to surprise: Son with cerebral palsy walks for the first time

Staff sergeant Jeremy Cooney hugs his son, Michael, after the boy with cerebral palsy surprised his father by walking to him. (CBS) (CBS News) A U.S. Marine serving in Afghanistan traveled thousands of miles home for a reunion with his family, but it was

By |May 11th, 2012|Categories: Articles, General, Lifestyle, Parenting|Tags: , |0 Comments

The Coming Special Needs Care Crisis

Eli Toucey (left) has seizures and social issues that make it all but impossible to leave him with a random babysitter. What could really save Hillary Toucey’s life is a personal-care attendant to help with her 7-year-old son, Eli. Dark-haired, fair-skin

Todd Drezner: Autism and the Hypothetical Child

Given how many autistic people there are in the world, it's odd how much of the conversation about autism revolves around children who don't exist. The most common such child is the one who is "indistinguishable from his peers." This is the child who will supposedly emerge after successful therapies or treatments for autism leave the child essentially "normal.

Facebook blocks NC mom’s pictures of Special Olympics event

Diane Cornwell said her seven year old, Cole, who happens to have Down Syndrome had a great time at his first Special Olympics event last Friday. She uploaded an album of 40 pictures to share and says Facebook blocked it for inappropriate content and locked her account.

Inclusive Solutions

Together they have a combined experience of over 50 years experience as educational psychologists working across the UK. Previously as Principal and Senior strategic Educational Psychologists in Nottingham City LEA, they bring a wealth of practical, applied solutions and processes from their work with children and young people with exceptional needs aged between 0-19. Between 2001 and 2008 together they have written several books such as 'Keys to Inclusion' (2011) and published a number of books including: Incurably Human,Seeing the Charade and Dear Parents. Most recently they have set up a Community Interest Company  together with Cat Wilson called "A Place in the

Disabled Military Protection Act Allows Military Families to include Special Needs Trusts within the Survivor Benefit Plan

Currently, under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), a military retiree can set aside up to 55 percent of his monthly retirement pay to provide their family members with a monthly stipend, after he or she dies. However, these benefits are counted as income

Presuming Competence

This issue is very important to me because so many events and breakthroughs in my life happened because I was presumed to be competent. On the other hand, some events in my life were not so good because of a presumption of incompetence. The message of presumption of competence is of encouragement and acceptance. The presumption of incompetence sends a negative message, a message that says no matter how much one tries, success is out of reach. For disabled people, especially the ones who need more support, who can’t communicate through speech or who have other communication difficulties, this negative

Chosen Families

ChosenFamilies.org is a non-profit, charitable organization registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia and approved by the Internal Revenue Service to provide information to parents, family members, religious leaders and the general public on effective solutions to living in families with hidden disabilities. The purpose of ChosenFamilies.org is to help families living with hidden disabilities become fully incorporated into the body of Christ. Our mission is to provide resources, connections and encouragement to families with hidden disabilities and to educate and provide resources to religious leaders as they minister to families with these needs. ChosenFamilies.org is a community where people can

RETHINKING AUTISM – Dana Commandatore

All too often in the world of autism, celebrity and sex appeal are used to promote pseudo-science and personal agenda. Rethinking Autism wants to change minds, change the current media conversation and help give autistic people a more prominent voice in

‘Seclusion rooms’ for autistic students raise questions

Andrew St. Vincent's parents pose questions around the coffee table as the middle-schooler with autism builds a Lego city. They want to know about the room. "So you were in there by yourself?" his mother asks. "When would you be in that room?" his father

Autism Cares Foundation

The Autism Cares Foundation (ACF) was founded by the parents of a child with autism and other concerned parents, professionals and friends. The foundation was started as a means of helping others through the “puzzle” that is autism. At virtually every level, there are “twists and turns” in one’s attempt to reach the answers that many parents are seeking. As the founders discovered with their own child, answers are few, frustrations are many, and there are few places to turn to for answers. It is the intention of the Autism Cares Foundation to assist in “unwinding” the twists and turns

Seahawks GM John Schneider knows: Autism is a family diagnosis

RENTON — Ten-year-old Ben Schneider is a fun kid. He has a great laugh, loves Legos and playing video games. You can hear the pride in his parents' voices when they tell you how smart he is. When Ben was 16 months old, he could arrange the letters of the

Watching TV: Even Worse for Kids Than You Think

It's no secret that sedentary behavior contributes to obesity and chronically poor health. But not all sedentary behaviors are created equal, according to a new study that examines the link between blood pressure in children and their choice of inactive

Marlo Thomas: The Givers: What Inspires Michael J. Fox? A Very Personal Interview

Unbowed by his disease and still exhibiting his trademark energy, Michael reminded me not only of the single-mindedness that is fundamental to fighting for a cause, but also of the indestructibility of the human spirit -- one that looks at each new day as another chance to enjoy the magic and the gift of life. If only all of us could learn that lesson.  

  • HALO Helping Autism Through Learning and Outreach

HALO

MISSION Helping Autism Through Learning and Outreach is a non-profit organization supported by parents and professionals nationwide who are dedicated to the use of Soma® Mukhopadhyay's Rapid Prompting Method for improving academic success and communication for persons with autism and similar disorders. http://www.halo-soma.org

Fit Kids Playground

Our mission is to decrease the burden of childhood obesity and its associated potential chronic diseases in the Tampa Bay area. Through parental education, early childhood intervention through fun education and community awareness about the simple steps that can be implemented to teach healthy habits for life, the Tampa Bay community will be healthier for years to come.

Love and Logic ®

What Is Love and Logic All About? The Love and Logic Institute is dedicated to making parenting and teaching fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic. We provide practical tools and techniques that help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children. All of our work is based on a psychologically sound parenting and teaching philosophy called Love and Logic. What Is Love and Logic? Children learn the best lessons when they're given a task and allowed to make their own choices (and fail) when the cost of failure is still small. Children's failures must be coupled with love

2q37 Deletion Syndrome: Searching for Answers

The day after my son Aiden was born, the doctors noticed that his features were different from what they considered “normal”. As a new mom this frightened me, as I did not know or understand what was happening with my brand new baby. A geneticist was qui

Epidemic, Awareness and Us, Autistics

By now everyone knows about the new numbers on autism diagnosis. And we have already seen the media jumping in the alarmist train: IT IS AN EPIDEMIC! My friend and I decided to look up some definitions for this word that has been used to classify me. This is what I found in one on line dictionary: epidemic noun a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time: a flu epidemic. a disease occurring in such a way. a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon: an epidemic of violent crime. Am I a

Bill Introduced regarding special needs trust

H.R. 4329 -This bill or resolution was assigned to a congressional committee on March 29, 2012, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole.  To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of monthly annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan to a supplemental or special needs trust established for the sole benefit of a disabled dependent child of a participant in the Survivor Benefit Plan.  

Recording catches teachers mistreating special needs student

Two Alabama teachers have been put on administrative leave after the mother of a 10-year-old student with cerebral palsy attached an audio recorder to the bottom of his wheelchair and caught them scolding him about drooling, among other things. Jose Sali

School bans disabled girl from using walker

Kristi Roberts was stunned when school officials insisted that her disabled 5-year-old daughter switch to a wheelchair from the walker she’d been using for the previous two years. Little LaKay had battled cerebral palsy and epilepsy since she was born, a

Employer Best Practices for Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities

In 2007, EEOC issued guidance explaining the circumstances under which discrimination against workers with caregiving responsibilities might constitute discrimination based on sex, disability or other characteristics protected by federal employment discr

Education Department Awards $24.6 Million in Grants To Support Teacher and Principal Development

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan today announced the award of nearly $24.6 million for three grants to improve student achievement by increasing the effectiveness of teachers and principals. Funded under the Supporting Effective Educators Development

Student with Down’s Syndrome wins right to challenge high school placement

Belfast's High Court has granted the girl leave to seek a judicial review of the original decision A girl with Down's Syndrome has won the right to challenge the denial of a place at the high school of her family's

NOAH

NOAH is a U.S. based nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that offers information and support to people with albinism, their families and the professionals who work with them. NOAH is operated by its members on a volunteer basis and is funded primarily by dues and contributions of its members. NOAH has also received grants from foundations and organizations for specific projects.  

250 children living in nursing homes in Florida should get home care

Five year old Andi lives in a nursing home in Tampa because his family says the state won't pay for 24-hour care that would let him live with his two brothers and parents. A second lawsuit claims several thousand other children could end up in those facilities in Florida  because of decisions by the state about their care.

Responding to People with Autism during Emergencies

Author Geoff Crist is the proud parent of a beautiful, energetic, curious, daughter, Sydney (aka Beanie), 11, who was diagnosed with moderate/severe autism when she was 18 months old. He is a career firefighter and nationally registered paramedic, has wo

Autism NOW: The National Autism Resource and Information Center

Autism NOW: The National Autism Resource and Information Center will be a dynamic and interactive, highly visible and effective central point of quality resources and information for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, their families, and other targeted key stakeholders.  

Police need training on autism

The arrest of an autistic teenager who could face four years in a Michigan prison shows the need to train police on dealing with autistic people, advocates say. In Maxson's case, Dungan said, he only became violent Feb. 9 when officers tried to handcuff him, and he was then stunned with a Taser and pepper-sprayed.  

By |March 21st, 2012|Categories: Advocacy, Articles, General, Parenting, Politics|Tags: , , , |1 Comment

Lives Not Worth Living : by Amy Sequenzia

The title of this blog is an expression seen in many blogs written by disabilities advocates and self-advocates. Wasn’t his life worth living? Isn’t mine or the lives of all disabled people? The murder of 22 year-old autistic George Hodgins prompted the latest, very strong protests from the autistic community against the media coverage focused on the “reasons” for the killing, while ignoring George’s, the victim, life.

Understanding how social touch is processed differently by autistic people

A better understanding how social touch is processed differently by autistic and nonautistic people may lead to the development of strategies for family members and loved ones to touch people with autism in a way that soothes and fosters feelings of connection, rather than overwhelms.

By |March 20th, 2012|Categories: Articles, General, Parenting|Tags: , |0 Comments

Makayla Norman,14, was starved to death last year, attorney general calls for change

The Ohio attorney general is calling for change after learning a girl who starved to death was forgotten by the school system. Makayla Norman, 14, suffered from cerebral palsy and could not feed or care for herself. She died in Marc

iPad Summer Institute

Blog on the topic of assistive technology, eLearning, mind mapping, project management, visual learning, collaborative tools, and educational technology Presenters Brian S. Friedlander, Ph.D. & Christine Besko-Maughan, M.S., ATP July 10, 2012 Enhancing A

Never Lose Hope

Here is a letter to an individual who believed my children wouldn’t be successful. This is living proof that as parents, we are wiser than others who think they know better. I met you last year at a conference. This conference was held by a local organiz

Are These Good Annual Goals?

Is this annual goal written correctly for a high school freshman? Judy will improve reading comprehension skills by using graphic organizers to access the curriculum with 70% accuracy per quarter. 1. Judy will summarize or bullet important information in

Understanding Our Differences

In 1978, a group of parents of children with disabilities in Newton, Massachusetts founded Understanding Our Differences (UOD) as a nonprofit organization to increase information, understanding, and acceptance of people with disabilities and individual differences. The Understanding Our Differences disability awareness curriculum has grown rapidly in recent years and has been disseminated to more than 200 schools and youth organizations nationwide. More than 27,000 elementary school students and some 8,000 adult, high school and college students have participated as trained, volunteer instructors. The nationally recognized, award-winning program uses a hands-on, participatory curriculum to foster respect, tolerance, and compassion in elementary

Deaf children four times more likely to be mistreated at school and have mental health issues

Researchers found that deaf children who cannot make themselves understood within their family are four times more likely to have mental health disorders and more likely to suffer mistreatment at school than deaf children who can communicate with their family members, according to a report published in March 15th issue of The Lancett.

Acceptance

Welcome new Ollibean writer, Amy Sequenzia! We know you're going to love her blog and her poems........ "Accepting myself is an on going process. A few days ago I wrote a poem about acceptance. It is easier for me, sometimes, to write about my life in verses. But after I write about what bothers me in verses and stanzas, I can talk about it in any format. I freed myself when I wrote the poem. In a way, I accepted myself a little more." It is very hard to have confidence in my abilities when all my life, when people

A Deaf Son Struggles to Be Heard in ‘Tribes’

A family dinner in the beginning of Nina Raine's "Tribes" tells the audience all it needs to know about the crisis of understanding that plagues the characters in this bright and boldly provocative drama. Two parents and three twenty-something children s

Judy Endow

Judy Endow, MSW, maintains a private practice in Madison, Wisconsin, providing consultation for families, school districts and other agencies. Besides having autism herself, she is the parent of three now grown sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Judy does workshops and presentations on a variety of autism-related issues, is part of the Wisconsin DPI Statewide Autism Training Team and a board member of both the Autism Society of America, Wisconsin Chapter and the Autism National Committee. In addition, Judy is a member of the Autistic Global Initiative (AGI), a program of Autism Research Institute.  

Medical Champion© Wiffle Ball Tournament August 10th and 11th

With an innovative and fun twist on fundraising, event chairs James Ramos and Derek Alvarez, along with their committee, will host the Fourth Annual Wiffle Ball Tournament on August 10th at the Don CeSar Beach Resort on St. Pete Beach.   Join for them for an All American outing... Wiffle Ball Tournament, Last Days of Summer Beach Bash & Barefoot Dance Party. To help an All-American cause... Children with Allergies & Primary Immune Deficiency. Friday, August 10th 4 P.M. - Sunset Pre-registration, Home Run Derby Contest and Beachside Live Music The Don CeSar Beach Resort St Petersburg Beach Saturday, August 11th

Hannah’s Buddies Charity Classic, Support the Fight Against SMA, March 30-31

The Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic began in 2000 with John Bell of Widespread Panic deciding to help his goddaughter Hannah and tens of thousands of children in their fight against SMA. Today, the golf tournament, silent/auction and concert lineup attracts more than 2,000 participants and has raised nearly $2 million for SMA research. What is SMA? Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a neuromuscular disease that affects between 1 in 6,000 and 1 and 20,000 births. Over time, SMA causes muscles to become weak and considerably smaller. On average, 1 in 40 people are genetic carriers. Sponsor/Donate If you are unable to attend the

Williams Syndrome Association

The WSA is the most comprehensive resource for people and families living with Williams syndrome as well as doctors, researchers and educators.  The WSA provides resources, support and the latest medical information to help your child today and throughout his/her life.  By joining, you’ll become part of the largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with WS. No matter the age or stage of your family member with WS, you are not alone.  The WSA offers support and will help you navigate the challenges from diagnosis through adulthood.

A ‘Fountain’ of Kudos for First-Time Novelist Eliza Factor

The Fort Greene resident is not only about to release her first book, “The Mercury Fountain,” but she wrote the novel while raising three kids — one of them with cerebral palsy and autism — and starting Extreme Kids and Crew, a center catered to the needs of families with disabled children.

P2PUSA::Parent to Parent USA

Emotional & Informational support for families of children who have special needs.For over 36 years Parent to Parent programs across the country have been providing emotional and informational support to families of children who have special needs most notably by matching parents seeking support with an experienced, trained 'Support Parent'.  

Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society

The Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society is a British Columbia-based not-for-profit organization formed in 2002 for the purpose of promoting mutually rewarding friendships between children with autism spectrum and related social-communicative disorders and their peers, classmates and siblings. Our goal is to help children develop to the best of their abilities through the play and socialization that results from these friendships. We do this by providing direct services for children by visiting schools and other community settings to explain the sensory and communication challenges of autism spectrum and related disorders. We use a fun and interactive approach while teaching

Ralph James Savarese | essayist, poet, scholar, and activist

Ralph James Savarese is the author of Reasonable People: A Memoir of Autism and Adoption (Other Press 2007), which Newsweek called a “real life love story and a passionate manifesto for the rights of people with neurological disabilities.” It won the Independent Publishers Gold Medal in the category of health/medicine/nutrition, and a chapter was selected as a “notable essay” in the Best American Essays series of 2004.    

SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD 03.07.12

Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with all disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the word “retard(ed).” It is time to address the minority slur “retard(ed)” and raise the consciousness of society to its hurtful effects.

Mock my pants, not my sister

The following was written by Brian Skotko , MD, MPP, a Physician at Children’s Hospital Boston’s Down Syndrome Program. It’s in response to a feature in GQ magazine that used insensitive language. Go ahead, GQ, and mock my blue whale-emblemed Nantucket-red pants. Laugh if you want at the loud argyles that I prefer to wear with my black suit. I don’t even care if you dismiss the sexy pink polka-dotted tie that I like to wear with my blue-checkered shirt in clinic. But, whatever you do, do not mess with my sister.  

Laura Shumaker: Financial planning 101 for special needs families

Families with children who have special needs or disabilities face even bigger hurdles than most people when it comes to planning for their financial futures. We actually prefer to bury our heads in the sand (at least my husband and I do) but we shouldn’t.  

The Greenspan Floortime Course for Parents of Children with Autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Aggression, and Sensory Processing Problems is Now Available Online

The Greenspan Floortime Approach™ announces a new video course for parents of children with special needs, now available for a special introductory offer online until May 13, 2012. Parents and professionals can view the course from the comfort of their o

By |February 22nd, 2012|Categories: Articles, General, Parenting, Therapies|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Squag: Social media for teens and tweens with autism | Washington Times Communities

Two years ago, Sara Winter's nephew got in a skirmish at recess and was very upset. Winter suggested that the boy, who is on the autism spectrum, write a note to his parents on her Blackberry to tell them what he was feeling. Astounded by the way he was able to express himself, Winter began searching for software that could help him do so more. Finding none, she eventually created a social networking-style interface for kids on the spectrum called Squag.    

The Coffee Klatch

The Coffee Klatch started on a whim. I often speak and write about the isolation, stigma and confusion of parents raising a special needs child. Many of those 
parents are on twitter to share information, seek support or find a friendly ear. Twitter is where it all began. It is where I met my incredible team of moderators and thousands of special needs parents. It is where we created a morning chat for parents both newly diagnosed and those who have navigated the muddy waters to meet and share. It became very apparent to me, very quickly, that many of

Factors Associated With Self-Concept: Adolescents With Intellectual and Development Disabilities Share their Perspectives

Abstract How one perceives the self is critical to long-term development. The purpose of this study was to explore the self-perceptions of adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Participants included 51 adolescents with intellectua

CEC Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities

The Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities is an organization composed of persons committed to enhancing the quality of life of individuals, especially children and youth, with autism, intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities. The Division seeks to further the knowledge base of the field, thus ensuring the continued advancement of positive educational and life outcomes for those with autism and developmental disabilities.

Amy Sequenzia “Be Proud of Who You Are”

"Feeling sorry for our disabilities means not accepting ourselves. I feel sorry because disabilities rights are still lacking, not because I am disabled. My message is, hopefully, about our strength and similarities". Amy Sequenzia

Todd Drezner: Nickels, Dimes and ‘High-Functioning’ Autism

As Justin Canha's story shows, the autistic person who needs a lot of support in one area may become a person who needs much less support in that same area. Justin barely spoke before age 10. Now he's verbal. He didn't suddenly change from "low-functioning" to "high-functioning." Rather, he received the support he needed and developed his skills.

Brick Walls

“Oh, that’s ok! We plan on donating. If we aren’t a match, we come from a large family and someone will donate. We don’t want to be on the list. We will find our own donor.” “Noooo. She—is—not—eligible –because—of—her—quality– of –life—Because—of—her—mental—delays” He says each word very slowly as if I am hard of hearing. “STOP IT NOW!” The anger is taking over. Thank God. Why did it take so long to get here? The social worker is writing some things down.

Supreme Court Says NO to IDEA Case

In the special education case, Compton Unified School District v. Addison (Case No. 10-886), the justices had asked the U.S. solicitor general's office for its views last April on a question under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: whether a parent may bring a claim in a due-process hearing that a district violated the law's "child-find" provision.

MetLife Center for Special Needs Planning

MetLife Center for Special Needs PlanningSM is dedicated to helping families secure both lifetime care and quality of life for their dependents with special needs. Our mission is to help families plan for the future of their dependents with special needs, including preserving government benefits and providing insurance and other financial solutions which can help provide lifetime quality care. The planning process begins with a complete review of your dependent's needs, future care plans, assessment of government benefit eligibility, and finally a review of your family's current financial and legal plans. Critical areas that must be addressed are: 1.Government benefit

Protected Tomorrows

Protected Tomorrows founder, Mary Anne Ehlert, CFP, had a successful career in financial planning when she decided to act on her lifelong desire to specialize in serving the families of the disabled. The source of her inspiration was very dear to her heart. Mary Anne herself had come from such a family. Her younger sister, Marcia, to whom she felt especially close, suffered severe mental handicaps due to cerebral palsy. And, although their parents were naturally determined that Marcia should get the best possible care, they had also for years been understandably confused how best to plan and provide for

Autism Support Network

The mission of Autism Support Network is conveyed in our tagline: connect, guide and unite. Our goal is to short-cut the uphill battle individuals and families undertake when faced with autism – whether that means the initial diagnosis, the day-to-day living and coping needed, relationship and therapeutic strategies and the latest information.  

Saving Grace

Addison Lennon met all her early milestones: she sat up on time, crawled on time and walked on time. At about 4 months, however, she had a seizure, and her parents started to worry. By 9 months, her head appeared small for her age. Her neurologist reassured the family that Addison could still be within the lowest 5 percent of the normal range. "We were thinking she was typical," says Kari Lennon, "she would be in that 5 percent." At 15 months, however, Addison had another seizure that was a lot more severe. She had been tested for

Chef Jean-Christophe

All proceeds from the sale of our Spice Blend are donated to the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine to give hope and a future for all affected by those disorders, including Sebastien. The mission of Chef Jean-Christophe is also a very personal one; his son Sebastien was diagnosed in 2004 with a Mitochondrial Disease. Those diseases have no cure and affect 1 out of 4000 children. The proceeds from the sales of Provencal Meat and Poultry Rub are entirely donated to the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine to help find new treatments and save the lives of hundreds of children, including Sebastien’s. As

Down Syndrome Brings Joy Not Regrets to Individuals and Families

In a series of recently completed surveys, 96 percent of parents expressed no regrets about having a child with Down Syndrome and nearly eight out of 10 said the child had enhanced their lives by teaching them patience, acceptance and flexibility, among other things. Siblings had similar feelings, with 94 percent feeling "pride" about their sibling and 88 percent saying the sibling had made them a "better person." via Down Syndrome Brings Joy Not Regrets for Many Families - MSN Health & Fitness - Kids' Health.

Amy Julia Becker: Explaining Down Syndrome, To My Daughter, And Myself

A few months back, I mentioned to our daughter Penny that she would be meeting another little boy who had Down syndrome, just like her. She didn't say anything in response, but later on that day, when Penny was at school and William was getting ready for a nap, he said, "Mom, what down syn mean?" via Amy Julia Becker: Explaining Down Syndrome, To My Daughter, And Myself.

The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center

NECTAC is the national early childhood technical assistance center supported by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities, from birth to 8 years, and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate and family-centered supports and services.

Love and Logic

The Love and Logic Institute is dedicated to making parenting and teaching fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic. They provide practical tools and techniques that help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children. All of their work is based on a psychologically sound parenting and teaching philosophy called Love and Logic. What Is Love and Logic? Children learn the best lessons when they're given a task and allowed to make their own choices (and fail) when the cost of failure is still small. Children's failures must be coupled with love and empathy from their parents and teachers.

  • Including Samuel

Including Samuel

Before his son Samuel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, photojournalist Dan Habib rarely thought about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Now he thinks about inclusion every day. Shot and produced over four years, Habib’s award-winning documentary film, Including Samuel, chronicles the Habib family’s efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives. The film honestly portrays his family’s hopes and struggles as well as the experiences of four other individuals with disabilities and their families. Including Samuel is a highly personal, passionately photographed film that captures the cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion.

Paula Kluth: Toward Inclusive Classrooms and Communities

This website is dedicated to promoting inclusive schooling and exploring positive ways of supporting students with autism an other disabilities. Most of Paula Kluth's work involves collaborating with schools to create environments, lessons,  and experiences that are inclusive, respectful, and accessible for all learners.

Certain Proof – A Question of Worth

Certain Proof: A Question of Worth is a feature documentary about three children living with significant communication and physical disabilities, who struggle against the public schools in an emotional battle to prove their worth.

The Importance of Special Needs Trusts

One of the most important move parents of children with special needs can make is to set up a special-needs trust, also known as a supplemental-needs trust. This is crucial, financial planners say, because a child can be denied significant Medicaid and Social Security benefits if more than $2,000 of assets are in his or her name, excluding a residence, car and basic personal items. Proper planning is key for funding for special-needs trusts for children with special needs. Funding for the trusts typically comes mainly from the parents' life insurance. Money can also be placed in a special-needs trust

By |December 14th, 2011|Categories: Articles, Finances, Parenting|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Wretches & Jabberers Tampa Screening

The " World Intelligence Magnified Tour" took Tampa by storm. The screenings of Wretches & Jabberers the weekend of June 10 were an enormous success.

Ollibean Art for Change: Wretches & Jabberers Screening and Q & A at Tampa Theatre

Academy Award winner, Gerardine Wurzburg's documentary, "Wretches & Jabberers ", Screening and Q & A at Tampa Theatre . The rockstars of self advocacy, Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette take Tampa by storm, shattering misconceptions of autism and intelligence.

A Few of Our Favorite Things

There are so many products, doctors, therapies, and places out there that can help. Here's a list of some of our favorites. We'd love to know what your Favorites are and why. Shoot us an email at olli@ollibean.org and spread the love.

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