Search

The reality is sobering. According to a report published on the online site of Children's Hospital Boston, about 57,000 babies weighing less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 4 ounces) are born annually in the United States. With medical advances, as of 2005, survival of these frail infants has increased from about 20 percent 15 years ago to nearly 90 percent today. Of that, 25 to 50 percent of survivors develop cognitive, attention, and behavioral deficits, while about 10 percent have CP. About half of all new cases of CP now occur in survivors of prematurity. This has been a wake-up call for parents who have come to realize that they need to plan for the future, and they need to do so in a responsible way if their sons and daughters with life-long challenging conditions are to be taken care of long after they are gone. Fortunately, there are people who offer some caring solutions. Planning for the future is just a part of a bigger picture that can be gleaned from the MetLife Center for Special Needs Planning's in-depth report, updated in the fall of 2011 from 2005, entitled "Torn Security Blanket: Children and Adults with Special Needs and the Planning Gap." This article discusses the important issues and the essential statistics mentioned in the report.

Growing up as a young girl, summer camp was a typical affair. Packed lunches kept cold with frozen freezer packs, seemingly endless slip n' slides, activities, games, contests. Every morning, the author was eager to wake up and head off to hours and hours of fun with friends and counselors. However, one may think the camping experience could not possibly be like a "real" camp, with so many children who have been labeled "physically incapable" to participate in normal camp activities. A summer camp where someone who has "differences" could have the same type of interactive fun as others is literally inconceivable. But through the vision, dream, and heart of one young man, Adam Petty, such a camp is now a reality. The author introduces Victory Junction Camp where campers enjoy the ability to have a week's worth of nonstop fun. Daily, Victory Junction Camp changes the lives of not only campers, but their families, volunteers, and visitors. This camp creates new accomplishments and discoveries for children that could not be found outside of it.

This article features the three-dentist House Call Dentist (HCD) team, a division of the nationally known Blende Dental Group based in San Francisco, headed by Dr. David Blende. Dr. Blende is best known for providing dental care utilizing sleep and sedation modalities, and as a leader in the field of dentistry for patients with special needs. The HCD team serves patients who cannot travel even 10 miles to visit the dentist. If the patient needs treatment that cannot be done in the home, the HCD team handles the arrangements for the procedures to be done at the HCD office or in a local hospital. In addition to visiting private homes, HCD provides dental screenings at group homes, including special needs assisted living and senior communities.

This article is the sixth of a multi-part series on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and discusses lifelong living after TBI. Following TBI, lifelong outcomes vary depending on the individual affected, treatment provided and severity of injury. Fortunately, many individuals who experience mild concussions common to childhood have no lasting symptoms. However, across the spectrum of mild to severe brain injury, many individuals and their families are affected by brain injury over the lifespan. Given this array of outcomes and the numerous options available to each person affected, the highest quality of long-term living occurs when a person-centered approach is the foundation for care and life planning. Person-centered plans place the individual with brain injury and his/her input, goals, needs and interests as the primary drivers of interventions and opportunities. In order to project care costs across the lifespan a formal life care plan may be developed. This life care plan is a "roadmap" for the care, services, equipment and accompanying costs that are likely to be needed throughout the lifespan. When an individual initially experiences a brain injury, whether it is traumatic or acquired, the main focus for the family is "getting through" each day and making sure that immediate needs are being met. At some point, however, parents or other family members and the individual with a TBI realize that they may need to plan for lifelong special needs in order to determine costs and available funding sources. A life care plan provides this information using timeframes and costs for items that include, but are not limited to: (1) equipment replacements; (2) therapies; (3) medications and supplies; (4) medical interventions; (5) architectural renovations; (6) adapted transportation; and (7) home care. Review of anticipated needs and their related expenses better enables everyone to plan for the individual's future. For individuals with a TBI and their families, lifelong living is not only about surviving, but thriving. The path of long-term living with TBI is at times complex, and may involve a broad array of supports and service, as well as persons to help coordinate and plan resources. Throughout all of this, supporting the individuals with a TBI and their hopes, goals and dreams as the epicenter of all efforts is the key to success. (Contains 2 figures.)

Having a disability or chronic health condition saddles the person with more than just the physical complaint. One has to struggle with the social meaning of that disorder as well. Often society is not very accepting of illness and disability and the person affected becomes stigmatized as a result. Stigma is a common problem among the disabled community. It not only affects the person with the disability, but may extend to include his or her whole family as well. The person is shunned. Social opportunities are denied. Self-esteem suffers. This article discusses how to deal with stigma--specifically the stigma attached to physical disorder.

Advocacy begins with an assumption that if a number of community members are suffering, then there must be something wrong, not with the individual members, but with the community as a whole; therefore, the community must be changed to help alleviate that suffering. Advocacy creates a platform for change by allowing individuals to begin the process of improvement through finding their voice and believing their voice can produce change. Advocacy is essential for parents to address the imbalance of power and control when their child has a disability and the community and schools see their child, not as different, but as deficient. Traditional formats for advocacy have included multiple public discourses. One of the most powerful forms of public discourse for producing change can be achieved through performing arts. This medium transforms feelings, thoughts, and images into aesthetic persuasion that allows participants and audience members to experience a phenomenon in a new way and to ask questions that might not have been asked. Performing stories has been a means of connecting audiences to lived experiences in the language of ordinary people since the beginning of mankind. Readers' theatre is "a form of group story-telling in which two of more readers present a piece of literature by reading aloud from hand-held scripts." The strength of a readers' theatre performance "lies in the transformation of each participant as she or he engages in conversation, reflection, and action in community with others." Because the "action" of the story takes place, not on a stage, but in the minds of the audience as enhanced by the vocal and facial expressions of the readers, the staging can be as simple as stools and ladders in a cafeteria, library, or classroom or as elaborate as a stage supplemented by lighting and levels. This article presents a play, "This Exit, No Return," wherein each parent expresses individually their initial reactions to discovering that their child will grow up differently. They voice their fears, hopes, and dreams as they describe for an audience the frustrations and riches of their lives. The piece is intended to be used by groups to bring awareness to the general public and to teachers and other school personnel of the perception that children with disabilities are unique and whole individuals. While this may seem an unusual medium for advocating for children with disabilities, it has been proven to be very effective. This play has been read in many classes for special education and general education teachers.

In February of 2000, "Exceptional Parent" introduced readers to the Crowley family. The author profiled John, Aileen, and their three children: Megan, Patrick, and John Jr. They told "Exceptional Parent" that in 1998 both Megan and Patrick were diagnosed with Pompe disease, a progressive, multisystemic, debilitating, and often fatal muscular disease. Shortly after this article was published, the author learned just how committed John and Aileen were to finding a cure for the disease that was threatening the lives of two of their children. This article provides a summary of John Crowley's story, which has received coverage and praise from "The Wall Street Journal" to a book (both written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Geeta Anand) and now Hollywood has taken notice. "Extraordinary Measures" is a powerful film that is inspired by Crowley's race against time to save his children. Harrison Ford both produces and stars in the film. Ten years after the first profile of John Crowley, a lot has happened. It's time to catch up with John Crowley. The author presents an interview with John Crowley. In the interview, Crowley talks about the film and shares how the production of the film come about.

This article presents the 2009 toy review & gift guide and recommends some fun toys and games, plus a few helpful products for families of children with special needs. Some of this year's picks are educational, some are entertaining, and some are designed to protect and safeguard kids of all ages. General guidelines to follow when shopping for toys for children with special needs are presented.

Recognizing that faith, religion, and spirituality can be as important a consideration and as integral a facet in the lives of exceptional families as healthcare and education, "Exceptional Parent" presents installment seven in this multi-part series, examining several programs in the Catholic faith. The Catholic Church teaches that all people are created in God's image and affirms the validity of the Baptismal promise of people with disabilities to participate in the life and mission of the church. Catholics also acknowledge the responsibility of the church to support all people in living out their baptism, and specifically relative to disabilities, it says, "The Church's pastoral response [when a family has a child born with a disability] is to learn about the disability, offer support to the family, and welcome the child." This article focuses on some of the ways this is being done in the Roman Catholic Archdioceses of Newark, New Jersey; Portland, Oregon; and Washington DC, and how these practices are firmly located in the beliefs and teaching of the Catholic Church. ["Everyone Belongs" was written with Dorothy Coughlin, Janice Benton, and Peg Kolm.] (Contains 1 figure.)

There is a famous piece of writing by Emily Pearl Kingsley in which she attempts to describe what it feels like to raise a child with special needs. She explains that it is like preparing for a trip to Italy. One learns the language and buys the travel books. One finds himself on the plane traveling to Italy, and suddenly, the trip is diverted to Holland. This change will require one to learn a new language, meet new people, and learn to appreciate the wonderful things Holland has to offer. Kingsley's writing has, over the years, evoked a wide range of responses from parents raising children with special needs. This author and his colleague, Dr. Deborah Kuchey, used the Kingsley article as a tool in a study they conducted over a period of one year that looked at the resiliency of families raising children with special needs. Based on the findings, they found that there were some very specific things families can do to be more resilient: (1) Make more money; (2) Reflect; (3) Observe rules, rituals, and routines; (4) Have a positive attitude and positive outward affect; (5) Exhibit tenacity; and (6) Live where services are available.

As a parent of a child with autism, he/she would sense that his/her role in a child's life transcends even the word "exceptional." The parents are the child's primary source of love, they meet the child's varied and challenging daily needs, and they likely direct, coordinate, and manage the child's treatment team of therapists, physicians, teachers, nutritionists, and others. To help parents do all this, the author talks about the support of family and friends and individuals on a therapy team who respond to the child, and presents some autism therapy information resources that can be used to educate parents and others. The author also encourages exceptional parents who are guiding the life of a child with autism to make their needs known and engage the members of their child's therapy team in an ongoing dialogue about the pros and cons of a variety of autism therapy approaches. (Contains 4 figures.)

For those with disabilities, issues of health are often treated in a reactionary way. This article encourages health literacy, education, and awareness targeted towards those with disabilities in helping them take ownership of their plan for staying healthy, with a focus on weight management. Weight management challenges for people with disabilities occur in every type of living situation: at home, in group living environments, in an apartment with support, or in foster homes. The issues are trapped in principles that create barriers to reaching the same goal: a healthy, fulfilling life for people with disabilities. The author offers several suggestions that can be used to involve those with disabilities in the process of making healthful choices. (Contains 3 resources.)

Eighteen years ago, the author's son Teddy was born with an unbalanced chromosome translocation of 10/12, leaving him with severe disabilities, medically fragile, and chronically ill. The author describes how her entire world was changed that day. Through it all, her journey through life has been an extraordinary educational experience, despite often being painful and difficult. In this article, she describes the life she shared with Teddy. She shares how Teddy has taught her to look far beyond people's disabilities and to become a strong advocate for those who can not speak for themselves.

The New 7 Wonders of the World organization announced a shiny new list of the world's premier candidates. The people behind "Exceptional Parent" (EP) magazine were intrigued and inspired by the New 7 Wonders undertaking, and it started them thinking. If they had to name the 7 Wonders of the World of Disabilities, what or who would they be? During the past year, EP's editorial staff spent time talking with leaders in the disabilities field in narrowing down the list. This article presents the narrowed down list of the 7 Wonders of the World of Disabilities.

This article is the ninth installment of a series that chronicles the life of a fictional family--Amita and Samir, and their daughter with special needs, Anjali. This article looks back at the milestones in Anjali's life. It describes the transition processes she underwent from being a child to an adult. Now, married and pregnant with her second child, Anjali lives a normal life that would not have been possible without the help of her supportive parents and doctors. [For other articles in this series please see EJ795348, EJ790025, EJ787050, EJ781216, EJ781210, EJ775584, EJ781326.]

There are places of pilgrimage around the world, for people of all faiths. Lourdes, France is one of those holy places. Since its birth--sprung from the faith and the holy selection of a simple child--it has been a destination for people seeking healing, comfort, and peace. It is here that Bernadette Soubirous, a poor and sick young girl, saw the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary 18 times. In this article, the author recounts some of the highlights of her journey for the first time to Lourdes, France, with the American Special Children's Pilgrimage Group (ASCPG) during its annual Easter Week pilgrimage with children and young adults who have disabilities.

This article is the eighth part of a 12-part series that chronicles the life of a fictional family--Amita and Samir, and their daughter with special needs, Anjali. This article describes the transition process experienced by Anjali as she learns to become independent despite her disabilities. In this article, Anjali's experiences as an employee at a card store and her experiences as a participant at a summer camp are described. [For Part Seven, see EJ790025.]

Meeting the needs of a loved one with a disability or complex medical condition presents challenges everyday, and it becomes very easy for a parent or caregiver to allow concerns such as dental health to fall by the wayside in the face of other priorities. However, healthy teeth and gums are necessary for overall health. People with special needs are especially predisposed to rampant tooth decay and aggressive gum disease, often as a result of their medical conditions or prescribed medications. Not only can a person's ability to chew, eat, and smile be affected, but infections can also seed to other parts of the body, jeopardizing the person's overall medical health. Problems that go unchecked can result in costly future treatments. For these reasons, taking care of the teeth and gums should be as important to every person's daily routine as taking medications or exercising. Since dental diseases will not go away on their own, professional care from a dentist is necessary for maintaining oral health. Seeking the right dentist is important, as very few dentists treat those with special needs.

This seventh installment of a 12-article Medical Home series describes the experiences of a fictitious couple, Amita and Samir, as they learn to adapt to the reality of raising a pre-adolescent girl, Anjali, with special needs. Anjali, due to her premature birth, had been suffering from recurrent asthma attacks. This article discusses how Anjali learned to consult a doctor all by herself and to take her medications without the supervision of her parents. This article also describes how to help young adults with special needs ease the transition from adolescent to adulthood.

Slippery Rock University (SRU), located in western Pennsylvania, is one of 14 state-owned institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania. The university has a rich tradition of providing professional preparation programs in special education, therapeutic recreation, physical education, and physical therapy for individuals with disabilities. Slippery Rock's Center on Disability and Health offers the Adapted Physical Activity (APA) Program, a multidisciplinary program that provides training and practical experiences for students working in physical activity and wellness promotion for individuals with disabilities. It is the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania and one of the largest undergraduate programs of its kind in the United States. A Master of Science Degree program in Adapted Physical Activity has also recently been submitted to the state for review. This program has been developed based upon public policy at the state and federal levels, taking into consideration the current status of physical inactivity, overweight, and secondary conditions that are prevalent among this population. It also focuses upon a community-based, active-living model that takes place in the communities where people with disabilities live, work, and play. This article describes the APA Program's mission, goals, and objectives as they relate to both teaching future professionals and serving every citizen with disabilities in western Pennsylvania and the nation.

In this 12 installment Medical Home series, "Exceptional Parent" presents a case study about the American Academy of Pediatrics' Medical Home Initiative. A "Medical Home" is not a building but an approach to providing healthcare services to children with special healthcare needs. This sixth part of the Medical Home series describes the experiences of Amita and Samir and their daughter, Anjali, a fictional family. The authors talk about Medical Home and the network of supports it offers children and youth with special healthcare needs through the family's experiences.

This article presents the fifth part in the 12 installment Medical Home series that presents the experiences of a fictitious couple, Amita and Samir, as they learn to adapt to the reality of having a premature baby with special needs. It describes how Amita and Samir begin preparation for their daughter Anjali's enrollment in kindergarten. "EP" readers will learn about Medical Home through their experiences. A "Medical Home" is not a building. It is an approach to providing healthcare services to children with special healthcare needs. [For Part Four, see EJ781326.]

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) as a cause of an infant or child's refusal to eat is becoming better recognized. However, the many more subtle influences that reflux can have on feeding are less often recognized. Although vomiting after meals is the classic presentation, infants and children may present with a variety of more subtle symptoms less easily recognized as related to reflux, such as not eating enough, difficulty advancing texture, chronic congestion, irritability, disturbed sleep, or poor weight gain. This is the third in a series of articles that will concentrate on medical, motor, and behavioral influences on feeding and swallowing issues in the pediatric population. This article shares the story of one family's struggle to resolve their daughter's reflux problems and discusses GER--its impact on feeding and its treatment. [For Part Two, see EJ781330.]

Over the past year, a team of transportation engineers, product designers, and therapists has been writing a series of articles about wheelchair transportation safety in partnership with "EP." These experts understand the importance of transportation for social inclusion, maintaining health, and being able to get to school and work. Previous articles focused on using a wheelchair as a vehicle seat and the importance of using a WC19-compliant wheelchair. Past articles highlighted the key concerns of safe travel when riding on school buses and private or public vans for those who cannot transfer and must stay seated in their wheelchairs. Preparing for the transition to community transportation and the role of parents and caregivers were topics during the series and focus was given to the importance of effective wheelchair securement and proper occupant restraints so that passengers seated in wheelchairs have equivalent occupant protection to other vehicle occupants. Although great strides have been made over the last 10 years, much remains to be done to further enhance the usability and availability of transport safety technologies for individuals seated in a wheelchair. Because of the complexity of the available technologies used for driving or riding safely, many wheelchair-seated travelers remain challenged. Current securement systems and occupant restraints are not always easy to use and WC19-compliant wheelchairs and seating systems are not easy to find. Information about safe transportation practices for individuals seated in wheelchairs is currently not common knowledge among drivers and caregivers. This final article in the series highlights emerging improvements to wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint systems, new products that are in the research and development phases, and some educational resources that will keep readers abreast of changes. (Contains 4 figures.) [For Part 6, see EJ781214.]

In most families as children enter adolescence, conversations begin to include transportation as a way to gain greater independence. Teens naturally shift their interests toward friends, extra curricular activities, and earning money with part time jobs. Getting out of the house and developing a separate schedule from the rest of the family often leads to seeking new transportation alternatives--asking to drive the family car, learning to ride city buses, bicycling or catching rides with others. However, because the issues surrounding transportation are more complex when using a wheelchair, parents may find difficulties in letting go and opening their children with disabilities to more risks. This article presents several strategies on how families may prepare teens with disabilities to transportation. (Contains 9 resources.)

Transition is a dynamic lifelong process that seeks to meet individual needs as a person with disabilities moves from childhood to adulthood. Per laws in most states, once an individual becomes 18 years of age that person is considered an adult regardless of the level of his or her disability. Initiating planning for adult living activities and financial support is crucial while the child is still a minor. This article discusses a strategy developed by the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Neurodevelopmental Pediatric Department to address transition for military children with disabilities and other special needs. It provides an overview of unique military considerations, including: continuing TRICARE benefits, Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) eligibility after age 18, and respite benefits through Extended Health Care Option (ECHO). It discusses legal, financial, academic/lifestyle, community resources, and self-advocacy considerations. It concludes with lessons learned from information obtained from special needs families and unprecedented quarterly transition forums. (Contains 12 online resources.)

There is no definitive recipe for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) success, but its universal ingredients can be found at home. The main ones are: (1) Understanding that all children need to express themselves, however outgoing or shy they may be; (2) Willingness to embrace the technology that may help your child regardless of your technological background or inclinations; (3) Recognition of AAC devices as part of a holistic communication approach, integrating multiple forms of self-expression; (4) Awareness of resources available through your child's school or the device manufacturer that may ease the process; and (5) Firm but realistic expectations. With gentle encouragement, a child can adopt a device as his or her voice to convey needs, wants, thoughts, and feelings when getting a message across through speech or body language is not an option. Variations of such ingredients are working well for two Florida families in unique places on their communication journeys. Their stories are presented.

In this article, the authors present an interview with Don Meyer, an advocate for the siblings of children with disabilities. Don Meyer has conducted "SibShops," a peer support and information for school-age siblings of children with disabilities, and written extensively on the difficult situation of children in this underserved demographic. Here, Meyer discusses the roots of his focus on the siblings of children with disabilities, the origins of SibShops in the difficulties they face, and the need for increased support for programs like SibShops through government funding and school participation.

Horses have always been appreciated by humans for their strength, beauty, and gentle demeanor. Children, especially, have gravitated toward them and many experience their first horseback riding lesson at a young age. However, horses can play a very different role in the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Hippotherapy is physical, occupational, or speech therapy that uses the movement of the horse as a treatment tool. Through both hippotherapy and therapeutic riding, organizations all over the country are bringing the experience of horse-related therapies to those in need and changing the lives of individuals with special needs and their families. This article highlights some of the wonderful riding centers across the country that truly understand what horses can offer to children and adults with disabilities.

Battling health plans over claims for medical services is frustrating enough when the service at issue is routine and involves a fundamentally healthy individual. But when coverage is denied for a child with special needs, the struggle comes under the general heading of "adding insult to injury." There are many "gray areas" regarding medical coverage for a special needs child, and, given the extremely high cost of many medical services and products, parents of children with disabilities generally have to explore those gray areas to find opportunities for reimbursement. This article provides information on several sources that parents of children with special needs can turn to for the expertise they may need to help with disputes involving denied medical claims. (Contains 2 endnotes.)

This article presents the 2006 honorees, sponsors, and teams for the Disability Awareness Night[TM]. Disability Awareness Night[TM] is a unique and powerful community outreach program. Its vision is to continue to raise awareness outside of the community of individuals with disabilities to continue the goal that this program will open doors to better acceptance, access, opportunities and inclusion for people living with disabilities. Its mission is to expand awareness of the 54 million Americans with disabilities, by highlighting their extraordinary achievements and the perseverance and dedication of the families, caregivers, physicians, nurses, therapists and teachers involved in their care and development. Moreover, the honorees recognized this year and in the past represent a larger community of people who dedicate themselves to improving the quality of life, the acceptance, attitude and inclusion for individuals living with disabilities and all those involved in their care and development. From the medical professional, to the advocate, the volunteer and respite provider, education, employment, entertainment and recreation, these individuals remind people that everyone deserves to live a full, exciting and meaningful life.

Carmen Scialabba was on his way to making a name for himself in professional boxing, winning the 1959 All Marine Corps Lightweight Boxing Championship and realizing his dream of boxing at Madison Square Garden when his dreams were shattered after contracting polio at the age 25. But his disability did not stop him from earning a degree and graduating cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh. Post-polio syndrome eventually led to permanent wheelchair use but he led a very successful career, won many awards, and championed many causes on behalf of persons with disabilities. His consternation over the obstacles he experienced when he was trying to find a job spurred him to found the Pennsylvania Association for Individuals with Disabilities (PAiD), a non-profit organization whose aim is to reduce the astounding unemployment rate among individuals with disabilities while providing a qualified, motivated workforce for employers. In this article, the author describes how PAiD was established by Scialabba.

This article relates how Sam Schmidt returned to living a productive life after an accident left him with spinal cord injury. Schmidt was a former Indy Racing League driver who founded Sam Schmidt Motorsports after his accident in 2000. Schmidt's car hit the wall as he exited turn two during a practice session at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Florida. After being airlifted to a nearby hospital, Schmidt was diagnosed as a quadriplegic with a spinal cord injury at the C-3/C-4 level. He was on a respirator for five weeks. With the help of his doctors and his family, Schmidt was able to regain his strength and realized that he needed to do something else other than daily therapy. After intense self-evaluation, he decided to organize the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, an organization that aims to raise awareness and help people overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders.

The number of children diagnosed with autism is rapidly increasing. While autism is not a new disability, many families are still embarking on unforeseen journeys with their children. The autism spectrum has broadened, and with increased awareness in recent years, it is undetermined which aspect has the greatest impact on the increasing numbers. Whatever the reason, children and families experiencing autism are as individual as families who have typically developing children. Ages of diagnosis, severity of behaviors, levels of communication, sensory needs, looks and size are different from child to child. However, research has proven that communication and behavior skills interventions are very effective in reducing the affects of the characteristics of autism. In this article, six families were interviewed to discover what autism looked like for them. This article comprises the comments from families whose children are of various ages and in different stages of life. Their answers are in their own words to protect from biases or opinions on the author's part. The same ten questions were asked of all families. Names and identities were omitted to preserve the families' freedom to express themselves without scrutiny. The ten questions were: (1) How old is your child?; (2) How old was your child when diagnosed with autism?; (3) Can you remember your initial reaction and thoughts to the diagnosis?; (4) Did you seek immediate interventions or therapies? Which ones?; (5) What are your dreams for your child?; (6) What components do you think will be (are, were) critical to their education?; (7) How have the dreams for your child changed with the diagnosis or over the years?; (8) What's happening now with your child/family?; (9) What do you think the future looks like?; and (10) Do you have suggestions for other parents?

The author of this article, a disability columnist, attended the Seventh Annual Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference, which was held in Orlando, Florida in January 2006. The author shares his impressions from the conference, and highlights new products and innovations that will help improve quality of life for people with disabilities. The conference showcased a variety of assistive technology products designed to advance educational opportunities, personal independence, services and jobs for people with special needs worldwide. More than a dozen new products or advances in existing technologies were introduced which increased communication opportunities for users.

For thousands of years, many people with special needs have not had the same access to communication technology that those without special needs have taken for granted. Because they lacked access to communication technology, those with special needs became an invisible population. However, the same communication formats, with adaptations, that were historical barriers to people with special needs are providing access to Braille for blind people, print magnification and text to speech for consumers who are visually impaired, closed captioning for those with hearing impairments, text to speech for speech-impaired individuals, text-to-speech, magnification and changing backgrounds for individuals with learning needs, voice to text technology for those who are cognitively challenged, and alternative computer keyboards for individuals who cannot use a standard keyboard. In this article, the authors discuss how digital publishing, also called electronic publishing, supplies individuals with disabilities with increased access to information, books and education.

In this article, EP Magazine announces its adoption of the concept of positive behavioral support prohibiting the use of aversives and restraints on citizens with special needs. The concept lies in the belief that citizens with special needs, like citizens everywhere, deserve respect, dignity and humane treatment in every aspect of their in every aspect of their lives. The magazine supports the policy as outlined by TASH, a leading national organization that advocates for progressive treatment for people with intellectual disabilities. As a result of this endorsement, EP plans to demonstrate this by not entertaining and accepting advertisements, sponsorships and support by any group, organization, school, camp, residential facility or association that employs the use of aversive tactics--as defined by the TASH resolution.

The organizer of a national support group for fathers of children with disabilities discusses the special interests and concerns of fathers and offers examples from support group meetings. (DB)

Nashville (Tennessee) elementary-school students with and without disabilities produced a musical play called "Super Kids." The play included songs about super heroes, communication, student rights, aspirations, and believing in oneself. The impact of the play on peer attitudes and development of friendships is noted. (JDD)

The practice of requiring that children with disabilities undergo public medical examinations attended by numerous professional and student personnel is challenged. These discriminatory practices are attributed to uninformed attitudes of members of the medical establishment, and the implications for patients' quality of life are noted. (JDD)

The directory lists information and advocacy service agencies, parent-governed national organizations for specific disabilities or conditions, government agencies, federally funded parent training and information projects, professional organizations, and other organizations that provide assistance to parents of children with disabilities. (JDD)

Guidelines are offered to assist parents of children with disabilities in filing federal income tax forms. Suggestions focus on keeping paperwork organized through the year, avoiding audits, making allowable medical deductions, and being aware of recent changes in the tax laws. (JDD)

This resource section lists Parent to Parent programs, which match "veteran" parents of disabled children with new parents of disabled children. The partial directory, organized alphabetically by state, gives names, addresses, and telephone numbers of programs in states from Kentucky through Oklahoma. (JDD)

The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) operates an outreach program whereby donated used/surplus computer equipment is refurbished, customized, and loaned to disabled individuals. ATA also operates resource centers that provide information services, training, and problem solving through the use of high-level and low-level technology. A list of resource centers is appended. (JDD)