For Families and Caregivers – The News You Need This Week

Is your Family Member still in school?

Here are some great tips from Special Education Advisor for writing IEP Goals.

And if you need help with a Behavior Plan, Terri Mauro from Special Children on About.com has some good resources in this article.

Do you have to deal with restraint and seclusion of your child?

Disability Scoop has posted some very good information on Restraint and Seclusion here.

I’ve written about Matthew’s bullying experience here.

This article tells about a wonderful program in Colorado to help special kids stay safe. I hope it spreads!

Are you trying to deal with a new special needs diagnosis for your baby?

This article has some great insight for all new Special Needs Families - Seven Things I Wish Someone had Told Me When My Daughter Was First Diagnosed with Autism.

Excellent book review by Read Aloud Dad 

If You Had to Choose, What Would you Do?

Sad but true – interesting article on About.com’s Special Children

What toxic stuff have people said to you?

I think CheekyBeauty said it best:

 Idiots are Everywhere

I too have had remarks made by idiots about my special needs daughter. The most upsetting one was made by her own father (the biggest idiot of all ex-husband) when she was a baby, that I needn’t worry about her as she would go and live in an institution. Not once but TWICE he had the nerve to say this out loud and luckily for him, I allowed him to live. I have had all sorts of puzzling things said to me about my child that were similar in tone. In 18 years since my daughter was born, I have never known a better human being. And that’s a fact. And in that time I have learned that there are many so-called “normal” people who are the most disabled of them all. Be grateful to those who make these comments. It helps you to find out whether they are your true friends who care about you and your family. Then avoid them like the plague and in your spare time, think of good comeback lines so you shut the idiots up for good. Be tough, be strong, and don’t take no sh*t from nobody. Ever.

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