Advocacy | Our Special Families Village

From the Archives – Inspired by Carly’s Voice

Due to some scheduling snafu’s and a technical glitch, I don’t have an interview for you this week. I do however, want to share three interviews from the archives.

I’m listening to the audio version of Carly’s Voice, an absolutely stunning book about a young woman with Autism. Technology allowed her to share herself with us and I think we are only beginning to see the changes her words will bring.

Listening to this book reminds me of three interviews I have done that I want share again, in case you missed them.

One is with Tyler Burke of Provider Search Directory. Tyler’s service helps families connect with people and services and as Carly’ story demonstrates, finding the right fit is so incredibly important. Listen here.

The second interview is with Dr. Mueller of Stimulus Publications. Dr. Mueller and I talk about what ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, is and how to work with your child’s IEP Team to help your child. I think ABA had a significant impact on Carly and allowed her the glimpse the possible. Listen here.

The third interview is with Garrett Butch of Maximum Potential Kids. Garrett and I talked about ABA from a parent’s point of view. Clearly ABA gave Carly’s parent’s hope and let them see the possibilities. Listen here.

Please let us know your thoughts and any questions you may have. You can just leave a comment or if you want to keep it private, go to out Contact Page and fill out the form.

Next week I will post an interview with an author who has a very unique way of helping other’s meet your child. Stay tuned!

Enjoy!

Sandra

P.S Click here to find more Interviews.

P.P.S Are you interested in being interviewed or being a guest writer? Contact me here, please.

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: Advocacy, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, Autism Spectrum, Behavioral Consultants, Behavioral Therapy, IEP, Inclusion Programs, Medical Research, Parenting Special Needs Kids, PDD, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Special Education, Special Needs Kids, Special Needs Support, Speech and Language Therapy

Reflections on Autism Awareness Month

By Sandra 2 Comments

Yesterday was the last day of Autism Awareness Month.

Whew. What an emotional roller coaster.

I believe that Awareness is the first step to Acceptance but what we really strive for, what all Families with Special Needs Family Members strive for, is Inclusion.

So I was truly shocked and extremely saddened by some of the the things I read – at the lack of awareness of the uniqueness of each person and their needs, at the lack of acceptance of a different perspective or opinion. And at the lack of Inclusion within our own Special Needs Community.

This past month I learned that Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion must start with us. With the Special Needs Community.

While we may be aware, we certainly don’t accept all and we don’t include all. There are many opinions and ideas, therapies and treatments, groups and organizations in the Autism Community and the larger Special Needs Community. And we don’t all agree with each other.

But we don’t have to.

What we do have to do is be civil and courteous.

Each person with Special Needs and each Family is different. Each has different needs, wants, dreams and goals. Just like everyone else. And each Special Needs Family has the right to choose what is best for them.

We must treat each other the way we ask the rest of the world to treat us – with dignity and respect. Otherwise, how can we possibly ask that of others?

Mother Teresa was once invited to attend an anti-war rally. She declined. Shocked, the organizers asked her why. She told them that when they have a Peace Rally to invite her, she’d be there.

Welcome to the Special Needs Peace Rally.

Here and on Our Special Families Village Facebook Page, you will find information on a variety of Special Needs related topics.

And they might not all agree with each other.

One post might have information on why you should vaccinate your child and another might share the case against it. I will present the information and you can decide what is right for you and your Family.

One interview might share ideas for helping your Child make the most of an Inclusion setting at school and another might explain the benefits of a Special Day Class setting. Again, I will present the information and you decide if it is right for you.

My goal is to find the best information available and share it with you. Not to find only the stuff you will agree with.

But what will not be tolerated here is the kind of negative, polarizing and hurtful judgement I witnessed from some in the Autism Community last month.

We need to be the change we wish to see in the world.

-Attributed to Mahatma Ghandi

Filed Under: Village Views Tagged With: Advocacy, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, Autism Spectrum, Developmentally Disabled, Intellectual Disability, Parenting Special Needs Kids, Special Needs Law, Special Needs Support, Village Views

Welcome to my Interview with Mary Mazzoni from Life After IEPs

By Sandra 3 Comments

Yes, there is life after IEPs! And navigating those waters can be tricky. Trickier even than the world of IEPs because the services and who can provide them are not as clear cut as they are in the educational system. So when Mary Mazzoni contacted me I was delighted to learn about her website, Life After IEPs.

Mary has put together some wonderful tools and resources to help us navigate these waters. Earlier this week we talked about how Special Needs Families can plan for the transition so that it will be as smooth as possible for everyone and the best possible services are provided.

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Click to listen or right click to download.

To find the resources Mary shared, check out A Maze of Agencies: Where to Start on Life After IEPs.

As a bonus, Mary sent this Problem Solving Chart. Mary says, “It’s simple – but with practice – it works! It guides kids’ thinking, until – after a while – this is how they think about a problem even without the graphic organizer.”

Please let us know your thoughts and any questions you may have. You can just leave a comment or if you want to keep it private, go to out Contact Page and fill out the form. You can also contact Mary directly through Life After IEPs. Just click on the mail icon in the right sidebar.