Being the parent of a special needs child is incredibly rewarding, but the role comes with a set of unique challenges. Choosing living arrangements for the child after graduation is one of them. Charlotte Glynn Through Twitter, I recently discovered a film that shows how the family worked through this challenge.  The film was created by Charlotte Glynn, the older sister of Rachel, a mentally impaired...

Before the holidays, a post on this blog featured toy guides geared for families with special needs kids. In a similar vein, today’s post puts the spotlight on a company designed to help parents and educators meet the needs of autistic children. Different Roads to Learning According to their website Different Roads to Learning was founded in 1995 by the mother of an autistic child. The company...

You know, sometimes I come across a story that puts a smile on my face. The story of Morgan’s Wonderland is one of them. What Is Morgan’s Wonderland? Morgan’s Wonderland is a theme park under construction in San Antonio, Texas. It’s slated to open in February of 2009. Now that may not sound like anything unusual. But when it’s finished, the theme park will be the largest...

Special family events during the holidays are supposed to be fun. But parents of special needs kids know that the excitement and extra stimulation those occasions create can be recipes for disaster. about.com Terri Mauro’s article at about.com has some great advice about how parents can engineer more successful holiday outings with special needs kids. Among other things, her common sense suggestions...

A Different Dream for My Child Book Review To hear what one reviewer said about A Different Dream for My Child, you can listen to Parents Nook, a program which  airs on WTHU Christian Radio out of Maryland. The review is quite short, so it won’t take much of your time. J-O-L-E-N-E Two quick cautions before you listen: Philo is pronounced Fi (rhymes with high) Lo (as in low) To get to www.jolenephilo.com,...

Every now and then, a book comes along that helps both parents of typical kids and those with special needs kids. When Your Child Is Hurting is one of them. When Your Child Is Hurting The book’s author and mother of five kids, Glynnis Whitwer is transparent as she shares personal experiences and lessons learned while parenting her own children. The chapters deal with every day issues kids face:...

Not too long ago, I shared with you about the death of Evan Newport, a little boy with Noonan’s Syndrome. When Evan was born, doctors told his parents, Scott and Penni, not to expect their baby to live more than a year. But the amazing little boy survived longer than anyone expected. Evan Lessons In seven short years of grace, Evan taught his family and all who met him many important lessons....

Shopping for age-appropriate toys for kids, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews can be tricky business. The age recommendations on the toy boxes help if you’re buying for a child whose mental development follows the typical growth curve. But those suggestions aren’t nearly so instructive if the child you’re shopping for is developmentally delayed. So what’s a consumer to do? Toys...

In the previous post in this series, you met Teresa Lasher and heard just a little about her life with an ADHD child. Today, you can read her whole story. Life with an ADHD Kid People with good intentions said, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle,” or “God only gives special kids to special parents.” I didn’t feel specially blessed, but felt I was being punished. My special child...

Today, I’d like to introduce you to an amazing woman, Teresa Lasher, who agreed to guest blog at DifferentDream.com. Meet Teresa Lasher She’s a sailor, motorcycle rider, freelance writer, and speaker who lives in Michigan with her husband. We met at a writing conference last summer and discovered we have much more than writing in common. We are both mothers of prodigal sons who struggled...