Jan 12, 2012 Posted by Jolene

Ellen Stumbo Says First Steps Take Courage

Do you remember when your children took their first steps? Are you still waiting for the day to come? Are you wondering if it will ever come? As today’s post shows, guest blogger Ellen Stumbo knows how you feel, whether your child learned to walk easily, needed extra help, or hasn’t yet accomplished the feat – no pun intended. First Steps Take Courage There was no hesitation, no wobbly... read more

Jan 2, 2012 Posted by Jolene

The Eternal Parenting Question: Could I Do More?

Could I do more? Have you ever asked yourself that question? How often? Daily? Hourly? Every other minute? No matter how often you ask the question, you are in good company. Parents of kids with special needs, including guest blogger Ellen Stumbo, ask the question often. Read on to find out how Ellen has learned to answer it. Could I Do More? There are times when I think about my children, and I begin to... read more

Dec 21, 2011 Posted by Jolene

How to Be an Effective Advocate for a Child with Special Needs

Guest blogger Ellen Stumbo has been thinking about an issue important to parents of kids with special needs: how to be an effective advocate. In today’s post, she shares about how her perception of effective advocacy has changed and mentions a good book put out by Wrights Law, an organization that trains parents to advocate for their kids in school. Am I an Effective Advocate? Speak up for those who... read more

Dec 14, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Teaching Kids with Special Needs to Self-Advocate

Those of you with young children – infants, toddlers, preschoolers – may think today’s post doesn’t apply to you. The teen years and college seem far, far away. But if you ask any parent of a teen or college-aged child with special needs what they wish they’d done differently while raising their kids, their response is likely to be this: “I wish we’d starting... read more

May 23, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Why Kristi Yamaguchi Still Gets the Gold

Maybe you remember Kristi Yamaguchi as America’s sweetheart and winner of the 1992 Olympic Gold Medal in women’s figure skating. Or maybe you saw her become a champion on Dancing with the Stars. Or maybe you’re read her new children’s book, Dream Big, Little Pig,  to your kids. Those are all wonderful accomplishments, but they don’t hold to candle to what Yamaguchi does for... read more