One role every parent plays is that of being a child’s advocate. Parents of kids with special needs sometimes have to advocate for their children in special ways. The role can seem intimidating for young parents preparing to ask questions and share concerns with people in the medical community. Special Kids Need Special Advocates In this short video, I share seven ways to become a better advocate...

If you’ve heard of the Make a Wish Foundation, raise your hand. Do the same if you’ve heard of Dreams Come True. Yeah, that’s what I figured. Unless you live in the southeastern part of the United States, you probably haven’t heard of Dreams Come True. Dreams Come True I learned about the organization from a mom who emailed me after finding www.DifferentDream.com. The Dreams...

The previous two posts in this series, you learned how the needs of two ordinary families led to the creation of Faith, Hope & Charity, a residential care facility for children with special needs. To learn more about the many services currently offered at their state-of-the-art home, visit their website, FaithHopeandCharity.org. A Powerful Example The two woman who conceived the idea for the residential...

In the first post in this series you met Rose and Mary, two mothers who made a big difference in their small Iowa town. Their efforts began in the mid-1960s when they needed assistance caring for their special needs daughters, Brenda and Becky. Small Beginnings The solution to their puzzle came in three pieces. The first piece was in the shape of a house purchased at auction by Rose’s husband....

A few weeks ago, during a visit to Storm Lake, Iowa I toured Faith, Hope & Charity , a residential care facility for children with disabilities. This impressive facility serves 32 children, ages 3 – 18, in four homelike wings. Fascinating History But what fascinated me most was the home’s history, recounted on a wall display in the main entrance. It was a testimony of how two ordinary...

If you are the parent of a special needs child, you know how hard it is arrange for care so you can get away. Even if someone is willing to stay with your child, explaining the care giving routine is such a hassle, many parents decide it’s just easier to stay home. Care Giving Document for Special Needs Kids At a recent speaking engagement, I met a mom who created a document for her child’s...

Recently, a friend sent me a URL and a very short email. “Check this one out,” it said. “PLEASE WATCH: R. C. Sproul, Chuck Colson, & Joni Eareckson Tada talk about families & disabilities.” What Could R.C. Sproul, Chuck Colson, & Joni Eareckson Tada Have in Common? Since I wondered what those three people have in common, I clicked on the URL and began watching a...

A few days ago, I posted an article about www.SpecialNeedsBridge.com, the informational website developed by Julio and Ruthey Morales. At their website, I noticed the Nathaniel’s Hope/Buddy Break graphics sprinkled here and there. Curious, I dug around and learned about this wonderful organization. Buddy Break Buddy Break is a free respite service for parents of special needs kids. Nathaniel’s...

Since the release of A Different Dream for My Child, I’ve met some of the most interesting people. One of them is Julio Morales. Natalie’s Story Julio and his wife Ruthy are passionate about special needs kids because their second oldest daughter Natalie was born with a Chromosome 18 Deficiency. You can read more about Natalie, who functions at the level of a three-year-old, in this article...

Not long ago Lisa Copen, founder of Rest Ministries, asked me to take a shot at answering this question sent by a struggling mom. Heart-Wrenching Question I am a mom of a 2-year-old who was just diagnosed with autism. I also have had fibromyalgia for 5 years. I don’t know how I am going to get through this. I had assumed that, with my husband’s help, I could be a pretty good mom despite my illness....