Welcome back to the final post in the series about Miss Lily’s Special Teas. If you haven’t read the previous posts in the series (Part One, Part Two), they describe the history of Jennifer Ciptak’s business and the special teas she does for kids with special needs. In this post, Jennifer tells how kids and parents responded to one of her teas. A Special Chari-Tea Can you think of...

Once in awhile, I hear about an idea that makes me want to be a kid again. Miss Lily’s Special Teas is one of those ideas. Miss Lily and I connected through Twitter when she advertised her contest – a free special tea for a child with special needs in the Pittsburg area. After reading about it, I not only wanted to be a kid again, but also wanted to move to Pittsburg! Meet Jennifer Ciptak...

During a recent Coffee Klatch Twitter session, a discussion arose about a parent’s role when kids with special needs do their homework. We talked about how much homework is enough, when to ask for modifications, the value of perseverance and a whole lot of other things. How Much Is Enough? During my years as a classroom teacher, I told parents they could expect their children to bring home an...

Yes, I’m talking to you, beautiful, about the new book, Good Morning Beautiful. It was released in March by Ambassador International. Paulette George Author Paulette George tells the story of her infant daughter’s terrifying seizure disorder, the diet that restored her health, and  her recovery from brain surgery. It is an amazing story and a must read for parents of children with seizure...

After the earthquake in Haiti last January, many organizations wanted to aid the victims. Thanks to a new partnership with the Soles4Souls Foundation, the residents of Village Northwest in Sheldon, Iowa were ready to help in a big way. The Village Voice Newsletter According to the latest issue of their newsletter, the Village Northwest joined forces with Soles4Soles Foundation in October by becoming...

In a December 2009 post, you learned about Morgan’s Wonderland, a San Antonio theme park under construction for kids with special needs. The builders and volunteers have been hard at work, and here’s the scoop. The park’s grand opening will be held on April 10. If you live in the San Antonio area, they need volunteers for the gala event and on a daily basis. If you’re interested,...

If your child endured invasive medical procedures or prolonged hospitalization at a young age, she’s at risk to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But the Intensive Trauma Therapy Institute in Morgantown, WV has made great strides in treating children with PTSD quickly and effectively. Treating Traumatic Stress & Dissociative Disorders 17th Conference This year’s conference...

If you haven’t sent in your income tax yet, take an hour to listen to Joan Celebi’s recent teleseminar Tax Tips for Special Needs Parents. After you listen, come back and tell us which tip saved you money. Until April 15, Jolene

The movie, Extraordinary Measures, was released a few days ago. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve been reading about the family that inspired the movie. John & Aileen Crowley Two of the Crowleys three children, Megan and Patrick, were born with Pompe disease. At the time of their diagnosis, their prognosis was terminal. Researchers were slowly closing in on a cure, too slowly to save...

Yesterday, I received an email from Scott, Evan Newport’s father. Evan’s Story Evan died the day after Thanksgiving after a seven year battle with Noonan’s Syndrome. You can read more of Evan’s story at two previous DifferentDream.com posts: Good-bye Evan Newport and Evan Newport – All Around Me. Scott’s Email Now, back to the subject of Scott’s email. He...