Jun 18, 2013 Posted by Jolene

5 Ways to Move Beyond Overwhelmed

Parenting kid with special needs can be overwhelming. Stressful. Frustrating. Enough to give a person high blood pressure. We all know that. What we don’t always know is how to cope with the demands of care giving. Resources for When You Feel Overwhelmed Mary Mazzoni blogs about parenting adult children with special needs at Life Beyond IEPs,... read more

Jun 17, 2013 Posted by Jolene

Special Needs Advice: Accentuate the Positive

  Special needs parenting often forces us to focus on our kids’ limitations. But Gary Shulman, who has worked with families for 24 years, encourages parents to dwell upon their children’s strengths as well. He explains why in today’s post. Accentuate the Positives During my more than 24 years as Program Director of Social... read more

Jun 14, 2013 Posted by Jolene

PTSD Risk Factors in Kids with Special Needs

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that can affect our children with special needs. For the last year, I’ve been guest blogging about the topic at Friendship Circle of Michigan. The most recent post in the series describes the risk factors that make PTSD more likely to occur in children. PTSD Risk Factors According to Dr. Linda... read more

Jun 13, 2013 Posted by Jolene

Hidden Grace for Parents of Kids with Special Needs

Hidden grace. That’s something parents of kids with special needs can use on a daily basis. Today, guest blogger Stephanie Husted uses a poem to reveal God’s hidden grace in her life. Hidden Sometimes having a child with special needs is exhausting. Can I say that without feeling a wave of guilt wash over me? Don’t misunderstand my... read more

Jun 12, 2013 Posted by Jolene

Fun Toys for Kids with Special Needs

Summertime fun gets a little harder to manufacture as the calendar inches toward mid-July. So today’s post is dedicated to two companies that make fantastic, fun toys for kids with special needs. These recommendations come from my friend Katie Wetherbee who blogs about special needs at Diving for Pearls. Kati’s background is in special... read more