Dec 9, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Notes from a Dragon Mom: Tissues Recommended

About a month ago, two emails appeared in my inbox. They were from two different parents – one dad and one mom – of kids with special needs. “Have you seen this link yet?” both parents asked. Not The Usual New York Times Op Ed Piece After reading the op-ed piece, which first appeared in the New York Times on October 16, the reason the article went viral in the special needs... read more

Dec 8, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Easter Seal’s State-by-State Early Intervention Report

In November, the Easter Seals society released a national report called Our Nation’s Youngest Children at Risk: Easter Seals Releases State-by-State Report on Early Intervention. The Easter Seals Society used the information to lobby Congressional leaders about funding for early childhood intervention. Our Nation’s Youngest Children at Risk You can read about the project at www.EasterSeals.com.... read more

Dec 7, 2011 Posted by Jolene

“A Friend Like John” Explains Autism to Typical Kids

In November, I had a book table at an event raising funds for brain research. Across the room was another author. Like me, she is a mom who decided to write a book after she became the parent of a child with special needs. Meet Suzanne Bartlett Suzanne Bartlett is a medical doctor. She and her husband have two kids. Their oldest child, John, experiences autism. Susan wrote a children’s book about... read more

Dec 6, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Guest Blogger April Brownlee says, “It’s Okay to Grieve”

Last month, guest blogger had readers laughing themselves silly with her first post, Random Acts of Vomit. This month, she’s back with a more serious post, one in which she shares a lesson she wishes someone had taught her when their daughter was first diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome. It’s Okay to Grieve I wish I had known it was okay to grieve. Or that the process could take years. When I... read more

Dec 5, 2011 Posted by Jolene

See a Problem, Solve a Problem…with Popcorn

Tammy James is the kind of educator parents want their teens encounter during their high school careers. She’s the kind of educator who sees a problem and uses ordinary, every day resources to craft an elegant, effective solution. The Problem? According to reporter Sarah Womer of the Yuma Sun, James moved to Yuma eight years ago. When she learned most of the students in her high school special... read more