Around the Community; BlogHer Intros (and more)!
July 8, 2011 in Featured, Featured Group, Featured Member by Julia Roberts
If you’re coming to BlogHer, here’s information on what we have going on during the first day at our special needs mini-con, co-hosted by us! We’re thrilled to introduce two of our attendees (and email Julia@supportforspecialneeds.com if you’d like to be profiled by us (here’s info we need!)…we’d love for you to share your info too! So email us!
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Marisa Howard-Karp
Sheeps Eating Me (www.sheepseatingme.wordpress.com)
@sheepseatingme
“I write (infrequently) about adoption, attachment, and parenting special-needs children.
I’ve never been to BlogHer before, but decided to go this year because it’s an opportunity to meet – finally – people who have become my friends over five years of oversharing on the interwebs.
My children are so little that they don’t read what I write, but I am always careful not to share too much of their personal stories. At this point, honestly, those boundaries feel more firm around adoption issues than they do around their special needs, but I know that may shift over time. And my wife is a very private person who tolerates my blogging because she knows how much support I get from it. So I try to be respectful of her when I write about our family.
My son, who is almost 5, was adopted domestically at 5 days old. He is sensitive, funny, and loving, and moves at about 100 miles an hour. He has Sensory Processing Disorder. My daughter, who is 3, was adopted through foster care at 23 months. She is the biggest extrovert I’ve ever met, a huge goofball, affectionate and brilliant, and moves so fast she makes my son look like he’s moving backwards. She is Deaf, and, given her history, we also struggle with attachment issues. She came to us with no language at all, but after 15 months with us (and several months in a school for the Deaf), she is signing and speaking more than we can even believe.
I’m looking forward to connecting with other special-needs parents at BlogHer.”
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Maya
Musings of a Marfan Mom http://marfmom.com
@MarfMom
“My blog is about the joys and challenges of parenting two sons with special needs (autism and Marfan syndrome) while living with Marfan syndrome myself.
I’ve never been to BlogHer (or any other blogging conference) before. I’m excited to connect in person with other special needs bloggers that I’ve met online.
Knowing how much to share is a challenge. Blogging is cathartic for me and I realize that sharing my family’s experiences can be useful to other families, particularly in regards Marfan syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder. However, what you put on the Internet doesn’t go away so I try to be cognizant of what my sons will think of what I’ve written a few years down the line.
I’ve got 2 little boys. The Menininho is almost 2 1/2. He loves to memorize logos, go down the big slide, watch Ellen and American Idol, and prolong bedtime. He also has autism. Baby J is 7 months old. He most certainly does NOT love to sleep, but thinks eating is pretty awesome. J can also screech like a pterodactyl! He was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome shortly after birth.
Something fun about myself? I’m fluent in pig latin, love cute aprons, and am the queen of celebrity gossip.”
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A couple of things around the community…
New Members! – We have some new members, be sure to check out their profiles on our member directory! You can even select who is newly registered on the right pull down bar so that makes it easy to see who needs a welcome!
Medical Needs – Go share some love with community member Sylvia who is having to leave a well-loved trip because of a potential health problem with her son that locals where she is can’t deal with! It’s the medical needs group!
IEP Discussions - We still need some community members to share their wisdom in the IEP group for community member Jennifer who is dealing with challenges getting AT!
Click Around! – Did you know one of the best ways to see what’s going on around the site and with members is so check our activity stream? It’s the first place I click when I check in because it gives me a quick view and allows me to pop in to new discussions. See? So easy. It stays on the top bar on the home page so be sure to use it to help you navigate around!
New Group for Brain Injuries – Community member Courtney has a new (and beautiful) toddler daughter, G, who has a brain injury and is looking to connect with other parents. Know someone? Can you help? Join in the Traumatic Brain Injury. Courtney also just joined the existing – but too quiet – group for CP – Life Beyond Limits, Raising Kids with Cerebral Palsy. Go and start a topic by clicking on Forum, the Start Topic. So easy!
Now…go forth and connect!
