Around the Community
December 23, 2011 in Around the Site, Featured by Jen
Happy holidays to everyone! There are so many different reasons to celebrate during this time of the year. It’s also so very stressful to change our schedules and take our kids out of normal patterns. I hope everyone is finding a chance to stop and breathe here and there. I took an afternoon nap for the first time in who knows how long. My family was excellent at keeping my kids out of the room. I really appreciate that.
I spent the last week with the family gearing up for the holidays we celebrate and helping my daughter play with her helper arm. She’s finding really cool ways she can play with it. (Tonight we discovered she can crab crawl!)
As usual, there have been wonderful posts on this site. It was really interesting to read Julia’s post about scouting and special needs. My family doesn’t participate in the Cub or Girl Scouts, so it’s really interesting to read about her experiences. I also want to recommend an article produced by NPR’s State Impact project: “Why Everyone Learns More When Students With Disabilities Are Included.”
New Members
Our site continues to grow! There are a number of new members to meet. First, I’d like to introduce everyone to Sherry. She joined earlier this week and has a question that others may be able to help answer. She’s looking for help in appealing a Medicaid decision about residential care for her seven-year-old son, Zachoree. Longtime member (she’s been here more than a year), Janet Callahan, offered some advice. But please visit Sherry’s question and see if you can help too.
There are a number of other really interesting people who joined this week. I’d also like to introduce you to Rachel. She is the proud mom of four kids “through the blessing of adoption.” Her two youngest have down syndrome. Her oldest daughter also is autistic. She blogs from time to time at Brown-Eyed Blessings.
Group Activities
There are a few conversations in a number of groups where I know more members’ contributions can be really helpful. Please check out the Mental Illness/Mood Disorder page and see if you can contribute. The Caregiver Stress page has a discussion of the challenge when a parent doesn’t have the patience with a child’s obsessions. (In this case, it’s a holiday song obsession.) Also, there’s a growing number of people joining the Adulthood, Independence and Special Needs page, but no one is posting. Let’s see some sharing there!
Don’t forget to check out the How To’s on the left hand side of the site. If you’re a special needs professional (and we had a new professional join this week. Welcome Anne!), there are ways you can share. Check out how professionals can get involved in this site.
Happy holidays everyone!
