What Goes In a Personalized Sensory Box

One of the strategies used to calm or to stimulate the senses, is the use of a personalized Sensory Box. A Sensory Box is just a container where you place items with a medley of sensations. Occupational Therapists often recommend the use of personalized sensory boxes for children who have problems regulating their responses to sensory information. It would be a good idea to have one at home and one at school.

What Goes In a Personalized Sensory Box

Items for sensory boxes are as varied as special needs children. The items you will use in your child’s box will be to satisfy his needs and be recommended by his professional advisors.

Just to give you an idea what can be made or bought for sensory boxes, here is a list of some sensory items. Please note that not all are appropriate for school.

* Light emitting/ reflecting objects

*Items that make contrasting sounds

*Textured objects(soft, hard, squishy, smooth, bumpy…)

*Fidgeting toys or aids

*Messy, sticky, gooey items

*Chewable items

 *Items that displace air (straws, hand held fan…)

*Things that move or vibrate

*Scented objects

Safety First for Sensory Box Items

With so many recalls because of safety issues in Toyland, parents and teachers should make sure what is placed in the Sensory Box complies to all safety regulations.

Every item/toy should be non-toxic, bpa, phthalate, pvc, lead and latex free. Look for items with a CPSIA compliance certificate. The objects to be placed in the mouth must be safe with no toxic materials and no breakaway pieces. Also avoid small objects that could be placed into ears, nose or swallowed. Dishwasher safe for hygiene reasons is another prerequisite.

Decide who is responsible to clean the items, remove the worn items and buy and replace new items. Maintaining these boxes takes commitment and organization, but is well worth the effort.

A Personalized Sensory Box for Oral Hyposensivity

For an example, I will write about a child with Sensory Processing Disorder who has oral hyposensitivity. When talking about SPD and mouthing, we refer to the sensory seekers or sensory cravers who are hyposensitive to oral input and who need more sensory stimulation than others to feel satisfied. These are the kids who always have something in their mouths: fingers, hair, clothes, toys, string…

For such a child, more oral stimulation activities and appropriate items to chew must be provided for him to feel calm and organized. Some of the following items could be included in this child’s sensory box:

* Chewnoodles, Tri-Chew, Berry Scented Textures Grabber, Chewable Retractable Bite Buddies from http://www.got-autism.com

* ChewEase, Chewnoodle, ChewEase Pencil Topper, Chewable Zipper Circle Pendant from Pacific Pediatric Supply http://pacificpediatricsupply.com/  

*Kid Companions Chewelry from http://www.chewelry.ca/  and also from the above two sites. 

-Yes, Kid Companions Chewelry passed all the safety tests and they do have a place in any Sensory Box.

-Kid Companions feature a dark colored, hard, embossed dot surrounded by a lighter colored, rubbery heart or circle. Kid Companions Chewelry has lots of textures going on offering a medley of sensations.

- An abstract pattern of dots on the back makes good use of both sides of the pendant.

-The heart shaped Kid Companions also have a worry-stone like indentation in the front.

-The circled Kid Companion is available in three smart colors and the heart shaped one comes in five colors.

-The Kid Companions Chewelry is worn like a necklace or the clipped version can be clipped to clothes, belt, school bag… no more lost, thrown, forgotten chewables.

What went in this child’s personalized sensory box are simple tools but they will help with sensory regulation and oral seeking behaviors. These oral-motor tools are a positive, effective replacement for those chewed in-edibles.

Does your sensitive child use or need a Sensory box?

What objects do you put in your box?

Related posts:

What Is a Personalized Sensory Box

*Picky, Picky Pete ~ A Boy and His Sensory Challenges Written by Michele Griffin and published by Future Horizons. Review here  

*Sensitive Sam ~ Sam’s Sensory Adventure Has a Happy Ending! Written by Marla Roth-Fisch and published by Future Horizons. Review here

*The Goodenoughs Get in Sync ~New Edition~ 5 Family Members Overcome their Special Sensory  Future Horizons Inc. Review here

*What Is a Sensory Diet

*Holidays Ring "Hollow" For Some Special Needs Kids

Passed Toddlerhood and Still Mouthing ~ Guest Post ~ by Emma Apple

If you’re like me and you have a child that needs a lot of oral stimulation, you’ll appreciate the Kid Companions Chewelry. I’ve been looking for something for my daughter to chew on for months! The other kind of chewelry I’ve found is either uncomfortable or unattractive or not safe for kids with teeth.

In hind sight, it started when Madam was a baby. She was what Dr. Sears calls a "High Needs Baby". For the first two years, she would scream if her father or anyone else held her. From the start, she would wake up crying 5 minutes after being put down to sleep and she wanted to breastfeed constantly.

The first indicator that something might be going on with Madam, aside from the awful screaming she'd use to communicate despite her language being advanced, was that she didn't grow out of the mouthing stage.

By the time she was 3, there were several early signs of Autism, with the chewing/sucking/biting on everything being the most alarming. When she chewed through an electrical wire and put a shard of glass in her mouth, we knew it was time to get help.

She was eventually diagnosed with Aspergers and Sensory Regulatory Disorder. We tried several appropriate alternatives for her to chew: straws, teething toys, washcloths... the straws helped the most but none of them made a significant difference and she craved a variety of textures.

Our furniture is a mess from being chewed for so long with pieces of wood, faux leather and foam missing. All her plastic animals have legs, tails, mouths, fins etc. chewed off and the ends of the beds have teeth marks all over them.

One day I stumbled on a giveaway for a kind of Chewelry I'd never seen before. The ones I'd seen prior had been either not appropriate for kids with teeth (which seemed to defeat the purpose) or unattractive and uncomfortable looking to wear.

I entered the giveaway (with as many entries as was allowed) and Madam won her beautiful Pink Heart shaped Kid Companions Chewelry. She was absolutely over the moon when she got it. Madam doesn't like to wear it as a necklace for long but often goes to it and always when reminded. She sometimes has it in her pocket or next to her on the table and if she is feeling very chewy she'll put it on around her neck and use it. I just can't tell you how wonderful and genius I think this is! Exactly what I was looking for!

It is a couple of months later and I cannot recommend this product enough! Madam’s chewing has been significantly reduced and her nails have grown. We've tried so many things to try and stop her biting her nails and nothing ever worked. A few days ago, we were able to cut her nails for the first time since she was a baby and she is proudly wearing her yellow nail polish for only the second time!

She still chews inappropriate things but is often able to redirect herself and often gets her chewelry before an activity where she tends to chew (i.e. coloring) without being prompted.

We love having this tool for her that involves several textures: hard plastic, softer rubber and the cotton lanyard. It is a tool that is readily available and easy to take with us. Her chewy, pink heart is pretty (perhaps most important to a little girl who loves Pink) and has had a positive impact on the entire family. I'm sure they aren't this wonderful for every child since needs vary so greatly but, like I said, I simply cannot recommend them enough!

Links to Emma Apple:

Editor at http://www.muslimasoasis.com/  

Advocate at http://www.bluehijabday.com/

Designer at http://www.yellowpixeldesigns.com/

Pierrette and I wish to thank Emma Apple for this guest post. We appreciate her comments and photos that will help other parents realize that some children must be provided with a safe, efficient alternative to inappropriate mouthing to satisfy their need for oral stimulation.

Related Posts:
*Why Do Kids Bite Their Nails and What To Do About It
*What Goes In a Personalized Sensory Box

*Product Innovators Launch Unique Sensory Tool for Special Needs Youth
*Fidgets Toys or Tools
*Chewing and Biting Tip ~ Chewing Is a Form of Moving
*There Is a New Kid Companion On Our Block

The Last IEP Meeting by Karen Putz

It hit me like a ton of bricks this week when the school counselor remarked, “This is the last IEP meeting for David.” I looked at my son sitting next to me. How did the time fly by so fast? He was a little toddler when Joe and I sat in on his first IEP meeting. David had just turned three and was diagnosed with a profound hearing loss just a short time before that. I had attended many other IEP meetings as an advocate for other families, but it was a whole new ballgame to sit in the IEP meeting as a parent.

One of the hardest things for me to do was to put him on the bus for a 45-minute ride to school. It was hard to trust someone else to drive my child, hard to trust someone else to care for him and protect him. I didn’t like the bus driver, a young man who seemed distracted. My gut feeling kept telling me that something was wrong. A few days later, I went to get David off the bus and spied a half-smoked cigarette on the floor. That was the last time that bus driver picked up my kid and I requested an aide on the bus after that.

David attended a school with a deaf program for three years. In kindergarten, the supervisor ca

me up to me and told me that they felt the best placement for David would be in his home school district. I struggled with that view, because I grew up solo in the mainstream– I was the only kid with hearing loss all the way up until I met Shawn Haines in high school. Then it was solo and a friend. I didn’t want that for my kid. I wanted to make sure he grew up with deaf and hard of hearing peers. So at first, I balked at the suggestion. Joe and I had days and days of discussion, wrestling with the decision. Should we fight to keep him in the deaf program or should we try the mainstream option?

Finally, we came to the conclusion that we would give the mainstream option a try, with the intention of putting him back in the deaf program if it didn’t work out. From day one, I was determined to make sure he had a different experience than what I went through growing up. Our subdivision had built a brand new elementary school right across the street from our house and it was just about to open up. I went in and introduced myself to the principal, Randy Vanwaning. That turned out to be one of the best moves, because Mrs. Vanwaning stayed on our side throughout the whole elementary school experience.

There’s a saying that I learned at a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) conference years ago: “Bloom where you are planted.” Once we decided that we were going to mainstream the kids, we kept that philosophy with us. We made the best out of it. I volunteered at the school and in the school library so that I could get to know the staff and the teachers. I went into class and read books to the students using sign and voice. I became involved with local playgroups and neighbors. The school hired an interpreter whose parents are deaf. Mrs. Mac is still interpreting today for Steven. Mrs. Mac started an ASL club at the school. The music teacher embraced sign in every single concert that the school put on and Mrs. Mac volunteered her time to teach the students one song per concert. Many of the students signed the school song at assemblies.

There were many experiences along the way that were challenging and it wasn’t always easy. I teamed up with Janet Des Georges to write The Myth of the Perfect IEP as a result of those challenges. I often reminded myself that it would have been the same in any environment– it’s the nature of the journey and of life. There were times when we questioned our decisions and explored options and considered changes. One of the most difficult IEP meetings we ever had was David’s transition to high school. A staff member felt strongly that we should keep him in the home district. We felt differently– we wanted David at Hinsdale South, where he would have deaf and hard of hearing peers as well as a mainstreamed education. We couldn’t come to an agreement at that meeting. That was a meeting where tears were shed– I’ve had a few of them over the years with the three kids for different reasons. We worked out that agreement and it paved the way for a smooth transition for Lauren as well.

At David’s last IEP meeting, I sat and thought about all of this as I watched him talk about his experience at the “Explore Your Future” camp to the VR counselor and the district representative. I sat in awe as I watched him share his views of what he wanted for his future– this little boy of mine has turned into a young man– when did that happen? I thought back to preschool, and how he cried during the Christmas show that the teachers put on. The teachers tried to encourage him to say his lines, but all he did was sit in his chair and cry while the other kids took turns saying and signing their lines. I look back at that time and laugh, because I have a son who can get up on stage and put on a show now. Go figure.

For a long time, I was the parent teaching the child–guiding David through life and sharing what I wanted him to know. Lately, I’ve been aware of how much the roles have shifted, I’m learning things from my son. When we head to the gym together, he teaches me things about muscle development and he becomes my coach as he runs me through drills. “Come on Mom, you have to do one more set”– which sounds a lot like the stuff I tell him at home: “Clean the bathroom and sweep the living room.” Just yesterday, he made a stir-fry dinner while I was glued to the computer and I was surprised at how delicious it was. There he was, sharing his newly-made recipe with me and teaching me how to make a better stir-fry.

I mentor families who are just starting out on the journey of raising deaf and hard of hearing kids and the beginning of the journey always seems so overwhelming, so impossible, so challenging. “Hang on to every bit of time that you have with your child,” I tell them.

Because before you know it, in the blink of an eye, all of a sudden, the last IEP meeting arrives and you wonder how it went by so fast.

Read about the author of this post, Karen Putz (photo left) in the post:
 Meet Karen Putz, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocate

What is The Coffee Klatch #TCK

Marianne Russo, the founder of The Coffee Klatch #TCK explains: "A virtual cup of coffee with parents of special needs children. Our goal is to offer support, information, education and inspiration to the parents given the life unexpected, the life with a special needs child."

Their web site: http://thecoffeeklatch.com/  states : "The Coffee Klatch is an interactive forum on Blog Talk Radio and Twitter bringing you expert guests including award winning authors, doctors, psychologists, advocates and representatives from the world's most respected children's organizations. We feature daily topics for all disabilities both physical and emotional."

You are your child's best advocate, if not you then who, become an informed educated parent.

Meet, share, laugh and take some time for yourself. Join the moderators:

 ~ Elise journals the lives of her two, almost adult aspergers sons, encouraging others with her posts describing their journey that has now reached College doors. Elise is a Certified College Coach for students with Asperger's Syndrome.Her interests include neurodiversity, inclusion, and self-advocacy.

 ~ Pierrette d'Entremont, left, writes about Special Needs and of her own personal struggles with Tourette Syndrome and Bipolar Disorder as well as raising a child with the same. A graduate of the University of Ottawa with a BCs in Human Kinetics, Pierrette is the creator of Kid Companions Chewelry, a sensory oral-motor tool.

~ Jane Hotvedt, right, shares her wealth of experience gained raising her seven special needs children ranging from Aspergers Syndrome to Cerebral Palsy. She was a presenter for the Juvenile Law Center which taught middle school students their rights and

obligations in society. This wonderful mom received her education at Bemidji University majoring in Performing Arts and Nursing.

~ Chuck Walley, left, writes about the challenges and triumphs in single parenting an aspie teen son. Our IT expert is an IT manager at USA TODAYand he brings his valuable knowledge in that field to interviews dealing with all the new hottest Technology Trends.

  ~ Marianne Russo, right, founder and host of The Coffee Klatch on Blog Talk Radio, mom, advocate for Special Needs and has spent the past ten years researching the organic basis of anxiety and depressive disorders in children and adolescents. Educated at Adelphi University School of Business, Marianne previously worked as a freelance Court Reporter.

*Twitter (Tweetchat): http://tweetchat.com/room/tck Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 to 10 am EST

*Blog Talk Radio and Twitter: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-coffee-klatch Wednesday and Sunday 9 pm EST

*Blog: This fine group does not only Tweet or Chat...check out their inspirational posts here: http://thecoffeeklatchblog.blogspot.com/

*Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000689323812&ref=profile#!/group.php?gid=302086692737

*Twitter: http://twitter.com/thecoffeeklatch

*Links Bios, Our Blog, Event Calendar and more to http://thecoffeeklatch.com/

*Events upcoming:  http://alturl.com/vpdbz

*Guests who have joined Marianne on talk radio at The Coffee Klatch http://alturl.com/epyhx  

*Blog Talk Radio interviews and Outstanding experts listen to  anytime:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-coffee-klatch

*The Coffee Klatch Guests Daily: http://paper.li/TheCoffeeKlatch/the-coffee-klatch-guests

*A 'One of a Kind' Event:  Nov 1st, 2010 Communicate To Educate A 24 Hour International Event For Autism. See more here  The following is a link to a video Marianne made of the numerous moderators, some who gave hours of their time, to this remarkable event:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLiuhahxeGQ  

Bravo for The Coffee Klatch:

*The Coffee Klatch chosen one of the top ten on Twitter 2010.

What is NEW

The first "Your Chat" a new format on The Coffee Klatch starts Tuesday December 7th. You tell us what you want to discuss. Please post your requests on their Facebook page, on Twitter or feel free to message on Facebook or DM on Twitter if you want it kept confidential.

Any new suggestions or comments for The Coffee Klatch sessions?

Back-to-School Season Spurs Sales of Special Needs Tool~Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sept. 8, 2010 – PIDA IMP Ltd., designers of a unique sensory tool for children, is forging ahead with the increased demand for its innovative line of wearable, chewable Kid Companions fidgets.

“We’re really delighted with the momentum we have just now,” said Pierrette d’Entremont, product designer and principal owner of PIDA. “The positive product reviews, media interviews, and inquiries from all over the world have been fabulous. Then there’s the heartfelt positive response from parents and health professionals – that’s been overwhelming.”

Kid Companions is a chewable and wearable therapy accessory that is safe, stylish and effective. The chewelry is recommended by occupational therapists and parents, especially for special needs children. The Kid Companions product is ideal for children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) oral motor issues, and for youth affected by Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) who need to fidget in order to focus on tasks.

Expanding the product line this fall are cool black hearts and blue circles. In response to parents’ feedback are organic cotton safety lanyards that are durable and colorful. Items can be personalized with identification and medical information. For youth to teens, it is becoming an ideal alternative to less discreet fidget toys and chewys.

Recently, PIDA has been garnering attention and approval from distribution companies specializing in products for helping people with special needs. The company recently signed a multi-year distribution contract with DynaVox Mayer-Johnson, the world's leading provider of communication and education products for people with significant speech, language and learning disabilities. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, DynaVox will sell Kid Companions through its online store and product catalog.

“Their catalog came out in early August and features every item our company sells,” said Lorna d’Entremont, co-owner of PIDA. “That level of endorsement is a great boost, especially at this time of year, when moms, dads and other caregivers are looking for ways to help their children thrive in the school year.”

The Kid Companions innovation was designed to North American safety standards. All components are safe, non-toxic and sourced in North America. A CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) 3rd party testing certificate is sent with each order and is available on the company's website.

Contact: Pierrette d'Entremont 

Company: Pida IMP Ltd

Email: pierrette@chewelry.ca

Phone: +1 902.762.0186

Website: www.chewelry.ca

Ronald McDonald House Charities~ Helping Kids by Supporting Families

Recently Marianne Russo, creator of The Coffee Klatch, spotlighted Ronald McDonald House Charities on one of the Tweetchats.

 Her special guests were Lauren Fischer, Communications Supervisor, Clara Carner, manager of Public Relations and Marketing and Jennifer Smith, Senior Director of Ronald McDonald House.


 In Marianne’s words this non-profit organization is: “ La crème de la crème - the best of the best.”

Since 1976, when their first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia, Ronald McDonald House Charities have been dedicated to helping children, with serious illnesses or disabilities, and their families lead happier and healthier lives.


 RMHC has provided stability and resources to families overwhelmed with the financial and emotional costs of raising a sick child. They do this through three core programs - Ronald McDonald Houses, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles.


The mission and vision of RMHC tell us immediately this is one charity we should all support.
Mission: The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children.
Vision: We believe that when you change a child’s life, you change a family’s, which can change a community, and ultimately the world.


About Ronald McDonald Houses
Situated close to hospitals, there are 298 Ronald McDonald Houses in 32 countries. Ronald McDonald Houses offer families a warm, compassionate and comfortable home environment for a nominal fee. It is a place where families can be together and share experiences with others who are just like them.

For example, in Canada there are twelve Ronald McDonald Houses and in New York State there are eight. Fortunately for us, one is found in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Two of my grandchildren have had to stay at the IWK Health Centre which provides pediatric and obstetric care for children in the Maritime Provinces. This medical facility is 300 Km from our home and the Ronald McDonald House, within 5 min. walking distance from the hospital, became our home away from home.


As soon as we opened the door of this huge house we were greeted by a friendly woman who made us feel welcome. She introduced us to the other families and in a moment you felt a connection with them as they were in the same situation. The volunteers quietly went about trying to do all they could to lighten the overwhelming burden of having a sick child. Often the volunteer was tutoring a child or playing with some of the children.


 I was impressed at how clean and well organized the whole house was. We shared space in the large refrigerator, cooked our meals in the modern kitchen and ate at family sized tables while chatting with other families in a large open room. Our private bedroom was very comfortable. A small donation of around $10 was asked and you only had to leave everything as you found it by cleaning the kitchen after use, changing the sheets on the beds and thoroughly cleaning the bedroom before leaving.

On The Coffee Klatch it was pointed out that all RMHC programs are family centered. They support families and help to ease minds, heal bodies, and strengthen spirits. One example given was a great story from the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas, Texas. They have a beacon they light up at night so kids in the hospital can see where their parents are staying. The sick child feels close to his family and they actually heal faster and cope better when their family members are close by.


About the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms
The Family Rooms are located in the hospital, steps from neonatal or pediatric intensive care units. They are a place where families can rest and regroup minutes away for their sick child. Volunteers bring things like sandwiches, muffins and snacks to Family Rooms so watching over your child can be a little more comforting. Any family with a child receiving treatment in a hospital is eligible to use Ronald McDonald Family Room facilities.


The first Ronald McDonald Family Room in Canada opened its doors at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia on January 24th, 2007. The Ronald McDonald Family Room in the IWK Health Centre is an inviting area that serves as a quiet rest spot for all families at the IWK Health Centre. A home away from home - in the Health Centre. The Family Room includes four bedrooms, living room, art room, kitchen/dining area, computers and laundry facilities. You are always just steps away from your sick child.

My daughter and her newborn of 2 lb 6 ounces were at the IWK for Christmas and Santa Claus came to the neonatal care unit and  the Family Room to distribute gifts to the older sibling. At that time the family rooms were not under the Ronald McDonald banner but were very similar.

About the Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles

Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles are the newest program and were started ten years ago. There website states: Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles go directly into areas where children are medically underserved. Care Mobiles offer high-quality medical and dental care through relationships with local health care organizations and clinical service providers. The 40-foot vehicles are built specifically to deliver the pediatric health care services of the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile programs. All services offered on Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles are provided free of charge to children and their families.

How to find Ronald McDonald programs near you?

You can find RMHC Chapters, Ronald McDonald Houses, Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles or Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in 52 countries around the world by clicking here http://rmhc.org/who-we-are/chapter-search/

Who pays for the Ronald MacDonald programs?

Ronald McDonald House Charities help over 4 million children and their families a year.

McDonald's is the largest corporate donor. A lot of funding is received from owner/operators of local McDonald's restaurants. McDonald's conducts an annual fundraiser in November called McHappy Day. For the eighth year, McDonald's restaurants across the country will be donating $1 from the sale of select menu items sold on November 20 to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Since 2002, it has raised $150 million for RMHC and children's charities around the world.

Many McDonald’s restaurants have RMHC Donation Boxes displayed by cash registers and drive-thru windows. Your spare change quickly adds up; last year, $19 million was raised to help families in communities across the U.S. that helped open 15 new Ronald McDonald Houses! Small change CAN really make a big difference!

Starting August 16th, RMHC is going to be spreading the word throughout the on and offline grapevines to make sure people will drop off their nickels, dimes and quarters into an RMHC Donation Box in a McDonald's restaurants.

When you give money to Ronald McDonald House Charities® Canada 100% of your donation will go towards helping children in need and their families. RMHC is able to do this because McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited pays for a large amount of the administrative and operating costs of RMHC®.

“You play! Kids win!”, says their website.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® Canada has three annual signature events: a golf tournament and two ski challenges. The first event is a Golf Classic July 16th, 2010 at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario. The other two events are the Mont Tremblant Ski Challenge in Quebec and the Whistler Ski Challenge in British Columbia.

Other Ways to Help

*Donate toys and books

*Become a volunteer

*Donate meals and snacks

*Support RMHC on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Flickr, YouTube

*Serve on committees and boards of RMHC local chapters

Read 30 Ways to Volunteer here:

 http://rmhc.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer/30-ways-in-30-days/

It has been proven that families are stronger when they are together. The Ronald McDonald House Charities make this happen by relying on our generosity.

More information is found at http://www.rmhc.org/

For our Canadian readers click onto this site: http://www.rmhc.ca/

Have you benefitted from the Ronald McDonald House Charities?

Nova Scotia Has a Tuition Support Program for Some Special Needs Kids

Students with autism, learning disabilities and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder will continue to get public funds to go to private schools announced Education Minister Marilyn More. The minister said the program is meant to be a short-term, intensive option among the array of services for children with learning disabilities.

The four private schools provide a specialized education for students whose families feel this is their last and only option for their child with learning difficulties.

“It provides, in their minds, a safer social climate for the students. The teachers are specialized, most of the peers in their classes also have similar conditions and it just provides an option for some parents." said the Education Minister.

There are 160 students in the Tuition Support Program at four locations in the Nova Scotia — Landmark East in Wolfville, Churchill Academy in Dartmouth, Bridgeway Academy in Dartmouth and Bridgeway’s satellite location in Truro.

The program is costing almost $1.4 million this school year. About $323,000 of that is supplemental funding available to families in need. Under the program, school boards transfer the $6,600 per student they get from the province to the private school. The total tuition cost per student for one year at Bridgeway for example is $11,000.

Marilyn More said students will be limited to three years in the program, although families can apply for a fourth year if the students don’t seem ready to go to public school.

"Quite frankly, it’s difficult for my government to recognize spending public funding outside the public school system," More said.

"We feel that the inclusion of students of all abilities and challenges and needs within the public school system is the best situation for them, and we would prefer to put our focus and our funding within . . . the continuum of programs and services for students in the public forum."

During my teaching career I have heard many successful stories of students who would not have made it through Public Schools but graduated from these specialized Private Schools and went on to University or Community Colleges. Our defense was always: “Give public school teachers the student/teacher ratio and resources these private schools have and watch the results”

Source:The Chronicle Herald article written by DAVID JACKSON Provincial Reporter

Do you think, in some cases, Private Schools for Special Needs children is the right choice?
Should these private schools receive public funding?

April 8th Autism Tip- Arthur Addresses Asperger's

April is Autism Awareness Month, therefore, it is fitting that PBS chose this month to air its’ episode “When Carl Met George”. This episode’s storyline is about Asperger’s Syndrome and Friendship.

During their 13 seasons, viewers have met and followed the stories of characters with different abilities, interests and problems. This time, viewers will follow George as he gets acquainted with Carl who loves to draw trains and knows all kinds of cool facts about them! Viewers will learn that Carl has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, and that Carl sees the world a bit differently than George and many other kids. Children will be made aware of Carl’s intense sensitivity to certain things and need for order. Carl may be different but he is special and becomes his pal.


The show is followed by a live-action segment featuring kids with Asperger’s and autism. Viewers will learn about therapeutic horseback riding for kids with special needs,


To find out when Arthur is aired in your area check the following: http://pbskids.org/tvschedules/localizer.html?dest=/arthur/index.html&nola=ARUR


What other ways can children be helped to understand Special Needs children?

Holidays Ring "Hollow" For Some Special Needs Kids

Holidays and celebrations, like Easter, Thanksgiving, and birthdays, should be a happy time in families. When I think back to those days of celebration, when our children were growing up, the memories I have are not at all happy ones.

If I had known what I know now about my child’s sensory issues, we surely would have done things differently. Thirty years ago Sensory Processing  Disorder (SPD) was not talked about, not written about and certainly could not be googled, tweeted and discussed on Facebook.

[picture: my oldest, now an adult with a special child of her own...]

Being the oldest one of our family and having a huge kitchen, it always fell on my shoulders to welcome relatives and share a meal for these occasions. So this scenario has many reruns with a few different scenes and endings. However, in retrospect, the main theme was always the “Perfect Storm” for a highly sensitive child.

Let’s walk through a typical ‘special day’ of celebration. In our home, we would all rush about to get ready to attend a church service. Like was the tradition back then, going to church meant wearing your ‘Sunday Best’. To a sensitive child that meant stiff, itchy, ready to scream uncomfortable clothes and shoes!

So some sounds are hard to endure for these children. To her, the high pitched voice of the choir member singing the solos was like the screech of a nail on a blackboard. And did I mention the church bells, especially the smaller ones that ping, ding and dong during the service. Now let’s listen to the human noises that make this poor child shiver in her black patent leather shoes with the tight little straps. Coughing, sneezing, blowing noses…what torture for a sensitive child to be surrounded by such noises.

Special occasions in church come with huge, colorful , flower arrangements. To a sensitive nose the mixture of the sent of flowers, ladies’ perfumes, men’s aftershave, leather coats and burning candles all make for a nauseated feeling accompanied by an awful headache.

To this child who does not want to bring attention to herself in any circumstances, walking up the church aisle, going to communion and greeting the other church goers after the service must have been her own little crucifixion. And added to that were the photo taking sessions at home, the gift unwrapping done one by one while all the others watch, the endless questions by well meaning relatives and the requests to play the piano for the ‘happy gang’.

Finally it is time to eat. Table is nicely set, guests are seated, food is plated and begins another round of agony for the sensitive one to sit through. The oldest member of the relatives is deaf and very set in his ways. The preparation of his cup of tea is another irritation for the one sensitive to high pitched sounds. With his spoon, he mixes his sugar while all the while tapping the sides of his cup…he is deaf so the tapping changes to bagging the sides. This is the last straw for the poor child who has kept everything in for much too long, a vocal tic like the barking of a dog is heard. The table guests become all quiet and my deaf, too old to have figured it out, father-in-law says: “ Since when do you have a dog?”

Pain written on her face, she gets up and escapes to her room. With a lump in my throat, tears in my eyes and a vice-grip squeezing my heart, I try to make light of the situation. I connect to my robot mode to continue my role as host of another ‘special day’ that we should have celebrated differently---if I had only known.

For all those who understand Sensory Processing Disorder, what accommodations do you make for your special child on these special days?

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