For several years, I’ve been trying to get an accessible school bus for my child to attend school. It’s been a struggle and a headache that I couldn’t seem to get rid of. I’m proud to say, my headache is just about gone. Finally the school district has agreed to provide my child with an accessible school bus starting next September. As I write this, I picture my readers sending me that high five through the screen of my laptop. Yeh! A battle won!
When it comes to getting services for a child with disabilities, it’s no easy task. We constantly hear about hands being tied, case loads being too high and funds not being there. I’m not a mother that can view those responses as acceptable. Giving up is not an option when my child still needs the support. So, if you are struggling with an issue involving school or similar services for your child, I’ve decided to share some tips on how to get the right people to listen. Read the rest of this entry »
Are you thinking about your child’s options for summer? Maybe you’re considering camp this year. Summer camps for children with disabilities can vary a great deal. Depending on the child’s needs and level of care required, a parent may have many or few options. Like anything special needs related, it often has to be planned out early and sometimes families have to seek out funding for these programs. Parents might be looking for a camp that focuses mainly on inclusive play with peers, while others look for fun, social and therapy combined.
Researching summer camps can be aggravating for parents. There are lists all over the Internet for summer camps but many don’t offer programs for children with disabilities or special needs. Some camps have to be booked much earlier and you may already be too late. Below are a few BC summer camp options to help in your search. While I cannot recommend any specifically, I hope you will find this list helpful. Low vision users, please click on the camp name to link to their site. Read the rest of this entry »
IPads/IPhones/IPods can still have challenges for toddlers and children, youth or adults with or without disabilities. Here are some possible solutions to common problems: (Low vision readers, please click on the product name for links.)
The Home Button:
Having a challenge keeping your child focused on one App? Do they constantly hit the home button only to need your assistance after? Do they use the IPad for communication but keep exiting the program in search of something more interesting? I have recently heard of some options that might help. Check out Paper Clip Robots – BubCap Pro. The thin self-adhering aluminum tabs can be used on IPads/IPhones/IPods. It covers over the home button making it difficult for young children to constantly exit apps. The home button can still be used with a much firmer press. Of all the types of BubCaps on this site, the aluminum “Pro” works the best. Read the rest of this entry »
I had one of those moments recently. You know, the ones that make you think you are in the right place at the right time. I was having my post operation appointment. Since my surgery could not be done locally, my follow up with the surgeon was far from home – about 150 kms or more. I felt somewhat burnt out when I arrived. For a moment, I wondered if anyone would notice if I snuck into a treatment room and took a nap. I decided that probably wasn’t the best option. So I tried to act as normal as possible. The waiting room was full with the usual suspects, those wanting to hear results, those terrified of potential surgery, and those unsure what’s actually wrong with them. There were the supporting spouses, the solo troopers, the repeat patients and the odd child in tow.
I should probably spare you this story, but nahhh. It’s kind of comical and somewhat a success. If you read my posts you already know that I recently had surgery on my ankle. You also know that my daughter is a wheelchair user. This has made for some challenges for us in the last month since my surgery. I decided to test the boundaries and take her to a movie on Easter Sunday. So here’s the rundown of our movie mission to see “Dr. Suess’ The Lorax.”
Now on one crutch, I rushed about the house to get equipment, lunches and extra everything in case of accidents or emergencies in order. Many times I showed Callie my Easter bunny hop when my wrist got sore and I chose to abandon the use of my crutch. Of course this provided her with great entertainment. Mommy looked funny jumping up and down on one leg. I thought this movie idea would be a nice thing for her Dad to experience with her. I also had a hidden agenda that he could help take her in and out of the vehicle so the plan was in motion. Read the rest of this entry »
Children with disabilities often have difficulty keeping up with the school ciriculum. Health, motor skills, cognitive abilities, support, equipment, etc., influence how well a child can learn. The equipment required to make that happen can be quite extensive. A child with low vision for example may require their school work to be magnified with equipment such as a Flipper, low vision keyboard, zoom-text, specialized software, etc. A child with motor difficulties may require a touch monitor, specialized pointers, pen grips and more. Parents can find it challenging to support their childs learning at home because they don’t have all of this specialized equipment. Thankfully, technological innovations have helped to bridge that gap and make learning easier and engaging for children with disabilities.
The IPad serves as a great educational tool for children with or without disabilities. Though the IPad is not in everyone’s budget, it is much cheaper than the alternatives and provides a lot of bang for the buck. Some children with special needs may still require assistance with the IPad’s swipe or touch and drag functions. I will be doing several posts on IPad pros and cons for children with disabilities and my App reviews. Here are a few educational and entertaining Apps I think are worth checking out.
Autism Express teaches emotions to children through funny faces and sounds. This app is also free.
Monkey Math School Sunshine is fun and educational for young children to learn basic math, addition, subtraction, numerical order, etc. It provides the child feedback and has a reward system. Good contrasts in colours for children with vision impairment. This App has touch or touch and drag functions. Support may be required for a child with motor difficulties however, it is easy to navigate.
Teach Me offers a variety of Apps for different ages. This is the app is for the first grade. It’s pages offer fairly good contrast for the visually impaired. The text is large but in some areas should be darker. The exercises are great using touch. There are number and spelling exercises that require the child to use their finger or stylus as a pencil for writing numbers or letters. It has a reward and tracking system.
Kids Magic Draw has several options for children to colour pictures and it’s free. It’s helpful in teaching a child fine motor skills such as using their pointer finger, grasping a stylus pen, touch and drag, etc.
Sentence Builder is designed to help children learn to form sentences. This is a good app for children without disabilities however, in my opinion this may not be the best educational app for children with special needs. I did not find it to be very user friendly to a child with motor impairments and it can be visually limiting.
Preposition Builder teaches children to understand prepositions and their placement in sentences. This App is easy to use however, more expensive. The pictures are fairly good for low vision users. The text is clear and it’s a touch and drag function.
Talking Tom Cat 2 a free entertaining app. It definitely inspires some giggles and serves a different purpose also. Talking Tom mimics what you say. This could be a good teaching tool encouraging non-verbal children to make sounds or children with limited communication to say words.
It’s been one month since my surgery and it’s been interesting. I’ve scrambled in many ways to function with minimal mobility and still care for my child who has a disability. My respite help has been unpredictable. Either I have a lot or none at all. This led to many challenges. But, I have survived – so far.
My surgery hindered me in another way that was unexpected. If you’ve read my past posts on Rick Hansen and his Global Accessibility Map, you would know I’m a strong believer in what Mr. Hansen and his foundation do. The Global Accessibility Map is particularly of interest to me and close to my heart. I was excited when I heard he was nearby recently with the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay. I hoped I would get the chance to introduce myself and have what probably would have been a very brief chat given his schedule. Unfortunately, my current situation of mobility and lack of respite support didn’t allow me the opportunity to go. As disappointing as this is for me, I like to think positive and believe the time will come one day.
Now for the good news. I was finally able to complete one of my stories and a chapter of my novel. For anyone who is unaware, I write children’s books that focus on the creating awareness and inclusion for children with disabilities. In all the chaos of my post surgery challenges, I managed to meet the deadline to submit one story and an excerpt from my novel. Now I just have to cross my fingers they’re accepted.
So in conclusion, I am still on the mend with a few extra bumps and bruises. I may not be able to do as much as I would like, but it will all come in time. This period of having to put my feet up gives me time to reflect, envision and write. I hope you get to relax and do the same - but skip the surgery and do it just because.
If someone was to ask me “What is the one difference in raising a child with disabilities?” I would have to say that I’m always fighting for my child needs. There is never a time where I’m not being an advocate for her. I fight for her medical concerns, need for therapies, funding, equipment, accessibility, etc. For parents of children without disabilities, these things aren’t usually a concern.
Right now I’m fighting for my child to have accessible transportation to school. This battle has been building for a long time and I’m reaching my point of “That’s it, I’ve had enough.” By that I mean my patience has run out and I’m bringing in reinforcements. Prior to enrolling my child in her school, I was assured there would be an accessible school bus available for her. Years have passed and still no bus. I find myself questioning if the School District doesn’t value my child’s education the same as other children. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve been having trouble lately sitting down to write. Since my surgery, I’ve felt nothing but exhaustion. I think some of that has been from thinking about things I didn’t normally have to. I’ve been used to routine and suddenly that’s changed. Making the adjustment into using crutches or a wheelchair has been mind boggling. For example, I can’t cook on crutches very well so I use the wheelchair. My problem then becomes how do I reach the stove knobs or drain my pasta, etc. In the wheelchair, I have ongoing issues of not being able to get close enough to what I need to. On crutches, I can’t carry anything and a simple task of reaching to close the door becomes a balancing nightmare.
Normally when I write, my environment has to be quiet. In this scenario, it’s my mind that I can’t quiet. I’m overflowing with questions each day. How I do get my child to school. How will I bathe her? What’s the easiest way to make meals? How will I lift her into bed? Perhaps my situation is a bit unique with both myself and my child using wheelchairs. I know other mothers who are wheelchair users that have children. I don’t know any whose children also use a wheelchair. If I did, I would certainly be picking their brain for advice. Thankfully, I was able to get some extra respite support during this time and some help from neighbours. I don’t think I could have managed without it.
I feel guilty discussing my latest mobility challenges when mine are only temporary. So I’ll conclude this post with the utmost respect for all those who deal with these challenges on a daily basis.
For years I have been a diehard fan of Survivor. Admittedly it has tapered off but it’s interesting to watch the dynamics of people from different walks of life, communing in surroundings unfamiliar. As the season goes on, I always find myself routing for the nice guy or girl that works hard, plays strategic, respectful and smart. I cheer them on hoping they’ll conquer all. Still there is always a villain. The person you cannot stand. The very thought of them potentially winning the grand prize and title of “Soul Survivor” would send a feeling of disgust to your core. This week’s episode revealed the person that I would least like to win and it angered me so much I wanted to reach through the screen and cuff him upside the head. Read the rest of this entry »
