I got a message yesterday from one of my friends on facebook.

Dan Reinhold from WAHumor.com is raising money for Autism. Dan is doing the first annual “Wonderful WAHumor Giveaway for Autism Research”.

Dan is a work at home Dad (which is cool ). One of his kids has Autism, and so this is an issue very close to his heart. Every year (for the last 9) they have participated in the annual Greater Boston, Massachusetts Walk for Autism Research.

This year he wants to raise $5000.00 to bring to the Walk, so he has teamed up with some of his Internet Marketing friend to provide this offer.

For this week only and for a cash donation of $25, Dan is giving you 7 Great Products. You can check out all the details here.

I have to say, some of the people he has contributing with products are some of the best in the industry. Lynn Terry, Kelly McCausey, Harvey Segal just to name a few.

If you should feel like donating fifty bucks, he’s bumping up the giveaway even more. Check it out at the Wonderful WAHumor Giveaway for Autim Research

Why don’t you take a few minutes to make a donation and get some cool stuff, or spread the word with a blog post or email your list. Or hey do both

Thanks for helping out.

Expect the Best,

Popularity: 43% [?]

Share This

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Please help spread the word. 

Awareness is key in preventing this horrific disability.  I work with these children everyday and it breaks my heart to see the struggles they will go through during their lives.

FASD is 100% preventable.

Please keep these children and families in your thoughts and prayers today.

Hugs,

Heather

FASworld is an international alliance of parents and professionals who do not want to see any more children, teenagers and adults struggle with birth defects caused when their mothers drank alcohol in pregnancy. Co-founded by volunteers in Toronto, Canada, and Tucson, Arizona, it has resulted in the creation of the Canadian organization, FASworld Canada, which continues to work with the FAS Community Resource Center in Tucson to coordinate work in worldwide awareness.

Individuals struggling with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders may be diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) — formerly known as Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) — Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD), Alcohol-Related Birth Injury (ARBI) or Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS). (In New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the world, these conditions are spelled, “Foetal Alcohol Syndrome,” etc.).

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. The term FASD is not intended for use as a clinical diagnosis.

Psychologists and psychiatrists often assess individuals with FAS disorders as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder or Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) — but are often unaware that the real problem is permanent neurological damage caused by prenatal alcohol.

People with prenatal alcohol exposure have a high risk of mental disabilities, learning disabilities, early school drop-out, juvenile delinquency, trouble with the law, alcoholism, drug addiction, unemployment, homelessness, poverty, incarceration, and mental illness. As many as half of all adults with some form of FASD have depression and a significant percentage of those have attempted suicide. With early diagnosis and treatment, many of these “secondary disabilities” could be prevented.

[tags]fas, fasd, prevention, children, fetal alcohol, awareness, arnd[/tags]

Popularity: 62% [?]

Share This

Many children deal with different types of anxiety.  These fears and phobias can be so real and intense that they can immobilize the child.

In part one we will look at the different kinds of anxieties, and what some of there symptoms are.  Part two will discuss ways that we can help our children deal with these disorders.

I know this list does not cover ever know type of anxiety disorder.  It does however touch on seven of the biggest.

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder - The child experiences an unrealistic worry about almost anything and everything they encounter. The Children’s Hospital Boston explained it as “Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is defined as chronic, excessive worry and fear that seems to have no real cause. Children or adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder often worry a lot about things such as future events, past behaviors, social acceptance, family matters, their personal abilities, and/or school performance.”
2. Separation Anxiety - This is typically found in younger children.  They are unwilling or very apprehensive to be separated from significant people in their lives such as parents, grand parents, an older brother/ sister.  These children can become very clingy.  They may also experience things like depression or being sad.
3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - After being part of or witnessing a traumatic event such as sexual abuse, violence or physical abuse, natural disasters like earthquake or hurricane, the child may experience extreme feelings of fear and helplessness.  These feeling are re-occurring and can come in the form of thoughts, images, and nightmares.
4. Panic Disorders - This is when a child is continually experiencing recurring panic attacks.  These panic attacks come on unexpectedly and are defined as sudden episodes of intense fear and/or discomfort.  Symptoms may include rapid heart beat, sweating, shortness of breath, a feeling of choking, feelings of lightheadedness or being dizzy, and nausea.
5. Phobias - Child phobias are intense and ongoing fears of certain situations and things.  For instance a fear of spiders, thunder and lightning, fear of water or drowning.  These intense feeling of fear and dread may seem unreasonable to an onlooker, but to the child experiencing the phobia, they are very real.
6. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - Is when a child will repeat the same behaviours without being able to control the urge to do so (compulsion).  Or think  the same thoughts or images even though these thoughts are unwanted, and they try not too (obsession).  An example would be checking to make sure the door is locked at night, every night many times over and then some times even getting up again to check. 
7. Social Anxiety Disorders - This is an intense fear of coming into contact with certain people or groups of people.  It may be certain social interaction and settings that cause these fears.  They may try to avoid the situation all together as much as possible.

Even though these fears don’t seem realistic to parents, teachers, friends or anyone, to that child they are very real.  These anxieties can be crippling because they are so intense for the child.

In part 2, we will go further into what can be done to help the child cope with their anxieties and try to function on a day to day basis.   

[tags]childhood disorders, anxiety, phobias, child anxiety, OCD, panic attack, panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, child trauma, child anxiety disorder[/tags]

Popularity: 76% [?]

Share This

Welcome

These days raising regular, healthy, well-adjusted children can be a challenge. Throw a learning disability or physical handicap in the mix - Well let’s just say you better hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Raising Special Needs Children can be the most frustrating, challenging and rewarding job there is, and that can all happen in one afternoon.

You are the Parent of a Special Needs Child, that’s why you’re here.   You’re looking for information to help you succeed at this enormous task that is in front of you.  Parenting your Special Needs Child.  Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.

10 Things to Start Doing Today

• Remember that you are working with a disability.  Stop and ask yourself is it that my child won’t do ________or that he can’t.
• Get Information. Find out as much as you can about the disability your child has.  Once you think you know enough, keep learning and reading more.
• Learn how to be an advocate for your child.  You may need to discuss programming options with the school.  You may have foster children in your care and need to advocate with Children’s Services.  You may even need to talk to the Brownie Leader about the needs of your child.  Don’t be afraid to do this.  It has been my experience that people do generally want to help you.
• Make yourself a “support network”. When you have had an awful day with the kids and just need someone to talk to, where do you go?  It is important to have people that you can talk to that know what you are going through, and have been through the same thing.
• Join a special needs support group or discussion forum for ld (Some are listed in the links section of this site).
• Take time to love your child and admire the things they can do. Enjoy each day with them, and celebrate even the smallest victory they have.
• Remember that you can’t give your best to your children if your running on empty.   Make sure you are getting adequate sleep and proper nutrition and exercise.   Problems can sometimes seems much bigger than they actually are if you’re “on empty”.
• Take time for yourself at least once each week.  Have a nice bath, read a book, light some scented candles.   Do whatever you do to relax.
• Have a “Date night” at least twice each month.  Get dressed up and go out for an evening alone with your partner.
• It is absolutely necessary to laugh everyday. I mean the can’t stop belly kind of laugh!  I’m sure someone has done a study that I could quote, but laughing is good for your brain and your heart.

 

Popularity: 56% [?]

Share This