Raising a Child With Cerebral Palsy: Tips For First-Time Parents

When my youngest son was diagnosed with Autism it was not a surprise to me. Still, getting that diagnosis from the doctor- that I knew in my heart was coming- did not make it any easier to be on the receiving end of the doctor’s words. My son was already enrolled in therapies due to … Read more

Autism And The Special Olympics: Our Family’s Journey

It took a while to find the perfect sport for Lucas to participate in. He tried football but would meltdown every time the team intercepted the ball because, no matter how many times we explained the rules, he was convinced they were cheating by taking the ball. Soccer games were spent running around the edges … Read more

How To Help Your Child With Special Needs Develop Play Skills

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PlayWithPlaymobil #CollectiveBias Did you know that play doesn’t come naturally for all children? Some children, especially those with developmental disabilities and specifically those on the Autism Spectrum, may find play challenging (especially pretend play). In fact, one of … Read more

Developmental Differences Resource Fair In Chicago

Thanks to the Neighborhood Parents Network for sponsoring this post. As a special needs parent I feel like resources that are available for my child, or our family, are generally not promoted that well. I typically find out about things from other parents or after a lot of research. I always wished there was an … Read more

Helping Children Who Have Developmental Disabilities Learn How To Play

Thanks to Hasbro for sponsoring this post and creating this amazing resource for families. The importance of play is something I feel passionately about, and something I’ve written about numerous times before here on the blog. Play helps children develop a number of skills such as learning to cope with their emotions, learning to share, … Read more

An Awesome Program For Special Needs Families

Thanks to ABLEnow for sponsoring this post. In December of 2011, my youngest son, Lucas, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It came as no surprise to me since there were numerous red flags that had caused me to seek an Autism diagnosis in the first place, the most alarming of which was the loss … Read more

Sensory-Friendly Gift Ideas

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and includes affiliate links. When my boys were first diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder I spent hours searching for the best items that would help them regulate their little bodies. Now years later, we’ve tried a number of things- some we’ve loved and some they didn’t really use. Today … Read more