Where would you recommend taking a disabled child for a family vacation?

She’s five years old and has a rare neurological disorder that renders her unable to walk or properly control any of her motor functions. She is always in a wheelchair stroller when we’re out. She tends to scream when excited so it can’t be someplace that’s generally quiet. She has a slightly weak immune system so the beach is out of the question right now (since the whole oil spill thing’s going on). Her immune system’s not so weak that she can’t be around people at all, but it can’t be in a closed environment where there may be many sick people, especially sick kids. It also has to be someplace where we can take the whole family (well actually, it’s just 3 of us–the mother, 17 year old daughter, 5 year old daughter).

Any ideas?
Also, we’re willing to travel in a mini-van up to 5 or 6 hours from Philadelphia.
Oh, and the child has poor cognitive skills and has some symptoms of autism so she is not good with “in-your-face” places. She likes loud places though (with lots of chatter so she can scream without being shushed)
You don’t understand. The beaches around here have a very nauseating smell. I just went to slaughter beach last week to save horseshoe crabs and it reeked of oil. Why would I take a disabled child to that kind of environment? Furthermore, the beach water has been very polluted these days. That’s why I said her immune system can’t take it. And finally, would I take her to Atlantic city, where there’s nothing but gambling, drinking, and smoking?
Also, we don’t go on cruises because of how much they contribute to pollution…And I get seasick.

School’s Out, Summer’s Here! Tips for Enjoying the Summer Months With Your Ad/hd Child

As children count down the days to the end of school, many parents with children with AD/HD and executive dysfunction start to worry about what to do during these less structured months.  Many of these children thrive on the structure of the school day, knowing what they are expected to do, and following familiar routines.  While many neurotypical kids cannot wait for the school year to end, many of my clients are ambivalent about school ending.  They want to know, “Now what will we do?” 

Here in the Northeast we are fortunate to have several quality day camps (and a few sleepover ones, too) that specialize in working with children who have attentional, and/or social difficulties.  These camps fill quickly, and can be quite expensive. Some families do not have the means or access to such experiences, so here are some tips to enjoy the summer with your kids. 

1.       Set up a daily routine and weekly structure at home.  A child who thrives on structure will not do well with a “find something go do” approach to summertime.  Post your daily schedule somewhere at home where everyone can see it and check it if they want to know what will happen next.  Have some “anchor” activities that happen every day-  One example: 

·         breakfast

·         get dressed

·         outside play

·         lunch

·         free choice fun

·         quiet time

·         dinner

·         TV

·         get ready for bed

2.       In your daily schedule, plan for outside play time.  I often hear my clients say they sat indoors all summer and played video games.  This is not good for brain or physical health. Get outside!!

3.       Create a “What to Do When I Am Bored” list with your child.  Inevitably, children will come to parents and say, “I’m bored.”  Plan ahead by sitting with your child and listing 5-10 things she can do when boredom hits.  The list should include outside and inside activities such as read a book, color/draw, play with bubbles, help mom with housework, plan a dinner menu, listen to music, etc.  This list will have much more success if your child comes up with the activities.

4.       Prepare children in advance for change in routine. For example, if one day is going to be gloriously sunny and warm and you decide it will be a great beach day, tell your child ahead of time, so he can get used to the idea and not resist when you are packed and ready to go.

5.       Explore nature.  There is a growing body of evidence that says children with AD/HD function better when they have exposure to nature and all things “green.”  Go for a nature walk, plant and tend a family garden, rent a canoe and go for a paddle, check out tide pools, or (my all time favorite) fly a kite on a windy day.

6.       Plan vacations with your child’s social, emotional and sensory needs in mind. A well planned vacation can be a relaxing way to bond as a family.  A poorly planned vacation can leave everyone feeling anxious and miserable.   For example, if your child needs a lot of active running around during the day, do not plan a road trip where he will be sitting in a car for long periods of time.  If she has sensory/tactile issues a trip to the beach with sun, sand and water may not be the best choice. 

7.       Get together a box of bin with “summer surprises” you can pull out when the kids have just run out of things to do.  These can include:  sidewalk chalk, bubble soap with cool bubble wands, new crayons and coloring books, new books, funky shoelaces to re-lace shoes, squirt guns, water balloons, etc.

8.       Kids at a loss of what to do during free choice time?  List fun activities on slips of paper and have kids pull them out of a hat.  Activities can include playing in the sprinkler, making popsicles or ice cream at home, rearranging the furniture in the bedroom, a family walk, choosing what is for dinner .  Get creative with your kids and have them write things down (that you approve of first).  This is a great way to give your child new experiences within the structure of the day.

Many of us have great memories of our own childhood carefree, unplanned summers that seemed to go on forever.  Parents hope to pass on those experiences to their children and can become disappointed when it is suggested they structure the summer as much as the school year.  The reality is: some kids just thrive on structure, are happier and more productive when they know what to expect and they will remember a happy, safe, carefree summer because someone cared enough to plan it for them.

Recycling Ideas to Share With your Child

When time nears for a child to leave the nest, most parents feel both joy and dread. Many parents make that transition gracefully with the child who is not disabled. However, parents of children with dual sensory impairments or other severe disabilities are often confronted with issues they have never before considered. Although this can be a very stressful time, there is way to help make transition smoother. Even when a child is very young there are things that families can begin to do to plan for the future.

Draw up a will, plan your estate and write a Letter of Intent.

Plan for their child’s adulthood very early on.

Get to know adults with disabilities

Find out about support options which exist in your community

Learn to advocate for services you and your child will need in the future.

Keep your connections to your community.

Help your child make connections in his community.

Give your child opportunities to contribute to h is family, his friends, and his community.

Be sure your child has the skills he needs to communicate with others.

1)The most recycled product used by consumers in the world today is the automobile. Nearly every car taken off the road is recycled. If all the cars recycled in one year were lined up, the line would circle the earth almost two times.

2)Help organize a recycling drive at your kid’s school, on your street, in your community, or in your home. It doesn’t take much to start. Be sure to separate recyclable materials into different categories like glass, paper, plastics and metals. Find out where you’re nearest recycling center is by looking in the phone book.

3)Plant a tree. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce oxygen that we need to survive.

4)Avoid using pesticides and other chemicals on your grass and yard. They are harmful to the water we drink, to kids who play on the lawn, and the animals that walk on it.

5)Hold garage sales or donate any old clothes or materials you have to charity

Another thing is to be considered, Parents are among the world’s most passionate art collectors, saving their children’s artwork until every nook and cranny is filled. But when space runs out, how do you decide what to keep, what to recycle and how to display all of those precious things.

Better Behavior gives families discipline creative options without spanking. When your child misbehaves, an appropriate disk containing different consequences related to the behavior is placed on the wheel. When your child spins the wheel, he or she is required to follow whatever consequence the arrow stops on. There are different web sites that gives you the ultimate suggestion in parenting teens, feel free to go:

http://www.abundantlifeacademy.us

http://www.abundantlifeacademy.info

http://www.troubledteens4jesus.com

It offers a wide variety of information pertaining to parenting teens in today’s society. They hope that the information presented on this site will be of some use to parents everywhere.

Parenting A Child With A Disability

There are many different types of disabilities but parents of disabled children face similar issues. Parents worry about what the future holds for their disabled child, they feel guilty for neglecting their other children, they might resent the impact that the disability has on family life and they are often under-prepared and lacking in skills required to handle things alone. Reaching out for personal and community support is a vital way to share the load and keep the family unit together and functioning.

There are so many families going through similar issues as you, so seek them out for information and support. Try joining a support group in your area, make contact with a disability organization or child health center. Contact your local school or government department and see if they can advise you on resources that may be available to you and your family.

Often the first thing to suffer in families with disabled children is the couple relationship. Make it a priority to spend time alone with your partner. If you are a sole-parent then take some time out away from the family. Make use of respite care services, friends and relatives, so that the family as a whole can take a break from caring.

Siblings of disabled children also need special attention. Try to find quality one-on-one time with these children. Let them know that they are just as important and always show your appreciation for the things they do and the contribution they make to the family unit.

Encourage siblings of children with disabilities to link up with other children in similar situations. Camps and activities organized by disability organizations are great places for siblings to interact with similar families and provide a wonderful opportunity for discussion and sharing of experiences.

Is there any companies that sit for parents who has a disable child, while the parent goes on vacation 7 days?

She has be taking care of her disable and needs a rest are there ang programs that help low income families with this.

Are You Looking for a Summer Camp for Your Child With Special Needs?

Are you looking for a summer camp for your child with special needs? Depending on your particular circumstances and location, you have numerous options and opportunities available for your child to enjoy a safe, fun and rewarding camp experience this year.

Let’s say you live in southern California and your child has autism, ADD, ADHD or another learning disability. How about signing them up for a beach camp or surf camp? Camp at the beach is so much fun and can help your child build self-confidence, esteem and lifelong water safety skills. Aloha Beach Camp in Los Angeles and Paskowitz Surf Camp in Orange County are two camps you might consider.

If your child has cancer, contact Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times. This program has an outstanding reputation and you can’t go wrong sending your child there. According to the camp’s website, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times “provides cost-free, medically supported camps for children with cancer and their families” and is dedicated to helping children with cancer recapture hope, enthusiasm, and love of life in a medically and psychologically safe environment created especially for them.

What if your child has special needs other than those discussed above? According to Theresa Torrone, a camp director in Los Angeles and a volunteer for the American Camp Association (ACA), “There is certainly a camp to serve them. Children with diabetes, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, speech impairment, hearing impairments, blood disorders and almost any other special need can find a suitable summer camp where they’ll be safe, have fun, make new friends, have a rewarding summer experience and become the proverbial “‘happy camper.’”

Torrone emphasizes that the volunteers who work for the ACA are caring, committed professionals who love sharing their knowledge and experience to help your child with special needs find the right camp for you.

She suggests visiting the ACA’s website at http://acacamps.com to conduct a free online search to find a camp to meet your needs, or calling ACA’s Indiana headquarters at 765-342-8456 for a free referral.

Last but not least, you might consider visiting a website called Very Special Camps (http://veryspecialcamps.com) for more information on special needs summer camps and programs.

Copyright Eric Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.