Monday, February 28, 2011

Click, Read & Be Merry

"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson


I've compiled an incomplete list of resources for parents of children with special needs and/or disabilities, limited to the United States - sorry overseas BlogFans. If you know of any other worthwhile links or resources, let me know, and I'll happily add them on.

Rehab Equipment Exchange This national network is a FREE service to facilitate the exchange and transfer of used rehabilitation equipment. Individuals can use the website to buy, sell, or donate used rehab items of many types, including wheelchairs, pediatric equipment, mobility aids, ADL (Activities of Daily Living) aids, communication devices, assistive technology, and exercise equipment.

PipSqueakers Squeaky shoes for babies with vision and mobility disabilities

Different Roads to Learning Products and programs designed to support the Autism Community

The Autism Superstore Affordable developmental toys and educational items

Seedlings Free and low-cost braille childrens books

National Association for Down Syndrome Ensuring all persons with Down Syndrome have the opportunity to achieve their potential in all aspects of community life

National Down Syndrome Society National advocate for the value, acceptance, and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome

The Arc Promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

ASD Hope Help, Options & Parent Empowerment

Angel Food Ministries Non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing food relief and financial support

HealthWell Foundation Non-profit organization committed to addressing the needs of individuals with insurance who can not afford their copayments, coinsurance, and premiums for important medical treatments.

Patient Access Network Providing financial assistance to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses

Patient Advocate Foundation Providing mediation and arbitration services to patients to remove obstacles to healthcare including medical debt crisis, insurance access issues and employment issues for patients with chronic, debilitating and life-threatening illnesses

Partnership for Prescription Assistance Helps patients without prescription drug coverage get the medications they need for free or low-cost

Co-Pay Relief Provides direct financial support to insured patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries

Special Olympics Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship

American Council of the Blind Information and referral on all aspects of blindness, scholarship assistance, public awareness and training, advocacy

Beginnings For parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing

Hands & Voices Supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them

Lifeprint American Sign Language resource site

Raising a Sensory Smart Child Helping your child with sensory processing issues

Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation Expanding knowledge, fostering awareness and promoting recognition of Sensory Processing Disorder

Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders Advancing the identification, prevention, and treatment of developmental and learning disorders.

NICHCY National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

United Healthcare Children's Foundation Provides financial assistance toward the family's share of the cost of medical services


The Morgan Project Making opportunities reality granting assistance nationwide

National Autism Association Responding to the most urgent needs of the autism community, providing real help and hope so that all affected can reach their full potential. Offers one time grant through Helping Hands to pay for tuition, medication, evaluations or testing

Disabled Children's Relief Fund Provides disabled children assistance to obtain wheelchairs, orthopedic braces, walkers, lifts, hearing aids, eyeglasses, medical equipment, physical therapy and surgery

Queen of Hearts Foundation Helping children gain independence from disability caused by premature birth and brain trauma, such as cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus

eSpecial Needs One stop shop for adaptive equipment, rehab equipment, and therapy solutions for children and adults with special needs.

Ehlers Danlos National Foundation Overview, support and resources

Muscular Dystrophy Association Advocacy, clinics, support groups and camps for children and families dealing with a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Apples to Apples

Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage.

That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan-- that equals 6 1/2 hours).

Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day.

However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.

LET'S SEE....

That's $585 X 180= $105,300

per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).

What about those special

education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an

hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year.


Wait a minute -- there's something wrong here! There sure is!


The average teacher's salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days

= $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student--a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids! WHAT A DEAL!!!!


Sunday, February 20, 2011

Hell on Wheels

Well, the title pretty much says it all: My kids have discovered the wheel. The Hubbin' has been diligently teaching Cecilia how to roller skate. She's getting to be pretty good, and spent Saturday morning (very slowly) skating backwards!

The Hubbin' and Sissy ham it up!

Flying Solo


Lucas, of course, wants nothing to do with skating. He feels that if God had wanted him on wheels, he would have been born with them on his feet. He did, however, get a sweet new walker. It's a "gator" posterior pediatric walker, made by SnugSeat. And it's AWESOME. Clearly, he's pretty chuffed with it, too.
Safe and sturdy, and not attached at the feet - the way wheels were meant to be!

Cherry red, tricked out wheels, little silver bell - OH YEAH!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Schooled

While sitting at the dinner table, telling each other jokes:

Saki:
Knock Knock
Cecilia: Who's there?
Saki: Little old lady.
Cecilia: Little old lady who?
Saki: I didn't know you could yodel!
Cecilia: . . .That wasn't even funny
Saki: Okay, then. Knock knock
Cecilia: Who's there?
Saki: Banana!
Cecilia: Banana who?
Saki: Knock knock!
Cecilia, sighing: Who's there?
Saki: Banana!
Cecilia: I know this one already. That one isn't funny, either.