Dena

When it comes to after school programs, one typically thinks of the YMCA or programs held in schools that offer the usual activities:  homework help, arts and crafts, movies, games, and on nice days, possibly a trip to the playground or a walk outside.  But if you dig a bit deeper into the world of after school, you can find some alternate and unique programs for your child.

[UPDATED: July 18, 2012]

Preparing your child for back to school should be simple.  Buy them some clothes, let them pick out a cool new backpack, and the best part of all – shop for new school supplies (I loved my Trapper Keeper back in the day). But as a parent of special needs children, feelings of joy and anticipation of successes in the new school year can sometimes be replaced with anxiety.  Have they regressed over the summer? How they will function socially with a new teacher and different classmates?

[UPDATED: July 18, 2012]

What do you like most about Facebook?  Reconnecting with friends you haven’t seen in years, the ability to spy on your old boyfriend’s Wall (not that I ever did that or anything), or that browsing through Facebook can give you access to so much information? As a mommy of two special needs children, Facebook has become a wonderful source of info and resources. Many of the following FB pages also have corresponding websites, however, “liking” them will result in the information being sent directly to you, instead of you having to visit all the websites to obtain it.  For most of these pages, I get updates almost daily on anything from new therapies, special needs events, activities, tips, new research, etc.   Also, because both of my boys are diagnosed with ASD, I am a big fan of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) page, the Autism Spectrum Quarterly Magazine page, as well as the Autism Speaks page.  However, as “special needs’ covers such a variety of diagnoses and abilities, I am including my favorite pages so all parents of special needs children can benefit from them.