When the ABC sitcom Speechless premiers September 21, 2016, viewers will see a different kind of sitcom family. Minnie Driver plays Maya, the mother of three kids, one of which is a special needs child confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak. It has been over 25 years since a star in a TV show emphasized the life of a special needs child. Life Goes On (1989-1993) had Chris Burke as Corky, a young boy with Down syndrome. Speechless has Micah Fowler as JJ, a young boy with cerebral palsy. Driver's character does everything in her power to make sure her kids have a "normal" life and goes out of her way to create a positive environment for JJ, often to the extent of overdoing her attention to him and his needs and possibly giving less attention to her other two children. Speaking to the media at the recent Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour, Driver explained, "You know, when I read this, it is a high degree of difficulty to pull this particular character off, because she's a lot. And someone said that "Speechless" refers to JJ, the character's nonverbal situation, but also [my character of] Maya renders people speechless with the stuff that she says. I think I understand her. I'm a mother. All mothers fight hard for their children. To have a child with special needs, you have to fight so much harder, from everything that I learned. So yeah, I was up for the challenge."...

'Speechless' sitcom depicts a family with a special needs child, emphasizing the mother's fight for a 'normal' life for him.

'Speechless' Series Focuses on Special Needs

When the ABC sitcom Speechless premiers September 21, 2016, viewers will see a different kind of sitcom family. Minnie Driver plays Maya, the mother of three kids, one of which is a special needs child confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak. It has been over 25 years since a star in a TV show emphasized the life of a special needs child. Life Goes On (1989-1993) had Chris Burke as Corky, a young boy with Down syndrome. Speechless has Micah Fowler as JJ, a young boy with cerebral palsy. Driver's character does everything in her power to make sure her kids have a "normal" life and goes out of her way to create a positive environment for JJ, often to the extent of overdoing her attention to him and his needs and possibly giving less attention to her other two children. Speaking to the media at the recent Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour, Driver explained, "You know, when I read this, it is a high degree of difficulty to pull this particular character off, because she's a lot. And someone said that "Speechless" refers to JJ, the character's nonverbal situation, but also [my character of] Maya renders people speechless with the stuff that she says. I think I understand her. I'm a mother. All mothers fight hard for their children. To have a child with special needs, you have to fight so much harder, from everything that I learned. So yeah, I was up for the challenge."...

'Speechless' sitcom depicts a family with a special needs child, emphasizing the mother's fight for a 'normal' life for him.

We've had many sitcoms that have taken us back in time. The Goldbergs is the newest one that relives the days before mini-cameras, iPods, iPads, iPhones, and everything high tech, that are so much a part of our lives today. The 1980s was the cusp of the techno revolution. Life was a bit simpler then, movies were tamer, and families were closer. The Goldbergs is such a family. Well, almost. This sitcom is actually based on a real family. Adam F. Goldberg is an Executive Producer who came up with the idea of drawing on his own family as the basis for a new show. Of course, there are some slight changes, like making one of his brothers, Eric, into a sister, Erica on the show. Young Sean Giambrone plays the youngest member of the family (Adam) who records everything with his "portable" video camera. This thing is like a giant boombox. Sean told the Television Critics Association members, "I actually thought the video camera was kind of cool, but it didn't seem very effective because of how big it was. It wasn't really portable." This is a little kid who has grown up with video cameras that fit in the palm of his hand, and in the show he is schlepping around a big video camera circa 1980s. Adam F. Goldberg, who based the young videographer on himself, said, "You know, I was either ignored because I was the youngest, so they either completely ignored me, or it...

The Goldbergs, a retro sitcom about a 1980s family, inspired by the real-life experiences of producer Adam F. Goldberg, premieres on ABC.

The Goldbergs to Premier on ABC

We've had many sitcoms that have taken us back in time. The Goldbergs is the newest one that relives the days before mini-cameras, iPods, iPads, iPhones, and everything high tech, that are so much a part of our lives today. The 1980s was the cusp of the techno revolution. Life was a bit simpler then, movies were tamer, and families were closer. The Goldbergs is such a family. Well, almost. This sitcom is actually based on a real family. Adam F. Goldberg is an Executive Producer who came up with the idea of drawing on his own family as the basis for a new show. Of course, there are some slight changes, like making one of his brothers, Eric, into a sister, Erica on the show.  Young Sean Giambrone plays the youngest member of the family (Adam) who records everything with his "portable" video camera. This thing is like a giant boombox. Sean told the Television Critics Association members, "I actually thought the video camera was kind of cool, but it didn't seem very effective because of how big it was. It wasn't really portable." This is a little kid who has grown up with video cameras that fit in the palm of his hand, and in the show he is schlepping around a big video camera circa 1980s. Adam F. Goldberg, who based the young videographer on himself, said, "You know, I was either ignored because I was the youngest, so they either completely ignored me, or it...

The Goldbergs, a retro sitcom about a 1980s family, inspired by the real-life experiences of producer Adam F. Goldberg, premieres on ABC.

The Goldbergs to Premier on ABC

The hit ABC Family show Bunheads is popular with viewers of all ages. Recently Bailey Buntain who plays Ginny, one of the four main "bunheads" on the show, spoke with a few journalists. I asked Bailey about the combination of ballet and jazz dance numbers in the show and whether she thought the ballet was more comfortable for her. "I actually was trained equally; my core training was in ballet, jazz, and tap," she told me. "Much like Ginny, my body type — I'm really short — always lent itself better to the jazz and tap style so I find all the dances pretty equally challenging. I've had my favorite that's for sure. My favorite dance number that we ever dis is actually in the finale, and so I'm so excited to see how that one turns out." The young actors have to play out their dramatic storylines — and often some humorous ones as well — and I was curious whether she had any input into her character's actions. She replied, "I don't really have a big say in it and I don't know if I would want a say in it. I don't know if I want that responsibility! I love everything that the writers do and it surprises me, the things that they do, but I always understand the series of events that lead to it." When asked whether she and her character are similar, Bailey surprised me a little. "I am similar to Ginny," she confided....

Bailey Buntain from 'Bunheads' discussed her dance background, character similarities, and off-set friendships with co-stars.

Bailey Buntain Talks about Bunheads

The hit ABC Family show Bunheads is popular with viewers of all ages. Recently Bailey Buntain who plays Ginny, one of the four main "bunheads" on the show, spoke with a few journalists. I asked Bailey about the combination of ballet and jazz dance numbers in the show and whether she thought the ballet was more comfortable for her. "I actually was trained equally; my core training was in ballet, jazz, and tap," she told me. "Much like Ginny, my body type — I'm really short — always lent itself better to the jazz and tap style so I find all the dances pretty equally challenging. I've had my favorite that's for sure. My favorite dance number that we ever dis is actually in the finale, and so I'm so excited to see how that one turns out." The young actors have to play out their dramatic storylines — and often some humorous ones as well — and I was curious whether she had any input into her character's actions. She replied, "I don't really have a big say in it and I don't know if I would want a say in it. I don't know if I want that responsibility! I love everything that the writers do and it surprises me, the things that they do, but I always understand the series of events that lead to it." When asked whether she and her character are similar, Bailey surprised me a little. "I am similar to Ginny," she confided....

Ultra-accessible family fun park Morgan's Wonderland is teaming up with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EMHE) to build a new home for a wounded warrior and his family in San Antonio, TX. According to a joint press release, the deserving recipient of this new home will be Army SSgt. Shilo Harris, who was critically injured in Iraq when the truck he was riding in struck an IED. Even though he suffered burns on over 40 percent of his body, Harris focused his concern on the safety of his men before allowing himself to be treated. Over the last five years, Harris and his wife, Kathreyn, have worked to help other wounded veterans through the process of rehabilitation and recovery. Despite Harris's constant suffering, he motivates others who have been similarly affected. The Harris family's current home is a constant reminder of the horrible injuries this hero sustained while fighting for his country. The house insufficiently shields Harris from dust and heat and his family has been unable to make it comfortable enough to alleviate his pain. Now, for the first time in nine seasons on the air, EMHE has selected a nonprofit organization to coordinate the project of building the Harris family a new home. Morgan's Wonderland founder Gordon Hartman was a successful builder before shifting his focus to developing the first completely accessible theme park of its kind. Hartman will use his three decades of construction experience to coordinate hundreds of craftsmen and community volunteers and assemble a team...

Morgan's Wonderland and EMHE team up to build a new home for injured veteran Shilo Harris, airing on ABC as a special.

Morgan&#8217;s Wonderland to Team up with EMHE

Ultra-accessible family fun park Morgan's Wonderland is teaming up with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EMHE) to build a new home for a wounded warrior and his family in San Antonio, TX. According to a joint press release, the deserving recipient of this new home will be Army SSgt. Shilo Harris, who was critically injured in Iraq when the truck he was riding in struck an IED. Even though he suffered burns on over 40 percent of his body, Harris focused his concern on the safety of his men before allowing himself to be treated. Over the last five years, Harris and his wife, Kathreyn, have worked to help other wounded veterans through the process of rehabilitation and recovery. Despite Harris's constant suffering, he motivates others who have been similarly affected. The Harris family's current home is a constant reminder of the horrible injuries this hero sustained while fighting for his country. The house insufficiently shields Harris from dust and heat and his family has been unable to make it comfortable enough to alleviate his pain. Now, for the first time in nine seasons on the air, EMHE has selected a nonprofit organization to coordinate the project of building the Harris family a new home.  Morgan's Wonderland founder Gordon Hartman was a successful builder before shifting his focus to developing the first completely accessible theme park of its kind. Hartman will use his three decades of construction experience to coordinate hundreds of craftsmen and community volunteers and assemble a team...

Morgan's Wonderland and EMHE team up to build a new home for injured veteran Shilo Harris, airing on ABC as a special.

Kids are so often interested in the way things work, and X is for X-Ray shows you what's inside an object by giving you X-ray vision. It reads like an ABC storybook, but the information and intrigue is suitable for many ages. The pages of this app include stunning photography by Hugh Turvey accompanied with text by acclaimed children's author Paul Rosenthal. Dr. Who talent Kerry Shale narrates the text. X is for X-Ray by Touch Press gives an exceptional look at 26 different everyday objects, one for each letter of the alphabet. Swipe your finger across the screen to rotate the object or double-tap to get the stereoscopic option, and pinch and zoom for a closer look. This inside look to everyday objects will fascinate even young children, who will also love the rhyme spoken aloud. Older children will appreciate the ability to manipulate the picture and check out the objects from every possible angle. More advanced students will also love the commentary, scientific information, and trivia about each object. X is for X-Ray features a list of each letter at the bottom of the screen, each of which will take you to the corresponding page. The title and text is shown on the left while the picture is on the right, and you can tap the sound icon next to the text to hear the narration. For anyone curious about the world and the way things...

App 'X is for X-Ray' offers interactive X-ray views of 26 everyday objects, narrated by Kerry Shale, for educational fun across all ages.

Special Needs App of the Day: X is for X-Ray

 Kids are so often interested in the way things work, and X is for X-Ray shows you what's inside an object by giving you X-ray vision. It reads like an ABC storybook, but the information and intrigue is suitable for many ages. The pages of this app include stunning photography by Hugh Turvey accompanied with text by acclaimed children's author Paul Rosenthal. Dr. Who talent Kerry Shale narrates the text.    X is for X-Ray by Touch Press gives an exceptional look at 26 different everyday objects, one for each letter of the alphabet. Swipe your finger across the screen to rotate the object or double-tap to get the stereoscopic option, and pinch and zoom for a closer look.    This inside look to everyday objects will fascinate even young children, who will also love the rhyme spoken aloud. Older children will appreciate the ability to manipulate the picture and check out the objects from every possible angle. More advanced students will also love the commentary, scientific information, and trivia about each object.   X is for X-Ray features a list of each letter at the bottom of the screen, each of which will take you to the corresponding page. The title and text is shown on the left while the picture is on the right, and you can tap the sound icon next to the text to hear the narration.    For anyone curious about the world and the way things...

Starfall is an online educational resource, and now their ABC section is available as an app for the iPhone and iPad. When you tap on a letter, a screen shows the upper- and lower-case letter while a voice announces the letter. Each screen also includes a word that begins with the letter, which the voice narrates as well. Lively music, pictures, and animation accompanies each screen. The app also features mazes and puzzle games, and each vowel includes a song for learning the sounds. There is also an animation for learning the sign language for each letter of the alphabet. Through this app, children learn how to: Learn and recognize letters Develop early literacy and reading skills Develop visual and auditory understanding of letters and words The Starfall ABCs app is appropriate for all children, especially those learning how to read. The pictures and animations are bright and fun, which is a great motivator for children. For individuals with special needs, playing the games and perusing the screens will help reinforce the language skills they learn in school. You can even begin using this app well before pre-school or Kindergarten to help instill knowledge of the alphabet and reading. Starfall's systematic phonics approach teaches phonemic awareness and is appropriate for English language learners. This app is a good buy for children who struggle with words and reading, and it helps bring them...

Starfall ABCs app helps kids learn letters and reading through voice narration, music, and interactive games, ideal for early literacy.

Special Needs App of the Day: Starfall ABCs

  Starfall is an online educational resource, and now their ABC section is available as an app for the iPhone and iPad.   When you tap on a letter, a screen shows the upper- and lower-case letter while a voice announces the letter. Each screen also includes a word that begins with the letter, which the voice narrates as well. Lively music, pictures, and animation accompanies each screen. The app also features mazes and puzzle games, and each vowel includes a song for learning the sounds. There is also an animation for learning the sign language for each letter of the alphabet.   Through this app, children learn how to:    Learn and recognize letters   Develop early literacy and reading skills   Develop visual and auditory understanding of letters and words    The Starfall ABCs app is appropriate for all children, especially those learning how to read. The pictures and animations are bright and fun, which is a great motivator for children. For individuals with special needs, playing the games and perusing the screens will help reinforce the language skills they learn in school. You can even begin using this app well before pre-school or Kindergarten to help instill knowledge of the alphabet and reading.   Starfall's systematic phonics approach teaches phonemic awareness and is appropriate for English language learners. This app is a good buy for children who struggle with words and reading, and it helps bring them...

Apps for special needs don't have to be complicated, and apps can serve multiple needs or just one. The Learning Heroes Animal Sounds app is simple in design and function, but it creates a fun atmosphere for learning animal sounds. Learning Heroes Animal Sounds features a wheel that you can spin with your finger and find over 40 different animals. When you tap on an animal, a voice introduces the animal and its sound. For example, for a picture of a dog, the voice announces, "the dog says 'woof woof.'" The app features cartoon pictures for each animal, and most are funny and interesting to children. The animal faces are expressive, and some animals even wear clothing, which creates a character for each animal. There are 44 different characters to choose from, so above and beyond your typical animals, you get introduced to animals like the lynx and boar. Learning Heroes Animal Sounds also features background music as your child explores the different animals and their sounds, but you have the option of turning off the music. Each animal picture that shows up on the main screen also includes the word of that animal, so you can begin to teach your child how to read words. Learning Hero apps also makes an ABC app with animals, and the Funny Animals app allows your child to put together animal puzzles....

Learning Heroes Animal Sounds app teaches kids fun animal sounds through a spin wheel of 44 cartoon animals, with optional background music.

Special Needs App of the Day: Learning Heroes Animal Sounds

 Apps for special needs don't have to be complicated, and apps can serve multiple needs or just one. The Learning Heroes Animal Sounds app is simple in design and function, but it creates a fun atmosphere for learning animal sounds.   Learning Heroes Animal Sounds features a wheel that you can spin with your finger and find over 40 different animals. When you tap on an animal, a voice introduces the animal and its sound. For example, for a picture of a dog, the voice announces, "the dog says 'woof woof.'"   The app features cartoon pictures for each animal, and most are funny and interesting to children. The animal faces are expressive, and some animals even wear clothing, which creates a character for each animal.   There are 44 different characters to choose from, so above and beyond your typical animals, you get introduced to animals like the lynx and boar.         Learning Heroes Animal Sounds also features background music as your child explores the different animals and their sounds, but you have the option of turning off the music.   Each animal picture that shows up on the main screen also includes the word of that animal, so you can begin to teach your child how to read words.     Learning Hero apps also makes an ABC app with animals, and the Funny Animals app allows your child to put together animal puzzles....

Fish School by Duck Duck Moose uses beautiful images, bright colors, and music adapted from the classic ABC song to capture your child's attention and hold it. There are eight different activities for learning, including letters, numbers, and shapes where the fish form each item. There is also the ABC song where the letters change while the song is sung; colors, where tapping on a fish of one color will make all the fish of that color swim up; differences, which asks the child which fish does not belong; and matching, a memory game to find matching fish. Finally, there is playtime, which features a sea of colorful fish that children can play with: tap a fish to make it swim faster or hold it down to make it grow bigger. This app is a fun way to learn, and great for all children. Available on iPad for $1.99. For more information, go here.

Fish School app offers interactive learning with activities on letters, numbers, matching & more for $1.99 on iPad.

Special Needs App of the Day: Fish School

Fish School by Duck Duck Moose uses beautiful images, bright colors, and music adapted from the classic ABC song to capture your child's attention and hold it. There are eight different activities for learning, including letters, numbers, and shapes where the fish form each item. There is also the ABC song where the letters change while the song is sung; colors, where tapping on a fish of one color will make all the fish of that color swim up; differences, which asks the child which fish does not belong; and matching, a memory game to find matching fish. Finally, there is playtime, which features a sea of colorful fish that children can play with: tap a fish to make it swim faster or hold it down to make it grow bigger. This app is a fun way to learn, and great for all children. Available on iPad for $1.99.  For more information, go here.


David Andrews, age 18, wears number 40 on the Germantown High School basketball team, just outside of Memphis, TN. Much like the Knick's Jeremy Lin, Andrews spent quite a bit of time warming the bench during his team's games before ever getting to play in one. Andrews has Down syndrome, and his mother had asked coach Wes Crump if her son could join the team his brother was already on. She thought maybe he could get a sweat suit and hang out with the other players on the bench. But Andrews soon proved that he had much more to offer the team. The Germantown Red Devils already had a pretty good record for the season. In the fourth game, the team had a wide enough lead that Crump decided to put Andrews in. When Andrews got the ball, he took a shot from the corner and scored three points. He did the same thing again later in the game. When Andrews shoots three pointers, he makes them 40 percent of the time. That makes him statistically better than most NBA players, including LeBron James. After that first game, Crump made sure to put Andrews in the rest of the season. He even started a game. The Red Devils went on to win the county championship. “Down syndrome people come in wide spectrum of disability,” Andrews' father told ABC News. “Some are talkers and some are walkers ... David is clearly a walker.” Whether he is leading the pre-game chant...

David Andrews, 18, with Down syndrome, impresses as a Germantown High basketball player, outshooting LeBron with a 40% three-point rate.

Teen with Down Syndrome Wows Basketball Team

David Andrews, age 18, wears number 40 on the Germantown High School basketball team, just outside of Memphis, TN. Much like the Knick's Jeremy Lin, Andrews spent quite a bit of time warming the bench during his team's games before ever getting to play in one. Andrews has Down syndrome, and his mother had asked coach Wes Crump if her son could join the team his brother was already on. She thought maybe he could get a sweat suit and hang out with the other players on the bench. But Andrews soon proved that he had much more to offer the team.  The Germantown Red Devils already had a pretty good record for the season. In the fourth game, the team had a wide enough lead that Crump decided to put Andrews in. When Andrews got the ball, he took a shot from the corner and scored three points. He did the same thing again later in the game. When Andrews shoots three pointers, he makes them 40 percent of the time. That makes him statistically better than most NBA players, including LeBron James. After that first game, Crump made sure to put Andrews in the rest of the season. He even started a game. The Red Devils went on to win the county championship. “Down syndrome people come in wide spectrum of disability,” Andrews' father told ABC News. “Some are talkers and some are walkers ... David is clearly a walker.” Whether he is leading the pre-game chant...

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Users can add items to our directory, but we'll need to say okay first. We use a smart computer program to check if anything mean or offensive gets posted. And we'll take down anything that's not okay right away.

4. Adding to Our Directory

If you break any of our rules, we might have to stop your account. This means you won't be able to use our site anymore. We don't want to do this, but sometimes we have to.

5. Accounts and What Can Happen

We do our best to share good, helpful information. But we can't promise that everything is perfect or right for you. We're not doctors, and we don't give medical advice. Always check with your own doctor or do your own research.

6. What We Can Promise

If we have a disagreement, we'd like to work it out with you. But if we can't, then we'll have to ask a neutral person or group (this is called an arbitrator) to help us solve it.

7. What Happens If We Disagree

Sometimes we might need to change these rules. If we do, we'll send you an email, and post on our social media accounts, if we have any. Please keep checking so you always know our latest rules.

8. Changes to These Rules

Remember, we're here to help. If you have any questions about these terms and conditions, just ask!

At SpecialNeeds.com, we strive to foster a community of trust and reliability. One significant way we ensure this trust is through our Verified Badge. You may have spotted this little checkmark symbol on our platform. But do you know what it signifies? Allow us to pull back the curtain on this important aspect of our platform. The Verified Badge isn't merely decorative - it's a symbol of authenticity, accuracy, and connection. When you see this badge associated with a company, you can rest assured that the company has been thoroughly vetted and is confirmed to be genuine. But how do we ascertain this genuineness? The process is both rigorous and meticulous. To earn the Verified Badge, a company representative or a SpecialNeeds.com staff member must first register with us and provide evidence of their affiliation with the company. This is typically in the form of a business email address. However, the badge doesn't just signify affiliation. It's also a testament to accuracy. The representative or our staff member is responsible for verifying all information associated with the company - from contact details to rates and features. Only when every piece of information has been scrutinized and confirmed do we award the coveted Verified Badge. Maintaining the Verified Badge isn't a one-time effort - it requires an annual renewal. Each year, company representatives are required to reaffirm their details and reverify their information. This ensures that the data associated with Verified Badge holders remains up-to-date and accurate. If the information isn't refreshed yearly, the Verified Badge status lapses. This renewal requirement serves as an ongoing commitment to accuracy, reinforcing our dedication to providing reliable, current information for our community. But why is this badge important? Why should you, as a user of our platform, trust it? The answer is simple. The Verified Badge is your compass on SpecialNeeds.com, guiding you with the assurance of truth and reliability. This badge is our commitment to you. It's our guarantee that the information you're viewing has been checked for accuracy and confirmed for authenticity. Whenever you see this badge, you know you're looking at a company that has been meticulously verified. That's our promise to you. So, as you explore the vibrant world of special needs-related businesses on SpecialNeeds.com, remember to look out for our Verified Badge. It's more than a symbol - it's the mark of trust you can rely on.

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