I was one of the “puzzle children” myself–a dyslexic…. And I still have a hard time reading today. Accept the fact that you have a problem. Refuse to feel sorry for yourself. You have a challenge; never quit!—Nelson Rockefeller, former Governor of New York and Vice-President of the United States (pictured) I never read in school. I got really bad grades–D’s and F’s and C’s in some classes, and A’s and B’s in other classes. In the second week of the 11th grade, I just quit. When I was in school, it was really difficult. Almost everything I learned, I had to learn by listening. My report cards always said that I was not living up to my potential.–Cher The looks, the stares, the giggles…. I wanted to show everybody that I could do better and also that I could read.–Magic Johnson, basketball legend I had to train myself to focus my attention. I became very visual and learned how to create mental images in order to comprehend what I read.–Tom Cruise, actor You should prefer a good scientist without literary abilities than a literate one without scientific skills.—Leonardo da Vinci I couldn’t read. I just scraped by. My solution back then was to read classic comic books because I could figure them out from the context of the pictures. Now I listen to books on tape.—Charles Schwab, founder of stock brokerage I hated school…. One of the reasons was a learning...

Famous dyslexics like Rockefeller, Cher, and Magic Johnson discuss overcoming challenges and finding alternative learning methods.

And Now for Some&#8230;Quotes from Famous People with Dyxlexia

 I was one of the “puzzle children” myself–a dyslexic…. And I still have a hard time reading today. Accept the fact that you have a problem. Refuse to feel sorry for yourself. You have a challenge; never quit!—Nelson Rockefeller, former Governor of New York and Vice-President of the United States (pictured)  I never read in school. I got really bad grades–D’s and F’s and C’s in some classes, and A’s and B’s in other classes. In the second week of the 11th grade, I just quit. When I was in school, it was really difficult. Almost everything I learned, I had to learn by listening. My report cards always said that I was not living up to my potential.–Cher   The looks, the stares, the giggles…. I wanted to show everybody that I could do better and also that I could read.–Magic Johnson, basketball legend  I had to train myself to focus my attention. I became very visual and learned how to create mental images in order to comprehend what I read.–Tom Cruise, actor You should prefer a good scientist without literary abilities than a literate one without scientific skills.—Leonardo da Vinci   I couldn’t read. I just scraped by. My solution back then was to read classic comic books because I could figure them out from the context of the pictures. Now I listen to books on tape.—Charles Schwab, founder of stock brokerage  I hated school…. One of the reasons was a learning...

And Now for Some&#8230;Quotes from Famous People with Dyxlexia

I never thought I would be a homeschooling parent. My husband and I bought a house in a neighborhood that gave us access to the area's best public elementary school. When my twin boys were babies, I would cruise by the school, fantasizing about dropping and picking up my kids. It was before the word "autism" became part of our vocabulary. Homeschooling, for the parents of an autistic child, is often more of a last resort than a choice. My children were bused to schools far away from that perfect neighborhood school I coveted. We had to accept school district placements in order to get services. We were disconnected from our community in a way that made the autism feel like only a small part of our social problems. After years of chasing autism programs, I still found myself reteaching lessons and begging teachers to follow behavior plans. Homeschooling sounded like a way out of the madness that is special education. At least then I wouldn't have to attend multiple IEP meetings every year, hire lawyers, secretly threaten bullies, buy gift cards for teachers and still have my son sent home for having meltdowns. Our new homeschooling friends recommended curriculum and offered encouraging words. I felt light headed when I thought of teaching math to a child who screams when he sees a math book. I had drawers of broken pencils and recycling bins of torn worksheets. I also had a child who found even small groups difficult...

A parent embraces homeschooling for her autistic twins after struggling with public education and finding unique ways to help them succeed.

When Homeschooling Chooses You

I never thought I would be a homeschooling parent. My husband and I bought a house in a neighborhood that gave us access to the area's best public elementary school. When my twin boys were babies, I would cruise by the school, fantasizing about dropping and picking up my kids. It was before the word "autism" became part of our vocabulary.  Homeschooling, for the parents of an autistic child, is often more of a last resort than a choice. My children were bused to schools far away from that perfect neighborhood school I coveted. We had to accept school district placements in order to get services. We were disconnected from our community in a way that made the autism feel like only a small part of our social problems. After years of chasing autism programs, I still found myself reteaching lessons and begging teachers to follow behavior plans. Homeschooling sounded like a way out of the madness that is special education. At least then I wouldn't have to attend multiple IEP meetings every year, hire lawyers, secretly threaten bullies, buy gift cards for teachers and still have my son sent home for having meltdowns.  Our new homeschooling friends recommended curriculum and offered encouraging words. I felt light headed when I thought of teaching math to a child who screams when he sees a math book. I had drawers of broken pencils and recycling bins of torn worksheets. I also had a child who found even small groups difficult...

A parent embraces homeschooling for her autistic twins after struggling with public education and finding unique ways to help them succeed.

When Andrew Garnett founded Special Needs at Sea four years ago, he was making equipment deliveries in his own car. "I would get up at three in the morning and drive to Port Canaveral, make my deliveries there, and then I'd drive across the state and make deliveries in Tampa and then drive back," Garnett recalls. Now his company is able to deliver special needs equipment in 99 cities around the world, in over 20 countries. Special Needs at Sea works with every major cruise line to live up to the motto of "Delivering an accessible world." From providing Braille printing on ship menus, to delivering portable oxygen concentrators, from sign language interpreters to wheel chair rentals, Garnett is in the business of "pretty much anything special needs." Even if a requested item is not standard, Special Needs at Sea will do its best to fulfill the need. Perhaps a client is a regular wheelchair user traveling to the beach for the first time. Wheelchair tires make it difficult to get through the sand, but beach wheelchairs can go where other chairs cannot. All a client has to do is call up and reserve the item. A kiosk program gives the customer the option of either picking up equipment at the embarkation point or having it delivered directly to the stateroom. The kiosks are also useful for people who arrive for their vacations and did not realize that they could rent equipment or even that they would need it. People...

Andrew Garnett's company, Special Needs at Sea, provides accessibility equipment and services for travelers with special needs worldwide.

Special Needs at Sea

When Andrew Garnett founded Special Needs at Sea four years ago, he was making equipment deliveries in his own car. "I would get up at three in the morning and drive to Port Canaveral, make my deliveries there, and then I'd drive across the state and make deliveries in Tampa and then drive back," Garnett recalls. Now his company is able to deliver special needs equipment in 99 cities around the world, in over 20 countries. Special Needs at Sea works with every major cruise line to live up to the motto of "Delivering an accessible world." From providing Braille printing on ship menus, to delivering portable oxygen concentrators, from sign language interpreters to wheel chair rentals, Garnett is in the business of "pretty much anything special needs." Even if a requested item is not standard, Special Needs at Sea will do its best to fulfill the need. Perhaps a client is a regular wheelchair user traveling to the beach for the first time. Wheelchair tires make it difficult to get through the sand, but beach wheelchairs can go where other chairs cannot. All a client has to do is call up and reserve the item. A kiosk program gives the customer the option of either picking up equipment at the embarkation point or having it delivered directly to the stateroom. The kiosks are also useful for people who arrive for their vacations and did not realize that they could rent equipment or even that they would need it. People...

Andrew Garnett's company, Special Needs at Sea, provides accessibility equipment and services for travelers with special needs worldwide.

Special Needs at Sea

Imagine taking a vacation with the whole family–a real vacation. And on that vacation, parents can rekindle their relationship, siblings can go on adventures, and kids with special needs can be themselves and have fun doing things like ice skating or going to a pool party with new friends. Autism on the Seas is a unique company offering vacations just like this to individuals and families living with special needs. Jamie Grover, Director of Group Development, explains, “I'm the father of a special needs child myself, so I understand some of the challenges that you go through. We really wanted to provide a total vacation, not only for the child on the autism spectrum or with Down syndrome or whatever the special need is, but we really wanted to provide a vacation for the moms and dads and the siblings.” When a family books a trip with Autism on the Seas, they have an opportunity to fit in with the general population on a cruise ship and experience a vacation like a “typical” family. Grover brings a staff on board from a pool of over 300 people all over the U.S. who volunteer to come on the cruise or to a resort and help out with the families. The ratio of Autism on the Seas staff to kids with special needs is usually 1:3 or 1:4. The staff is made up of special education teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, ABA specialists, or people working on some form of degree in...

Autism on the Seas provides specialized cruises for families with special needs, offering staff support and inclusive activities.

Take a True Vacation with Autism on the Seas

Imagine taking a vacation with the whole family–a real vacation. And on that vacation, parents can rekindle their relationship, siblings can go on adventures, and kids with special needs can be themselves and have fun doing things like ice skating or going to a pool party with new friends. Autism on the Seas is a unique company offering vacations just like this to individuals and families living with special needs. Jamie Grover, Director of Group Development, explains, “I'm the father of a special needs child myself, so I understand some of the challenges that you go through. We really wanted to provide a total vacation, not only for the child on the autism spectrum or with Down syndrome or whatever the special need is, but we really wanted to provide a vacation for the moms and dads and the siblings.” When a family books a trip with Autism on the Seas, they have an opportunity to fit in with the general population on a cruise ship and experience a vacation like a “typical” family. Grover brings a staff on board from a pool of over 300 people all over the U.S. who volunteer to come on the cruise or to a resort and help out with the families. The ratio of Autism on the Seas staff to kids with special needs is usually 1:3 or 1:4. The staff is made up of special education teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, ABA specialists, or people working on some form of degree in...

Autism on the Seas provides specialized cruises for families with special needs, offering staff support and inclusive activities.

Take a True Vacation with Autism on the Seas

Imagine this – you and your child step off a cruise ship and are greeted by a group of people in colourful clothes, holding signs, flowers and balloons. Some are playing musical instruments. They shout and sing joyously, "Welcome to the Land of Special Needs!" They hand you flowers and give you a warm hug. Your child gets a balloon and joins the small group of children playing games together. Their laughter fills the air. You look around – the cruise ship is pulling away! You panic, waving your itinerary in the air. You say, "I'm not supposed to be here, there's a mistake! My plans are elsewhere." The group of people surround you, they say, "No, your trip's been re-routed. You are here now. But look around at the beautiful flowers and amazing scenery. Pristine beaches, clear water. Not many people arrive here, it's very exclusive. It really is paradise here." Someone hands you a refreshing beverage. You look around and are amazed by the beauty. You think, "This isn't so bad after all." Contrast this with the way most people find out their child has a special need: You're in a hospital room, surrounded by grim-faced strangers in baggy grey scrubs, bright lights and beeping equipment. The strangers say and do things you do not understand. Medical jargon fills the air as they race to save your child. You are terrified that your child...

A warm welcome contrasts the tough journey parents face in 'Land of Special Needs'.

Welcome to the Land Special Needs

 Imagine this – you and your child step off a cruise ship and are greeted by a group of people in colourful clothes, holding signs, flowers and balloons. Some are playing musical instruments. They shout and sing joyously, "Welcome to the Land of Special Needs!"   They hand you flowers and give you a warm hug. Your child gets a balloon and joins the small group of children playing games together. Their laughter fills the air.   You look around – the cruise ship is pulling away! You panic, waving your itinerary in the air. You say, "I'm not supposed to be here, there's a mistake! My plans are elsewhere."   The group of people surround you, they say, "No, your trip's been re-routed. You are here now. But look around at the beautiful flowers and amazing scenery. Pristine beaches, clear water. Not many people arrive here, it's very exclusive. It really is paradise here." Someone hands you a refreshing beverage.    You look around and are amazed by the beauty. You think, "This isn't so bad after all."   Contrast this with the way most people find out their child has a special need:   You're in a hospital room, surrounded by grim-faced strangers in baggy grey scrubs, bright lights and beeping equipment. The strangers say and do things you do not understand. Medical jargon fills the air as they race to save your child. You are terrified that your child...

A warm welcome contrasts the tough journey parents face in 'Land of Special Needs'.

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Special Needs
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And Now for Some…Quotes from Famous People with Dyxlexia

When Homeschooling Chooses You

Special Needs at Sea

Take a True Vacation with Autism on the Seas

Welcome to the Land Special Needs

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

And Now for Some&#8230;Quotes from Famous People with Dyxlexia

When Homeschooling Chooses You

Special Needs at Sea

Take a True Vacation with Autism on the Seas

Welcome to the Land Special Needs

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles

And Now for Some…Quotes from Famous People with Dyxlexia