News reports of abuse against individuals with disabilities have been exploding across the news. Stories of children being left on the bus, subjected to electroshock therapy, and even parents sending kids to school with a wire because of suspected abuse from teachers have all surfaced and are cause for concern regarding the disability care system. Governor Andrew Cuomo says his priority for the next several weeks is to reform the system to better protect individuals with disabilities. With the end of the year's legislative session on June 21 approaching fast, the governor has very limited time to accomplish this goal. Part of Cuomo's plan is to build a new agency that would investigate and record instances of abuse or neglect. This new plan would also make it easier to discharge those who engage in abuse or neglect of these individuals with disabilities. 200 New York State employees are under fire, and reports suggest these people will lose their jobs for "substantiated allegations of abuse." The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities employs thousands of people, but they have been trying to fire about 200 people, some of whose cases have dragged on for over a year. Governor Cuomo believes he can get support from parents and disability advocates; he believes their rally will be enough to get lawmakers to respond quickly. You can read more about Governor Cuomo's proposed plan at the Justice Center for the Protection of...

Gov. Cuomo aims to reform the disability care system by creating a new agency to tackle abuse, with plans to fire 200 NY employees.

Governor Cuomo: Protecting the Disabled

 News reports of abuse against individuals with disabilities have been exploding across the news. Stories of children being left on the bus, subjected to electroshock therapy, and even parents sending kids to school with a wire because of suspected abuse from teachers have all surfaced and are cause for concern regarding the disability care system.   Governor Andrew Cuomo says his priority for the next several weeks is to reform the system to better protect individuals with disabilities. With the end of the year's legislative session on June 21 approaching fast, the governor has very limited time to accomplish this goal.   Part of Cuomo's plan is to build a new agency that would investigate and record instances of abuse or neglect. This new plan would also make it easier to discharge those who engage in abuse or neglect of these individuals with disabilities.   200 New York State employees are under fire, and reports suggest these people will lose their jobs for "substantiated allegations of abuse." The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities employs thousands of people, but they have been trying to fire about 200 people, some of whose cases have dragged on for over a year.    Governor Cuomo believes he can get support from parents and disability advocates; he believes their rally will be enough to get lawmakers to respond quickly.   You can read more about Governor Cuomo's proposed plan at the Justice Center for the Protection of...

Everyone is affected when a child has significant developmental, social or emotional challenges. Whatever the diagnosis–or even if you don't yet have a diagnosis–if you're parenting a child with special needs, your entire family feels the impact. Family coaching addresses the well-being of all of you: parents, siblings and special needs child alike. It's natural–and necessary–to focus a lot of energy on the child with special needs. But if you neglect yourself, your spouse or your other children, everyone suffers. Family coaches provide tools and strategies to help everyone thrive. Coaching offers an alternative or supplement to traditional therapy, focusing on sustainable daily routines and practical solutions to specific challenges. Coaching is effective in families living with Tourette's, Asperger's, au- tism, ADHD/ADD and a range of other conditions. Negotiating differences: Parents often disagree about treatment options or how to handle behavior challenges. Family coaches help you identify shared values, understand your differences, and forge a unified team. Navigating institutions: Working with teachers, doctors and specialists, or choosing the best school or provider, can be challenging. Coaches walk you through the process, finding strategies that ensure the best outcome for your child. Balancing children's needs: It's not easy being the sibling of a special needs child. Siblings may feel invisible, resentful, or overly responsible. Coaches help you build routines that meet the needs of all your children.Taking care of yourself: Coaches help you find ways to nurture yourself and strengthen the relationships that support you, increasing your...

Family coaching supports entire families, helping parents, siblings, and special needs children to manage challenges, improved well-being.

Family Coaching Improves the Well-Being of the Whole Family

Everyone is affected when a child has significant developmental, social or emotional challenges. Whatever the diagnosis–or even if you don't yet have a diagnosis–if you're parenting a child with special needs, your entire family feels the impact. Family coaching addresses the well-being of all of you: parents, siblings and special needs child alike. It's natural–and necessary–to focus a lot of energy on the child with special needs. But if you neglect yourself, your spouse or your other children, everyone suffers. Family coaches provide tools and strategies to help everyone thrive. Coaching offers an alternative or supplement to traditional therapy, focusing on sustainable daily routines and practical solutions to specific challenges. Coaching is effective in families living with Tourette's, Asperger's, au- tism, ADHD/ADD and a range of other conditions.   Negotiating differences: Parents often disagree about treatment options or how to handle behavior challenges. Family coaches help you identify shared values, understand your differences, and forge a unified team.  Navigating institutions: Working with teachers, doctors and specialists, or choosing the best school or provider, can be challenging. Coaches walk you through the process, finding strategies that ensure the best outcome for your child.  Balancing children's needs: It's not easy being the sibling of a special needs child. Siblings may feel invisible, resentful, or overly responsible. Coaches help you build routines that meet the needs of all your children.Taking care of yourself: Coaches help you find ways to nurture yourself and strengthen the relationships that support you, increasing your...

Everyone is affected when a child has significant developmental, social or emotional challenges. Whatever the diagnosis – or even if you don't yet have a diagnosis – if you're parenting a child with special needs, your entire family feels the impact.Family coaching addresses the well-being of all of you: parents, siblings and special needs child alike. It's natural – and necessary – to focus a lot of energy on the child with special needs. But if you neglect yourself, your spouse or your other children, everyone suffers. Family coaches provide tools and strategies to help everyone thrive. Coaching offers an alternative or supplement to traditional therapy, focusing on sustainable daily routines and practical solutions to specific challenges. Coaching is effec- tive in families living with Tourette's, Asperger's, au- tism, ADHD/ADD and a range of other conditions.Negotiating differences: Parents often disagree about treatment options or how to handle behavior challenges. Family coaches help you identify shared values, understand your differences, and forge a unified team.Navigating institutions: Working with teachers, doctors and specialists, or choosing the best school or provider, can be challenging. Coaches walk you through the process, finding strategies that ensure the best outcome for your child.Balancing children's needs: It's not easy being the sibling of a special needs child. Siblings may feel invisible, resentful, or overly responsible. Coaches help you build routines that meet the needs of all your children.Taking care of yourself: Coaches help you find ways to nurture yourself and strengthen the rela- tionships that support you,...

Family coaching helps the whole family cope when a child has special needs, providing practical strategies to balance everyone's well-being.

Family Coaching Improves Well-Being of the Whole Family

Everyone is affected when a child has significant developmental, social or emotional challenges. Whatever the diagnosis – or even if you don't yet have a diagnosis – if you're parenting a child with special needs, your entire family feels the impact.Family coaching addresses the well-being of all of you: parents, siblings and special needs child alike. It's natural – and necessary – to focus a lot of energy on the child with special needs. But if you neglect yourself, your spouse or your other children, everyone suffers. Family coaches provide tools and strategies to help everyone thrive. Coaching offers an alternative or supplement to traditional therapy, focusing on sustainable daily routines and practical solutions to specific challenges. Coaching is effec- tive in families living with Tourette's, Asperger's, au- tism, ADHD/ADD and a range of other conditions.Negotiating differences: Parents often disagree about treatment options or how to handle behavior challenges. Family coaches help you identify shared values, understand your differences, and forge a unified team.Navigating institutions: Working with teachers, doctors and specialists, or choosing the best school or provider, can be challenging. Coaches walk you through the process, finding strategies that ensure the best outcome for your child.Balancing children's needs: It's not easy being the sibling of a special needs child. Siblings may feel invisible, resentful, or overly responsible. Coaches help you build routines that meet the needs of all your children.Taking care of yourself: Coaches help you find ways to nurture yourself and strengthen the rela- tionships that support you,...

Ahh...Reactive Attachment Disorder. It didn't mean much to me when the therapist made that diagnosis of my then 8-year-old daughter. After all, I already knew her problems stemmed from the neglect she had suffered as a baby. From being left in soiled diapers, to eating out of garbage cans, even the act of me showing up with the sheriff's deputies to take custody left a huge impression. She missed her mother — who wouldn't? Every little girl wants (and deserves) a mother who will hold them, coo to them, brush their hair. But I figured with a little extra love we'd be alright. Boy was I wrong. RAD is far deeper than that. You can't "fix" RAD with a little extra love and attention (no matter what the adoption agency tells you). You can't "fix" RAD with charts or rewards or any of the other typical parenting methods that work for most people. In fact, if you are parenting a child with RAD, take everything you've ever learned about parenting, turn it upside down and inside out if you hope to keep your sanity. RAD develops in children who suffer intense emotional or physical trauma at a very young age. Not all children who suffer trauma will develop RAD, but a traumatic childhood is the common factor among children with this diagnosis. In a nutshell, the child learns that others are not to be trusted. They are there to cause pain, and if the...

Parent describes the challenges of raising a daughter with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), a condition rooted in early trauma.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

 Ahh...Reactive Attachment Disorder. It didn't mean much to me when the therapist made that diagnosis of my then 8-year-old daughter. After all, I already knew her problems stemmed from the neglect she had suffered as a baby. From being left in soiled diapers, to eating out of garbage cans, even the act of me showing up with the sheriff's deputies to take custody left a huge impression. She missed her mother — who wouldn't? Every little girl wants (and deserves) a mother who will hold them, coo to them, brush their hair. But I figured with a little extra love we'd be alright.   Boy was I wrong. RAD is far deeper than that. You can't "fix" RAD with a little extra love and attention (no matter what the adoption agency tells you). You can't "fix" RAD with charts or rewards or any of the other typical parenting methods that work for most people. In fact, if you are parenting a child with RAD, take everything you've ever learned about parenting, turn it upside down and inside out if you hope to keep your sanity.    RAD develops in children who suffer intense emotional or physical trauma at a very young age. Not all children who suffer trauma will develop RAD, but a traumatic childhood is the common factor among children with this diagnosis. In a nutshell, the child learns that others are not to be trusted. They are there to cause pain, and if the...

Understanding Reactive Attachment Disorder — An Overview of One of the More Misunderstood Conditions Affecting Child Welfare A few years ago, I spent a good bit of my time crisscrossing the country lecturing on the topic of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) — a mental health disorder common among children who were subject to severe abuse and neglect during critical stages of brain development in infancy. I argued then that the misdiagnosing and subsequent counterproductive treatment of the disorder was the single biggest issue confounding the child welfare system. I still think that's true. I don't see any evidence that the situation is improving. In fact, it's reached a crisis point and we need to make this issue more a part of our national dialogue. Reactive Attachment Disorder is caused when an infant doesn't bond properly to its primary caregiver. This basic loss results in ongoing feelings of rage, shame, lack of trust, a morbid fear of attaching to anyone, an inability to understand cause and effect thinking and a compulsive need to control everyone and every situation. Extreme cases are typically caused by chronic neglect in early infancy followed by years of instability — an all-too-common formula for children in foster care. Without proper intervention, these children have little chance of meaningful relationships. In foster care, they often bounce from foster home to foster home as one well-meaning foster parent after another gives up because...

RAD is a misunderstood condition common in abused/neglected kids, leading to severe relational issues, requiring specialized therapy.

Understanding Reactive Attachment Disorder

  Understanding Reactive Attachment Disorder — An Overview of One of the More Misunderstood Conditions Affecting Child Welfare    A few years ago, I spent a good bit of my time crisscrossing the country lecturing on the topic of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) — a mental health disorder common among children who were subject to severe abuse and neglect during critical stages of brain development in infancy.   I argued then that the misdiagnosing and subsequent counterproductive treatment of the disorder was the single biggest issue confounding the child welfare system.   I still think that's true. I don't see any evidence that the situation is improving. In fact, it's reached a crisis point and we need to make this issue more a part of our national dialogue.   Reactive Attachment Disorder is caused when an infant doesn't bond properly to its primary caregiver. This basic loss results in ongoing feelings of rage, shame, lack of trust, a morbid fear of attaching to anyone, an inability to understand cause and effect thinking and a compulsive need to control everyone and every situation.   Extreme cases are typically caused by chronic neglect in early infancy followed by years of instability — an all-too-common formula for children in foster care.   Without proper intervention, these children have little chance of meaningful relationships. In foster care, they often bounce from foster home to foster home as one well-meaning foster parent after another gives up because...

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Special Needs
Articles

Governor Cuomo: Protecting the Disabled

Family Coaching Improves the Well-Being of the Whole Family

Family Coaching Improves Well-Being of the Whole Family

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Understanding Reactive Attachment Disorder

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Governor Cuomo: Protecting the Disabled

Family Coaching Improves the Well-Being of the Whole Family

Family Coaching Improves Well-Being of the Whole Family

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Understanding Reactive Attachment Disorder

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles