Results
Research > Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials and Their Impact on Special Needs Populations
...the new treatment being studied. Participating in a clinical trial is voluntary....in a clinical trial is voluntary. Patients work with their doctors to decide...evidence-based treatment decisions for their patients with special needs. Including a...trials is important. Barriers to Participating in Clinical Trials. Several barriers...
Research > Funding
Private Foundations Funding Disability Research: A Guide for Advocates and Families
...leadership training before making investment decisions on disability research. This lag reflects institutional blind spots, not active avoidance. Small patient populations don't generate the donor urgency that cancer or heart disease do. Academic prestige doesn't cluster around disability research the way...
Health > Treatment
Getting Your Child to Take Medicine: Evidence-Based Strategies That Actually Work
...common medication challenges: pill swallowing refusal, liquid medicine battles, and sensory-driven medication resistance. These aren't generic "be patient" tips. They're techniques with clinical backing that you can start using today. The Pill-Swallowing Progression That Works. Many children refuse to...
Therapies > Music
Music Therapy for Special Needs Children: What Parents Should Know
When your child's therapist recommends music therapy, you might picture piano lessons with a patient teacher. You're thinking of the wrong thing entirely. Music therapy is a clinical intervention. A board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) uses rhythm,...
Social Engagement > Discrimination
When Care Becomes Bias: Navigating Disability Discrimination in Healthcare
...exam. Two days later you see the practice advertising openings for new patients. According to a 2022 Urban Institute study, 32% of disabled adults report...denied. Strategic denial of care. A practice says they're not taking new patients, but you find out later they accepted someone without a disability that...
Social Engagement > Discrimination
Recognizing Ableism: How Everyday Microaggressions Harm People with Disabilities
...slowly and loudly to you even though your disability has nothing to do with hearing or cognition. Someone compliments your colleague for "being so patient" with you. You know something is wrong, but when you name it, you're told you're being too sensitive. You're not. These are microaggressions, a specific...
Research > Funding
Where Research Dollars Go: Understanding Funding Gaps Across Disability Conditions
...sizes. The disparity isn't malice. It's structure. NIH funding follows grant applications, and grant applications follow institutional capacity. Larger patient advocacy organizations generate political pressure, which translates into earmarked funding lines. Rare conditions with smaller coalitions don't generate...
Global Insights > Laws
The 2026 Digital Accessibility Deadline: What Parents Need to Know About School and Healthcare Portals
...speak your child's progress report aloud, or tried to navigate a healthcare patient portal that collapses under keyboard navigation, you've run into a system...for smaller ones. This includes school district websites, IEP portals, patient portals at public hospitals, and telehealth platforms used by government-funded...
Assistive Tech > Mobility
Tariffs Are Raising the Cost of Wheelchairs, AAC Devices, and Medications — What Families Can Do
...and families already fighting insurance denials face a new barrier. What's Getting More Expensive. Durable medical equipment: Wheelchairs, walkers, patient lifts, adaptive seating, positioning devices. Manufacturing is concentrated overseas; tariff costs pass through distributors and land on retail and...
Social Engagement > Friends and Family
Supporting Siblings: A Parent's Guide to Helping All Your Children Thrive
The siblings of children with special needs are often described as resilient, patient beyond their years, or unusually empathetic. They may well be all of those things. They are also, frequently, children who have learned that the family's...
Research > Drug Development
Unveiling Breakthroughs in Muscular Dystrophy Treatment
...Clinical trials have different phases to check the safety and benefits of the drug. The FDA looks at all the data before approving a new treatment. Patient safety is the top priority. Promising Research Areas. Gene therapy is one exciting area of research for muscular dystrophy. The goal is to fix the...
Special Needs > Cancer
Leveraging Adaptive Strategies for Cancer Survivors
...like deep breathing or meditation, or finding new hobbies or activities that bring joy and meaning to life. It's also important for survivors to be patient with themselves and recognize that recovery is a process. It's normal to have good days and bad days, and it's okay to take things one step at a time....