Special Needs

Articles

...diagnosis alone is enough to qualify in most states, with no additional evaluation required. The three primary therapies are physical therapy (PT), speech-language...later, language. OT focuses on fine motor skills, sensory processing, and self-care tasks like holding a spoon or transitioning to solids. The therapies...

...attention-seeking. It's self-injurious behavior, and...behavioral therapist, or 911. Self-injurious behavior (SIB)...assessment to psychiatric evaluation to crisis care. What Self-Injurious...evaluation to crisis care. What Self-Injurious Behavior Is....head-banging, hand-biting, self-scratching, hair-pulling,...distinct from stimming (self-stimulatory behavior),...

...secure and happy) self-help (eating, dressing)...right to request an evaluation if you think your...multidisciplinary evaluation of your child at...services Refuse evaluations, assessments, and...Resources. Requesting an Evaluation. If you're concerned...doctor can request an evaluation at any time. To request...time. To request an evaluation, contact your state's...

...state for more than 60 years, providing early intervention programs, autism evaluations, and training on developmental disabilities for families, self-advocates,...autism evaluations, and training on developmental disabilities for families, self-advocates, and professionals. In 2024, UCEDDs served more than 1.3 million...

...than you arrived? This is the practical guide to finding, joining, and evaluating support groups for special needs families. Not inspiration, just mechanics....groups address your reality more directly than parent-focused spaces. Self-advocate...

...face is whether they need a transport chair or a self-propelled model. The names sound technical, but...wheelchairs are designed to be pushed by a caregiver. Self-propelled wheelchairs have larger rear wheels with...Transport chairs are typically less expensive than self-propelled models, often ranging from $150 to $500...

...walk, or use a wheelchair. A prone cart is different. It's also a wheeled platform where your child lies prone, but it's designed for children who can't self-propel. The cart supports them in a prone position while you or a therapist pushes them. It keeps them at a low, exploratory height while moving through...

...postural control, compact folding for families who need to fit equipment in a standard vehicle, and caregiver-controlled mobility when a child can't self-propel. The best models offer tilt-in-space positioning to prevent pressure sores and manage tone, adjustable seating angles for feeding and rest, and...

...pressure points on the hips and outer thighs, increasing pressure sore risk. Narrow seats also restrict lateral trunk movement needed for reaching and self-propulsion in manual chairs. For children who use lateral trunk supports, insufficient width prevents proper support placement and leads to asymmetrical...

...of where your child is right now. Life skills organize into six domains: Self-care: Bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, eating independently. Household...medication, describing symptoms, scheduling appointments. Communication and self-advocacy: Asking for help, stating preferences, understanding rights, navigating...

...working within the first two weeks. Khan Academy: Free Self-Paced Learning. Cost: Free, no premium tier Best...lesson structure, no social demands) Weaknesses: Self-direction required. No built-in progress alerts...foundational concepts. For ADHD, Khan Academy's self-paced structure is both the benefit...

...pressure therapy during meltdowns or anxiety episodes (autism, sensory processing disorder) Alerting to blood sugar drops (Type 1 diabetes) Interrupting self-injurious behavior (autism, developmental disabilities) Retrieving medication or emergency alert devices (epilepsy, cerebral palsy) Blocking or creating...