Your child finished cancer treatment six months ago. The oncology team cleared them. You thought the hard part was over. Then the school called about attention problems, or the pediatrician flagged developmental delays, or you noticed your child can't run like they used to. Late effects are the reason. For many childhood cancer survivors, they constitute disabilities requiring long-term support. The survivorship phase is not a return to normal. It's a transition to a different kind of medical and developmental management, one that most families enter without a roadmap. Here's what you need to know about recognizing late effects, accessing disability benefits, and building the support system your survivor needs. What Late Effects Mean. Late effects are health problems that appear months or years after cancer treatment ends. They're caused by the treatment itself: chemotherapy damages developing organs, radiation alters growing tissue, surgery removes or disrupts normal anatomy. The younger your child was at treatment, the more vulnerable their developing systems were to permanent change. The term "late effect" doesn't mean minor or temporary. Some late effects are mild and manageable. Others are disabling and lifelong. A 2020 St. Jude study tracking childhood cancer survivors into adulthood found that 95% experienced at least one chronic health condition by age 45, and 80% had conditions classified as severe or life-threatening. Not every survivor develops serious late effects, but the risk is high enough that surveillance is standard of care. If your child's oncology team hasn't discussed a survivorship care plan, ask...

Treatment ended, but late effects can create lifelong disabilities. Here's how to access SSI, IEPs, and survivorship programs.

Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Understanding Long-Term Effects and Disability Supports

Your child finished cancer treatment six months ago. The oncology team cleared them. You thought the hard part was over. Then the school called about attention problems, or the pediatrician flagged developmental delays, or you noticed your child can't run like they used to. Late effects are the reason. For many childhood cancer survivors, they constitute disabilities requiring long-term support. The survivorship phase is not a return to normal. It's a transition to a different kind of medical and developmental management, one that most families enter without a roadmap. Here's what you need to know about recognizing late effects, accessing disability benefits, and building the support system your survivor needs. What Late Effects Mean. Late effects are health problems that appear months or years after cancer treatment ends. They're caused by the treatment itself: chemotherapy damages developing organs, radiation alters growing tissue, surgery removes or disrupts normal anatomy. The younger your child was at treatment, the more vulnerable their developing systems were to permanent change. The term "late effect" doesn't mean minor or temporary. Some late effects are mild and manageable. Others are disabling and lifelong. A 2020 St. Jude study tracking childhood cancer survivors into adulthood found that 95% experienced at least one chronic health condition by age 45, and 80% had conditions classified as severe or life-threatening. Not every survivor develops serious late effects, but the risk is high enough that surveillance is standard of care. If your child's oncology team hasn't discussed a survivorship care plan, ask...

Treatment ended, but late effects can create lifelong disabilities. Here's how to access SSI, IEPs, and survivorship programs.

Kendall Gretsch grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois, playing basketball, swimming, and rock climbing. She has spina bifida. When she got to Washington University in St. Louis to study biomedical engineering, she added triathlon to the list and turned out to be exceptional at it. By 2016, she had won three consecutive para triathlon world championships. Then her classification was not selected for the Rio Paralympic Games, and she had to make a decision: keep training in a discipline that might not get her to the Games, or try something new. She chose para Nordic skiing, a sport she had never trained in. Eight years later, she is heading to her fifth Paralympic Games. What She Has Built. Gretsch made her Paralympic debut at PyeongChang 2018 and delivered something rare: a history-making performance in her first attempt on the biggest stage in Para sport. She won gold in the para biathlon 6km sitting and gold in the para cross-country skiing 12km sitting, becoming the first American athlete to medal in biathlon at either the Olympic or Paralympic level. Not first para athlete. First American, period. She was born with spina bifida, and that PyeongChang performance showed what was possible from the other side of that diagnosis in a way that no amount of advocacy could have. At Tokyo 2020, she added a gold in the paratriathlon, making her one of only five Americans ever to win gold at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Two completely different sports, two...

Kendall Gretsch: Defending Paralympic Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

Kendall Gretsch grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois, playing basketball, swimming, and rock climbing. She has spina bifida. When she got to Washington University in St. Louis to study biomedical engineering, she added triathlon to the list and turned out to be exceptional at it. By 2016, she had won three consecutive para triathlon world championships. Then her classification was not selected for the Rio Paralympic Games, and she had to make a decision: keep training in a discipline that might not get her to the Games, or try something new. She chose para Nordic skiing, a sport she had never trained in. Eight years later, she is heading to her fifth Paralympic Games. What She Has Built. Gretsch made her Paralympic debut at PyeongChang 2018 and delivered something rare: a history-making performance in her first attempt on the biggest stage in Para sport. She won gold in the para biathlon 6km sitting and gold in the para cross-country skiing 12km sitting, becoming the first American athlete to medal in biathlon at either the Olympic or Paralympic level. Not first para athlete. First American, period. She was born with spina bifida, and that PyeongChang performance showed what was possible from the other side of that diagnosis in a way that no amount of advocacy could have. At Tokyo 2020, she added a gold in the paratriathlon, making her one of only five Americans ever to win gold at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Two completely different sports, two...

What a grand sight​ to see as a marching band begins the procession of athletes from Mongolia, San Marino, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Tajikistan, all who are participating in this years Special Olympics World Games LA2015. The athletes were dressed in colorful sports uniforms, displaying a banner that said the different countries names of which Thousand Oaks, California is hosting. SpecialNeeds.com was invited to their "Community BBQ" to enjoy the one of many festivities surrounding the world games that will be going on from now until closing ceremonies August 2nd , Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Each Host Town is showing on outpouring of volunteerism at its finest. Everyone we encountered was welcoming and warm, with plenty of hugs and smiles to go around the earth several times over! Mayor ​ Pro Tem,​ Joel Price announced the athletes as they entered the picnic area of the beautiful Conejo Valley Park. The Mayor Pro Tem is the reason that Thousand Oaks is a host city. When he found out that the Special Olympics World Games was coming to Los Angeles he made it his mission to get his town to participate in anyway they could, and what a great job they are doing housing and entertaining the athletes.​ ​T​ he wonderful cheerleaders, known locally as the "Sparkles," did a great...

LA2015 Special Olympics World Games kick off in SoCal with global athletes, community events, and a spirit of volunteerism and inclusion.

LA2015 Is Here! Southern California is Celebrating Special Needs Athletes From Around the Globe

  What a grand sight​  to see as a marching band begins the procession of athletes from Mongolia, San Marino, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Tajikistan, all who are participating in this years Special Olympics World Games LA2015. The athletes were dressed in colorful sports uniforms, displaying a banner that said the different countries names of which Thousand Oaks, California is hosting.  SpecialNeeds.com  was invited to their "Community BBQ" to enjoy the one of many festivities surrounding the world games that will be going on from now until closing ceremonies August 2nd   , Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Each Host Town is showing on outpouring of volunteerism at its finest. Everyone we encountered was welcoming and warm, with plenty of hugs and smiles to go around the earth several times over!          Mayor ​ Pro Tem,​  Joel Price announced the athletes as they  entered the picnic area of the beautiful Conejo Valley Park. The Mayor Pro Tem is the reason that Thousand Oaks is a host city. When he found out that the Special Olympics World Games was coming to Los Angeles he made it his mission to get his town to participate in anyway they could, and what a great job they are doing housing and entertaining the athletes.​          ​T​ he wonderful cheerleaders, known locally as the "Sparkles," did a great...

SpecialNeeds.com has been a proud supporter of the Special Olympics World Games LA2015. In taking on this job I have met some truly amazing people, whom I call real heroes of our modern times. I interviewed two such men today at the City Hall of Thousand Oaks, California: Mayor Pro Temp, Joel Price and Economic Development Manager, Haider Alawani. Mayor Pro Tem, Joel Price has been a supporter of the Special Olympics for decades. Joel volunteered at the Police Torch Run, where officers run alongside the athletes, making sure they get the torch safely to its next destination, and fundraisers such as Tip-A-Cop, where tips are earned and donated to the Special Olympics. When Joel realized that the Special Olympics World Games would be held in Los Angeles, he was adamant that Thousand Oaks be a part of supporting the games. A meeting was held, and when the opportunity to host and support the Special Olympics was presented, the decision was unanimous. Thousand Oaks was to host athletes from Mongolia, San Marino, Tajikistan, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines. A board was selected and the real work began. Haider Alawani is co-chair for the committee formed to organize Thousand Oaks support. Volunteers have come from all over town to host the athletes until opening day of games. Joel assures us that Haider is the real hero of the bunch, keeping it all on track and running smoothly. An array of events will be taking place in honor of the...

Thousand Oaks CA supports Special Olympics LA2015, hosting athletes and organizing events to celebrate the World Games.

Thousand Oaks Host Town Supports Special Olympics World Games LA2015

 SpecialNeeds.com has been a proud supporter of the Special Olympics World Games LA2015. In taking on this job I have met some truly amazing people, whom I call real heroes of our modern times. I interviewed two such men today at the City Hall of Thousand Oaks, California: Mayor Pro Temp, Joel Price and Economic Development Manager, Haider Alawani.  Mayor Pro Tem, Joel Price has been a supporter of the Special Olympics for decades. Joel volunteered at the Police Torch Run, where officers run alongside the athletes, making sure they get the torch safely to its next destination, and fundraisers such as Tip-A-Cop, where tips are earned and donated to the Special Olympics. When Joel realized that the Special Olympics World Games would be held in Los Angeles, he was adamant that Thousand Oaks be a part of supporting the games. A meeting was held, and when the opportunity to host and support the Special Olympics was presented, the decision was unanimous. Thousand Oaks was to host athletes from Mongolia, San Marino, Tajikistan, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines. A board was selected and the real work began. Haider Alawani is co-chair for the committee formed to organize Thousand Oaks support. Volunteers have come from all over town to host the athletes until opening day of games. Joel assures us that Haider is the real hero of the bunch, keeping it all on track and running smoothly. An array of events will be taking place in honor of the...

Two biotech companies recently announced that sequencing the human genome–each person's individual DNA blueprint–would soon be possible to do within a single day and for approximately $1,000. The day following this announcement, researchers at renowned St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN, and Washington University in Saint Louis, MO, reported that sequencing the genomes of patients with cancer might lead to better treatments. In one study, the researchers discovered that 12 patients with early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia had more in common genetically with a different type of leukemia than with other acute lymphoblastic leukemias. This research is a part of the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, which is a three-year effort to sequence 600 pediatric cancers and the normal DNA of the children who have them. St. Jude Chief Executive Dr. William Evans told the Los Angeles Times Booster Shot blog that "We want to understand: What mutations cause a normal cell to turn into cancer?" In the other study involved in the project, researchers sequenced the tumors of four children with retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer. The results pointed to a gene known as SYK, which could be targeted for treating the disease. If the gene could be turned off, perhaps the growth of cancer could be reversed in patients. Evans expressed hope that someday all children coming into St. Jude for cancer treatment would have their genomes sequenced to look for clues to curing the disease. The price of tests continues to fall, and...

St. Jude's study shows genome sequencing may lead to better cancer treatments, aiming to sequence 600 pediatric cancer genomes.

Clues to Treating Cancers Found in Genomes

Two biotech companies recently announced that sequencing the human genome–each person's individual DNA blueprint–would soon be possible to do within a single day and for approximately $1,000.  The day following this announcement, researchers at renowned St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN, and Washington University in Saint Louis, MO, reported that sequencing the genomes of patients with cancer might lead to better treatments. In one study, the researchers discovered that 12 patients with early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia had more in common genetically with a different type of leukemia than with other acute lymphoblastic leukemias. This research is a part of the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, which is a three-year effort to sequence 600 pediatric cancers and the normal DNA of the children who have them. St. Jude Chief Executive Dr. William Evans told the Los Angeles Times Booster Shot blog that "We want to understand: What mutations cause a normal cell to turn into cancer?" In the other study involved in the project, researchers sequenced the tumors of four children with retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer. The results pointed to a gene known as SYK, which could be targeted for treating the disease. If the gene could be turned off, perhaps the growth of cancer could be reversed in patients. Evans expressed hope that someday all children coming into St. Jude for cancer treatment would have their genomes sequenced to look for clues to curing the disease. The price of tests continues to fall, and...

St. Jude's study shows genome sequencing may lead to better cancer treatments, aiming to sequence 600 pediatric cancer genomes.

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Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Understanding Long-Term Effects and Disability Supports

Kendall Gretsch: Defending Paralympic Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

LA2015 Is Here! Southern California is Celebrating Special Needs Athletes From Around the Globe

Thousand Oaks Host Town Supports Special Olympics World Games LA2015

Clues to Treating Cancers Found in Genomes

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Understanding Long-Term Effects and Disability Supports

Kendall Gretsch: Defending Paralympic Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

LA2015 Is Here! Southern California is Celebrating Special Needs Athletes From Around the Globe

Thousand Oaks Host Town Supports Special Olympics World Games LA2015

Clues to Treating Cancers Found in Genomes

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
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