April 18, 2018
March 12, 2018
What to Know About Getting Emergency Prescriptions During Disasters
There are many variables involved in obtaining prescription medications during times of disaster, including the overall state of the emergency, type of medication, federal regulations, insurance authorization, corporate pharmacy policies, transportation issues, electronic access, phone...
February 28, 2018
Adaptive Canoeing Builds Confidence in Kids with Visual Impairment
Imagine the courage it takes for children to try outrigger canoeing. That’s the situation for some visually impaired kids who have participated in an adaptive program run by the Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club, a...
February 2, 2018
5 Yoga Benefits for Kids with Special Needs
As a certified yoga instructor, I have long been aware of yoga's ability to benefit a person's mind and body. However, it was not until my daughter, who has special needs, trained to receive her...
January 23, 2018
Accessible Vacations
Do you travel with a loved one who has special needs? Planning a wonderful family vacation should be fun, not stressful. Here are some destinations that go above and beyond to accommodate every member of...
January 5, 2018
Health Risks for Children with Down Syndrome
Approximately one in every 700 babies born in the U.S. has Down syndrome, or trisomy 21, a chromosomal disorder in which children are born with three copies of chromosome 21. Parents today have an abundance...
December 19, 2017
Star Wars The Last Jedi Movie Fundraiser for Special Needs
Thank you for joining the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego for OPENING NIGHT of Star Wars The Last Jedi! We had a great time taking photos with Star Wars characters, making Star Wars themed crafts, winning prizes, eating movie snacks...
November 6, 2017
An Excellence in Journalism Award for Flourishing Families
The San Diego Family Magazine staff is thrilled to announce that our annual publication, Flourishing Families, won an Excellence in Journalism Award from San Diego Press Club! It received 2nd place in the "Special Interest or...Strategies to Help Children on the Autism Spectrum with Homework
Are you having any homework challenges now that the kids have been in school for a while? It’s important to help your child find a “homework rhythm,” as well as identify tools that are most...
November 1, 2017
A Big Thank You to the Foundation for Developmental Disabilities
The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego would like to thank the Foundation for Developmental Disabilities for their generous charitable sponsorship of $3,000. Support from the Foundation for Developmental Disabilities will help us move...
September 25, 2017
What My Child with Special Needs Has Taught Me
My daughter does a flip turn at the other end of the pool. Screaming erupts among teammates, competing teams, parents and coaches as she and the swimmer next to her break the water's surface in...
September 12, 2017
Teens on Board: Gaming Group Builds Social Savvy for Kids on the Spectrum
On the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, a conference room in Washington is transformed into a board gamers’ haven. At promptly 5 p.m., a group of teens ranging in age from 14 to...
August 21, 2017
Prepare Your Child with Special Needs for Success in School
The beginning of the school year brings new transitions and the fears that can accompany them. A child’s cognitive or speech delay can add to the difficulty if he cannot adequately express his needs. Luckily,...
August 1, 2017
Back-to-School Tips for Students with Dyslexia
Back-to-school commercials look so joyous on TV: Parents happily buying supplies and kids giddily choosing new backpacks. But for children who have dyslexia, the commercials might look a little different. They might depict parents reviewing...
July 11, 2017
Treating ADHD: More than just medication
Inattention. Hyperactivity. Impulsivity. While these are common behaviors among children, for kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), these behaviors interfere with daily life. They contribute to poor school performance, trouble making and keeping friends,...
June 15, 2017
Bittersweet Birthdays: An Annual Reminder to Be My Son’s Best Friend
My heart both rejoices and breaks every year when we celebrate my firstborn’s birthday. I rejoice when I think back to my son’s birthdays when he was 4 or 5 years old. Each year he...
May 22, 2017
Sweet Sleep for Special Babies
For babies with special needs, sound sleep requires more than a lullaby and a kiss. According to pediatrician William Sears, MD, author of The Baby Sleep Book and The Fussy Baby Book, infants with special...
April 24, 2017
Understanding the IEP Process
Emily Dolton’s son Aidan is having the best school year of his academic life. He’s thriving at Innovation Middle School but school wasn’t always this good for Aidan, who has special needs. The 12-year-old was...
April 17, 2017
We’ve Earned a Silver Star from GuideStar
The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego is proud to announce that we recently achieved a Silver star from GuideStar. GuideStar's mission is to revolutionize philanthropy by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and...
April 10, 2017
Music Therapy: A Pathway to Language, Communication and Motor Coordination
Performing and listening to music is often lauded as a great way to enhance math skills. Therapists now realize the full significance of tapping into the music memory centers of the brain to enhance language,...
March 1, 2017
Animal Therapy Benefits Kids with Autism
Nick and Stitch Nick is 15 years old and has high functioning autism, which causes difficulty connecting with peers. As a young child, Nick had delayed social skills and often spoke using repetitive language. For...
February 6, 2017
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs
Homeschooling is something I swore I’d never do with my kids. Many of my siblings were homeschooled and I had strong (negative) opinions about it—until I had children of my own. Both my sons—one who...
January 24, 2017
The Brain and the Digestive Tract
The Brain and the Digestive Tract: Recognizing the difference between a fussy eater and a problem feeder Kids with ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s, Asperger’s, Autism, learning disabilities, and other neurological issues are all problem eaters, to...
December 19, 2016
A Rare Diagnosis, Sonya’s Story with CDKL5
On February 11, 2015 we welcomed our fourth child into the world about two weeks early. She appeared completely healthy, weighing 6 lbs. 6 oz. We were surprised she was a girl, as my husband...
October 31, 2016
Get Ready for College: Preparing Teens and Young Adults with Disabilities
With an increasing number of college programs and supports available, more and more students with disabilities are exploring college as an option post-high school or transition. The thought of attending college is exciting, but preparing...
October 17, 2016
Taking Anger to Task: Advocating through Emotion
“Even the NORMAL kids experience stress on the first day.” The words hit me like a punch in the stomach. I had just asked why my child with a genetic deletion was pulled from the...
October 4, 2016
Tips for Choosing Halloween Costumes for Children with Special Needs
Our family is excited about Halloween (my youngest son has been decorating since February!), but as much as I love this time of year, picking out a costume for my kids with special needs can...
September 19, 2016
Tips and Tricks for a Fun Fall
Fall is a time of transitions. Days get shorter and routines have to be adjusted accordingly; and pumpkins and Halloween costumes appear in stores. It’s my favorite season, but it can easily overwhelm my children...
September 6, 2016
Preparing Teens and Young Adults with Disabilities for the Workforce
A child’s response to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” can elicit a variety of responses, anything from a fire truck (my all-time favorite response from a 3-year-old) to professional athlete,...
August 18, 2016
Easing Transition: Tips For Parents of Students with Special Needs
A new school year means a new grade, new teachers, new goals and maybe a new school for some students. In order to help ease the transition for students with special needs, here are some...
July 25, 2016
Neurodiversity: A Quick Primer
For a very long time, autistic children were seen as broken versions of “normal” kids. It hurts my heart to type that sentence, but I’m so grateful to live during a time when that paradigm...
July 12, 2016
7 Tips for Visiting Theme Parks with Children with Special Needs
Theme parks are places of wonder, delight and magical memories. But they’re also places of bright lights, new smells, loud noises, long lines and many other elements that can trigger anxiety, stress and meltdowns in...
June 28, 2016
5 Tips to Teach Kids with Special Needs Daily Living Skills
Kids of all abilities can learn important life skills and learn to help around the house. We just have to give them the opportunity to succeed. Here are tips to teach kids with special needs...
June 10, 2016
My Child Has Oppositional Defiant Disorder: 6 Behavioral Signs to Look For
I knew my son was different when his tantrums lasted hours at a time. We knew we needed more help than our pediatrician could offer. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is like having a child who...
May 24, 2016
How to Throw a Sensory Friendly Birthday Party
Birthdays. They come once a year and are usually met with much anticipation and excitement—balloons, cake, ice cream, friends and presents. These are all wonderful traditions, but what happens when you have a child who...
May 13, 2016
2016 Above and Beyond Award Winner, Sharon Bay
Congratulations to Sharon Bay recipient of the Above and Beyond Award, which honor individuals who have contributed “Above and Beyond” the usual expectation in the area of Special Education. These awards are given out by the...Summer Camps and Programs Certified to Care for Children with Special Needs
Summer camps allow kids to participate in activities they love or try something new. Listed below are 7 camps that are companies certified to care for children with special needs. Please make sure to verify certifications are...
April 5, 2016
Defining Success in Parenting – No Matter How Special Your Kids Are
Defining success in parenting is crucial to knowing where you are going and when you have arrived, particularly for those of us with kids on the autism spectrum. Rather than thinking of success as some...
February 18, 2016
How One Woman Defied the Experts and Nurtured the Spark Inside Her Son Who Has Autism
“If a child who was never supposed to talk or read can rise to such improbable heights, imagine what children without such challenges might achieve, and how far they might soar if we encouraged them...
February 2, 2016
Celebrate Jasmine’s Bunting Company
Jasmine’s Bunting Co. (JBC) helps set the mood for festive birthday parties, baby showers and holidays with colorful, customized, flag-style banners. While JBC produces a distinctive end product, the core of this Encinitas-based business involves...
December 14, 2015
Thank You Mission Federal Credit Union!
The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego would like to thank Mission Federal Credit Union for its generous charitable donation of $1,000. The support from Mission Federal Credit Union will allow us to move forward with our mission of helping parents...
November 30, 2015
The Best Gifts for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder
Gifts can be tricky for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), like my son Dylan. Sure, they like all the same things that other kids do, but when their world already seems overwhelming, a calming...
October 20, 2015
Managing Your Child’s Health at School
When a child has a chronic health condition, daily living can be a challenge. Managing that condition while he is in school can cause even more anxiety for parents. Lucille Packard Foundation for Children's Health...
September 30, 2015
Special Circumstances: Does this Sound Familiar? You are Not Alone.
From the moment that wriggling, wailing, beautiful bundle was placed in your arms, you knew your child was special. But the word "special" assumes a new dimension when it is paired with the word "needs."...
September 29, 2015
10 Halloween Tips for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Halloween is an exciting holiday for kids, but it may offer certain challenges for children with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Preparation and planning can help you stay stress-free. Whether this is your child’s first Halloween...
September 15, 2015
Dysgraphia: Make Sure Your Child has the Write Stuff to Succeed at School
Does your child avoid homework or become distressed when homework involves printing or writing? Does he have an awkward pencil grasp? Is his printing or handwriting difficult to decipher? Can he communicate his ideas verbally...
August 27, 2015
How to Be an Effective Advocate for Your Child with Special Needs
Carol Foulke M.S. is a retired speech/language pathologist with more than 30 years experience in a public school setting who served elementary through high school students. I asked her the following questions: From your perspective,...
August 17, 2015
SNRFSD Earned a Bronze Star from GuideStar
The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego is proud to announce that we recently achieved a bronze star from GuideStar. GuideStar's mission is to revolutionize philanthropy by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better...
August 12, 2015
The Art of Advocating for Your Child with Special Needs
Parents are natural advocates for their children. We love our children, and we want the best for them. As a mother of four children, three with special needs, I know how important it is to...
July 27, 2015