October 31, 2016
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
Parenting a Child with ADHD: One Parent’s Journey
Parents of children with special needs often struggle with support of others, finding reliable information about options and moving through the grief of parenting a “less than perfect” child. Here is our experience with our...
July 17, 2015
6 Tips for Your Family Photo Shoot
When you have a child with special needs, a family photo session can present unique challenges. Cara Koscinski, occupational therapist and book author, shares tips for success at your next family photo shoot. 1. Plan...
June 10, 2015
Fun and Therapeutic Water Play for Children with Special Needs
Since play is the main way a child learns, giving your child aquatic tasks designed with play in mind can be both fun and therapeutic. The benefits of aquatic therapy for children with autism, sensory...
May 28, 2015
Capability Ranch: An Activities Center for Families with Special Needs
Capability Ranch – An activities center for families with special needs Capability Ranch offers a perfect combination of nature, comfort and serenity. Located in rural Ramona, this newly opened activities and events center welcomes youth and...
May 13, 2015
5 Tips for Dealing with Picky Eaters
Feeding issues can be difficult for parents of kids with special needs. Children can develop finicky eating habits for many different reasons, including sensory and taste aversions, poor muscle control and gut issues, among other...
May 5, 2015
Information and Resources for College Students with Disabilities
Explore the We Connect Now website which was developed to integrate college students with disabilities as a virtual community and give them an outlet to address important issues with particular emphasis on access to higher education and employment. One of the...
April 8, 2015
5 Ways Nature Benefits Children with Special Needs
1. Nature is restorative. Horticulture therapists may be the first to tell you that the natural world provides a reduction in stress and an overall healing environment. Vertical and table gardens are great for those...
April 6, 2015
Big Red Safety Box from the National Autism Association
The National Autism Association (NAA) has created a safety toolkit called the Big Red Safety Box for families as part of as part of their continuing efforts to prevent wandering-related injuries and deaths in the...
March 4, 2015
6 Ways to Prevent Wandering-Related Incidents
Every child throws caution to the wind, discovering her world. She explores, touches, tastes and climbs, using her inquisitive nature in ways that have worried parents for centuries. Parents of children with special needs know...
February 19, 2015
5 Ways to Focus on Your Child’s Positive Traits
5 Ways to Focus on Your Child’s Positive Traits I spend a-lot of time and effort with my two boys who have special needs, working on what doesn't come naturally so they can have what...
February 5, 2015
Diabetes: Do Not Let Symptoms Go Unchecked
Seven million people develop Diabetes every year. Type I Diabetes can strike people of any age, even babies, so if your child has any of the symptoms listed below, seek medical attention. Type I Diabetes...
December 19, 2014
Happy Holiday Hints for Children with Special Needs
Holidays bring joy that warms the hearts of many. For those of us who have children with special needs, the holidays take on an entirely new dimension. Like everyone, we have shopping, cooking, decorating and...
November 19, 2014
Places to Find Free Equipment and Devices for Families with Special Needs
Looking for help? Here's a list of companies that can help families get needed items such as rehabilitation equipment, assistive devices and healthcare related supplies: Opportunity to Receive a New Wheelchair! The Darrell Gwynn Foundation would like to...
October 30, 2014
Safeguard Your Child Against Wandering
Wandering is often a concern with children with social communication disorders or developmental delay. The walk to school, shopping at the mall, and large scale social events like county fairs and community clean up days...
September 29, 2014
San Diego Organizations Offering Peer Friendship and Mentorship for Children
All kids need a buddy. Two San Diego County organizations provide awesome peer friendship and mentorship opportunities for children of nearly every age and stage. Learn how to get your kids involved. Little League Challenger...
July 14, 2014
Kids’ Self Esteem Increases with Physical Activities
Strutting Their Stuff We all know that involving our kids in team sports helps keep them physically fit—but what about the mental health benefits? Team sports and dance classes are just as much about...
July 7, 2014
Bring the Joy of Team Sports to Athletes of All Abilities
Adaptive Sports – Bring the Joy of Team Sports to Athletes of All Abilities When Hunter Pochop was 3 years old, he was an introverted preschooler with spina bifida. During the past five years, Hunter,...
March 26, 2014
5 Things to Know about Parents of Children with Special Needs
Five things to know about parents of children with special needs and how you can support them! My husband and I adopted our daughter when she was nine years old. She has a long list of...
Asperger Syndrome, Redefined
Keagan Peterson’s first birthday party was a happy occasion—cake, balloons and gifts—but his mom, Stephenie, couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Keagan, now 6, seemed to be suffering from a major sensory overload....
Understanding Dyslexia
Some authorities believe that it is strictly a language-processing problem involving the distinguishing of sounds of letters. Others believe that it is a visual/perceptual problem, since these children also reverse words laterally (b/d) and vertically...
March 6, 2014
Special Needs Resource Guide Now Available
San Diego Family Magazine has recently release it's annual publication, Flourishing Families 2014, THE special needs resource guide for families and agencies in San Diego County. It is a comprehensive list of behavior, education and health...
Rady Children’s Researchers Evaluate Kawasaki Disease Therapy
Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a severe childhood disease that many parents, even some doctors, mistake for an inconsequential viral infection. If not diagnosed or treated in time, it can lead to irreversible heart damage. Signs...