Years like this one, where we have the yamim tovim chunked together with the weekends, are — dare I depart from our love of kvetching and say it? — a little easier for most of us, at least in terms of holding onto routine. Instead of the days fluctuating in a never-ending school – Erev […]
Goodbye, summer. Goodbye, long, sunshiny days, camp, swimming, fun. See you next year! Okay, so the days are still kinda long and sunshiny. On leap years like these, the early start to the frum school year means that fall is not quite around the corner. But you have to admit, there’s something crisp about September, […]
Do you ever stop to marvel at the disproportionate amount of staff that children with special needs depend on? ABA para, com hab worker, respite worker, home health aide… these are just a few from the standard collection of support staff that many of our kids rely on regularly. And despite all this, most parents […]
Those of you who have been there know that toilet training a child with special needs is a delicate, complex, and utterly exhausting process. Did I mention long, too? Many of our kiddos worked on this over the summer in their respective programs and made tremendous progress.* But it ain’t over till it’s over till you have […]
Myth: Since the ABA agencies have stopped accepting Medicaid plans, ABA has become a luxury for the wealthy. Or a way for us, um, unwealthy folk (*Go, majority, go!*) to go broke, fast. Fact: Some ABA agencies do accept Medicaid plans (What?!). Also, for kiddos with disabilities, you may be able to utilize their Medicaid to cover ABA. First off, […]
Orofacial myofunctional therapy. What a fun, sophisticated, multisyllabic phrase, no? Try saying it ten times fast. It almost sounds like some sort of alternative intervention (maybe because of the “function” piece), but the truth is, myofunctional therapy is evidence-based, practical, and just plain makes sense. What it helps Myofunctional therapy can be used to treat […]
June has arrived. Around the country, children have hung their countdowns (only 38 hours and 21 minutes of torture left!) up on classroom walls and parents have begun to bid their heartfelt farewells. Goodbye, school. Goodbye, normal, blessed, routine. How many hours until the chaotic, kids-home-all-day stretch ends and camp begins? (And how, pray-tell, will […]
Care Management. What a vague, oft-used term which means too many things. What is care management? If you are wondering what it’s all about (or if you’ve got a care manager, but you have no idea what they can really help you with), you’re in good company. Read on to learn more about what it is, who […]
This past winter was cold, colder than it’s been in years. But to make up for the extra cold, it looks like we’re having a warmer-than-average spring. How’s that for a change? While many parents love the long, sunny afternoons, which afford their children hours of outdoor fun (requiring minimal parental interaction!), lots of parents of […]
Independence. The goal of all goals. If there’s anything we’re proud of, it’s when our children reach a new milestone in self-sufficiency. And New York State, as it turns out, also likes to support new levels of independence. Which is why they offer a range of support services for our kids — among them, OPWDD Housing Subsidy. […]
