Tucked away in the green mountains of Vermont is a small company specializing in creating gourmet animal treatments and helping those with learning disabilities find successful, gratifying work. Andy’s Dandys, which was formed in 2008 by Lucie Whiteford and Lesha Rasco, provides specialized work training programs for young adults with special needs and diverse learning styles. Whiteford, an avid baker and mom of a young adult with a unique learning style, and Rasco, a special educator, teamed up to prove that fulfilling employment is possible for everyone at every ability level. Whiteford’s own son Andrew, who has Down syndrome, completed … Continue reading →

In Tennessee, a group called The GEAR Foundation is working hard to help young adults and adults with disabilities and special needs find jobs and become independent. Their mission is simple: “to provide individuals with disabilities work experiences, which will enable them to discover and develop their unique capabilities and potential, and to help them achieve the highest degree of independence and self respect.” Individuals with disabilities are often overlooked when it comes to finding a job. Their abilities can be vastly underrated and they are left to live a life dependent on others with no hope for their future. … Continue reading →

As the parent of a child with cystic fibrosis, I joined an online support community of people with CF and parents of people with CF. There has been some talk there lately about the Make a Wish Foundation. Children with CF are eligible for Make a Wish because it is a chronic, life-threatening condition. However, as the median life expectancy grows for those with CF (from age 8 in 1950 to age 37 today), parents are trying to decide at what age to have their child receive her wish. Choosing just one wish out of the millions of things a … Continue reading →

Learning to ride a bike is a basic right of passage for children from New York to Washington. The thrill, the skinned knees, and the independence are all a part of the process and every child deserves the chance to experience it. Children with special needs, however, often don’t get that opportunity. Less than 20% of autistic children and 10% of children with Down syndrome learn to ride a bike. However, programs popping up across the country are bringing about a change. These bike camps first began with a single camp in 1999 in LaCrosse, WI. Dr. Richard E. Klein … Continue reading →

Parents of children with cognitive delays often worry their kids might be isolated from the real world and have difficulty making friends. Socialization is so important for children with intellectual disabilities. Through friendships with peers of similar age and average intellect, these special kids can improve the quality of their lives dramatically. They can learn, have experiences, and participate in activities they otherwise might never even imagine if left to only associate with other intellectually-disabled children. There is a fantastic organization founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver called “Best Buddies International.” Headquartered in Miami, Florida, it is non-profit organization … Continue reading →

Today my stepdaughter Sunni sacrificed something very beautiful and precious for the sake of a child she’s never met. For the last year, she’s been growing out her long strawberry blonde hair so that she could donate it to the “Locks of Love” foundation. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides children who have cancer, alopecia (or other medical conditions causing long-term hair loss) with natural-looking wigs, free of charge. “Locks of Love” was once relatively unheard of, but now it is well-known due to television and media exposure. Recently, my daughter’s middle school had an assembly where … Continue reading →

As a parent of a visually impaired child there are many challenges to meet, one of them being just the simple act of walking freely from one place to the other unassisted. There is therapy available called Orientation and Mobility therapy (O & M). O & M is very important for children and adults with visual impairments. This is what helps them to be able to walk independently in their environment, may it be a common or new environment. If a person with visual impairments is not comfortable in their surroundings it can cause unneeded stress as well as confusion … Continue reading →