What is Project AWARE?

Shortly after President Obama discussed new policy proposals to reduce gun violence, there were quite a few news articles about something called Project AWARE. What is it? After doing some research, it appears to be the name of the plan to help make mental health care more accessible to people who need it. Recently, I posted a blog that discussed part of the Obama Administration’s plan to reduce gun violence. Since this is the Special Needs Blog, I focused on the parts that related to improved access to mental health care. Today, I saw several news article about something called … Continue reading →

Could Fast Food Increase Allergy Related Conditions?

We have heard, many times, about a connection between fast food and obesity. Could it also link to childhood asthma and eczema? That is what a group of researchers have determined after taking a close look at global disease and dietary patterns. I don’t think that there are any parents out there who truly believe that fast food is a healthy, wonderful, choice for dinner every single night. (Or, at least, there shouldn’t be). We have all heard it said that too much fast food can cause several different types of health problems, in both adults and children. One of … Continue reading →

New Gun Control Laws and Special Needs

Today, January 15, 2013, Vice President Biden delivered his policy proposals to President Obama regarding ways to reduce gun violence. New York Governor Cuomo also unveiled rules to prevent gun violence. Some of the new regulations are going to affect children, teens, and adults who have mental illnesses. Here is what parents need to know. Now is the time to do something. The tragedy that happened in Newtown, Connecticut, has sparked a push for legislators to enact laws that are intended to reduce the amount of gun violence in the United States. Some feel that this is what we have … Continue reading →

NYC Bus Strike Will Affect Kids With Special Needs

A union that represents New York City school bus drivers may strike this week. The result will force parents to find some other way to get their children to school. It will provide additional hardship for the parents of the students who have special needs and who rely on those buses. There seems to be an endless supply of news stories that talk about bussing and students who are in Special Education. Often, the stories are about incidents that are not positive ones. This story would fit that description as well. There are about 152,000 students in New York City … Continue reading →

Iowa Court Says Disabilities Act Covers Severe Allergies

An Iowa Court of Appeals ruled that children and adults who have severe allergies are protected from discrimination by the federal Americans With Disabilities Act. Those who have epilepsy are also protected by it. This decision is different than a previous one by an Iowa district court. In 2011, Shannon Knudsen sued Tiger Tots Community Child Care Center in Madrid, Iowa. The reason for the lawsuit was because the Child Care facility declined to accept her child specifically because the child had a tree nut allergy. The case was heard by an Iowa district court. The court ruled that the … Continue reading →

Study Finds Mental Health of Expectant Dad Affects Child

There is a new study that looks at mental health in a different way. Researchers found that expectant fathers who had mental health problems affected the behavior and emotional lives of their child. The kids didn’t exhibit the problems until years later. They aren’t sure exactly why this is happening, but it certainly appears to be the case. A study was done that included 32,000 children in Norway. The results were recently published in Pediatrics. It suggests something that most people would not have guessed was possible. The risk for future mental health problems in young children may be identified … Continue reading →

Call for Improved Access to Mental Health Care in Colorado

There seems to be a growing call for improved access to mental health care. The current attention likely has something to do with the recent school shootings. Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy is calling for parity in health plans in Colorado. Governor Hickenlooper wants funding to improve access to mental health care. Yesterday, I wrote a blog about Senator Al Franken who wants to see an increase in the number of school counselors, social workers, and psychologists. He is on the education committee in the United States Senate, and said he will push for federal funding to make that happen. He … Continue reading →

Senator Franken Says Schools Need More Counselors

In the weeks after the tragedy that happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Connecticut, there have been several ideas discussed about how to prevent something like that from happening again. Senator Al Franken says that schools need to have more counselors. He will push for federal funding to make that a reality. There are no words that can adequately describe the shock that people felt after learning about what happened in Connecticut in December of 2012. A twenty-something shooter went into Sandy Hook elementary school and opened fire. Twenty six people were killed that day – and twenty of … Continue reading →

Press the “Bully Button”

A school in California is using technology to combat bullying. No, it doesn’t involve security cameras or anything like that. The school placed a “Bully Button” on its already existing app. Students (and parents, and other adults) can use it to report bullying anonymously. Nobody likes a bully. Despite this, there always seem to be some out there searching for someone to pick on. One of the problems with bullying in high school is that students become fearful of reporting it to school counselors or other staff. The concern many students have is that there is potential that the bully … Continue reading →

Seven Year Old Cancer Patient Meets Justin Bieber

Millie Flamm is seven years old. She had concert tickets to see Justin Bieber, but was too sick to attend and had to sell the tickets. To make it up to her, Justin Bieber came to visit her and her family in private before the concert. There certainly seem to be a lot of little girls who adore Justin Bieber! Millie Flamm is one of them. She is seven years old, and was going to attend his concert at the Energy Solutions Arena, in Utah. Unfortunately, her cancer relapsed two weeks before the concert, and she was too sick to … Continue reading →