This Special Needs Week in Review blog just so happens to fall on the very last day of September. A wide variety of subjects hit the blog this week. There are blogs about homecoming rumors, Halloween activities for kids with special needs, a new drug, a new toy guide, and some concern about “clustering”.
Arbaclofen May Help Symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome
Arbaclofen, (also called STX209), has been approved to treat one of the symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome. It helps with social withdrawal. There is potential that this drug might also help people who have an autism spectrum disorder to be better able to handle some social situations.
Mom Wants Homecoming Canceled After Learning of Prank
The mother of a fifteen year old daughter, who has ADHD and social difficulties, wants to have the homecoming activities at her daughter’s school canceled. The mother heard a rumor that her daughter was elected to homecoming court specifically so some students could publicly humiliate her during the homecoming parade.
1 in 88 Can’t Wait
AutismSpeaks wants you to become politically active on behalf of children and adults who have an autism spectrum disorder. Vote for candidates that are going to uphold the 2012 Policy Principles created by AutismSpeaks. The 1 in 88 kids in the United States who were born with autism in 2000, (and the rest born after them) need your help!
Halloween Fun for Kids With Special Needs
This blog has some information about upcoming Halloween events that will be appropriate for children who have special needs, (and their families). These events are not too scary. They are still full of Halloween fun. A few are intentionally designed for children who have special needs.
The 2012 Toys R Us “Differently-Abled” Toy Guide is Ready!
Every year, Toys R Us puts together a toy guide that is designed to make it easier for parents to select toys that are appropriate for children who have special needs. A color coded system identifies which of the toys are designed to help improve specific skills.
Parents Concerned About Clustering At Bus Stops
Parents in California are concerned about a proposed change in the school bussing system. Instead of picking up, and dropping off, students who are part of the Special Education program at their doors, the school district wants to do “clustering”. This would involve assigning a group of Special Education students to a particular bus stop.
Image by happy_serendipity on Flickr