You realize that your child has special needs, and now you feel as though you’re surrounded by a swarm of professionals, all giving you instructions and advice. The greater the degree of your child’s handicap, the more professionals you’re likely to deal with. How do you maintain your parental control, when you feel intimidated by these knowledgeable strangers? Here are some pitfalls to watch out for when dealing with these experts: Technical Lingo: Sometimes doctors, specialists, and even social workers start to speak in what seems like their own mysterious dialect. That’s because day after day as they deal with … Continue reading →

You learn your child has a disability, and suddenly in come “the professionals.” Your life becomes a maze of specialists, therapists, and other “ists.” It can become overwhelming. In this part one of my two-part blog on professionals, let’s test your knowledge of these 19 specialists and see if you can match them to their (very basic) job descriptions below: Professionals: Geneticist Endocrinologist Counselor Pediatrician Orthopedic Specialist Ophthalmologist Optometrist Psychiatrist Psychologist Speech & Language Pathologist Audiologist Physical Therapist Occupational Therapist Neurologist Social Worker Special Education Teacher Behavioral Therapist Nutritionist Scientist/Researcher Basic Job Descriptions: A. Treats diseases of the eye. B. … Continue reading →