Sign language, learning to read, write and spell, and other forms of communication are also eloquent ways to speak to one another

The sibling of a child with special needs grows up with a different perspective on their family and the world, whether as a rival or an advocate for their sister or brother, and often, both

Preparing for severe weather events, experiencing them, and recovering afterward may be more difficult and traumatic for children with special needs, but families who plan for everyday emergencies are more likely to teach resilience to children

Service animals have aided children, teens and adults with disabilities for decades. Although some leading animal rights activists protest the use of working dogs and other animals, we applaud those who rescue dogs to train for companionship, therapy and service or breed and train them specifically.

Do everyday experiences make your child uncomfortable? Sensory integration problems and sensory defensiveness can cause children such discomfort they may communicate it by drastic measures. Physical therapy, accommodations and behavioral strategies help children with sensory processing disorder.

Sensory integration difficulties can cause children to avoid certain activities and respond inappropriately to everyday situations. Some children may be unusually uncomfortable or troubled by food textures, hairbrushing, visual stimulation, loud sounds, scratchy clothing, or other distractions.

Making Self-Employment Work for People with Disabilities, by Cary Griffin and David Hammis, is a timely resource for families, counselors, job coaches, transition specialists, and individuals with developmental disabilities, physical challenges, chronic health conditions or other special needs.

Children who speak at home but don´t feel comfortable talking at school or in other social situations may have a condition known as selective mutism. Researchers have found that children who experience selective mutism have an anxiety disorder that prevents them from speaking in certain situations.

Advocates are stepping forward to describe the importance of children with disabilities being represented in movies, commercials, and television shows as main characters as well as casual extras. Seeing children with disabilities in movies, ads and television impacts siblings and mainstream peers.

Disability activists have called for a boycott of the 2008 summer blockbuster movie and DVD due to demeaning language, storylines and repulsive catch phrases coined for the satire that are expected to further pollute common language. I now believe everyone in my community should see Tropic Thunder.