Advocacy
Best practices and issues in working for opportunities, acceptance, encouragement , inclusion and support for children with special needs and their families
'Tropic Thunder' Movie Affects Ordinary Lives 
Ben Stiller´s movie, Tropic Thunder, offers a humiliating portrayal of a developmentally disabled character, hate language, and a ´movie within a movie´ that increases risks for individuals with intellectual disabilities who attend movies, work at theaters, or enjoy participation in community life. AAPD - American Association of People with Disabilities [offsite link]
Accessible Designs in Playgrounds and Play Areas
Children with physical disabilities should have accessible playgrounds in their communities and schools. We find great designs in accessible playgrounds and play areas in communities of all sizes, and we can also learn from the shortcomings we find in our own neighborhoods and local schools ADAPT - American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today [offsite link]
Advocating for Children with Special Needs
Help develop your children's talents, abilities and interests as you learn about their challenges and special needs, and discover what support and encouragement works best Advocating in Multicultural Communities
Advocating in multicultural communities and outreach by diverse ethnic groups builds stronger support for all our children and families Airline Travel for Children with Special Needs
New security procedures make travel more difficult for children with disabilities or chronic health conditions Amazon Kindle 2 and Childhood Disability
The updated version of the Amazon Kindle reader for books and magazines may be more useful than the original for children and adults with disabilities. Advocates for the vision impaired would improve text to speech controls but recognize Kindle 2 provides better access to visually impaired readers. Are Our Children Overtested?
When a child is diagnosed with a disability or chronic health condition, families want to know how best to help them meet the challenges and cope with the difficulties that stem from it. Asking More from Medical Professionals
Asking and expecting more from medical professionals is good advocacy for children with special needs Aversive Restraints and Seclusion in School
Use of time-out or seclusion rooms at school, physical restraints and other aversive techniques as consequences for misbehavior from students who communicate mainly through their behavior should be eliminated from the policies and practices of our children's schools and other facilities. Barack Obama's Disability Advocacy Plan
Families of children with disabilities can learn a great deal about the scope of issues involved in planning for a better quality of life and richness of experience throughout their son or daughter´s lifespan by reading "Barack Obama and Joe Biden´s Plan to Empower People with Disabilities." Bill Maher and Comments about The Extra Chromosome
In 2006, Bill Maher helped popularize using derogatory references to individuals with 'an extra chromosome'. Families of children with Down syndrome speak out about why they are concerned about the effect on their children's opportunities and safety. Chicken Soup for the Soul Children & Special Needs
The latest Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Stories of Love and Understanding for Those Who Care for Children with Disabilities, includes inspiring tales and wonderful stories about loving and raising kids just like ours. Cutting with Scissors and Other Fine Motor Skills
Children who struggle with fine motor skills, like cutting with scissors, may deal with challenges of motor planning, muscle control, perception of objects, size and strength of their fingers and hands, limited access to tools and practice, and their own frustration. Disability Advocacy and Awareness
Disability advocacy and awareness helps children with special needs grow up included and supported in their neighborhoods and schools, and provides valuable lessons to their mainstream peers and community. Disability is Natural - Featured Website
Kathie Snow is best known for her website and eNewsletter, Disability is Natural. She is a marvelous resource for parents and professionals as well as policy makers who are dedicated to creating inclusive communities for children and adults labeled disabled. Disability Issues In the News
Disability related news articles in mainstream newspapers and magazines help advocates stay informed and gather community support Dolls for Children with Special Needs
Beautiful dolls and toys that demonstrate the diversity of the children in our communities have been available for many years, and should be found and enjoyed in classrooms, daycare and our children´s toy collections. Some parents have found dolls with disabilities to be offensive representations. Expressing Friendship with Valentines
Valentines Day holiday is a great opportunity for expressions of friendship between children and a wonderful incentive for them to practice writing their first names on the backs of cards, or placing stickers with preprinted names and messages of friendship. Extended School Year for Special Education
Students who qualify for special education services through and IEP or 504 plan may also benefit from extended school year services to focus on existing or emerging skills that can diminish or be lost be lost over summer vacation. An excellent resource for parents is the Wrights Law website on ESY. Family Voices [offsite link]
"We are families from throughout the United States who have children with special health needs.
We are also caregivers, professionals, and friends whose lives have been touched by these children and their families." Federation for Children with Special Needs [offsite link]
Provides a center for parents of children with special needs. Link to other agencies nationally and scan publications. Fundraising and Advocacy
Supporting organizations and advocates through fundraising and volunteer participation carries many programs through hard financial times Home Accessibility and Visitability for Children
Home accessibility, adaptability and visitability for children with special needs means they can visit friends in their neighborhood and extended family in their own communities. IDEA - Education Law
The deadline to submit comments to the US Dept of Education on the 2004 IDEA regulations was September 6, 2005. IEP Goals for Children with Special Needs
Writing IEP goals for children with special needs can be a challenge for teachers who are not yet familiar with your child as an individual Music Education - Every Voice Heard
Children with special needs benefit from participation in school music programs, expressing themselves by playing instruments, writing and singing songs, learning and being included in the arts. Newsletter for Families of Children with Special Needs
Keep informed of current issues and resources for children and families, updates on new Special Needs Children articles, current discussions at the SNC Forum, and Bella Online sweepstakes Nintendo Wii Therapy Rehab for Children and Teens
The Nintendo WII video gaming system can be used by children, teens and adults with injuries or disability, for physical therapy and rehabilitiation as well as entertainment. Student programmers have created software making the Nintendo Wii remote (WiiMote) functional for people with disabilities.
Pain Management for Children with Disabilities
Pain management for children with chronic medical conditions and others who need blood draws, bone marrow aspiration, central or PICC lines, IV sticks, or port access may experience less pain, fear and trauma using numbing agents and techniques to avoid or relieve anxiety and distress Pain, Childhood Blood Draws, Injections, IV Lines
Children deserve to be offered pain relief for childhood blood draws, injections, bone marrow aspiration, laser treatment and other medical procedures that may create more fear and anxiety than the injury or illness being treated. Some are: EMLA disks, Ametop gel, Numby Stuff, and vapocoolant sprays People First Language Awareness
"People First Language" is a natural way of communicating about people with disabilities that respectfully acknowledges each person's dignity. Individuals with disabilities experience more discrimination or bullying when a diagnosis is given more significance than the content of their character. People First Language Sensitivity
People First Language can apply to any individual or group who may be disrespected, overlooked or dismissed due to stereotypes, prejudice, or discrimination. People with disabilities and their families are often marginalized and excluded because they are classified by diagnosis instead of humanity. Person Centered Planning
Person Centered Planning is a process that can have a profound effect on an individual´s life, their community´s perspective, and the support, encouragement and opportunities your son or daughter might find during times of transition. Printing, Cursive Handwriting, and Special Needs
Children with special needs have shown great success in learning to print and write in cursive when given the support, encouragement and tools that should be readily available to them as well as their mainstream classmates Rebuilding America with Universal Design
With the emphasis on rebuilding the infrastructure and putting people to work on construction projects as a way back to economic security for our country, we should be demanding the thorough integration of universal design in all projects Second Thoughts on the Tropic Thunder Boycott
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. Seeing Children with Disabilities in Media
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. SNAP (Special Needs Advocate For Parents) [offsite link]
An online resource for information, education, advocacy, and referrals for families with special needs children of all ages and disabilites. Snapshots, Photography and Childhood Disability
Children with delayed language can communicate through snapshots and inexpensive picture books showing their daily activities, interests and talents. Taking snapshots regularly gives us a deeper look into their lives, opportunities and capabilities as individuals, too. Special Child: For Parents and Caregivers of Children with Special Needs [offsite link]
Special Child is provided by The Resource Foundation for Children with Challenges (RFCC), a nonprofit charity organization and is dedicated to parents of children with special needs. Special Ed Advocate - Special Education Law [offsite link]
Provides news and law archives for individuals interested in special education advocacy. Subscribe to the free online newsletter. I do! Teacher Appreciation and Childhood Disability
Parents share creative ideas to show appreciation for teachers who have created better learning opportunities, support, and welcoming classrooms for our sons and daughters with special needs and inspired our children to exercise greater potential than can be predicted by tests and evaluations. The Disability Hierarchy, Equity and Advocacy
What has been described as the "Disability Hierarchy" can also be seen as the multiculturalism of our advocacy community. As diverse as individuals are within disability labels throughout cultures and ethnicities, we are also within coalitions. Equity is critical for advocacy groups and individuals. The Power of Music - Dr. Phil Show [offsite link]
Dr. Phil´s show on The Power of Music urges the reintroduction and continuation of music education in public schools and support for children to follow their interest in music and performance in their communities Links marked with the [offsite link] designation point to websites not associated with BellaOnline.com. BellaOnline.com is not responsible for the material found there.
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