Best wishes for a healthy, prosperous and happy 2013.

Thank you for your support and encouragement, and for helping build an inclusive community online where all families are highly valued and celebrated.

New Year Resolutions and Childhood Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art174442.asp

I enjoyed finding this quotation recently, and although it was written for an earlier new year, it made me smile.

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman
http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2007/12/as-i-was-saying.html

Here's the latest article from the Children with Special Needs site at BellaOnline.com.

School Safety - Staff Should Not Carry Weapons
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art178988.asp
It is a mistake to believe that arming teachers and staff in schools will reduce school violence, increase safety, or protect the school community even in cases where the campus endures an armed attack.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art178988.asp

Please visit specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Children with Special Needs.

Preparing for Emergencies with Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50320.asp

Medical ID Bracelets for Children and Teens
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art66973.asp

Affirmations - Expressing Affection and Acceptance
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art208.asp

Talking to Your Daughter About Her Period
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art176925.asp

Homecoming & Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art178153.asp

Teens & Pre-Teens w/ Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art69004.asp

Bacterial and Viral Pneumonia
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art174587.asp

Melissa Riggio Made a Difference
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56423.asp

Thoughts on the Sandy Hook Elementary Tragedy
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art178945.asp

Join our community on Facebook with 279 other parents and advocacy organizations
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Children-with-Special-Needs-at-Bellaonline/232298623459587

Check out Childhood Disability messages on Twitter with 2,348 others, at:
http://www.twitter.com/downsynadvocacy

How Hurricane Sandy Is Affecting A Girl With Autism On Long Island
http://www.ibtimes.com/how-hurricane-sandy-affecting-girl-autism-long-island-858530

Superstorm Sandy Stories: Where Was the Plan for People with Disabilities?
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=12273

Local first responders should study this in advance, otherwise it's DIY:
Accommodating Individuals With Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing, & Human Services Reference Guide
http://www.fema.gov/accommodating-individuals-disabilities-provision-disaster-mass-care-housing-human-services

And of course, Do It Yourself
Oregon - Ready Now! Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for People with Disabilities
http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/outreach/occyshn/upload/ReadyNowToolkit.pdf

Homecoming couple continue to inspire http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-12-29/news/ct-met-krissy-and-tom-20121229_1_gym-class-geneva-high-school-student-council Students with Down syndrome the talk of the town. And state.

Boy won't wear hearing aid because "superheroes don't" - so Marvel creates one.
http://www.wimp.com/hearingaid/

When Down Syndrome and Autism Intersect: DS-ASD for Parents and Professionals
http://tinyurl.com/a49f9lv

Emma's Hope Book - Autism: Our Journey
Emma Refuses To Get Off the Bus and A Self Advocate is Born!
http://emmashopebook.com/2012/09/11/emma-refuses-to-get-off-the-bus-and-a-self-advocate-is-born/

With love, for all the great people who are living with TBI
Nine Things NOT to Say to Someone with a Brain Injury
http://www.brainline.org/content/2012/10/9-things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-a-brain-injury.html

To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Children with Special Needs located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=57

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!

Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Pamela Wilson, Children with Special Needs Editor
http://specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com

Managing Emergencies at School
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art70183.asp

Preparing for Emergencies with Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50320.asp

Winter Storm Preparations
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48466.asp

Severe Weather Events
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48466.asp

Back to School with Diabetes
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52832.asp

School Bus Rides
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45298.asp

Teaching Reading to Teens and Young Adults
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57782.asp

Reading and Literacy Skill Development
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57331.asp

Signing, Reading and Spelling for Communication
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33567.asp

Reading Strategies
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35577.asp

Teaching Handwriting to Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51022.asp

Printing, Cursive Writing, Childhood Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51023.asp

Down Syndrome in Arts and Media
2012: 49 hires; 103 auditions; 300 talented actors in our files with room for more!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=512722465439322&set=a.344556082255962.86371.333474416697462&type=1&theater …