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

Shoe Shopping and Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art175525.asp
Shopping for and caring for shoes can be a challenge with any child. Down syndrome adds to the difficulty due to some of the physical differences common in children with DS as well as sensory issues and developmental delays that are also challenging for other children with special needs.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art175525.asp

3/21 - World Down Syndrome Day
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61064.asp
Down Syndrome Day 2012 will be celebrated for the first time at the United Nations in New York due to resolution officially designating 3/21 as World Down Syndrome Day. In 2009 it was celebrated with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the genetic cause of Down syndrome by Dr. Jerome Lejeune.

Message from Emily and Jason Kingsley:
"Jason and I will be speaking on a panel on Wednesday March 21, 2012 at the United Nations at a conference called "Building Our Future" in commemoration of the first ever World Down Syndrome Day.
The date was chosen - 3/21 - to highlight the three copies of the 21st chromosome that characterize Down syndrome. Speakers from all over the world, including self-advocates from many different countries, will be presenting all day long. We are very honored to have been included in this prestigious program.
Our part of the program will be a panel discussion between 11:00 and 11:30 AM on Human Rights and Political Participation of Self-Advocates. I will be moderating a panel of four self advocates including Jason. It should be extremely interesting and fun.
Other topics to be covered during the day's conference will be: the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Inclusion, Changing Society Attitudes, From Neglect and Institutionalization to Protagonist and Living in the Community, Power of the Media, Improving Quality of Life, Latest Research and a new World Down Syndrome Day Website.
We are very excited to be participating in this historic event. - Jason and Emily"
http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php/posts/751418#Post751418

Welcome to Holland - Today and Yesterday
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art172314.asp
The wonderful essay written by Emily Perl Kingsley has been included in many wonderful anthologies and is often included in New Parent Packets for parents and professionals sharing a newborn or prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Many believe that it is as relevant today as the day it was written.

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

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Pamela Wilson, with 1,906 others at:
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Join our community on Facebook with 153 other parents and advocacy organizations
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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

Browsing (and making purchases) at our Amazon aStores benefits the Children with
Special Needs website. There are also links to books and other products beneath
almost every article at the Children with Special Needs website. I appreciate
your support! Most of the books are available at your public library or local bookstore,
but the reader reviews and list of related resources on Amazon have been helpful to
many parents and other advocates.

Down Syndrome Advocacy - Books, toys and other items
http://astore.amazon.com/downsyndrome-20

Children with Special Needs - Books, toys and other items
http://astore.amazon.com/specialneed0e-20

Children's Shoes (Browse online for styles and prices, shop locally)
http://tinyurl.com/75o2wcx

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

Orthotics and Shoe Inserts for Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art63716.asp

Shoes and Children with Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art172459.asp

Kindergarten Transition
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49718.asp
Kids from early intervention or preschool with IEPs belong
in district pre-kindergarten activities right now.

Homeschooling Children w Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45894.asp

Private Schools and Childhood Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52889.asp

Safety, Risk, and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art64636.asp

Child Safety - Pills, Purses and Suitcases
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art62309.asp

Environmental Issues and Childhood Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art175113.asp
Our children are more vulnerable to pollutants, toxins, allergens

Pain Management for Children with Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51895.asp

Down Syndrome and Diabetes Dual Diagnosis
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32543.asp

Letter to Myself - Diagnosis Day
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art171469.asp

Mental Wellness in Pregnancy and Motherhood
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art170925.asp

Traumatic Birth and Motherhood
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art170924.asp

Growing Up with Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art173603.asp

We Can End the R-Word in Movies and TV
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art175486.asp

Parent Humor: Childhood Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art59819.asp

Childhood Disability and Supporting Other Moms
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art59660.asp

Growing Up with an Intellectual Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art173603.asp