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

Encouraging Friendship - Childhood Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art171290.asp

When my son was in preschool, a special education administrator told me that every minute of his public school day would have to focus on teaching him self help skills; friendship was a luxury that children with his level of disability could not spend time on. Nothing could have been further from the truth! In mainstream kindergarten, his classmates became friends with him and with one another. He also learned to count to 100, could tell us all the sounds and letters of the alphabet, and copied a little book about "What Matter Is" like the other students. Encouraging friendships between classmates who represent the true diversity of our communities helps build relationship skills among children with developmental disabilities as well as their mainstream peers.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art171290.asp

Please invite your friends and other advocates and newsletter readers to visit
www.specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com
for articles about encouraging and advocating for children with physical and developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions, and other special needs.
Email editor Pamela Wilson for permission to include SNC articles in your newsletter; please include the name of the article and URL address.

Thank you for sharing family-centered and child-centered information and spreading awareness for our children with special needs. Your local monthly parenting newspaper may also be interested in articles about children and teens with special needs like those in your community.

Gardening with Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art171221.asp

Grandparents and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art60481.asp

Grandparents of Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art37114.asp

Easter Craft Ideas
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art21925.asp

Easter and Children with Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13561.asp

IEP Goals for Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4330.asp

Grandfathers and Great Uncles
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51398.asp

IEP Preparation - Teacher Support
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44746.asp

Speech Therapy for Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art170901.asp

(Over) Preparing for the IEP Meeting
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32971.asp

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

I hope you will enjoy following SNC Editor, Pamela Wilson, on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/DownSynAdvocacy
for news about children and teens with special needs and our families.

Recent Tweets and ReTweets:

Designing Outdoor Environments for Kids
http://tinyurl.com/DsngOtdrEnv4Kds
Landscaping School Yards, Gardens & Playgrounds

.DownSynPreg Baby Center just selected our own Nancy Iannone
as one of the moms to feature on Mother's Day!

.pediastaff Play Helps Japan’s Youngest Victims Cope
http://ht.ly/4zKsd (via @playworks and @kaboom)

Semantic Pragmatic Disorder and Autism
Challenges in knowing what to say, when to say it.
Hyperlexia, echolalia
http://tinyurl.com/SmntcPrgmtcDsordr

RT: Paula Kluth Tip 16 for Autism month: Keychain Vocabulary
http://tinyurl.com/KeyChainVocabPK
Inexpensive animal keyrings: no LED & sound; sturdier, too

Set of animal keychains that light up, make sounds
http://tinyurl.com/KychnAnmlLtSndSet
Party stores, craft centers, drug stores abt 2.99 ea

Buy local: LED animal keychains run abt 5.50 ea w/ free shipping
http://tinyurl.com/ShpLEDKyChn
Less expensive keychains = cost plus about $5 shipping!

RT @PaulaKluth 30 Days of Tips:
It's That Time of Year Again
http://f.ast.ly/GLLJb
Power Cards http://tinyurl.com/5tbmg6p

I was just introduced to balance bikes & am amazed
Balance Bikes & Gliders #DownSyndrome
http://tinyurl.com/GlidrBlncBikes
12 inch mini glider, small balance bikes for preschoolers,
16 inch training glider
Even more glider bikes!
http://tinyurl.com/TrngGlidrBlncBikes
Glider balance bike http://tinyurl.com/GldrBalnceBike
Teaching balance without dealing w/ pedals

Service Animals and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61552.asp

Assistive Listening Devices for the Classroom
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art62237.asp

Recess Skills for Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art432.asp

Service Dog Etiquette
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art64975.asp

RT @Toltecjohn Down Syndrome in Poetry
http://bit.ly/hCkwKW RT @cayside : Beautiful site.

Down Syndrome and Autism Dual Diagnosis
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33178.asp

I thought so, too, and then read:
http://bit.ly/eGKSso
@NZDSA RE: The Power of Words http://fb.me/xeS8Vqzo

RT @lleshin RT @BreakingNews:
Johnson & Johnson recalls batches of
epilepsy drug (Topomax) - PhillyInquirer
http://bit.ly/gH18G7

Brock Waidmann, a young actor w/ spina bifida,
agnesis of the corpus collosum, is Paul Reiser's son on NBC sitcom
http://bit.ly/dM5hES

RT @Bethesda_Inst Where have the good manners gone?
http://bit.ly/hfY7I0 More on Disability Etiquette here http://bit.ly/fCZ8C1

Also see: http://bit.ly/eGKSso Nice shoes, though
Short (2-min.) film: The Power of Words
Awful portrayal of person with disability
http://youtu.be/Hzgzim5m7oU

.mamatude
Deals on Special-Needs Apps
http://bit.ly/dKehZL
Special Needs and Special Occasions: Making family
gatherings good, not ghastly
http://t.co/hTatt4D

Browse the library, local bookstore & online retailers
for books for children about bike safety
http://tinyurl.com/BikeSafetyBks
Franklin's Bike Helmet
http://tinyurl.com/FrnklnBkHlmt
Curious George Rides a Bike; The Bike Lesson;
Froggy Rides a Bike; Bear's Bicycle
Toddler Bike Helmets
http://tinyurl.com/TdlerBikeHlmts
Hospitals may subsidize helmets for children to
reduce risks/costs of brain injury

RT: Disabilitygov Recently Updated -
@NICHCY Camps for Children with Special Needs
http://bit.ly/eqia7V

RT: NDSC I am not like girls my age in everything
In one thing I am very different... I play the drums.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_29acQ8GKEU

Private Schools and Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52889.asp

RT: .mamatude Helping Private Schools Serve
Students w/ Special Needs
http://bit.ly/hIdpHS

Communicating with Babies
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54401.asp

Children & Sign Language
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49898.asp
Babies, toddlers = less frustration

Speech, Feeding Therapy, and Early Intervention
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art47296.asp

Equine Therapy for Communication Delays
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32724.asp
Kids & horses - hippotherapy

Jamie Foxx on The Ellen Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIo8hx4gwVI
Living w/ his sister w/ Down syndrome

RT: downsyndromeaia Does your organization provide support
to members serving in the military?
Share this info with your members!
http://ow.ly/4Beuf

New @theaace diabetes guidelines
https://www.aace.com/sites/default/files/DMGuidelinesCCP.pdf
@synchealthcare #diabetes #nursing #health

Apraxia_KIDS Question - Can hippotherapy actually be
called speechtherapy? Does this seem ok slpeeps ?
http://tinyurl.com/3ogplcd

RT: Mamatude Body-odor basics for teens with special needs
http://t.co/0SBcOpa

RT: AbilitiesUnited Obama defended entitlement programs
benefiting people w/ disabilities
http://fb.me/SNzz8j2V

RT: mariashriver Some great advice for anyone trying to
choose the right assisted living community for a loved one.
http://bit.ly/hS2gnD
5
RT: HealthyMovement Kids sitting in a W?
Here's an article by a PT that helps explain it.
Very interesting! http://bit.ly/i9F0ap

RT: pujolsfound We made it to 900 followers!!!!
We need to spread the word about our Foundation
and how we help children with Down syndrome.

39th Annual National Down Syndrome Congress Convention
August 5 – 7, 2011
NDSC: We have a variety of volunteering opportunities in San Antonio
for the convention in August. Many hands make light work.
Souvenir Journal Message - information, recognition, good wishes;
memorialize; business logos and photos may be included.
Pre-conference Sessions
Youth & Adults with Down Syndrome Conference
Brothers and Sisters Conference; Kids’ Camp
http://convention.ndsccenter.org/

NDSC Self-Advocate Book Project
http://www.ndsccenter.org/?page_id=88
ABC for You and Me
http://tinyurl.com/abcYouMeNDSC
Adults w/ Down Syndrome
http://tinyurl.com/AdultsDSndsc
Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome
http://tinyurl.com/CountUsInNDSC
Fasten Your Seatbelt: Crash Course on
Down Syndrome for Brothers & Sisters
http://tinyurl.com/FstnStbltSibsNDSC
Donovan & the Big Hole: A Texas Adventure
http://tinyurl.com/DnvnBgHlNDSC
Main character Donovan, 14, has Down syndrome
NDSC Self-Advocate Book Project

RT @SylFu Families raising children w/ developmental disabilities
Between a rock & a hard place
http://tinyurl.com/PrntsCwDWrkng

To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Special Needs Children 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, Special Needs Children Editor
http://specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com

Please visit specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com to catch up on the latest articles and archives of interest to advocates and families of children who have developmental delays, physical disabilities, chronic health conditions, or other special needs.

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

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

Teaching Students in Inclusive Classrooms
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art63003.asp

Accessible Designs in Playgrounds & Play Areas
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51609.asp

Home Accessibility & Visitability for Children w/ Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art37751.asp

Universal Design and General Education Curriculum
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50363.asp
Great philosophy, strategies & techniques

Elementary School Transition
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50637.asp

Transition to Preschool from Early Intervention
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49696.asp

Kindergarten Transition
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49718.asp

Adult Siblings - Childhood Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art69004.asp

High School Homeschooling & Transition
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45892.asp

Transition Planning for Teens w/ Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57505.asp
Middle school to graduation or age 21

Elementary School Transition
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50637.asp

Transition to Preschool from Early Intervention
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49696.asp

Mosaic and Translocation Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33207.asp

ESPN_College Must read from @grahamhays:
Northwestern #softball's Michelle Batts inspired by sister with Down syndrome:
http://ow.ly/4zoju

Expectant & New Parent Information on Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art68926.asp

Celebrity Charity Event for Down Syndrome Assoc LA
http://twitpic.com/4k793k CAL BOWL
RT @MISTABING Thanks for the support RT @AGEProducer

RT @streetmoda Down Syndrome Louisville Career Solutions partners w/ StreetModa.com
http://fb.me/syicOo0A
Great employees w/ #downsyndrome

RT @se30mstp 'The Politics Of Down Syndrome'
http://bit.ly/e6p5Hb
Author Kieron Smith dd was involved in incident w/ comedian Frankie Boyle

The Politics Of Down Syndrome by Kieron Smith
http://tinyurl.com/PltcsDownSynKSmith

@JoniRedlich Advice re adaptive swing community playground http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51542.asp and
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51609.asp

DSAInfo Be an action hero for justice - Day of Action - 3 June
http://bit.ly/huIpWP

RT @1guessmba Ireland: "Punky"
http://t.co/z9bA2qB
Cartoon heroine is the first lead character w/ Down syndrome in an animated series

.PunkyCartoon
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/theindex/2011/04/13/punky-a-cartoon-heroine-for-the-saorview-age/

.TheUpSideOfDown Don't miss George @Negus630 tonight at 6.30pm on
@channelten when Ty, star of upcoming film Just Like U with DS,
talks of his achievements!

.TheUpSideOfDown Absolutely beautiful blog:
"In Honour of Carissa" http://bit.ly/eL0qIB

.autismvox Catherine Zeta-Jones Speaks About Bipolar Disorder & Caretaker Stress
http://bit.ly/ekw0lQ

.FCMichigan 5 Steps To Getting Started With Play Therapy
http://t.co/Acy3EFc

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