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

Swine Flu Outbreak and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61839.asp
Families of children with developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions or other special needs faced disproportionate challenges due to the effects of the 2009 Swine Flu (A1N1 Influenza) outbreak, in reducing risks; finding alternate caregivers; maintaining medications during illness; transportation issues; and dealing with interruption of routine during school closures.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61839.asp

Please visit specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com for information, resources and support in raising and educating children with special needs.

Comparing Ourselves to Other Mothers
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61553.asp

Teaching Handwriting and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51022.asp

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

Literacy Skill Development - Reading Instruction
for Children with Autism, Down Syndrome
and Learning Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57331.asp

Teaching Math Skills
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art38411.asp

Part Time Homeschooling and High School Transition
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45892.asp

Homeschooling and 'After-Schooling' Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45894.asp/

Universal Design for Learning - Access
to General Education Curriculum
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art50363.asp

Teaching Braille to Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61342.asp

Amazon Kindle 2 and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art60812.asp

Peer Mentoring Programs and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61295.asp

Teaching Math Skills
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art38411.asp

Outdoor Games for Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57092.asp

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

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

Do you enter contests, nominate friends for recognition, or submit photographs of your child in local Cutest Baby or Child competitions? Bellaonline.com has sweepstakes mentioned at the end of each newsletter, and I would be thrilled to know when any newsletter reader enters or wins a contest. Families of children with special needs who feel isolated or rejected in their local communities may take heart when we put ourselves or our children forward in the media, letters to the editor, and in catalogs or contests.

When I learned of the contest below I was hoping that it would be a photography contest where I could see your sons and daughters online ~ but I believe it is mainly to promote the baby registry service at Amazon.com.

Amazon Dream Baby Registry, Plus One Year of Huggies Supreme Diapers
One Amazon Dream Registry Sweepstakes winner will be selected each month from May through December for up to eight chances to win; to participate, create an Amazon Baby Registry and add 10 items to be automatically entered into the sweepstakes.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000363711&tag=specialneed0e-20

If you learn of contests that would be of interest to families of babies, children or teens with special needs, let me know and I will include information in this newsletter. Our families and children should be equally represented as their mainstream peers. And all of us could use more good news.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month

Anxiety and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art59924.asp

Sensory Processing Disorder and Stressful Environments
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art960.asp

Friendship and Inclusion for Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48700.asp

The Diagnosis of Learning Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45580.asp

Starting a Parent Support Group
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34523.asp

Forgiving Family
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48067.asp

Depression and Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art60685.asp

Inclusive Education and the Culture of Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44827.asp

Sensory Integration and Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48942.asp

Disability and Future Planning for Parents
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art59032.asp

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

"Mad Pride" movement challenges views of mental illness
http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2009/05/11/mad-pride-movement/

NICHCY - Resources for Mental Health
http://www.nichcy.org/INFORMATIONRESOURCES/Pages/mentalhealth.aspx

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Terri Mauro -

How to write a research paper
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/learningissues/ht/paper.htm

When your inlaws outlaw your child
http://specialchildren.about.com/b/2009/05/11/when-your-in-laws-outlaw-your-child.htm

Patricia Bauer -

Research: Autism 'recovery' possible for some - not most
http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2009/05/11/autism-recovery-2/

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