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

Extended School Year for Special Education
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art62001.asp
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. Many families find that creating summer learning programs at home or in the community benefit their children as well as their peers from mainstream and special education classrooms.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art62001.asp

Please feel free to share articles of interest at the Special Needs Children website with other parents, advocates and educational professionals. Don't hesitate to include information about your own experiences or unique qualities in your child that show your own perspective on topics.

Summer Learning and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61967.asp

Boardmaker and PECS Communication Alternatives
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57783.asp

DIR - Floortime Model Techniques and Behavior Challenges
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56206.asp

Teaching Children about Money
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art58960.asp

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

Summer Homeschooling Activities and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45894.asp

Playground Skills for Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art432.asp

Comparing Ourselves with Other Mothers on the Playground
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61553.asp

Sunblocking Clothing and Laundry Rinse
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33851.asp

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

Welcoming Babies with Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32534.asp

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

Vacation Travel, Weekend Getaways, and Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art43397.asp

Accessible Playgrounds and Inclusive Play Areas
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51542.asp

Person Centered Planning
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art53731.asp

Terri Mauro has some suggestions about
Do It Yourself Extended School Year activities:
DIY ESY - An Extended School Year Program You Can Do Yourself
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/specialeducation/p/DIYESY.htm

And there are dozens of articles available via the internet about recent high school graduates that may inspire and delight you ~ remember that teachers, therapists and administrators often see only children of a certain age with your child's diagnosis ~ there are thousands of adults who grew up challenged by the same disability who were 'late-bloomers' or peaked early and wished they had enjoyed the journey more.

To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a related community forum located here -

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

Johanna shares these resources for families caught in the economic crisis:

More affordable eyeglasses
"In this economy, for those kids who lose or break eyeglasses, for people like me who misplace eyeglasses ;) --- it might be worth checking into this company as an alternative to the more expensive stores."
http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php/

Also:
Partnership for Prescription Assistance:
http://www.pparx.org/

Please post in the Special Needs Children forum or let me know of any money-saving ideas or resources for families ~ and share those above with friends and neighbors who do not have internet access.

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

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

Avoiding Heat Illnesses and Other Hazards
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32522.asp

Car Safety Issues - Prevention
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34902.asp

Airline Travel and Childhood Disability
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45142.asp

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

Supporting Children Using Behavior as Communication
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32521.asp

Diabetes Information for Classmates and Neighbors
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32541.asp

Sibling Support and Rivalry
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33375.asp

Cousins of Children with Disabilities
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44239.asp

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