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

Explaining a Serious Diagnosis to Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56383.asp
Explaining to a child that a parent, relative or close family friend has a serious or life threatening diagnosis can be difficult for adults who may feel overwhelmed themselves. National, regional and local treatment centers may have resources for families to share with children that have been developed or donated for families.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56383.asp

Please visit specialneedschildren.bellaonline.com for even more great content for families of children with special needs.

Seeing Children with Disabilities in Movies, Ads and Television
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54743.asp
Advocates are stepping forward to describe the importance of children with disabilities being represented in movies, commercials, and television shows as main characters as well as casual extras. Seeing children with disabilities in movies, ads and television impacts siblings and mainstream peers.

MRSA Antibiotic Resistant Staph Infections
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56280.asp
MRSA and ORSA are antibiotic-resistant staph infections that can quickly become life threatening when diagnosis or treatment is delayed. Children with certain health conditions and developmental disabilities may be more susceptible due to skin conditions, injury, accidents or hospitalizations.

Melissa Riggio Made a Difference
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56423.asp
Melissa Riggio´s birth inspired the creation of the Special Needs section at Barnes & Noble bookstores. Her life in twenty years made more of a difference in the world than many lives of 80.

Encouraging Late Talking Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55867.asp
Finding ways to encourage late-talking children to communicate helps us to build better relationships within the family and community. When a child misses developmental milestones in speech, or does not speak at all, alternative forms of communication help them show us their full potential

Communicating with Babies
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54401.asp
Responding to a baby´s cries and filling their needs teaches them that their attempts to communicate work, that they are loved, and that they are surrounded by people who care deeply about them. An Australian woman with a photographic memory for sound discovered five sounds that babies around the world use to communicate their needs as newborns.

Kindergarten Transition
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49718.asp
Planning the transition from preschool to kindergarten can include
visiting available classrooms before summer break, considering an extra
year of preschool in a transition or mainstream program, private
kindergarten or homeschooling

Oral Health and Dental Visits for Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55319.asp
The Winter 2008 Linkages Newsletter features a focus topic on Oral Health for Children with Special Health Needs, with resource links for dental professionals outlining appropriate treatment, establishing better dental health habits, and preparing children and families for office visits and care.

ADHD Medications and Cardiovascular Events
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56634.asp
It's now recommended that all children who use ADHD medications schedule an ECG and cardiovascular check up; stirring alarm among parents whose children are more at risk for a cardiac event if they have an undiagnosed heart problem and use stimulant medications like ritalin, adderall, or concerta.

State and National Park Disability Passes
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56377.asp
Families of children with disabilities may qualify for free or reduced price entrance to state and national parks with disability passes available well in advance of a park visit. Information on documentation, identification and other requirements is available at individual websites.

Early Childhood Education and the NAEYC
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art53251.asp
The best information about quality early childhood education is available to families of children diagnosed with developmental delays, disabilities or other challenges through the same resources as their mainstream peers

Recognizing Early Signs of Autism
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55223.asp
Recognizing early signs of autism helps families find resoures and support for very young children with autism spectrum disorders. The autism video glossary shows film clips of autism symptoms, helping families reach professionals to find an earlier diagnosis and early intervention options.

Melissa Riggio Made a Difference
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56423.asp
Melissa Riggio´s birth inspired the creation of the Special Needs section at Barnes & Noble bookstores. Her life in twenty years made more of a difference in the world than many lives of 80.

Faith, Religion, and Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52349.asp
Families of children with special needs have found wonderful support and encouragement from religious groups and their own communities of faith; children who grow up included in a faith community find lifelong friends and good company

Explaining Down Syndrome to Children
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55519.asp
Deciding how to explain Down syndrome to young children may challenge the beliefs and expectations of adults who see more differences than similarities among children with Down syndrome and their mainstream peers.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art52704.asp
The latest Chicken Soup for the Soul book, _Children with Special Needs - Stories of Love and Understanding for Those Who Care for Children with Disabilities_, includes inspiring tales and wonderful stories about loving and raising kids just like ours

Scaphocephaly and Craniosynostosis
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art55442.asp
Scaphocephalyis, the most common type of craniosynostosis, is most often diagnosed in newborns who have ridged, missing or quickly closing 'soft spots' or fontanelles, or unusually shaped skulls growing too slowly. Immediate medical attention by a pediatric neurologist or surgeon may be required.

Legg Perthes Disease and Osteochondritis
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art53526.asp
Announcement that Dancing with the Stars competitor Cameron Mathison - Ryan, on All My Children - had Legg Perthes disease as a child has raised awareness about Legg Perthes Disease, Osteochondritis, Childhood Hip Dysplasia, and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

How Uncomfortable is Your Child? Sensory Processing Disorder
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art960.asp

Teaching the Power of Communication
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32725.asp

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

Sleep Disorders and Children with Special Needs
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33877.asp

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

People First Language Sensitivity
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art14410.asp

Asking More from Medical Professionals
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39121.asp

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

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

Music Education and Music Therapy
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art46397.asp

Childhood Seizures and Epilepsy
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art2559.asp

IDEA - Education Law
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art204.asp

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

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

Early Intervention for Developmental Delays
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35443.asp

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

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

Teens with Disabilities - Transition Planning
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33519.asp

Welcoming Babies with Down Syndrome - English
(Spanish and French below)
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32534.asp

WBwDS - Spanish - Sindrome de Down - Bienvenidos
Bebes con Sindrome de Down
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32537.asp

WBwDS - French - Accueillir les bébé trisomiques
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32538.asp

Thoughts From the Middle of the Night
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32533.asp

A Brand New Baby with Down Syndrome
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art51264.asp
 
To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum located here -
http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=57
Recent topics:
Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus 5/5/08
Tom Cruise on Oprah - Telluride
Children with Down Syndrome - Bifocals
Advocating for Children in Public Schools
Autobiography - Woman with Down Syndrome
Who should MDs let die in a pandemic? AP Story
Alaska Gov Palin's Son - Down Syndrome
Floor Time - Autism
Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act - HR 5613
Extraordinary Parents - Finalists at CNN website
Actors with Disabilities Memory Keeper's Daughter

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 information!

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