Special Needs Reads
http://specialneedsreads.com
About Special Needs Reads
Welcome to Special Needs Reads! Where you will find things to Reads for all things Special Needs!
I'll be discussing the challenges & triumphs of raising a child with special needs (my son has Angelman Syndrome). As well, I'll be sharing valuable resources for parents & teachers, inspirational stories, tips, thoughts about my own experiences & lots more. Sure to be fun ride- please remember to subscribe!
Jennifer Fiander
~mother to one fantastic special needs boy, and 2 equally fantastic younger girls, wife, ex-teacher, mompreneur, professional blogger & Domestic Diva...
To check out some other resources for your special needs child, check out our company website:
Syndicate
Special Needs Reads
"The Parenting Autism Resource Guide" - an instant downloadable ebook to assist you with your autistic child
If you are new to the world of autism and are looking for a comprehensive resource, you should check out Dave Angel's "The Parenting Autism Resource Guide”. Available in ebook form for instant download, the guide includes such things as:
And, the best part- it has a money-back guarantee!
For more information:
Click Here to visit the Ordering page!
How you can begin to understand and cope with most behaviors that your child may have…….
How you can use simple and proven methods for helping your child to become happier and safer.....
How you can use proven techniques to improve your child’s ability to deal much better with day-to-day life.
Signs and symptoms of autism....
Treatments and “cures”....
The different types of autism on the spectrum....
Dietary interventions....
Related health conditions....
Is autism hereditary?....
Simple and proven techniques to stop your child's difficult behaviors so you can attend social functions without fear and worry.
The quick and easy steps that you can follow to understanding your child's behaviors without having to pay huge $$$$ for a private therapist.
How you can improve your child's communication skills and give yourself a closer relationship with them.
Which autism treatments really work and which are a waste of your precious time, energy and money.
The real truth about diagnosis, diets, health problems and the different types of autism.
And, the best part- it has a money-back guarantee!
For more information:
Click Here to visit the Ordering page!
Special Needs Resources from AMAZON
Don't forget to check out Amazon for some fantastic resources & books for special needs:
Newspaper Article on my Biz and my Son
Hi everyone, thought I would post the link to an article that came out 2 weeks ago about my company, which started because of my sweet special boy. I've gotten many compliments on the article from people in our community.
Colin Farrell- if you're reading- call me. We've been mentioned in the same article
Colin Farrell- if you're reading- call me. We've been mentioned in the same article
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Lil' Angel Gifts raises awareness on both coasts Published in the Kings County Record Story & photos by Charlene MacKenzie Published Tuesday January 15th, 2008 HAMPTON - A local woman has taken what many would find a challenging situation and found a way to balance a successful career and a demanding family life. Jennifer Fiander is an energetic young mother with three children: seven-year-old Cameron, five-year-old Kennedy and Peyton, 18 months. She and renowned Irish actor Colin Farrell have something in common both are parents of children with Angelman Syndrome. Cameron has the rare genetic disorder, which was named after the doctor who discovered it, Harry Angelman. Children with the disorder are generally happy with sweet personalities, she explained. While they are developmentally delayed and have little or no use of words, they're easily excitable and frequently laugh and smile. To read entire article: ENTIRE ARTICLE |
Book Recommendation for Parents, Teachers
This book looks really amazing:
The Special Needs Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone with Special Needs.
Is intended to be used in helping children understand their peers who have special needs. It covers a range of conditions, not just one, which makes it a particularly great source for educators. This workbook/guide provides plenty of exercises to work through with the children- in helping them understand their differences AND similarities.
For the full explanation, please check out the link above.
The Special Needs Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone with Special Needs.
Is intended to be used in helping children understand their peers who have special needs. It covers a range of conditions, not just one, which makes it a particularly great source for educators. This workbook/guide provides plenty of exercises to work through with the children- in helping them understand their differences AND similarities.
For the full explanation, please check out the link above.
Book recommendation for parents, teachers, therapists, siblings...
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs: Stories of Love and Understanding for Those Who Care for Children with Disabilities
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs
I haven't read this book, but it looks amazing. And how could it NOT be- it's put out be the Chicken Soup for the Soul people.
Has anyone read this who would like to comment???
Looks amazing- would make a great gift for a parent of someone with special needs, a teacher, therapist, sibling, or anyone!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs
I haven't read this book, but it looks amazing. And how could it NOT be- it's put out be the Chicken Soup for the Soul people.
Has anyone read this who would like to comment???
Looks amazing- would make a great gift for a parent of someone with special needs, a teacher, therapist, sibling, or anyone!
Special Needs Bibs- follow up!
I blogged about special needs bibs, from The Hipper Bib back in November. Well, that was before I had received my bibs! My 2 bibs came in the mail last week- I love them. They are kerchief style (really sweet), big boy prints for my big boy! They are really well made, and I haven't washed them yet, but I think they are going to wash great. The bibs are reversable- and one of the sides is flannel (which I love), and the waterproof layer is in between.
If you're looking for a waterproof alternative to a 'baby bib' for a BIG special needs boy or girl, these are great!
Although she is focusing on the special needs market on her website, these are also adorable for non-special needs kids. They would make a fantastic gift.
On a personal note, I've gotten to know the business owner a bit the past few months (she has a child with Angelman Syndrome too) and I've really enjoyed dealing with her. I think you'll be pleased with the customer service too
If you're looking for a waterproof alternative to a 'baby bib' for a BIG special needs boy or girl, these are great!
Although she is focusing on the special needs market on her website, these are also adorable for non-special needs kids. They would make a fantastic gift.
On a personal note, I've gotten to know the business owner a bit the past few months (she has a child with Angelman Syndrome too) and I've really enjoyed dealing with her. I think you'll be pleased with the customer service too
Product Recommendation- Digital Arts & Crafts Studio & Sweet Story...
I have a product I'd like to recommend for everyone that has children, and especially those with special needs. But first, the story behind the product...
T'was the night before Christmas-
(well, I think it was 3 nights before)
I was all settled in, making supper, putting around the house, expecting a nice quiet evening. All of the sudden, I heard a knock on the door. I opened it- there was a young woman, someone I had never seen before- standing at my door. She had a package wrapped in Christmas paper. I didn't quite know what to think.
She went on to explain that she was someone whom I had spoken to by email a few times, and that she was delivering the package on behalf of a 'Secret Santa'. The gift was for my special needs son. She also said the Secret Santa wanted to remain anonymous, however if I really needed to know, I could find out. There was a typed note attached that said something to the effect of how she knew Cameron had a difficult time holding things, and that she had one of these, and she thought he would be able to use it.
I was standing there feeling a mixture of things- still startled by the stranger at my door, shocked, excited, intrigued & mystified, overwhelmed. Wow- how nice was this !?!?! I had a really bad, busy week, and it was SUCH a nice end to my week- this kind gesture of a friend?
Of course, I wanted to know what the gift was, and who gave it. Christmas morning we opened the box right away- and they were right- it is a GREAT thing for Cameron! It is a Fisher Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio (I'm including the link so you can check it out for yourself) and it is really neat. It has a nice wide pen for gripping, so it works very well for him. And with all the fun projects, and the colours and sounds, what kid wouldn't love it?
I still don't know who our Secret Santa was- but I was able to tell her through the woman who delivered it how much we are enjoying it. I'd like to ask, because I'm dying to know, but it's also fun to not know and to wonder. That act of kindness really, really made my Christmas.
T'was the night before Christmas-
(well, I think it was 3 nights before)
I was all settled in, making supper, putting around the house, expecting a nice quiet evening. All of the sudden, I heard a knock on the door. I opened it- there was a young woman, someone I had never seen before- standing at my door. She had a package wrapped in Christmas paper. I didn't quite know what to think.
She went on to explain that she was someone whom I had spoken to by email a few times, and that she was delivering the package on behalf of a 'Secret Santa'. The gift was for my special needs son. She also said the Secret Santa wanted to remain anonymous, however if I really needed to know, I could find out. There was a typed note attached that said something to the effect of how she knew Cameron had a difficult time holding things, and that she had one of these, and she thought he would be able to use it.
I was standing there feeling a mixture of things- still startled by the stranger at my door, shocked, excited, intrigued & mystified, overwhelmed. Wow- how nice was this !?!?! I had a really bad, busy week, and it was SUCH a nice end to my week- this kind gesture of a friend?
Of course, I wanted to know what the gift was, and who gave it. Christmas morning we opened the box right away- and they were right- it is a GREAT thing for Cameron! It is a Fisher Price Digital Arts & Crafts Studio (I'm including the link so you can check it out for yourself) and it is really neat. It has a nice wide pen for gripping, so it works very well for him. And with all the fun projects, and the colours and sounds, what kid wouldn't love it?
I still don't know who our Secret Santa was- but I was able to tell her through the woman who delivered it how much we are enjoying it. I'd like to ask, because I'm dying to know, but it's also fun to not know and to wonder. That act of kindness really, really made my Christmas.
"Don't Quit" - a poem to keep you going when things are tough
I have had a really, really rough night. No, not about the kids, just some other stuff. And there was no better day for me to 'stumble' upon this poem that today. I thought there would be many others that could benefit from or relate to this:
Don't Quit
by C.W. Longenecker
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Medical Students Coming for a Home Visit Again & a tip for TEACHERS
I know, I know, it's been awhile since I've posted info on here. As you can imagine, life with a special needs child and 2 other wee ones, while trying to run my own business, and prepare for Christmas, etc, etc, is busy, busy, busy. I thought I'd better do an update before crashing for the day.
Not much out of the ordinary has been happening here in our household. Just trying to get caught up with life. I have a list of doctors appointments I need to schedule and get to for ALL the kids- I just kept putting them off and they kind of caught up with me. So now I'm going to have to juggle the 2 that are in school, and the baby, and the appointments, and the snow (I hate winter driving), which will be a challenge. I should have made these appointments earlier and gotten them over with. Shame on me.
We have a group of medical students coming to the house this week from the hospital/med school. THey've sent med students a few other times, and I love it when they come visit. I still can't believe they come to my HOUSE to learn about Cameron and life at home within a family setting. The med students are so keen- it's my chance to really 'get to them' before they get too hardened by the hospital setting. There are things that we as parents always wish we could teach doctors- or that they get to see our child at home, so that they SEE that they are a member of our family, and our life, and that they should be treated as such, not just a patient. It's just a completely different experience, talking to these younger doctors. They are still intelligent and knowledgeable, but they definitely see me as the expert in Angelman Syndrome. We learn a lot from each other.
I think because we've had such great experiences with it, they ask me periodically if they can send another group out, and I always say yes (and I must say, all the young doctors I've dealt with are super personable- I don't know where the non-personable doctors go, but they don't send them here!) So, why did I include this in the TEACHERS RESOURCES category? Being a former teacher myself, I thought I would give this tip- why not (if possible and the parents are keen) see if you can go to the home of the special needs child in your class- and observe them in the HOME setting? No one has ever asked to do that with my son, and I would LOVE it if they did. Observe how the child communicates at home, how the structure of the home is based and how they do with that structure, observe them with their siblings, equipment/adapted items, etc. I think spending a few hours in the home, talking with the parents and child would teach you a LOT and give you some tips so you don't go blindly into the school year wondering what to expect or how a child acts in a certain situation.
Wish me luck with my med students. One of these days I'm going to find one that I really like and not let him leave. I always said I needed my next husband to be a doctor
Not much out of the ordinary has been happening here in our household. Just trying to get caught up with life. I have a list of doctors appointments I need to schedule and get to for ALL the kids- I just kept putting them off and they kind of caught up with me. So now I'm going to have to juggle the 2 that are in school, and the baby, and the appointments, and the snow (I hate winter driving), which will be a challenge. I should have made these appointments earlier and gotten them over with. Shame on me.
We have a group of medical students coming to the house this week from the hospital/med school. THey've sent med students a few other times, and I love it when they come visit. I still can't believe they come to my HOUSE to learn about Cameron and life at home within a family setting. The med students are so keen- it's my chance to really 'get to them' before they get too hardened by the hospital setting. There are things that we as parents always wish we could teach doctors- or that they get to see our child at home, so that they SEE that they are a member of our family, and our life, and that they should be treated as such, not just a patient. It's just a completely different experience, talking to these younger doctors. They are still intelligent and knowledgeable, but they definitely see me as the expert in Angelman Syndrome. We learn a lot from each other.
I think because we've had such great experiences with it, they ask me periodically if they can send another group out, and I always say yes (and I must say, all the young doctors I've dealt with are super personable- I don't know where the non-personable doctors go, but they don't send them here!) So, why did I include this in the TEACHERS RESOURCES category? Being a former teacher myself, I thought I would give this tip- why not (if possible and the parents are keen) see if you can go to the home of the special needs child in your class- and observe them in the HOME setting? No one has ever asked to do that with my son, and I would LOVE it if they did. Observe how the child communicates at home, how the structure of the home is based and how they do with that structure, observe them with their siblings, equipment/adapted items, etc. I think spending a few hours in the home, talking with the parents and child would teach you a LOT and give you some tips so you don't go blindly into the school year wondering what to expect or how a child acts in a certain situation.
Wish me luck with my med students. One of these days I'm going to find one that I really like and not let him leave. I always said I needed my next husband to be a doctor