What is “People First Language”? The term came about primarily to recognize the fact that people with disabilities are first and foremost people, and should not be described by their disability alone. People First Language (PFL) tells us what a person HAS, not what a person IS. Keep in mind that one out of every 5 people has a disability …
The Importance of Laughter When Teaching Children With Special Needs
In working with children with special needs and their families for nearly 18 years, I can honestly say that the old cliche “laughter is the best medicine” rings true. Being a teacher, therapist, caregiver or parent of a child with special needs is certainly stressful at times, but it also brings many joys and special pleasures each and every day. …
The Importance of Inclusion and Community for Children With Special Needs
When most people think about inclusion they think about children with disabilities being included in the typical classrooms within their schools. But inclusion should extend beyond the classroom and into the community. Parents may be hesitant to enroll their child with special needs in a typical recreation program for fear he or she will not be able to fully participate …
Promoting Friendship for Children with Special Needs
Friendship plays an important role in everyone’s life. When one has no friends life spans are significantly reduced. Experts agree that friendship is not a luxury, it is essential to life. Despite this fact, the social networks of friends and intimate relationships for children with disabilities are often smaller than are the social networks of children without disabilities. Children with …
Creating a Circle of Support for Parents of Children with Special Needs
As a mom to a nine year old daughter with multiple physical, cognitive and life-threatening medical needs, I feel like I have been through it all. But as I spend more time with other parents of children with special needs, I know I haven’t. Every experience, every child and every family is unique, which is why I am hesitant to …
Can a Child with Special Needs Learn a Second Language?
We receive many questions from parents in our Ask A Therapist forum asking “Am I harming my child or causing additional speech delays by speaking to him in two languages within the home?”. For any therapist who thinks the answer is “yes”, we encourage you to think again. When I started in early intervention 20 years ago I was told …
How to Encourage Play Skills for Children with Autism
Fostering Play Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Play is an essential part of facilitating a child’s development, including their social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth. Playing requires the use of all five senses, and as children grow, so do their play skills. Though the concept of ‘play’ may seem like a natural skill, it is actually hard …
Why is Autism on the Rise? A PT’s Opinion
As therapists we are often asked to explain why Autism is on the rise. There are many hypotheses floating around in an attempt to explain this question, yet unfortunately few facts. While I in no way wish to diminish the diagnosis of true Autism or even Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) consider this: All children with PDD (autism falls under this …
Q&A: Son Was Born with Torticollis & Hates Tummy Time
When my son was born his shoulder got stuck and was literally yanked out of me. I put him on his back to sleep from birth and he would always have his head in one position and he got a severe flat spot on one side. I took him to my chiropractor who got him to be able to get …
Q&A: 15 Month Old No Longer Progressing with Physical Therapy
We’ve been in PT since 9 months old. My son went from not rolling, to rolling, not crawling to crawling, and not pulling up to now pulling up and cruising well. He is now 15 1/2 months old and has stayed in this development spot for the past couple of months. He does not stand unassisted, squat to stand or …