September 26th is Blogging For Kids Day

A couple of months ago, we discussed putting aside one day to write about kids with disabilities. It's happening.

September 26 is Blogging For Kids Day.

A number of bloggers have kids with disabilities, including myself. We write about the issues involved with raising the kids from time to time. In order to get more bang for our buck, we are going to focus our attention on this topic for one day. The goal should be to raise awareness or propose actual policy changes or just brag about your great kid. We'll all link to each other and bug others to link to us. Don't be afraid to guilt your fellow bloggers into covering this topic. Guilt is good.

Bloggers who are already on board:
Sam Crane
Elizabeth Carnell who tells me that its ADHD day
Big Balagan
Tamar
Liz Ditz
Jeannette
Ancarett

GIVE ME MORE NAMES!!

Comments

[Jeannette]

Well, we just found out that our newborn is deaf. Not sure how much yet...probably moderate to severe. And I'm not sure I actually have a whole lot to say yet. I'm sort of at the "google stage". I would appreciate reading other people's experience, because right now it just such a vast world of unknowns.

[Tamar]

I'm still in; it'll be a week after we land in NJ so I'm not sure what I'll write about but I'll think of something. Probably how different school districts can be.

I'll mention this to a few other people too.

[Liz]

I'm in.

[Allison]

Write Dwight on Wampum -- and MB at Trip to Wonderful

[Ancarett]

Youngest is autistic -- I'll ask her if she wants to guest blog that day.

[Lisa]

Found this via I Speak of Dreams -- I teach kids with learning disabilities, and I'm in.

[Laura]

Great. Thanks, guys for helping out. I'm running out of town. On Sunday, when I return, I'll plug in everyone's blog address.

[Patty]

Please include Rob at
http://www.darn-tootin.com/

His blog about his daughter will break your heart over and over.

He's just been offered a book deal to write about his experience with his daughter's rare disorder...

[SamChevre]

Is this for parents only? My girlfriend is a teacher in a specialty school, and many/most of her students have some level of disabilities.

[Laura]

Sept. 26th is for anybody with any opinion or experience on the subject. I'm sure that your girlfriend would have a lot to offer. Rope her in.

[Becca]

Why not ask Berube?

[Laura]

Jeanette- I am really, really sorry about your baby's hearing problems. Big hug. It will be okay though. You'll all learn sign language together. We did that, too. When it's time, check out the "Signing Times" videos. They were excellent. (www.signingtimes.com).

I've inputted everyone names so far and am shooting off e-mails to the other bloggers that you've mentioned. Please let me know if I missed anyone.

[Liz]

Laura, I can't navigate the AOL journal interface (I know, lame) so I can't leave a comment for this woman. I wonder if you have better chops than I do.

http://journals.aol.com/rapieress/Aweekinthelife/entries/793

Now ... we all know too well the battle I have been fighting to get the school system to recognise Brian's needs and figure out what exactly is his learning disability. Brian is wicked smart in some areas; terribly funny sometimes; too serious other times; focused then lost; killer athletic skills when he throws a ball - yet clumsy when running; brave and outgoing - scared and withdrawn. Yes, I know a typical boy...lol...but his reading shows the black hole in his educational universe. His writing scratches along like an old man's whos is riddled with arthritis and booze. Brian's studder when fighting for the words to finish a sentence when his fast acting brain is firing off his latest story. There is his sometimes spacy lost behavior in class and then dead-on target on a one-on-one test.

It stumped even the best of doctors, but I knew it my heart that not all the wheels of the motor in Brian's mind were moving together as a team. I also knew it bothers him, so I had to find the answer. Brian has always believes that I make anything happen.

So, as we all also know, we did find the answer. Part of CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disability) is the processing delay from the movement of sound to the inner ear, and then the ability to move back it out as movement in motion or with words. For Brian, there is a severe delay in this function, especially if the sounds are at certain pitches. He might not even hear them. Often, he is left to finish work in Study Hall to keep cought up in class.

go read the rest of it

http://journals.aol.com/rapieress/Aweekinthelife/entries/793

and invite her to link here.

[lcgillies]

Count me in. I can speak to parenting a child with learning disabilities, have two close friends who have children with autism and another with aspergers. My wife did a stint of pediatric PT years ago that totally changed my vision of profoundly disabled children. It would seem to be part of the "normal" human condition---perhaps we should figure out how to treat it that way...

[MrsDarling]

I'll join. I'm not sure whats wrong with my 8 year old. Maybe all this will help me figure it out. She's borderline dyslexic, borederline autistic, borderline OCD and all the borderlines add up to one big problem.