Dance Class

Everyone should read "Ballerina Dreams: a true story" by Lauren Thompson. Have a tissue handy. It is the story of a ballet dance teacher who makes dreams come true for little girls with special needs who want to dance. I believe it is the same program in New York that was highlighted on the NBC nightly news one evening (people making a difference segment?) and made the rounds of my special needs parenting listservs via YouTube link.

Well, thankfully, someone in Columbus Ohio decided to make dreams come true here, too. A physical therapist at the local Easter Seals center decided that dance class should be made available for kids with special needs. It isn't ballet - more of a jazzy dance style, and many of the girls (boys are welcome too) wear tap shoes. Some use a walker or gait trainer, some dance on their own. I actually sit on a rolling stool and hold my daughter so she can participate as she is able - it is more of a workout for me than it is for her (which is OK).

The class is held in the spring and fall, with a recital at the end. The teacher presented each girl with a white rose at the recital. The world is opening up for kids with special needs these days.
I am continually grateful.

Summer fun

As the weather warms up and thoughts turn to summer, I am ever more impressed with the opportunities for today's children with special needs to participate in fun activities. Our daughter, age 5, will once again have a busy schedule this summer (but not too busy to enjoy a picnic at the park or a dip in the backyard wading pool). In addition to adaptive horseback riding and yoga, she will once again play in our local Miracle League baseball program. This is a wonderful opportunity for a child to experience being part of a team and trying their best, and success is guaranteed thanks to the buddy system where each child is paired with a volunteer who helps him/her as much as needed and makes the game fun. Best of all, the family brings the child to the game and then simply sits back to enjoy WATCHING the fun. Parents with special needs children often find themselves being the most involved parent in the group in order to facilitate their child's participation. Be the brownie leader, the Sunday school teacher or the playgroup organizer so that other adults don't feel too uncomfortable and are willing to include your child. If you work outside the home, that can really put the squeeze on the amount of time you have to devote to these activities! But with adaptive recreation programs, your participation is not required, which is a beautiful thing. Look for day or residential camps, sports of all kinds, adaptive adventures like skiing or kayaking or even rock climbing! The programs are out there and kids of all abilities are getting involved and making great summer memories.

that crazy calendar

Having young children who are not yet into the "lessons and team sports" phase of life, one would think that my days of being a taxi service would still be to come. However, having a child with special needs whose calendar is jam-packed with appointments for doctors, therapists, and evaluations has to be just as crazy. We schedule weekly, bi-monthly and monthly therapies. We have quarterly, bi-annual and annual followups with various specialists. And then there are all the usual childhood things like the dentist and pediatrician, not to mention preschool! Somewhere in there is time for recreational activity, gatherings with family and friends, date nights for mom & dad, and "alone" time (?!) for mom. Whew! I think I need a nap.

The bunny trail

Ah, the Easter egg hunt! This year in Ohio, we will once again be wearing winter coats for the event. A few days ago our temperatures were nearing 80 degrees, but today it is snowing. Such is life... We will be going to our local egg hunt for kids with special needs. This is a great event! It is held in a park where a regular egg hunt happens at the same time. The special needs kids do their egg hunt on a fenced-in tennis court. The hard surface means that kids with walkers, canes and wheelchairs can maneuver about without a problem. Once the eggs are all gathered (which takes about 3 minutes, LOL) each child receives an Easter basket with candy, trinkets and a small stuffed animal inside. It is really nice and my daughter gets excited about the whole event. May you have joy and laughter in your celebrations this weekend, regardless of the weather!

Local resources

Oh, the sweet feeling when you discover that a valuable resource for your child, one that measures up to or even outshines what other communities have to offer, is available to your son or daughter and it is local! Like most parents of special needs children, I find that my quest to find the best possible treatments for my daughter takes me ever farther and wider. I have made a 3-hour round trip weekly for 6 weeks so that she could participate in hippotherapy (therapy on horseback with a licensed PT or OT). My husband and I have each used vacation time from work to travel 4 hours to Michigan for a 2-week intensive therapy program there. And I have met parents who go far beyond what I was willing to do - participating in programs that last for months or are in other countries or require taking a second mortgage on their house.

But this week at my daughter's eye doctor appointment, we were told that she is being put on the list for the "low vision clinic" at our local children's hospital. When her turn rolls around, a team of professionals (including said eye doctor) will spend 3 hours with her, using fancy computer programs and pieces of equipment and special testing materials to figure out how her vision impairment really affects what she sees. Then they will write up an explanation in layman's terms and a detailed recommendation for the school system! I plan to delay my daughter's kindergarten enrollment until she is 6, but when the day finally comes we need to have given the district plenty of advance notice about her needs and how they can be met in the school environment. I've been dealing with IEP's (individualized education programs) since our daughter turned 3, but somehow it seems more crucial and intimidating when you're starting kindergarten. It's stressful to think about, but when someone says "I have experience with this, and here is what you need to do to help your daughter reach her potential - let me help you," it truly is a wonderful thing.

Followup edit: Having been to the vision clinic now, and having talked with other parents who have taken their kids to clinics in other states, I realize that while ours may not be "the best of the best," it IS really good. And sometimes - make that usually - really good is good enough and reason to be thankful!