able2able

My Blog Spark Giveaway Winners Announcement

2012-02-06T09:48:00.000-06:00

The winner of the $25 Publix Giftcard is Gina M. Maddox!

The winner of the $25 Burger King Giftcard is Lo!

Hooray! You will both be emailed and have 72 hours to reply with your names, addresses, and phone numbers so I can relay your info to My Blog Spark.

Congratulations!

{CLOSED} Giveaway Ends 1/31: $25 Publix Gift Card

2012-01-27T20:37:00.003-06:00

This giveaway is closed and a winner has been selected.

I wasn't planning on doing a non-Special Needs related giveaway so soon after posting the My Blog Spark/Burger King $25 gift card giveaway earlier this week, but this was too good an offer to refuse. My Blog Spark, General Mills, and Publix want to help you and your family eat better at home.

Since time and money play such an important role in meal planning, Publix wants to take some of the stress out of deciding what to prepare and help you stay within your budget. They have teamed up with several major brands you already know and probably already love to bring you The Best Meals Happen at Home.

One feature of The Best Meals Happen at Home is their FASTastic Meals Recipes - easy, family friendly recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less. You can view the recipes online, or sign up for a weekly email newsletter (aka meal planner) that has new recipes. The newsletter also contains... (my favorite thing in the whole wide world besides my children) coupons!

Try this FASTastic Recipe for Crunchy Chicken Nuggets using, of all things, Cheerios:

Prep time: 15 Min
Cook time: 25 Min
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups Cheerios® cereal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon mustard
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Directions:
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray with cooking spray or lightly grease 13x9-inch pan.
Finely crush cereal. Stir together cereal, salt and pepper; set aside. In medium bowl, stir together milk, honey and mustard until blended. Dip chicken into milk mixture; coat with cereal mixture. Place chicken in pan; drizzle with melted butter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until crust is golden and chicken is no longer pink in center.

The second way Publix is trying to help your family eat better at home is with the "Best Meals Happen at Home" event at Publix supermarkets from January 26th through February 1st. Look for in-store coupons that will be valid through February 15th (our Publix sales flyer has the coupons printed in it as well). Visit BestMealsatHome.com to sign up and receive emails with weekly recipes and coupon offers that will help you save up to $200 this year.

Here in Middle Tennessee, our Publix stores lets us use two coupons for one item if one coupon is a Publix issued coupon and one coupon is a manufacturer's coupon. It's called stacking, and it's one of the reasons I shop at Publix when I live within five miles of four major grocery stores. Stacking is an extreme couponing trick that can turn a good deal into a great deal. Best Deals Happen at Home coupons are store coupons, so ask customer service if you are unfamiliar with your local Publix's coupon policy.

One lucky able2able reader will win a $25 Publix gift card. Everybody say, "thank you My Blog Spark and General Mills!"

You do not have to be an able2able follower to enter this giveaway but you do need to leave an email address or have a public profile so I can contact you if you win.

I never share or sell follower information, but if you prefer to enter this giveaway as anonymous you must email me (a midg rn at gee mail dot calm) so I have a way to connect the entry with a person.

This giveaway ends at 11:59 pm (CT) on Tuesday, January 31st. The winner's name will be posted on able2able and I will also contact you. The lucky winner will have 72 hours to reply.

Mandatory First Entry Visit The Best Meals Happen at Home website or Facebook wall and sign up for their weekly newsletter to get Fastastic recipes and coupons for major brands delivered directly to your emailbox.

The mandatory first entry must be completed before you can complete any of the following additional entries!

You can choose to do one or all of these additional entries in any order. There are a total of 9 possible entries.

For 1 additional entry:

Like able2able Blog on Facebook and post a shout out comment on the wall. Current Facebook Fans may post an entry.

For an additional 2 entries (post a comment for each entry):

Post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook status.
Tweet the link to this giveaway using the hashtag #MyBlogSpark.

For an additional 3 entries (post a comment for each entry):

Become a public follower of able2able Blog. Current followers may post three separate entries.

It is very important that you post a comment for each entry. Why? Because a random number generator will be used to select the winner. Each comment will be numbered by Blogger, and I will use those numbers for the drawing. So if you combine entries into one post all your entries will not be counted. There will be no do-overs!

I will verify that the winning entry has met the requirements above, so if your comment for a FB status update is the winning comment then I might ask to see that link, etc. If I cannot verify your entry, then all your entries will be removed from the list and the drawing will be repeated.

Disclosure: The Publix gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. I received a $25 Publix gift card in exchange for writing this post. The sponsor did not influence or edit the content.

5 Ways New Year's Resolution Can Increase Charitable Donations

2012-01-24T22:15:00.001-06:00

It's the last week of January, 2012. Do you know where your resolutions are? According to Psychology Today, your efforts to change peaked last week and you can expect to begin backsliding soon. One of their reasons for this failure is expecting the resolution itself to be the main source of motivation.

Try a new approach to saying goodbye to the old you. Make donating to a favorite charity your motivation and resolve to change more than yourself in 2012. Here are five popular New Year's Resolutions with ways you can free up money to donate to a good cause while working towards your goals.

Resolution #1: Lose Weight/Get Healthy

Local gyms and nationally advertised weight loss programs like Weight Watchers offer discounts and even freebies at the beginning of a new year. Pass along your savings to a worthy cause.
Follow the example of online weight loss programs that pay you to lose weight and commit to pay your charity for the pounds you lose.
Sign up for a charity walk-a-thon or fun run and go public with your intentions. This will not just help you raise more money, it will also give you immediate accountability and hopefully a network of cheerleaders. The more meaningful the cause is to you, the more motivated you will be to train and raise funds. Most nonprofits have websites with course information and training tips to help you safely prepare.

Resolution #2: Get Organized

Clearing out unwanted clutter make it easier to organize the things you need and want. Hold a fundraising yard sale for your charity. Sell bigger and more desireable items on Craigslist and Ebay.
Many nonprofits sell donated goods in their own thrift stores or online. Some even offer free pick up. Get a receipt to deduct donated items from your income taxes.
Some nonprofits accept direct donations of gently used clothing and household goods that they distribute to people in need. Homeless shelters come to mind, but also contact Domestic Violence shelters and organizations providing support to low income families or new mothers.
Nonprofits need office supplies and office furniture just like any other business.

Resolution #3: Quit Smoking

D'uh - you will free up some major money to donate and have longer to enjoy your life, complete some resolutions, and volunteer for some of the charitable causes that are meaningful to you.
Not only is free smoking cessation support available at the American Lung Association and many state government websites; pharmaceutical companies might offer discount coupons for prescription smoking cessation products. Some health insurance companies will lower your premiums if you quit smoking. This means more savings to potentially pass along to a worthy cause (like maybe the American Lung Association?)

Resolution #4: Saving Money/Getting Out of Debt

Do you scoff at the effectiveness of money management strategies like cutting back on spending, following a budget, clipping coupons, or anything related to frugal living? If money related stress is not enough to motivate serious evaluation of your money management skills, make helping others the boost you need to start changing your money energy. Finding solid money saving tips isn't difficult at the start of a new year. Try a couple out for a month or so and track how much you save. Donate all or a portion of the savings to your cause. Work your way to a budget that includes regular charitable giving.
Calculate how much you spend monthly on an expense that you can quickly change (food and eating out are a popular starting point). The math is simple - anything you save is the equivalent of a sudden increase in income. You just freed up some good deed money. There has to be a cause out there worth the sacrifice of regularly packing brown bag lunches.
Give the cash and gift cards you earn through search or shopping reward sites like ebates.com and Swagbucks.
Save and give by shopping at thrift stores and online stores sponsored by a charity. Find out if your nonprofit of choice uses a shopping portal such as iGive, and they will immediately get a percentage of your online purchases without changing your out of pocket totals.
Cut back instead of making radical changes. Would you be willing to smoke one less pack of cigarettes a week, host a byob cocktail hour at your home once a month instead of overspending at Happy Hour, find a source of entertainment other than shopping (um, volunteering for a charity maybe?), or cooking dinner at home more often if it could change the life of someone in need? It doesn't have to be a big sacrifice to make a difference in your ability to give more.

Resolution #5 Spend More Time with Family and Friends

Buddy up to create a network of support. The cause can be the same or the resolution can be the same. The overall goal of channeling your desire to improve into financial support for worthy causes might be the only tie that binds. Giving a small amount can make you feel like a million bucks when it comes from your heart. Giving while spending quality time with people you care about feels... priceless.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links.

{CLOSED} Giveaway ends 1/31: $25 Burger King Gift Card

2012-01-24T12:22:00.002-06:00

This giveaway is closed and the winner has been selected.

Happy New Giveaway! It's able2able's first giveaway of 2012, just in time to remind you that it is still a new year full of new opportunities to live, love, and laugh.

In the nature of fun and giving back, My BlogSpark and Burger King are giving away a $25 BURGER KING® Crown Card to purchase a kids meal featuring the BK CROWN^TM Program. You do not have to be an able2able follower to enter this giveaway!

I had never heard of the BK Crown^TM Program before this giveaway. As a former BK Lounge employee (circa 1982), it was neat to see what the company is doing nowadays.

(text in italics is quoted from My Blog Spark)
"IMAGINATION IS KINGTM at BURGER KING^®. The new BK CROWN^TM Program, built to inspire every kid´s imagination and encourage kids to help choose how BK^® gives back, brings families together to enjoy not just a meal but a mealtime experience."

Here are four features that make the new BK Crown^TM/MC Program more than a kid's meal in a box:

1. The BK CROWN^TM Program comes in a fully interactive Kids Meal box. Sitting atop each box is a newly redesigned BURGER KING® crown, because every kid deserves to be treated like royalty at BURGER KING®! With crowns on their heads, kids can dive into the box, taking it apart, playing fun games and activities that challenge their minds, inspire their imagination and engage with the whole family.

2. With the BK CROWN^TM, Burger King Corporation invites kids to tell BURGER KING® what matters to them most. BKC has established a fund to help support the Wildlife Conservation Society, National Parks Conservation Association, DonorsChoose.org and Have It Your Way Foundation. By visiting BKCrown.com, kids learn how BKC´s charitable partners make a difference. Upon entering BK CROWN^TM Codes and clicking on their favorite cause, each kid´s vote helps BK® choose which charity to give back to.

3. The fun doesn´t end at the restaurant; the BK CROWN^TM Program experience lives on at www.BKCrown.com where kids can place their vote for how BKC should give back, as well as find more games, win prizes and enjoy interactive play.

4. Also at BURGER KING®, for just $9.99 your family can enjoy the "BK Family Bundle" which includes a WHOPPER® sandwich, WHOPPER JR.® sandwich., two small fries, two small soft drinks and a Kids Meal. Now that´s a deal worth getting together for! Limited time only. Price and participation vary. Prices higher in HI.

We were blessed with our own $25 Crown Card to see how the kids liked the BK CROWN^TM Program. Right away we ran into a little snafu with the crowns built into the kids meal boxes. They were too small for both of my children (a surprise since Clara-Bear has mild microencephaly). I had to return to the counter and be ignored by busy staff to get the kids crowns that fit.

I could not believe how happy something as simple as the crowns made my children! I think that was their favorite part of our first family outing for the new year. Even though Clara-Bear refuses to wear hats unless she's super cold, she was still tickled by her crown.

Luckily, the crowns saved the day. I had to make a second trip back to the counter to find out why we got Sponge Bob toys instead of the advertised Happy Feet 2 toy. I had time to check out the kids meal toy display case while being ignored. Our local Burger King has a reputation for being dirty. The bad reputation was displayed along with the toys. The top of the case had a layer of dust thick enough for the health inspector to write the restaurant's inspection score in.

My son was with me this time, and was very unhappy with the terse reply about running out of the toy he had seen on Burger King commercials. He would have dealt much better with being told about the toy substitution up front then getting brushed off after he got his meal. He's easy going, and still had his crown, so all was good after Mommy and Daddy did a little creative redirecting.

In case you haven't guessed, our store does not have a reputation for good customer service either. It's hard to enjoy a business that appears stressed and overwhelmed by fulfilling its reason for being. Hopefully, stores like ours will step up and work as hard on their public perception as the corporate office is.

On the positive side, I liked that the box had games we could play as a family in addition to puzzles and coloring activities. The differences between Clara-Bear and Alan splits the family when we are out. Usually my husband and myself divide and interact one on one with a child rather than all of us enjoying an activity together. We all enjoyed playing girls vs. boys ring toss with the meal box. I hope Burger King can start a trend for kids' meal activities that bring families together as well as providing independent mealtime play choices.

As far as the giving, each box has a code that can be entered at the BK CROWN^TM Program website as a vote on which worthy cause will get a donation from BKC. The kids enjoyed learning about different causes, and like 53% of kids who have entered codes, mine chose wildlife.

One lucky able2able winner will win a $25 Burger King giftcard compliments of My Blog Spark and Burger King! You do not have to be an able2able follower to enter this giveaway but you do need to leave an email address or have a public profile so I can contact you if you win.

I never share or sell follower information, but if you prefer to enter this giveaway as anonymous you must email me (a midg rn at gee mail dot calm) so I have a way to connect the entry with a person.

This giveaway ends at 11:59 pm (CT) on Tuesday, January 31st. The winner's name will be posted on able2able and I will also contact you. The lucky winner will have 72 hours to reply.

Mandatory First Visit the Give Back section at www.BKCrown.com and leave a comment telling us what worthy cause you want Burger King support.

The mandatory first entry must be completed before you can complete any of the following additional entries!

You can choose to do one or all of these additional entries in any order. There are a total of 9 possible entries.

For 1 additional entry:

Like able2able Blog on Facebook and post a shout out comment on the wall. Current Facebook Fans may post an entry.

For an additional 2 entries (post a comment for each entry):

Post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook status.
Tweet the link to this giveaway using the hashtag #MyBlogSpark.

For an additional 3 entries (post a comment for each entry):

Become a public follower of able2able Blog. Current followers may post three separate entries.

It is very important that you post a comment for each entry. Why? Because a random number generator will be used to select the winner. Each comment will be numbered by Blogger, and I will use those numbers for the drawing. So if you combine entries into one post all your entries will not be counted. There will be no do-overs!

I will verify that the winning entry has met the requirements above, so if your comment for a FB status update is the winning comment then I might ask to see that link, etc. If I cannot verify your entry, then all your entries will be removed from the list and the drawing will be repeated.

I received a $25 Burger King gift card in exchange for writing this review. The sponsor did not influence or edit this review.

Extreme Makeover, Blah-g Edition

2012-01-22T04:49:00.001-06:00

How do you like the changes so far?

I have wanted to overhaul able2able since the beginning of last year. Something more important always seems to pop up. I promised myself I would get this done this weekend, and I am thrilled to get it started. That is, despite both kids being sick and tag teaming me for the second night in a row.

Last night one or both of them were up from 1:30 a.m. until 6:30 a.m.. Neither one had a solid nap today. They are both the most miserable I have seen them in years. In fact, Clara-Bear had an emergency pedi visit this morning because her color was awful and she was working so hard to breathe that I thought she had pneumonia again. It is 5 a.m. and both have been resting quietly since around 3:30, so I think it's safe to take a nap and hope that at least one of them has a better day today.

Expect things to look a little wonky around here while I get to know this new theme (called Simplex Celebrity renewed version). I love the magazine style! There are a few weird things going on but I am too exhausted to work on it anymore.

Good Night and Good Morning!

The Latest Issue of Parenting Special Needs Digital Magazine

2012-01-22T04:26:00.002-06:00

It looks great!

I can't wait to read the article about getting insurance to cover an iPad.

I have been so busy lately that at first I told the editor that I wasn't going to contribute to this issue. Then I had a change of heart. I'm really proud to write for PSN (even if I'm not paid for it, ahem-hem). So I wrote this issue's "Did You Know..."

PSN is a bimonthly online magazine. Subscriptions are free, so enjoy!

Getting Clara-Bear Involved in Girl Scout Cookie Sales

2012-01-10T12:54:00.004-06:00

Helping a a Daisy Girl Scout with multiple special needs to be a part of her first cookie sale.

Holy smokes! My last blog post was November 21st! I cannot believe how busy life has become since Clara-Bear started Kindergarten. Being her personal assistant has always been busy but I could still keep up with her most of the time. Big girl busy is a whole new lifestyle. Girl Scouts has been one of the big girl additions to our life.

Girl Scouts has always welcomed girls with all abilities (the founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, permanently lost all of her hearing as a young adult). We could have joined any troop. I could have created a new Daisy Troop just for girls with Special Needs. Instead, I felt drawn to create our own style of troop, where eventually half the girls will have Special Needs and half will be Typically Developing peers. Clara-Bear is a Daisy Girl Scout and I am a newbie Troop Leader.

Busy!

Sorting Christmas cards with The Red Cross for Girl Scout community service became a fun family day.

All of our activities and meetings are accommodated. I don't think the other parents are even aware of all the built in accommodations yet. When I get the chance I'll blog more about creating an inclusive scouting environment that helps every girl develop character and leadership skills and the challenge of making sure that "every girl" means supporting the Typically Developing peers as well. More on that later - we have a deadline of January 14th to sell some cookies!

Girl Scouts is a way for girls aged 5 through 18 to develop friendships, character, and leadership skills in a noncompetitive setting. Cookie sales are more than just a popular national fundraiser. The Girl Scout Cookie program is intended to teach girls social interaction and money management. All proceeds stay local and a portion goes directly to the troop. The girls decide how their troop's cookie money will be spent, not the adults.

So, how can a primarily nonverbal six year old with Autism and Down Syndrome take an active role in selling Girl Scout Cookies? Tons of coaching and a video camera, that's how!

I set a deadline of one week to spend helping Clara-Bear read her script. The goal with that was her reading it out loud about 75% of the time. The bigger goal was her comprehension. I used American Sign Language to help her understand what she is doing and why. The video idea would have been scrapped if she could not answer questions about selling cookies or refused to speak. Plan B was to use her speech generating device. Plan C was to be realistic about her abilities or interest and how much more time I should spend on this.

She did it! As you can see, she got tired of the whole thing half way through. I blame myself, I should have cheered more (I'm camera-shy). She needed help while we were videotaping this, but she can read the entire script out loud beginning to end and answer the important "w" questions about selling Girl Scout Cookies. Now this morning she did say "me" when I asked her who was getting the cookie money, but you can't blame her for trying!

Clara-Bear's speech is difficult to understand in the video so here's the breakdown:

Clara-Bear is selling Girl Scout Cookies for Hugs for Our Soldiers to earn her Gift of Caring patch.

Cookies are $3.50 a box. All you have to do is contact me if you want to order some cookies and bring some cookie love to servicewomen and men returning home from overseas. Her deadline is January 14th, 2012.

I wasn't sure how she would comprehend sales goals until sales are made so we will work on that concept next. But trust Momma, by the time cookie season is over we will have squeezed every opportunity for Clara-Bear to learn and grow from this new experience!

Check out the Cookie Locator Apps for Android and Apple to find a Girl Scout Cookie booth near you this February!

Frugal & Fun Home Therapy Tips: Make the Most of Children's Table Setting Placemats

2011-11-21T22:28:00.002-06:00

My babies' chore lists have grown steadily along with them as they have moved from toddlers to preschoolers. Progress for 4 1/2 year old TD Alan has outpaced that of 6 year old Clara-Bear, whose functional ablilities range from 18 months to 4 years old. Household chores are one of the many areas where the differences between my children's abilities stand out. Setting the table is a daily chore that still requires a lot of parental support and challenges us all in different ways.

Since we only set the table with the utensils needed for that meal, Alan is doing great with forks but has not learned what a full place setting looks like. Clara-Bear brings the quirkiness of Autism to the table (yeah, it's a pun). She has her own approach to this task that is routine for her but not for the rest of us.

She will only carry one utensil at a time, happily flapping it and admiring light reflections and shadows. Everything, and I mean everything, goes into a big pile that only makes sense to her. And the pile is sacred. It is possible to finish setting the table, but not without dealing with her shouting and trying to return the dishes to her pile.

Whether you leave the dishes in the sacred pile, distract her and set the table yourself, or use hand under hand to push her to do it right, step two is always the same. She reverses the process. Everything, and I mean everything, goes back into a pile on the kitchen counter. Left alone, she could repeat steps one and two several times.

Any parent who has enjoyed the time sucking "help" of a toddler or preschooler is probably nodding their head by now. Independence is hard on more than a parent's emotions. It can quickly drain time and patience. It really is easier to do some things by yourself. But that doesn't foster independence, self- reliance, identity, and responsibility in any child.

In an effort to help both my kids gain more independence with this skill, I thought about using my Birthday money (even grown-ups get Birthday money!) to buy premade children's set the table placemats from Amazon:

Then I remembered I have a laminator, and that I bought some fall color cardstock for 13 cents a pack at a Halloween clearance sale. So the kids and I are going to make these:

The placemat is not really wonky. This picture from the Nestle' Family website was taken at an artsy angle.

My primary reason for wanting a table setting placemat for Clara-Bear is behavioral. I'm hoping the visual cues for this task will stop her from putting everything in a pile and moving that pile back and forth repeatedly. I began thinking of more ways these placemats could help children with Special Needs with their development:

Fine Motor: cutting, pasting, drawing, tracing, labeling, laminating.
Gross Motor: setting placemats out and putting them away, setting the table.
Cognitive: matching, reading the labels, reading names, reading things printed on the back, remembering where family members sit, following steps.
Social/Emotional: making the placemats, participating in the family or group meal, valuing self as a helper and contributor, learning a functional skill.

Here are some tips to help you max out the potential of children's table setting placemats:

Let your child do as much designing and crafting possible, even if it's just their own placemat.
Label the spaces for utensils, plates, etc. to encourage reading.
Use pictures, family names, or both to help your child connect the placemat with a person.
Don't visually crowd items on the placemat. Increase the size of the placemat if necessary.
Do not make a spot for the glass if fine motor or visual perception problems could increase spills. Draw an arrow pointing up and off the placemat, use coasters, or stick a circle to the table if an additional visual cue is needed.
Seal and protect placemats with lamination or contact paper. Cold laminating paper can be bought at almost any store (I buy it at craft stores like Joanne's or Michaels when I have a coupon). Parent-Teacher stores and office supply stores can often laminate any size item. My local Parent-Teacher stores offer cheaper lamination than the big name office supply stores.
Use low contrast colors, single color with simple object outlines, and matte or low gloss finishes to reduce sensory overload. Avoid bright colors, including bright white.
Your child can write, trace, and draw on the sealed placemat with a dry erase marker. They can label names of family and guests, draw pictures of food, and turn the plate into a clockface.
The back of the placemat can also be used for fun and education. One forum suggested putting prayers on the back. (I've found that letting my kids flip the placemat leads to trouble during meals, especially when my TD picky eater is looking for a way to get out of eating.)
Use real pictures instead of abstract template outlines to help concrete thinkers understand the task.
Teach with clear plastic utensils and plates so the placement cues can still be seen, then switch to the real thing.
Add handprints, holiday themes, photos, and other personal touches so the placemat can become a scrapbook/memory book item or a gift for guests.
Show your child a little trust and let them set the table with real dishes instead of plastic ware. Don't assume he hasn't noticed the difference between what grownups and kids use!

Wouldn't it be great for Mamaw and Papaw to see both my wonderful helpers setting the Thanksgiving table? I need to stop blogging and start crafting before they arrive in two days. Mamaw likes to make the kids something handmade for Christmas. Hopefully, there is still time for her to make us a set of these fabric place setting placemats from the blog Punkin Patterns.

Here are some of the sites I visited while researching this project and blog post:

eHow: How to Make Plastic Covered Placemats Includes instructions for making a sleeve to protect unsealed placemats.
Mama Jenn: Set the Table Placemats
Martha Stewart Weddings: Children's Placemat How-To's These are super unique, and the picture gave me the idea of using clear tableware as a teaching tool.
Nestle' Family: Set the Table Placemats
Parents.com: Printable Table-Setting Placemats Must register to download template.
Wisecraft: "The Daily" Placemats Detailed directions on laminating homemade fabric placemats.

Diagnosis: Delightful!

2011-10-13T12:27:00.004-05:00

This post is part of a monthly blog feature sponsored by S-O-S Research. Lisa Quinones-Fontanez from Autism Wonderland suggested this month's topic of Family, Life-Fun, Loving, and Special. In honor of National Down Syndrome Awareness Month I'm sharing a little about my delightful daughter, who has a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

I knew the diagnosis as soon as the early morning call from the Genetic Counselor woke us up. I considered not answering the phone. She had left a voicemail the day before, but I didn't get it in time time to call her back. Now she was calling again! Something about an 8:01 a.m. call from someone who started her workday at 8:00 felt urgent and ominous. She asked that we immediately come to the office to discuss the amnio results. No discussion needed. We knew our first baby had Down Syndrome.

There were tears and prayers. Stupid things were said by people trying to be helpful and by people who were (let's be honest here) just flat out stupid when it came to our emotional struggle. We thought we needed to reshape our image of our daughter and our vision of family life. In retrospect, the raw emotions and struggle surrounding our daughter were unnecessary. The major source of our emotional upheaval was not our daughter. It was ignorance of her diagnosis.

As a NICU nurse, my biggest fear was for my daughter's health. I had seen some really sick babies. In my ignorance I thought that all babies with T21 couldn't eat and needed open heart surgery. The delightful truth is that while certain medical conditions are associated with Trisomy 21, they are the same conditions that can affect babies and children throughout the world without warning. We have warning, thanks to Down Syndrome research. Clara-Bear will have the blessing of targeted preventative care and health maintenance throughout her life.

My husband had a fear that our daughter would look like Down Syndrome instead of like us. In his ignorance, he saw facial features and body types instead of people. The delightful truth is that our daughter is just as beautiful as we envisioned - except she inherited my fine, super straight hair instead of her Aunt Meredith's beautiful thick curls. Mommy bonus - I always wanted a daughter with blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair, and her hair color was the first thing I saw when she was born. She also has my mother-in-law's laugh. More ignorance - we didn't know a laugh could be inherited!

15 month old Clara-Bear

Down Syndrome is a syndrome. Individuals have a variety of the features and traits associated with T21. Some have more of the documented features, some have less, all look like their biological families. There is no such thing as a cookie cutter for people. Good looks and the not-so-good are inherited from parents and ancestors. Clara-Bear will curse me for that Marcia Brady hair some day!

Uncle Kevin, Aunt Driana, and Mommy. This hair was cool back in 1973!

The grands on both sides had a fear that Clara-Bear would be "low functioning." They hopefully looked for the tiniest sign that she was "high functioning." The delightful truth is DS research has found that independent functioning as an adult is not related to delays earlier in life or to appearance.

Clara-Bear can be challenged by things that come easily to her Typically Developing younger brother. But there are things that come easier to her. Don't tell my son, but she is better than he is at figuring out how to make things work within her abilities. Probably because she doesn't quit at the first sign of a challenge like he does. (Insert Mommy guilt for comparing children here.)

The new generation with T21 is blessed beyond words by the results of developmental, medical, and educational research. Assistive Technology is already removing barriers and creating opportunities that were never an option for past generations. As family and friends we have the thrill of witnessing our loved ones rising above preconceived notions of potential. We can delight in the knowledge that, with the proper support, our children have more life choices than parents of past generations with Down Syndrome could have ever imagined.

This is not your grandmother's Down Syndrome. Times have changed. Society no longer defines ability for individuals with Trisomy 21. Our children are setting new limits and breaking through the genetic ceiling that used to trap individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. I am so proud of my delightful, beautiful, and clever daughter. I celebrate that she has been born at such an exciting time for individuals with Down Syndrome.

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Costume Discounters Review Part Deux aka the Redemption Review

2011-10-10T22:30:00.001-05:00

Boys costumes for dress up are a staple of 4 year old Alan's wardrobe. He does not need an excuse to assume a new identity, even though he adores it when his friends enter his creative world on Halloween. Clara-Bear's interest in imaginative play is growing but I don't know if she will ever be a match for my boy of 1,000 faces.

So I decided to get Alan an addition to his costume wardrobe when I had an opportunity to exchange the defective Twinkle Fairy costume sent for the first Costume Discounters review. We had a blast scrolling through the boys costumes together, and, true to form, he was not limiting his choice to spooky Halloween costumes.

He chose an Optimus Prime muscle costume:

He was totally impressed by his new robotic muscles. In fact, I cannot call this a costume. It's his "new body." Which, as Alan demonstrates often, is so much stronger than his "old body" that he can lift things like this tv tray table with ease:

The first costume came from a different manufacturer, and was large for its size. Alan is in a size 6 shirt and size 5 pant, and as you can see in photo #1, this size small (4-6) fits him perfectly. Might be a bit of an issue if he needs to wear sweats underneath it for trick or treating, but for now, I think he enjoys his snug fitting muscle wear.

There are four different choices of Optimus Prime Transformers Halloween costumes on the Costume Discounters website. The one we chose was second from the top at $24.97. I was able to compare the quality of ours to a $24.99 Prime costume from KMart, and the Costume Discounters costume definitely delivers more quality and style for the same price.

I also liked the search suggestions that are displayed above my search results. I don't really know the names of the Transformers, so having a linked list to extend my search made me look like a Transformer Savvy Super Mom to my son.

In the past, I would have gasped at the thought of paying $24.97 for a child's dress up costume. But I've seen how much fun and use Alan gets out of his costumes. I've also come to realize that when I buy him used Halloween costumes at yard sales or off Craig's List, I am buying the same level of quality as this costume. I'm a convert now - if I am going to buy him a new costume, then I want something that is durable and makes him feel so good about himself that he sees a "new body," not a costume.

Watch the Costume Discounters website for shipping offers to save even more. If you still have doubts after deux reviews of the site and their products, remember they offer free shipping on exchanges and returns. And if you find the same costume for less on the Internet they will match the price plus take off an additional 20%! So go, shop, and get your discounted Halloween costume!

The September October Issue of Parenting Special Needs Magazine is Up!

2011-10-01T20:58:00.000-05:00

This year's Back to School issue brings in tips and ideas for incorporating Assistive Technology into the education and social life of individuals with Special Needs. The digital magazine looks gorgeous as usual, but mute alert - there is the sound of pages turning as you scroll through it. Makes me jump every time!

I shared some of what I learned through Clara-Bear's Tech Fund fundraising this past summer in an article titled 8 Steps for Getting a Free iPad for Special Needs Uses. The handsome boy pictured using the Geico Brostache app for articulation therapy is my own Alan.

I think I only got two posts of my technology fundraising diary published before everything here went nuts. I still have an awesome resource directory of fundraising related sites to complete, and more to share about apps for Special Needs. It's a fun topic to explore!

Reality Slap, Reality Hug? Back to School Edition

2011-10-01T11:41:00.001-05:00

What is Reality Slap, Reality Hug? It's something I came up with during Clara-Bear's second year, when our family was facing everything from her multiple medical needs to near foreclosure and business bankruptcy, to a surprise pregnancy.

Reality Slap: When real life is so stinking real it's almost surreal. You can't even believe it's happening to you, or you might be saying something like "again?".

Reality Hug: The brighter side of the slap. It might take a little searching or some time to find, but you will find it if you have a desire to learn and grow from life.

Back to School, 2011


Clara-Bear with her ParaPro at Kindy Orientation. Where's the school spirit?

Hopefully, by this time the roller coaster ride has slowed and all of you have settled into a back to school groove. Clara-Bear moved from a small, inclusive Early Childhood setting to a regular Kindergarten class at a new school. Here's the biggest of the Back to School Reality Slaps, Reality Hugs we experienced:

Reality Slap
Last spring we had multiple transition planning and IEP meetings. I had to complete at least a million home evaluations for behavior, etc. Then there were the release of information forms, school transfer paperwork, emails, phone calls. The usual busy whirlwind of being Personal Assistant to a Special Needs celeb with a large entourage.

Where did all these hours of work lead to? Felt like no where for Clara-Bear! She had to go into overstimulation overload and stop eating and sleeping to prove that the sensory needs that had been documented and discussed ad nauseum existed. The school called me in the middle of her second week to tell me she could not use her Dynavox from home because it was a liability to the school and the staff was not trained on the device!

OK, they abruptly took her medically prescribed speech generating device away without providing an equivalent substitute form of communication! The same device that we had been talking about her bringing and my programming since last fall. I was livid. I told our principal that the school had been caught with their pants down and their hands where they are not supposed to be! I did not spare my opinion of how serious this poor planning was for our daughter.

Reality Hug
Everyone from school board's Assistive Technology Team to the General Ed teacher really made an effort to work within their system (that's their own reality slap that they face everyday) to let Clara-Bear keep her own Dynavox and make sure that her sensory and other physical needs were met.

Instead of making Clara-Bear use PCS while the paperwork and training mess was straightened out, the principal let me sign a temporary release so Clara-Bear could use her own device. We had two IEP meetings in a week, plus I met with the school SLP and members of the AT team to develop our relationship and make sure my programming supported Clara-Bear's school goals.

There were tons of emails, more meetings, and phone calls. We clarified the roles of the members of Clara-Bear's large school support team and how communication between school and home would occur. Throughout it all, I could really see how committed the school's staff was to Clara-Bear's success and happiness.

Yes, a lot of stress for our family, a lot of time for me, a lot of confusion for Baby-Bear. She lost weight, I gained weight. But we are a stronger team for it. My respect and trust for Clara-Bear's new school has increased greatly. Their communication with me has improved. Clara-Bear has a reduced school day and a sensory diet at school, so she is settling in, gaining weight, and (thank goodness) sleeping. The hug after the slap!

Group hug time! It's your turn to share. Post a comment with your Back to School Reality Slap, Reality Hug story. Who can't use a good hug?

Costume Discounters Review, No Thanks to Real Life

2011-09-19T21:08:00.003-05:00

So, do you think blogging is an easy way to get free stuff, share your opines, and express a little creativity? Blogging is fun that way. Back when Clara-Bear was medically house-bound for five winters, blogging provided a way for the "old" me to connect with the world outside our little house. But is blogging easy? Eh, not always! Read on…

I once said, "I made plans, then real life got in the way." This past July, when Costume Discounters offered me a free costume of my choice in exchange for a review within two weeks, I said yes without hesitation (well, I did check out the website first, but that's research, not hesitation.). Then real life didn't just get in the way - it knocked me on my a**! Like, for real, complete with xrays, physical therapy, and orthopedic visits!

I spent quite a bit of time browsing the Costume Discounters website for a girls dress up costume to use as a toilet training reward for Clara-Bear. Like a lot of children with ASD, she needs help with imaginative play. Lately, the princess thing is really motivating her and she will wear princess dress up clothes (on her terms, of course). The girls fairy costumes seemed like a great way to introduce another element into her emerging girlie-girl world before she became too rigid about princesses.

Because of my back, we had to drop the idea of using the costume as a potty training reward; and were slow about getting around to trying it on her. She loved her Light-Up Twinkler Fairy Costume! I thought it was beautiful, even if it was a bit large. How adorable is Baby-Bear (even if she would only make funny faces)!

Little brother even joined in on the dress up fun! He was so excited by Clara-Bear's wings that he made a pair for himself out of construction paper.

This is where the challenges of being a blogger really started. We were sent a defective costume! The wings broke right away, and there was loose fiberoptics and trim. The skirt's twinkle effect only lasted a few seconds. I was most disappointed by the twinkles. This was not mentioned in the description, so I don't know if this was a defect or intentional.

Lights seemed like an awesome Halloween safety feature as well as a fun way to engage my twirlie–girlie, who loves to spin in the middle of the kitchen. Who wants to press a button every 10 seconds when there’s dancing to do?

Costume Discounters has a few great stand out features in their industry. One is that if you find an identical costume on the Internet, they will take an additional 20% off the competitor's price. Another is rotating shipping specials. For example, you can currently get free shipping on orders of $70 or more or $4.99 flat rate expedited ground shipping. Last week, the flat rate shipping fee was $2.99. Something worth watching if you are making Halloween plans!

I found it easier to find specific styles of costumes on their site and to understand what accessories are included than on some other major costume websites I’ve visited. My sister owns a comic book store, so I have checked out other online costume discounters with her and appreciate the organization of Costume Discounters.

The most unique feature Costume Discounters offers is free shipping both ways for exchanges due to size, error, or damaged goods. I was asked to use the exchange program for our costume. Another unexpected bloggie challenge popped up. Pain meds had me out as soon as DH was home to take over with the kids. Days were filled with Clara’s appointments, my own appointments, and then there was the start of Kindergarten. We’ll just say “rocky.” I’ll catch you up on that adventure later.

Kindy and back are getting better. Less time is spent in appointments, at meetings, on email, and phone calls. But I was so tripped up by real life that it’s been two months since the two week review process was started! Yikes!

I checked the paperwork and the website, and saw a 10 day time limit on general returns, but didn’t see a time limit on exchanges. Common sense said it’s probably been too long. Customer service didn’t know. So I tried to do the online exchange, and it didn’t work. Sigh. Not a good feeling!

Luckily for me, the review sponsors are still willing to work with me. So, hopefully, we will get the defective costume returned, and possibly an exchange. Costume Discounters have done everything they can to make this easy, I only have ~~real life~~ myself to blame!

Hey, Anara, What's Going On?

2011-07-20T15:10:00.001-05:00

The answer is - I hurt my stinking back! We were at an indoor playroom and I sat in one of those tall, folding director's chairs. The leg broke and down I went. The funny part is, it was kind of a surreal, slow-mo fall. I saw the shocked faces of the parents waiting in line for the balloon guy and at the same time had a flashback to childhood and heard my mother's voice saying "close your legs so you look like a lady!"

Image from Clipart ETC

So now, in addition to taking Clara to the Reading Clinic at Vandy four days a week, ESY four days a week, her usual therapy and doctor appointments, getting ready for Kindergarten, making major programming changes in her Dynavox, fundraising for her Tech Fund, being a mom, a wife, and an extreme couponer, I have back pain!

Is it any wonder that I forgot to start planning Clara's birthday party, to call a potential new Occupational Therapist for her, and that Red Dog's Rabies tag has expired? It will all get done. This family has faced much worse than a slow-moving mama!

So here's what's in store for my wonderful able2able followers:

The continuation of Clara-Bear's Tech Fund Fundraising Diary - so much to share, so much learned, so much fundraising cut off by my back injury! But no worries here, I have a fundraising plan B that I hope to put into effect soon to make up for time and money lost.
Some great links to ways you can raise money for iPods and iPads to help your Special Needs child connect and learn.
I owe a reader links to sources for chewable jewelry.
I have some great books to give away from the Cinnamon Freckles series, featuring a beautiful little girl with CP who uses a Dynavox to talk.
Another Hometrain social skills product review coming, this time about preparing your preschooler for school.
Review of the book The Babysense SecretLearn to Understand Your Baby's Moods for Happy Days and Peaceful Nights by Megan Faure, an awesome new book about the sensory needs of babies.
Review of costume from the online discount store Costume Discounters (can't wait for it to arrive!).
Review and giveaway of products from Signing Families, a great source of English and Spanish based ASL educational products for children, educators, and medical/emergency response professionals.
App reviews! Not just reviews of accessibility apps developed for Special Needs, but also of some of the apps we are discovering to help Clara-Bear meet some of her IEP and therapy goals.

Giveaway Winner Announcements! Yeah!

2011-07-20T10:37:00.000-05:00

A new winner has been selected for the Hometrain Social Skills CD-Rom giveaway. I tried to contact you, original winner!

Last year, if the winner did not have an email address on their profile or in their comments I would immediately select a new winner. This is why - it rarely works out! So, back to the old system of not accepting winning entries if there is no email address. Remember, if you want to enter as anonymous please email me and give me a way to contact you if you win.

The new winner of the Hometrain CD-Rom set is Ardy22! You have been messaged through Facebook and emailed, so please get back to me before the deadline I sent so I can get that prize shipped to you.

The winner of the Vanilla Bean scented Smart Mom Teething Bling is Sonya! You have been emailed and have 72 hours to reply with shipping info or Random.org will be used to select a new winner.

The Winner of the Hometrain Social Skills CD-Rom Giveaway...

2011-07-05T11:48:00.001-05:00

Ardy22 as of 7/20/11.

is ~~Yo Mama Mama~~!

But you have not given me a way to contact you!

Hopefully, you will email me after reading this so I can mail you your prize otherwise a new winner will be selected through Random.org.

(CLOSED) Smart Mom Jewelry Vanilla Scented Chewable Jewelry Giveaway Ends July 14th, 2011

2011-07-01T17:08:00.004-05:00

You don't have to be a parent of a Special Needs child, a teacher, or a therapist to enter able2able giveaways. This giveaway is open to ANYWHERE, so share this link with your friends who live outside the U.S. and Canada! New to blog giveaways, and a little nervous? Check out able2able's Blog Giveaway FAQ's.

My first review of Tween Bling fashion fidget jewelry from Smart Mom Jewelry was last November. Since then, Clara-Bear rarely leaves the house without her Smart Mom chewable jewelry. I even have a backup in her school bag in case I forget to put one on her.

Smart Mom knows that babies love to grab and chew, and they know that as girls get older they like to fidget. They might not know that children and adults with Special Needs can also chew and fidget, but they still have done a fabulous job of making age appropriate, safe, and durable chewable jewelry. They have definitely helped my Special Needs child with her focus and ability to deal with stress.

One time I took Clara-Bear to therapy without Smart Mom chewable jewelry and her PT felt there was a difference in focus during the session. She asked that Clara-Bear come to therapy with either her Spio Suit compression vest or her Tween Bling. How cool is it that our Physical Therapist put Smart Mom chewable jewelry in the same league as a prescription stabilizing garment? Tween Bling is a regular part of my fidgety girl’s sensory diet as well as her wardrobe.

Probably the only time she doesn't wear it is when she will be someplace where it will drag as she climbs and plays, like an indoor playroom. Silicone does not support bacterial or viral growth but it doesn't kill them on contact. I try to be mindful of what she will be doing while wearing something that will go in her mouth.

This is how her Tween Bling looks after 8 months of hard use:

They’ve held up great! Clara-Bear is almost six so she's not teething. She's biting and she's not holding back. The silicone pendants don't even have bite marks. The cord gets chewed on as well but the strands aren’t fraying or separating. The necklaces get washed in the dishwasher after one use and are occasionally dropped into boiling water to make sure no buggies are growing in the cording. Regular cleaning with hot or boiling water has not caused any fading or signs of wear.

In addition to biting her Tween Bling, Clara-Bear likes to twirl and wave the necklaces when she stims. I was letting her do this to relax after school until she removed two necklaces and bit the safety release clasps. It took me a little while to figure out how the clasps were being crushed.

Replacing the cords was easy but Clara-Bear is no longer permitted to remove her Tween Bling. She can only twirl it while she is wearing it and with direct supervision. Overall, I am thrilled with how Tween Bling is holding up to the triple threat test of time, teeth, and twirling (I don't blame them for the clasp crushing).

This giveaway is for one Vanilla Bean scented Smart Mom Jewelry donut shaped pendant with cord. I have not seen the actual product, but the 2x2 pendant looks lovely in the pictures.

A matching vanilla bean chewable bangle will be available for purchase through Smart Mom jewelry this month. A chewable bangle might be an option for individuals who chew on their hands or fingers.

Substitutes for harmful or socially undesirable behaviors aren't always welcomed. Have a plan for redirecting from chewing, sucking, or teeth grinding and expect resistance. It took a few months to get Clara-Bear to wear her Smart Mom jewelry because of sensory and behavioral issues.

If she pulled a necklace off I took it away immediately and told her to leave it alone. She learned that if she wanted to see the necklace and play with it she would have to leave it on. At the same time, I was doing Wilbarger DPPT every two hours (with hand hugs instead of joint compression). This helped with the tactile defensiveness that made it difficult for Clara-Bear to wear a necklace.

Then I had to show her what to do with the pendant. I would put it into her mouth and tell her to bite the chewie instead of grinding. Because I substituted chewing on the pendant for grinding she still had a way to self regulate in stressful situations. She had just started sticking her fingers in her mouth so we were able to stop that habit from forming at the same time as we dealt with teeth grinding.

About the scents. We have berry, peach, and pineapple scents and they were subtly scented when new. The scents have faded over time. I cannot tell you how a child with Sensory Dysregulation like in SPD or Autism Spectrum Disorder will react to the smells. Clara-Bear has marked hypotonia, and the low muscle tone seems to reduce her ability to taste and smell. I think for her the scent helped made the chewable jewelry more appealing. Unscented products are available.

Totally off topic: our association with vanilla has nothing to do with baking. When Clara-Bear was a micro-preemie in NICU, she had frequent episodes of apnea of prematurity (meaning she would stop breathing). One of the neonatologists learned about my interest in aromatherapy and brought in a copy of a research study showing that apneic episodes can be reduced by placing a cotton ball with essential oil of vanilla near the baby. We tried this with Clara-Bear. Even though it didn’t work, that copy of the study and her original bottle of essential oil are still in her memory box. Ahh, Mommy Memories.

All Smart Mom Jewelry is non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, PVC, latex free, and lead free. All pendants come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety measure. The mom owned company has even posted their Commitment to Safety on the website.

One lucky able2able follower will win a Vanilla Bean scented chewable necklace from Smart Mom Jewelry (ARV $19.99 USD).

Mandatory First Visit the Smart Mom Jewelry website and tell me which of their clever and fun products you like best.

The mandatory first entry must be completed before you can complete any of the following additional entries! You can choose to do one or all of these additional entries in any order. There are a total of 14 possible entries.

For 1 additional entry:

Like Teething Bling on Facebook and leave a wall comment saying that you entered this giveaway at able2able.
Visit the Teething Bling blog, and leave a comment HERE about something you learned there.
Follow Teething Bling on Twitter. They have some fun giveaways going on there!
Follow able2able on Twitter.
Like able2able on Facebook and post a shout out comment on the wall. Current Facebook Fans may post an entry.

For an additional 2 entries (post a comment for each entry):

Post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook status.
Tweet the link to this giveaway.

For an additional 4 entries (post a comment for each entry):
Blog about this giveaway! Your blog post must include links to this giveaway and mention able2able and Smart Mom Jewelry. Include a link to your blog post in your comments.

It is very important that you post a comment for each entry. Why? Because a random number generator will be used to select the winner. Each comment will be numbered by Blogger, and I will use those numbers for the drawing. So if you combine entries into one post all your entries will not be counted. There will be no do-overs!

I will verify that the winning entry has met the requirements above, so if your comment for a FB status update is the winning comment then I might ask to see that link, etc. If I cannot verify your entry, then all your entries will be removed from the list and the drawing will be repeated.

This giveaway ends at 11:59 pm (CT) on Thursday, July 14th. The winner's name will be posted on able2able and I will also contact you. The lucky winner will have 72 hours to reply.

I received samples of Tween Bling jewelry in the past. This review was not influenced by any products I received and has not been edited by the sponsor.

Clara-Bear's Tech Fund Diary Day 2

2011-06-24T11:03:00.002-05:00

photo from http://www.my-diary.org/

Saturday, May 14th
The kids and I were up early to go to Nashville, then we rushed back to get to the Spring Hill Public Library's Homeschool Curriculum Sale so I could talk to the librarian. I didn't tell DH that I also wanted to shop a bit. Just a wee bit.

This was my first time at a sale for homeschooling supplies, and I was in heaven! I wanted to be a teacher but my father didn't approve. I think that's why I am so enthusiastic about supplementing Clara-Bear's education and therapy at home. Being a nurse has definitely helped us as well, so God definitely blessed me with her for a reason.

Alan was playing with a little boy his age and Clara-Bear seemed content to sit in her wheelchair and play with a toy so I didn't rush. I stayed in my budget of $20 (good) but the librarian had left for lunch by the time I finished shopping (bad). I took the opportunity to tell moms from the homechooling group about the Daisy Troop I plan to start this fall for Special Needs girls and Typically Developing peers. We need peer models, so it was nice to spread the word.

I stopped at a church's mega yard sale on the drive home. After lustfully eyeballing several tables of books I pretended to be confident and asked them if I could have any leftover books and movies for my fundraiser. I gave two of the volunteers my blog's business card and they said they would call me at the end of the day.

On the way out, I saw a table of baked goods donated by Kroger. They were not day old, but were approaching their "sell by" date. It looked like the church was doing well selling them and we sure enjoyed the Dutch apple pie I snagged for less than 50% of the store price. I decided to ask Kroger for donations to sell. I'm buzzing like a bee, full of excitement and ideas for the book sale.

I call the librarian later in the afternoon and my buzzing stops. She thinks the library has had too many used books sales lately so won't let me use the space. I quickly decided not to tell her that the homeschool curriculum sale was geared towards a very specific type of buyer and is not the same. Instead, I got bold again and asked if she would donate some of the books that the homeschool group had given the library after their sale ended.

This was a bold request, and I think it shocked her! The library has two used book sale fundraisers a year, and whatever is left over is donated to a mission trip or held for the next sale. When I told DH that I was going to ask, he thought it was too far a long shot to even bother. I am so glad I didn't listen to that old Negative Nellie (or Ned). The librarian said yes! Wow!

I was so excited by her yes that I didn't realize that no one ever called to tell me to come back to the church yard sale and pick up their leftover books. Now it's way too late for me to be a little pushy and go back to see if they are still cleaning up. Rats!

What I've Learned

Don't over focus. Look for opportunities to network or multi-task if you are working on multiple projects.
Don't base your action plan on other people's opinions.
Don’t be afraid to ask, even if seems impossible.
Be open to inspiration.
Don't rely on others to call you. If it's really important get a number as well as to give your own.
Have a Mom's card or business card ready to give. You can print these out yourself or get them for free at sites like Vista Print.
Know yourself. Be prepared to push out of your comfort zone when making requests. Draw courage from remembering WHY you are asking in the first place. If your planning takes you places where you will be tempted to spend money then take cash and set a limit. (notice I didn't say don't spend the money. I blog about real life, remember?)
Your fundraiser will dominate your life so pick a fundraiser that is fun for you as well as potentially profitable.

Run through an imaginary day at your fundraiser from beginning to end before deciding what you want to do. For a used book sale I needed to think of Clara-Bear's schedule, what I would do with the kids if DH couldn't take off work, storing books, time for organizing donations, transporting books to and from the sale, how to display the books, getting volunteers, and the possibility I might get sick or have to do it all alone.

You might also like Clara-Bear's Tech Fund Diary Day 1: The Ball Conquers the Wheel

S-O-S Best of the Best - Media and Kids with Special Needs

2011-06-14T22:43:00.002-05:00

When Danette from S-O-S Research emailed the theme of this month's Best-of-the-Best she said that she was intentionally leaving the topic of "Media and Kids with Special Needs" open to interpretation. This is my interpretation, and my humble opinion. I'm looking forward to hearing yours!

I wanted to blog for years before I started able2able. It wasn't just because time was so limited when Clara-Bear was a baby. It was also because of my distrust of one particular form of media - the Internet.

The Internet can be a cruel place. Much has been written about how people feel safe posting things online they would never say face to face. I've been following one frugal living blog for a couple of years. Someone posted something rude in the comments, and when regular followers protested her reply was, "it's only the Internet."

This sums up my fears about bringing my family into a public place like Blogger. This woman had no awareness that she was interacting with a network of people not a network of computers. She was clueless that there was actually a community and culture on the blog she was visiting. Like many, she felt that being able to freely post a comment online gave her the right to freely say whatever she wanted without any respect for the people reading that thread. The Internet is full of people who think like her, and they can post some horrible things about Special Needs.

Obviously, some of those fears have passed or you wouldn't be reading this. But even when I finally started able2able I was still very cautious. I'd read some very cruel remarks about individuals with Special Needs on videos, news articles, and posts. Most were random, kind of like a drive-by. It hurts to think of that kind of ignorance being directed at my babies. The mature response would be to ignore this, but come on, we're talking family here. Just the thought is upsetting.

It didn't help that before I started blogging a well respected friend told me that Special Needs bloggers who post pictures of their child, accept items for review or charge for ads are viewed as making money off their Special Needs child. Between my mistrust of the Internet and hearing this, the first version of able2able was dry. Just the facts, ma'am. Needless to say, I had a blah-g even I didn't want to follow.

I begin to look more closely at other blogs. What did I see? Kids, families, pets, personal experiences, sponsors, giveaways, and fun! I saw debates and different points of views, but nothing mean-spirited. No one questioned blogs featuring family life with no Special Needs. Why were families with Special Needs children treated differently? Able2able became more personal, and started growing.

At the same time, Internet technology and social media were growing. Sponsors want video reviews. Blogs are now Vlogs. Pictures and personal stories are suddenly not enough. What does this mean for me as a blogger who writes product reviews and about online resources based on experiences with her Special Needs child? Online media has changed, and once again my comfort level is being pushed.

So for now, no videos that show my children. I'll try vlogging when I figure out how to publish videos without going through a public forum like YouTube. Even then, I'm not sure how often the kids will be in those videos. My parents never took a lot of pictures of us and never owned a video camera so I like the thought of raising children who are confident in front of the camera. But is the Internet the place to instill this confidence in my children or is this form of media too public?

Even though this blog includes stories and photos of my Special Needs child, I still feel the need to protect her from those who think that anything published online is fair game and an open invitation to intentionally rude comments.

Maybe I'm fooling myself. My Special Needs child is online with me, exposed 24/7 by my choice, not hers. I guess there has to be a line. I will probably always be cautious and try to stay safe by being slow to jump on the latest craze in this form of media called the Internet. Hopefully, I can be mature enough to ignore the occasional drive-by comment by someone who doesn't understand that there's no such thing as "only the Internet."

Clara-Bear's Tech Fund Diary Day 1: The Ball Conquers the Wheel

2011-06-13T16:29:00.002-05:00

Friday, May 13th
It's been over a year since our first able2able fundraiser raised almost $700 and connected a family with the Starkey Hearing Foundation. We helped an Autistic boy with Cancer and chemo-induced hearing loss get hearing aids and pay for some medical expenses.

For the past few months I've been updating the Directory of Fun and Unusual Fundraisers and networking with local businesses interested in helping with Nashville area Special Needs fundraisers. I've got the fundraising itch again. I'm on fire to get into the action and raise funds for somebody instead of writing about it!

After much prayer and reflection, I've chosen to help my own daughter get an iPod Touch for communication, social, and educational support. There's also adaptive computer equipment she needs and the little problem we've had lately of canceling AAC therapy because of gas prices. It feels really weird to fundraise like this for us. The bottom line is that we are not going to get Clara-Bear what she needs without help.

Help would mean an agency, foundation, or family member would have to provide her with an iPod and accessories. Helping us means somebody, somewhere had to make a sacrifice. Either in the form of money and devices donated to a foundation, by giving Clara-Bear a very expensive gift, or by another child doing without. Clara-Bear's schedule doesn't let me work to earn money for extras, but I can use what free time I have to raise the money.

I'll be honest, there's a little more than sparing others behind wanting to raise the funds myself. The past 6 years has not mashed the need for a wee bit of control and independence out of me. I am still uncomfortable asking for help and still struggle with the chronic powerlessness of parenting a Special Needs child. Healthy Anara knows I'm just fooling myself by acting like I'm deciding where this hamster ball goes. We all know that a happy hamster rolls with the ball!

Photo by Pinzith on Photobucket.com

But Healthy Anara also knows that indulging my stubborn side by occasionally pretending this is MY life is too important to be ignored. As a nurse, I like to think of it as the placebo effect for emotional well-being. I don't care if pretending I have control is like taking a sugar pill. I've learned a lot about letting go of control since Clara-Bear's diagnosis. I've also learned when and how to take care of my needs. I do what I can with what I have and try really hard to let go of the rest.

I start feeling like a hamster on a wheel when Clara-Bear's schedule gets too busy. My acceptance of Clara-Bear's diagnosis is good and I love her and our life. But my personality has always needed a balance between structured and unstructured time. Our time is not ours and too much structure makes me nuts! I would have made a great hippie, despite the OCD.

The fact that I want to add the extra challenge of fundraising to an already overloaded schedule tells me it's time to step off the wheel and jump into the ball. I guess at the same time that I love living for others I still need affirmation that there is something left for me and some of me left. It doesn't exactly make sense, but this fundraiser excites me enough to feel that it's as much for me as it is for Clara-Bear.

Like all my "good" ideas, this one came together around midnight when the rest of the family was asleep. (I have a bad habit of staying up too late because it's the only time this mother of non-nappers and early risers gets some quiet time.) I was up all night with different fundraising ideas dancing through my head.

I think I want to try a used book sale and ask friends to donate books and movies. This idea means I have to pay for space or find a free location that works with Clara's summer school and therapy schedule. There's also the problem of display tables, set up time, and being able to leave items overnight for a two day sale.

The local library meets all of these requirements, but the librarian is off today. I'm going to go to a homeschool curriculum sale at the library tomorrow morning and try to catch the librarian there. My brain is spinning, adrenaline pumping, the kids are too active for me to start my GiveForward profile, and day 1 is already turning into hurry up and wait time. I use that energy to go through the kids' bookshelves and movies and load my first two boxes of items to sell. Patience is great in theory, but not much fun to practice. At least I'm in the hamster ball, and off the wheel!

Cartoon by the Pondermatic on Photobucket.com

Why are We Trying to Raise Money for an iPod for Clara-Bear?

2011-06-02T12:51:00.002-05:00

Clara-Bear's Tech Fund is our way of raising money to purchase an iPod Touch, accessories, apps, and adaptive computer equipment for Clara-Bear to use when she starts Kindergarten this fall.

After using her "talker" for over a year, we have experienced some issues that need to be dealt with as Clara-Bear's school day grows longer and her social experiences more diverse.

It took two adults to help Clara-Bear milk this pretend cow. I helped her stand and lean over while her teacher held the Dynavox.

We know we are blessed to have the Dynavox V (aka the "V" or her "talker"). In fact, I used to think an iPod or iPad was an uneccessary luxury. Having community based AAC therapy instead of sitting at a table with a Speech Therapist once a week has been a blessing in so many ways. It has helped us understand the pro's and cons involved in using this particular speech generating device for Clara-Bear, who still needs a lot of help walking, climbing, and bending over.

The cons became a genuine concern during a class field trip to a farm last fall. Before we even left the house I realized that we would be outside for 5 hours but the Dynavox only has a battery life of 2 to 3 hours. Oops. Clara-Bear still needs breaks from the pressure to communicate, so losing access to her talker is not a crisis yet. But what happens when she expects to communicate and can't?

Clara-Bear can carry the almost 5 pound speech generating device. But she has to be on level ground with no steps and needs both hands to carry it. She falls easily, so for her safety and the safety of the Dynavox an adult carries it for her unless it's a short transition in the classroom.

This means that even when she can socially handle playing alone with other kids, she will still need an adult within arms reach. Independence is a necessary part of her social development and self esteem, and there is no way to tell when she will be strong enough to manage the Dynavox by herself.

It was actually a relief when the Dynavox battery died during the field trip. Clara-Bear needed a lot of physical support in the fields and unpaved paths of the farm. Trying to help her and hold the Dynavox where she could reach it left me wishing for a rolling stand with all terrain wheels, or at least a third hand.

Everytime I would lean over her the heavy device would swing on the shoulder strap and smack her or me. If I set it down to help her climb or lift I had to hope for a dry surface and watch out for a classmate of hers who was obsessively trying to play with the talker.

Clara-Bear, Alan, and the Dynavox finally get to sit at a clean, dry table instead of on the muddy ground or straw.

The size of the Dynavox is also an issue. There's often no room for it when kids are sitting close to each other for activities, when Clara-Bear is in her wheelchair, and in restaurants. It is also considered "her voice" and personal space. This means the games in it are not meant to be shared with another child.

So we have awkward size, heavy weight, short battery life, missed social opportunities, and limited independence. How will this device fit into long Kindergarten days that include assemblies, playground time, free play, cafeteria time, and field trips?

It's time to give Clara-Bear a more portable way to communicate that can also help her fine motor skills, academics, relieve anxiety when we're in public, and give her a way to play with other kids that doesn't require her to speak. We want an iPod Touch with Proloquo2Go and other apps.

We still plan to use the Dynavox in the classroom and for homework since it's such a strong platform for literacy and language development. With the help of Kim, our awesome SLP who specializes in AAC, the Dynavox and iPod will work together and create a communication and education system that meets Clara-Bear's unique needs.

I applied for a free iPad through the HollyRod Foundation at Christmastime, but I think our application fell through the cracks. Since then we've decided that the smaller size of the Touch will be easier for Clara-Bear to carry in a belt bag.

She would probably like the larger screen of the iPad (and I know my old eyes like the larger size) but the point is to give her something she can carry in one hand and use independently. I'm more glad than sad that another child got one of the limited number of iPads HollyRod gave away during the Holidays.

I've spent a lot of time researching organizations that give free iPads and iPods to nonverbal children with Autism or other Special Needs. One thing I've noticed is that not all cover the cost of apps. Accessibility and communications apps can be very expensive, so extra money would still be needed even if the iPod were given to us.

I like fundraising and, for some silly reason, still enjoy new challenges despite the daily challenges of real life. I'm going to try to raise the money for all the technology that Clara-Bear needs for communication and education. This means a big part of the summer will be spent fundraising. I'm going to try a little of everything and blog about it along the way.

Some of the fundraisers I'm considering are:

Online donations through Give Forward, a site that lets you create your own medical fundraisers.
Selling things at yard sales, on EBay, and through Craig's List.
Holding online sales parties where friends can purchase items from companies like Thirty One. The Independent Consultant will donate a percentage of the profits to the Tech Fund.
A possible used book and movie sale.
A fundraiser with FundGiving, a company that helps you use your talents or stuff to raise money for your cause.

Hopefully, Clara-Bear will have what she needs to rock Kindergarten and communication in place by the end of the summer. As a bonus, you and I will have an education in personal fundraising, sources of free or discounted iPods/iPads for Special Needs children, the best apps for Special Needs children and how to use them, and in creative ways to turn your goals for your child into reality. And hopefully, by mid-July, I will get to turn off my brain and enjoy the summer, too!

The Latest Issue of Parenting Special Needs FREE Online Magazine is Up!

2011-05-30T16:46:00.001-05:00

If you are not familiar with Parenting Special Needs online magazine, go check it out!

Subscriptions are free and the bi-monthly digital magazine is full of interesting and timely articles for all Special Needs!

(gratuitous self-promotion: my latest article is on page 42 of the current issue)

Frugal & Fun Home Therapy Tips: Try a New Approach to Old Goals

2011-05-30T00:00:00.001-05:00

My recent Hometrain intereactive social skills CD-Rom review was an eye opener for me. We have been working on social skills with Clara-Bear since infancy. Consistency is good, but any child would tune their parents out after over 4 years of hearing to look at a person and say "hi" over and over. Watching her respond to Claire and the kids in the Hometrain CD's made me realize that we needed a new approach to the same old goal.

Clara-Bear acts like Alan doesn't exist when I pick her up or drop her off at her Early Childhood program. She flat out ignores me when I ask her to say "hi" or "bye" to her brother. So I got creative and Alan and I tried a new approach to getting her to notice he was in his car seat just inches away from her.

That got her attention! He loves his "mask" and loves that she isn't allowed to touch it. She said "hi" to him the second day we used it! We'll play with it some more during her summer school sessions. Hopefully, by the end of the summer, sister will be out of her greetings rut and interacting more appropriately with brother.

Does your child have therapy goals that have been around so long that they have lost meaning? What new and creative approaches can you try to reconnect your child with an old goal? Leave a comment and share your experiences and thoughts!

(CLOSED) Hometrain Social Skills CD-ROM Review & Giveaway: Ends June 16th

2011-05-29T23:47:00.002-05:00

You don't have to be a parent of a Special Needs child, a teacher, or a therapist to enter able2able giveaways. This giveaway is open to the U.S and Canada. You must be a public follower of able2able to enter. New to blog giveaways, and a little nervous? Check out able2able's Blog Giveaway FAQ's.

Both my children are a combination of introvert and extrovert. Clara-Bear's social skills took a big dive after a prolonged illness when she was two. Chronic sensory overload and the pain and fear of a month in the hospital followed by months of daily follow-up and medical home care left her suspicious and anxious around strangers.

Three years later the suspicion and anxiety is only for doctors appointments or new therapists, but the social skills still need work. She loves to go person to person in a waiting room and grab their hands to make them clap with her, but she won't say "hi" or "bye" without prompting. Eye contact happens after she gets to know you. She rarely looks at faces when she says "bye" and if she waves it's usually after the person has left.

Then there's my Typically Developing 4 year old. He is extremely confident and chatty around adults, but will try to avoid talking to children his own age because his speech is difficult to understand. We assume this is the result of being medically homebound with Clara-Bear for his first three winters, but of course we'll never know why a child who loves to talk has so much difficulty with articulation. The bottom line is that he also has anxiety about meeting and greeting new children. I was thrilled to get this opportunity to review two interactive social skills CD-Rom's for preschool children from the UK based company Hometrain.

Hometrain is the only developer of social skills development software in Ireland. It is the family business of creative spouses William and Claire Whyte. Claire (a teacher and Special Needs tutor) writes content, develops the games, and narrates the CD-Roms. William is Hometrain’s resident techie. Here is how they describe their software and other resources:

“At Hometrain we have developed inventive resources that promote positive home and school teaching for children with communication difficulties. With our interactive software, children learn new language and social skills, helping with problem behaviour in a fun and child friendly way.”

Both Clara-Bear and Alan were really into the games and narratives from "Hello" and "How are You". They are both still working on their mouse skills so they are not ready to play the point and click computer games independently, but I don't mind. It's easier for me to carryover key words and concepts into everyday social situations if I am involved in this type of activity. Learning how they learn is an important part of my Mommy Homework and I don't believe that teachers and therapists should be the only ones who understand how my children learn.

Hometrain CD-Rom's are meant to be used at school, therapy, or at home. Teach Social Skills 1, "Hello", focuses on understanding how and why we greet, friendships, and ways to get to know a new friend better.

Teach Social Skills 2, "How Are You?" explores emotions, describes body parts and pain, why emotions change, language skills for difficult social situations, and teaches children a three step process to staying calm.

Videos of Claire and the same eight cartoon children are in both CD's. This creates a sense of familiarity and ties the two programs together for preschoolers.

"Going to School" is the most recently released CD-Rom. "Learning Together" a preschool teaching program for children with difficulty learning is also available for purchase. The list of stores selling Hometrain products in the U.K. is growing and inquiries from interested retailers in the U.S. and Canada are welcome.

IMHO - I like what I see and what I'd like to see:

I like what I see:

Images are simple without a lot of distractions.
It's easy to identify the emotions in the cartoon images.
Claire does a fabulous job of explaining concepts and speaks very clearly at an easy to follow pace.
The emphasis on modeling appropriate language with opportunities to practice.
Stressful situations are addressed and children are taught an easy way to practice self calming.
Identifying and communicating physical feelings are included.
The Quick Guides included with each CD-Rom clearly explain the different interactive sections and remind you when printable resources are included on the CD.
You can play sample games on the website and view sample pages from the lesson plans before buying.
The website offers more than a place to stop and shop. It is really developing into a source of social skills and preschool learning resources.
A contact number is included for questions.

Things I'd like to see:

Prices in U.S. and Canadian dollars.
Resource links for U.S. and Canadian clients.
Lesson plans or a summary of how to use the social skills programs. They do a very good job of explaining this between the info on the Hometrain website and on the Teach Social Skills discs but I felt like I had to piece it together from several different places.
A link between the Glossary of Terms and the Information section. The Glossary is really helpful but a little lost on the site.
A contents list and more about "Learning Together." I'm not sure exactly what it covers or what type of learners will benefit from the program.
A downloadable option to reduce the price while Hometrain is expanding retailers outside the United Kingdom.
Apps! Not just to make the games more portable, but to give a touch screen option to children like Clara-Bear who do not have the fine motor skills to use a mouse.
A more detailed summary of Claire and William's professional backgrounds and education. I had to listen to a radio interview in the About section and read Claire's Blogger profile to learn that she was a teacher with educational play and Special Needs experience. The quality of her work hints at her expereince, but American schools and therapy centers will want specifics before purchasing or recommending Hometrain products.

Hometrain understands that Special Needs children might need help with the elements of social skills and communication that come more naturally to other children. Their interactive products are fun and entertaining for preschool learners. This makes it easier for parents and teachers to connect learning social skills with real life. I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

One lucky able2able follower will win two Hometrain CD-Rom's, Teach Social Skills 1 "Hello" and Teach Social Skills 2 "How are You?" (ARV $60).

Mandatory first entry: Like Hometrain on Facebook and leave a shout out comment on their wall saying you have entered the Teach Social Skills giveaway on able2able.

The mandatory first entry must be completed before you can complete any of the following additional entries! You can choose to do one or all of these additional entries in any order. There are a total of 12 possible entries.

For 1 additional entry:

Follow the Hometrain blog
Follow able2able on Twitter.
Like able2able on Facebook and post a shout out comment on the wall.
Current Facebook Fans may post an entry.

For an additional 2 entries (post a comment for each entry):

Post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook status.
Tweet the link to this giveaway.

For an additional 4 entries (post a comment for each entry):
Blog about this giveaway! Your blog post must include links to this giveaway and mention able2able and Hometrain. Include a link to your blog post in your comments.

It is very important that you post a comment for each entry. Why? Because a random number generator will be used to select the winner. Each comment will be numbered by Blogger, and I will use those numbers for the drawing. So if you combine entries into one post all your entries will not be counted. There will be no do-overs!

I will verify that the winning entry has met the requirements above, so if your comment for a FB status update is the winning comment then I might ask to see that link, etc. If I cannot verify your entry, then all your entries will be removed from the list and the drawing will be repeated.

This giveaway ends at 11:59 pm (CT) on Thursday, June 16th.

The winner's name will be posted on able2able and I will also contact you. The lucky winner will have 72 hours to reply.

I was given a product sample for review. The developers did not edit or influence this review.

Book Giveaway Winners Rundown - Finally!

2011-05-27T21:50:00.002-05:00

Sorry it took so long to get these out to you all. Between Blogger, laptop technical difficulties, and real life my blogging time has been more whack-a-doodle than usual. Cannot WAIT for fall 2011, when both kids are in school during the day and Mommy finally gets regular writing time.

All winners have been contacted and have 72 hours to reply or Random.org will be used to select a new winner.

How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist: The original winner, Yoga Mommy, never replied so a new winner has been selected. The new winner of How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist is...
#6: christal couturier

You and Your Disabled Child: The winner is #2: Randominities

Point to Happy: The winner is #12: LilyK

Congratulations to all, and have a great Memorial Day weekend, U.S. readers!