tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21859275041669467762024-03-12T21:46:37.939-07:00Janet Ann Collins on Special Needs. Opening Eyes, Opening HeartsPlease also visit
http://onwordsblog.blogspot.com
and
www.janetanncollins.comJanet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-21277746108785885632013-11-20T10:21:00.000-08:002013-11-20T10:21:00.940-08:00Spotless CowI'm participating in a blog tour for a book called Mary Elizabet the Spotless Cow.<br />
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Here's the information about the book:<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">About the book:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The story of
"Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow" takes us on the journey she travels
to figure out how to get the cows at a new farm to like and accept her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">While she hopes
to find friendship at her new home, instead she learns what it means to be
different from everyone else. (Spotless!) Mary Elizabeth uses clever ideas and
a sense of humor to help her on her quest for friends at the new farm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This inspiring
tale shows how perseverance in spite of obstacles, using a sound thought
process to arrive at solutions and the importance of having fun, using humor
and enjoying playtime can build friendships.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When you buy
this book, 50% of net proceeds go to Phoenix Children’s Hospital Child Life
Program to make a difference in the lives of children with critical and life
threatening illnesses.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Excerpt:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Once upon a
time........there was a farm in Ohio with lots of Cows. They all had many spots
to be proud of. One day a truck pulled into the farm. The back door opened and
out came a new Cow. The other Cows were so excited to have a new friend!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: -.25pt; margin-right: 27.85pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But as the new Cow came out of
the truck the other Cows looked on in shock!!! "Oh My!’’ ’’What on
Earth?!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It seems the new
Cow, whose name was Mary Elizabeth, had no spots!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">’’Where are your spots??!!’’
Demanded the Cow called Anna Belle. ’’I don’t have any spots. I was born
spotless, you see.’’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Well, Anna Belle and the other Cows were
horrified.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(Not mad, you had to be very careful about
mad)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Watch the trailer: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://youtu.be/72fOn1tEbDM">http://youtu.be/72fOn1tEbDM</a> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Purchasing
information: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">From
now through December 31, 2013, you can purchase <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mary Elizabeth The Spotless Cow </i>from the Sweetles website for only
$12.00 (List price: $17.99).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When you buy
this book, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">50%</b> of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">net proceeds</b> go to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Phoenix Children’s Hospital Child Life Program</b>. Visit <a href="http://www.sweetles.com/product/books/mary-elizabeth-the-spotless-cow-book/">http://www.sweetles.com/product/books/mary-elizabeth-the-spotless-cow-book/</a>
for more information.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Rafflecopter code for those participating in $25 Amazon gift card
giveaway from November 4 – December 10, 2013:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6f172c111/" id="rc-6f172c111" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">About the author:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sal is the author and illustrator of “A
Sweetles Dream”® book series. As the Creative Director for <a href="http://www.sweetles.com/about/"><span style="color: #032eee;">Hartman-Barbera
llc</span></a><a href="http://www.sweetles.com/about/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">,</span></a> a family media</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">&
entertainment company, he is also an animator, sculptor, painter and all around
fun guy. Sal lives the phrase: “A day without laughter is a wasted day”. To
that end, he uses his writing, illustrating and animation skills to create
endearing characters and comedic stories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 11.35pt; margin-left: -.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sal's sense of humor and empathy for his
characters explore personal and social situations in ways that makes it
enjoyable for both adults and children to experience together. Born in New York
City, Sal moved to North Bergen, NJ where he grew up on a steep hillside
neighborhood with his four older sisters. He currently lives in sunny Arizona
with his wife and artistic partner, Sheri, who he defines as his inspiration.
On any given day Sal might be painting, sculpting, drawing, animating, writing
or enjoying one of his favorite pastimes: cooking, television, movies and</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">golf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Visit Sal
Barbera’s website at <a href="http://www.salbarbera.com/">http://www.salbarbera.com</a>.</span></div>
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Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-59402852294049365962013-11-17T08:17:00.001-08:002013-11-17T08:17:58.872-08:00Groups, etc.Here are some links to sites I've seen lately about special needs:<br /><br />http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com<br /><br />http://www.ellenstumbo.com/special-needs-what-i-see/<br /><br />http://autismawarenesspage.com/?utm_source=ctg&utm_medium=home-feature&utm_term=20131113&utm_campaign=aut-blog<br /><br />http://www.specialneedsbookreview.com<br /><br />http://www.learningrx.com<br /><br />http://www.autismspeaks.org<br /><br />Anyone who cares for or about kids with special needs is invited to the Facebook group, Special Kid Carers.Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-51019395617582402262013-11-10T13:46:00.001-08:002013-11-10T13:46:26.287-08:00I'm Baaack!I hadn't posted anything on this blog for a long time, but have decided to start blogging here again. Anyone who knows me knows I care about people with Special Needs and I even started a Facebook group for folks who care for or about children who have those. The name of the group is Special Kid Carers.<br />
<br />
I may not post here regularly, but hope I can get whatever I do write here to show up on my social networking sites. If that works you'll be hearing from me soon.Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-38457157235287643562012-01-11T07:39:00.000-08:002012-01-11T07:48:12.355-08:00Different Dream Parenting<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 28.8px; text-indent: -28.9px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Having raised foster kids with special needs and worked with many others in schools, I know quite a bit about the subject of parenting them. Without doubt <i>Different Dream Parenting; A Practical Guide to Raising a Child with Special Needs</i> by Jolene Philo is the most helpful book on the topic I've ever seen. It's loaded with practical advice and resources for every stage of the lives of special kids from birth to adulthood and even includes a section about coping with death of a special child. The author tells of her own experience and quotes many other parents who have children with special needs. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 28.8px; text-indent: -28.9px; font: 12.0px Courier"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The book has a strong Christian message, but even readers who are not religious will find the vast collection of helpful information worth the purchase price.</span></span></p>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-17329413621827360682011-10-26T08:12:00.000-07:002011-10-26T08:15:35.234-07:00Acceptance Plus<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There has always been a problem with people accepting others who have special needs. For years many of them were shut away in institutions or kept at home. But here's a story that shows how one person with Down's Syndrome was more than accepted. I hope you find it inspiring.<div>http://www.theunion.com/article/20111013/NEWS/111019890</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-21013739381795219692011-10-18T17:22:00.000-07:002011-10-18T17:39:52.221-07:00Blind Sided<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When I started reading the book Thad Nodine sent me for review I didn't think I would like it because the first chapters contained too much erotic description for my taste. But I was soon swept into the plot, which became more and more exciting as the story unfolded and the characters must deal with a natural disaster. (No spoiler here -- you'll have to read it to find out more.)<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Perhaps you wonder why I'm reviewing <i>Touch And Go</i> on this blog about special needs. It's because the main character is blind - not just legally, but totally, and the book lets readers understand what blindness is like. The author has several people in his family who are blind, so he knows what he's writing about. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Everything in the novel is told from hthat character's point of 'view' and is totally believable. I felt like I was actually experiencing things as he described them.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But the book is more about relationships and trust than blindness, and that condition is only part of what makes Kevin seem real. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Some readers would be offended by the language characters use, but if that sort of thing doesn't bother you, this book would be a good choice to read. </div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-37182098946759274812011-10-15T11:27:00.001-07:002011-10-15T11:27:56.524-07:00A HelperHere's a link to a blog post about someone with special needs who helps others.<div>http://familiesmatter2us.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-by-author-rachael-benson.html?spref=fb&mid=503</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-45356625176531358342011-09-15T11:44:00.000-07:002011-09-15T11:47:41.315-07:00Autism Help?Last night I met someone at a writers' group who told me his autistic son has improved amazingly since he has been on a special diet. Apparently people with autism digest foods, especially dairy and gluten, differently that other people do. Here's a link that man gave me to a website with information about many studies about that:<div>http://www.autismbiomed.com</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-46848656182424873502011-08-27T09:54:00.000-07:002011-08-27T10:09:51.285-07:00Unlocked<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A friend recently loaned me a book, Unlocked, by Karen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kingsbury</span>, about a kid with autism because she knew I cared about the condition, having raised an autistic foster son. I greatly enjoyed reading it.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In my opinion, the book is most appropriate for Young Adults since the main characters are teenagers. Since it's a Christian one there's nothing offensive in it. But anyone dealing with autism will probably want to read it.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Unfortunately only a few few autistic kids are at the same place on the Autism Spectrum as Holden, the character who is helped greatly by music. But the primary focus is on the main character, Ella, who is one of the popular kids but decides to stand up for Holden in spite of what other kids think. I wish all teenagers would read it since they tend to make many bad choices because of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">valuing</span> popularity.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The book is well written - I couldn't put it down - and I think it will make a difference in the world by helping "normal" people understand those who are different from themselves.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-79098207711369669452011-07-23T11:44:00.000-07:002011-07-23T12:11:18.131-07:00CFS Novel<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I recently read <i>Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Novel</i> by Caroline T. Anderson and have very mixed feelings about it. The book was self published and, as a writer, I can see why that was necessary. Of course the target audience is small, but the book also needs some good editing.<div> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It starts slowly and, for some unknown reason, by the end of the first page we're in the point of view of horses. There's way too much information given in dialogue and long quotations from research done by the main character (who is not a horse.) Since a lot of people don't know much about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome it was necessary to convey some of that information, but only the basics were necessary for the plot and the rest could have been listed at the end of the book.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The only reason I kept reading was my personal interest in the disease, but I'm glad I did. About a third of the way through, the book picks up and the rest is an exciting adventure that kept me turning the pages.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This novel is a good way of letting the general public know about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and, while fictionalized, many people think the sort of machinations it portrays that have kept the disease from being recognized and treated are real.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In this work of fiction anti-viral drugs can cure the disease and I can tell from personal experience that they don't work for everyone. *I was on one for months and all it did was cause permanent neurological damage. (If anti-viral meds could kill retroviruses they would probably cure AIDS, too.) But that kind of medication may have helped the author, who writes under a pseudonym.</div></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>However this novel is a good way to make people aware of problems most know nothing about and, once the reader gets past the informative first chapters it's an enjoyable read. </div><div>
</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>*For information about how I recovered from that disease please read my earlier posts on that topic here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><b>http://tinyurl.com/3dkb6tv</b></span></div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-77097649962978074592011-06-27T19:38:00.000-07:002011-06-27T19:42:55.589-07:00Face of Hope<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>If you want to read an inspiring book about someone dealing with special needs try Face of Hope by Carol Guscott. I met the author at a writer's conference and was impressed with her positive, inspiring attitude in spite of horrible problems. The book goes into details that will be upsetting to readers, but they only make the way her faith and determination shine through even more inspiring.Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-23912464054008054282011-06-22T10:14:00.000-07:002011-06-22T10:23:41.215-07:00Reader's Digest<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I don't subscribe to the <i>Reader's Digest</i> anymore because they've got less than half the content they used to carry, but this week I picked up the June/July copy at the grocery store. It contains an article about parenting a child with special needs that might be of interest to anyone doing that. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The author's daughter has Autism so she talks a lot about that spectrum, but the article includes plenty of information about caring for people with other special needs and it's written in a friendly style.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Anyone caring for or about someone with special needs might want to read the article, <i>My Daughter, Myself</i>, by Sallie Tisdale.</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-62975672024714904142011-06-19T14:24:00.000-07:002011-06-19T14:37:52.956-07:00Dealing With Memory Loss<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; ">Unlike most other special needs, dementia is usually harder on the people caring for someone who has it than on the patients themselves. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; ">I've never had to deal with that problem myself, but have several friends who have, and can see that it isn't easy. </span></div> </span>Cecil Murphey has written a book called <i>When Someone You Love No Longer Remembers</i> that should be a great help to those caregivers. Filled with personal stories of many caregivers it both lets the reader know they are not alone in what they must deal with and offers examples of things that have helped others cope.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><i>When Someone You Love No Longer Remembers </i>would make a helpful gift to anyone caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease or any other kind of dementia.
<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I've had the privilege of meeting Cecil Murphy many times at writers conferences and can vouch for the fact that he is a completely honest and compassionate person and that shines through in this book. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div></div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-76243891666430151722011-06-08T09:02:00.000-07:002011-06-08T09:13:41.103-07:00Prejudice<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When I was a kid people with disabilities were rarely, if ever, seen in public. There were no wheelchair ramps or curb cuts, so people using chairs or walkers couldn't get around. Children who were Deaf, blind, or 'mentally retarded' and people of any age with mental illness were sent to live in institutions for the rest of their lives.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Things have improved a lot since the Americans With Disabilities Act was approved and, as a result, it's not unusual to see people with special needs in public places.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But prejudice against them still exists. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I've often seen people talk to someone pushing a wheelchair and ignore the person sitting in it, or even talk about that person as if he or she weren't hearing the conversation. And lots of folks are obviously uncomfortable with anyone who seems different.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I hope eventually everyone will realize that, while a few people with mental illnesses or personality disorders might be dangerous, most people with special needs are people first and should be treated like other people.</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-25172870304940037052011-06-04T10:24:00.000-07:002011-06-04T10:37:42.354-07:00Parenting Problems<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It isn't easy to care for a child with special needs, especially if the child requires lots of extra time and attention. That can be a stress on the whole family. Other siblings may get far less of their parents' time and attention and caring for the child may put a strain on the family budget.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I've known many families with special kids where the added stress was at least a partial cause of the parents getting divorced.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But another factor may cause marital stress unnecessarily. In our culture many people consider children to be status symbols. Having kids who make the team, star in the class play, get good grades in school, and can be expected to get good jobs as adults makes the parents feel valuable and having kids who may never be able to achieve any of those things makes them feel like failures.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>That's a big flaw in our society because children don't exist to be shown off. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>One of my college professors gave us this definition of love: "When the happiness and well-being of another is essential to one's own happiness and well-being a state of love exists." </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>If parents love their children and do the best they can to meet their needs they are successful parents. </div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-34209255200368099122011-05-26T08:49:00.000-07:002011-05-26T09:14:38.940-07:00Pretty Stinky<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>About 30 or 40 years ago a commercial appeared in popular magazines saying "Beethoven never smelled this good before." Sweatshirts with pictures of Beethoven were in style and the ads were pushing laundry detergent with perfume in it. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>That commercial can be remembered as the beginning of the fragrance age in America. Before that people wore perfume, cologne, or "toilet water," some cosmetics contained fragrance, and some people used scents in their homes to cover up unpleasant odors, but that was about all. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Then fragrances became used everywhere. Laundry and cleaning products were only the beginning. Since then fragrances have been added to hundreds, if not thousands, of products. Stores, restaurants, churches, and even offices fill the air with smells. And most of those are made with chemicals. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When we smell something all the time we become less aware of it so many people don't even realize their clothes, hair, bodies, and the places they spend time are full of them.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>'Odor eliminators' don't actually take odors out of the air. Instead they contain airborne chemicals that counteract our sense of smell.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Since the chemical fragrances and odor eliminators became prevalent there has been a great increase in autism and cancer. Could there be a relationship here? </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>If the chemicals I'm talking about directly caused those conditions everyone would have them, and that's not the case. But what if that's one of two or more factors that work together to cause one of those conditions?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Even if that were not a possibility thousands of people have allergies and chemical sensitivities to perfumes so it would be helpful to them if we all switch to using fragrance free products as much as possible. By doing so we might even save some lives.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-28610624457933242592011-04-13T16:44:00.000-07:002011-04-13T16:50:35.128-07:00Autism Research<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; ">Scientists are finally considering the possibility that chemicals in foods, such as artificial coloring and flavoring, and chemicals in the air from fragrances and "odor eliminators" are actually harmful and that hereditary factors determine who will be damaged by those chemicals. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; ">
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For example,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">The Mind Institute in CA is doing research on causes of autism such as environmental chemicals and hereditary factors. Some of the studies are on their website,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">
</span></span></div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-60053100309525997522011-03-31T19:30:00.000-07:002011-03-31T19:59:29.627-07:00About Time!Back in the 1970s two of our foster kids had been diagnosed with ADHD and we tried putting them on the Feingold diet. That meant no artificial coloring or flavors, limited sugar, and no preservatives or foods high in salicylates. <div>
</div><div>I kept careful records of what they ate and how they behaved since results could take several days to happen. We found that eating sugar made no difference at all, but the other things made a huge difference. When on the diet the boys (who also had other problems) went from several tantrums a day to one or less a week. However eating even a tiny bit of the problem chemicals would set them off.</div><div>
</div><div>A couple of times the boys went wild when I was sure there hadn't been any exception to the diet, but we later found out the ingredients of certain foods had been changed but the old labels were still used. </div><div>
</div><div>Obviously that reaction couldn't have been a psychosomatic. However the Feingold diet was considered quackery by most of the medical community and there was a lot of negative publicity about it. </div><div>
</div><div>But a few years ago a study showed that preservatives can cause behavior problems. You can see an article about that here:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><b>http://tinyurl.com/yqu5vh</b></span></div><div>
</div><div>And this week it hit the news that scientists have discovered artificial colors in foods may be causing the increase in the number of hyperactive kids and the FDA is doing a study about it. Here's a link to an article about that: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><b>http://tinyurl.com/4zujhqa</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><b>
</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-size: 16px; ">Finally the Feingold diet is being taken seriously, although the people studying it don't seem to mention Dr. Feingold. The man deserves some credit.</span></b></span></span></div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-16305417070614297572011-02-12T13:17:00.000-08:002011-02-12T13:39:20.881-08:00Terminology<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The terms used for various conditions keep changing. I think "Special Needs" is politically correct at the moment but, like 'disabled,' 'handicapped,' and "crippled,' that may become unacceptable soon. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I remember when people would say 'deaf and dumb" or 'mentally retarded' but those are no longer considered polite. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Actually, saying 'deaf and dumb' was never logical because 'dumb' means not having a voice and most deaf people do have voices. And it was assumed that the inability to talk showed a lack of intelligence so the term, dumb, became a synonym for stupid. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>However, in most cases the terms have been changed because people tend to assume that the disabilities/special needs themselves are something to be ashamed of, and that's wrong.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In sports a handicap is something given to a person with greater skills than the competition to make the games fair, so why not use it for people who have a condition that makes life more difficult? It sounds like a compliment to me. And retarded just means slow; there's nothing shameful about that. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The real problem is the attitude that having a special need is something to be ashamed of. Since the ADA was passed people have gotten used to seeing people with those conditions but we still have a long way to go to correct the general attitude about them. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Everyone needs to know the conditions aren't contagious so there's no need to be afraid of people with special needs and they need to know that people who have them are human beings first.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Come to think of it, maybe that prejudice is a special need itself.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-56000091749768296332011-01-29T10:19:00.000-08:002011-01-29T10:28:32.419-08:00Grief<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Sometimes people grieve when no death is involved - except maybe the death of a dream.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It's not uncommon for parents to grieve when they learn their child has special needs and won't be able to have the life they'd imagined.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Or if someone learns they have a disability or chronic illness themselves grief is a normal reaction.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As when someone dies, it's usual to go through the five stages of grief explained by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross (sorry I don't know how to add umlauts to her name.) Those stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance and people may cycle through them for a long time or return to them long after they've come to terms with the situation. The same thing is true with the sort of grief I'm talking about, and any of the stages can re-occur at any time.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>If they do, it's perfectly normal.</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-58117083008539467432010-12-22T10:22:00.000-08:002010-12-22T10:22:01.027-08:00Non-Post<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>I'm not planning to blog this week because I'll be busy celebrating the holiday. I hope you have a wonderful, Merry Christmas. (Even people who don't celebrate that holiday, are allowed to be happy on December 25th and I hope you will be.)<div>
</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-40233874861511779212010-12-18T13:49:00.001-08:002010-12-18T14:01:54.062-08:00A Special Kind of Love<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I saw something online about a book that sounded helpful, contacted the author, and she sent me a free copy to review. <i>A Special Kind of Love</i> by Susan Titus Osborn and Janet Lynn Mitchell is by far the most helpful book for parents of kids with special needs that I've ever seen. <div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Besides the two authors, many others have contributed their own stories, which are combined with practical hints. Both good and bad aspects of raising kids with a wide variety of special needs are addressed. Some of the less obvious topics covered are dealing with the rude comments of other people, choosing and dealing with doctors and schools, managing time when a child needs so much of it, and what to do when the kids grow up. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Probably the most helpful thing about the book is the comfort of realizing you're not alone and that other parents have been through the same things. This is definitely a Christian book with a strong spiritual aspect, but would be helpful to people of all religions or none at all.</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-44688021908349218742010-12-15T09:30:00.000-08:002010-12-15T09:30:00.971-08:00InclusionLook at this video:<div>http://www.youtube.com/user/IamNorm2010</div><div>and go to the website, http://www.iamnorm.org/who-is-norm/news/10-09-29/YOUNG_ACTIVISTS_LAUNCH_I_AM_NORM_CAMPAIGN.aspx for the inspiring story.</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-46901000099220820872010-12-08T10:17:00.000-08:002010-12-08T10:17:00.422-08:00Good Gloves<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In my last post I mentioned gloves that probably won't be helpful, at least for a while. Today I want to mention a very practical use for gloves.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A few days ago I got into a conversation with a woman I met in a store. She was using a wheelchair and told me she ALWAYS wears gloves when she leaves her own home because the ground, sidewalks, and even some public floors are likely to be full of germs. When the wheels of the chair role over them the germs are carried directly to her hands unless she's wearing gloves. Besides dirt and mud, the surfaces may have animal urine, saliva or mucus from people who spit on them, and many other unsanitary substances.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When she arrives home the gloves go directly into the dirty clothes to be washed before they're used again. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Motorized wheel chairs are less of a problem because users don't need to keep their hands on the wheels. However I would strongly suggest that anyone using the traditional type of chair have numerous pairs of washable gloves and wear some any time they go outside.</div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2185927504166946776.post-88685593074638949282010-12-04T11:36:00.000-08:002010-12-04T12:14:09.963-08:00Stupid Gloves<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I've seen several news stories online lately about electronic gloves to help deaf people communicate with hearing people. Some of them are not developed enough to be helpful while others are simply stupid.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>One glove allows users to make shapes from the Sign Language alphabet with their hands and shows the letters on a computer screen. Duh! If someone can fingerspell English words they can certainly type the same letters using a keyboard and technology is already available to read the words aloud.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>And fingerspelling isn't really Sign Language anyway, it's just English, or whatever other language the spelled words belong to, on the hands. I was an Instructional Counselor at California School for the Deaf for many years, married an American Sign Language interpreter, raised three deaf foster kids, and have had many deaf friends and acquaintances, so I know what I'm talking about.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Of course the gloves that can speak things aloud without a computer are a bit more helpful, but I'm not sure they're more practical than the portable devices already available. If they do get improved to the point where they can speak hundreds of genuine signs as English words that will be a different story. Maybe that will happen in a few years.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Janet Ann Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13234310280477491538noreply@blogger.com0