Early intervention, therapy and stimulation may consume your life after your child is born with special needs or has been diagnosed with any type of disability. You’ll hear time and time again that the first three years of a child’s life are the most important for development, and at the same time, how crucial it […]
This morning at 6 a.m., as usual, my daughter Ayelén, who has Down syndrome, woke up reluctantly and started getting ready for school. She then asked me for some milk, using the same phrase she uses every morning: “Mamita, may I have some leche, please?” That’s right: Kids with special needs speak Spanglish, too! I’m […]
Parents of children with Down syndrome are celebrating the appointment of Angela Bachiller as the first person with Down syndrome to hold public office and pursue a political career. Bachiller recently took her seat on the city council of Valladolid, Spain. Her appointment has been hailed by organizations that support people with Down syndrome as […]
I gave birth to two children, and I have two very different stories to tell about breastfeeding. Both of my kids have Down syndrome, but their diagnosis doesn’t make them the same. In fact, since the day they were born, they have demonstrated to me just how different they are from each other, despite their […]
No matter how strong or positive you may be about the task of parenting, stress is hard to avoid. For those of us who are raising children with special needs, the stress we handle is multiplied. Instead of trying to ignore it, I have found ways to handle it positively, and it’s made all the […]
When your child with special needs or disabilities is about to turn 3 years old, the State Early Intervention program will help him transition to the school system, if you want him to go to public school. Your child may start pre-school the very day he turns three and it can be an exciting step […]
The concept of inclusion is typically introduced when kids are ready to turn three years old. Usually children with special needs are transitioned to the school system around the 36-month mark and that’s the time when we may find that the local resources available for our kids are limited. Still, there are benefits to inclusion […]
Parents of kids with special needs tend to experience more stressful situations than typical parents. As a mother to two children who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome, I’ve encountered all sorts of isolation and stress while raising them. That’s why I know how important it is to be informed and to anticipate some of […]
Putting yourself at the top of your priorities list for the New Year may sound selfish. After all, as mothers and wives, we all have that tendency to set our New Year’s resolutions based on our family’s needs, and especially on our children’s needs. But we also know that when things aren’t working for us, […]