When parents learn their child has special needs, they begin a journey filled with strong emotion, difficult choices, and an ongoing need for information and support. Parents may feel isolated and alone, not knowing where to begin. This website offers free support resources for families with special needs - take a tour or search on a specific topic.

This website is dedicated to Monica who was born with multiple disabilities: cortical blindness, seizure disorders and microcephaly due to an occipital encephalocele and Chiari malformation. She has a genetic kidney disease called PKD, and hand and arm deformities from Amniotic Band Syndrome.

Despite numerous developmental disabilities (due to the neural tube defect causing prenatal loss of brain matter) Monica is a delightful, motivated and affectionate young lady who continues to learn new skills and novel ways to enjoy life. She is an inspiration to all that know her.

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A sampling of recent articles:

• Today's parents worry about a great many things, money being one of the most common concerns. That's why putting sound financial and legal plans in place early is the best way to create a solid financial foundation. Financial planning challenges for parents of special needs children are many and complex, and retirement planning presents one of the toughest challenges. The core challenge is balancing the financial needs of retirement with long-term needs of a child with a disability.
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• Social Security disability benefits, which are often available to children with special needs, can provide ongoing monetary support. Benefits can help ease financial worries and provide the targeted care your child needs. Effective special needs planning requires a high degree of legal expertise. A Special Needs Trust offers a means of protecting your child's eligibility for benefits, while addressing the ongoing care and needs of your special needs child.
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• Teaching self care skills is a process that begins at birth and goes on into adulthood. Children with disabilities may find these skills difficult to perform, but they will need to acquire these skills as best they can to live as independently as possible. As caregivers to children and other family members with special needs, one of the most difficult tasks you have may be bathtime - 5 Bath Time Tips. Due to a disability or after an injury, one may find it difficult to perform activities of daily living. It may be necessary to use adaptive equipment to perform self care and housekeeping activities, augmentative devices to facillitate communucation, and mobility aids to get around.
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• For too long, people with disabilities had been told that having families of their own was not an option. The truth is that there have always been parents with disabilities, and as our society evolves, more will have access to that opportunity. Thousands of children with special needs and disabilities wait for caring to offer them a permanent home. Adoption can provide children with special needs the healing atmosphere and loving bonds that can change their lives.
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• Making music enriches a special needs child's life experience. Studies on the developing brain show dramatic lifelong improvements in language, math, coordination, memory and motor skills, and music therapy can be an effective tool.
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• Arts and crafts are important to the development of all children, but particularly valuable to children with disabilities. When creating art, the child is building a variety of expressive skills - both motor and cognitive. Developing motor skills is important for children. Teaching your child these motor skills through crafts or games allows your child to learn while having fun. Learning these skills will help prepare them for when they go off to school.
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• As with any child, it's important to make your home as safe and secure as possible for your special needs child. Your home can also become easier to move through and maneuver around with minor home accessibility modifications. Ramps for wheelchairs are important for a variety of reasons. Whether at home, at an office, or anywhere in between, they can substantially increase the quality of life for someone with a disability
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• Family fun and games bring not only enjoyment but health benefits. Taking time for the things that you enjoy can help you feel better about yourself and you may be more likely to exercise, eat well, get regular medical care and reach out to friends and family - all of which can benefit you physically and mentally for a more balanced life.
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• When you choose toys for your child, look at how well our children will benefit from these playthings not only in terms of having plenty of fun but also in terms of their growth and development potential. When choosing developmentally age-appropriate toys, they should be slightly above your child's motor skill level, but ones that can be played successfully. Her pediatrician, speech or occupational therapist, or teacher can offer suggestions on developmental toys that will be most beneficial
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• Pregnancy books tend to gloss over the special needs pregnancy, and prenatal classes may ignore the possibility that you might give birth to a baby with special needs. Depending on the mother's risk profile, special fetal tests may be ordered to detect birth defects. After diagnosis, follow safety precautions and be prepared for the birth of your special needs baby.
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• The population is aging and creating a higher demand for home care. By the year 2020, 12 million Americans will need long-term care. Home care serves people of all ages who are disabled, chronically ill or in need of hospice care.
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• Spending quality time with senior relatives can sometimes be a challenge. These fun activities to do with the seniors in your family will expose them to fun technology while still offering an old school approach that holds traditional merit for everyone involved.