Special Needs

Find support for parents of children with special needs. Learn how to advocate for your child, raise funds for needed equipment and find helpful organizations.

Filter by: Advocacy, Assistive Technology, Autism, Schools for the Blind, Support, Visual Impairment

Portrait of caring mother kissing child with down syndrome at bedtime.

Autism, Sleep

9 Tips for Sleep Training a Child With Autism

When sleep training a child with autism, it’s helpful to eliminate background noises and unnecessary noises, along with establishing a solid bedtime routine.

A girl with a tray of food walking into the school cafeteria.

Feeding and Eating, Special Needs

Managing Food Allergies at School: A Comprehensive Guide

Students with food allergies require consistency from all school team members to avoid severe reactions and maintain a safe environment.

The girl does not respond to the world around us.

Special Needs

What Is Heller’s Syndrome (Childhood Disintegrative Disorder)?

Childhood disintegrative disorder is marked by a child achieving normal developmental milestones, then demonstrating a loss of previously acquired skills.

High five gesture team in classroom.

Autism, Special Needs

Using Extinction in Applied Behavior Analysis with Kids

Are you unsure of how to manage your child’s problem behaviors? Learn if the ABA Extinction Method could be right for you and your child!

A girl with EEG leads on her head.

Special Needs

5 Coping Strategies for Parents of Kids With Epilepsy

Coping with childhood epilepsy can be stressful, but focusing on strategies to support you and your family can positively impact your child’s well-being.

otolaryngologist checking babys ear with otoscope.

Health & Nutrition, Special Needs

How Do Doctors Test a Baby’s Hearing?

A newborn hearing test is an important screening test to evaluate for hearing loss. An early diagnosis can help prevent further hearing loss.

Little girl with syndrome down talks with her mother in a summer park.

Special Needs

How to Support Children with Disabilities to Be Physically Active

Regular physical activity offers numerous benefits for all people. It's important to find ways to include disabled children in physical activities so they can experience these benefits too.

Paediatrician checking baby boy's eyes.

Health & Nutrition, Special Needs

How Do Doctors Test a Baby’s Vision

A complete eye exam is a good way to test a baby’s vision and overall eye health.

Keto food.

Feeding and Eating, Health & Nutrition, Special Needs

Does the Ketogenic Diet Work for Kids with Epilepsy?

If your child has epilepsy, a ketogenic diet may reduce their seizures. Learn everything you need to know about a keto diet in this guide.

Blind little vietnamese girl.

Special Needs, Visual Impairment

Understanding Early Childhood Blindness: Causes and Diagnoses

Vision impairment in young children can be caused by congenital and acquired conditions. Many services are available to help children with low vision achieve their healthy best.

Rachel's daughters snuggled safely in their Safety Sleeper bed.

Sleep, Special Needs

How The Safety Sleeper® Transformed My Family (And Saved My Daughter From Getting Trapped At Night)

After a terrible experience with another special needs bed, Rachel finds that the Safety Sleeper bed solves all her bedtime woes!

Little girl covering her ears because of screaming and loud sounds at home.

Special Needs

Hyposensitivity vs Hypersensitivity: What’s the Difference?

Have you been told your child has sensory processing difficulties? Read on to learn the difference between hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity.

Portrait of a baby with cerebral palsy on physiotherapy in a children therapy center.

Special Needs

Weighted Vests for Kids: Benefits, Strategies & Guidelines

Weighted vests are a sensory tool that give your child all the benefits of a soothing, comforting hug and can decrease anxiety and improve self-regulation.

Six blue origami birds being led by one yellow origami bird.

Tactile Arts and Crafts, Visual Impairment

Accessible Origami for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Accessible Origami provides basic text-only step-by-step instructions on how to fold popular origami figures for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Brushing her hair hurts.

Special Needs

Tactile Defensiveness in Children: Strategies to Help

Concerned about your child’s strong reactions to being touched? Learn more about tactile defensiveness and how you can help your child manage their response to sensory information.

Child boy flapping hands.

Special Needs

Hand Flapping and Autism: How Are They Related?

Hand flapping is one type of repetitive movement that provides sensory stimulation and comfort. Find out more about the connection between hand flapping and autism.

Insight Beyond Eyesight logo

Visual Impairment

Insight Beyond Eyesight

Insight Beyond Eyesight provides support, information, and networking for Jewish individuals who are visually impaired and their families.

A plate guard makes for a more successful meal!

Feeding and Eating, Special Needs

Reusable Food Guards Prevent Spills!

Using a plastic food guard can help your child feed themselves independently while avoiding spills and messes!

BlindShell Classic 2 Cell Phone

Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment

BlindShell Accessible Cell Phone

The BlindShell Accessible Cell Phone, with a tactile keypad, large screen, and enhanced voice control, is the perfect phone for those blind users.

Strawberry smoothie in a blender.

Assistive Technology, Cooking and Kitchen Play, Special Needs

Switch-Accessible Smoothie Activity For Special Needs Kids

Switch play can include interacting with online switch activities, activating musical toys, or even controlling kitchen appliances like blenders.

SAMi-3 seizure monitor kit.

Product Reviews, Special Needs

SAMi-3 Seizure Monitor Review

The fully customizable SAMi-3 seizure monitor can alert you when your child has a seizure while also minimizing the number of false alarms you receive.

Speech-language pathologist working on child's pronunciation problems.

Special Needs

Your Child’s First SLP Evaluation: What to Expect

Speech-language pathologists will conduct an initial evaluation to determine how a child is using language, understanding language, and interacting with others.

Baby reaching for sensory toys.

Visual Impairment

Developing Multisensory Skills in Blind Babies

Multisensory play, combining sounds and touch, and encouraging reaching and exploration can help your blind baby develop better spacial awareness.

Young girl making bread dough at home kitchen for home schooling.

Special Needs

14 Tactile Input Activities, Toys, & More

Tactile input is important for the healthy development of every child. Try these activities and toys at home to engage your child's tactile system.