Getting Organized!
Commentaries
The following essays were written by 6th grade students about their experiences helping children with autism. They are poignant reflections on what is really important in life.
A New Perspective on Life
by Joshua Wyant
Helping Kids with Autism
by Damond Barnhart
What's the Difference?
by Kasandra Garza
Talents & Friends
by Conner Worman
by Joshua Wyant
Helping Kids with Autism
by Damond Barnhart
What's the Difference?
by Kasandra Garza
Talents & Friends
by Conner Worman
This Month's Focus: Getting Organized!
Creating a Medical Summary for Your Child
One of the most helpful things you can do for your child is to create a medical summary detailing his or her medical history, diagnoses, and symptoms. Not only is such a document unbelievably useful in an emergency or if something happens to you, but it is also a wonderful way to concisely provide information to new doctors, therapists, school personnel, and so forth.
Strategies for Organizing MedicationsOne of the most helpful things you can do for your child is to create a medical summary detailing his or her medical history, diagnoses, and symptoms. Not only is such a document unbelievably useful in an emergency or if something happens to you, but it is also a wonderful way to concisely provide information to new doctors, therapists, school personnel, and so forth.
It is an unfortunate fact that many of our children are on many medications. Keeping track, storing, and remembering to administer all the medications can be difficult and overwhelming for many families. This article contains a variety of different strategies that may work for you and your family to keep on top of medications.
Keys to Organization: Maintaining Communication, Time and Sanity
by Jennifer Peterson
Once my husband and I had become confident in our ability to care for our son's medical and neurologic needs, a thought hit me out of the blue. It was one of those moments of sheer panic. The drive to become organized started in earnest when I wondered what my husband would do if something were to happen to me. Are we prepared?
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Organizing Supplies: A Pictorial Essay
The following pictures and descriptions are just a few ideas to make organization a little bit easier. Enjoy!
Read More -->The following pictures and descriptions are just a few ideas to make organization a little bit easier. Enjoy!
Specialty Article
Other Specialties
Preparing for a Doctor Visit
Most of our children see a large team of specialist physicians, sometimes as many as ten or more. Similarly, most of us have children with long, complicated, and often bewildering medical histories. Going in to see a new specialist--and even a familiar one--can be an overwhelming experience for both the family and the doctor. There is a tremendous amount of information that needs to be exchanged and processed, and there are likely to be many questions that need to be answered. Most doctors only have a limited amount of time with patients, often less than 30 minutes, and you need to maximize this time as much as possible.
Preparing for a Doctor Visit
Most of our children see a large team of specialist physicians, sometimes as many as ten or more. Similarly, most of us have children with long, complicated, and often bewildering medical histories. Going in to see a new specialist--and even a familiar one--can be an overwhelming experience for both the family and the doctor. There is a tremendous amount of information that needs to be exchanged and processed, and there are likely to be many questions that need to be answered. Most doctors only have a limited amount of time with patients, often less than 30 minutes, and you need to maximize this time as much as possible.
Feature
Cultivating Relationships: Relating to Your "Typical" Friends
by Shannon Gonsalves
Relationships are fundamental for our emotional and physical well-being. This is especially true for parents who are raising a child with complex needs. Often, it is too easy to become isolated by the day-to-day struggles and parents need that connection with friends.
This is where it gets messy. How do you connect with others when their issues seem insignificant compared to what you're living with? How do you relate when parents are sweating the small stuff and you are up all night holding your child who is in pain? I am by no means an expert on this, nor do I think it is a simple answer. I am simply a mom who is working on herself and willing to share what has worked.
It starts with a commitment to challenge your own perspective of others and to cultivate relationships instead of letting them go.