When Julia was a newborn and I was really struggling to find my footing, my dad realized that I needed some extra support. At the time
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Different Kind of Special Blog
Sharing Empowerment, Positivity, and Joy
Five Bathroom Modifications that Deliver Big Results
Jul 29, 2018
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I recently wrote an article for Exceptional Parent about the planning process we used for the remodel and adaptation of our bathroom to accommodate Julia’s needs. That article provided insights into the thought process we used to determine how to adapt a small bathroom to accommodate big needs.
As a complement to that article, I thought it would be helpful to talk more in depth about the five things we did that make it possible for a small bathroom to meet all of our needs, both for Julia an...
Sometimes You Just Need Someone to Show Up
Jul 28, 2018
Over and over, I hear parents who have a child with disabilities talk about their feelings of isolation. Many say that friends and family seem to disappear, just when they’re needed the most. While we’ve had family and friends who have drifted away, unwilling or unable to be drawn into our unique circumstances, we’ve had many, many more who have stuck by us.Erica's Welcome
Jul 07, 2018
hi!
I am Erica and I am writing to give siblings an insight to what life is like to have a sibling with special needs. I, myself, have a sister named Julia with Aicardi Syndrome. Julia is sixteen, while I am twelve, and I have to say, I probably could not have asked for a better older sister. Besides Julia I have two other older siblings, both brothers, named Luke and Alex.
A little more about me:
- My favorite subjects are Math, ELA (English Language Arts), and STEM (Science, Technology, Eng ...
Something to Deserve This
Jun 26, 2018
There are some words that cut deep and can never be forgotten – even words that aren’t meant to hurt. Several years ago, someone very close to me was talking about a friend of his who has three kids, two of whom have special needs. He told me, “She’s really not a very good mom, but even she doesn’t deserve to have two kids with special needs.”
It still makes my stomach clench to think about those words actually being said out loud. I had seen this lovely mom with her kids a few times, and the o...
Embrace Your Different Kind of Special
Jun 23, 2018
Navigating life when you have a child with special needs is all kinds of challenging. It tests you emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. Do you wish you could find something or someone that could make parenting a child with special needs easier?
Over the last 16+ years, I’ve spent countless hours trying to solve the intricate puzzles that my daughter Julia has presented based on her profound developmental delays and complex medical issues. Here are just a few of the issues our fami...
