Discovery Cube OC offers science, fun and bubbles this spring for all ages and abilities. Discovery Cube Orange County’s staff is always ready to help meet the needs of all abilities. One year, during Bubblefest, a family with a child with special needs needed a little extra support. “To help with a specific family’s needs, […]
Summer Camp Success
How Special Needs Camps Adapted to a Pandemic Two years of pandemic transformed everyday normal moments in life into the annoyingly and sometimes comically difficult. We often complained. We grumbled. We worried how we would do things. Then somehow we just got on with it. Life can be like that every day for kids with […]
Sensory Sensitivity Strategies
A local pediatric occupational therapist and mom to a neurodivergent child offers tips to help minimize sensory overload during social outings. Think back to a time when you had a debilitating headache or fever. The sound of a door closing was like nails on a chalkboard. The slightest peek of sunshine made your eyeballs feel […]
Special Needs Through the Pandemic
We profile some local families with special needs and the challenges they’ve faced through the pandemic. J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center San Juan Capistrano Parents: Krysti and Brendan Crafts Kids: Olivia Griffin, 7, Brooklyn Griffin, 5, Juliette Crafts, 3, Savannah Crafts, 20 months City: San Clemente Special needs background: Juliette was born weighing 5.5 pounds, […]
Parenting a Child with Asperger’s through a Pandemic
A local expert offers advice for parents of children with Asperger’s to help them thrive through challenging times. By Michael Uram Kids can thrive in the face of incredible challenges — including a year-long stay-at-home order — with the right tools. So long as we listen to them, respect their boundaries, understand their needs, and […]
Special Needs Programs Adapting due to the Pandemic
The pandemic has had a real impact on special needs families and programs. Here’s how they adapted and what they’ve learned. Chinh Tuong Nguyen’s son, Patrick, was born on July 5. He rarely cried during his first 8 months, even when he had the chickenpox. “I thought it was very normal and I was a […]
Special Needs Learning & The COVID-19 Pandemic
The recent disruption to our daily routines has created an opportunity for parents of children with special learning needs. The COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place has been hard on all of us, there is no doubt about that. Yet, there is a silver lining to this cloud. We’ve all had our routines disrupted, and for most […]
A Safe and Fun Environment for Special Needs Kids
Armenta Learning Academy is now offering virtual education to meet the needs of special kids through the COVID-19 pandemic. For the foreseeable future, the requirement of social distancing will undoubtedly create an increased demand for virtual learning options to meet this important need. Meeting this demand locally for the special needs community is Laguna Niguel-based […]
Shedding Light on Emotional Special Needs
Mental health challenges in kids can sometimes hide in plain sight. Special needs are often associated with physical disabilities. While not as visible, special needs also includes learning, emotional and behavioral challenges. Common mental health challenges are anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and (obsessive-compulsive disorder) OCD. There are different levels of […]
Autism & Health
Good health and wellness practices for children with autism are important to overall well-being. There’s a lot for parents to process when a child receives a diagnosis of autism. And there are some important needs to tend to beyond behavioral symptoms. Oftentimes, health and wellness practices can be compromised by symptoms and behaviors associated with […]