tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9017376657430729722011-11-27T18:50:36.075-05:00Or my child with special needs does not have autism but sometimes I wish he did...Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-49310514170106821892010-05-18T12:49:00.000-04:002010-05-18T12:49:07.456-04:00

Parents, educators and assistive technology pros are abuzz about ways to use Apple’s iPod Touch and iPhone to support special education students in the classroom. With the release of Apple’s new larger iPad, the potential for these supports has now expanded to help children and adults who have difficulty using small screens. Here’s what you need to know to help your kids learn with these types of

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-40609255514287457972010-03-17T11:39:00.002-04:002010-03-18T09:32:13.206-04:00

I have recently started writing the Assistive Technology (AT) column for the Federation's Newsline newsletter. As a parent of a child who uses lots of AT, I have become a defacto parent expert on the subject!  Here's a repost from my most recent article on funding AT. Assistive technology is a broad term that includes a wide range of devices that make it easier for individuals with disabilities

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-82449477930942570642010-03-17T11:09:00.001-04:002010-03-17T11:09:40.403-04:00

Cute photo right - cute kid, cute cat. What's the big deal? Well, it actually is a big deal to us. Our son has cerebral palsy which impacts his motor coordination and makes it harder for him to move independently. He does crawl but he was not able to get onto a seat without assistance until Ozzy, our rescue kitty, found a comfy perch on the cushions. Ozzy, it turns out, has been is a huge

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-61941911312332775422010-02-14T18:01:00.000-05:002010-02-14T18:01:49.060-05:00

When you live in New England, the cold winter is FAR more enjoyable if you embrace the outdoors. And we try to do that. My son and husband are an adapted downhill skiing team with New England Handicapped Sports Association located at Mount Sunapee in NH. But this year we all tried something new - adapted kick sledding. Graham (soon to be 14!) is too long to fit in a kids sled but he does enjoy

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-78270583021167864432010-01-15T17:38:00.000-05:002010-01-15T17:38:28.288-05:00

The Cotting School here in Massachusetts, one of the oldest private schools for children with disabilities, asks for your support of their sister school, Wings of Hope, based in Port au Prince, Haiti. While their school building was severely damaged, fortunately all the students and staff are alive. Before the earthquake at Wings of Hope, there was no running water and only 2 hours of

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-74173186080277861872010-01-15T12:27:00.001-05:002010-01-15T12:27:54.463-05:00

Here's a chance to do two great things with your kids: donate to a good cause, and gobble up some ice cream. Friendly's restaurants have started their annual Cones for Kids campaign to benefit Easter Seals camps for children with disabilities. Make a dollar donation now through February 13, and in addition to helping kids have a fun camp experience, you'll get five Valentine cards good for free

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-73543112283247044292010-01-06T19:39:00.004-05:002010-01-06T20:30:47.720-05:00

This is a short poem about chance, hope, reality and love. A Different Kind of Lottery one in a million a different kind of lottery grand prize million dollar smile exquisite soul body under construction pure luck, pure love our blood, our love light as a feather big arms around this eternal treasure million dollar smile winners forever A guest post by Pete Sargent, my husband and dad

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-43006344691188240362009-11-28T15:55:00.002-05:002009-11-28T16:13:50.952-05:00

It's ok to make light of disabilities when you live with them. And why not? There are plenty of people who do and say stupider things about disabilities out of ignorance everyday. For grins and dose of irreverance, take a peak at some of the disaiblity awareness gift items created by individuals with disabilites and their families available at CafePress.com. If you haven't been there before,

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-16228130079608159542009-11-05T19:38:00.001-05:002009-11-05T19:43:04.210-05:00

I came across these "adapted" gloves at a local shop and thought I would share. It's always a challenge to get gloves on my son; his fingers just don't want to separate and cooperate! And mittens are too baby-ish for a middle-schooler. Check out these fuzzy Wristies! - fleecy gloves without fingers! They come in lots of colors and lengths for kids and adults. I spoke with the owner Susan and she

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-78376565007015032282009-11-05T10:38:00.001-05:002009-11-05T10:39:27.891-05:00

Our kids with special needs can use extra support in learning flu prevention skills and good hygiene such as coughing into your sleeve and washing hands properly. The good folks at One Place for Special Needs have put together a comprehensive collection of nearly 40 online resources for parents and educators. You’ll find social stories, how-to videos, activities, a communication board for being

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-77176202685401694752009-10-27T23:08:00.018-04:002009-11-12T10:51:04.433-05:00

I make an extra effort to read novels that include children with disabiltiies and especially those using augmentative communication. So the book Schyler's Monster by Robert Rummel-Hudson surfaced from the big book pile next to my bed. It's an honest story about a father's journey and struggle trying to "fix" his broken non-verbal daughter and help her communicate using augmentative communication

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-21822935276061077892009-10-19T12:22:00.014-04:002009-10-24T10:02:22.472-04:00

My husband and I had the chance to view Dan Habib's moving and honest documentary, Including Samuel. Like Samuel, our son with cerebral palsy was an adorable, affable pre-schooler who won the hearts of his teachers and peers. He liked reading about sword-wielding pirates and knights, loved Disney movies, going swimming, watching the Red Sox and being with other kids. He played t-ball with the

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-218066939896554452009-10-16T18:48:00.003-04:002009-10-24T12:24:17.926-04:00

As we approach the holidays, well-meaning family and friends will likely ask for gift suggestions for our son with special needs. This can be a tough question, but if you don’t make a specific request, your older child may receive yet another picture book or other inappropriate gift. Every year, we approach gift giving for our son by asking two essential questions: What are his current interests?

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-61913373787487925142009-09-13T10:07:00.009-04:002009-09-19T15:07:33.102-04:00

I never knew we were trend setters. I've seen a few articles published recently, and a trend-setting book entitled "In Praise of Slowness" by Carl Honore,"  expounding the virtues of slowing down.  There's a worldwide movement slowly brewing encouraging people and families to SLOW DOWN, to enjoy the moment, savor the experience and enjoy each others company. All in the attempt to enhance their

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-34885804424944819432009-09-08T11:12:00.011-04:002009-09-19T15:00:18.060-04:00

I make a leap of faith every morning when I send my non-verbal son on the van to school. How did his day go? Did he eat a good lunch? How well did he participate in his class work?  Was he cooperative with teachers and peers? Especially at the start of the new school year, what parent doesn't worry about their child's day? In his early school days, we received daily notes as any parent would.

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-58576361819850012812009-09-01T10:15:00.006-04:002009-09-19T15:03:51.085-04:00

We spent several days last week (before school starts today!) visting with the grandparents on Cape Cod. To celebrate their anniversary, we all went out on a whale watch from Provincetown. What a  fun day for all!  When I booked the tickets I told them my son would be using a wheelchair. When we arrived, they gave us priority boarding so we were able to get on the boat more easily (and pick an

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-11163454144261778832009-08-25T19:55:00.002-04:002009-08-25T19:58:06.519-04:00

It seems the most I can take my two kids and one wheelchair in and out of the car is twice per outing. Call me lazy, call me weak but after two errands I have exhausted my patience and my back. Perhaps this is true with all kids, but my kids start to fuss and whine after two stops. I have a mental rule I go by: if it takes longer to get them out of the car than it does to complete the errand, I

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-65860360129405084172009-08-24T19:35:00.010-04:002009-08-25T17:27:36.989-04:00

The Boston Globe ran an article this past weekend about a wonderfully large grant received by Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston) to start a first of it's kind specialized treatment center for adults with autism. The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation generously donated $29 million to MGH to provide much needed medical care for the growing population of adults with autism. To quote the

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-19328999864211609382009-08-21T23:27:00.013-04:002009-09-29T19:22:05.699-04:00

I keep a mental inventory of all the thing that I love about my son despite his special needs and challenges. Here's my list of his have's and have not's: He has: thick hair and long eyelashes any woman would die for baby smooth skin without a blemish a long, lanky physique and looks great in clothes an infectious smile and great teeth (says his dentist!) a sweet and gentle disposition the

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-16075802861665508162009-08-21T20:49:00.006-04:002009-08-23T20:46:50.804-04:00

Every one has heard about the facts about autism these days. It's in the main stream press, on the politcal agenda and and all over the web. Research says 1 in every 100-150 children receives a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. But have you heard about the thousands of children with undiagnosed disabilities? What you ask? - with all the excellent hospitals, research and genetic testing

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-901737665743072972.post-55531341109983405392009-08-08T11:39:00.005-04:002009-08-24T20:30:27.175-04:00

I've been thinking about blog topics now for a while - I've got quite a list - so I decided it's time to go for it. I hope other parents out there with children with special needs, autism and undiagnosed multiple disabilities will relate to my random thoughts on adapting our family life and home, and join me to discuss topics which may not be main stream but are truly vital to families like ours.

Randi Sargenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614431597662508221noreply@blogger.com0