Special needs

Can My Learning Disabled Child Go to College Someday?

FosterMommy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:21:07 -0600

When your child was diagnosed as LD, learning disabled, did you give up dreams of sending your child off to college? College or higher education may still be an option for your learning disabled adult child if you do some research. Not everyone who attends college receives a degree; some receive training, or certifications in trades. These certifications typically require less classroom time and some offer a lot less reading which appeals to many adults with LD. Some of the trades programs do not have set classroom hours. This flexibility may suit an LD adult who struggles with keeping track of time and schedules.

Termination of Parental Rights Hearing for a Foster Child

JuliaFuller — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:37:40 -0600

When a child has been in foster care for 12 months the court needs to consider the long-term goals for a child’s future. During the 12-month review and permanency planning meeting foster care workers, the child’s lawyer, or the court can request a termination of parental (TPR) rights hearing. The court will make the decision whether to move ahead with the TPR by reviewing the evidence submitted over the previous 12 months, the parents’ progress towards their goals, and taking into consideration what is in the child’s best interest. Occasionally workers may request termination of parental rights at the initial or adjudication hearing if extenuating circumstances exist. If permission is denied, the court will revisit the topic of TPR every 90 days. Regular foster care is to be the short-term solution to family crisis, not the answer.

Special Needs Adoptive Parenting - Children With Asthma

JuliaFuller — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:32:23 -0600

Over one million children under the age of five years and around seven million children under the age of 18 years have asthma, estimates The American Lung Association. Asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism and childhood hospitalization. When asthma causes inflammation of the bronchial airways, they overreact. The result is an increase in mucus production, muscle contraction, and mucosal swelling. This produces symptoms of tightness in the chest, wheezing, and coughing. Special needs adoptive parenting of a child with asthma may be more common than you think. Children who have suffered trauma, sexual and/or physical abuse may have twice the average risk of developing asthma according to research recently completed in Puerto Rico.

Ongoing Frustrations with Talking about Adopted Child with ADHD

FaithA — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:15:04 -0600

One of my ongoing frustrations in parenting an adopted child with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is having to “justify” that he even has this condition with well-meaning but uninformed people. (Yes, I know that my life would be easier if I just took the “go to h#$%” approach when these situations arise.) I try to educate others, but some people, quite frankly, just don’t want to be educated. They would rather believe that I am just having unrealistic expectations rather than that ADHD is a real condition that my adopted child really has.

It doesn’t help that there are constantly people trying to say that ADHD is just a “made up” disorder and that, if we parents just did X, Y, and Z, then we would not have a child with these issues.

When Consequences Are Not Effective

FosterMommy — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:36:35 -0600

Welcome to older child adoption when giving consequences to your child for the wrong behavior do not have the effect that the parents desire. Traumatized children do not respond to the disciplinary measures in ways that “normal” children respond. Yet, most of us stubborn parents continue to try, much to our own frustration. Of course, that results in a lot of negative interaction between the parents and child. Eventually, the relationship disintegrates to an antagonistic co-existence waiting for the eighteenth birthday. Although, some parents disrupt the adoption out of pure frustration and some place the children in out-of-home placements. Some parents figure it out, change their methods, and salvage the relationship.

Guest Blog: Tyler, Coming Home, We Are Adopted

GuestBlogger — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:15:04 -0600

It is day two of Tyler’s visit to my home. Yes, last night’s refusal to take his shower and change for bed was testing. He woke up cranky, still wearing everything including his jacket, and needing a shower. I told him we could get going after his shower. He saw no point in that. After a bit he was up and ready to go, again, we can leave after your shower. More time, he appears in different clothes and his hair is wet. I smelled a rat. The towel was dry and so was the shower. Later, he appears in a towel, letting me know that the showerhead doesn’t work well. Water all over the floor, yes he had taken a shower. ODD? Yes, thank you.

Guest Blog: Tyler Coming Home, Home Visit

GuestBlogger — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:06:34 -0600

My new, soon to be son, Tyler, called me this morning as he and his worker were driving south to Sacramento, where they would catch a flight to Long Beach. He started off with, “Hi Dad...” That was the first time he had called me that. They were on schedule. The worker had MapQuest directions, but the streets leading to our home are confusing. I talked Tyler through the route, there was the car, and my son was coming home for the first time. This is an unusual visitation, he would be with me for four days, on day five we would fly in my airplane to his city, where I would sign the adoption placement papers and then we would return home. Once he was out of the car, we would not be separated again.

Special Needs Adoptive Parenting – Latent or Delayed Puberty

JuliaFuller — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:53:22 -0600

A girl should show signs of puberty between seven and 13, a boy by 14 years of age. Doctors will not typically intervene medically unless a child is clearly outside of these normal developmental age ranges. The primary cause of delayed puberty does not usually require treatment. This is when a child is a late bloomer, called a constitutional delay. These teens will enter puberty in the regular way. Of course, entering puberty later than most of your peers can cause considerable embarrassment to a teen. There are several other possible causes for latent or delayed Puberty to consider.

Is there a chance that your child is dealing with anorexia? Is your child playing sports year round and a very athletic build? Both of these can cause delays in the onset of puberty in girls because a girl’s body needs a certain amount of fat to cause puberty and begin menstruating. Chronic illnesses can cause delays in puberty such as cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, renal disorders, diabetes, and asthma because these conditions make it more difficult for their bodies to develop and grow.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diaries: Inconsistent Learning Disorders

JuliaFuller — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:00:06 -0600

The most frustrating thing about parenting a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome has got to be the inconsistencies in day-to-day abilities and knowledge. Yesterday, your child knew all of the multiplication facts, however, today, not even one can be remembered. Yesterday, your child could run a vacuum, today it might as well be a spaceship. As a parent, it is difficult to not become frustrated or even angry with the child.

Many parents interpret this not remembering as defiance. Sometimes it is hard to remember that it is not. My teenage daughter has gotten into the bad habit of producing a little smirk on her face every time a parent questions something she did. This certainly does increase the perception that she is being mischievous or naughty.

Parenting Mistakes Saturday – Earning Summer Camp

JuliaFuller — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:45:04 -0500

Summer camp used to be my reprieve when I was still parenting a now adult daughter. She was a difficult child to parent. She tested us at every level and went through quite a gamete of severe behaviors. She loved summer camp so every summer I signed her up for two or three different camps.

Each was a little different in what was offered to campers but some things she did included swimming, shooting, horseback riding, and rock climbing. Summer camp was actually less expensive than respite care for a child with severe behaviors.

Because she enjoyed camp so much and was not attached to the caregivers at camp, she was a model child while there. In fact, one camp had her back as a leader when she was old enough. She served on a missions team that visited several orphanages providing medical services, games, and blankets in Guatemala four years ago. It was only at home that she had trouble, some call it PTSD or RAD.

Somehow, I changed my thinking to, "children need to earn summer camp by good behavior." What the heck was I thinking? That was my summer break from dealing with difficult behaviors from traumatized children. A break needed for all parties involved.