Sensory Friends
Let's stay connected:
  • Home
    • About us
    • Contact us!
    • Join Our Email List
    • Media Page
    • Book Christine Goulbourne
  • Blog
    • Disability Blogs
  • Sensory Friends Directory
  • Resources
  • Great Giveaways!

Birthday Celebrations with Your Child with Autism: Lessons Learned

8/28/2015

9 Comments

 
Picture
My son, Richie, is thirteen years old and has autism.  Over the years, it was hit or miss with planning birthday parties for Richie.  Richie’s first few birthdays were successfully celebrated with intimate family at home.  For his fourth birthday, we tried Chuck-e-Cheese. It wasn’t terrible. We booked the party as early as possible – 10:00 am, as we were told that this time slot was best for having the least noise and crowds. He had fun, but there were many young toddlers there in the morning (who tend to scream), and this was a sensory nightmare for Richie and his invited classmates.   Over the years, we’ve rented bounce places, shelters at parks, and most recently, we held backyard parties with rented moon-houses, themed with Richie’s favorite character that year.  In time, of course, Richie’s preferences changed.  We needed to plan our celebrations around his evolving preferences.     


Read More
9 Comments

Raising a Child with Special Needs: An Inspiration Wrapped in an Unexpected Gift

8/22/2015

6 Comments

 
Picture
Having a child with special needs isn’t the gloom and doom that some might imagine it to be.  Yes, there was the initial shock, sadness, fear, and overwhelming stress that consumed me when I first learned of Richie’s life-long challenges, but there is also an unspeakable love and happiness that I don’t share with anyone else on this planet.  My son and I have a unique language of our own, I understand him and he knows he can count on me.  


Read More
6 Comments

The Family That Cooks Together Creates Life-long Bonds and Memories.

8/15/2015

13 Comments

 
Picture
In today’s modern world of technology and jam-packed schedules, families are spending increasingly less quality time together.  One of the best opportunities to bond with your child is through cooking. Not only is it important for children to learn their way around the kitchen, but an introduction to culinary arts can promote learning and increasing critical thinking skills.  All children with varying abilities can be given a variety of cooking tasks to complete successfully, while having fun in the kitchen.  

Read More
13 Comments

Preparing to Attend Your Child's IEP Meeting

8/8/2015

12 Comments

 
Picture
Planning to attend an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting sometimes causes many parents stress and anxiety.  I remember the days I dreaded IEP season.   I can remember some IEP meetings that were so challenging, we needed to plan another meeting to revisit unsettled topics. But, there were also many successful meetings that were over in less time than the scheduled hour.  Being prepared, confident, and well informed will help decrease feelings of anxiety, and the meeting may not be as dreadful as you might have expected it to be. 


Read More
12 Comments

The ABC’s of the IEP: “What Every Parent Needs to Know”

8/5/2015

22 Comments

 
Picture
If your child is just starting to receive special education services in the public school system, it is extremely important to learn about special education processes, beginning with understanding the IEP (Individual Education Plan) document and all of its components.   The IEP is important to your child’s education, but it can be as equally confusing to understand. 


Read More
22 Comments

Choosing the Right School for My Child.

8/1/2015

7 Comments

 
Picture
Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a parent will make.  Since the start of a new school year is quickly approaching, many parents have been asking me for my list of “Best Schools” across the state. The truth is there is no “best school.”  I have heard great success stories and just as many disappointing stories across all learning settings. 


Read More
7 Comments

    Author: Christine Goulbourne
    christine@sensoryfriends.com 

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All
    Autism
    Inclusion
    Parent Involvement
    Positive Behavior Support
    Special Education

    RSS Feed

    Please note that Sensory Friends is a participant in the Google Adsense and Etsy Programs. These are affiliate/advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees (at no additional cost to you) by advertising and linking to their sites. 

An Important Note From Sensory Friends:

All information posted on the website is for informational purposes only.   Please confirm and review information carefully with your professional health care provider before considering a new regime or practice.  The information provided is not intended to replace medical advice offered by physicians.  Sensory Friends only wishes to provide information, resources, options and networking opportunities to its members and site visitors. 
Please note that Sensory Friends is a participant in several affiliate programs (Google Adsense, Awin Affiliates, and Etsy) these affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products or services. We may receive a commission if you purchase any of the linked products at no additional cost to you.  

© 2023 Sensory Friends

Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now