Sensory Friends Disability Blog

Five Strong Issues in the Disability Community that are Still Trending After all These Years

3/12/2019

There are many obstacles and issues that have made day-to-day living very challenging for individuals with disabilities for decades. Over the years, we have seen many positive changes, movements, and systems put in place that have improved the lives of individuals with disabilities in many ways. The American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 1973 Rehabilitation Act, Section 504, Section 508, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) has improved the lives of millions.

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Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part V - Visiting a Medical Cannabis Dispensary: Things to Know Before You Go

2/1/2019

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If you’ve been following this blog series, you know that we have been chronicling our experience with using medical cannabis for treating our son Richie who has autism. If you’re interested in learning more about how other parents, medical professionals, legislators, and concerned citizens, have recognized the incredible potential healing power that medical cannabis has for treating patients who have tried everything else – this is the series you want to follow! That being said, if you're considering becoming or you’ve recently become a qualified patient or caregiver for your son, daughter or loved one and you’re feeling a little anxious or intimidated about visiting dispensaries for the first time, here are a few things to know before you go!

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What About Your Needs? Tips for Special Needs Parents on Meeting Self-Care Needs

11/21/2018

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As parents of special needs children, we all share unique challenges, witness beautiful moments, and experience extraordinarily stressful situations. All that is required for effective parenting, such as, patience, resilience, strength, resourcefulness and perseverance is multiplied exponentially when raising a child with special needs. It’s up to us to care about our mental health and body’s overall well-being.

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Disability Representation on the Big Screen – Hollywood is Slowly Catching Up

11/5/2018

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When it comes to the big screen and the red carpet, the disability community continues to rank as the most underrepresented in Hollywood. I admit that it is exciting times to see more individuals with disabilities play leading roles on television or in the movies, but it’s still not enough. Many in the disability community are now questioning Hollywood why roles with specific disabilities are not played by individuals with those same disabilities. In the United States, 1 in 8 people have a disability, that makes up for about 40 million people in the united states living with a disability. That’s a pretty large population for Hollywood to consider when it comes to disability representation.

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Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part IV: “The Science Behind the Development of an Individualized Treatment Plan”

9/18/2018

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Since Florida has allowed access to using medical cannabis to treat eligible conditions, the use of medical cannabis continues to increase dramatically across the state. For individuals and families of children with autism who have qualifying conditions, medical cannabis has proven to be an effective treatment plan for healthcare professionals and families to consider.

Now that Richie was approved for being treated with medical cannabis and I was approved as his caregiver, our next step is going through the actual treatment process. In this blog segment, we’re going to share what we learned from Dr. David Berger of Wholistic Releaf about how to develop a personalized treatment plan for our son Richie. I’ll begin by sharing what we learned from Dr. David about the different medical cannabis strains available.

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Nonverbal vs. Nonspeaking – Why These Words Matter to Me as a Special Needs Parent

9/11/2018

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I was recently asked by a fellow parent why I refer to my son Richie who has autism as nonspeaking as opposed to nonverbal. After explaining my reasons, she felt differently and we agreed to respectfully disagree. I know there are parents who refer to their children with autism or other disabilities who don’t communicate with oral speech as “non-verbal” and this is completely acceptable. I also respect the fact that many people will not agree with my thoughts on this topic. I respect this because I was a parent who once introduced my son Richie to other people as non-verbal all the time. I'm no stranger to having unpopular opinions, but after learning just how brilliant our son Richie is, I tend to care little about what others think and more about what I feel is best for Richie.

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Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part III: “The Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry Process”

9/2/2018

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In January of 2017, The Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (known as Amendment 2) went into effect allowing Floridians the right to use medical cannabis to treat eligible conditions. The Florida Department of Health created the Office of Medical Marijuana Use for overseeing seeing the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry and its application process. After our first visit with Dr. David Berger of Wholistic Releaf and the completion of our application in the Florida Medical Marijuana Registry for our son Richie, we began to feel hopeful about finding relief for him and the pain, anxiety and other internal struggles he experiences daily. Everything Dr. David explained about the medical marijuana registry process was on target. If you've been wondering about applying for medical cannabis, please keep following our blog series and read about our step-by-step experience with the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry Process.

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Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part II: “Finding the Right Doctor with the Right Approach”

8/29/2018

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Medical cannabis is now becoming known as one of the safest and most effective form of treatment for many qualified medical conditions. More states are recognizing its incredible healing properties and legalizing its medicinal use. Thankfully, Florida is one of them. However, among the many important decisions special needs parents need to make, finding the right doctor for qualifying and treating your child with medical cannabis is a decision not to be taken lightly. Our family was in search of a doctor who is aligned with our beliefs for holistic approaches, knowledgeable in treating special needs children with medical cannabis, and values meaningful doctor-patient relationships. Few doctors have all of these characteristics or this level of expertise, making this one of the most difficult tasks to take on. Luckily, we found a specialist who exceeded our expectations in Dr. David Berger of Wholistic Releaf.

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Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part I: "Why We Chose Medical Cannabis to Treat our Son with Autism”

8/17/2018

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Autism continues to be on a “diagnosis rise” as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates it affects 1 in 59 children across the United States. Many of you who have been loyal readers (thank you) of my blog know of our life as a family with a loved one named Richie who has autism. Our family has recently made the decision to treat Richie’s symptoms with medical cannabis and we want to take you along with us on this journey. In this blog series, I will share an overview of how autism impacts Richie's life and our family. This series will chronicle our experience of the application and treatment process. We hope to achieve the same life-changing results reported by other families of loved ones with autism after using medical cannabis. It's also our wish to raise awareness of how medical cannabis can be a holistic and alternative treatment option for families like ours to consider.

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5 Tips for Improving Communication in Your Child with Special Needs

6/11/2018

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It is exciting times. Our son Richie who has autism is sixteen-years-old and has started using words to communicate. We know we have a long way to go before he starts using full sentences, but this is an amazing start. Especially, when I was told by professionals that Richie would never speak when he was diagnosed with autism at age two. In this post I'll be sharing some of the methods we've been using to help facilitate Richie's ability to communicate with us and others.

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Celebrating National Puerto Rico Day - in our Backyard!

6/10/2018

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This weekend we celebrated National Puerto Rican Day in our own way here in the Sunshine State of Florida. We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month every year, but every second Sunday in June, Puerto Ricans celebrate their cultural contributions to the United States and their residence in the mainland by marching along 5th avenue in Manhattan, New York. The very first parade was celebrated on Sunday, April 13, 1958. While we couldn't join the fun at the parade, we got together with family and celebrated Puerto Rican culture. In doing so, we all shared some information we knew about Puerto Rico and learned some things that we didn’t know. It was a fun gathering with music, dominoes, delicious food, and spending time together as family.

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"A Quiet Place" is this Year’s Best Thriller Featuring an Actress with a Disability Playing the Role of an Individual with the Same Disability (No Spoilers – I promise)!

6/3/2018

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This film has all the elements of a horror movie that was brilliantly done. From the writing and directing, to the acting and musical score, this movie has it all! Edge of your seat suspense – check. Fear of the dark and the unknown – check. Creepy and grotesque creatures – check. Scary places (like corn fields) – check. Fear of the unusual and ultimately death – BIG CHECK! Of all these important chilling elements, what probably tops this list is the fact that the only character with a disability is actually played by an actress with the same disability (the daughter is hearing impaired). This is a wonderful precedence that John Krasinsky (director and leading actor in the film) sets for others in the big screen industry. I know, we've seen it before in movies like "Children of a Lesser God" (Marlee Matlin is a hearing impaired actress who played the role of a character with the same disability), but it shouldn't be a rare occurrence.

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Spring into ABLE United’s Saving and Investing Green Giveaway!

4/30/2018

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The color green represents so many wonderful things. It’s symbolic of nature, life, environment, growth, and financial success. Financial growth was never really a headlining topic for members of the disability community before the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act was passed. It’s no surprise that ABLE United account holders are starting to love the color green! If financial stability, financial growth, and making sure you or your loved one's are financially fit interests you, then ABLE United has a featured giveaway and learning opportunity you’re going to love!

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Tampa Bay Families of Children with Autism Turn to Medical Marijuana for Effective and Life Changing Results

4/28/2018

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Over the years, the public opinion has taken a noticeable shift in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. While many opponents continue the long and wasteful debate over marijuana being the gateway drug to addiction or worse (because prescribed opioids or other narcotics aren’t, right?), more cases are proving – undeniably - that medical marijuana is changing and improving the lives of hundreds of thousands across our country and around the world.

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Dear Service Provider: A Heartfelt letter from Parents

4/17/2018

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My son Richie (who happens to have autism) has been a client of many therapists, a patient of several doctors and he’s been seen or treated by other professionals throughout his life – since he was three-years-old to be exact. Many of them were amazing at their profession and many were not so great. I write this in absolute gratitude to the many service providers who chose a life of helping, teaching, and healing the lives of the many who need their help and expertise. I hope they read this and know that the difference they made in the lives they touched was because of how different they chose to be at providing quality service. They went above and beyond their call of duty.

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Emerging Advancements in Stem Cell Research and Why You Should Consider Cord Blood Banking

4/16/2018

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You may have heard or read about how scientists have been researching stem cells and their potential for treating, healing and curing certain ailments. While I may have heard of stem cell research and cord blood banking a few times over the past decade, there has never been such easy access to this important information and research like there is today.

CBR (Cord Blood Registry) is the world’s largest newborn stem cell company with certain information and resources to help your family’s journey into a future of possibilities.

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Celebrate Financial Literacy Month with ABLE United - Join April's Featured Webinar on Saving and Investing!

4/7/2018

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Financial literacy is all about having the skill set, knowledge and being well-informed on making decisions about how to effectively manage your money. It’s about more than budgeting for paying bills, and allotting for living, medical, and recreational expenses. It’s about planning for the future and learning about the financial resources available to help you handle your money better. ABLE United is one of those resources and this month they're hosting a webinar that will help individuals with disabilities and their families learn about how to plan for a lifetime of financial well-being.

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Disability and Sensitivity Awareness is a Must for Creating Inclusive Classrooms

3/13/2018

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Disability awareness and being sensitive to the needs of children and adults with disabilities is not something we’re all born with. Some of us have children, siblings, parents, friends or other loved ones with disabilities and our experience has taught us about acceptance of individuals with different abilities. Without these experiences, children, teens and young adults may have difficulty with understanding what it’s like to have a disability and why it’s important for everyone to be caring, understanding and accepting.

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Understanding the Grief Cycle of an Autism Parent

1/9/2018

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It has been 13 years since my son Richie was diagnosed with Autism. When he was two years old, I received the news many parents in my same situation may have long suspected but dreaded. When you first hear the words, “Your child has autism,” it is a life-changing moment. It’s important to understand that the grief cycle that comes with the autism diagnosis is not a process. A process, by definition, is a series of steps that lead to an end. Please note that my son’s diagnosis is NOT all gloom and doom – it certainly isn’t. I get to experience many moments of joy and happiness that are unmatched to those of parents of children with no disabilities. I write this in hopes that friends, family members, and other members of our society read this and express sensitivity to all parents of children with autism and essentially all special needs parents – because after all, the feelings experienced are almost universal.

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Top Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids and Loved Ones with #Autism and Special Needs

12/12/2017

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It’s that time of year when gift giving is in full swing. Families are preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Boxing Day and other wonderful traditions this time of year. Many of us like to express how much we care about others by giving them something we hope brings them joy. It’s not always easy buying things for family and friends, and sometimes buying for loved ones with special needs can be even more challenging. As a parent of a teen with autism, I do my homework each year. I came up with a really cool list of gift ideas I share with family and friends. These gifts are great for most kids of all ages. I’ve got a few creative ideas for picky loved ones too! I’m happy to share them with you!

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<<Previous

Five Strong Issues in the Disability Community that are Still Trending After all These Years

Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part V - Visiting a Medical Cannabis Dispensary: Things to Know Before You Go

What About Your Needs? Tips for Special Needs Parents on Meeting Self-Care Needs

Disability Representation on the Big Screen – Hollywood is Slowly Catching Up

Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part IV: “The Science Behind the Development of an Individualized Treatment Plan”

Nonverbal vs. Nonspeaking – Why These Words Matter to Me as a Special Needs Parent

Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part III: “The Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry Process”

Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part II: “Finding the Right Doctor with the Right Approach”

Treating Autism with Medical Cannabis Part I: "Why We Chose Medical Cannabis to Treat our Son with Autism”

5 Tips for Improving Communication in Your Child with Special Needs

Celebrating National Puerto Rico Day - in our Backyard!

"A Quiet Place" is this Year’s Best Thriller Featuring an Actress with a Disability Playing the Role of an Individual with the Same Disability (No Spoilers – I promise)!

Spring into ABLE United’s Saving and Investing Green Giveaway!

Tampa Bay Families of Children with Autism Turn to Medical Marijuana for Effective and Life Changing Results

Dear Service Provider: A Heartfelt letter from Parents

Emerging Advancements in Stem Cell Research and Why You Should Consider Cord Blood Banking

Celebrate Financial Literacy Month with ABLE United - Join April's Featured Webinar on Saving and Investing!

Disability and Sensitivity Awareness is a Must for Creating Inclusive Classrooms

Understanding the Grief Cycle of an Autism Parent

Top Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids and Loved Ones with #Autism and Special Needs

Author: Christine Goulbourne
christine@sensoryfriends.com

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Author: Christine Goulbournechristine@sensoryfriends.com

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An Important Note From Sensory Friends:

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Author: Christine Goulbourne
christine@sensoryfriends.com