Sensory Friends Disability Blog - Sensory Friends

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

12/12/2017

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!

Jump Start Your Savings with ABLE United and a Chance to Win $1,000!

12/3/2017

The season for gift giving has once again arrived and ABLE United is in the holiday spirit! ABLE United wants members of the disability community to start planning for their future and jump-start their savings! ABLE United is offering savings account starters the chance to win $1,000! What a great way to jump start a savings account!

Sexuality and Self Preservation in Youth with Disabilities.

11/14/2017

When most of us begin teaching our children about identifying their bodies, it usually sounds a little something like this:

“Touch your nose. Touch your arm. Touch your eye. Touch your cheek,” and so on.

Many parents don’t ever mention the penis, vagina, bottom, or breast - yet, they too, are parts of our anatomy. It’s important to teach our children as best as we can about identifying body parts and their changing bodies, as well as the difference between safe and appropriate touches from inappropriate and dangerous situations.

#ABLEUnited is Helping Individuals with Disabilities Plan for Today, Tomorrow and the Future.

10/19/2017

The opportunity for individuals with disabilities to save, plan and look forward to the future was once a scary thought. Being hopeful about the future seemed less promising for members of the disability community because many barriers made planning and saving impossible. A recent survey conducted by America Saves, states that only 40 percent of households are making good or excellent progress in saving, and more than 27 percent report no progress at all. The numbers are even more dismal for the disability community – the National Disability Institute reports that an estimated 1.9 million households that include an individual with a disability do not have a checking or savings account. Before ABLE United’s program, some were not even provided the same opportunities to save as the general population.

Our Special Needs Emergency Preparedness Check-list

9/6/2017

Our family has been praying for everyone having to face the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Here we are, a short time later possibly facing the same fate. The last time we prepared for a storm that frightened us in Tampa Bay was back in 2004. Richie was only two and hadn’t been diagnosed with autism yet. We were hit with Hurricane Charley, Ivan, Frances and Jeanne that year. It came to be known as the year of the Hurricanes. While Tampa Bay was thankfully not hit directly by these ravaging storms, we felt the anxiety and fear of these winds of fury all the same. But it would take a Hurricane called Katrina to teach our nation about being prepared. Ten years later, we’re back in preparation mode and we must get this right. All of us together.

Are You "First Day of School" Ready?

8/22/2017

Some of us feel a little apprehension about starting a new school year alongside our children. This can especially be difficult for parents of children who struggle with reading, writing, math, staying focused or being organized.

Getting in Gear for Back to School Routines!

8/10/2017

Transition and change for kids of all ages isn’t always easy. Transitioning from a long summer break back into the old school routine is harder yet. For children and older kids with disabilities, the back to school transition can be intensely challenging for the entire family. Here are some tips that helped us get back in gear for school routines!

#ABLEUNITED is Celebrating its First Anniversary as the Savings Difference Makers in the Disability Community

7/2/2017

It’s been a year since I opened my ABLE United account for my son Richie and not only has our family been able to save and plan for Richie’s future, we have something we’ve never had before. We have peace of mind.

Happy Father’s Day to all The Special Needs Dads Who Turned Challenging Times into Special Blessings

6/16/2017

Happy Father's Day to All Special Needs Dads!

Raising children with special needs can be as challenging as you might imagine it to be. You’ve seen us from time to time. We’re the ones walking past you with the scratched arms from frustrated pinching. You’ve seen us lifting our child out of the car and gently placing them onto their wheelchair. You’ve seen us leave an entire cart of groceries in the middle of the isle because our child was about to have a major meltdown. You’ve watched us chase our kid down the street after they've masterfully escaped from our home. Maybe, you were the neighbor who brought them home to us when we thought he or she was sleeping soundly in their bed! Perhaps you’ve spotted us sitting in our car alone crying or just taking a moment of nothing eventful to ourselves. You may have wondered, “How do they do it?”

ABLE United is Hosting a Sweet Summer Sweepstakes with Major Cash Prizes!

6/4/2017

When it comes to ABLE United, great news just keeps on coming! Don’t miss out on your chance to jump-start your savings plan for the future today. ABLE United is offering five eligible Floridians with disabilities a chance to win a $500 contribution to their ABLE United savings account! Enter today and visit daily for extra chances to win – but hurry, this fantastic offer ends June 15, 2017!

Think Spring Cleaning with Goodwill Intentions!

4/26/2017

Your Spring Cleaning tasks could mean Goodwill Career Creations!

It is spring cleaning season! It's the time of year that gets us doing chores that aren't part of our normal cleaning routines. If you're anything like me, it's time to clean the china cabinet, get the oven back to its original shine, and start going through our closets and drawers to fish out all the clothes that we've outgrown or just stopped wearing over six months ago! But what if we could do our spring cleaning and donate to a good cause at the same time?

10 Fingers, 10 Toes: Car Seat Safety Equals a Parent Who Knows!

4/18/2017

On board with safety planning.

As a first time grandmother to be, I have been helping my daughter and son-n-law with planning for the arrival of our newest family member. Safety preparation has been a hot topic for our family as my daughter's delivery date nears!

Every 33 seconds a child under 13 is involved in a car crash in the United States. For younger children, car seats can dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury – but over half of car seats are either installed or used incorrectly. For older children, buckling up is critical. A full 50% of children age 8-14 who were killed in car crashes from 2011-2015 were not restrained.

My Journey to Improve my Son's Behavior with Positive Behavior Support: Part 7 - Managing the Positive Behavior Support Plan

12/18/2016

Managing the Positive Behavior Support Plan

I can’t tell you how excited I am to reach our final segment of this series. It has been an extraordinary experience for our family. Using the positive behavior support process, we have watched Richie’s transformation from being someone who only knew to express himself with aggressive fits of anger to someone who controls that urge and replaced it with other ways to communicate his frustration.

Managing the positive behavior support plan is a crucial component for it to continue to work successfully. From the beginning, all team members agreed to commit to fulfilling the expectations of the PBS process.

Celebrating Thanksgiving as a Special Needs Family

11/20/2016

Celebrating a Special Needs Thanksgiving

All family gatherings are special. The fall season is upon us and brings with it the Thanksgiving holiday. Families come together to celebrate and be thankful for having one another in each other’s lives. Special needs families prepare to celebrate the season’s festivities. Although our experience is a little different, we are grateful for many things.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, but Efforts for Strengthening Inclusion and Acceptance Must Be Ongoing

10/31/2016

Bullying has been around for far too long to be a passing fad. It’s an infectious direction that tends to spread quickly if the climate allows for it. It’s the end of October, and this is the month for which parents, students, educators, and members of our community work together to raise awareness about bullying and how to prevent it. However, our combined efforts shouldn’t begin and end in the month October, we must all work hard on bullying prevention throughout the year – every year.

Honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month – Boricua Style!

9/27/2016

Photo by Lena Erikson

From September 15 through October 15, our country celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s a time for recognizing and appreciating the many Hispanic cultures and customs that have contributed to and influenced our American way of life for years.

ABLE United’s Most Frequently Asked Questions about Saving for the Future

9/27/2016

The word is out! This year, ABLE United started a program that allows individuals with disabilities and their families to plan for the future by saving money and building assets without losing their benefits. You might remember my previous post highlighting the launch of this beneficial program and how you and your family can start saving like we did!

ABC’s Speechless Gets the Overly Insensitive Standing Ovation

9/22/2016

Many of us have been anxiously waiting for the premier of the pilot episode for “Speechless.” The show debuted last night and I have to write that it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it was on-point! Speechless is about an American family of five that includes a teen with special needs. The story line is centered around their incredibly, resilient and humorous ability to cope with the many challenges faced by special needs families today. As parents of children with disabilities, we can all relate to Minnie Driver’s character, “Maya,” who is a relentless and fierce mother who will stop at nothing to protect her son JJ (played by Micah Fowler).

Tips for Special Needs Parents on How to Sleep Better....Or at All!

8/14/2016

Sleep Tips for Special Needs Parents

If you’re a parent of a child with special needs, then odds are you’re dozing off while trying to read this post! Don’t feel bad, you’re not alone. Raising a child with special needs comes with overwhelming love, but that’s not all. We experience incredibly stressful situations and we are in constant worry mode, which means our mind is always racing even when we’re trying to relax.

#Florida Individuals and Parents of Children with Disabilities Can Now Ensure their Financial Future: #ABLE United is the Answer

7/8/2016

Special needs planning for the future has unique challenges

There is one common concern that causes great anxiety and sleepless nights for parents of children with disabilities. It’s the unstoppable future. Who will care for our children? Where will they live? What will their lives be like when we’re no longer around?

Future planning was never easy for members of the disability community. If individuals and parents of children with disabilities want to keep their Medicaid, Social Security benefits or other disability services, they cannot have savings that exceed $2,000 in cash value. Our choices were limited to either giving up our benefits or the opportunity to save and plan for the future.

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.

© 2025 Sensory Friends

Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!