Special Needs

Having four children in four years is a feat on its own, but starting a business when one is only 4 years old is hall-of-fame worthy. Keri Demos, owner and operator of The Playroom—a children’s STEM play center with daily drop-in playtimes, events, classes and camps for children ages 0 …

When I tell people that I use the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons in my group therapy sessions with individuals with autism, the question they ask is: “Does this really qualify as therapy? How can a game where you traverse an imaginary world completing imaginary quests and slaying imaginary monsters …

  Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can often exhibit sensory issues such as hyper- or hypo-sensitivity to various stimuli. As many as 70% to 96% of those diagnosed with autism can display signs of sensory dysfunction. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association added sensory sensitivity to a list …

  During Maya’s* first birthday celebration, her mother knew something was different. “We were singing ‘Happy Birthday,’ and she had such a blank stare. In that moment, I knew something was off,” recalls Elizabeth Chaillou, who perhaps had special insight into typical childhood milestones given that Maya is the youngest …

Going to get a haircut for the first time can be a scary experience for kids, but the fear tends to subside with more visits. The same cannot be said, however, for neurodivergent kids, who have unique sensitivities that make any visit to the salon or barber a challenge. Being …

  Shari Bailey knows birthdays can be among the most special celebrations in a child’s life—especially for children who don’t know how many of them they will have. Of her 8-year-old twin girls, Lana and Laila, the latter has a rare congenital disorder, Jacobsen’s Syndrome, which occurs in only one …

Child Care   Kennedy Krieger Institute 707 N. Broadway Baltimore, MD 21205 800-873-3377 Evaluation and treatment for children with learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, injuries of the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal system and other conditions. Respite for families who have children with special needs.   Deaf, …

Being a parent of a child with any disability, physical or emotional, comes with its challenges. When out in public, most parents would hope that a stranger will stop to open the door for a child in a wheelchair or have patience when talking with a teenager who has a …

Advocacy AUTISM SOCIETY OF BALTIMORE-CHESAPEAKE P.O. Box 10822 Baltimore, MD 21234 410-655-7933 baltimoreautismsociety.org The Autism Society of Baltimore-Chesapeake is a volunteer organization founded in 1976. We were created to help serve the autism community in Baltimore. Our organization provides information, advocacy and support for families and individuals.   First Maryland …

Advocacy AUTISM SOCIETY OF BALTIMORE-CHESAPEAKE P.O. Box 10822 Baltimore, MD 21234 410-655-7933 baltimoreautismsociety.org The Autism Society of Baltimore-Chesapeake is a volunteer organization founded in 1976. We were created to help serve the autism community in Baltimore. Our organization provides information, advocacy and support for families and individuals. First Maryland Disability …