Tag Archives: children with special needs

Playdates are an important part of childhood. They offer time for kids to interact socially without the structure of school or extracurricular activities. They also help kids learn to share, socialize and play freely while still having support from their parents as needed. Children who are neurodivergent, or who have …

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 …

  A typical week for Melissa Hanna might include doctor’s appointments; occupational, physical or speech therapies and learning as she goes. She is a foster parent for two medically-complex children younger than age 1 through Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Therapeutic Foster Care program. This program provides a hands-on approach to foster …

  Parents want the best education possible for their children. But when you parent a child with special needs, deciding which school will best support your son or daughter’s needs is not easy. We spoke with educational planning experts who specialize in understanding the academic and social-emotional needs of neurodiverse …

  As the chilly winds of winter blow through the mid-Atlantic region, many of us long for the sunny days of summer. For our kids, it’s not only the warmer weather that boosts summer’s appeal. They look forward to swapping school days for pool days at summer camp. Attending summer …

  Pediatric neurologist Carl E. Stafstrom remembers his first experience with Moebius syndrome was with a child’s mother. She had the tell-tale signs: a drooping face, eyes that could not glance to the side—and, most importantly, she couldn’t smile. Without such a simple means of communication we often take for …

  For many families, Halloween is a holiday to unwind and have fun. But for children on the autism spectrum who rely on predictability to maintain a sense of order, the deviations from normalcy that are part of Halloween celebrations can present challenges for them. “Although it is important to …

  Nabila and Tariq Syed’s son Nihal and daughter Sania celebrate life through their very existence. With their zest for living, the kids keep their parents on their toes. When Nihal was diagnosed with autism at 2 1/2 years old, Nabila and Tariq began gathering as many resources as possible …

Click the image below to download this school and camp checklist as a PDF.  This special needs checklist appears in the B’More Inclusive section of the October 2021 issue of Baltimore’s Child.   

For Monica, the impending conclusion of her son John’s high school education at Kennedy Krieger Institute was “like looking into the abyss. I didn’t know what to expect.” When you have a young child with a disability, she says, “you know legally he’s going to school, so that’s a given.” …