Parents & Caregivers

By Karen Kain, Lorrin’s World I was at a block party with my new neighbors last week. It surprised me that every neighbor who attended was either a parent of a child with a disability or working in the field. As we stood in the street comparing our experiences, all completely different, one neighbor of…

By Michelle Haney, Euro-Peds National Center for Intensive Pediatric Physical Therapy Everyone needs some rest in their lives. In this day and age, we are all running around day to day filling every minute of every hour. This is true of the average person. Now add a child, or several, to the equation. Now add…

An interview with Karen Kain, CEO of Lorrin’s World, by Sarah Galbraith Laucks, Abilities Expo Education & Events Director In 1994 Karen Kain gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Lorrin. Two months later at her regular check-up, Lorrin received her first and only DPT (diphtheria pertussis tetanus) vaccination. Lorrin had a severe reaction to…

By Patrick Paul, Anderson Center for Autism For the 1 in 59 diagnosed with Autism, there’s an entire family impacted as well. From the moment that the words “Autism Spectrum Disorder” are said by a developmental pediatrician who has taken a child through a host of tests and parents/caregivers through a journey of seemingly endless interview…

By Kristin Hartness, Canines for Disabled Kids Why yes, it is true you may indeed see service dogs in school. One of the most asked questions about service dogs working with children is do they have access to school. Does a school have to allow a service animal in with a student? The short answer is…

By Chris Kain, kellisaspath.com It’s a constant battle; I have to dig deep not to hurt someone who is hurting Kellisa. I understand why so many families with children with disabilities stay home. It’s easy. It’s safe. My rage was on full display last Friday evening. After we passed through security at the Sacramento airport, I…

By Adrian Johansen All people deserve the right to travel. But a disability can make it difficult to drive, fly or use public transportation. Fortunately, various transportation initiatives to improve accessibility for people with disabilities are underway. And these initiatives are making it easier than ever before for those with disabilities to get where they…

By Jenny Wise, Special Home Educator Approximately four in five children on the autism spectrum struggle with sleeping. From sensory needs and functionality to promoting independence and safety, a lot goes into making a bedroom that meets their needs and preferences. When all you want is the best for your child, guidelines and intricacies can be overwhelming as…

By Claire Capaldi If you are a parent to a special needs child and you’re all revved up to attend an upcoming Abilities Expo near you, then you’re probably ready to discover how findings of the latest research can make a big change in your child’s quality of life. One area in which you are perhaps hoping…

What started off as an ordinary day in the life of Lisa Brodeur in November of 1997 took a turn for the devastating when a drunk driver claimed the life of her husband and paralyzed her 10-year-old son, Kyle. When that split second of impact inexorably changed the Brodeur family’s life, it set in motion…

By Cristina Wood, M.A., M.F.T., Los Angeles Neurofeedback Neurofeedback has been known as a non-invasive treatment with successful results for problems related to ADHD/ADD, Autism Spectrum and addictions. It helps the brain to regulate itself in a way that the person treated is able to overcome whatever the deficit she/he has. Sometimes my clients come to…

By Charlie Kimball, MedicalCareAlert.com Having a disability is rough, as it’s necessary to learn different ways of dealing with your surroundings. With new disabilities, it’s often necessary to get a caregiver to assist with the activities of daily living. The right caregiver can bring joy, enriching your life to help you achieve great triumphs, but, like any great calling,…