Articles

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**Articles About Families**

[|Autism]  APIRL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH This article is about children with autism – specifically Julian, Marcus, and Matthew – and their parents. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness about why children with autism have meltdowns. It is from lack of communication, not parenting skills. In fact, parents with children with autism (and other disabilities) are some of the strongest and most patient parents out there. The article is mainly from parents’ point of view concerning the public’s usually harsh, assuming, and uneducated reaction to their children having meltdowns in public. The article encourages the public, “ the most helpful thing the public can do is withhold the judgmental looks and reassure the parent with a smile when they encounter a child having a public meltdown. ”

In my classroom, I hope to foster a caring, understanding environment. Everyone is different and has different tendencies. Everyone does something that is considered odd. I get quite distracted by fuzz and specs on my keyboard, for instance (not in the classroom, though so don’t worry!). My students will be taught to understand that if they see an autistic child have a meltdown in our classroom, in our school, or even in public somewhere else, it is not something to be gawked at or made fun of. Just like I would not like to be made fun of for my actions that seem odd to others, and no none else would like to be the center of ridicule or cruel stares for doing something “abnormal,” these children do not deserve or want to be stared at or ridiculed for having a meltdown. Just like anyone else’s “odd” tendencies, it is something that just happens for no easily explainable reason sometimes.

[|"Downs Syndrome Support Growing "] OCTOBER IS DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH This article is about parents of children with Down syndrome and how they came to find support through the National Down Syndrome Society to a local support system in Tampa called FRIENDS –Support (Friends Raising, Inspiring, Educating and Nurturing Down Syndrome - Support). This article talks about how many cities don’t have enough support systems for children with Down syndrome and how a few concerned parents helped the Tampa area. It also talks about National Buddy Walks held in the fall to raise money for the research and education of children with Down syndrome. The Orlando area holds Buddy Walks along with many other cities. This is a website that allows you to learn more about [|Buddy Walks] and [|find out] if there is one near you.

In my classroom, I will promote Buddy Walks to children and their families. Not only is it important awareness and for a good cause, but it is good exercise and good family bonding time! Of course some children have parents that work almost if not every day and would not be able to go even if they wanted to, so no prizes would be offered to students who go. However, those who do attend would certainly be praised for their good deed in the classroom!

 [|"How One Boy Moved Congress" (IDEA 1997 legislation)] This article is about a boy named Gregory with Down syndrome who helped pass the IDEA 1997 reauthorization legislation. Gregory is the son of David Hoppe, the former chief of staff to former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. In his son’s name, he fought hard for the IDEA legislation reauthorization that had been in a stalemate for two years. (Of course there were countless others whose hard work aided in the passing of this legislation; however, this particular article is about the journey of one man to help his son.) When the legislation was finally brought to a vote in the Senate, the Senate voted for it 98-1. David, like every other parent with a disabled child, wanted the best for his child and fought until he obtained a better future for his son. He, of course, was well connected; however, everyone can do something to help the education of disabled children even on a small level.  When I was in elementary school myself, I remember being a part of a program that would tutor disabled peers. I want this to be a part of my classroom, as well. Not only did this raise awareness in my peers and me, but it also helped to form friendships among //all// of us. I still remember Emily Brow, a girl with Down syndrome in my grade who went to my elementary school. She was arguably one of the most popular girls in my grade! There wasn’t one person that she could not make smile. I want to bring this opportunity for building friendships to my classroom. It is definitely a symbiotic program – both the tutors and the tutored benefit in multiple ways.

[|"Making Sense of the Senses"] This article is from our very own Orlando Sentinel. It is about children with sensory-processing disorder.

**Informative Articles **


 * 1) [|"How Children With Autism Learn"]
 * 2) [|"Myths and Misconceptions of Learning Disabilities"]
 * 3) [|"Transitioning From Early Intervention to Public School Programs"]
 * 4) [|"IEP: What to Expect, How to Prepare, Parents’ Rights, and When to Speak Up"]
 * 5) [|"Does My Child Have Emotional and Behavioral Disorder"]