Special Needs On T.V!

Lately I have noticed that people with different types of special needs, seem to be all over television. The first example I noticed was a couple years ago on the show Parenthood. The main family has a son with Aspergers ( a form of Austism Spectrum Disorder) and they take the viewers through some of the real experiences that parents of special needs kids really go through. That was a fictional depiction but it was quite accurate and it felt great as a mom to see this being embraced publicly.

Lately I've noticed a couple reality shows that are either based on living with special needs or include a main character that has special needs. Push Girls a show on the Sundance Channel is a wonderful show that features 4 beautiful, fashionable women who are all confined to wheel chairs after suffering various accidents that paralyzed them either from the neck down or the waist down etc. I have watched this show a few times and it is beyond inspiring. These women are living typical lives in most ways and are fulfilled and happy.

Another show called Barter Kings features two men who own a store and make their money by trading goods for higher value items. One of the partners is a guy named Antonio who is good looking and hip. He  has a wife and 3 children and he also has Tourette's Syndrome. During the episodes he often gives little tid bits of information about Tourette's like "people think that Tourette's means you swear all the time, I just get attached to certain words and keep saying them over and over."  He is such a cool guy and while he has verbal and physical ticks here and there, he makes his special need an extremely minor part of who he is. I'm certain it is something he deals with everyday but he not only has educated the public, he is an amazing reminder to moms like me that special needs do not have to get in the way of success.

Children and adults with special needs are becoming more accepted and integrated everyday.  Community theaters like Sterling Civic Theater in Detroit, are including special needs children in all of their productions and certain cruise ship lines are even advertising their special needs theater inclusion programs.

It is wonderful to see the special needs community featured in front of a large audience to not only educate the public but to inspire us as well. I have always been excited to see what my little boy will grow up to become but shows like this prove to me that he will have no problem achieving success.

It's Like Winning the Lotto!

My little man has been in feeding therapy for about 4 years. Every therapist we come across says the same thing, that it's much easier to help a child overcome obstacles with gagging and choking on food than it is to ease them through the process of getting over fear and becoming less stubborn and more open to new foods. He has been eating American cheese for about a year and it took two Occupational Therapists well over a year to help him do that so we don't expect quick results, ever.

For the last couple weeks I have been going into the room during the feeding portion of his session and bringing my 3 year old in as well. He too is picky in other ways so we thought it could benefit them both to see each other eating and trying new techniques. It has been good so far and today was absolutely wonderful. Each week his therapist who we adore, offers him string cheese and she does everything from making rain out of the shredded strings to splitting it in half and making it an alligator that eats his other food. He does play with various foods including this, but doesn't eat them. Today while we were sitting around the table he was playing with the first string he pulled off and out of nowhere he just put the remaining stick of cheese in his mouth and took a huge bite. He then proceeded to not only finish his entire piece but took the piece his brother wasn't eating and ate that too! I just sat there with my eyes wide open. His therapist looked at me and told me not to react and not to scream and jump for joy so I just sat there smiling. She stayed calm and just told him that he could eat that at home too and that he likes it.. I felt like I won the Lottery!

Day in and day out we work on certain challenges. The last few steps of potty training that seem to go on forever and the ongoing worry that he isn't eating near as many food options as he should be. This was a huge step because not only do I have one more thing to pack in his lunch next year but it will also lead to yet another food that we can introduce.

We have an intense summer with a packed schedule and endless running from camp to camp and therapy to therapy. This break through today made all of the extra efforts and the stress that comes along with it, WELL worth it. It's just cheese I know, but to me it's the best gift, a pot of gold and a winning lottery ticket, rolled into one. A great day for us!