The telephone has to be one of the greatest inventions in history. Most children are fascinated by the prospect of learning to use the telephone to "reach out and touch someone." Getting connected has never been easier or more rewarding thanks to an innovative state program that provides a selection of specialized phones and services…

An ability switch, in simple terms, is an alternative to a button that requires fine dexterity to push. Many toys and appliances operate because of fine motor stimulation, prohibiting many people with fine motor challenges from finding independence with daily tasks. Ability switches offer the option to make things work with a simple gesture that…

It is becoming increasingly clear that executive functioning deficits are a common area of concern for students and young adults with a variety of different intellectual disabilities. Assistive technology can be invaluable in aiding students and young adults in compensating for these deficits. The Assistive Technology Act of 1998, and the IDEA…

It is easy to understand that fun is one of the key ingredients to any playground activity. But what one may not realize is that play systems--including slides, tunnels, activity panels, and more--encourage a lot more than just fun: there is learning at work in playground play, as well as the opportunity to include children of all abilities in…

This article is the eighth of a multi-part series on traumatic brain injury (TBI). This is a continuation from part A of "Looking Back, Looking Forward," published in Exceptional Parent's February issue. Managing the cost of rehabilitation for a child, teenager or young adult who has incurred a TBI can be supported through the use of an Assistive…

While parents with disabilities may face big challenges, with appropriate supports, many can be great parents. Just like other parents, they do not have to be responsible for every part of childrearing all by themselves. All parents rely on supports to help raise their children, such as day care, carpools, schools, babysitting co-ops, or advice…

This month's "FlagHouse Forum" focuses on how to choose the communicator best-suited to a child's special need. FlagHouse--a premier global supplier of resources for special needs, education, physical activity and recreation--is pleased to partner with "Exceptional Parent" to bring its readers this informational forum. Humans communicate with each…

This article features "Bee's Knees," a specialty line of clothing. While not the typical product one would think of when considering mobility equipment, this line of clothing certainly does aid in helping those with disabilities access their world more safely and comfortably. "Bee's Knees" offers pint-sized pants made of kid-friendly, durable…

For children, the urge to move is a basic need. Movement is essential for the development of physical and mental abilities. Quite often, for children with intellectual and physical disabilities who require special supportive seating, other considerations receive priority over movement in seats. The result is an even greater reduction of their…

Parent and teacher collaborated to use the Apple iPhone as assistive technology to meet the needs of Bill, a 20-year-old student in the Saline Young Adult program, part of the Saline Michigan School System. Bill has an intellectual disability and this technology provided an effective, flexible and moderate cost solution that helped him meet his…

High school can be a bumpy road for teenagers, especially since most teenagers are trying to fit in and start to define their own individuality and future. Now imagine if a teenager has hearing loss. Besides not being able to hear their instructors or friends as well as their classmates, self image problems can be magnified if they need to wear…

The author shares the story of Megan Fry of The Woodlands, Texas, a pioneer among young artists with disabilities. Megan wanted to enter the Montgomery County Beatification Association's (MCBA) 2010 Arbor Day poster contest, but the rules prohibited computer-based art. That posed a dilemma because cerebral palsy prevents Megan from speaking and…

Namel Norris and Ricardo Velasquez are two young men who had never met, yet they shared much in common. Both sustained spinal cord injuries and were in wheelchairs. Both felt shunned by the people they used to hang out with. Before his accident, Norris had been an avid basketball player and member of a rap group trying to make it in the music…

Prior to the dawn of the nineteenth century, common schools, social and political practice have driven the direction of the nation's schools and the manner in which children access the promise of an education. The multi-age one-room schoolhouses that dotted America's prairie landscape embarked upon the quest toward education of the masses and…

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can cause multiple medical and functional problems. As the brain is involved in regulating nearly every bodily function, a TBI can affect any part of the body and aspect of cognitive, behavioral, and physical functioning. However, TBI affects each individual differently. Optimal management requires understanding the…