The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, doesn't need national accolades to prove that it is a great place to live, work, and raise families, but it has them. In 2010, "Parents Magazine" ranked Pittsburgh fourth among the top 100 cities for raising babies and Forbes.com ranked the Pittsburgh metropolitan area the number one most livable…

In the June 1998 edition of "Exceptional Parent," a college freshman's article, written for an undergraduate composition class, evolved into a pillar of family pride, drawing attention to the story of a young man who couldn't tell his own tale but made as big an impact on the people who loved him as people can ever hope for in the short time they…

When it comes to making the right choices for children with disabilities, families are the experts. Family and friends want to help--but many times don't have the words, or don't know what to do. They need leading on what to do and say--especially if a person has been on his/her journey a long time. In this article, the author uses an analogy of…

When dealing with families that have been somatically fixated, it is important to initially focus on the symptoms, while not getting dragged into the way that the symptoms have become a centrally organizing event for the family. This allows the clinician to connect with the family around the physical symptoms, which they have become hypervigilant…

In the last article the author discussed the powerful effect epilepsy has on the social functioning of the classroom and how this impact can affect learning difficulties in the student. Epilepsy also exerts a powerful influence upon the teacher, depending how educated that teacher is and any fears about seizures the teacher may harbor. Fortunately…

"Rehabilitation," as a term in and of itself, implies a goal of bringing something back to its original state of being. However, for many people living with traumatic brain injury (TBI), rehabilitation means learning to live all over again. Through means of education and employment, this article explores the quest for inclusive community…

Nothing can compare with the boundless love that a grandparent feels for their grandchild. The gift of grandchildren is one of life's greatest blessings. But life does not always deliver its blessings in the package one expects. The diagnosis of autism is for many a jolt into a new world. For parents, the diagnosis tears their hearts and brings…

Nationwide, more than 13.5 million children have special healthcare needs and with increases in the prevalence and diagnosis of development disabilities, this number can be expected to increase in the coming years. For any child with special needs, it is very important that they have a medical home from which all services can be coordinated. The…

After the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, thousands of families across the U.S. breathed a sigh of relief at the White House's reassurance: "Reform will eliminate health insurance discrimination against people with disabilities." However, the actual language of the law and the proposed implementation timeline of the…

The parent of the child with autism is faced with many home management challenges, not the least of which is the achievement of intra-family harmony among siblings. Sibling rivalry occurs in all families. However, the presence of a child with autism may, in some instances, intensify this rivalry. In this article, the author provides tips for…

When a teenager or child of any age develops seizures, the impact on the family can be enormous. Worries and fears may affect everyone, and left untreated, crises can occur too easily. This article explores the way that epilepsy can affect family dynamics. Common factors that may contribute to family stress and patterns of coping will be…

The Huhtanens are a military family who are rising to the challenges of their son's recent autism diagnosis. They have been trying to stay afloat, facing the steep learning curve of interpreting and understanding TRICARE regulations, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and biomedical options. In this article, the authors share their experience and…

When it comes to making the right choices for children with disabilities, families are the experts. To prove this point, the Hatton Project sponsored a grant wherein researchers interviewed members of 12 families of children with disabilities on factors that caused them to identify themselves as "successful." The results yielded eight lessons…

This article is the ninth installment of a series that chronicles the life of a fictional family--Amita and Samir, and their daughter with special needs, Anjali. This article looks back at the milestones in Anjali's life. It describes the transition processes she underwent from being a child to an adult. Now, married and pregnant with her second…

Accepting the limitations of a child whose life was supposed to be imbued with endless possibilities requires parents to come to terms with expectations of themselves and the world around them. In this article, the author offers some helpful strategies for fostering acceptance and strengthening family relationships: (1) Remember that parenting is…