Sleep--not getting enough or not getting good sleep--can greatly affect students' cognitive, academic, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning. Sleep issues are relatively common, occurring in as many as 25% of children and are more prevalent in those with certain medical conditions (pain, asthma, traumatic brain injury) or psychiatric…

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that up to 500,000 individuals under the age of 21 have autism, Asperger's syndrome, and other neurological disorders. This translates to an average of 1 in 110 children in the U.S. having an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is now the sixth most commonly classified disability in the United States.…

Vision is one of the five senses. Being able to see gives tremendous access to learning about the world around--people's faces and the subtleties of expression, what different things look like and how big they are, and the physical environments, including approaching hazards. When a child has a visual impairment, it is cause for immediate…

The arrival of summer signals a season of endless days of swimming, fishing, summer camps, and other outdoor activities. For children with chronic or terminal illnesses, it can be difficult to participate in many of these activities as well as challenging for parents to find summer camps that not only engage their children, but also offer the…

This resource guide designed for families and educators provides information on how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is identified and treated. The resource includes sections on legal requirements, treatment options educational and medical evaluations, how ADHD affects school performance, and helpful evidence-based hints on how to…

The school year can be an especially troublesome time for the 4.4 million U.S. children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as their inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behavior hampers their ability to do well and succeed in the classroom. In order to ensure children perform at their best level during the school…

This manual was developed for use in foster parents' day-to-day life with the children in their care. It gives them practical information on topics like medical care, payments, and the role of the court, and also provides guidance on areas like welcoming a child, discipline, and parent visits. The manual emphasizes the role of foster parents in…

This fact sheet offers broad information about autism and answers some of the more common questions that parents and families often have about the disorder. The following questions are answered in this document: (1) What is autism?; (2) What causes autism?; (3) How many people have autism?; (4) Is autism more common in certain groups of people?;…

Presents information to help parents understand asthma. A major misconception is the idea that asthma only occurs periodically. In reality, it is a chronic condition that needs ongoing treatment, rather than treatment only when there are symptoms. This misconception can lead to the asthma controlling the patient instead of vice versa. A sidebar…

The newsletter article provides parents of children with disabilities guidance on finding a doctor, communicating effectively with him, seeking a second opinion, and accepting responsibility in their special child's patient-doctor relationship. The article identifies both formal and informal methods of finding a doctor and gives suggestions for…

Written for children with seizures and their caregivers, the article answers questions concerning the cause, types, and treatment of seizures. (CL)

The parent of a child with a physical disability that has not been conclusively diagnosed recounts the family's frustrations in seeking medical diagnosis and treatment. (DB)

This annual guide to income tax for parents of children with disabilities covers organizing records; avoiding audits; deducting medical expenses; and considering the impact of recent changes in medical expenses, Social Security numbers for children, child care, earned income credit, and deduction for dependents. (DB)

Head lice affect over 10 million Americans each year. Noting that head lice are becoming resistant to conventional pediculicide (insecticide) treatments, this video combines live action and animation to education parents, children, and health professionals about the use of olive oil for successfully preventing and getting rid of head lice. The…

The paper explores ways that families choose a doctor for their child and offers guidelines for physician selection especially for parents with children who have learning disabilities or attention deficit disorders. Results of a survey of parents are reported indicating that parents used an average of only 1.2 sources of information in identifying…