The following is an excerpt from the author’s writings and is printed with permission

By:  Susan Johnston Copyright © 2004. All Rights Reserved.

Part I – Birth to Age Three

A child is born and the journey begins. Parents await the birth of their new son or daughter with joy and excited anticipation, dreaming of their child’s future. Sexuality is often the last thing a parent thinks about as they gaze into their newborns eyes, however as is so eloquently stated in the following quote, sexuality encompasses all aspects of being human.

by André Picard

Because few adults with the disorder can work, the economic costs continue. Each child diagnosed with autism will accrue about $3.2-million (U.S.) in medical and non-medical costs over his or her lifetime, according to a new study.

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By Shirley Sutton 

Nothing causes more exasperation to an already stressed out parent of a child with special needs than the child who makes mealtimes a disaster! In my 25 tears as a pediatric occupational therapist, and a mother of three children, I know firsthand how developing socially acceptable eating and drinking skills promotes quality of life. In this article, I will share my "favourite four" clinical tips which will help restore the 'fun' around mealtimes.  These tips are drawn from a variety of theoretical backgrounds, including sensory processing, Floortime/RDI, behavioural , neuro-developmental ( "NDT"), and developmental pre-speech approaches.

An Interview With Raun Kaufman
By Maureen Bennie

Most parents say they would do anything for their children. Their children’s health and well being is the most important thing – the #1 family concern. Some families are put to the test when it becomes evident there is something wrong with their child. They have to struggle, make sacrifices, and demand an inner strength from themselves that they never thought possible. They are pushed to their limits and just when they think they can do no more, they have to go further. It is when parents are exhausted, sleep deprived, frustrated and disillusioned that they are asked to continue on, to go the extra mile to make a difference in their child’s life.

by Sue Ferguson

Politicians are failing children, especially those with special needs. IMAGINE THE STRESSES of raising an autistic child. In the most severe cases of autism, children shut out the world around them, behave in ritualistic ways and communicate through shrieks and screams. Now imagine taking on the added financial and personal strain of launching a legal battle against a school board and/or provincial education officials...

By Maureen Bennie

Parenting in North America is an isolating experience. Most families do not have extended family living with them or near by to help with childcare. We live in communities where we barely know our next door neighbors let alone the people three doors down. A typical family has a father at work all day while the mother is either at home with the children or working outside of the home for part of the day. Single parent households are common too, usually lead by the mother. Take any of these scenarios and add looking after small children in isolation with one or more of the children having autism and you have a mother who is feeling overwhelmed, down – possibly depressed.

By Maureen Bennie

Cuts have occurred in education over the past several years in our Alberta public education system. While all children suffer from cutbacks, the ones most affected tend to be the children with special needs. With class sizes growing and classroom resources diminishing, another educational option for the special needs child is available – homeschooling.

By Carol Stock Kranowitz  

Some of the most important skills your child needs at school come from lessons that begin at home. A mother tells me how excited she is about her toddler's "educational" computer game. Just click the mouse and presto: One, two, three oranges bound into a bucket. Isn't that a fabulous way to learn counting? What is my opinion, as a preschool teacher?