NewsBreak Original

In the quiet town of Homewood, a young boy with an incredible story of courage and perseverance has captured the hearts of many. Despite being born with only half a brain, 7-year-old Ethan has defied all odds and continues to live life to the fullest.

Sensory Disorders can be hard to understand in children. After all, sometimes kids are very energetic and excited or want to play for hours without stopping to eat. But, you may have noticed things in your child and wondered: how do I check for sensory disorders in children?

As a pediatric occupational therapist, parent of children with sensory processing disorder, and a frequent cruiser I have put together this list of 5 things to consider before booking a cruise with your child with special needs.

Phillip and Leah, new parents, could hardly control their elation at the arrival of their first child, Robin. They doted on their newborn boy and cherished every second they had with him. But as Robin matured, his parents noticed that he had issues with social interactions. He rarely looked at people, ignored his name, chose to play alone, and did not cooperate.

Washington, D.C. - The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) will host the Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference at Washington, D.C., on April 17-19, 2023. This two-day event (with optional pre-conference learning sessions on April 17) will bring the people together to advocate for legislative priorities that impact the Down syndrome community. NDSS will be holding this conference in partnership with other national Down syndrome organizations, including their Advocacy Partners, the National Down Syndrome Congress, and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

TIME: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm EST. REGISTRATION: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/support-parent-training-south-carolina-tickets-468667656577. South Carolina parents / caregivers, join FCSC on Support Parent Saturday for an interactive workshop that provides four hours of evidence-based training which will give a parent of a child with special health care needs the skills to be able to support another parent effectively. The goal of the Support Parent Program is to help educate, inspire and empower parents and their children to live rich, fulfilling lives in spite of many challenges. As a representative of Family Connection, a Support Parent provides emotional support and information to families of individuals with disabilities or other special needs. Support Parents connect with other families, either by telephone or by email, and provide a safe listening environment that can be a wealth of information to other families. All attendees who complete the training will receive a certificate as well as additional opportunities for skill development and volunteer time during their year commitment with Family Connection of SC.

Columbia, South Carolina - The NorthEast Columbia Empowerment Coalition (NECEC) is hosting "A Community of Care: Collaboration and Partnership to Empower People with Disabilities" on Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Converspace Business Center, 136 Forum Drive (Suite 4) Columbia, SC 29229.

Per the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities,. Montgomery County, Ohio has one of the largest populations in the State of Ohio with individuals that have special needs, students.

Don't underestimate what an individual with special needs can do. Ever. They will surprise you every time. I speak from experience. As a parent of a child with special needs, I know firsthand that ALL individuals with special needs are different. I get it. I know skills and capabilities vary. But again, don't underestimate what they CAN do. It will blow you away if you at least open your mind to the possibilities and present opportunities they may not otherwise ever get.

With special thanks to Mariana Lin. She helps us to put into words what many of us parents struggle to say. One out of every 10 children under the age of 14 has some type of special need, which includes any physical, cognitive, or medical disability, or chronic or life-threatening illness. About two to three children out of every 1,000 have cerebral palsy.

Columbia, South Carolina - The South Carolina Partnership of Disability Organizations (SCPDO) is hosting the 34th Annual Disability Advocacy Day on the north grounds at the South Carolina Statehouse on March 1, 2023. The event will include an awareness walk, meetings with representatives, rally and speeches from community partners, member organizations, self-advocates, family members, caregivers and special guests.

Columbia, South Carolina - The South Carolina State Museum has an Accessibility Morning meet and greet with Esteban, the Pea Green Crayon from Drew Dewalt's The Day the Crayons Came Home children's book on February 11, 2023. This program provides free access for families of children, teenagers, and young adults who would benefit from a sensory-friendly experience and a quieter and calmer setting at the South Carolina State Museum.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - The Sensory Day at WonderWorks will be from 10:30 AM - 3 PM on February 5, 2023, WonderWorks’ exhibits will be altered to provide limited stimulation for guests with special needs. The music in the facility will be lowered, loud exhibits will not be operational, and our inversion tunnel will be stopped, creating a safe environment for everyone to enjoy the facility without feeling overwhelmed.

Columbia, South Carolina - The University of South Carolina Assistive Technology Program will be hosting the 30th Annual South Carolins (SC) Assistive Technology EXPO on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Cupid’s Chase is a fun way for us to come together each year and raise awareness for our services. Columbia, South Carolina – On Saturday, February 11, 2023, Community Options will host its annual Cupid’s Chase 5k event in support of people with disabilities. The 5k will be held in three cities across South Carolina and will all begin at 10:00 am.

A mom of 5 has refused to let her nieces and nephews play with her foster child's toys. She has taken to Reddit to find out whether or not she's in the wrong for this rule.

Columbia, South Carolina - The Family Connection of South Carolina (FCSC) is hosting five training sessions for families with disabilities in February 2023, (Seminar Series 1-3) (1) Positive Parenting for Children with a Disability, (2) Helping Your Child Reach Their Potential, (3) Changing Problem Behavior into Positive Behavior, The Basics of Supplementary Aids and Services and Related Services, and Asthma Basics: The Big 5. All events are free and require registration to attend seminars and training sessions.

A single mother of two boys, aged 12 and 7, made the difficult decision to place her 7-year-old son, who is severely disabled, in a residential facility. The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, has struggled to care for her younger son, who has a rare chromosome deletion that has left him with severe developmental delays and medical fragility.

Columbia, South Carolina — Able South Carolina (Able SC) was awarded a grant through Dominion Energy to build emergency kits. They partnered with the South Carolina Department on Aging (SCDOA) and accepted 122 weather alert systems to distribute to seniors 60 years of age and older and persons 18 and older with a disability.