I’m looking for guests from all walks of life that have something to share with our listeners about thier experiences or expertise in regard to special needs kids.

This season should be exciting and hopefully filled with more information than our short first season.

If you are interested or have an idea to share about a show topic, please feel free to contact Jenn Brockman!

To listen to the show click on the blue button at the top right side of this page and you’ll be taken to blog talk radio and our show.

To visit Karina’s own site please go here: www.shoponawhimsy.com

We discussed ways that the book can help parents of special needs children and the children themselves to find the happiest life that they can live.

I personally have used the book and recomend it to anyone who knows what they want, but doesn’t know how to sort it out and find the details in their own head and heart.

You can purchase your own copy of the book by the end of May by visiting  www.theresaroden.com

PPD NOS stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified

Which falls into the autism spectrum, but not having all of the common symptoms.

It is a real issue and is not an excuse for laziness. Many people with ADD have trouble concentrating on one task for very long, or may get so caught up in one thing that all else is ignored.
For instance, if I have ADD and you ask me to simply walk from on room in my house to another room in order to pick up an object and then come back with it, I may well be distracted by something along the way and forget what I was going after, or forget to come back to you at all.

Some common symptoms according to the Centers for Disease Control ( www.cdc.org)
Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

1. Inattention
Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
Often has trouble organizing activities.
Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn’t want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
Is often easily distracted.
Is often forgetful in daily activities.

Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

2. Hyperactivity

Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”.
Often talks excessively.

3. Impulsivity

Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished.
Often has trouble waiting one’s turn.
Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).
Some symptoms that cause impairment were present before age 7 years.
Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school/work and at home).

There must be clear evidence of significant impairment in social, school, or work functioning.
The symptoms do not happen only during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder. The symptoms are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder).

We had a great time with Dr. Sally Witt today on the show. She walked my mom and I through some helpful relaxation techniques and suggestions for how to reconnect to our children whether they are special needs, or not.

She does family coaching by phone if you don’t live in her area and would love to hear from you.   http://www.drsallywitt.com 

Dr. Sally Witt, with her Master’s Degree is in Educational Psychology and specialty in mental retardation, autism, and severe Learning Disabilities, will be visiting with us about her work both past and present.

After working in hospitals, state residential facilities, group homes, special training programs, rehab facilities run by Easter Seals and Goodwill Industries, she now does private work with kids with ADD. ADHD, autism spectrum, and more. 

 ” I have always loved helping people, and had a natural ability to meet everyone where they are and feel comfortable with them.  That meant that they were comfortable with me, too.  My Master’s degree is in Educational Psychology and Counseling, specializing in Mental Retardation and Autism.  Now, I help families with all kinds of challenges, and encourage love and acceptance of all the family members!  The techniques that I use work in a matter of hours to bring relief and peace to families through the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that they face.  I use Energy, Psychology, NLP, Hypnotherapy, Spiritual Counseling, Coaching, and so much more every day!”

 Dr. Sally Witt

Today was a rare day.

Nove (pronounced nova) did not have school but her sister did, and on top of this, Nove was in a good mood to start the day out.

In case you haven’t gotten familiar with NoveMber, she has Autism and Oppositional Defiance issues. These make it hard for her to effectively communicate to us at times and when she gets frustrated, she becomes angry and lashes out.

Today was not this way at all which made for a grand and exciting day! It is easy to forget that my skinny little six year old has a sense of humor and sense of fun because most often she is too busy doing things her own way and being angry. It probably helped that her big sister wasn’t around to pick at her and be a constant thorn in her side like most other days.

We took a trip into town after she played some games on the computer and she was pleasant and not demanding at all. She was excited and a little apprehensive because we were going to a new park that she had not been to before. Some days this would have been a fight because it was new and out of her regular pattern of daily life. Today though, she was all sunshine and fluffy clouds. She cracked some jokes and spoke plain and understandably clear English both of which is not always typical and you’ll see what I mean later.

We got through lunch after an hour of playing at the park on the equipment without a break down and she actually ate almost everything on her plate. She normally eats well, but not on a regular schedule which is probably why she’s thin and we are not. (They say if you only eat when you are hungry and never when you are not that you will stay thin)

She wasn’t ready to go home so we decided to go to a local store that we don’t get to often and she spent a good half hour pushing the cart all over the store picking out gifts for her friend at school. She has one person that she talks about almost exclusively to the others in her class but I’m not certain that they are as close as her talk might lead us to believe. (She also talks about an uncle that is non existent and a whole second life in Texas that she has never in her six years as my daughter experienced!)

But I could see deterioration; slowly she began not speaking as clearly and was speaking to herself more and more. On the way home she became unresponsive and when I asked if she saw any airplanes as we drove by the airplane factory, she did not answer. I knew she had heard me.

When we got home she began talking to me again but it was in baby talk, without full sentence and with wrong pronouns. The word me when it should have been I.

I rarely get a good view of her on a bright day when all the fog is gone from her head and all the spitefulness gone from her soul. I really enjoyed the day and am happy that she still gets to come out and play once in a while, but it is also sad to see her go away again.

The feeling is similar to having a relative with Alzheimer’s who is lucid and knows who you are one moment, but then later does not even know you are related.

I look forward to more sunny days with her and intend to cherish each one.

 Jenn Brockman

I’ve always known something was different about Kaitlyn. Her bio-dad was against me from the start. Needless to say, we’re no longer together. His idea of disciplining our yet to be diagnosed ADHD daugher at 2 1/2 years of age, was to yank her around and spank her. While I do occasionally lose my composure and spank her, I’m not proud of it, but I knew his way was completely wrong. When I have a gut feeling about one of my kids, nobody is able to sway me any other way!

It is necessary to take each day as it comes with no expectations of waking up to anything other than total chaos. I breathe my sigh of relief when she leaves in the morning, feel bad about that, and prepare to spend the rest of the day with my 4 year old. She demands a lot of attention, and really doesn’t understand that Mommy is really really sore and would rather not get up to get cocoa just yet. So I hobble to the fridge to get her cocoa. We manage to fill our day until my daughter and son get home from school. I haven’t mentioned him yet…he’s 9, and has his little hands full dealing with his big sister. I try to look on the bright side and think that his experiences with her will make him a better person. I hope so…..off hobble to the DVD player to put a new movie on…..

Dawn Klenow-Lampinen

http://packagedtoperfection.com

http://www.childcarelaw.org/docs/qanda-ada.pdf

I looked online and found a really cool site that has songs for kids and played a few which calmed her down enough to sleep.

Some have words and some don’t, but still relaxing and fun music.

 http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/allsongs.html

Jenn Brockman