Valentine's Day Activities

With Valentine's Day right out the corner, children in classrooms across the country are creatively making and engaging in projects related to the holiday. Pinterest has compiled a list of many Valentine's Day activities that are suited for students with vision impairments or with multiple disabilities. Click on the link (or image) below to begin searching for creative ideas to implement with your children or students!

Valentine's Day Ideas Pinterest Link

Happy Halloween

Seasons Greetings

10 Tips for Special Needs Families Celebrating the Holiday Season

The holiday season brings great delight and happiness, but let's also keep it real...It can be stressful. And even more so for parents of special needs children. The following article, 10 Tips for Special Needs Families Celebrating the Holiday Season, by Courtney Barnum highlights important tips to bring back the joy and reduce unnecessary stresses during this time of year. 

Her top 10 includes: 

1. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!
2. Have an escape plan.
3. Shop online.
4. Let go of perfection.
5. Always take food.
6. Let them be comfy.
7. Let us stim.
8. Take fidgets, tablets, phones and more.
9. Don't feel bad for saying no.
10. Do what makes your child happy.

For more details, click here to read the full article! It's definitely worth the read! 

Source: The Mighty

Season's Greetings

 I look forward to all that the new year will bring and to sharing the many resources I come across with all of you! Happy holidays and New Year!

Sensory Friendly Santa

The incredible website Autism Speaks is once again joining "holiday forces" with the Noerr Programs Corporation on their Sensory-Friendly Santa programs! Caring Santa (a partnership with SIMON Malls), Santa Cares and Sensitive Santa (a partnership with Washington Prime Group Malls) all provide families that have children with autism and other special needs with the opportunity to connect with Santa in a special way this holiday season! The events provide a more controlled and welcoming environment to visit Noerr’s Santa Photo Experience. 

Be sure to visit the Austism Speaks site to find more information about these events happening in your area. Just another reason to love Santa a little bit more! 

In addition to the NOERR events (hosted at the Walt Whitman and Smithtown Malls on Long Island, NY), please be sure to look into the "Sensitive Santa" event at the Broadway Mall in  Hicksville, NY from 10-11am on December 11, 2016. Following the Santa Event, there is an opportunity for children to partake in a holiday craft hosted by the Hicksville Macaroni Kid. 

As described below, guests who have sent an RSVP or registered on or before December 4th will be provided time set aside with Santa in an environment to support the child's sensory needs. 

If interested contact Ariel Nelson at Anelson@broadwaymall.com .

Source: Autism Speaks, Macaroni Kid, NOERR program