Post by tarak on Sept 14, 2006 9:54:51 GMT -5
Hi all! I just thought I'd jump in and explain why I'm primarily a lurker on this board, but occasionally make a comment or two.
I am a sister of two children with special needs. My younger sister is a dwarf. Since everyone knew Raina, I became "Raina's sister" to everyone! Anyway, I can offer the perspective of a family member of a SN child. My brother (who was adopted) has all sorts of initials after his name. Basically it is some mild to moderate mental retardation and fetal alcohol effects. He's 10 years younger than me and has lots of emotional/behavioral issues. I'm one of the ones who can "talk him down". We've always had a special relationship.
I am an aunt of two children with special needs. I have a neice who is 9 and been diagnosed wth bi-polar. Her meds are always being messed with and she's pretty volitile at times though I've talked her down from a manic episode a time or two. Her brother is a dwarf as well. (Both of these are Raina's children, she's the dwarf.)
Also, for a while there I had a special needs child. When I took Toby for his 4 month check his head still lagged when we picked him up. He couldn't hold himself upright at all and was REALLY crabby! The ped I used at the time was SOOO laid back that when she wanted to do blood tests and a cystic fibrosis test I started to freak out! He qualified for services through the early childhood special ed department in our school district. After a time of physcial therapy he has totally caught up with his peers (he didn't walk until 14 months which is late for my kids). He also had low blood iron which we think contributed to his crabbiness (he didn't feel well) and very poor muscle tone (iron not building up muscles). Iron supplements and eating real people food (table scraps) brought him back up to normal and he's off the supplements and doing just what you'd expect from someone who is almost 18 months old!
Anyway, I'm hoping to offer some unique perspectives here. I know that the things I've experienced with my family and my child are not too extreme, but they were very scary at the time. If I'm out of line in lurking and occasionally posting, please let me know and forgive me!
I am a sister of two children with special needs. My younger sister is a dwarf. Since everyone knew Raina, I became "Raina's sister" to everyone! Anyway, I can offer the perspective of a family member of a SN child. My brother (who was adopted) has all sorts of initials after his name. Basically it is some mild to moderate mental retardation and fetal alcohol effects. He's 10 years younger than me and has lots of emotional/behavioral issues. I'm one of the ones who can "talk him down". We've always had a special relationship.
I am an aunt of two children with special needs. I have a neice who is 9 and been diagnosed wth bi-polar. Her meds are always being messed with and she's pretty volitile at times though I've talked her down from a manic episode a time or two. Her brother is a dwarf as well. (Both of these are Raina's children, she's the dwarf.)
Also, for a while there I had a special needs child. When I took Toby for his 4 month check his head still lagged when we picked him up. He couldn't hold himself upright at all and was REALLY crabby! The ped I used at the time was SOOO laid back that when she wanted to do blood tests and a cystic fibrosis test I started to freak out! He qualified for services through the early childhood special ed department in our school district. After a time of physcial therapy he has totally caught up with his peers (he didn't walk until 14 months which is late for my kids). He also had low blood iron which we think contributed to his crabbiness (he didn't feel well) and very poor muscle tone (iron not building up muscles). Iron supplements and eating real people food (table scraps) brought him back up to normal and he's off the supplements and doing just what you'd expect from someone who is almost 18 months old!
Anyway, I'm hoping to offer some unique perspectives here. I know that the things I've experienced with my family and my child are not too extreme, but they were very scary at the time. If I'm out of line in lurking and occasionally posting, please let me know and forgive me!
