eSpecially Ben

After 10 years of being in the world of special needs, we have pretty much heard it all - what we can do for Ben, what we should buy and try and how we should do certain things. For the most part, we have done everything suggested, including, but definitely not exhaustive - chewy tubes, electric impulse machines, ABA therapy, special utensils, foam seats, kinesio tape, weighted vests, vibrating pillows, exercise balls, whistles, vibrating pens and even cloth napkins. When Ben starts with a new therapist, they make suggestions based on their experience and observations. More than likely, we have tried the technique or equipment at an earlier time in Ben's life. It has either worked and we still do it, worked but not anymore, worked but not worth the hassle, worked but we got lazy or not worked at all. A few weeks ago, the vibrating toothbrush idea was brought up to me again. I would be lying if I did not share that I do get tired of these ideas. My responses have run the gamut:

Rejected is a negative word, usually associated with bad feelings. You have been turned away, turned down, turned around. In December, I received a rejection. My response was nothing short of elation. I took my first leap and sent a query letter to a national magazine, requesting an opportunity to write an article on a specific subject. It was something I wanted to do for a long while, but was unsure of the process. After researching and reading several articles and blog posts on this subject, I found out that there are many ways to submit articles, but national magazines expect to receive a query letter with very specific guidelines followed. They either accept or, in my case, reject the query. For me this rejection meant I had attempted something I have thought about many times. According to my research, another umpteen queries may lead to an offer. This rejection will be the first of many, but only if I keep trying. And my feeling of triumph was only underscored by the rejec

Happy New Year! We had a quiet and relaxing holiday break. Chinese food for Christmas dinner, several pajama days and a few visits to local parks made for much needed family time. Alas, reality has set in - school is back in session, cold weather has hit and we are back into the swing of our regularly scheduled program. Ben wears ankle foot orthotics (AFO's) to help him walk. They give his lower leg and ankle support and help keep his foot in the proper place. His feet tend to pronate - turn in so he is walking on his arch. Without these orthotics, he would not be able to walk as much as he does in his walker at school and with assistance at home. AFOs also have their downfall - they are big, bulky, difficult to get on and very expensive (about $1000-2000 a pair). It is recommended to recast every six months for new orthotics, especially if your child's foot is growing. Although Ben's shoes are rough looking after six months, the AFO's themselves are in fairly g