April 8, 2014

Let's Talk Tuesday - Getting Involved With Your Special Needs Communities

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Let's Talk Tuesday is a bi-weekly series with ideas & resources for promoting healthy speech development for your children (of any ability), but especially those with Apraxia, Autism, speech disorders or late talkers.  I am not a speech therapist, but I am a mom of child with Apraxia.  I share these ideas in hopes that they will help someone else.  You can view all of the Let's Talk Tuesday posts here.  

If you have a story or an idea that you would like to share, please click here for more information.

If you would like to sponsor the Let's Talk Tuesday Series, click here or contact me for more information. 

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I think it's extremely important to surround yourself in a community when your child is diagnosed with a special need.  It provides the support, friendship & understanding you can't get anywhere else.  Here are 3 ways to get involved with other families who have similar situations as yours.




Go to or organize a walk
There are many organizations who hold annual walks for kids with that diagnosis.  There are Autism Walks, Down Syndrome Walks, Apraxia Walks and many others!  If you don't see one in your area, you can organize your own!   It can be as small or as large as you want it to be.

Helpful Hint: You can find organization tips here.

Join or start a Facebook page
I've joined several Facebook pages for Apraxia, Sensory Processing Disorder and other diagnosis pages.  It's so nice to be able to ask questions to those who have been where you are & to read other's questions.  I've learned a lot by looking through other Apraxia Moms' questions - things I never would have learned anywhere else!

Helpful Hint: When you're a part of the Facebook Group, there's a search bar where you can search for previously posted comments and questions.  This can come in handy if you have a question, but aren't sure if it's already been asked.

If there isn't a page you want, you can create one!  Sometimes it's also helpful to create local diagnosis pages.  For example, I created the Utah Apraxia Families page because I wanted to surround myself with local Apraxia families.  It's also been beneficial to talk to them about different school districts in the area and get references to local speech therapists.  

Helpful Hint:  If you're starting your own local support group on Facebook, check out this page for more info.  

Local Support Groups
Ask your doctors or therapists for any local support groups.  You can also ask them to give your contact information to another family they work with in a similar situation as you are in.  Chances are, that family wants to reach out to other families, too!

Helpful Hint: You can create Mommy Cards for your therapist to give to the family.  I've found them very useful! 

No doubt you'll benefit from surrounding yourself and your children around others who understand your situation.  I've loved meeting other Apraxia families!  It's been great to get Paige around some other kids with Apraxia as well.

Do you have any other tips on getting involved with your special needs community?  Tell us below!  

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  I will receive a small commission from anything purchased through these links, but you will in no way be charged extra from purchasing through these links.  Thank you! 

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