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Understanding Sibling Issues
Raising a child with a disability or chronic illness poses many challenges. Some of these challenges focus on the relationship between the siblings in the family. These crucial relationships are examined in this article.
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What Are Social Skills?
By: Renata Bursten, Dragonfly Staff
Social skills are the skills we use in every environment that includes two or more people. Some disabilities such as: ADD, ADHD, PDD and autism can make these skills especially challenging to learn.
Social skills include such things as manners and reading and reacting appropriately in 'social environments'. Being able to read social cues is probably the most important skill we need as almost every environment we are in is a social environment.
,Some children have a social disability. They are unable to read the 'social cues' of the many environments of which they are part ~ family, school, recreational activities, etc. If they are lacking in these skills, they are often labeled as being social misfits, loners or having behavior problems.
,As with the disabilities that affect academic achievement, 'social skills' must be taught, practiced and sometimes even over learned.
,To learn more, check out this fine article by By Barb Bidaux, Social Skills Workshop facilitator and co-author of Skills 4 Success.
What Are Social Skills?
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PLAY Tip
Assentive Computer Technology - Infrared Head Pointing
The Tracker and the Smart Nav AT can be helpful for users with carpal-tunnel syndrome, severe arthritis, quadriplegia, ALS, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis.
Head pointing should be considered for computer users who have good head control and poor (or no) fine motor skills in their hands. Pointing is the quickest, most direct way of controlling the computer. Many people with disabilities have been forced to use scanning, mouth sticks, and other alternative devices when all they really needed to do was somehow point.
One 'point' to remember when considering this kind of alternative mouse: you can use your head, but you don't really have to. You may use any body part that has reliable movement and control, like an arm or a knee, to place the dot upon. Also, you may use a hat, a headband, or a sweatband to hold the dot if you do not want to place the dot directly upon the skin.