In the recap of the reader survey in January, I let you know that I planned to discontinue Sun-Beams as a weekly feature. Going forward, Sun-Beams will be a (mostly) monthly feature, but it will remain a collection of links to stories, articles, photos, or videos I have come across that I believe will inspire, inform, or encourage you.
Dothan cheerleaders share skills with special needs squad – The headline on this article is misleading. The cheerleaders may have taught the special needs squad cheerleading skills, but it appears they learned a whole lot more.
Sean Gray confronts gap in venue accessibility for people with disabilities in Baltimore and beyond – I was talking with the mom of a girl at Sarah Kate’s school this week about what Life is Like With a Wheelchair, and how often accessibility is overlooked. This guy isn’t building ramps or installing elevators, but he’s making a difference all the same.
8 ‘Helpful’ Things That Don’t Really Help People With Disabilities – These are all good (and some of the replies are so witty!), but the one that really struck a deep chord in me was the commenter in #5 that said, “Believe me, unless you are a researcher who specializes in my condition, you probably don’t know more about treatments than me.” Amen and amen.
Autism: Maybe It’s Not What We’ve Been Told – I found this post fascinating because it alluded to the same research that was discussed when I was in New York last year meeting with ViaCord. Although my post about the trip centered on cerebral palsy, autism was another condition that is theorized to be due to inflammation.
Teens With Autism Stretch, Grow And Laugh In Improv Classes At Second City – What an absolutely fantastic program! I’m a firm believer that the best therapy is integrated into real life in a way that’s fun, not just work.
Silent Running:Our Journey to the Finish Line with Autism – I was made aware of this family and their fascinating story recently. As a distance runner myself, I love that they found their niche and are thriving as a family through running.
And I won’t look back. I can go the distance. I will stay on track. No, I won’t accept defeat.