Class picture breaks mom's heart, spotlights need for inclusion
Miles Ambridge has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which keeps his body in a wheelchair, but his boisterous personality stays in step with his classmates. When his mother received his class picture, she...
View Article7 Days to inform a generation of new moms
Americans face an information crisis that can mean the difference between life and death. With the latest prenatal testing technology, expectant mothers have access to early diagnosis of genetic...
View ArticleWhy are kids so darn unpredictable?
As a parent, I felt I knew my kids and could guess their reactions to new experiences. As a mom to a child with special needs, I thought I could anticipate his every challenge. Um, not quite.
View ArticleThe changing tides of parenthood
The ocean has always comforted me, but I've never understood why. Vacationing with two toddlers helped me understand.
View ArticleMommy boot camp: Can you handle the truth?
High intensity exercise isn't supposed to be easy, so what's the difference between a boot camp fail and a boot camp success? One allParenting writer unveils the secrets to both.
View ArticleNew details demand justice for Ethan Saylor
A young man with Down syndrome was killed by sheriff's deputies over the price of a movie ticket more than six months ago. We must demand an independent investigation and accountability for his death.
View ArticleHey, Today show: Down syndrome ≠ heartbreak!
I spent the morning in a bit of a blind fury because my beloved <em>Today</em> show once again gave a platform to two medical professionals who inaccurately and irresponsibly reported on...
View ArticleParents, experts react to Down syndrome research breakthrough
In the wake of news that UMass researchers had successfully "shut off" the chromosome that causes trisomy 21, or Down syndrome, parents react with concern, bewilderment and mixed levels of enthusiasm.
View ArticleDear Bullock, McCarthy: I'm ashamed of you, too
More than a year ago, with tears of frustration and anger, I asked why successful actors in Hollywood couldn't take a stand against the r-word ("retard"). This weekend made me ask again.
View ArticleHelp your child with special needs adjust to school
Starting a new school or routine can be tough enough, but children with special needs may need a little extra help adjusting. If your child is nonverbal, has diminished memory or just needs a boost...
View ArticleThe Jenny Hatch story scares the hell out of me
Jenny Hatch has Down syndrome, and at age 29, she battled and prevailed over her parents' efforts to keep her in a group home and to control both her activities and with whom she spent time. A court...
View ArticleHate letter calls for euthanization of child with autism
In a story that is quickly going viral, a grandmother in Newcastle, Ontario, received an anonymous hate letter about her 13-year-old grandson, Max, who has autism.
View Article5 Reasons to correct another parent's child
We've all seen it happen or done it ourselves. Your child is playing with a new kid, and the new kid does something not so nice. Do you speak up? Do you look around and wait for someone else to speak...
View ArticleAttempted murder of teen with autism should ignite fury, change
Kelli Stapleton made her decision, according to police — vilifying her won't change that. But what if we decided to dispel the judgments and dissect this case in the name of change? Could we uncover...
View ArticleDown syndrome advocates: Spotlight on parents making a difference
Mark Leach and Stephanie Meredith have a lot in common: They're each incredibly passionate, they each have a child with Down syndrome and both have resumes of providing life-changing education for...
View ArticleHow to respond to the R-word
Laurie was on an airport shuttle recently when she struck up a conversation with another passenger. Laurie shared she was on her way to a Down syndrome conference because she has two sons with Down...
View ArticleHalloween costumes for pregnant women
At Halloween two years ago, when I was 8.5 months pregnant with our daughter, my husband begged to paint my belly like a pumpkin. My response was along the lines of a less polite, “Get away from me and...
View ArticleHow to ask questions about my child with special needs
I can get ornery when it comes to my kids. All moms do, right? We've all felt the surge of Mama Bear-ness when we sense one of our cubs is in danger.
View Article6 Things to say (and not say) to a parent with a Down syndrome diagnosis
A Down syndrome diagnosis is unexpected and can be life changing for the parents, as well as their loved ones. Be prepared so you can offer support and compassion, not pity or ignorance.
View ArticleAre parents off the hook after drop in young childhood obesity?
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports the rate of obesity among 2- through 5-year-olds has dropped 43 percent over the past decade — and the media is using words...
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