Womans-Corner
Articles and Information for Working Women and Family
Special Needs Children

The advice contained within these articles is offered for your consideration by Lisa Simmons. You, as a parent or professional, must decide whether any of the ideas presented here should be implemented in your unique situation. The staff of the Ideal Lives Project encourage all site visitors to always utilize this information in a manner that is respectful and in the best interest of their child, student or loved one.

Holiday Help for Kids with Special Needs
by Lisa Simmons

All of us want to help make sure that our children enjoy the wonders of the holidays. Experts say that one of the most lasting gifts we can give our children is that of family traditions that will stay with them for a lifetime.

This year as you celebrate the holidays I'd like to encourage you to make the most of today's technology so that your special needs child can embrace your family's traditions. In that spirit we list several common holiday traditions and a technology solution that might make the activity more accessible.

1. Baking holiday treats

Check out your local kitchenware store or a variety of assistive technology sites & you will find a wide range of "gadgets" designed to help those with limited dexterity or cognitive skills to participate in cooking. Low-tech solutions might include enlarged grips or color-coded measuring devises.

2. Singing carols

This is an area where a little pre-planning goes a long way. Before you family sits down for its song fest, spend some time thinking about ways your child could participate. Could they learn a part of the song that's repeated over and over (say "and a partridge in a pear tree")? Could they play a simple rhythm instrument such a set of jingle bells during appropriate songs (Jingle Bells, Silver Bells, etc.)? If they use a communication device could they "request" favorite songs or even have their "solo" programmed in so that at the proper moment they can join the fun? Creativity is the key!

3. Wrapping holiday gifts

Most kids find the bright colors and mysterious nature of gifts irresistible. With the advent of pop up tape dispensers many kids can participate as the "Keeper of the tape". Another possibility -- use electric scissors to cut your wrapping paper. Even if they don't have the dexterity to manage fine cuts, they will probably be able to make the first large cut from the roll & be delighted to be Mom or Dad's helper.

4. Holiday stories

Traditions, by their nature, are passed from one generation to the next. This is truest of all when it comes to the holiday stories you pass along to your children. This area seems very straight forward of course -- you simply read or tell the stories to your kids. But most kids thrive on repetition and going through the pictures in their books over and over again. If you don't have the time to help with this during the hectic pace of the holidays your child doesn't have to miss out. For repetition, simple record your families favorites on a cassette tape & use assistive technology to make sure your child can operate the cassette player independently. If selecting stories is important to your child, use Polaroid photographs to add special selection to their communication board. This might include symbols for favorite songs, stories, or activities, actual pictures of the books in question or even photos of your family engaged in the activity.

5. Holiday chatter

During the month of December, most conversations eventually get around to the holiday topics -- what's do you want for Christmas, what holiday event are you attending or participating in, what's your favorite holiday song (activity, past gift), etc.).

To ensure that your child (especially if they are school age) can participate in this socializing it's important to give them the communication tools they need. It may mean programming additional words or phrases in their communication devise or you can do something as simple as use magnetic pages from a photo album to make a special low tech "communication board" just for the holiday season.

6. Shopping!

Everyone is thinking gifts this time of year. Your kids won't be any different. Encourage them to go with you on a special shopping trip. Pick a time and place when things will be less crowded if you're worried about congestion and then utilize those choice making skills you've encouraged all year round. Let me them show you special things they would like and also help you decide on gifts for close family members. Remember choice making can be done at virtually any level -- your child may be able to point to an item on a shelf or verbalize a toy's name. If not use their yes/no response to get to the proper area and then offer them a small selection of choices in your hands or on their wheelchair tray. Take your time and be sensitive to their body language and small moments.

7. Decorating a holiday tree or your home

This can start during the shopping trip if you are purchasing new decorations. Once you're home encourage them to be creative in how they participate. If they can use a long-range reach tool, they can position items in higher areas of the tree, if they have grasp but poor aim - they can decorate with less exact décor like tinsel. If they are more interested in quality than quantity, encourage them to select which ornament or decoration to use or where it goes. This can often be done using nothing more than a yes/no response.

8. Holiday Greeting Cards

With the abundance of sites on the web offering free or inexpensive electronic greetings this is an excellent tradition to use with kids who have developed good accessible computer skills. Guide them through the process and help them learn the email addresses of close friends and family members. Not only will they be able to select and personalize their own holiday greetings, but they will also be building email skills that can be used for socialization long after the holidays are past.

9. Writing Santa

On a related note, many holiday sites offer an electronic way for kids to send their wish lists to Santa. So hook them up on that accessible computer and let them go to it. If that's not an option, a more low-tech solution is to help your child write a picture letter to Santa. Create a simple fill in the blank letter form & then let your child "fill it in" with Poloroids or catalog pictures of desired items. You can even use one of their current school pictures for the signature.

10. Holiday worship

For many people of course, worship assumes a central place in their lives during the holidays. Work with your pastor or children's minister to find a way for your child to be included in the children's choir or holiday pageant. If they need ideas -- share ways you've used to include your child in activities at home. Don't be afraid to train your worship leaders in the use of assistive technology. Not only will their understanding open doors for your child to participate in worship, but it will help the entire congregation gain a better understanding of all that is possible!

May your family have a wonderful holiday filled with warm and loving traditions!

All My Best,

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