Raising kids is hard in general. Add a child with special needs/circumstances and life gets even harder. You have to schedule in specialists appointments, doctor’s appointments, therapy, etc. into an already overcrowded schedule. I make it sound dire and that is not my intention. But…having a child with special needs requires a different kind of schedule than a typical thriving child. Having been on this road for quite some time, I have learned that we can’t do it on our own, specialists have a vast amount of knowledge, and we need to take advantage of the resources available to us.
Sometimes finding the resources can be tricky, misleading and just plain invisible if you don’t know where to look and who to reach out to. I have composed a list of resources we have had the privilege of using for our two daughter’s who suffer from hypotonia (low muscle tone) and our youngest with severe anxiety. Feel free to include any other resouces you have found useful in the comments below.
A developmental pediatrician was our first step in getting to the bottom of the issue. She was able to pinpoint exactly what was going on with our daughter and combat a plan of action. She then referred us to BCMH
BCMH
The Children with Medical Handicaps Program (BCMH) is a health care program in the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). BCMH links families of children with special health care needs to a network of quality providers and helps families obtain payment for the services their children need. https://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/cmh/cwmh/bcmh1.aspx
Help Me Grow
Help Me Grow is a voluntary family support program for pregnant women or new parents. Offered in every county of the state through a well-established network, Help Me Grow is an evidence-based program that promotes healthy growth and development for babies and young children. Our home visitors are well-trained professionals who use a non-judgmental and compassionate approach that empowers parents with skills, tools and confidence to nurture the healthy growth of their children. http://www.helpmegrow.ohio.gov/
Special Needs Resource Project Special Needs Resource Project (SNRP) provides a basic guide for parents of children with chronic health issues, disabilities and special needs. This site is designed to help you get a jump-start in your search for helpful information and resources. Every situation is unique. Our aim is to help you learn the basic skills you’ll need to obtain the specific resource information, equipment, and services your child and family needs. Though focused on children ages 0-22, most of the information we offer is applicable to adults as well. http://www.snrproject.com/Resource/Links/OHIO
Summer Camp Opportunities
VerySpecialCamps.com is a specialized directory dedicated exclusively to camps which serve individuals with one or more of a wide range of special needs. http://www.veryspecialcamps.com/
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