Parents and Teachers Can Turn Valentine's Day Into ValenKIND Day for Children with Autism and Other Special Needs

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Make inclusion and acceptance a priority this Valentine's Day. Photo by Amanda CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion for parents and educators to teach children with disabilities and their typically developing peers some valuable life lessons about kindness, inclusion and acceptance.

Everyone wants and deserves to feel respected, valued and welcomed. This Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for parents, teachers and other influencers in the lives of children, teens and young adults to positively impact some of the most vulnerable members of our society and to make our world a better place by engaging in a few small but powerful acts that can have a long-lasting positive effect.

Parents, you can start this Valentine’s Day off the right way making sure your child takes enough of whatever special tokens or treats they intend to take to school for their entire class. Explain that exclusion is not nice and that it hurts to feel alienated, excluded or left out. Tell your child you want them to make everyone they encounter feel respected and valued.

Plan ahead to make sure your child is equipped to engage in inclusive interactions with their fellow students. If you aren’t sure about how many classmates your child has (after all, class rosters do change to some extent throughout the school year), ask your child’s teacher for a list of names to include on Valentine’s cards and a count to make sure you provide enough treat bags. Remember, that some of your child’s classmates may spend some part of their school day in special classes. Make sure your child includes all of their classmates in their celebration plans, even those that don’t spend the entire day in a general education classroom. Be sure to familiarize yourself with and fully comply with all classroom and school rules regarding sending edible treats.

Teachers, make the most out of this important opportunity for teachable moments about diversity, inclusion, acceptance, tolerance, compassion, respect and kindness. Teachers, and their students, encounter all kinds of differences on a daily basis. It is absolutely critical to reinforce the importance of treating every human being with kindness and making everyone feel welcomed at all times. You can do this on Valentine’s Day by bringing extra cards, stickers, treats and supplies for making treat bags for students who may not have included all of their classmates on their distribution lists or who may not be able to afford to bring their own goodies to share.

Teachers can also incorporate books that promote acceptance, inclusion, tolerance and kindness into their curriculum as bibliotherapy, read alouds during literacy instruction or as part of character education. Some great books for teachers (and parents) to read and discuss with children around these topics are:

Accept and Value Each Person by Cheri J. Meiners

A Rainbow of Friends by P.K. Hallinan (available in an English and Spanish Edition)

All Kinds of Friends, Even Green! by Ellen B. Senisi

Be A Friend by Salina Yoon

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

Be Good to Eddie Lee by Virginia Fleming

Danny and the Merry-Go-Round by Nan Holcomb

Extraordinary Friends by Fred Rogers

How to Be A Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them by Laurie Krasny Brown

Say Hello by Jack Foreman

Since We’re Friends: An Autism Picture Book by Celeste Shally

Two Speckled Eggs by Jennifer K. Mann

You Me and Empathy by Jayneen Sanders

I highly recommend that teachers who work with students on the autism spectrum in an inclusion setting read Making Inclusion Work for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders:An Evidence-Based Guide by Dr. Tristram Smith. Chapter 11, which is about peer interaction, is particularly useful when developing strategies for creating seamless inclusion in the classroom. 

School leaders and educators can collaborate to make inclusion a core value for their entire learning community by having students participate in activities that will give them opportunities to act with peers. For example, students in general education and specialized classrooms can work together to create theme bulletin boards, create greeting cards and exchange them with students they do not typically interact with, create a peer ambassadorship program wherein exemplary general education students would “adopt” a friend with special needs and help them to navigate the social landscape and develop friendships with typically developing peers, and encourage general education students to spend time with students with special needs during lunch and recess. The idea here is to create a school culture, climate and environment where inclusion and acceptance is the norm.

School and district level leaders can learn some valuable lessons about creating integrated, socially just schools and districts in Meeting the Needs of Students of ALL Abilities: How Leaders Go Beyond Inclusion 2nd Edition by Colleen Capper and Elise Frattura. This practical resource contains specific strategies for creating environments wherein students of all abilities can thrive.

If everyone works together and does their part, Valentine’s Day can easily become ValenKIND’s Day. Even better, it could become the catalyst for creating an ongoing culture of kindness.

Financial Assistance for Homeschooling Families of Children with Autism and Other Special Needs

The Home School Foundation offers financial assistance for homeschooling families of children with autism and other special needs through its Special Needs Children's Fund. Grant funds can be used to pay for specialized materials, special therapies, equipment and testing. To qualify for grant assistance, families must be struggling with the burden of meeting their children's special needs and must have held membership in the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), an advocacy organization for homeschoolers, for at least six months.

Whole Foods Market Store Implements Hands-On Shopping Program for People with Autism

The Whole Foods Market Store in Naperville, Illinois, located at 2607 W. 75th Street, Naperville, IL 60540, has implemented a helpful program called Hands-On Shopping for people with autism and other newly forming and special abilities.

The complimentary program provides a visual tactile tool for shopping and learning that is available to individuals with autism as well as anyone else who would like to utilize it. Resources available through the program include large, colorful laminated lists and attachable prompts that help individuals with special needs navigate their way through the store facility and organize their shopping.

Shoppers who use the Hands-On Shopping program can sign out one of three systems—miniature products, picture and word cards or word cards—from the store’s customer service desk. Once the item is located in the store, it is placed into a “shopping cart.”
The program was developed as a result of the advocacy of a store employee named Tarryl who is the mom of two children who have autism.

You can call (630) 579-7700 or send an email to bonnie.summers@wholefoods.com to reserve materials for your shopping trip in advance.

Currently, the program is only available at the Naperville store, but I am hopeful that the program will be wildly popular and successful and will soon be implemented in all of the company’s stores. I encourage you to contact your local Whole Foods store and ask the manager to implement the program there. I also would encourage you to contact the company‘s headquarters to let them know that this is exactly the kind of socially responsible program that both promotes customer loyalty and makes community outings positive experiences for citizens of all abilities.

The contact information for Whole Foods World Headquarters is:

Whole Foods Market, Inc.
550 Bowie Street
Austin, TX 78703-4644
512-477-4455
512-477-5566 voicemail
512-482-7000 fax

More companies, organizations and institutions need to follow in Whole Foods footsteps by finding creative ways to make their facilities more accessible and responsive to the needs of consumers with autism and other disabilities.

Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program

The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program provides eligible special education students with the opportunity to attend private schools or public schools other than the one they would normally be required to attend. To qualify, students’ parents must be current residents of Georgia who have resided in the state for at least one calendar year, and students must have an IEP and have attended a Georgia K-12 public school the prior school year. Students who have autism are eligible to participate in the scholarship program. Further details are available by clicking on the link.

Hannah’s Helping Hands Grant Program Open to Individuals with Autism

Hannah & Friends, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and adults with developmental disabilities, provides funding for the Hannah’s Helping Hands (HHH) Grant Program. Hannah’s Helping Hands quality of life grants for families of adults and children with special needs who are residents of Rhode Island and Indiana, including the greater Michiana area. The grants, which range from $100 and $500, can be used for anything that improves the quality of life of the developmentally disabled person.

Utah Special Needs Scholarship

The Utah Special Needs Scholarship provides tuition assistance for eligible special needs students enrolled in eligible private schools. To qualify, students’ parents must reside in Utah, and students must be between the ages of 5 and 21 and must have autism or another qualifying disability. In addition, students must have been enrolled in a Utah public school the prior school year, be eligible to receive special education services and have been admitted to an eligible private school.

Special Needs and Money

Autism Assistance Resources and Information is participating in the Second Carnival of Special Needs and Money. Kim Greenblatt is hosting the carnival, which features posts about finances for families coping autism and other special needs.

Children’s Disabilities Information

Children’s Disabilities Information has an extensive collection of articles and resources designed to empower parents of children with disabilities and special needs. The site has a number of helpful resources for parents of children who have autism, including articles, book reviews, discussion lists and an annotated list of links to autism resources.

Fathers Network Offers Support to Dads of Children with Disabilities

The Washington State Fathers Network (FN) is the only regional program in the United States that is devoted solely to supporting fathers of children with developmental disabilities and special health care needs. Although the organization is based in Bellevue, Washington, fathers of children who have special needs worldwide are able to benefit from the Fathers Network through its Web site.

The Fathers Network offers a variety of resources to assist fathers of children who have disabilities and other special needs, including workshops, trainings, news, inspirational stories, newsletters, curricula and an events calendar.

Click here for information on how you can support the work of the Fathers Network.

Lenox Baker Special Assistance Fund

Easter Seals/UCP North Carolina provides one-time financial assistance to individuals with disabilities and their families who are residents of North Carolina or South Carolina through the Lenox Baker Special Assistance Fund. The fund provides assistance with the costs of equipment, medication and medical treatment. For further information contact Susan O’Neal at (800) 868-3787 ext. 119.

Special Needs Learning and Therapy Software at 50% Discount

EnableMart offers Laureate Learning Systems software at a 50% discount on the retail price for parents of children who have autism and other special needs. Laureate Learning Systems publishes therapy and learning software for children and adults who have autism, language disorders, cognitive delays, developmental disabilities and other special needs. Parents of children who have autism or other special needs should call (888) 640-1999 to receive a discount when ordering Laureate Learning software from EnableMart.

Resources for Families of People with Disabilities Affected by Natural Disasters

Here are some helpful resources for families of people who have autism, other disabilities or special needs prepare for and deal with the aftermath of natural disasters:

Stephen M. Shore has published a document about preparing people with autism and their supporters for natural disasters.

The Red Cross has prepared a booklet about disaster preparedness for people with disabilities.

Katrinadisability.info provides a collection of tips and information to prepare people with disabilities, caregivers and first responders to cope with natural disasters and other emergencies.

Family Village has compiled a list of links to hurricane relief resources for people with disabilities.

United Cerebral Palsy lists information, phone numbers and links for disaster relief assistance hotlines and organizations.

Financial Assistance for Families of People with Disabilities Who Have Been Affected by Hurricane Gustav and Other Natural Disasters

Financial assistance from government and private sources is available to families of people who have autism and other disabilities that have been affected by Hurricane Gustav or other natural disasters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides financial assistance to families that have been affected by natural disasters. FEMA provides assistance with the costs of temporary housing, home repairs, home replacement and home construction for families that have been displaced by a hurricane or other natural disaster. In addition, FEMA provides financial assistance for other necessary expenses and serious needs caused by a disaster. FEMA also provides crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, legal services and information about tax breaks for families that have survived a natural disaster.

Click on the links for information about financial assistance available from FEMA or to apply for disaster-related federal financial assistance. Check out FEMA’s helpful list of resources for people who have been affected by specific disasters.

AutismCares provides up to $1,500 in assistance to families that have survived a natural disaster. Mesa Angeles Foundation provides grants and loans to families that have critical financial needs as a result of a natural disaster or other crisis.

Special Needs Network Back to School Inclusion Event

The Special Needs Network, Inc. is hosting its 3rd Annual Back to School Inclusion Event from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24, 2008, at the Ability First/Harry Mier Center, which is located at 8090 Crenshaw Boulevard in Inglewood, California. The purpose of the inclusion event is to give children who have disabilities an opportunity to interact with their typically developing peers in a social setting.

The event will feature activities for the entire family, including free dental and vision screenings, games, therapeutic music, dance and yoga, singing, sport circles, arts and crafts, sensory activities and a resource fair. There will also be giveaways of school supplies, backpacks and prizes. For more information, email events@specialneedsnetwork.net or call (323) 295-8358.

Elsie S. Bellows Fund Assistive Technology Grants

The Elsie S. Bellows Fund provides funding for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) affiliates to purchase assistive technology devices for people who have disabilities. United Cerebral Palsy affiliates submit Bellows Fund applications to the UCP national office on behalf of disabled individuals. Bellows Fund grants can be used to purchase a variety of assistive technology products, including augmentative communication devices, environmental controls and computer equipment.

For information on how to apply for assistance from the Bellows Fund, contact your local UCP affiliate or Jack Schillinger.

Carolina Children’s Charity Grants for Children with Special Needs

Carolina Children’s Charity awards grants to children residing in the Lowcountry area of South Carolina who have a disability that is the result of a birth defect or disease. The grants can be used to pay for special equipment, medication, medical evaluation or testing, specialized summer camps and other similar expenses. Applications for Carolina Children’s Charity grants are accepted and reviewed throughout the year.

Click on the link to make a donation to Carolina Children’s Charity.

CafeMom is a Great Resource for Moms of Children Who Have Autism and Other Special Needs

Meet other moms with similar challenges and interests. Check out CafeMom today! CafeMom is a wonderful resource for moms of children who have autism and other disabilities. CafeMom is a community that offers moms of children with and without special needs an opportunity to meet, connect and share with other moms who have similar experiences and challenges. I am especially impressed by CafeMom's many vibrant, active and supportive groups for moms of children who have autism, as well as other disabilities and special needs.

The Children with Special Needs (CSN) Fund Helps Michigan Families

The Children with Special Needs (CSN) Fund helps Michigan families provide for their children’s special health care needs when no other funding sources are available. The CSN Fund provides funding for expenses such as wheelchair ramps, van lifts and tie downs, air conditioners and electrical service upgrades to support specialized equipment. Click on the link to print an application and instructions.

Avery-Fuller-Welch Children’s Foundation

The Avery-Fuller-Welch Children’s Foundation provides grants to children who live in the following California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo. The grants can be used to pay for remedial education, special schooling, psychotherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and adaptive equipment. For more information, call (415) 561-6540 ext. 206.

Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Assists Families of Children with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs

The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF) reimburses Massachusetts families the cost of medical expenses that are not fully covered by insurance or other resources that exceed 10% of the family’s income (10% of the first $100,000 plus 15% of the additional income for families whose income exceeds $100,000).

CICRF reimburses families for a wide variety of eligible expenses ranging from payments to healthcare providers to travel expenses for out of state treatment. Click on the link to apply for assistance.