Drew Elliott (from Drew Elliott & Friends FB page)
Earlier in the month I wrote about the challenges children with disabilities have in making friends. Sadly, I look back over Ryan’s school years and remember that in those 12 years he was invited to two birthday parties of his classmates. For that reason I was truly inspired when I read about the eight-year-old boy with autism in Boise, Idaho, who began a movement with a friendship necklace.
The story began when Drew Elliott told his mom that he asked a bunch of his classmates to wear the other half of his BFF necklace. No one was willing. Fortunately, his conversation with his mom was overheard by a group of construction workers and they told Drew they wanted to wear one. However there was a catch. The construction workers would only wear a necklace if Drew made them himself. The word spread via social media and soon there were hundreds of people requesting necklaces. With over 2,600 likes, Drew’s mom said, “He truly feels that he has friends everywhere, instead of acquaintances.”
Drew Elliott Fan Club (photo from Drew Elliott & Friends FB page)
What can you do?
- Like his Facebook page Drew Elliott and Friends
- Contact Drew for your necklace and make a donation
- Host your own Friendship Necklace party
Most importantly reach out to a child with autism and let him/her know that you are a friend. Please read my earlier post to get ideas on how to encourage friendship between typically developing children and children with special needs.
ly had Doodles, a spirited Kerry Blue Terrier who we all adored. Doodles was very gentle, loyal and affectionate. He would even allow little children to ride him like a horse. I remember my special bond with him and that he was an excellent secret keeper. Each of us had Doodle responsibilities, whether it be taking him out for a walk, feeding him or picking up after him.
There are many benefits to having a pet if you have a child with special needs. A pet can provide comfort to a child who is anxious by generating a calming effect that reduces stress. Your child can acquire a sense of self satisfaction by learning how to care for his pet and having his pet depend on him/her. There are numerous social advantages as well. Taking your dog for a walk in your neighborhood or on the beach is the perfect way to practice greeting skills. Everyone loves a beautiful dog.
schedule, his schedule and other challenges.
National Children’s Dental Health Month, my thoughts turned back to Ryan’s first visit with the dentist. I definitely approached it with anxiety, if not trepidation. At 3, Ryan frequently had temper tantrums. The thought of introducing a new person, new location and a new procedure was troublesome. However, Erie has a 
Our first visit was “getting to know you” for both Ryan and the dentist. He was able to experience the routine of the office visit, have a cursory look at his mouth, receive his stickers for reinforcement and be off. On subsequent visits, the dentist or hygienist would explain what they were going to do, show him their tools and allow him to hold them and then complete the procedure. There was always lots of praise and the opportunity to play on a Game Boy upon completion.
I asked my son Ryan last night what he liked about having friends. He said, “Friends are so exciting. They do fun things with me. Friends make me feel happy, help me a lot and care a lot for me.” He quickly made a list of his friends. “Mark (his mobile therapist) calms me down, helps me with anger. Andrew helps me exercise and ski better. Bryant is lots of fun to be with and goes to action movies with me. Ryan F. plays Wii with me.” I asked Bryant what he found rewarding about being Ryan’s friend. “You can laugh with each other, share interests and have fun doing things together,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from Ryan and we have both grown through our friendship.”
Reading also 
child.
Today I hope to summarize some of the good and bad effects of video games according to the latest in research.
In a recent study of game usage of 141 boys between the ages 8 – 18, (56 boys with autism, 44 with ADHD, 41 typically developing) researchers found that boys with autism played video games about twice as long as their typical peers (2.1 vs 1.2 hours/day). In addition, the study found that problems with inattention were 
What can I do to help my child go to sleep at night? How can I help my child sleep through the night?
its potential in contributing to sleep disorders. A 
So, what should we as parents do? I would suggest that we 
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” ~ Nelson Mandela.
