Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Toys for Children with Special Needs: What to look for and where to find them

While most of the U.S. is looking for the latest gadget or the newest toy, families of children with special needs maybe looking for something very different. Many of the common toys available hold no interest or are not suitable for children with Autism and other special needs.

For families of children with special needs we have collected 19 articles discussing toys for children with special needs in the hope that it will inspire some new ideas and make your toy shopping easier.

Have a great toy to share or a new store selling them? Please share them in the comments below.

1. 8 Tips for Special Needs Holiday Toy Shopping

Playing with toys helps children with special needs develop and grow. Before purchasing a toy read these important toy buying tips.

2. 15 Great Online Toy Stores for Children with Special Needs

Finding the perfect toy is always difficult. Here are 15 stores that provide great toys and educational products for babies, children and teens with special needs.

3. 25 Great Toys For Kids Who Don’t Play With Toys

For Children with special needs who don’t play with toys here are a list of 25 things that they will play with!

4. 21 Great Fidgets For Your Child With Special Needs

Fidget toys are great self-regulation tools to help with focus, attention, calming, and active listening. Check out these 21 Fidgets For Your Child With Special Needs.

5. 10 Toy Stores that Provide Great Activities for Children with ADD/ADHD

If you are looking for alternative toys for children with ADD or ADHD check out one of these 10 toy stores.

6. 10 Sensory Chew Toys For Children With Autism & Other Special Needs

Many individuals with special needs feel a need to chew on anything that crosses their path. Here are 10 safe chew toys that will calm your child with autism and other special needs.

7. 19 Toys & Apps that can help develop Language and Social Skills in Children with Autism

These toys and apps can help your child with autism develop important social and language skills.

8. 10 Tips for Selecting Toys for Your Speech Delayed Child

As a speech-language pathologist, I am asked what toys I recommend most for children with speech and language delays. Here are my 10 tips for selecting toys for a child with speech/language delays.

9. 8 Great Toys That Help With Cognitive Development

Check out these eight toy suggestions that can assist children in developing critical cognitive milestones.

10. 9 Toys That Can Help Children who have Special Needs with Independent, Parallel and Cooperative Play

Play is a vital element to the development of children with special needs. Here are 9 toys that can help children with Independent, Parallel and Cooperative Play.

11. 10 Great Balance Toys For A Child With Special Needs

One of the key elements to gross motor skills is balance. Here are 10 toys that will help a child with special needs improve their balance.

12. 5 Toys to Promote Problem Solving for a Child With Special Needs

In our daily routine there are many different activities we take part in that require problem solving. Here are five toys for children with special needs that incorporate problem solving.

13. 10 Toys And Household Items To Help Develop Fine Motor Skills

Developing Fine Motor Skills is an essential part of a child’s growth. Here are 10 toys and household items that will help build fine motor skills.

14. The Five Types of Toys for Children with Special Needs

For a child with special needs, toys can cater to specific areas of development or preference and serve as a therapy aid. Here are the types of toys that can help a child with special needs.

15. Toys and Tips for Blending Nature and Play for Children with Special Needs

Outdoor play is an important part of a child’s development. Here are 15 tips and toys to help your child with special needs enjoy the outdoors.

16. Five Toys That Can Help With Social Development

Social Development is a crucial element in the growth of children, specifically children with special needs. Here are 5 toys that can help children develop socially.

17. 6 Toys & Play Products To Help Develop Gross Motor Skills

Play is essential to help children with special needs develop gross motor skills. Here are 6 toys and play products that can help with gross motor skills.

18. 8 Toys That Can Help A Child With Emotional Development

Ensuring that a child with special needs develops emotionally is extremely important. Here are eight toys that will help foster emotional development through play.

19. For a Child with Special Needs It’s Not About the Toys!

When it comes to play we often tend to focus on the toys instead of actual play. Here are three crucial factors to consider when preparing your child with special needs for play.



Written on 2014/11/28 by:

Tzvi

Tzvi Schectman is the Family Coordinator for the Friendship Circle of Michigan and the Editor of the the Friendship Circle Blog

Lawmakers Poised to Vote On ABLE Act


Congress is set to act this week on legislation that would allow people with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing their government benefits.

Supporters say they expect the U.S. House of Representatives to vote on the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, Act on Wednesday and they’re hopeful that the Senate will follow suit on Thursday.

“This is historic for the disability community,” said Sara Weir, interim president of the National Down Syndrome Society, which has pushed for the ABLE Act since 2006. “I can’t think of another piece of legislation that puts a stake in the ground that says that people with disabilities can work and save money.”

The bill would allow people with disabilities to create ABLE accounts at any financial institution where they could deposit up to $14,000 annually under current gift-tax limitations. As much as $100,000 could be saved in the proposed accounts without risking eligibility for Social Security and other government benefits. Moreover, individuals could retain Medicaid coverage no matter how much money is deposited.

Modeled after the popular 529 college savings plans, interest earned on savings within the accounts would be tax-free. Money saved could be used to pay for education, health care, transportation, housing and other expenses.

With 85 percent of Congress co-sponsoring the bill, it is widely thought to have the votes needed for approval. However, the legislation is not without its critics.

Both the National Council on Independent Living and the National Disability Rights Network have taken issue with a requirement that an individual’s disability must have occurred prior to age 26 in order to qualify for an ABLE account.

“It’s completely arbitrary,” said Kelly Buckland, executive director of the National Council on Independent Living. “Why 26? Why not 27, or 28 or 30?”

Meanwhile, the conservative group The Heritage Foundation has attacked the bill as a “decisive step in expanding the welfare state.”

Weir from the National Down Syndrome Society said that assessment could not be further from the truth.

“This is a bill that allows families and people with disabilities to save their own money. This is not a handout,” she said.



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