Teaching Special Spirits: June 2008

Welcome to the Teaching Special Spirits Blog!

On this blog, you will find topics we are researching to include in our non-fiction book, Teaching Special Spirits. On the right hand side, there is a list of categories. If you click on a category, it will take you to the posts dealing with that topic.

Our hope is that you will leave either tips of things that have helped you or questions you may have regarding that topic. Please leave these in the comments section.

If you have a story you would like to share that relates to one of the topics, please email it to us at teachingspecialspirits@gmail.com Be sure to include your name, home address, phone number, and email address so we can contact you if we decide to include it in our book.

Thank you for stopping by. Please come back often to check out new topics and posts!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Family Relationships

We are looking for stories and tips on the following subjects:

- blessings of having a sibling with a disability (maturity, loyalty, appreciate blessings, strong family bond, etc.)
- child had adult worries (what will happen to sibling as they grow up, etc.)
- positive things their parents did to help the siblings
- how parents explained disabilities
- good communications w/parents
- help with sibling relationships
- how they were able to follow their own path in life
- special times with parents

If you have anything else you'd like to share about family relationships, please feel free to send it along as well. Thanks, everyone!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Sibling Relationships

I'm working on a chapter about sibling relationships. Please send your stories about how your children with disabilities relate to their siblings, any problems you've encountered, and how you solved them.

Thanks!

Lynn Parsons

I Begin by Saying "Dear Heavenly Father"

Communicating with our Heavenly Father through prayer is such an important aspect of developing both our relationship with Him, as well as our testimonies of the Savior, that God lives, and of our divine heritage.

For this chapter, I am looking for tips on how you taught your children to pray, challenges you encountered, and humorous or uplifting stories about your children praying.

What Keeps Your Marriage Strong?

Divorce rates are super high for families raising kids with disabilities. It fluctuates between 70-80% - a very scary number! I am writing a chapter about how to keep your marriage strong. Please share with me what helps you and your spouse to stay close while dealing with the struggles of raising a child with special needs.

About the Authors

T. Danyelle Ferguson is the mother of four children. Her oldest son is diagnosed with PDD-NOS, a form of Autism and her oldest daughter was speech delayed until the age of three. Danyelle has worked with both of her children through early intervention, then with her son though preschool, and now elementary school.

Danyelle and her husband are co-founders of and serve on the Board of Friends of GIANT Steps, benifiting the GIANT Steps Autism Preschool in Orem, Utah. Danyelle also councils with families from all over who need help with their children at church and in other settings. She can often be found at parent support group meetings presenting about the different challenges parents meet raising children with special needs—and how to find joy throughout the journey.

Danyelle grew up in Pennsylvania and, after an eight year visit to Utah, now resides in Olathe, Kansas with her family. She has been writing since high school. She served as Treasurer for the League of Utah Writer Utah Valley Chapter, won several awards in writing contests, and is a member of AuthorsIncognito. She enjoys reading, writing, dancing and singing, playing with her family, and occassional long bubble baths to relax from the everyday stress of being “Mommy”.

Lynn D. Parsons grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and currently resides near Fort Worth, Texas. She is married and the mother of four children, two of whom have received Special Education services. Lynn also has one grandson.

She earned a Bachelor of Independent Studies from Brigham Young University. Her interest in Special Education began with her closure project entitled Non-drug Treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder. After receiving her certification as a Special Education teacher, Lynn taught at both the elementary and secondary levels. She earned her Master’s Degree in Integrating Technology in the Classroom from Walden University. A paper written for this program, Using Video to Teach Social Skills to Students with Autism, was published by the Council for Exceptional Children. Lynn has also been teaching an after-school social skills class for students with Autism. This class was featured in District Administration Magazine for their use of handheld computers for
organizational and social skills. Currently working as an English Resource and Inclusion teacher, Lynn is working on her certification as an educational diagnostician, and plans to complete a PhD program.

Lynn enjoys being with her family, teaching early morning Seminary, writing, reading, and knitting.

Teaching Special Spirits

Welcome to the Teaching Special Spirits Blog!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Family Relationships

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Sibling Relationships

I Begin by Saying "Dear Heavenly Father"

What Keeps Your Marriage Strong?

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