Special-Needs Sites of the Day for September 2014

September 11: Talking to Children With Special Needs About Tragedy

In case today's commemoration of the events of September 11 brings up questions from children who are too young to have known or understood before, my article on talking to kids about tragedy has some good things to keep in mind before handling such a difficult discussion. More »

September 12: The Inclusive Class Podcast

The weekly podcast about inclusion that I host with Nicole Eredics is back after a summer vacation, with a new roundtable format. Listen in today at noon PST or anytime on BlogTalk Radio -- consult the index for links to this and past broadcasts worth listening to.More »

September 13: Fun Things to Do

Every Saturday, I round up a family activity, a site for the kids, a shopping site, a site offering humor or inspiration about parenting children with special needs, and a site that's just silly or fun, all designed to get you through your weekend with kids amused and spirits intact. Today's list:

Activity: Make a Bouncing Polymer Ball from About.com Chemistry
Kids' Site: MyStorybook.com
Shopping: Zip Up for Special Needs
Inspiration: "Mother Shows Daughter a Life Without Obstacles" from ABC News
Just for Fun: "Haute Dogs: Snoopy & Belle's Fashion Week Makeovers" from Entertainment Weekly

September 14: The Week in Special-Needs News

Catch up on news stories you may have missed over the past week on the Weekly News and Views page.More »

September 15: Tell Doctor Phil and the Media that Issy Stapleton is the VICTIM

A mother who tried to kill her autistic daughter will be a guest on the Dr. Phil show today, and self-advocates and parents concerned about the depiction of autism as an excuse for murder will be following the coverage and tweeting their concerns. Find out more about their efforts on the Facebook page.More »

September 16: GraceSigns

Today's featured page is an update to a special-needs business profile from 2013. See what's new with GraceSigns, a company that creates "educational innovative software applications that teach sign language through story and video, focusing on disability awareness and embracing the differences of all of us." More »

September 17: Red Band Society

Fox describes this new series, which debuts tonight at 9/8c, as "a provocative, unconventional and unique coming-of-age dramedy about a group of rule-bending friends and the adults who mentor them through the ups and downs of adolescence in Los Angeles' Ocean Park Hospital. Exploring everything from strong friendships, and first loves, to humorous mishaps and heartbreaks, the series is a story of life, with an edgy comedic tone all its own." The show's narrator is in a coma, and his fellow hospital-dwellers include teens with cancer, cystic fibrosis, an eating disorder, and a heart problem. On the series' website, you can watch clips and find out about a contest to visit the set.More »

September 18: Love My Provider

If you're looking for anything from a therapist to an advocate to an after-school program for your child with special needs, Love My Provider is trying to make that process easier. It's an effort to channel the recommendations of parents who have found great services into an online listing of great resources. The selection recently expanded to include East Coast providers, and they need your recommendations and ratings to keep it going.More »

September 19: Sickle Cell Awareness Month

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and the CDC's page on the observance offers facts about sickle cell disease and resources for finding more information. Other websites on the topic to visit include Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Sickle Cell Society, and Children's Sickle Cell Foundation. More »