About a year ago, I had an “aha moment” during a work safety meeting when a police officers said the best thing to do in an active shooter situation is to run. Run, run, run … as far and as fast as you can. My mind went to my daughter and her school. Her disability makes […]
Posts with the walker tag
Best helper cart for kids who wear AFOs, use crutches or use a walker
When my daughter was 4 years old, she was eager to help. We wanted to find a way that would enable her help set and clear the table for meals. However, at the time she needed her walker or crutches to move around, meaning she couldn’t carry anything in her hands. We tried having her push an […]
Why you should read “Can I Play Too?” by Mo Willems to promote inclusion & acceptance
The book “Can I Play Too?” by Mo Willems promotes acceptance of people different from ourselves, demonstrates creative problem solving, and helps kids see the importance of resilient perseverance. It’s a great book for talking to kids about disability and inclusive play, especially when a peer uses equipment such as a wheelchair, walker, or crutches, has […]
Halloween Costumes & Industrial Strength Velcro
Below is a link to great advice from Easterseals on Halloween costumes for kids with disabilities or special needs. The article mentions that doing a trial run with the costume is a good idea, and that learning tips on how to attach costumes to wheelchairs and other devices will help along the way. When doing […]
Ladies & Gentlemen… we’ve gone all terrain!
From the moment my daughter started using her Kaye walker full time at 2 years old, I have had a dream. A dream of an all terrain walker that glides smoothly and easily over grass and dirt and mulch. A walker that doesn’t require muscle and struggle to cross uneven surfaces. Isn’t that a beautiful […]
When a girl wants to be Ned the Junior Conductor from Dinosaur Train
She wanted to be Ned. Ned the Brachiosaurus from Dinosaur Train. I will admit that I tried to change her mind. “How about Buddy or Tiny? They are both on Dinosaur Train” we said (you can actually buy these costumes). “No. I want to be Ned” she said. “How about pac man?” we asked. “Daddy […]
How to use a posterior walker in a Halloween costume
Halloween is just around the corner, and while the holiday can pose some challenges for kids with disabilities, having extra equipment can make costumes even more fun. Pirate… Aargh! Two years ago, Lily had just started using her walker when Halloween rolled around. I found a really cute pirate costume, and then got super excited about […]
How to “Hack” Shoes for AFOs #2: A Coat of Armor to Extend Shoe Life
As my girl has gotten stronger and more capable with her walker, she has also gotten more creative with her walking. The recommended “heel-toe” walking gait (which I’m pulling my hair out trying to get her back to) just seems to frustrate her because it’s not getting her where she wants to go fast enough. […]
A simple fix for helping kids clear their place at the table
One of the things I feel very strongly about is that kids with limited mobility should be required to do as much as possible for themselves. This past week, I was trying to figure out how I could enable Lily to clear her own place at the table when I remembered a microwave cart we used to use for […]
Spring opens the door to playing outside – find an accessible playground near you!
This past weekend I sat outside under the bright sun and spring flowers, and drew pictures on the sidewalk with my kids. There is something magical about playing outside in the bright warmth after a long, gray, cold winter. I can’t seem to soak up enough of the sun. When I think about fun outdoor spring […]
Carrying an Easter Basket for Kids Who Use Walkers
Last week I posted about 8 Fun Easter Hacks for Kids with Varying Abilities. Since then, I found another one! During an Easter egg hunt, children using walkers can carry their own Easter basket by using a Think King Hook. We use the Think King hooks on our strollers for holding all sorts of things, including hanging […]
Eight Fun Easter “Hacks” for Kids with a Variety of Abilities
Easter egg hunts and traditional egg coloring can be a challenge for kids with differing abilities. However, with a few tweaks, there are many ways to include kids with a variety of ability levels in the fun. Challenges: Wheelchairs & walkers: Difficult to navigate grassy terrain, and often can’t easily bend down and pick up eggs. Blind or low vision: Can’t locate eggs […]
3 Reasons Why You Should Never Underestimate My Child
My daughter recently aged out of our state’s early intervention program. As a result, she now attends preschool at our local elementary school, getting physical and occupational therapy as part of her school day. The initial process of qualifying for therapy and establishing her IEP was overwhelming and confusing. However, once we got past that […]
Allowing children to be children, regardless of mobility
I crossed paths with the question “when is the right time for a mobility device?” multiple times today. It’s an interesting question. When really is the right time? Should we follow a “typical” timeline? Should we listen to our mommy gut? Should we be the catalyst for getting new equipment? Should we assume our medical team and therapists […]
Helping kids “Do it MYself!” with a basket
Two of my daughter’s most frequently uttered phrases are, “I do it MYSELF!” (with oomph and passion behind the words) and “I help you?” (with her head cocked to one side, blinking her eyes sweetly). She wants so badly to help and to be independent. One of our biggest challenges in helping her do things herself […]