Sometimes life sends you gift - an unexpected surprise that makes you smile the whole day. I got one last month when I received a text from Gerald Rittenberg, the CEO of Party City, asking what Kayla's favorite color was so he could place an order for a Carolyn's cart for their South Burlington location. I was fortunate to meet Mr. Rittenberg at a social event earlier this year and mentioned to him how the Party City location in South Burlington could really use a Caroline's cart, explaining how much easier it would make it for caretakers to visit the store with children or adults with special needs. He listened to my reasoning and asked for more information regarding the cart and actually visited Hannafords to see one. I received the text not long after our conversation and a Carolyn's cart is now available for use at Party City in South Burlington. Kayla is becoming a huge advocate for Caroline's Cart within our community. … [Read more...]
Fun at the Flynn
I would like to thank the Flynn Center for Performing Arts on their incredible “family friendly” production of “The Cat in the Hat”. Hundreds of adults with their children in tow (many in adorable pajamas) came for a relaxing and enjoyable theater production. They did not leave disappointed, as the performance was wonderful and the staff at the Flynn theater incredible. As I have mentioned before, the Flynn Center has gone above and beyond to create a sensory integrated environment for children and families. I was very excited to check out all the accommodations that were being made and what impact they might have on Kayla. Activities in the lobby, a sensory table that offered headphones, weighted bean bags and trinkets to play with, dimmed lighting and sound system, and the ability to stand within the theater - they all sounded too good to be true. From the moment we entered the Flynn we were warmly greeted by staff members who … [Read more...]
A Siblings Perspective
Having a child with a special need is taxing and can have a tremendous impact on one's family. There is no question that the additional effort and uncertainty associated with caring for a child with special needs increases the stress level of everyone in the family. As adults, we generally have better coping skills on how to navigate and deal with the extra stress. But we can’t forget the siblings of the child who has special needs. Their family life is naturally different than that of their peers but my hope is that it enables these kids to have more patience and empathy, and in generally makes them stronger. I recently asked Kelcie to express what it is like to have a sister with special needs. This is what she wrote: Hello! I’m Kelcie, the older sister of Kayla. I have lived with Kayla for about 7 ½ years of my life, and it has been quite the journey. Living with Kayla has been a long adventure for me and I am looking forward for … [Read more...]
A Big Thank You to WCAX
I would like to thank WCAX television for recently having Kayla's Directory on their "The :30" program, the 5:30pm weekday local talk show. A friend of mine, Kevin Pellon, who believes strongly in the mission of Kayla’s Directory was exceptionally persistent over several weeks networking with WCAX to encourage them to highlight Kayla's Directory on their show. His efforts paid off and not only was I invited to be interviewed but they requested Kayla be there as well! Needless to say, when they made this request, my anxiety spiked. It was a live show! There would be no editing. Although I knew the interview would probably go fine, I could not help but imagine the worse. Afterall, as I have said many times, children like Kayla on the autism spectrum can be particularly unpredictable. Kayla in particular likes routines and dislikes surprises and she is very sensitive to noise. Who knew how she might react in a television studio - what … [Read more...]
Amazing Partnership at Northern Lights
Prior to adding a service to Kayla’s Directory, I like to get feedback from someone who has experienced the activity, place, or service being offered. I also like to check things out personally and make sure they are suitable, safe, and fun for children with special needs. As the growing list of services listed on Kayla's Directory indicates, I have come to realize there are a bunch of amazing activities in Vermont that children with special needs can access. I am especially happy to add a new one to the directory: Northern Lights Center in Essex. I visited Northern Lights recently to see what types of programs they offer children with special needs and was blown away by their offerings. Northern Lights Rock and Ice in Essex is a ropes and ice-climbing facility that caters to all types of individuals. They offer team building experience, summer camps, individual lessons, and group lessons. They also cater to programs in the … [Read more...]