Special Needs

Transitions: Helping your child navigate to a new school or on to college

Consider a visit to a foreign country where you don’t know anyone, you don’t speak the same language and you aren’t familiar with the...

Q&A with Arizona’s 2019 Teacher of the Year Kareem Neal

Kareem Neal was a chemical engineering major until late into his junior year at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Then he attended a...

Detour Company Theatre stages “Shrek,” “Legally Blonde”

The 46 actors have 16 weeks to get ready for their January performances of the Broadway musicals “Shrek” and “Legally Blonde.” In the piano...

Special-needs housing community to open this spring in north Phoenix

A 30-home special-needs housing development opening in spring 2019 hopes to give parents of grown children with special needs peace of mind. Luna Azul...

Colten Cowell Foundation brings “Batcave” magic to kids in need of compassion

What kid wouldn’t want to feel like a superhero? Thanks to a couple of dedicated people at the Colten Cowell Foundation in Phoenix, lots...

What to do when reading is a chore

My 7-year-old son hates to read, but he loves books. He’ll sit in his room for hours, paging through volumes. Most car rides start with...

Inclusive preschool benefits typically developing kids and those with autism

About 130 children attend inclusive preschool programs at Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center Community Schools in Phoenix and Tempe, where typically developing children...

Local theaters offer sensory-friendly movies for kids and families

The house lights are brighter, the sound is lower and no one will raise an eyebrow if children walk around, dance, sing, talk or...

Temple Grandin appearing in Mesa to discuss “Calling All Minds” book for kids

Thomas Jefferson invented macaroni and cheese. That fact alone can interest kids in our Founding Fathers quicker than tickets to “Hamilton.” It turns out...

Pal Experiences makes local venues more fun for families with special needs

Melanie Isaacs is describing Elle, an 11-year-old girl with autism, who went to a Phoenix Suns game with her family for the first time:...

Raising Special Kids Symposium features Medicaid-waiver champion

Parents and professionals who care for children with disabilities are invited to attend the 2018 Raising Special Kids Symposium on Children With Special Health...

Sea STAR offers dolphin-assisted therapy for kids with special needs

Actions speak louder than words, and so it is with 16-year-old Lexie Robertson. While a group of shivering parents stand poolside, bundled against an unusually...

Hacienda Healthcare: For 50 years, a “home for the angels”

Ilene Mae Butler had grown weary of life in the Midwest. She had run through a series of jobs and was fresh off a...

Two generations of gratitude and giving back

It’s been about a year since I joined the board for Raising Special Kids, a 38-year-old nonprofit that provides parent-to-parent support for families navigating...

Phoenix mom brings to life Sesame Street’s new Muppet with autism

Stacey Gordon knows how to get to Sesame Street. Gordon is the Phoenix mom/puppeteer behind Julia, the Muppet with autism who debuted on Sesame Street...

SARRC launches all-ages program to diagnose autism

Because there are still long waiting lists for autism evaluations in medical offices across the Valley, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center has launched...

PARTY ARTICLES

Money Lessons from Birthday Parties

Teaching Kids the Value of Gifts & Gratitude Between the cake, balloons, and wrapping paper tornado, birthday parties are often all about fun, but they also provide the perfect opportunity to teach kids early lessons...

Time to Paw-ty

Celebrating your favorite furry friend Call me crazy, but when my husband and I adopted our first dog together, we threw her a birthday party complete with cake, streamers, guests, appetizers, games, and more. Was...

Unique Ways to Host a Joint Birthday Party

My brother and I have birthdays that are just one day apart—his on March 3rd, mine on March 4th, and our oldest brother just a few weeks later on March 21st. Fast forward 31 years...

Out-of-the-box Birthday Party Ideas in Phoenix & Tucson

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Birthday Traditions & Clever Theme Ideas

Childhood birthdays are unlike any others. I have fond memories of waking up on my birthday morning anticipating all the fun that was in store. With three kids who had birthdays all in the same...

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a thing? Do I need to stay with my child at...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with a few friends. Times have changed and suddenly it feels necessary...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated pool watcher" can avert his or her eyes for a...

Hiking birthday party

For a child who loves adventure and outdoors, turn a hike into a birthday party.
Tour de Liam, Biking birthday party theme, bike race, outdoor activites, arizona parties

Bike race birthday party

When there are lots of neighborhood friends who love to ride their bikes together, host a birthday party that feels like an official bike race.

Island birthday party

Pool parties are popular in Arizona. Make a stylish upgrade at your next birthday party by incorporating décor and details that will transport guests from the desert to a tropical island paradise.

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