Special Family Network

Scientists have discovered a genetic link for Spina Bifida. Please read more about it in this article.

Just because you have a physical disability does not mean that you can not live a wonderful life! I would like you to meet a wonderful woman who has overcome her challenges with parenthood, love and life in general. Please meet Christine Regber-Martens, an amazing mother, wife and friend to all who have met her.

Read More

Luke Anthony does not let Cystic Fibrosis nor his blindness stop him from reaching his dreams. Read about this exceptional young man in this article.

Please take a moment to read this very special article about a woman who teaches music to people with special needs.

At what turned out to be Jessica’s last lesson, I asked her what rain sounded like. She actually gave this some thought before gently playing a tinkling sound on the higher notes that steadily became more insistent. I again harmonized with chords whenever I could on the electric keyboard. “How about the wind?” I asked. Jessica responded by playing a glissando up and down the keys with varying intensity. “Thunder?” That was easy. She immediately gave a few staccato bursts from the bass keys. “OK! Lets play the music for a short Spring thunder storm.” We dove in. It was wonderful. Not only was it totally free-form, it was VERY musical! All too soon, the lesson was over and Jessica’s father, who usually waited across the street at the local coffee shop but today waited across the hall in our living room, popped his head into the studio and said that it was time to go. Read More

Meet Quinn, a young boy with Autism. This is an great video put together by Quinn’s mom.

See how the power of play is helping special needs children like Owen reach new goals and become more interactive with his family.

Just more proof that anyone can do anything with determination. These two articles show that if a child with Down Syndrome wants to be an actor, they can reach that dream. Just ask the young man who made an appearance on ER tonight.

Article 1Â

Article 2Â

My first and only child was born at 28 weeks gestation. It was a very scary time for me because I did not know what to expect and wanted my daughter to be ok. I am trying to put together information so parents can have an idea of what to expect if they are in the same or similar situation that I was in. Most of this information is based on a baby born between 26 and 29 weeks of gestation. Read More

The hospital was our second home. It was another day, another long day of a visit to the emergency room for my younger brother’s treatment of Factor VIII, the clotting factor missing from his blood that disabled the bleeding from stopping. It was just another day. The sun was shining, his classmates were playing at recess when he got a nosebleed. All kids get nosebleeds, there’s no drama about it. But for him to get one, the playground got to take part in the most exciting event of the day; the ambulance, the paramedics working frantically to stop the blood, but with my brother, relaxed and enjoying his newfound popularity. Read More