Connect for Success with Kids Enabled

Montie Stone and Kids Enabled

The vision of Kids Enabled is to create an informed community where all children with learning differences have the resources to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling and independent lives. We believe this vision is accomplished through connections. Read on to see how many ways you can connect in 2011.

“We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.”
- Herman Melville

In 2005, the scene was fairly common. Two moms sitting in an average kitchen, having a discussion over a cup of coffee, worrying about their children. The following questions could have been asked by you or me; “Who has the answers? Where do I turn? What can I do?” These cries for help could have been about any number of parental worries – in this case, the focus was getting help for children with learning differences. The issues are complex; the solution was not to be found during one conversation, no matter how good the coffee.

“It’s all about hope, kindness and a connection with one another.”
- Elizabeth Taylor

The end-solution may not have been found that morning, but the beginnings were there because of one important fact. A connection was made. Barbara Bush said, “Cherish your human connections – your relationships with friends and family.” It is through these connections that all things can be accomplished. It was through this simple connection of two moms that led to the creation of Kids Enabled.

“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead

Synonyms for Connect:

ally, associate, attach, bridge, come aboard, get into, hitch on, join, join up with, network with, plug into, relate, team up, tie in, unite

While Kids Enabled has changed and evolved since its inception, we have never strayed from our original purpose. We have always aspired to connect the learning differences world – parent with parent, parent with teacher, parent with child, parent with resources, and child with child. We chose Connect for Success as our theme for 2011. In reality, that has always been our theme. We use our editorial content to connect parents and educators with vital information. Our resource directory connects parents with the help they need for their child. Our events connect everyone who participates with resources, information and networks.

You, too, play a part in these connections.

When you share information you have learned from an article on www.kidsenabled.org, you have made a connection.
When you “like” us on Facebook and join our Facebook page, you have made a connection.
When you comment on our articles online, you have made a connection.
When you use our resource directory for your needs, you have made a connection.
When you go to an event that you saw on our community calendar, you have made a connection.
When you subscribe to our newsletter, you have made a connection.

Okay, okay – I know, you get the point. But, do you? Kids Enabled needs you to keep the connections going. It’s your support that keeps us viable in the community. We need you to continue what we do best. We will provide the resources and editorial – you help us connect.

As the first connection made by Kids Enabled was parent to parent, let’s take a look at the importance of this. It is the most common connection made by parents who are struggling with their child’s learning issues. Instinctively, we reach out to friends and family who may know something about our situation. Personally, I get calls and e-mails every day from parents who just want to talk to someone who can relate to them. I am not sure what I would have done on this journey without my fellow parents who “get it.”

Parents with Parents

	What’s in Your Home Library?		A Parent Success Story
	The Educational Value of a Parent’s Intuition		The High Cost of Helping Your Child
	Peeking Inside the Homes of Homeschoolers		An Organizing Tale

Another key relationship is the connection between parent and teacher. I give great credit to my son’s third grade teacher for her insight into his struggles. I realize that the relationship here is not always smooth or easy, and I suspect that I will butt heads with a few teachers as we continue through his school years. Kids Enabled does strive to open doors for parents to communicate well with teachers and bring everyone to the same team.

Parents with Teachers

	Parent Advocacy		The Educational Value of a Parent’s Intuition
	Parent Advocate: Building Your Child’s Support Team		Self-Advocacy and the Law
	Educational Transition 101: Rolling with the Changes

One of the toughest connections is inside your own home. Although you want the best for your child, the connection between parent and child is difficult and takes great care and patience. In order to advocate for our children, we need to understand them. In turn, as we teach them to self-advocate, they need to trust us and know we are looking out for their best interests. This open communication and teamwork can take years to create but Kids Enabled hopes to give editorial to make the road a bit smoother.

Parents with KIds

	Keeping Students Organized for Academic Success		A Chip off the Old Block
	Guiding Your Child’s Social Self		A Mother and Son Success Story
	Are We There Yet? Traveling with Sensory Sensitive Kids		The Ten Commandments for Developing Healthy Eaters
	Step up to the Plate! Healthier Food for Healthy Brains		Jumpstart Conversations with Your Kids

The connection for parents with resources was actually the initial goal of Kids Enabled. When the founder, Beth McGaw, wondered where to turn, she realized she probably wasn’t the only one asking this question. She decided that a resource directory for the specific audience of families of children with learning differences was needed. Along with an extensive directory, sponsors and advertisers, the editorial offers great resources. Each article is written by a professional who can be contacted as a resource. Most articles also list books and Web sites to give further resources.

Parents with Resources

	Parent Advocacy		Speech Therapy at School: Inside or Outside the Classroom
	Is Your Child’s Therapy Working for You?		It Was All Greek To Me
	Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Saying Goodbye to your Child’s Therapist		It Was All Greek to Me: Part 2
	Psycho-educational Testing: A Primer		Psychoeducational Evaluations: What Every Parent Should Know
	Parent Advocate: Building Your Child’s Support Team		After the Diagnosis: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
	Self Advocacy and the Law: A Successful College Transition

To complete the network, children need to be connected with each other. Making sure their children have social skills is a big concern for parents. It’s human nature to want your children to have friends and know how to be a friend. Kids Enabled recognizes that a successful and fulfilling life encompasses much more than what occurs in the classroom. Humans are social beings and children need meaningful and fulfilling relationships.

Kids with Kids

	The Importance of Social Skills		Social Networking and Kids with Learning Differences
	Summer Camp: How to Hide the Learning in Fun		The Happy Overnight Camper
	The Other Child in the Room		It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To…Helping Kids Find Confidence in Social Situations
	Bully, Bullied, Bystander-How Vulnerable are Our Youngsters?		All the World’s a Stage: The Benefits of Drama
	Take Me Out to the Ball Game – Sports for Special Needs		It’s How You Play the Game
	The Art of Winning and Losing

In 2011, I want to challenge you to connect in the learning differences community. I began with a quote from Barbara Bush and will conclude with more words of wisdom from her, “Some people give time, some money, some their skills and connections, some literally give their life’s blood. But everyone has something to give.” We are asking for you to connect – by reading our articles and passing them on, by joining us on Facebook, by subscribing to our newsletter, by attending our events, by using our resources – so we can accomplish great things for our children.

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February 7, 2011 | In Feature Articles | 4 Comments

4 Comments »

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I love that Margaret Mead quote! It reminds me that all the efforts of starting something small, all the growing pains, can eventually create something amazing.

Comment by Angele Hawkins — February 9, 2011 #
I love the comments and reminders about the value of connectiveness. It reminds me of how important it is to be a role model, a listener, a confident, a resource for information, and yet how hard these are to do in today’s fast paced lifestyle. Plaudits and Praise for Kids Enabled as they provide a forum where this can happen twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. When the house quiets down, and Mom begins to cry, you are there. Hugs for a job well done.

Comment by Joan K Teach — February 9, 2011 #
Without the ability to connect with others, we feel so alone with our child who may have learning differences and special needs. This section just solidifies a most important part of our lives: to connect and feel reassured that we are on the right track for our children and to have people to reach out to for support and positive reinforcment. Let’s all do our best to stay connected, whether we are the parent, the medical team, the therapy team, or a resource. Connect through listening, brain-storming, organizing, or making a plan so we know there are always options!

Comment by Amy Sherman — February 9, 2011 #
As we learn more about social media and the internet, it is even easier to stay connected. It is impressive how everything is so easily accessible with a finger swipe or a click. The more we can connect and educate ourselves about what may be difficult, the easier it will be to ask the questions to the doctors, therapists, and teachers. Thanks for helping us stay connected and reminding us of the vast information that is available through the previous articles.

Comment by Shahnoor Dharamsi — February 17, 2011 #