3.23.2009

Pinch Me. Again.

The good folks at BlogHer have asked me to be a community editor!

I will be writing about parenting special needs children, a topic Blogher has not previously covered, and on which I can opine endlessly.

The contract is signed, the details will be forthcoming, and I am quite giddy. This is a welcome, cherished opportunity to share more resources with families of special needs kids.

It is also an opportunity to make our families less "other," because BlogHer community editor articles circulate on the home page. While fewer people may click on me than on the very entertaining BeautyHacks, I'm hoping to cajole at least a few brains into thinking beyond the Special Needs label, and towards considering us parents, caregivers, siblings, and children, first.

A final thanks to BlogHer for once again shaking me out of my winter tailspin, as they did with last year's invitation to speak at the BlogHer 08 conference. I will do my best to kick ass and not let anyone down.

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9 comments:

  1. yay! thanks for being willing to put yourself and your family out there, and for extending your time and energy just that extra little bit. I don't know how you do it!

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  2. Wow, Squid, you rock! Kick ass all over BlogHer and the whole damn internet!!!

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  3. Anonymous7:52 AM

    Congratulations Squid, I've been reading you for awhile now and I don't have a special needs child myself but your writing has helped me to understand those who do a little better.
    (sorry if that sentence made no sense, i obviously will NOT be writing for anyone anytime soon :)

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  4. @Veronica, such kind words. Thank you.

    @Doubletrouble, I'm kicking ass for us all!

    @Jennifer, thank you for listening. Writing is about ideas and passion (and practice and then confidence); good editors can fix the technical hiccups. Keep writing!

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  5. Anonymous2:50 PM

    Good job squid. Your blog already has me thinking beyond special needs. I don't have a special needs kid of my own, but I started reading your blog, and it's given me a lot of fodder for thinking.

    I recently encountered a young girl with downs syndrome in my daughter's softball team. We are considering including her in another activity (girl scouts), but are wondering how to approach her parents to understand what kind of supports the girl needs. Any advice to offer?

    I'll add that I did not realize the girl had downs syndrome until the 3rd time I saw her in the activity -- I'm pretty clueless, but I also believe that she was functioning very well in softball. I have an iz-like daughter who has iz-like friends. How do would we effectively include this girl? How would activities (for example, sailing, which might work for our daughters but not her) be handled?

    Oh, and since you're not actually my personal special needs adviser, I'll understand if you don't answer the questions. I'd love to hear whether there's somewhere I can look for answers like this. I do believe that more people would try if they knew what to do.

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  6. @Anonymous, Try asking your daughter's teammate to join girl scouts the same way you'd ask any other girl, as you'll need to include parent in the discussion anyhow. Her parents should let you know about any special considerations.

    Hesitation in unfamiliar situations is understandable. Don't let it hold you back. She's a kid just like your daughter. Be an example to other parents and your own girl by being as positive, inclusive, and casual as possible.

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  7. Congrats!!! You will do a great job.

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  8. proud of you!!

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  9. I am catching up---this is so perfect! Point me to any re-post-worthy posts----

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Respectful disagreement encouraged.