In November, 2014, the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Education (DOE) issued joint guidance about the rights of students with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities to effective communication. According to the guidance, public schools are responsible for ensuring communication […]
Back to School – Kids with Hemiplegia
Amid the excitement of shopping for school supplies and thinking about meeting new friends, parents of children with hemiplegia find many questions pertaining to their child’s diagnosis and learning styles. We’ve prepared a few helpful hints for you. 1. How […]
College Survival Tips for Students with Disabilities (and everyone else)
College Survival Tips for Students with Disabilities (and everyone else) Apply for a CHASA Educational Scholarship 1.Plan ahead. We know it’s a drag, but a few minutes planning ahead will pay off in better grades, less stress, and more time […]
Emily’s Story – Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month
My husband and I always had children in our plans – it was just something we never had to discuss and knew we wanted. After being married for 3 years we decided to start trying. I was blessed with a […]
Research Opportunity – Wellness Study for Parents
This project is now closed. A big thank you to the hundreds of participants who assisted with this very important research! The Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association, CHASA, is assisting Dr. Kenda Grover and colleagues at the University of Arkansas […]
The 12 days of Holiday Coping – Children with Disabilities
We often have visions of sugar plum fairies and warm family gatherings for the holidays. Sometimes these dreams do come true, but often reality can fall short of our expectations. When we add a child who has a disability to […]
The Great (Culture) Wall – Disability and Society
I lost a friend once because I have Cerebral Palsy (CP). She wasn’t a particularly close friend, more a “wave and chat for a bit after Mass” friend. Either way, though, it stung. It wasn’t her fault, of course, but […]
My Baby had a Stroke – A Mom Copes
Allison Bemiss lives in southern Kentucky with her husband, Daniel, and two sons, seven year old Elijah and two year old Jonah. Just after Jonah’s first birthday, the family learned he was a pediatric stroke survivor. He suffered an in-utero […]
Things I have Learned From Having Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
I will never confuse my right and my left. Mouths are secretly hands that never grew fingers, and can be used as such. All doorknobs should be levers. Seriously. You try opening a doorknob with your fist when your other […]
The Importance of Giving Up
We live in a culture that tells us nothing is impossible. We’ve all heard it countless times: ‘The sky’s the limit’. ‘You can do whatever you set your mind to’. ‘Every great achievement was once considered impossible’. And, perhaps most […]
We Need Your IEP – Individualized Education Program Project
We Need Your IEP! The Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) is gathering sample IEPs and other education plans from birth through college from parents of children with disabilities and we will share these on the CHASA website. We’d like […]
Adaptation versus Innovation
I was about seventeen when I learned that most people put on their socks with two hands. It probably sounds ludicrous but it’s true: my aunt was visiting and we were about to head out for something so I was […]
How to Wear a Shirt and an Arm Cast in Cold Weather
Maybe your child with hemiplegia has broken his arm, is participating in constraint induced movement therapy, or may be wearing a special cast for stretching or following surgery. Below you’ll find one mom’s solution to what to wear in cold […]
NDEAM Poster Art competition – Texas Artist with Disability
The deadline for submissions for the NDEAM Poster Art competition is coming up – March 15. Can you help us get the word out to artists and art teachers in your community? There is NO FEE for entries, and the […]
Constraint Induced Movement Therapy – Henry is Using His Hand
Holy cow, it appears to be working! Constraint therapy actually appears to be working! Henry’s reaching with his affected arm, holding objects in his affected hand and actually POINTED his index finger upon request. HOLY COW. I don’t even know […]
