Q&A with middle grade author Jamie Sumner
Jamie Sumner is a best-selling middle grade author who often writes about the disability experience. • Wish You Well follows three kids who feign friendship to scam a wish-granting foundation.
Topic
special needs
8 wonderful children's books about neurodiversity that we—and our special needs kids—love
And as the mom of a daughter with autism and as a children's book lover, I've wanted to highlight some incredible children's books about neurodiversity that represent kids just like her. If you're a frequent reader here, you know it's al…
If you've ever wished you could buy a single shoe...this new line of adaptive shoes from Zappos is here for you
I've been so happy to see clothing brands expanding their offerings to meet the diverse needs of their customers, whether it's Halloween costumes for kids with special needs or adaptive clothing for kids with sensory issues . And this ne…
8 thoughtful tips if you're hosting kids with special needs for the holidays
Nothing gets me emotional quite like the Folger's coffee holiday commercial, with the sentimental mother-son reunion at 5:30 AM over a cup of coffee. (I'm not joking, I cry every time.) But that's not quite most people's reality when we …
A special needs mom shares 4 great toys for kids with cognitive disabilities.
With the holidays coming up, grandparents and friends are naturally asking for ideas for gifts for the kids , but when you are shopping for toys for kids with cognitive disabilities, it can make the gifting a little more challenging. For…
Roll with It: The best full-of-heart read for kids since Wonder
I've been looking for that next great heartwarming book to read to my kids after having fallen in love with Augie in RJ Palacio's Wonder a couple years back. So when I saw my friend Jamie Sumner's new book Roll With It in stores this wee…
We're cheering for Target's new adaptive Halloween costume collection!
Target has been pretty ahead of the mass retailer curve in terms of sensory-friendly and adaptive clothing for kids. And I'm so happy to see they're adding new adaptive Halloween costumes this year, made for to help ensure that all kinds…
How does Disney's Disability Access Service card (DAS) work? This mom lays it out for you.
I recently described my 10 tips for a Disney vacation with a special needs child , to help you ensure that the trip is as magical for all of you. But I wanted to give more details about the totally free Disability Access Service (DAS) ca…
10 tips for a Disney World vacation with kids with special needs. It can be magical!
Disney World is supposed to be the happiest place on earth, but as I was preparing for our family's recent trip, I admit I was dreading parts of it. It would be the first trip for our youngest daughter, who has cognitive special needs, a…
Is Betsy DeVos really trying to cut Special Olympics funding? Yes, yes she is.
Yesterday, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos acknowledged that yes, she has proposed to cut the $17.6 million that funds the Special Olympics, from the US education budget next year. And I get it -- sometimes you see something on the ne…
Cheering for Tommy Hilfiger's new styles of of adaptive clothing for kids and adults: WOW are they good
Getting dressed presents special challenges when you have special needs, so we love it when big-time brands recognize the need and create adaptive styles that are just as cute and affordable as the originals. Target's Cat & Jack Adaptive…
See Target's new line of adaptive clothing for kids with special needs. It's beautiful.
When Target released new clothing styles made just for kids with sensory issues , we all burst out with a collective "woo-hoo," because this is so meaningful to so many kids and parents. And we're "woo-hoo"ing again now, because today is…
Thank you Target, for your new line of cute new sensory-friendly clothing!
Scratchy tags, raised seams, and puffy patches on shirts or pants may seem like little things to a lot of us, but they can be big deals for kids with sensory issues. So leave it to Target to create a line of new sensory-friendly kids' cl…
We can't believe the reason a kids' softball umpire asked a deaf 10-year-old player to remove her hearing devices.
Parents of kids with special needs are used to having to fight for their kids' rights. It's part of the parenting territory . But when my friend told me what happened to her deaf child at her softball tournament this week , I was shocked…
Bandages to heal kids' emotional boo-boos: Helicopter-y or helpful? | Thinking: Parent
This post is written by guest contributor Anna Caudill, Executive Director of PALS (Post Adoptive Learning Services) and adoptive mom of two. Recently, Dutch bandage company Hanasplast created a limited time box of Hearts bandages design…
We're All Wonders: Now, R.J. Palacio shares Auggie's message with younger children too.
A few years ago, R.J. Palacio gave the world Wonder , a middle reader book that we here at Cool Mom Picks believe should be mandatory reading for all children and their parents, which is why we named it among our best children's books of…
8 outstanding books that teach empathy for kids with special needs
Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. ― Henry James You stocked up on school supplies, bought your kid a cool new lunch box and backpack , and purchased …
Braille Bricks: the coolest new toy for kids with visual impairments
If you know us at all, you know we geek out when we find cool toys or kids' gear that promote inclusivity. So when we discovered Braille Bricks, the LEGO-inspired building blocks that help visually impaired kids can learn to spell throug…
Adaptive clothing for special kids gets more stylish. Thanks, Tommy Hilfiger.
It's hard enough to get the kids up and ready for school most days, but when your morning routine also includes a lengthy struggle with buttons and zippers, it's extra frustrating. This week, some of my friends and their fashionable tots…
Crayon Crunch: Personalized books get kids with special needs in the story too.
We've mentioned before that only 3% of children's books feature characters of color , and there are even fewer that feature kids with special needs. This makes me really sad for the millions of kids out there who want to open up a book a…
Someone Special Books: Personalized books for kids with special needs of all kinds. Like making friends.
We love personalized books for kids , which always make special gifts for the kid who has everything. Also, what child doesn't need more books in his or her library? But now we've discovered a publisher creating personalized books made j…
Soft clothing, for kids who never want to get dressed
If you've been putting off buying new spring clothes for your growing-like-a-weed child because they find most clothes too scratchy, tight, or rough, check out Soft clothing , a brand we've loved since they launched. And get ready to sto…
Downs Designs: Extra special clothes for extra special kids
My friend Natalie has a huge smile, bright red hair, and Down syndrome. That means her thigh bones and upper arm bones are a little shorter than the average girl her age, and most pants and shirt sleeves she tries on in a normal retail s…
Kids helping kids with tees? That's mightee fine!
This cool website has one goal: to help teach kids valuable lessons in helping other kids in need. The really cute shirts just happen to be a bonus. Each month, Mightee Kids works with one special charity to craft a gorgeous, soft, kids'…