Beyond the Waiting Room has gone global! In honor of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, we’re showcasing three lovely ladies from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States. Jen Blackwell is the founder and Creative Director of DanceSyndrome, an inclusive dance charity based in the United Kingdom. Jen’s dream of becoming […]
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Hi, I’m Heather Villagomez. I have taught functional math and social skills at Notre Dame School of Dallas for 3 years. I have a dual bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Cross Categorical Special Education from Northern Arizona University. I am originally from Arizona. There I have taught at a public Junior High School in […]
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I’m very excited to share my conversation with Kelly Kile, Intermediate Reading Teacher at Notre Dame School here in Dallas, Texas. Catherine has been in Kelly’s home room for the past three years and she’s played such an integral part in Catherine’s growth. Because Kelly has walked this journey with her own daughter, I truly […]
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I’m very excited to share our next guest with the BTWR family. Megan Moyer is an Intermediate Daily Living Skills Teacher at Catherine’s school, Notre Dame here in Dallas, Texas. We truly love Notre Dame and it has made a huge difference in Catherine’s growth and independence. Read on for Megan’s perspective on teaching “Daily […]
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Shoe tying is one of those rites of passage that we’ve all brokered through in our early years and is one of those skills that all kids (and parents) still have to deal with at some time or another. For some kids, this ability doesn’t come easily. Individuals with low hypotonia (low muscle tone) find […]
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Summer can be hard for parents, especially for parents with children who have special needs. Finding activities that keep them busy while also being fun and productive can be challenging. And without a daily routine, kids get used to an unstructured schedule or no schedule at all, which can make it difficult to get them […]
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A fresh start to a school year is not complete without a brand new pair of shoes. Children need the best support as they are on their feet a large part of the day. Their shoes have to take them from the classroom to playground and so much more. This is especially true when a […]
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As we approach the new school year and summer vacations are winding down, many of our children will complete annual visits to the physician, dentist, or specialist. In many cases, it is essential to obtain approval for medical services to ensure insurance coverage associated with the cost of their care. For more than ten years, […]
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A visit to the ophthalmologist is highly probable in the life of a child with special needs. Catherine was diagnosed with nystagmus right after birth. Her eyesmade involuntary, repetitive side to side movements. She visited a local pediatric ophthalmologist at a very young age to address this issue. During this challenge, I benefited from the […]
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The new school year is only a few weeks away. I know we are in the middle of summer and our minds are not there yet. It’s been so nice for our kiddos to enjoy a leisure morning with a little extra time to dive into fun activities. You can still relish the summer, but […]
