Posted: July 23, 2015
Summer is still in full swing as we head into August and with it you and your child may face a wide number of challenges… but also plenty of fun! We like to bring awareness about CP to help parents as the calendar changes, and what better month to highlight than one involving heat, school, assistance and more? For more information on Cerebral Palsy topics centered around the month of August, keep reading!
First, the heat. It’s been a hot summer already and summer doesn’t officially end until September 22nd. As a result, you may have seen your energy bills soaring this summer, which can be very concerning for families on a budget. The care team at MyChild regularly connects families with programs aimed at helping families with energy bills, so contact us today!
Second: school. We’ve covered a number of items related to planning ahead for school, but it’s worth mentioning again that the early weeks surrounding the school year aren’t just hectic for you and your child, but also for teachers. Planning ahead and engaging with teachers proactively (if possible) is a great way to get a jump on any areas of concern you may have surrounding your child’s IEP, academic progress, technology in the classroom and more.
But let’s not forget Item Three: assistance. While you may already have faced the crunch in needing to find acceptable daycare or home care options while your child has not been in school, that doesn’t mean assistance requirements will end in August. Regardless of your child’s age, there is a helpful hand in some form worth considering. Interested in options regarding an assistance animal? What about encouraging advocacy in your community or child’s school? A lot of good can be done this August!
Fourth: take the opportunity to plant the seed on making your area park special needs-accessible. Though it may be too late for 2015, it may start the wheels of progress to an awesome Spring and Summer for next year. Not only that, it may be the perfect time for your community, especially because budgeting efforts often start in the last 3-4 months of the year and getting your park properly equipped and enabled is a cool way to spend the remaining hot months of this year!
Finally, Item Five: take care of you! It may be a long summer already but, as we’ve noted, there’s still time to go. Be sure to pen (not pencil!) some time in for yourself. Download our guide for parents of children with Cerebral Palsy, but also make sure that the coming months aren’t catching you off-guard. Yes, it may be a bit early, but August is one of a few months where there are no major holidays. No offense to International Left-Handers Day (August 13) but taking a few moments to figure out, as a family, plans for Halloween, Thanksgiving, December’s Religious Observances, etc., can help avoid surprises.
Being a parent of a child with special needs presents a wide assortment of challenges and rewards. If you have questions about any of the items above, including organizational tips or eBooks specifically tailored to you and your child, please contact us today by filling out our form or calling (800) 692-4453
(800) 692-4453 FREE.
Have a great August – we hope to hear from you soon!
