Posts Tagged ‘special needs’

Trying to get Selected for Presidential Inauguration

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

Happy New Year, everybody!  I hope everybody is off to a safe start and please be careful with your health, money, friends and family over the next year.  I sent in an essay for the Presidential Inaugural Contest to see if I can win a trip to the Inauguration.  Let me know what you think of this:

 

presidentobama

 

 

—start of essay

This inauguration is more than a change in leadership to me.  This is a change from separatism to unity.  From the path of confusion to the path of clarity.  This inauguration is the building of stepping stones.  Stepping stones that are needed for the path for rebuilding our nation.  Our country has been wounded and shaken to it’s roots because of war, natural disasters and poor economic management.  The inauguration represents to me the key that will unlock the changes that will, that must take place so America can restore it’s position as a world power, as a light for the world and for a place where people can live, eat, work, and play without worrying if they will have the money to pay the next month’s rent.
 
My daughter has Rett Syndrome and as a parent of a special needs little girl, this inauguration represents the path that President Elect Obama, my daughter and all of us need to take.  A path into the unknown with our hearts shining has beacons, illuminating the fear and clearing the way for a better, healthier, happier and wealthier tomorrow.
 
Sincerely,
Kim Isaac Greenblatt
——————–end of essay

I think there are millions if not billions of people that are applying but I figured, why not?  If I get the chance to go, I will report back my own take on our President.  I will ask business and special needs questions to the President Elect, his staff and anybody who is within earshot of me.  Wish me luck

Interested in any of my books?  You may want to make a stop over  here. Please click through to purchase my books and some other interesting items that actually ARE on sale. If you like poker, Heroes (the TV series), comic books, Watchmen, etc, there may be some fast links to get you to what you are looking for.
 If you are looking for a day job, part time work, suggestions for saving money or investing, please check out my book listed below.  Part of all the proceeds from the sales of that book  go  to Rett Syndrome research.  One girl is born with Rett Syndrome worldwide every fifteen minutes.   My daughter Arianna has Rett Syndrome and we are working to do all we can to make her life easier and find a cure in her lifetime.  Boys born with the Rett gene generally die at birth.

  Practical Money Making-Surviving Recession, Layoffs, Credit Problems, Generating Passive Income Streams, Working Full Time or Part Time and Retirement

 

 

Kim Isaac Greenblatt
Will I get invited to the Inaugural Reception?

Dystonia or Seizure-Knowing the Difference Can Save Money

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

In the business of taking care of special needs, specifically for Arianna, a lot of money is spent on research in Rett Syndrome on seizures and dystonia.

Dystonia looks a lot like seizures and Rett Syndrome girls may  have seizures but a lot of the findings are that they are misdiagnosed as seizures where it is in fact dystonia.

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures.  If you have seen some of the Rett girls you will see that their hands or legs may be twisted inward as well as wringing.

 In the case of Rett girls, a lot of the muscle contractions are due to Rett Syndrome.  Arianna has suffered with extreme twisting of her leg and arms and the signature wringing of the hands for Rett Syndrome indicates to me, albeit as a layperson, that Rett is closely associated with dystonia.

What are some symptoms of dystonia?

Symptoms vary according to the kind of dystonia involved. In most cases, dystonia tends to lead to abnormal posturing or  movement. Many sufferers have continuous pain, cramping and relentless muscle spasms due to involuntary muscle movements.  Arianna has suffered with this.

Early symptoms may include loss of precision muscle coordination (for non-Rett girls or guys, this sometimes is first manifested in declining penmanship, frequent small injuries to the hands, dropped items and a noticeable increase in dropped or chipped dishes), cramping pain with sustained use and trembling. Significant muscle pain and cramping may result from very minor exertions like holding a book and turning pages.   For a lot of people, at first blush,  the response is “Oh my gosh, it is a seizure!”.

 It isn’t a seizure in this case.

The person suffering from dystonia may find it  difficult to find a comfortable position for arms and legs with even the minor exertions associated with holding arms crossed causing significant pain similar to restless leg syndrome. Affected persons may notice trembling in the diaphragm while breathing, or the need to place hands in pockets, under legs while sitting or under pillows while sleeping to keep them still and to reduce pain. Trembling in the jaw may be felt and heard while lying down, and the constant movement to avoid pain may result in the grinding and wearing down of teeth, or symptoms similar to TMJ.  Swallowing can become difficult and accompanied by painful cramping.  In the case of Arianna, there is a lot of teeth grinding.  For a lot of other Rett Syndr0me girls, there is teeth grinding as well.  In some cases, fixing cavities helps, in most others from what I’ve read and talked with Rett parents, the grinding is always there.

What does that mean as a parent or provider for a Rett child or anybody who is suffering from seizures?  If  neurological tests are inconclusive for seizures, check for dystonia.  It can save you money and aggravation for the person who has their muscles locking up and are in pain.  The shaking and shivering looks like a seizure and it can be draining for the person so look for medicines and therapies to try and ease their pain.

Be wary that the current batch of dystonia drugs have side-effects that cause stomach and intestinal pain and cramping so be careful.

Always, always consult a doctor or a specialist.

By getting the correct diagnosis you can also save money and keep medical expenditures down.  More to the point, don’t you want to end the suffering of the person that has dystonia?

If you want to help in Rett Syndrome research, you might want to order a copy of my book on Practical Money Making.  Part of all proceeds from sales goes to Rett research.  Check it out below.  Happy Holidays!

  Practical Money Making-Surviving Recession, Layoffs, Credit Problems, Generating Passive Income Streams, Working Full Time or Part Time and Retirement

 

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

What is the difference between a seizure and dystonia?

Flexibility in dealing with Special Needs

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

One of the biggest things that you need to do when dealing with special needs is to remember to be flexible. It means if something isn’t working in your life, in your loved one’s life or in the overall scheme of care for any requirements that you need to maintain a great quality of life (or at bare minimum a decent one), stop and re evaluate.

When Arianna had her VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulator) placed in her, Sharren and I were scared and we weren’t sure if that was the right thing to do. It was to help Arianna from getting seizures.  For a few years, it turned out that it was okay because based on what we were seeing, we saw Arianna grow and thrive.

We had the VNS turned off over a year ago because of some problems. It didn’t seem to be helping her anymore.   and it is looking more and more that Arianna and other Rett Syndrome girls suffer from dystonia, which causes seizure like symptoms.  We had Arianna’s VNS removed a few weeks ago and she is doing great now.  She had partial paralysis on one arm and her cheek and that seems to be sorting itself out. 

Each person’s situation is different and what works for one,may not work for another. So, if the VNS is working for you or your loved one, super.  If not, you may want to consult with your medical team and reconsider.

Try to make the best decisions you can at the time with the advice from the medical community and people who have gone through what you are going through before.  It isn’t easy and it isn’t always a straight line.

Be willing to keep an open mind on some things and on others, particularly your children’s, partner’s or your health, be certain that you don’t do anything to make things worse. 

The same holds true in less serious situations.  If there is a certain activity that can’t be done because somebody is under the weather that day, make sure that you reschedule to get to it another day.  One example would be soccer practice if your child is in AYSO (a great program by the way that just finished it’s current season).

Be sure to err on the side of doing more fun things than less if you can to keep joy in your family’s life.  Notice that I said “fun” and that shouldn’t be equated with “expensive” or even “things that cost money to have fun”.

But that is for another article. 

In the meantime, relax, stay flexible and remember that there will always be things that you HAVE to do.  Know the difference so you can know what things you might WANT do.  When well-meaning friends or relatives start up with you, take a second, sit down, listen and try to avoid punching them in the nose.  Realizing that you know the best things to do for your situation, it sometimes doesn’t hurt to listen, you might hear something or read something in one of their emails that might make sense or open a new perspective for you.

If they are just ranting or aren’t opening that new perspective, you still can be flexible enough to forgive them and save being the tower of strength when you need to deal with hospital stays, school preparations, dealing with government agencies, and jerks.

Just a reminder that if you run a business or are dealing with your day job to do what you need to do to stay open and keep working.  In this economy, you need to keep an income stream.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, and of course, please stay flexible!  Try to have a happy holiday without spending too much money!  If you are also interested in trying to deal with our current economic situation, you may want to check out my book. 

Practical Money Making-Surviving Recession, Layoffs, Credit Problems, Generating Passive Income Streams, Working Full Time or Part Time and Retirement 

 

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

The 4th carnival of special needs and money

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Welcome to the December 2, 2008 edition of special needs and money.
Here we are again folks with our fourth blog carnival! A short one this time around.

special needs-the emotional roller coaster

Nancy Miller presents The Positive Effects of Faith posted at Radiology Technician Schools.

 

special needs-the money go round

Kevin Dawson presents The 10 Commandments of Direct Marketing #2 - Your USP posted at Kevin Dawson’s Copywriting & Traffic, saying, “Value of a USP”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of special needs and money using our carnival submission form.

See you soon!

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

You are reading the fourth carnival of special needs and money at the profitable blog.

The Politics of Special Needs

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

People who have special needs or are caregivers for special needs individuals need to have their voices continually heard.  The reason for this is like anything else in politics, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  If you want to get money or funding for research, a cure, anything to make the quality of life bearable, you need to be able to reach out to the private sector for charity or approach government.

Why is it that some diseases or syndromes make it to the “Chosen List” and are worthy of national attention while others aren’t?  Generally it is either because the special needs situation becomes the flavor of the month and Congress invites people with the disease or syndrome to speak, it gets some good publicity - after all, who would vote against people with special needs, right? - or somebody in political office has a child or relative that has the disease.

If the latter is the case, it turns out that the political figure becomes like a movie star and “This time, it is personal.”  The leader will become the most ardent crusader for the cause and do their best to help with funding, public awareness and anything else they can.

None of the above is a bad thing.

The reason that I am discussing this is because special needs funding and awareness generally gets sidetracked or washed away in election years, wars or when there are natural disasters.  In the last few years we have had a lot of each.  I am hoping that the incoming President, Congressional leaders and respective local leadership across the country remember that a lot of the American tapestry has threads that need a little extra help.

Most people with special needs or caregivers don’t have the money and are in dire need of services.  We, as a people and as a nation, set ourselves apart (or like to) because we are a caring nation.

Please remember to remind our leaders of this and to insure that funding for research and care for special needs and their respective programs are not cut as we work ourselves out of the economic quagmire that we are in over the next few years.  Yes, there are a lot of other issues that we need to get straightened out but let us not forget that all of us know at least somebody who is affected somehow with somebody with special needs and let us work to making all of our lives a little more easier.

Practical Money Making-Surviving Recession, Layoffs, Credit Problems, Generating Passive Income Streams, Working Full Time or Part Time and Retirement

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

 

Talking about the politics of special needs post-election.

Retrofitting and Handicap Access To Polls

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

With the upcoming elections I am wondering how many people who have disabilities have registered and voted already by mail and how many actually are going to make it to vote at their polling places.

Of these polling places, how many of them are truly accessible for people with disabilities.  If they are government buildings, they have to be and a lot of them have been retrofitted.  Nationwide though I wonder how many places are truly accessible.

A few amusement parks until the last few years offered handicap access passes but the entrances to the places to get them weren’t accessible.  Pretty funny unless you are lugging a wheelchair and a child inside of it up six steps to prove to them that you actually have a person that qualifies for a disability pass.  Fortunately, the retrofitting has been done and it makes sense since they deal with millions of people and a large part of their consumer base knows at least one person who has special needs.

Keep this in mind after elections as well.  How easy is it for people who don’t have the same functionality that you or I take for granted to get around or work in today’s world?  We have made jumps of lightyear proportions over the years but it is still hard for some people to get to work or function in today’s society if they can’t walk or can’t see. to use two examples.

Remember too that people who have disabilities and their caregivers spend money.  They are consumers and they want goods and services as much as the next person.  Their money spends just as easily as anybody else.  If you want to be profitable, you need to make sure you cover all your target markets-that is just common business sense.

If you are a parent of special needs children, keep what I am saying in mind at election time (as if you don’t already know this stuff inside and out!) and try to vote for the candidates and initiatives or issues that will help people who can’t help themselves.

While we are at it, I think we need to raise fines for people parking illegally in handicap spots to US $1000 to let people know that we really mean business.  It would be extra income for the communities as well.

Okay, elections are coming up soon, so do your homework, your due diligence and we can all get back to our lives in a day or so. Any changes that the winner will want to implement will have to make it through Congress. There may be a chance that the changes might have to be tested with the Supreme Court. That is part and parcel of our checks and balances system. Expect things to get rolling by or in Spring. It may take about the duration of the presidency to flow through into the economy for you and me to get “fully recovered”. Best of luck to all of us!

Practical Money Making-Surviving Recession, Layoffs, Credit Problems, Generating Passive Income Streams, Working Full Time or Part Time and Retirement

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

 

Are your polling places retrofitted for handicap access?  You sure about that?

The Third Blog Carnival of Special Needs and Money

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

Welcome to the November 2, 2008 edition of special needs and money.
Here we are again folks with our third blog carnival! The popcorn is popping, the rides are working.  Uh oh, one of the rides looks a bit underpowered.

Wait a second, there we go, the rides are all working now.

special needs-the emotional roller coaster

axel presents Living With Physical Pain posted at axel g.

special needs-the money go round

Michelle McFarland-McDaniels presents Use Passive Savings Programs to Fund Autism Treatment posted at Autism Assistance Resources and Information.

Kara Sheridan presents Economic Challenges of Raising a Special-Needs Child posted at KaraSwims, saying, “Raising a child with a disability that is an expensive challenge that has been made more difficult by the financial crisis. Research reveals families with special needs are even harder hit by economic declines.”

Kara certainly has that one right!

Sarah Scrafford presents 100 Free College Rides You Don’t Need Daddy to Pay Forposted at Eduk8.

In case you missed it, we had our annual So California Rett Syndrome picnic. Check it out here please.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of special needs and money using our carnival submission form.

See you soon!

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

You are reading the third carnival of special needs and money at the profitable blog.

A November To Remember

Saturday, November 1st, 2008

Welcome to November.  This November is going to be a November to remember at many levels.

The American and world economies are reeling from financial issues and are starting to get a handle on how to get a handle on making their people and nations profitable again.

It seems internationally every nation has been hit with one catastrophe or natural disaster (some countries got hammered several times with different issues-flooding and earthquakes, for example).

People are trying to hold onto the things they have and take care of their loved ones, people with special needs and friends.

Oh, yes, we have this little thing going on called the American presidential election going on as well. 

Events that are taking place now may not have an immediate effect on our daily lives but rest assured that a few months, even a few years from now, whatever actions we have taken now will have reactions later on.

Start implementing your own plans to make this a November to remember.  Please don’t wait for new Year’s to make any resolutions.  Do it now.  Start making money now.  Start saving now.

Putting off seeing a doctor because you can’t afford it?  Find the money and take care of it now.  If there are critical things going on in your life, please take the time to do it now.

Use the psychological downtime that the world is going through for reflection as to what you want to do with your life and what you think you can do to help the world around you.

If you have special needs or are caring for somebody with special needs, take a minute and take an inventory of what you are doing, what you are getting and what you need to plan for.  Expect that there will be change in the near future and sometimes change isn’t easy.

My thoughts go out to all of us and do what you can to make this a November to remember!

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

Make this a November to remember!

Rett Syndrome Picnic Los Angeles October 25 2008

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

Today we had our Southern California Rett Syndrome picnic.  Special thanks again to Sherri Brady for doing a fantastic job organizing the event.  Special thanks to all the participants and sponsors.  If anybody has any pictures or links to share, please post them in comments so I can get them out there.

Don’t forget the other Rett Syndrome events that we have and we will see you next year as well!

Here are some videos from the event:

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

You are reading the profitable blog and here are some videos for the So Cal Rett Syndrome Picnic 2008.

Special Needs and Breaktime and Burning Out

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

If you have special needs or are a caregiver for somebody who has special needs it is important to schedule breaks in your day. If you are the type of individual who would have been characterized as a type A, over-achiever, go-getter, you name it, all the more reason that you need to take a break. You don’t want to burn out.

If you live in Southern California you are aware that a lot of places are burning out because of dry trees, leaves, insufficient moisture and high winds. Treat yourself like you are a plot of land or a tree and make sure that you are fed and watered, make sure that your roots are deeply embedded in reality and be ready to handle the buffeting winds of change and daily issues.

With the daily issues come moments of great joy, like cooling rain. In the final analysis both the joy and burning out need to be paced.

Things to do in your life if you don’t already have them in place:

1. Every hour try and take 1-5 minutes to break away and keep your head clear.
2. Every hour or two try and take 1-5 minutes to stretch or stand up if you can. You want some physical activity to break whatever it is you were concentrating on for a brief period of time.
3. Plan some selfish time for yourself sometime during the day or at the very least during the week.
4. Put off making life altering decisions until you have given yourself the luxury of some free time to reflect on them and mull over the decisions.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are services and people out there who can help you. Nobody doubts that you are a strong fighter but even superheroes need to retire to their secret caves or their fortress to relax and recharge.
6. Try and find some recreational activities that don’t cost money. This one is just common sense because of the nature of the times we are living in. If you constantly need to spend money to relax you might have some problems if money gets tight. An example of this was a person I knew who use to have to get out of town once a month in order to “stay sane”. The person was always flying all over the place. When the person lost their position there was a problem because the person still was spending money like they were employed. It created a downward spiral until the person learned to live within their means.

This is going to be a theme I will be hitting on again and again because these are financially and emotionally trying times.

Hopefully when you return to caring for yourself or that special person you will have a fresher perspective and stay healthier and in a better frame of mind.

To the people who are being affected by the California fires - especially families with special needs- you are in our hearts and minds. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Be safe and healthy.

Kim Isaac Greenblatt

Special Needs, Break Time and Burning Out are discussed in the profitable blog.