Special Needs Resources

Tom Landis is an angry man with a big heart. The 46-year-old owner of two Texadelphias is out to prove to the restaurant industry - and the rest of the corporate world - that special-needs employees can be business blessings. And he's annoyed with the excuses.

I am not a scientist. I am not smart enough for that. But I am a mother. And although I am not really smart enough for that either, I do know autism from that angle. I know the rigidity and the obsessiveness and the rage over having an aide in school...

You'll find aliens, astronauts and happiness in the fifth annual original show from Jesters, an ensemble of teens and adults with special needs. Every year, the group, which now numbers 35, meets weekly over the course of more than five months, starting in September at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

When I was a young child, I remember my mother teaching me to recite poetry. We would laugh as she brilliantly explained what the poem was going to talk about before she read it to me. I loved our poetry time and wanted to memorize my favorite ones, so I could recite them to my teacher.

EVANSTON, Ill. - Drew McDonough walks quickly past the 50-pound bags of brown sugar and the huge tubs of chocolate frosting. He takes a second to clock in at a computer, dresses in his bakery clothes (hairnet, work shirt, apron) and speed-walks toward the stainless steel table where, five days a week, he packages cups of sticky toffee pudding.

The bright lights, long lines and sounds of a shopping mall during the holiday season can be tough enough for the most hardened shopper. Imagine that environment to a special-needs child who simply wants to meet Santa Claus. That's why the Caring Santa program was developed.

Families of special needs children in D-FW don't have to look far to find a park or playground where they can feel comfortable. They are all over D-FW.With the help of DFW Child magazine, I've compiled a list of the best special needs friendly parks and playgrounds in the area.

Over the years, pint-sized rapper MattyB has built quite a following online. At last count, his videos had a whopping 1 billion views. Not bad for an 11-year-old. But it's his most recent endeavor - a YouTube video defending his younger sister, Sarah Grace, who has Down syndrome - that is really lighting up the Internet.

In this video, a group patrons including former Texas Ranger Michael Young share their experience with Dallas Children's Theater's Sensory-Friendly programs. DCT began offering special Sensory-Friendly performances in 2014. With input from parents, experts who work with a range of special needs children, and partners from Orlando Repertory and Nashville Children's Theater, we implemented small (but effective) changes to the performances.

Posted: When my daughter was diagnosed with Down syndrome, I was given a list. A list of potential features and problems to expect. This list is cold, emotionless and almost comes across as grotesque if you are reading it with fear already in your heart.

skip to content - skip to menu It's in our power to change everything, from individual lives to the wider community. The iPad is a device that many lust after as a shiny new toy, but many people with disabilities can benefit from what it has to offer as a functional tool.

When our vision team at Mesquite ISD purchased an audio descriptive movie four years ago, the students loved listening to it. The movie also became an experience - since the movie involved a dog, a friend who is blind introduced our students with a visual impairment to his guide dog.

Posted: Okay, picture this. A group of five young people, friends since childhood, live together and share their lives with the world through a docu-series titled The Specials. You say to yourself -- what's so special about that? Sounds like just one more reality show.