Welcome to Special Needs Abu Dhabi

Raising a child with special needs can be, in itself, quite challenging. Raising a child with special needs in a new country seems to add much more to that challenge. I started this blog shortly after my husband and I, and our two sons, moved to Abu Dhabi in the summer of 2009. We lived there for under 2 years and are now living back in the United States.


Our oldest son, AJ, has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder. Finding the resources in Abu Dhabi to help him with his special needs was an ongoing effort. In the U.S., the public school system provides testing, accommodations, and an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for students with special needs, so we were spoiled there -- and dismayed at the seemingly apparent shortage of resources available to ex-patriot families (aka "ex-pats") in Abu Dhabi.


There are resources available in Abu Dhabi -- you just have to know where to look. Which is why I started this blog. My hope was to bring together in one place information to help parents of kids with special needs... so you will at least have a starting point. I also wanted this to be a place where we can reach out and support one another with advice and sometimes just a shoulder to lean on.


We have been back in the U.S. for about a year now, and I haven't written on the blog since the move -- until now. There have been a few parents who found the blog and wrote to me for advice -- and I have been happy to give it. I'm glad that it continues to serve its original purpose of helping ex-pat parents to find resources in Abu Dhabi to help their kids with special needs.


Recently, I have begun feeling the need to write again, but I've been unsure how to move ahead with the blog. In hindsight, I don't know if life is any less challenging in the U.S. than it was in Abu Dhabi. There are still daily struggles. I continue to advocate for my son who has ADHD -- to get him the help in school and in life that he needs in order to thrive, learn and grow. There have been steps forward and backward. I have felt hopeless and hopeful.


If you are in Abu Dhabi, or considering a move there, please leave a comment. If you know of resources that you've found helpful, let me know and I'll add them to the list. If you come across an article or book that has made a difference in your child's life, please share. Most of all, I hope you will share your stories. Wherever you are, it's good to know you're not alone.


Thanks for coming by.


For our kids,

Karen

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Special Books for Kids

I read a lot of books -- books about special needs, parenting books, self-help books, books about spirituality, books about inspirational people, and (yes) mushy love stories. Reading is something I truly enjoy and it's a passion that I hope to pass along to my children.

There are many wonderful children's books out there, full of fantastic characters and exciting adventures. We have a bookcase full of them! During one of my recent visits to Booksource in the Khalidiya Mall in Abu Dhabi, I came across a display of children's books that all seemed to share a similar theme: self-help for kids! Dr. Wayne Dyer, who has written countless self-help books for adults, has written quite a few children's books as well. Louise Hay, known for writing wonderful books about meditation and self-healing, has also written a children's book. I decided to buy a couple of these books and see what my kids would think about them.

The book I chose by Dr. Wayne Dyer (with Kristina Tracy) is entitled No Excuses! How What You Say Can Get In Your Way.
It's about a little boy who has a big dream for his future, but begins to have strong doubts about ever reaching his dream. Several adults in his life say things that are discouraging -- and the little boy starts repeating those negative things to himself and is almost convinced to give up his dream. This is a wonderful story about changing negative self-talk into positive. Dr. Dyer writes in his introduction:
Recently I wrote a book for adults called Excuses Begone! It teaches how people can achieve what they desire in life by letting go of the excuses they make once and for all. Wouldn't it be great if children could learn at an early age how to eliminate excuses from their lives? 
Once your children see how often they use excuses and how excuses stop them from reaching their goals, they can start to change these habits and be free from self-limiting thoughts.
In this book, your child will learn:
• Where excuses come from
• Why people make excuses
• How to stop making excuses
It is my hope that both you and your child will gain insights from these pages, enjoy learning together, and live a life of NO EXCUSES!
The other book I chose, by Louise L. Hay (with Kristina Tracy), is entitled I Think, I Am! Teaching Kids the Power of Affirmations. The book is full of examples that kids will relate to, with colorful illustrations to help keep their attention. When AJ gets frustrated, he will often put himself down, saying things like, "I hate my handwriting!" Reading books such as this, I hope, will help to turn around those negative thoughts. Louise writes:
This book... gives you a way to teach your children about affirmations. Affirmations are the thoughts and words we use in our daily lives. Words of worry, anger, and fear are negative affirmations. Optimistic words of hope, happiness, and love are positive affirmations.
Inside I Think, I Am! you will see examples of kids turning "negative" thoughts into positive words and actions. You can practice doing this at home with your child... A great affirmation to start with is "I love myself." Say this, or any other positive affirmation, over and over, and notice the difference!
 One of my favorite lessons in her book is this one:
When you see kids who look or act different from you, you might say to yourself... I hope I don't have to ride with them.
Try to look past the differences you see on the outside. Think... I SEE THE BEST IN EVERYONE.
Our special needs kids face so many challenges -- and negative self-image is one of the hardest things to overcome. They endure the strange looks, the hurtful comments, the stress of trying so hard, the feeling that their best may never be good enough. My husband and I try to make sure that both our kids know that we love them just the way they are -- unconditionally, no matter what. Maybe books like these can help to reinforce that.

I would love to hear from my readers! I've had close to 300 site visits so far! Thank you to those who have emailed me with encouraging and supportive comments and ideas. Please continue to email me, but comment on the blog too so others may benefit! (Please click on the Comments link below to share your thoughts.)

For our kids,
Karen
specialneedsabudhabi@gmail.com
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2 comments:

Laura Efinger said...

Thanks for the feedback about these books. So bizare that I was just at Barnes and Nobles nd looking at Amazon this week and was amazed to find his children's books! I only thougt he had the adult books! Gret review, thanks...keep up the good posts!
Laura

January 12, 2011 at 6:07 PM
Karen said...

Thanks Laura. My kids still request these to read at bedtime. We also bought Wayne Dyer's book "Incredible You" recently -- another favorite.

January 12, 2011 at 7:29 PM

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