From Libraryjournal.com, a review of “Autistics’ Guide to Dating: A Book by Autistics, for Autistics and Those Who Love Them or Who Are in Love with Them,” by Jody and Emilia Ramey.

Married couple Jody and Emilia Ramey are both on the autistic spectrum and often collaborate as disability advocates. While sharing their own story of courtship, they clearly address for other autistics such issues as eye contact, social skills, and personal space in relation to meeting someone and fostering a relationship that could evolve into a committed romantic love. Each chapter ends with a call to action, suggesting ways that caregivers and parents can help.

Jody and Emilia have explored what a successful relationship requires of them individually and as a couple; their sensible strategies for overcoming communication and social deficits result in an insightful and accessible guide for autistics, their loved ones, and anyone looking to become a part of a couple.

Here’s a video from Leeza Gibbons’ “Health Corner” on Lifetime TV:

They may not necessarily mean to be unkind, but people around a child with disabilities may make insensitive comments or ask inappropriate questions sometimes. How do you deal with that?

Meet Johanna, whose 4-year-old son Jack has Down’s Syndrome and Alopecia. Many people, especially children, ask questions out of curiosity. Sometimes she’s happy to educate and enlighten others – other times, it’s very trying. She worries that Jack can understand comments people make around him.

Through it all, Jack has proved a blessing for her, and his special situation has taught her some things, too.

Gibbons talks about her family’s experience as her mother developed Alzheimer’s disease. Her father had cards to distribute: “My wife has a memory disorder. Please be patient.”

See also:

• Leeza’s Ten Commandments of Caregiving (Examples: Do not take anything personally. Do not fall prey to shame and stigma. Find humor in many places.)
  
• Entertainer Leeza Gibbons named to key Alzheimer’s post

From the Summit [Colorado] Daily News:

Disability 101 columnist Sandy Lahman recaps a middle school wheelchair race between two students, one with disabilities, one without. Read the column to find out who won.

Help is not the best gift you can give to a person with disabilities. The greatest gift you can give a disabled person is to show them the many things they can do well.

Earlier columns here.

From Time magazine: A mother’s tips on how parents can support their “typically developing” kids. Amy Lennard Goehner is writing from the perspective of a mother of a child with autism, but her sage advice can be used across a wide range of disabilities. Among her tips:

• Explain the disability to the typical kids, and make it part of the ongoing discussion within the family.
• Acknowledge that any feelings kids have about their siblings, including negative ones, are understandable and acceptable.
• Introduce typical kids to other children who have siblings with disabilities.
• Give them strategies for playing with their disabled sibling.
• Don’t put the typical sibling in charge of handling problem behaviors.
• Create private time with your typical child every week
• Encourage honesty, and have a sense of humor.

The good news, Goehner says, is that typical siblings often turn out to be more compassionate and caring than average.
Thanks a million to Cindy Simon for sending this my way!

From Exceptional Parent:

Barbara Roy offers tips and encouragement designed to help people with disabilities participate in community theater. An excerpt:

As the curtain closed on the finale of the popular musical, Annie, the stage was filled with 40 middle school and high school actors. Among them were Adrian, who has Asperger syndrome; Terry, who is a dwarf; Caitlinn, who has brain damage and is in a wheelchair; and Sharon, who has Down syndrome. The audience stood and applauded loudly. It was obvious they loved the show! As a director with 36 years experience in K-12 and community theater, I am pretty sure the entire cast enjoyed the experience; I am entirely sure that they all learned something.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Ten million Americans have significant hearing loss, but only one in five Americans who can benefit from using a hearing aid actually wears one, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Why not? Lot of reasons: They’re expensive, easy to break or lose, and need regular maintenance. They’re ugly. But the worst thing is they make people think you’re old.

Tips and web links are included.

From KARE 11 TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul:

Photojournalist Jim Douglas, with the help of reporter Boyd Huppert, follows the story of his Aunt June and her journey into Alzheimer’s. Video of the series is available, as well as supplementary material and tips for families.