Blog
Celebrating Special Needs Moms: A Tribute to Their Love, Dedication, and Strength
Motherhood is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and countless sacrifices. For mothers of children with special needs, this journey can be particularly demanding. From navigating complex medical systems to advocating for their children’s rights, special needs moms face unique struggles that often go unseen. As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s essential to shine a light…
ABCs of Occupational Therapy
April is Occupational Therapy Awareness Month April celebrates Occupational Therapy Month to honor our vital profession and the meaningful differences it makes in the lives of special needs children. Occupational Therapy (OT) is like a superhero for children with special needs, helping them accomplish everyday tasks they struggle with. By finding fun ways to accomplish…
In Dire Need for Support: Autism a Costly Diagnosis, Full of Hurdles for Jamaican Families
Jamaica’s lack of support for autism diagnoses leaves families, communities and children with a rough path moving forward Autism is a costly diagnosis for a child in Jamaica. A recent article by Lisa Hanna, a Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, People’s National Party spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade, and a…
Helping Children Integrate Primitive Reflexes
What are primitive reflexes? Primitive reflexes are the reflex actions that arise from the Central Nervous System (CNS). Primitive reflexes are typically present in childhood, but not present in healthy or neurological intact adults. Primitive reflexes are movement patterns that are involuntarily elicited in newborns to enhance chances of survival. During normal development, these reflexes…
Letter of Medical Necessity 101
There are many wonderful developments in our modern world that enhance the quality of life for special needs youth. Access to these tools can be a huge barrier for many children, which is of course the basis of our programming! Insurance can help many families access some of these enhancements, and many are unaware that…
The Importance of Supportive Standing for Children with Mobility Disabilities
Thank you to Rifton for Giving the Gift of Supportive Standing to Smile A While Foundation What is Supportive Standing? For individuals with a physical disability, the ability to stand may not be possible without an assistive device. Supported-standing is defined as using a device to maintain an aligned, upright, weight-bearing position. These assistive devices…
Therapy to Thrive: The Sponsored Therapist
Special Needs Children Need Therapy to Thrive Occupational therapy (OT) plays a significant role in supporting children with special needs. Its impact on these children can be profound and multifaceted, addressing various aspects of their development. Here are several ways occupational therapy can positively impact special needs children including; sensory processing, fine and gross motor…
Building Brighter Futures, Together.
In the world of nonprofits, success is often the result of collaboration, dedication, and a shared vision. As we enter the end-of-year season, our organization is reflecting on the incredible partners who have stood by us, believed in our mission, and supported us this past year. Let’s take a look at our invaluable partners and…
The Role of Occupational Therapy in Schools
A new school year is underway, your child(ren) are beginning to settle into their new routine, classroom, teacher, friends, and while all of these components to school are important, your child(ren)’s ability to learn is at the top. In May 2002, there were approximately 16,950 Occupational Therapists (OT) working in K-12 schools in the United…
ECHO Autism Role Call
Get to Know the ECHO Autism Team Expanding Access to Care ECHO Autism is a virtual learning network of providers offering real-time access to autism and behavioral experts. In Spring 2024, Smile A While Foundation will be rolling out ECHO Autism Jamaica to expand access to therapy resources for special needs children and families. The…
