Notes from the Editor “Alternative Therapies”

Welcome to the LARGEST issue of Parenting Special Needs Magazine to date! As I sit here to write this, I am in the middle of a few things: this issue and its deadlines, the children going back to school, trying to get settled into the new routine of therapies, pick up and drop off, as well as juggling work, parenthood and married life. Seems like a lot, right? Well, we are all in similar boats. Our collective lives are filled with how to be great “jugglers” throughout our days.  It is a daily reminder that we are the ones who are best equipped to handle the “curve balls” as they are coming our way.

So, in the effort of trying to help each of us, this issue is about Alternative Therapies as well as great advice and information about how we can, perhaps, open up our busy eyes to new ways of doing things. Ways that might very well give us some added help, get us some added results, and help us to see some new ways of doing things. After all, the word “alternative” is all about choices. Finding new ways of doing things. Finding better and more efficient ways of doing things. Who is to say that there is only one way of doing something? The one constant in each of our lives is change. No two days are the same…no two reactions are the same…no two children are the same. Why then, should we accept the same treatments/therapies as the only response to our situations?

In this issue, we are proud to present to you some therapies that have been around for a very long time and some that are so new that they are in the experimental stages. Yet, many of you might not have heard of some or all of them. Some might have heard of them, but might have thought they would not benefit you or your child. We think you might be surprised when you read these articles. For example, did you know that the use of horses in therapy dates back to 600 B.C.?

Read our “Horse Power” article and discover the wonderful function of these incredible animals. Did you know that a leading university is developing a new therapy called PINCH? They are discovering wonderful applications as we speak and you, too, can read about it in our article on this new therapy.

We also have a very insightful article about a therapy called H.I.T. Dr. Nelson Mane, is achieving tremendous results from the application and you can read an insightful interview with him.

In addition to all of our regular features, we would like to announce a new column called “Proud Moments”. These are moments that happen daily, weekly, or whenever, that make you proud of your child.

We encourage you to, not only read about these moments, but also, to submit your own “proud moments” to us for future issues. Share these moments with our readers…we all like to support you in these accomplishments.

Lastly, thank you to all of our contributors and readers for helping us grow and to continue to get the word out to as many people as possible. We are a community and working together we can continue to offer better choices & alternatives to those who truly need it.

COVER CREDIT: A Special thank you to Joan Milligan for our Cover Photo. Joan is a NARHA Instructor at Okeechobee Special Equestrian.