If you Google “october is” these are the first pages that come up…
… Breast Cancer Awareness month
…Women’s History month
… Domestic Violence Awareness month
… Child Abuse Prevention month
… Canadian Library month
… National Popcorn Poppin’ month
… Eye Health month (in Canada)
That was just the first page of results. And yes, everyone should be aware of those things, but there’s one “October is…” that should be listed but it wasn’t (and I looked throught the first 45 pages of results and still couldn’t find it.
October is Sensory Processing Disorder Month!!
(The button above is a photograph of Three Channels‘, Edward, using his therapy putty and tiny farm animals to increase fine motor skills.)
I’m sure most people reading this and are scratching their heads, thinking “You’ve never mentioned your kids had this. Why are you posting about it?”
Did you know that “Research by the SPD Foundation indicates that 1 in every 20 children experiences symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder that are significant enough to affect their ability to participate fully in everyday life.” ???
1 in 20!!! That means that in Munchkin’s class at school, 1 of the kids could have some symptons of SPD. There are 20 classes in Munckin’s school which means that at least 20 kids in her school are affected in some way with SPD.
I’m lucky enough to know a very special boy who’s been diagnosed with SPD. It makes his life very difficult. It makes is family’s life very difficult. There are psychologist and therapists, finding just the right school with just the right teacher.
Oh, and one of the biggest hurdles for him…going out the front door of his house. The world can be a very scary place for a little boy who can’t control the actions of other people and things. So many things make him uncomfortable and will throw his day completely off.
I wish that I could tell you all there is about SPD…but I’m still learning myself. And I think that is what is most important about SPD Month.
Awareness.
Please start by reading my friend Kia’s blog. She has written about her daily life and the ups and downs of living with a little boy who has SPD.
While you’re at Kia site, there are links to blogs of other parents who’s children have SPD. You’ll see the broad spectrum of SPD…kids who want stimulation, kids who avoid stimulation and many different kids in between. Reading all those blogs will show support to the parents and let the know that there are people in the world who want to know more and who want to understand.
I included on a few links but there are so many more that I wish I had time to link too…please see Kia’s site and the others for more SPD links.
(Please comment on Kia’s SPD Awareness Month post and let her know that I sent you there! Thanks.)
So go and read, learn, and be aware!
