Parent Help

Recreational drug use and addiction is a complex issue that has permeated the culture and touched the lives of most families.  Find out more here.

Are you or anyone you know experiencing alcohol use disorder?

Addiction Group is dedicated to help individuals suffering from substance abuse and prevent new cases through credible information and spreading awareness to as many as we can reach. Every fact-based piece of content is written by journalists or medical professionals.

This website has factual resources and information to help struggling individuals & families get their lives back on track, including relapse prevention skills.

Alcohol Addiction: Effects, Mental Health, and Relapse Prevention

The damage caused by substance abuse doesn’t only affect the individual who is battling alcohol or drug dependency. The effects of addiction impact friends and family members close to the individual, as well. The reason addiction can last months or even years is because friends and family members who recognize what’s going on don’t always know how to seek help for their loved ones. This is where our staff at Free by the Sea comes in.  See more here.

In our guide, discover when and why teens abuse substances and how you can help them seek treatment.

Read more here.

An excellent resource on ASD and sleep-related issues can be found here

How to prepare and provide for your Autistic child after you have gone

Techniques for avoiding and managing meltdowns can be found here

For parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making sure they’re taking medication that keeps them healthy can be an especially difficult task. This guide will explain why children with autism reject medication and specific tips to make taking medicine as easy as possible – see more here

“Sensory Activities for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders,” written by Purdue Global’s professor in early childhood, Dr. Lisa Wright is a resource resource provides examples of sensory-friendly community activities and offers activity-planning tips for parents. Find out more here.

For individuals or families with children that have sensory processing disorder, it is important for homeowners to create a safe space for those dealing with this condition. To find out how to create a sensory-friendly space, click here.

SLPs can teach parents and caregivers appropriate activities to build their children’s communication skills at home from early childhood through young adulthood.

SLPs tailor speech therapy plans and activities to individual children based on their communication abilities and needs. Those plans incorporate activities at home, school and in the community.

“SLPs then collaborate with the parents to establish child-specific techniques and teach them strategies for these routines,” SLP Adena Dacy said. “Together, they share resources, problem solve and offer feedback as needed.”

To find out more, click here.

Children with autism are likely to suffer many more oral health problems, including tooth decay, gum disease and dental injury, than children without autism. Many autistic kids have sensory sensitivities that make it difficult to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine. Read Byteme’s guide on oral hygiene for children with autism here.

The importance of play in any child’s life cannot be understated. It helps develop motor skills, cognitive development and enables one’s ability to socialize. For those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), however, play can prove more challenging; special considerations need to be made from both parents and teachers on what resources are used to allow interaction and expression. Find a list of suggested games and activities for young people with autism here.

Meetings, exhibits, tours, festivals, and weddings are but a few of the events people attend every year. These events, however, can present challenges related to facilities, terrain, and ambiance for individuals who have disabilities. Creating an accessible event for all means you must consider the full attendee experience. Everything from the parking and transportation options to the décor and surroundings of the event should be planned out in advance. No matter what event you are planning, these general accessibility tips will help accommodate guests. Find out more here.

Depression and anxiety affects us all differently.  We all face challenges to our mental health. Depression and anxiety changes the way we think, feel and deal with tough times.  Talk to the Depression Helpline today.

The stranger danger scare easily applies to a random creepy person your kid might run into on the street. Most kids know better than to go near them. But what happens when a friend — someone they’ve been opening up to for months, building a solid, trusting emotional relationship — wants to meet in real life? How does a parent deal with classmates who’ve created a group on social media dedicated solely to humiliating, embarrassing, and spreading rumours about their child?

Read more here.

Keeping kids away from inappropriate YouTube content can feel overwhelming. There are several billion YouTube videos (500+ hours of video are uploaded every minute), and 2 billion users log into YouTube every month — so how do we filter out all of the violent, sexual, manipulative, hateful, and otherwise unsuitable content that our kids find on YouTube. Find out more here.

Threats to children’s internet safety include invasions of privacy, cyberbullying, sexting and harassment. Options to protect your children include parental controls, apps and tracking software. But the most effective way to keep your kids safe is to talk with them about online risks, how to avoid them and how they can come to you when something goes wrong. Find out more here.

Our mission is to reduce distress and save lives by providing safe, accessible, effective, professional and innovative services.

Our free community helplines, 0800 LIFELINE and Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 TAUTOKO as well as our text support service HELP (4357) are answered by our highly trained team from centers in Auckland and Christchurch.

In this resource, find many different ways to reduce anxiety in children. Find out more here.

With a few tips, we can help our disabled loved ones with little to no hiccups.

Read more here

Speech impediments, or speech disorders, can lead to feelings of insecurity and frustration. They can also cause worry for family members and friends who don’t know how to help their loved ones express themselves. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that speech disorders can be treated, and in many cases, cured. Health professionals in fields including speech-language pathology and audiology can work with patients to overcome communication disorders, and individuals and families can learn techniques to help. Find out more here.

The Vision Centre website has research based information for those seeking eye surgery and other vision correction options. All content published on Vision Centre is researched, written, and edited by licensed optometrists, experienced journalists, and other medical writers in the industry. All pages on our website are fact-based and sourced from recent scientific research, scholarly articles, textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. Other resources available include Eye Exams and Hyperopia.

Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children With Special Needs

Specialized gyms help over-sensitive (or under-sensitive) kids

Most kids with mild sensory problems and no other issues do just fine learning and socializing at school with a bit of understanding, extra support, a sensory diet, and a few simple accommodations. You may be able to work this out informally with your child’s school. However, a child with sensory processing disorder (SPD) may need more help to thrive in the classroom and elsewhere at school (the cafeteria, gym, art class, etc.).

A guide for parents

A great article with some useful tips on how you should modify your Home for a Child with a Disability.

If you are the parent or caregiver for a child with special needs, you want them to be able to play and explore like any other child but in an environment that is safe for them.  Find out more here

Some common behavioral issues present in children may actually be signs of a sensory processing disorder. Find out more here

An article which helps share light on resources for special education in a COVID-19 world. To find out more, click here.

Getting enough sleep gives you more energy, improves mood, and boosts your immune system. In a nutshell, it makes you healthier and puts you in a better headspace. However, people with physical disabilities tend to suffer from sleep problems and disturbances. For the physically disabled, sleep deprivation can also evolve into narcolepsy, daytime sleepiness, and sleep apnea.

This guide will take a closer look at how people with different physical and sensory disabilities suffer from sleep deprivation and its impact on their overall well-being. Click here to find out more.

Creating a safe and accessible environment for individuals on the autism spectrum is one of the best ways to support them, no matter their individual needs. Thankfully, there are many ways to do this — one way is with a sensory room. Find out more here.

At Winnie, we believe all children deserve access to high-quality early education and childcare programs designed to meet them where they are and encourage and support their growth. Every child is different and has unique strengths and challenges, and we recognize that no one term accurately describes every child’s experience. Find out more here.

A list of STEM resources for kids with special needs here

Special vehicle modifications for people with disabilities can help keep you on the road. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help properly equip your vehicle.

Find grant resources here

Home modifications help people with disabilities stay in their homes longer by making it easier for them to complete the tasks of daily life. Find out more here

It is essential to understand the signs and symptoms of substance abuse and understand the difference between experimentation and addiction. Teenagers and high school kids are searching for their identity and trying to learn more about themselves. It is a part of growing up and becoming a young adult. To find out more, click here.

This guide is geared to parents and guardians of young people ages 10 to 14. Keep in mind that the suggestions on the following pages are just that—suggestions. Trust your instincts. Choose ideas you are comfortable with, and use your own style in carrying out the approaches you find useful. To find out more, click here.

Teen oral health is incredibly important. With calendars stacked with school, jobs, sports, and social lives, it can be easy for teens to toss oral hygiene to the wayside. It’s important to prioritize it. Click here to read through Byteme’s Teen Oral Hygiene Guide.