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Special Needs Families by Traci Castles

Editor's Note: When thinking of someone to help our special needs family readers, the first person who came to my mind was my friend, Traci Castles. She has graciously agreed to blog for us, giving us her insight and wisdom as a mom who has been there and who has been a special needs family advocate for many years. Thank you, Traci!

If you have questions or comments for Traci, feel free to comment at the end of any of her blogs.

About Traci: Traci Castles is the wife of News 9 meteorologist, Jed Castles; and the mother of three children. She is the co-founder of Oklahoma’s parent-to-parent program, Oklahoma Family Network, and a Family Voices in Oklahoma State Coordinator. Mrs. Castles served over five years as family faculty for the University of Oklahoma Tolbert Center for Developmental Disabilities. During that time, she provided a family perspective in coursework for pre-service and graduate higher education curriculum, participated in development of the STARS training program and served as an agency coordinator for SoonerStart, Oklahoma’s Early Intervention Program. Today, Traci is the Business Development Director for Performance Sports Center in Edmond; and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) student at the University of Central Oklahoma.

  • Being Different is Just a Perspective

    This week, my daughter noticed that a boy who had cerebral palsy could not walk. She asked me why. She and I talked about the things that this boy could do and the fact that he could not walk.
    Wednesday, June 18, 2008 (No comments)

  • Find a way to play

    I challenge all parents to help their child to “find a way to play” this summer. So often, those of us who have a child with disabilities struggle with finding somewhere for our children to access play and physical activity over the summer months. I have done some research and found a few places that are very accepting of varying abilities throughout the metro.
    Friday, May 23, 2008 (1 comment)

  • Nick's Law: What is the right thing to do?

    Recently there has been ample information in the news regarding insurance coverage for children with autism. The measure being considered is called 'Nick’s Law.' I have been spending time reflecting about this issue, not only as a parent of a child with autism; but as a taxpayer and Oklahoma resident.
    Sunday, May 4, 2008 (1 comment)

  • Touchy, touchy, touchy....

    I admit it. I am a little ‘touchy’ when it comes to comments made about people who have disabilities, especially children. I have three; and love them with all I am. Imagine that children similar to your child were talked about adversely in public every week.
    Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (No comments)

  • Nick's Law

    What if your insurance company suddenly said they no longer covered any treatments related to your child’s special health care needs, such as asthma or cerebral palsy? How would you feel? How would you budget for the costs of your child’s medical needs? This is an issue that those of us who have children with autism are now facing; and we need your support!
    Wednesday, April 16, 2008 (No comments)

  • A Mother's Hurt

    Call me a mother in denial…call me whatever you want. I am a mother who is hurting. My daughter (who just happens to have autism and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) has been horseback riding for six years. She has the ability to post, trot and gallop. She is beginning to learn the art of jumping and enjoys every minute of the sport. Her riding capability is above most of the girls her age.
    Saturday, April 12, 2008 (No comments)

  • Kids Need Dads

    As I think about the importance of parenthood, fathers come to mind.
    Saturday, April 12, 2008 (1 comment)

  • Don't judge the book by the cover!

    OK…yes, I’ve done it a million times, just like everyone else. I meet someone and I come to a conclusion about who they are. I think that because a person acts a certain way around me; they must act that way all of the time. It’s who they are. Right?
    Tuesday, April 1, 2008 (No comments)

  • Different Thoughts about Spring Break

    Spring Break…for most parents, it’s a fun time with kids…maybe a vacation or just staying home to relax and play! For many parents who have a child with special needs, it’s stressful because it is a transition—actually, it’s two transitions.
    Tuesday, March 18, 2008 (1 comment)

  • Flu Tip

    This has just been a horrible winter for illness. When you have a child who has special health care needs, getting sick can be very scary. For our family, we have to worry about the illness acerbating other health issues, such as auto-immune disease. Last week, I had two children with the flu.
    Tuesday, March 4, 2008 (No comments)

  • What causes this anyway?

    That’s the question I was asked this week by one of my extended family members who wanted to know how my kids were doing. Good question. I have often wondered why and how my kids acquired their special needs. I wonder why my son survived a very traumatic birth and other children don’t. I wonder why all three of my children have had to struggle through life when other’s children seem to go through life with ease.
    Sunday, February 24, 2008 (No comments)

  • Being Way Too Special

    I may be too sensitive about labels, but I just hate it when my family is called “special.” The way I see it…every family has “issues.” We are all different. When someone says, “Is that your child with ‘special issues?” I get offended. I believe we all have “issues.”
    Saturday, February 2, 2008 (2 comments)

  • This is too hard for me

    Having children with disabilities is hard work. Harder than I ever expected life to be. Life as I would have wished it to be was not God’s will. And you know…it’s hard to argue with Him.
    Saturday, February 2, 2008 (1 comment)

  • Handling New Situations With Special Needs Kids

    I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We had an uneventful holiday. It was really great! I used to be the type of person that loved “action” and surprise. Today, as a mother, I truly cherish those run of the mill, humdrum events.
    Saturday, December 29, 2007 (No comments)

  • From the Mind of a Mom, Dec. 9, 2007

    With the holidays approaching, stress goes up. Kids start to have difficulty coping with changes in schedules, crowded places, parties and more rushing around than normal.
    Sunday, December 9, 2007 (No comments)

  • Special Needs Families, Dec. 2, 2007

    When Sarah Taylor first approached me about doing a “blog”, I had to ask, “What’s a blog?’ I know a lot about children who have special needs but do not know anything about "blogging." So, I decided to give this a shot in hopes that someone out there will benefit from the information I have to share. I have struggled with what to share first. I guess the first thing I like to tell someone who is raising a child with special needs is that they are not alone.
    Sunday, December 2, 2007 (3 comments)
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