Tag Archives: Children With Special Needs.

Special Parents Confidential Episode 58 Children’s Healing Center

Children’s Healing Center

Every so often you run across an idea that is so perfect, you find yourself wondering why it hadn’t been done before. Such is the case with The Children’s Healing Center, a new play facility in Grand Rapids, MI.

All Kids Want To Play

We all know the importance that play time and activities has for social development. We can talk about statistics and studies on the subject, but as parents we just know kids like to play with each other. But when a child has a disease or a disorder that compromises their immune systems, social activities usually wind up being left out.

Safe Play Areas For Kids With Immune Deficiencies

Now a new concept has come about here in Grand Rapids, Michigan where I live that is making a major difference. The Children’s Healing Center is a special play and social activity center that is completely germ free. It allows kids with cancers, blood diseases, or any other disorders that cause immune deficiencies to still get out and have a chance to play and socialize with other kids who have similar problems.

They offer fun programs and activities in technology, art and learning, fitness, and exploratory play in a seven thousand square foot facility that is as germ free as possible. 

Joining me on this episode of Special Parents Confidential is Amanda Winn, who is the Founder and the Executive Chair of the Children’s Healing Center. We talk about her background and her very personal reason for starting the Children’s Healing Center, as well as what the center offers for kids and families.

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Links Mentioned In This Episode:

Children’s Healing Center Home Page 

Amanda Winn Biography  

Children’s Healing Center Facebook Page  

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Special Parents Confidential 44 Alix Generous

Alix Generous.

In 2015, a young woman named Alix Generous gave a Ted Talk speech that has subsequently had over 14 million views. The speech was entitled, “How I learned to communicate my inner life with Aspberger’s”, and in it Alix talks about her amazing life and how she has achieved so much.

Living With Aspberger’s Syndrome

As a child, Alix Generous was misdiagnosed with the wrong disorder and had a  great deal of difficulties. It wasn’t until the age of 11 that she was finally correctly diagnosed with Aspberger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of Autism. Since then she has made amazing progress.

At 17, she attended the College of Charleston, where she studied Psychology, Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience. When she was 19, she wrote a paper on Coral Reefs and Microbiology that won the 2012 Citizen Science Biodiversity Competition, and she subsequently was invited to speak at the United Nations on her research. Currently, Alix is working as a Neuroscientist, author, and tech consultant, and she gives speeches around the world on issues concerning science, mental health, STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) and women.

Alix Generous joins us on Skype for this episode of Special Parents Confidential to talk about her life and her work, as well as sharing insights into how people with Autism can be helped and supported.

She also discusses how parents, families, and society can benefit through understanding and acceptance of people with Autism and Aspberger’s Syndrome, as well as all people with any physical or developmental disabilities. As she says on the main page of her website:

“This world is in desperate need of creative and intellectual minds to solve complex problems. But before we can do that, we need to build a culture that accepts mental diversity.”

Links For Alix Generous

How I Learned to Communicate My Inner Life With Aspberger’s – Alix Generous’ Ted Talk Speech on the Ted Talk website.

Alix Generous Website 

Facebook Alix Generous Page

Twitter Account for Alix Generous

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