Susan Traugh

February is “Eating Disorder Awareness Month” and a good time for teachers of special needs teens to provide their students with the information they need to make healthy eating choices and be aware when troubled eating patterns arise. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses with some of the highest overall mortality rates of any mental illness. And, teens are especially susceptible. But, with early intervention, help can be found.   Get the Facts on Eating Disorders  

It can be difficult for young people to afford clothes for their first interviews and jobs. February’s Secondhand Wardrobe Awareness Month is a wonderful time to help students learn about the advantages of shopping secondhand.   Style on a Dime   “Thrifters,” or people who regularly shop at thrift stores, know that real deals can be made by shopping secondhand. In fact, they say that thrift-shopping saves shoppers about 90% of an item’s new, retail price on a regular basis.  

Valentine’s Day is also National Condom Day. Clearly, somebody had a sense of humor—and a good idea—since 50% of the pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned. Fifty percent . And, while discussing condom use with teens with special needs may be a difficult or uncomfortable topic, federal mandates for transition services for teens with special needs requires that we educate our students on matters of sexuality.   Why Condoms?   The truth is, any comprehensive sexual education pro

When the world is good, our students receive many random acts of kindness. People may reach for things that are out of reach. Or, they might alter a game to accommodate our student’s needs. They might go out of their way to include our kids in their activities. And, that is good.   However, we can also help our students feel the empowerment that comes from being the giver of a random act of kindness and there is no better time to do that than during this month’s National Rand

Deep into the cold of winter, there’s nothing as comforting as a bowl of warm oatmeal. Maybe that’s why “National Oatmeal Month” falls in January.   For teens with special needs, making this meal by themselves can be a satisfying adulting skill that they can take with them into independent life. And, the ease and simplicity of this recipe makes the process perfect for introducing teens to the art of cooking.   Free “Making Oatmeal” Video   This oatmeal is made in a microwave

Wouldn’t you know that they’d make the third week of January Healthy Weight Week? It’s like they knew we’d all be looking at our resolutions and slapping that one onto the list. In fact, losing weight, getting healthier, and improving our lifestyles are all resolutions that always make the top ten of people’s desires.   So, What Do We Do?   Two weeks ago we discussed how to make a resolution that works. Remember: baby steps. Actionable goals.   But, you can’t make a reasonabl

After the holidays, many students are left with a desire to thank friends and family for the gifts of the season, but no knowledge of how to write a thank-you note. Expressing thanks ties in nicely with January’s National Universal Letter Writing week and lets students learn how to format an effective thank-you.   Begin with a Template   Too often parents and teachers ask students to write a thank-you note only to be met with the phrase, “What do I say?”   Providing students

There’s a joke that says the most successful business in the world would be one that is a gym the first two weeks in January and a donut shop the rest of the year.   That’s the trouble with New Year’s resolutions: we all start out with good intentions, but quickly lose our interest and ability to keep up.   The Problem with Resolutions   Too often, the problem with resolutions is that we try to take on the world. “I’m going to lose twenty pounds, keep my finances in complete

At the end of October, when stores discount their Halloween candy, it’s a great time to grab a bunch and teach students about simple and...

Budgeting is an essential skill needed for independent living. By starting with small steps, we can help our students with special needs...