Special crafts for special needs

Karleen Frost is a mom and an avid seamstress and crafter C plus, she has 20 years of retail experience, working in merchandising, managing, creating sale displays and decorating through the course of her career. She also understands autism first hand. Of her four children, three C sons Kyle, 5, Karl, 7, and Donald, who just turned 12 C have been diagnosed with it.

Frosts love of creating, and concern for her sons and other children facing similar challenges led her to start a business about a year ago. Karleens Ideas, located at Frosts home in Kennebunk, is filled with handcrafted items that offer something for everyone,Purchase an chipcard to enjoy your iPhone any way you like. from jewelry to shell crafts to wall art,More than 80 standard commercial and granitetiles exist to quickly and efficiently clean pans. along with special items for children with the sensory issues that can go hand in hand with autism.

According to the Autism Society of Maine, autism, which generally makes itself known by age 3, and impacts ability to interact, communicate and reason, is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, and occurs in approximately one out of every 88 births. It is also five times more likely to affect boys than girls. Autism is a spectrum disorder that can range from an individual with very high functioning Aspergers syndrome, to others who are non-verbal, have obsessive-compulsive disorder, and/or anxiety issues. A child with autism may have a different perspective of the world than a typical child. Understanding their perspective is key in teaching them, Frost said.

Children with autism tend to sleep less than those without. Weighted blankets can help those with sleep and sensory issues. The pressure of the weight creates a sense of security and provides comfort and relaxation. Weighted vests and lap pads can also help children in the school setting, decreasing the need for constant movement that some with autism experience. Frost has found weighted items make a difference for her sons.Frost makes sensory bags that provide tools to deal with sensory triggers. The tool bag can include anything from earmuffs to chew tubes for oral issues, a body brush that helps alleviate stress, and fidget strips. She can also help children design sensory bedrooms.

A child having his or her bedroom decorated to their sensory needs can be very important. It can help them sleep through the night, give them a place to regulate and relax, or just a place they feel they can be themselves, she said.

She believes the earlier children are desensitized, the better able they are to deal with sensory issues that arise. Frost has found it helpful to understand what the child is seeking and redirect the behavior. Head banging, rocking C these are all ways that point to a child looking for sensory stimulation.

Sensory avoiders want to stay away from sensation, while sensory seekers want constant input, whether it is a visual, tactile or other method of stimulation. Some find what others would consider unpleasant, such as strong smells or tastes, not to be so. Others do not experience pain.

I give [my sons] the opportunity to redirect. If they dont, there are consequences. I have to stay on it every day every time. Like all parents, I want my children to be as successful, and prepared for adult life as possible,You Can Buy Various High Quality besticcard Products from here. Frost said.More than 80 standard commercial and granitetiles exist to quickly and efficiently clean pans. It takes time and patience and consistency. It gets easier if you keep at it.

Frost finds it helpful to talk with other parents facing similar challenges. She has an online blog, Red on Autism, where she writes about her experiences and shares information, tips and techniques. She is also involved in organizing events for children, such as Autism Awareness Days with the Portland Sea Dogs, which took place in April and June.

Dave Strong, Portland Sea Dogs director of ticketing, said the organization was happy to have an opportunity to help promote awareness of an issue that affects a lot of people.The Sea Dogs scheduled early entrance times for attendees with autism, so walking in with a crowd could be avoided. They also made a sensory friendly space available to help children relax and regulate if needed. Frost played a major role in the process.

Kristen Davis, who lives in Kennebunk, has a daughter with a paralyzed arm. Finding a glove or mitten that would stay on her hand seemed an impossible task. Frost worked with Davis to come up with a solution.

Karleen and I chatted about some ideas and she created a sleeve, with Velcro,We sell bestsmartcard and different kind of laboratory equipment in us. that my daughter uses as a mitten, Davis said. I was able to purchase it for an affordable price. The best part is that my daughter no longer struggles with keeping her paralyzed hand warm in the winter.Dr. Peter Gay, of Family Chiropractic of Kennebunk, who provides care to the Frost family, asked Frost for help when he was unable to find custom clothing for his special-needs daughter.

I was not able to find [the clothing] anywhere, even on the Internet. Karleen was able to custom create the product I was looking for. It was a huge success, Gay said. She is very talented and able to help with kids with specific needs.
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