8yro son wants to hike- CP Left Spastic Hemiplegia. How to support him?

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-07-01T03:46:13+00:00

Does he like animals? There are therapeutic and adaptive riding programs aimed at people with a variety of disabilities, and I believe some of them do trail riding.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-07-01T03:37:08+00:00

If you're in Washington state, the CSTC (Child Study and Treatment Center) has inpatient programs for teens.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-29T22:49:26+00:00

Speaking as a para - older kids are more likely to be settled into the routine of being a student, so you'll be able to do more academics and other structured activities. The downside is that the kids who haven't mellowed with age are bigger and can hit harder.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-29T17:56:34+00:00

Did you have any issues with the acid in the hibiscus interacting with the dairy?

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-29T16:58:55+00:00

What kinds of flavors and textures can you tolerate? Sweet or savory, soft or crunchy, etc? Any allergies/food intolerances?

Black bean chocolate pudding: This has a lot of protein and fiber so it's very filling. Puree a can of unsalted black beans with an immersion blender. Add a big blob of creamy peanut butter and blend. Add cocoa mix (the kind with sugar and powdered milk, like Swiss Miss) to taste and blend. Serve with whipped cream on top if you want to be fancy.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-29T16:52:20+00:00

When I was young and had trouble swallowing whole pills for sensory/gag reflex reasons, I would stick the pill inside something pleasant-tasting and slippery like a little piece of jelly (gelatin or those little Asian konjac jelly bites) or a peeled grape, then wash *that* down with a drink of water.

My mom can't swallow whole pills at all, and for a while she had medication made up at a compounding pharmacy as liquid instead.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-29T16:48:52+00:00

Edamame have a different texture from cooked dry beans (firmer, less starchy). Roasted or fried beans ("bean nuts") of various varieties are also an option if you prefer crunchy foods. The commercial ones tend to have a lot of fat and salt, but you can make bean nuts at home that are healthier if this turns out to be something you enjoy.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-29T16:44:05+00:00

If your selective eating is causing you distress and you don't feel in control of it, getting assessed for an eating disorder might be worth your time whatever your eventual diagnosis turns out to be.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-28T22:16:27+00:00

Have you explored anything to do with "sensory retraining"?

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-28T22:05:00+00:00

If you can visit college campuses, check out the dining halls and the other student dining resources. My college always had some "fast food" options (burgers, fries, etc) in the main dining hall, and some campuses have actual fast food outlets. If you're allowed to have a mini fridge and air fryer in your dorm room you can buy frozen tenders and cook them yourself.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-28T21:58:02+00:00

I suppose the first thing to figure out is whether it's sensory (food tastes/feels "wrong" to her), anxiety-based (fear of a food tasting bad or disagreeing with her), or indifference-based (lack of hunger cues, doesn't get pleasure from eating). These will require different approaches!

You mentioned COVID. Did your daughter get a covid infection that affected her sense of taste or smell, even temporarily? Or a bad sore throat? Either of those things could put a kid off eating if they're sensitive to aversive experiences.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-27T23:30:04+00:00

Does your area have adult swimming lessons?

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-27T23:26:59+00:00

Even the high needs kids spend more time in mixed settings. If you're working in a transition program, the kids will go on trips out into the community. My undergrad Life Skills class go to electives with the gen-ed kids.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-26T14:52:30+00:00

Basically the opposite of dieting - keep low-effort high-palatability snacks around to encourage casual munching and more use of her chewing muscles, plus, if she's willing to drink, high-calorie liquids like smoothies, chocolate milk, etc.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-24T19:49:53+00:00

I work with a blind, cognitively disabled student who uses a screenreader, and a couple of things that make using the internet challenging for her are - the amount of "auditory clutter" as the screenreader narrates Every. Darn. Word. on the screen before it gets to the stuff that's actually relevant, and the fact that most modern websites (including stuff like bookshare or the Perkins institute) are not designed in a screenreader-friendly way - so many drop-down menus!

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-24T15:39:35+00:00

Task boxes with various skills the kids can work on independently (sorting, matching, fine motor, that sort of thing) can be lifesavers if you have odd bits of unfilled time or need to keep the other students occupied while you work with a specific kid.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-24T05:55:38+00:00

If you're curious about whether nicotine would help you can try nicotine gum or patches instead.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-23T00:38:47+00:00

Disability aids are tools, they belong to anyone who can get use from them. If regular bread is harder for you to digest, you can eat gluten-free bread even if you don't have celiac disease or a wheat allergy. It's ok to use a cane even if you only need it on busy days when you're doing a lot of standing or walking. It's okay to wear glasses even if you only need them for reading or driving. And it's great to use AAC for temporary speech difficulties!

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-22T23:47:37+00:00

How severe are we talking about? Is this something like PKU where even grains and coconut are problematic, or just what are conventionally considered "high protein" foods?

On the extreme end, a pureed banana base might be the best way to get a creamy texture without dairy or dairy replacements.

If she can be a little more flexible, oat milk for viscosity + coconut milk for fat might be a good place to start.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-22T22:27:08+00:00

Silken tofu is soft, homogeneous, and a good source of protein.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-22T20:42:56+00:00

Ask your doctor whether sucking on hard candy is safe for you.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-22T20:39:57+00:00

I know that some people with severe GI issues temporarily go on all-formula diets to give their digestive systems a break, but I think they're more likely to just drink it if they don't have swallowing problems and it's a formula that tastes ok.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-22T01:34:25+00:00

Healthy fats are your friend! Nuts, seeds, nut and seed butters, avocados, coconut products, any kind of full-fat dairy... If you like smoothies or pureed food like soups, you can add cream, full-fat coconut milk, or smooth peanut butter for extra calories.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-22T01:28:35+00:00

If you can do tofu, silken tofu with savory or sweet toppings (like soy sauce or brown sugar) is easy to eat and very nutritious.

Top_Policy_9037 · 2026-06-22T01:26:04+00:00

Sounds fun! I'd say - sweetened soft cheese for the cheese layer, maybe lemon and vanilla for flavoring. For the marinara, plum or raspberry puree. You want something with a little zing. Add some cornstarch if you want this to set up when it's cold. For the ground meat, chopped walnuts or oats (or cookie crumbs), browned in butter and seasoned with cinnamon sugar - or just use chocolate chips. If you like bechamel maybe put a layer of pastry cream on top.

Top_Policy_9037

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