THE EDITOR IN CHIEF'S DESK FAYE SIMON
Comfort and Joy
EP Magazine readers know how important family and community are when it comes to the care of loved ones with a disability.
Our year-end issue focuses on Family and Community, and no one is more aware than the readers of EP Magazine of how important having that support is when it comes to the care and development of loved ones with a disability. In this issue, we provide information and personal stories that are intended to help improve the lives of those with special needs and all those that care for them.
Our cover story, “The Unconditional Love of Therapy Dogs,” details the work of Tosha TharpGaitanis. After her son’s autism diagnosis, Tosha included their pets while working with him at home. The results spurred her belief that pets could be an indispensable resource in the course of therapies for young people on the ASD spectrum and those with other disabilities.
Alondra Cabrera recounts how she was introduced to and became a forever friend of Lisa Brnicevic, a 59-year-old woman whose normal life was totally changed by a medical complication when she was 37. Alondra's account of Lisa's journey is a testament to how important family support, friendship and a positive attitude are for recovery.
Larry Landauer, Executive Director for Regional Center of Orange County, writes "As much as extended family and friends with typical children love and want to support parents of children with special needs, I hear it from parents regularly: 'They're terrific. I love them for wanting to be supportive. But they really just don't get it.'" His article outlines a wide array of national and local advocacy organizations and community groups that offer much needed support
to parents of children with special needs.
Our December issue also includes a special section about the challenges that parents of two or more children with special needs face. “For parents with multiple children with disabilities,” writes Kara Jolliff Gould, Ph.D, “support from friends, family and community organizations is particularly important to help ensure their children’s eventual inclusion and independence within the community.”
"Support from family and community is particularly important to help ensure childrens' inclusion and independence within the community."
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Faye Simon
Editor In Chief
THE EDITOR IN CHIEF'S DESK
Faye Simon is a certified pre-K—8 teacher with a wide range of educational experience. She has worked in deaf/blind and infant stimulation programs, taught K—2 in public schools, and was a Head Teacher and Parent Coordinator for Head Start. She is Founder and President of the volunteer-run IES Brain Research Foundation. As EP's Editor In Chief, Faye sources and edits articles, creates partnerships with businesses and not-forprofit organizations, and develops relationships with EP's writers, corporate partners, readers and staff.
Information and Support for the Special Needs Community
VOLUME 53 ISSUE 12 ESTABLISHED 1971
Publisher Len Harac lharac@epmagazine.com
Editor In Chief Faye Simon fsimon@epmagazine.com
Art Direction & Design Leverett Cooper lev@foxprintdesign.com
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Exceptional Parent (ISSN 0046-9157) is published monthly 12 times per year including the special January EP Guide - Navigating Special Needs Resources by Exceptional Parent Magazine, 1360 Clifton Avenue, Ste. 327, Clifton, NJ 07012 Internet address: epmagazine.com. All rights reserved. Copyright ©2023 by Exceptional Parent Magazine,. Exceptional Parent™ is a registered trademark of Exceptional Parent Magazine. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Exceptional Parent,1360 Clifton Avenue, Ste. 327, Clifton, NJ 07012. Any applicable periodical postage paid at Clifton, NJ and additional mailing offices (USPS 557-810). Basic annual subscription for EP Digital is free. Limited edition print subscription $199.00. Subscriber Service: Direct all inquiries & address changes to: Exceptional Parent, 1360 Clifton Avenue, Ste. 327, Clifton, NJ 07012 08758. Customer Service/New Orders: E-mail: fsimon@epmagazine.com or call (973) 726-6218. Back issues incur a charge of $17 each with shipping, (January issue $20 when requested) and depend upon availability. Call (973) 726-6218. Agreement #1420542