ExceptionalFamilyTV.com Launches Second Season of Webisodes Oct. 15

Arvada, Colo. (Thurs., Oct. 14, 2010) – Exceptional Family TV – the first web video series for and about families raising children with special needs – is premiering its second season on Friday, October 15 at ExceptionalFamilyTV.com.

Each Friday, a new short video will take viewers inside the lives of families affected by developmental and intellectual disabilities. In addition to telling the stories of families around the country, episodes will explore therapies and tackle topics that include parental disagreements, balancing between life and therapies and communicating needs to friends and family members.

The series is the brainchild of Nathan Charlan whose three-year-old son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in 2007. After receiving the diagnosis, Charlan suddenly found it difficult to relate to friends and family members who had no experience with the emotional, social and financial issues he was facing. To find other parents going through similar experiences, Charlan turned to the Web where he created a blog and used his professional background in video production to document his emotional experience in short YouTube clips. The relationships he formed through the blog encouraged him to co-found ExceptionalFamily.com in order to give special needs families around the world a centralized place to connect.

Together with his wife Renee and son Zachary, Charlan interviews families affected by developmental and intellectual disabilities and edits their stories into five to ten-minute videos that are often deeply inspiring. The first season began in April with the story of Jack, a nine-year-old child with autism whose life was transformed when his mother put a video camera in his hands. Other season one episodes, which are archived on the site, include an interview with the Kemps whose daughter received stem-cell treatment for septo-optic dysplasia syndrome in China and a Skype conversation with Australian mother Meagan Cross who has taken great measures to advance the availability of information and research funding for Angelman’s Syndrome in her country.

Throughout the first season, Nathan and Renee received hundreds of comments from parents, family members and professionals who have been positively affected by the videos. Since launching, the Exceptional Family TV web site has grown to include multiple blogs written by parents, discussion boards and a Facebook Page where parents from around the world frequently weigh in on a variety of topics.

To view the 20-part season one series and to catch new episodes from season two please visit ExceptionalFamilyTV.com

Stave Off Cancer Naturally

“One review found that moderate activity, such as brisk walking 3 hours a week, reduced breast and colon cancer deaths by about 50%.” For the entire transcript, please click the link below:

http://www.prevention.com/medicalbreakthroughs2009/list/1.shtml

Study: Youth now have more mental health issues

“A new study has found that five times as many high school and college students are dealing with anxiety and other mental health issues as youth of the same age who were studied in the Great Depression era.”

http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_stressed_out_students.html

Lead, Tobacco Exposure Linked to ADHD

“Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke and childhood exposure to lead are linked to increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, a new study shows.”

http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20091123/lead-tobacco-exposure-linked-to-adhd

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/6/e1054

Aging population prompts rise in disabilities, says federal report

“An aging population and growing awareness mean the number of people living with disabilities is on the rise in Canada, says a newly released report.”

http://www.canadaeast.com/news/article/902843

Stand Up For Yourself! Six Quick Self-Advocacy Tips:

http://www.cpaont.org/faq/self-advocacy/stand-up-for-yourself-six-quick-self-advocacy-tips

Chief Public Health Officer Identifies Children’s Mental Health As Area for Concern

“The report said international data suggests more than 15% of children may be experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder, yet more than one in three parents would be embarrassed to admit their child has a mental illness.”

http://www.cmha.bc.ca/enews/enewsnov09.html#C1

Medical journal retracts study linking autism to vaccine

“The medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday retracted a controversial 1998 paper that linked the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism.”

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/02/lancet.retraction.autism/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada releases the federal disability report, Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities 2009

“Overall rates of inclusion and educational attainment increased between 2001 and 2006, with the majority of people with disabilities obtaining a high school diploma. Education rates also increased by 12.3% since 2001, with 74.6% of working-age adults with disabilities obtaining a high school diploma or higher educational certification.”

http://www.nationtalk.ca/modules/news/article.php?storyid=26370

Comments are closed.