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OCTOBER 2022
VOL. 30, NO. 10
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info@thefamilymagazine.com t’s Halloween season, and there’s a lot to think
about — what costume to get, where to go for
trick-or-treating and whether there are any
haunted houses to visit as a family(pg. 10). But there
should also be considerations for neurodiverse chil-
dren who might not have as much fun with these
traditional October activities. Contributing writer
Eleanor Linafelt explores what parents can do to plan
an autism-friendly Halloween for their child — and
their friends!
With that in mind, there’s things we can be doing
as community members every day to make children
and families with different abilities feel welcome. In
this issue, we learn more about disabilities that can
feel invisible to most but are very real for the child
experiencing them. Our spotlight on Ehlers-Danlos
syndrome (pg 28) provides one examples and raises
awareness for the Invisible Disabilities Association’s
Invisible Disabilities Week, Oct. 16-22.
We also know that disabilities come in all shapes
and sizes — visible and invisible, physical and devel-
opmental, well-known and rare. Our special Inclusive
Family section provides resources for families, and
friends of families, with disabilities of all kinds, includ-
ing helpful terms and a directory of local services.
This season we are taking a closer look at private
schools as well. Explore our inclusive section for a
breakdown from staff writer Heather M. Ross on what
to consider when thinking about a special education
private school or program (pg. 34) and on page 12, con-
tributing writer Megan Conway covers helpful steps in
choosing a private school for all needs.
Weighing all these considerations can put a lot of
pressure on parents, so it’s important to remember
your health. Our Healthy Family feature exlores skin
conditions to look out for during pregnancy, and con-
tributing writer Emily Rose Barr tackles mammogram
myths (pg. 18).
Finally, find more Halloween fun with books (pg. 33)
and our DIY craft (pg. 11) Happy haunting!
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