FOCUS Newsletter Articles

Professionals can now receive multiple copies of the FOCUS Newsletter. Call FOCUS for information.

September/October 2007 Issue

July/August 2007 Issue

May/June 2007 Issue

March/April 2007 Issue

It’s Ok to Cry (My Journey with High Order Multiples) by Riley D. Smith
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
When Your Nonverbal Child Is In Pain by Dr. Ruth Brown
Equipment That Works!

January/February 2007 Issue

A Perfect Life by Amy Leiter
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
When Should My Child Use AAC? by Ben & Pat Satterfield

November/December 2006 Issue

Malik by Cassandra Stuckey-Moore
Making the Connection and Finding Answers by Candice Lange
Equipment That Works by Lauren Seidl
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

September/October 2006 Issue

Charlie, Church & The Waffle House by Charles Schoen
Life with Gwendolyn by Melanie Durity
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

July/August 2006 Issue

Don’t Call Me Special by Michele Pearce
From the Editor…by Lucy Cusick
Preparedness: The Difference Between Chaos and Security in Your Home
By Margaret Richardson

May/June 2006 Issue

My Life… by Nick Kostopoulos
Opening Up a World of Opportunity for Children with Disabilities via Adapted French Enrichment
From the Editor…by Lucy Cusick
The Vent By Rage

March/April 2006 Issue

What Next? by Ann Floyd
Four Leaf Clovers by Jessica Jones
From the Editor…by Lucy Cusick
My Life…Our Lives by Lori Berger Bryan

January/February 2006 Issue

Surviving the Unplanned Journey: It Took a Village by Kelley S. Scanlon
“THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME…” by Erin di Chiara, MAOTR/L, CAPS
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

November/December 2005 Issue

“THE TIGHTROPE” by Melissa Bernardino
You Might Need a Social Story If . . . , By Celia Lawton
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

September/October 2005 Issue

The Journey by Kathryn Chambless
Music in the Morning: A Good Start to Every Day by Diane & Jim Tebbel
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

July/August 2005 Issue

Alone by Katie Rousse
Accepting Peter by Pat Olney
Understanding and Managing Anger Kathleen A. Platzman, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, FloortimeAtlanta (floortimeatlanta.com)
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

May/June 2005 Issue

The Reason for Believing by Jimmy Crivolio
Pinball Wizard by Skip Weiland
With Love from Cody April 24,1985-February 24,2005
From the Editor....by Lucy Cusick “The Josh Watch”
Where Are the Parents? By Sue Stuyvesant

March/April 2005 Issue

Roosevelt Warm Springs – One of Georgia’s Best-Kept Secrets By Martin Harmon, RWSIR Public Relations
GO FOR TWO? By Vickey Bechard
My Best Friend By Heidi Fernandez
From the Editor . . . by Lucy Cusick

January/February 2005 Issue

When You Are the Caregiver by Karen Greenfield
From the Editor . . . by Lucy Cusick

November/December 2004 Issue

G-Man by Greer Gaston-Anderson
From the Editor . . . by Lucy Cusick
My Heroes: Special Needs Kids by Mollye Ariano, 3rd Grade - Dedicated to Haley, Ryan, Morgan, Ty and all my special friends at Riverside Elementary
Sensory Learning
By Shelly Grabe

September/October 2004 Issue

Kendra by Stephanie Kieszak-Holloway
From the Editor . . . by Lucy Cusick
ME by Emily Swinn, 8 years old

July/August 2004 Issue

Matty by Paul Ladd
A Mutual Relationship: Learning from Each Other by Emma Fialka-Feldman
From the Editor....by Lucy Cusick
My Name is Mark from Go Out In Joy! by Nina Herrmann Donnelley

May/June 2004 Issue

Please Listen by Dr. Neil Chadwick
Fathers by Erma Bombeck
Mothers by Erma Bombeck
Letter of Intent: A Roadmap for Caring for Your Child
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

March/April 2004 Issue

The Lottery by Alex Buck
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
Latex Allergy by Michael G. Muhonen, M.D. and Myrlee Cuiching, P.A.-C

January/February 2004 Issue

Hurricane Kyle By Karen Greenfield, dedicated to the memory of Kyle Greenfield
Keeping the Balance - The Parent Advocate and the IEP process by Peggy & Lou Ramos
BASEBALL FOR ALL by David Monde
From the EditorBy Lucy Cusick

November/December 2003 Issue

God’s Littlest Christmas Miracle by Joyce Gomez
A Smile in Our Hearts by Noel Rogers
NOVEMBER SHARE GROUP TOPIC: SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS
by Elizabeth Hewell
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
A Family’s Success by Martha Villwock, M.A., C.C.C./SLP

September/October 2003 Issue

Take a Deep Breath by Elizabeth Hewell
From the Editor. . . by Lucy Cusick
Why Does It Take So Long?

July/August 2003 Issue

What Have I Done All Day?? by Sabrina Morgan
What Really Helps the Medicine Go Down? By Diane Tebbel
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
Just Say Hi By Ashley Thomas

May/June 2003 Issue

Un Beau Violet by Sharon Lang
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
Behavior Therapy  Michelle C. Winkles, M.Ed.

March/April 2003 Issue

From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
A Lifetime of Toilet Training Anonymous  
Assistive Technology: How Can It Help Chidren by Ann Leverette
One Mom's Guide to Surviving a Derotational Osteotomy by Lauren Seidl

January/February 2003 Issue

Twenty Years of Support by Lucy Cusick
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
New Year's Resolutions for the Family by LuRae Ahrendt
The Metropolitan Atlanta Respite Cooperative (MARC)

November/December 2002 Issue

Aquatic Therapy Sandra Dupree, MPT and Amanda Curd, MPT Adventurous Kids Therapy Service
Scoliosis by Robert W. Bruce, M.D.
"It won't be perfect but it will be okay"
by Mary Ellen Bondhus (Sam and Will's mommy)
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

September/October 2002 Issue

A word to professionals about parents, transitions, feelings, and dreams By Janice Fialka
Two For The Price of One by Celia Lawton
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick

July/August 2002 Issue

Our Ballerina by Marina Genut, mom, and Marcella's dance teachers
Music Therapy: What is it really? by Calista Anne Waddy, MT
God's Under the Bed Kelly Adkins
From the Editor by Lucy Cusick
4th Annual Under the Stars: A Family Fun Weekend

May/June 2002 Issue

A Precious Gift by Elba Ortiz-Drayton
My Child: the Guinea Pig by Chris Kanne
Hippotherapy
Do You Like These IEPs??

March/April 2002 Issue

Chandler's Miracle by Rhonda Parrott
From the Editor, Lucy Cusick
Happy Hellos, but Sad Goodbyes
Volunteers!
Tips and Ideas from Parents
Reaching for the Stars: Together, Not Alone

January/February 2002 Issue

Double the Emotions by Lori Putna
From the FOCUS Office
Through the Looking Glass: An introduction to the second annual FOCUS Fashion Show by Lucy Cusick
Surviving a Spica Cast by Jean Benedikt

November/December 2001 Issue

Angels Among Us by Suzanne Campbell
From the President.....by Debby Stone Flannery
Management of Spasticity in Children: Part I by Joanne Janas, M.D.
From the Editor ...... by Lucy Cusick

September/October 2001 Issue

Lindsey by Paula Rafferty Miller
Everything but the Kitchen Sink! by Sabrina Morgan
Camp Hollywood was a great success!
From the Editor ...... by Lucy Cusick
“Advocating For Amateurs” by Karen Davis

July/August 2001 Issue

The Christmas Present by Bryan Powell
From the Editor ...... by Lucy Cusick
Professional's Corner: A place for information Cortical Visual Impairment by Patty Alexander
Under the Stars: A Family Fun Weekend by Josh Cusick, Rolling Teen Reporter

May/June 2001 Issue

A New Life, A New Heart by Gail Sillis
Our Dolphin Adventure by Diana Alvarez
A Dream, A Window, and the Angel I Know by Janet Speers

March/April 2001 Issue

Professional's Corner: A place for information
Cerebral Palsy and Behavior Disorders by Shira Hammarlund, Psy.D. & Kathleen O'Toole, Ph.D. Department of Neuropsychology
From the Editor..... by Lucy Cusick
Jonathan's Story
Understanding Blake  by Cindy Wellmaker

January/February 2001 Issue

Is she really almost two...? by Kevin Clements
From Roller Coasters to Carousels by Debra Cofer
Professionals' Corner: A place for information
Three New Seizure Medicines, Jennifer L. Ganote, RN, BA Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Three new medications have become available to treat partial seizures. . . .
Book Recommendation  Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood: A Guide for Parents by John M. Freeman, MD, Eileen P.G. Vining, MD, and Diana J. Pillas, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, Second Edition  This book has been described by several FOCUS families as "the bible of seizures."