Parenting a Sanfilippo Child – a Column by Kelly Wallis

Houston-based Kelly is a music therapist working with special needs children every day. She’s also the organist for her church. She thoroughly enjoys having music weave into every part of her daily life and work. She’s been married to her husband, Jeff, for 25 years, and has two daughters, Abby and Emily. She writes about life as a caregiver for Abby, who has Sanfilippo syndrome.

Outside, the world is pressing forward; inside, progress is still

Back-to-school time is upon us. While some families are looking toward openings around Labor Day, others are already scrambling to get necessary clothes and supplies and adopt new routines. Kids will be meeting their new teachers and making new friends. Older students might be starting various extracurricular activities and bonding…

Balancing logic and emotion isn’t easy as a Sanfilippo parent

Parenting children is challenging. Parenting children with special needs or developmental delays is even harder. You must consider many factors: age, ability, environmental and situational dynamics, setting, time of day, and more. My oldest daughter, Abby, was immediately admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit after she was born and…