Our family first heard about NACD in August 2023. We immediately decided that this is the program we have been looking for all along for our son with Down Syndrome. Living in Australia, there is some funding available for therapy, but therapists often don’t have personal experience with clients with Down Syndrome; there are long…
by Bob Doman Understanding the Whole Child To truly understand a child, we must take a top-down approach, viewing them as a complete individual rather than a sum of disconnected parts. Every child is more than a diagnosis, a test score, or an isolated challenge. Yet too often, professionals—whether doctors, therapists, educators, or psychologists—focus on just…
by Lyn Waldeck Those of us who have passed that 60-year-old mile marker will often ponder the things of our past. What would we do differently? How do we mend past transgressions? What could have been avoided had a different fork in the road been followed? I am no exception. On a personal level, after…
Did you know that one of the world’s leading organizations for child development and education is based right here in Utah? The National Association for Child Development (NACD) has been headquartered in Northern Utah for over 40 years, helping tens of thousands of families in over 90 countries. While NACD has gained global recognition for…
Breakfast plays a critical role in setting the tone for the day, especially for children with special needs. The right foods in the morning can help improve focus, regulate emotions, and support overall brain function. On the other hand, the wrong choices—especially those filled with sugar and processed carbohydrates—can lead to energy crashes, behavioral challenges,…
Redefining Potential: What Can Be by Bob Doman Our perception of our children’s potential is limited by what we believe is possible. The opportunities we provide for them reflect that perceived potential, and the opportunities determine the outcomes. Let me start by getting your attention. I want to introduce you to Ellen, a not-so-typical, “typical”…
by Sara Erling Are you a vision board person? A New Year’s Resolution person? A “word” for the year person? I am. There is always something about new beginnings, fresh starts, etc., that gets me excited! My word for the year 2024 was “discipline”. At the time, I felt the need to be more disciplined…
By Bob Doman My colleagues and I have a fantastic job. We spend our days helping families help their children develop and improve their lives. We do this without actually working hands-on with any children beyond doing evaluations and then designing the children’s comprehensive home programs. As an organization, NACD has proudly been changing lives…
Picking up the pieces after ABA By Carolyn Takos Intro by Lyn Waldeck In many of our recent newsletters, NACD has been focusing on creating and changing behavior for the better by the feedback the child is given. Carolyn Takos is a very dedicated NACD mom who first came to us in desperation to reverse…
New research disputes a previous study involving the efficacy of EIBI/ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) and investigates whether it actually produces adverse effects and can even be harmful. A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics involving 9,038 young autistic children has confirmed what we have known for decades. The research disputes the “study” from the ‘80s that had…