North State Parent magazine

A MAGAZINE SERVING FAMILIES IN BUTTE, GLENN, SHASTA, SISKIYOU & TEHAMA COUNTIES SINCE 1993

Jennifer Arnold

Jennifer Arnold

Shasta County author Jennifer Arnold is the mom of four, two of whom have been diagnosed with multiple special needs. She hopes to raise awareness of many issues that parents of special needs children face on a regular basis.

Author Archive

Female pediatrician doctor and child patient on wheelchair with her mother in the health medical center

Medical Trauma in Children: How Parents Can Help with Healing

For medically complex kids, frequent appointments, blood draws, imaging, procedures and hospital stays are part of everyday life. While much of this care can be routine, the unpredictability of life […]

Top view of blonde boy listening to music with headphones closed

Masking AND Cognitive Fatigue: Why After-School Meltdowns Happen

If your child seems to hold it together all day at school only to fall apart the moment they walk through the door, you’re not alone. Many parents of neurodivergent […]

Happy young child with down syndrome participates in a drumming class

How Music Therapy Helps Teens with Disabilities Manage Stress and Emotion

For many teens, music is a lifeline. It sets the tone for their day, helps them process big feelings and provides a sense of identity and belonging. For teens with […]

Young Asian boy shows distress with food in cozy home interior. Faces meal with pasta, noodles, salad, experiencing worry, anxiety, appetite disorder. Mental health, youth, pressure emotional

ARFID and the Holidays: Why It’s More Than Picky Eating

The holiday season is supposed to be full of fun, laughter, getting together with family and friends and food is often an integral part of every gathering. But for families […]

AI for students

AI’s Role in Supporting Neurodivergent Students, With Safety and Balance in Mind

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. From adaptive learning apps in the classroom to virtual study […]

child in wheelchair

Hands Across Humanity: A Grassroots Call for Inclusion, Equity and Connection

Many systems exist to support people with disabilities, but what happens when those systems fail to meet real needs? For many, services meant to provide care and inclusion instead create […]

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Practical Tips for Helping Neurodivergent Kids Cope with Back-to-School Changes

Back-to-school time can be exciting, but for families with neurodivergent children it can also feel overwhelming. For children with autism, ADHD, sensory challenges or anxiety, all the changes—new routines, teachers, […]

Dad2

How One Local Dad Is Advocating for Inclusion in the North State and Beyond

When Anderson resident Jordan Heberlein learned his daughter Brooklynn would be born with Down syndrome, he had no idea how deeply it would transform his life, not only as a […]

Compassion and understanding can go a long way to help children with invisible disabilities thrive.

Supporting Kids with Invisible Disabilities

This month is Mental Health Awareness Month and it’s the perfect time to gain a better understanding of invisible disabilities and how to best support the children who live with […]

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When The Nest Is Never Empty: Realities of Parenting a Child with Disabilities into Adulthood

For most parents, the idea of an “empty nest” is a bittersweet milestone. It marks the time when their children leave home and parents shift into a new phase of […]

COMPASS

COMPASS Offers Innovative Services for Adults with Disabilities

Living independently presents numerous challenges for adults with disabilities, including the management of medications, therapies and medical equipment, as well as navigating limited mobility, transportation barriers and safety concerns. The […]

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Navigating the Process of Conservatorship for Developmentally Disabled Adults

Filing for conservatorship is a long, often complex journey that many parents and caregivers of disabled children embark on as their child approaches the age of 18. Like many parents, […]