Welcome to "On the Horizon"

Issue 212:
The Art of Decision Making

On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.

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• A Note from Dr. Beurkens
• Feature Article:
  The Art of Decision Making
• Upcoming Events
• Recommended Resources

Hi Everyone!

I’m enjoying spending part of the week in Connecticut and Rhode Island for some speaking engagements.  While it is chilly and snowy, the weather is definitely better than what we have been having in Michigan lately!  On the plane I got caught up on some research reading (yes, I realize that may sound boring to some of you!).  Did you know that having a cold negatively impacts cognitive abilities?  It makes sense, and there is research to back it up.  If you, your children, and/or your students have chronic illness issues this is definitely something to consider.  Attending to the physical health needs of children is critical if we want them to be able to function at the highest level possible.  Good physical health promotes strong brain health and development!

The feature article this week, by Erin, is about decision making.  As parents and professionals we are almost constantly involved in decision making about something. The stakes are higher when the lives of our children are involved. Do you have some decisions you need to make right now?

If you are local to our clinic and looking for a fun opportunity for siblings, check out the information about our upcoming SibShop in March.  We’d love to see your children there!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Looking to the horizon,

The Art of Decision Making

By Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP

What constitutes a good decision?  It depends on the person(s) involved in, or affected by the decision.   It can be very difficult to determine the best choice, and some decisions are not always popular.  It is my belief, however that when making a decision whether it be which pair of pants to wear in the morning, or which car to buy we need to take into account all available information.  Sometimes that means we need to do a little investigating; this might include research on the Internet or in books, looking out the window (in the case of which pants to wear), or asking other people for advice/opinions.  There are times when we have to go with our gut instinct, but this tends to be in moments of high emotion or when we have little or no emotional involvement.

There are a few things I like to consider when making a decision.

Click here to read the rest of this article…

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Upcoming Events

Sibshop

Saturday March 9, 2013

We feel strongly that as part of our family-focused mission we need to attend to the needs of all of your children, not just the ones with disabilities. Siblings of children with autism or other disabilities have their own unique needs and experiences, and we will be using the renowned Sibshop model that is designed to provide them with support, education, and fun.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY by emailing our office info@horizonsdrc.comor by calling us at (616) 698-0306.

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Hear Dr. Beurkens Speak

Upcoming dates and locations where Nicole Beurkens, PhD will be speaking:

Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Practical Strategies to Improve Processing

February 7, 2013 in Cromwell, CT

February 8, 2013 in Warwick, RI

April 10, 2013 in Tarrytown, NY

April 11, 2013 in Plainview, NY

April 12, 2013 in Manhattan, NY

Sibling Relationships of Children With Autism

February 21, 2013 from 6:30-7:30 PM at Kent ISD

Maintaining a Healthy Relationship With Each Other: Strategies for Couples

March 2, 2013 from 8:30-2:30 at Kent ISD

Recommended
Resources

Parent Success Cards

Discover a Daily Dose of Inspiration and Encouragement to Stay Focused on What’s Truly Important.

More Information >>