Command Central for a Special Needs Family
June 30, 2010 by Sandy
More than Ever a family with a Special Needs Child need to be organized
If you think you have a lot of mail coming into our home….just try to see what the mail box of a special needs family is like! They have the same amount of mail and papers coming into the house that we do…..but then they have a massive non-ending incoming stream of insurance papers, medical bills and statements, home health insurance, letters from Doctors, physical and occupational therapist paperwork and bills…and it goes on and one…
Command Centers
The Command Central pictured above of course would be anyone’s dream center. (This was from a Parade of Homes model home).
But you can make your own using this is a guideline. Here are some lower cost alternatives.
This is from Office Max…Peter Walsh inspired. Love it.
This is sticky note/ dry erase organizer. It is from PlanetSafe Planners.com. I think this can be used in conjunction with other options.
This is my home made job board….grab a magnetic board and follow these instructions. I am thinking this could be used for medication time routines…G-tube feeding times, nurses schedules or just a job board.
Get a box of these magnets with the sticky back. I use old business cards and flip them to the blank side.
Peel off the back and put the business card or cut piece of paper/construction paper on the sticky part.
Then put whatever you want to on the front.
Having a place that everyone can see what needs to be done and when is essential in being able to run a smooth home. Calendar with Doctors appointment, sports schedules and adult commitments can help save many headaches in a very busy home.
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I love the magnetic board, that is such a great idea. Thanks for posting.
I am all out lusting after that command center in the picture!! I’d be happy with a basic desk type set-up in my kitchen, but the layout just doesn’t allow for it. Maybe in the next house!
Oh yeah…tell me about it!!!
i really like this idea. pretty much anything that works for special needs will work for non special needs. this is a great way to get or stay organized. i’m going to use it somehow!
thanks!
I just love the model home command centre, it’s amazing
I know! I would just die for that! omg…
Where is the command centre from?
This was in a model home, but I think it was the pottery barn system.
I love these ideas. How to cutomize for the family in a reasonable fashion is the ticket. Stats show that families with a special needs child spend three times more per child. Also, another organizational tool I could not do without is my 2″ three ring binder. I buy divider kits with all the multi-colored tabs. I purchased three and inserted. Every doctor/specialist that our child had or was attending as well as therapies. It allowed us to keep track of all of her appts. They ranged from endocrinologist, neurologist, genectics, labs, developmental pediatrician, pediatric opthamologist, and her regualr ped. Oh and of course the therapies OT, PT, and ST, and Developemental Therapy. Keeping each week up front and current so you can quickly access when you need to update the doctors rather quickly as to where your child is at developmentally. It has become like our “Bible for services”. Hope this helps!
Thanks Holly! You are right, every family is different and their needs are different. I love your tips.