A special needs equipment registry, a cool book club and other Stuff Worth Knowing About

A registry for special needs equipment: Tadpole Adaptive recently launched a registry where parents can register for adaptive equipment (everything from gait trainers to car seats), and then friends and family can contribute as they please. Maybe not quite as fun as registering for wedding china but, er, so much more useful.

A great book club for kids (and grownups)! I recently got to try out Just The Right Book, a personalized subscription service for kids and adults. And it is very personal—you fill out a form about your child's reading preferences, TV/movie/video game faves and general interests. The club is run by a popular indie bookstore, R.J. Julia Booksellers; once they have your info, a smartypants staffer chooses good books for your child and pops them in the mail. I liked that the kids' book selections weren't the expected choices. Max got A Friend For Dragon (which he liked) and The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man (I thought it was cool, he was lukewarm). Sabrina really enjoyed the two chapter books, Junonia and Clementine. If for any reason the book doesn't work, you can send it back and exchange it, unless you're lazy like I am. You can pick from monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly subscriptions. They're offering Love That Max readers a 10 percent discount; use promo code FF12.

A water bottle for kids who have trouble holding cups: One of Max's OTs recently got him this Vapur "anti-bottle" as a gift because 1) It's purple 2) It's easy for him to hold and 3) It's purple. They come in all colors, they're durable and BPA-free, and they're $9.99. Check them out here!

Will you send a get-well card to a cute kid? Javier, a five-year-old with cerebral palsy, recently had bilateral hip surgery, tendon releases and casting; he'll be in recovery for eight weeks. "It's going to be a long process," says his mom, Brenda, "but well worth it if he feels the difference." She told me that Javier loves getting cards in the mail, and would be really psyched to receive some to help pass the time. Mail them to:

Javier Ortiz

3571 Fort Meade

RD #518

Laurel, MD 20724

Step away from this screen! Got this tip from Real Simple, which is always packed with news to use: If you stare at your computer screen a lot, sign up with Protect Your Vision; every 20 minutes it'll darken your screen for 20 seconds, giving your eyes a rest.

Something to make you seriously happy: Reader Laura, who blogs over at One Family, Many Lives, recently shared this story. In February Emily, an 11-year-old girl with autism, was watching a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans when a drunk guy standing nearby verbally attacked her. "The retard is making watching the parade a challenge," he remarked. Emily left in tears. Reading the post by her mom, Amy Mueller, on the incident will make your blood pressure soar. Reading about the city's reaction to what happened will leave you seriously inspired. Here's the video:

And from my other blogs:

On Parents.com: Is raising a kid with special needs making you broke?

On Babble.com: 11 totally shameless mom habits

Happy weekend!

Kitty pic/Still Burning