From Sept 1984 - July 1986, I took care of a 10 year old girl who suffered brain damage and needed to be bathed, dressed, fed, diapered, etc. I obtained Early Childhood Education diploma in August 1992 and special needs was part of the curriculum. I love the feeling that I'm doing something worthwhile and they show it in their faces. I grew up next door to my cousin who had developmental delays and needed speech therapy and physical therapy which I helped her with for years. In addition, I took care of three children for a Speech Pathologist from 2000 until December 2013, so I observed her doing speech therapy often as she worked from her home. I've had friends and relatives with special needs and having worked in childcare for many years, I've encountered ADD and ADHD, Tourette's, food allergies, etc.