Children with behavior & emotional disabilities blog |

A Mother’s Perspective

Daniel M. Center Transforms Our Future Leaders
Parents get help coping with the challenges of raising an exceptional child

Contributed by Beth C.
May 18, 2011

The most common misconception about children with behavioral, emotional and mental health issues is that the child is misbehaving and needs better parenting. Just because the child’s disability is “invisible” doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. These kids my look like every other child their age, but they are not like them.

My son had problems from the time that he was very young–everything was always a struggle. He had difficulty transitioning from one thing to another, so when you got in the car he would throw a tantrum. About the time you arrived he would have adjusted, but then it would be time to transition again, and that would set him off again.

It is difficult when you have a child with outbursts to have people to your home, because of the potential for issues to arise. It’s difficult for parents of kids without these issues to understand, so you tend to feel isolated. The Daniel M. Center gives you a place to talk about these feelings with the staff and other parents who are going through some of the same struggles.

And my son, as a result of being at the center, transformed and responded to positive reinforcement, which made him more successful in school and better ale to cope at home as well. The Daniel M. Center is a unique resource in the community. It is my belief that these children are our future leaders in the community, and they need this facility to reach their full potential.

Jonathan’s Story

Daniel M. Gives Every Child A Chance
Alternative education setting helps kids with behavior problems

By Wendy Dwyer for Hometown News
July 31, 2009

Being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and as bipolar before kindergarten is hard on the entire family. For Jonathan Taylor and his family, it was almost too much to handle. Every member of the family was bruised and feeling very beaten. They had tried as many avenues of assistance as possible and still Jonathan was out of control, unhappy and the entire family was suffering. Finally, April Taylor heard about the Daniel M. Center for Behavioral Change (DMCBC) and learned about Camp Holiday, a special care center for children like Jonathan with mental health challenges which might be able to help her son. It was a small light in a very long tunnel, but April was willing to give it a try.

“I was the toughest little kid you have ever met,” admits Jonathan. “But when they told me they were taking me to a camp, I was all over it – camp is fun, right?” He laughs now, but admits that the first day was a challenge because, even though there were loads of activities and lots of kids around for company and fun, there were also guidelines and lots of structure; neither of which Jonathan wanted. “I was a monster that day,” he recalls, “really acting out and just being difficult. When my mom picked me up that first day I told her I was not going to go back. Fortunately, she won that argument. I was so surprised when I walked in the next day and everyone was still happy to see me and, all of a sudden, I felt like I belonged there – like I was a valued member of the family.” From that point on, April had hope and Jonathan had a chance for success.

Read the whole story.

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A Mother’s Perspective

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