EDITOR’S NOTE: It's all about Special Needs, Baby, and Fall

ed note

It’s All About Special Needs, Baby and Fall this Issue

This issue of Birmingham Parent focuses on Special Needs, Baby and of course, the arrival of Fall in Alabama.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) provides us with a great article about “Easing the Transition Back to School for Kids with Special Needs” on page 10. With the infamous slap at this year’s Oscars, followed by the discussion of Jada Pinkett Smith’s Alopecia, we’re in a world where people are wondering, “What is Alopecia?” Writer Paige Townley looks at that question on page 12. We take a look at Unless U, its mission and its new home, and we examine ways to keep your home healthy from the Learning Disability Association.

Our Baby & Me section focuses on both midwives and ways to save money when baby comes, and we take a look at the inspirational Aspire Movement as it seeks to transform people and communities. There’s a fun story on Discovery Cove in Family Travel, and we’ve got our annual pumpkin patch guide, along with the popular calendar of events with all the fun and educational fall happenings around our area.

Don’t miss our first ever Family Favorite Fall Expo on Saturday, September 24 at the Outlet Shops of Grand River in Leeds from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.! We still have vendor booths and sponsorships to spare, and we’d love to have you exhibit or simply visit with all the great vendors and sponsors on hand. It’s also the day of the Outlet’s Art Walk, so it should be tons of fun. We’ll be in the front parking lot, and as always, admission to the event is FREE. Learn more at https:// birminghamparent.com/directory/family-favorite-fall-expo/.

As always, we’d love to hear from you about ways we can serve you better. We welcome your story ideas, news tips and suggestions at info@birminghamparent.com.

HAPPY FALL! Carol Muse Evans publisher/editor carol@birminghamparent.com

OUR PAPER: You may have noticed some changes in our magazine paper over the last few months. There is a supply shortage on paper and numerous significant price increases as a result. We have had to make several changes based on paper that we can get, without passing the cost on to advertisers. We are trying to print Birmingham Parent as attractively and cost-efficiently as possible.

ABOUT THE EDITORS:

Carol Muse Evans is the publisher/editor/owner of Birmingham Parent magazine, a publication she and her husband David began in 2004. The Birmingham, Alabama-based parenting publication attracts more than 60,000 readers monthly in a four-county area, and is also available online. The magazine has a 20,000+ print circulation, plus several thousand in readership of the digital edition online. It is the only independently audited free publication in our area. Evans is an award-winning writer and editor who has also has written for several other publications as a freelance writer since the late 80s. She is a graduate of Auburn University in journalism and is a graduate of Scottsboro High School. She is married with two grown children and lives in Clanton. She is a member of the National Federation of Press Women, Alabama Media Professionals and Southern Regional Magazine Association (SRMA).

Lori Chandler Pruitt is associate editor of Birmingham Parent. She also is a freelance writer for Business Alabama magazine and has written/edited for several other publications including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and The Birmingham News. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama in news/editorial and a member of Alabama Media Professionals. She is married with two adult children. 703 Logan Rd., Suite 150 Clanton, AL 35045 205-624-2405 205-403-5224 FAX www.birminghamparent.com editorial

PUBLISHERS David & Carol Evans EDITOR Carol Muse Evans ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lori Chandler Pruitt CONTRIBUTORS Family Features Janeen Lewis Sheila Lopez CPM Sarah Lyons Paige Townley UAB sales

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Tom Gonzales

SR. MARKETING CONSULTANT Kayla Fricks MARKETING CONSULTANT Kerrie Thompson

print & web production

Digtial Doo-Wop

DISTRIBUTION T&P Deliveries

Legal Counsel

Balch & Bingham LLP

BIRMINGHAM PARENT IS A PUBLICATION OF EVANS PUBLISHING, LLC. Publishers: Carol Muse Evans, David K. Evans Sr. Birmingham Parent (EIN200694149) is published monthly by Evans Publishing LLC. www.birminghamparent.com or editor@birminghamparent.com. Birmingham Parent is © 2022 by Evans Publishing LLC. Family Connections Media ©2021-2022 by Evans Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Editorial submissions are welcome. For back issues, please send a self-addressed 10” x 13” envelope with $4 for postage and handling.