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Empowering Families. Accelerating Success.

Katie Emanuel

18 Ways to Help a Special Needs Family in 2018

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Why special needs families need help: Before I became a parent, I thought a little extra hard work would be enough to make it through the valleys of parenthood. When I became a special needs parent, goodness, I realized how wrong I was.

My Child Has an IEP, What Are Next Steps?

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Now that you have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for your child, which puts services and supports in place to help meet their needs in the classroom, what happens next? Once signed, your child’s IEP becomes a legal contract between you and the school. And it’s time to take next steps. So, what are the next steps? Your child’s […]

Preparing a Vision and Goals for Your Child’s IEP

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Now that you’ve determined your child qualifies for special education services, first and foremost pat yourself on the back! You’ve taken a huge step toward getting the services and support your child needs in the classroom, and that is no small task! You’re opening doors to his or her future success in school and that is awesome.

Back-to-School Ideas to Balance Your Child’s Nervous System

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This week, our son Jack returned to school after 6 months of medical leave. In November 2016 he developed an infection that led to PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). As time went on, we learned that strep was not the only trigger for the flares, and he was diagnosed with both PANDAS and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), […]

How to Reduce Back to School Stress

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Around the United States, families are getting ready for the first weeks of school. Our family is in the middle of helping our oldest son re-enter mainstream school after a semester of medical leave, while also preparing our daughter to begin kindergarten. As soon as August arrived, we felt the stress rise.

The Importance of a Summer Boredom Balance

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Three years ago, I was pregnant with our youngest of three. We lived in a small house with many diagnoses under one roof‑including autism, ADHD, a connective tissue disorder, hypotonia, anxiety, Crohn’s, Celiac’s, and severe food allergies. Many of the diagnoses were new and we had upwards of sixteen therapies and appointments per week to […]

Travel Tips for Special Needs Families

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This past week, our family traveled from Boston, MA to Atlanta, GA. We made our way south and back by plane, train, bus, and car…and lived to tell the tale! Traveling with a special needs child can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some useful tips to make your travels smooth sailing this summer.

What is Stress and How Can I Unwind?

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I held his hand as the anesthesiologist put a small mask over his mouth and nose, and I watched him fall asleep. I squeezed his shoulder and kissed his cheek as his eyes lost focus and gently closed. After four days of GI, my oldest son, Jack, was “under” for his colonoscopy and endoscopy.