Our Content
Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
How do I cope with my child’s new diagnosis?
July 16, 2024
When you learn your child has a new disability diagnosis, how do you cope? It’s a big moment. Here are some tips to help you move forward.
Read more
A Mother’s Journey of Advocacy and Acceptance: How to share an Autism Diagnosis | Meet Miranda and Magnolia
November 13, 2023
Meet Miranda Georgetown Riley, founder of the Magnolia Rose Foundation and mother of Magnolia Rose Riley. At 18 months old, Magnolia was diagnosed with autism and while she did not exhibit all of the typical signs of autism, her mom knew that something was different because she was non-speaking. After getting a diagnosis, Miranda immediately…
Read more
The resources are there. How can we connect more families to them?
July 19, 2023
The stress, emotion, and confusion that accompany a diagnosis for your child can be overwhelming. We are excited to share an article by Ricki Meyer, Exceptional Lives' Former Director of Policy and Legal Operations, that discusses how our free resources can help parents and caregivers navigate the disability systems and range of emotions they experience…
Read more
Parenting a child with a disability: life’s little surprises
July 13, 2023
What happens when you learn you’ll be parenting a child with a disability? Here’s how Leah went from grief to joy when her daughter arrived.
Read moreLife After Autism Diagnosis | Meet Maurice and Maurice Jr.: Autism is not the end of the world
May 3, 2023
Learn about Maurice's life after autism diagnosis with his father, who has dedicated his life to advocating for the autism community.
Read more
Making Sense of a New Autism Diagnosis
April 12, 2023
When my son was diagnosed, it took some time to make sense of his autism diagnosis. But here are the great things about it that surprised me
Read moreHow do I know if my child is just a late bloomer?
September 21, 2022
What does it mean if your child is a late bloomer? Hear the stages of child development and the questions you can ask yourself about developmental delays. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Read more
My child has a new disability diagnosis. Now what?
January 5, 2022
Your child was recently diagnosed with a disability. Maybe this is the first time, or maybe it’s yet another diagnosis in a long string of them. You might feel confused. Or relieved. Or scared. Or overwhelmed. All of the above? That sounds about right. In this podcast episode, we’ll dive right into all of it.…
Read moreIs it behavior or is it a learning challenge?
January 29, 2020
Maeve isn’t reading at the same level as her peers. Books have always been around at our house and we try to read every night before bed. What else can I do? Won’t she just catch up?
Read more
Is Your Child Struggling in School?
September 25, 2019
At Exceptional Lives, we’ve been working hard to answer the questions you are asking. We know how hard it can be to navigate school—socially, academically and emotionally. If your child is struggling in school and you’re not sure what to do, here is a place to start:
Read moreAutism Supports: Where Do I Start?
May 15, 2019
There are many different types of therapy that can help children with autism. They can work on different parts of their development. Here are some of the most common examples: Behavioral Intervention - A therapist helps to encourage positive behaviors and discourage unwanted ones. Desired behaviors are broken down into small tasks to build skills. Developmental…
Read moreTop 10 Ways My Son’s Diagnosis Has Affected Our Lives.
October 23, 2018
*This post appeared in The Mighty, May 2019 Learning about and understanding my son’s diagnosis has changed who we are as individuals, as parents, and as a family. I’m sure it has for you, too. Above all, it has allowed us to strengthen our relationships with each other and with the world in ways that…
Read moreChecking the Boxes: Diagnosis and Belonging
January 24, 2018
During a past focus group for Exceptional Lives, we received the following feedback: “If I see a particular diagnosis mentioned, or I don’t see my child’s diagnosis, I assume it’s not for me.” This makes perfect sense. As parents and caregivers, we have a lot of information to sift through; we need to know what…
Read moreAsk the Attorney: My young child isn’t forming words like the rest of her peers. Do I have to wait until she is in school to get help?
December 19, 2017
While all kids develop differently, you know your child best. If you’ve noticed differences in development between your child and other peers her age, then more information and expert advice will help you understand your options and make informed decisions about your child's speech and language.You do not need to wait! The Early Intervention…
Read more
