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Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
Ask the Attorney: Advice for Parents Considering a Due Process Hearing
October 25, 2017
Because we don’t know the details of your particular case, we can’t give you specific advice – but we can give you some general tips to think about as you head into a due process hearing. This is an important area of special education law, as you have a legal right to have your…
Read moreBack-to-School Ideas to Balance Your Child’s Nervous System
September 12, 2017
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…
Read moreWhy Won’t You Just Listen?! Discipline, Parenting, and Child Development
August 7, 2017
We All Have Good Intentions Do you keep books around that you will someday get to? I have a heap of books encouraging excellent intentions to learn, absorb, and generally ‘be better.’ I collect books that interest me as both a parent and professional. Books that will answer my parenting questions and solve all of…
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The Importance of a Summer Boredom Balance
August 7, 2017
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…
Read moreHow to Overcome Judgment as a Special Needs Parent
July 12, 2017
There is judgment that comes with being a parent. There is judgment that comes with being a parent of child with special needs; a child who continually throws sand at the playground, can’t sit during mealtime, doesn’t answer when you ask a question (over…and over….and over again), or kicks and screams when things don’t go…
Read moreTravel Tips for Special Needs Families
July 12, 2017
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…
Read more4 Ways to Confidently Communicate with Your Child’s Doctors
May 31, 2017
When our son Jack developed a mysterious illness in November of last year, our world turned upside down. Our once funny, vibrant, energetic boy could hardly get out of bed. Within a few short weeks, he was no longer able to attend school or participate in activities he had once loved. Over the course…
Read moreSliding into Summer Camp Season
May 11, 2017
But, I just poured my coffee. You know that feeling when you pour that first cup of hot coffee in the morning? The mug warming your hands while you breathe in the rich aroma and gently ease into your day. No, you don’t remember that? That’s probably because you’re a parent. You may relate…
Read moreHow To Balance Young Children’s Needs During a Sibling’s Hospitalization
May 2, 2017
As I mentioned in this recent post, giving time to your special needs child's siblings each day is important. But what happens when emergency strikes? How do you balance time with each of your children when a hospitalization or medical emergency comes into play?This spring, our oldest son who has autism and ADHD was diagnosed with a…
Read moreSupporting the Twice Exceptional Child
February 20, 2017
Does your child have special needs? Is he or she also exceptionally bright or gifted in certain areas? If you answered "yes" to both of these questions, your child may be twice exceptional.What Does Twice Exceptional Mean?Wrightslaw defines twice exceptional (2e) children as those who "are gifted [with] above average abilities [and] have special…
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How to Love your Child with Autism When They Don’t (Seem to) Love You Back
January 22, 2017
As I shared in this post, finding out your child has special needs is an emotional process. The journey often comes with challenges and pressures, including ongoing therapies, services, arrangements for special education, and medical care. I'd like to peel back another layer and address a topic that often isn't discussed but deserves attention and empathy. I…
Read moreHow to Support the Special Needs of Special Needs Siblings
January 9, 2017
Siblings of children with special needs are often placed in a difficult position, but as parents, we can turn this around with a few simple acts of love each day.Commit time to your child each dayTake a few minutes with your "typical" child each day. Five minutes of uninterrupted, focused attention with your child…
Read moreAccepting Your Child’s Diagnosis
December 28, 2016
Four years ago, I sat on the floor of a pediatric neurologist's office holding my son in my lap while he confirmed what I already knew in my heart was true - my son has autism.Hyperdrive modeAt first, I went into hyperdrive mode. I asked the neurologist what we should do next and pursued…
Read moreUnlocking Dyslexia: NPR’s 4-Part Podcast
December 12, 2016
NPR's 4-part podcast, "Unlocking Dyslexia" dives into the misconceptions and realities of what it is like to have dyslexia. Gabrielle Emanuel shares with listeners varying perspectives, experiences, and discoveries relating to this complex disorder. Have a listen to all 4 podcasts and learn something new about a disability that affects millions of people nationwide.Millions…
Read moreWhat My Daughter with Autism Taught Me About Empathy
October 24, 2016
What started as just another night of reading before bed turned into an eye-opening experience for one mother and her daughter with autism. She learns that her daughter's struggle with reading emotions or feelings is not because she doesn't care - she just doesn't want to assume how the other person is feeling.This one moment between…
Read moreMother Shares 6 Things She’s Learned Since Her Son Was Diagnosed with Autism
October 13, 2016
Parent and blogger Katie Campbell shares what it was like to hear her pediatrician tell her and her husband that their son had autism.In her blog "6 Things I've Learned Since My Son's Pediatrician Said the Word Autism" Katie talks about her initial fears, the overwhelming amount of information out there about autism, and…
Read moreTreating Children with Special Needs in the Emergency Room
October 11, 2016
Anyone who likes going to urgent care or the emergency room, raise your hand!Anyone? No one?That’s right. Nobody likes it for any reason, anytime. It’s stressful, often unplanned and disorganized, and can be a frustrating experience. I put my doctor head together with a few parents who live this firsthand, and we came up…
Read moreWhich States Have the Best Disability Services?
October 4, 2016
For the fifth year in a row, Arizona has taken the top spot in a ranking of the best states for disability services. The other states in the top five are Vermont, New Hampshire, Michigan, and Hawaii. The rankings have been provided by United Cerebral Palsy's Case for Inclusion annual report.On the other end of this spectrum, Montana, Arkansas,…
Read moreSingle Mom Designs Glasses That Work for People with Down Syndrome
September 26, 2016
Many physical characteristics associated with Down's Syndrome make it difficult for those diagnosed to wear traditional eyeglasses. Even though more than half of the 6,000 children born with Down's in the U.S. will need glasses, most available eyeglasses for this group do not fit well. What's more—they're usually unattractive.When Maria Dellapina, a past frame buyer and optician,…
Read more5 Tips for Finding a Babysitter for your Child with Special Needs
September 26, 2016
Finding a babysitter for your child with special needs can be nerve-racking. I know, I’ve been there! I also know how empowering it can be for you and your child to be able to spend time on your own and bring someone into your home that you trust. Over the past three years I…
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