Our Blog: Advice & Support for Parents & Educators
View our Content CategoriesUsing Plain Language for Effective Communication with Parents
January 4, 2024
Learn how simple, friendly language leads to effective communication with parents. Get your messages across clearly AND build trust!
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At-home learning resources for children with disabilities
December 7, 2023
Looking for at-home learning resources for children with disabilities? Our list of free tools and resources includes everything you need.
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Understanding alternate assessment in education for students with severe cognitive disabilities
June 14, 2023
Learn how alternate assessment in education can test for learning and skills in students with severe cognitive disabilities.
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ESY (Extended School Year) for Special Education students: What parents need to know
May 25, 2023
Learn about the Extended School Year for special education students, and how your child could get extra services during the summer.
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5 tips for families to help students with disabilities prepare for tests
April 19, 2023
Does your child with a disability get stressed about tests? Here are 5 tips to help them prepare.
Read moreUsing Transition Assessments to plan for life after high school
March 8, 2023
For students with disabilities, schools use transition assessments to plan for life after high school. Learn how this works.
Read moreWhat is the IDEA act?… and other Special Education mysteries decoded.
February 8, 2023
Do you know your rights under IDEA? It’s the law that requires schools to provide special education services. Listen along to learn more.
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My child is in special education. What should I know about IDEA?
February 1, 2023
Do you know your rights under IDEA, the law that requires schools to provide special education services to students with disabilities?
Read moreOne Quick Question: How can the school help if my child is having trouble reading?
December 7, 2022
If your child is having trouble reading, their school can help. Watch this video to see how.
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Transition to school for 3-5 year olds with disabilities: a timeline
November 14, 2022
Is your child with a disability getting ready for pre-k or Kindergarten? Here’s a timeline of exactly what you need to do at each point.
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Literacy FAQ: How do I help my child learn to read? (video)
October 5, 2022
This 2-minute video discusses the different parts of literacy, how the parts work together, and how you can help your child learn to read.
Read moreWhat is Response to Intervention (RTI) and how can it help kids struggling in school?
September 28, 2022
Response to intervention (RTI) is a system schools use to help students who are struggling. If your child has a disability, RTI could be the way to help. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
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Introduce your child with F-Words; it’s not what you think
September 7, 2022
We’re back in school. Is your child with disabilities working with a new teacher? In this week’s podcast learn how to introduce your child to their teacher using helpful F-words! Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Read moreBack to School, Back to Paperwork.
September 7, 2022
A time-consuming aspect of back to school for children with disabilities is paperwork. Here's one parent’s thoughts on those endless forms.
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What is special education and why is it important?
August 10, 2022
Students with disabilities need services to help them learn. Read about why special education may be important for your child.
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My child is aging out of early intervention but still needs services. What’s next?
August 3, 2022
If your child is in Early Intervention, they will “age out” when they turn 3. Gwen Crawford Angelos, speech therapist, describes what’s next.
Read moreMy child struggles with reading. How do I know if it’s dyslexia?
July 28, 2022
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability but it often goes undiagnosed. Here we talk about what to watch for and what to do if you’re concerned. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by the Exceptional Lives Team
Read more6 ways to be a fierce advocate for your child with disabilities
June 8, 2022
Advocating for your child with a disability can be hard. Here are 6 practical tips to help you make sure they get what they need. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Read moreWant to support children with disabilities? Support their families.
May 11, 2022
One of the best ways to support children with disabilities is to support their families. But how? Exceptional Lives offers our 3 favorite tips.Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Read moreDoes my child have dysgraphia? How would I know?
March 30, 2022
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that interferes with a person’s ability to express their ideas in writing. But you may not even know what it is. Here’s what to look for and what to do if your child is struggling. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
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