Family Perspectives
Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
Early Childhood FAQ: How can therapy support my child’s social skills?
April 15, 2025
Watch this short video to learn how therapy can support your child’s social skills.
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Life skills for young adults with disabilities: Tips from a champion for disabled students
April 8, 2025
What life skills are critical for young adults with disabilities? Dr. Stephanie Cawthon, Director of the National Disability Center for Student Success, explains.
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ABLE Accounts: an important part of financial planning for a child with a disability
April 2, 2025
Do you know about ABLE Accounts? Learn about this great tool for supporting a disabled child or adult without risking their benefits.
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What is the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in Special Education?
March 25, 2025
If your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), or if you’re in the process of creating one, you’ve probably heard about the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The LRE is supposed to be guaranteed to special ed students by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). But it may seem complicated or ambiguous when you…
Read moreHow your IEP team can get parents involved at the meeting: Steps to engage families in a collaborative IEP team
March 20, 2025
Looking to learn how your IEP team can get parents involved at the meeting? Read here for concrete steps that help your team achieve meaningful parent participation in the IEP process.
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What’s next for Special Education? An explainer for educators and families of children in Special Education
March 13, 2025
What will happen to Special Education if the US Department of Ed closes? Learn more about what's next for Special Education and what families and educators can do.
Read moreWhat’s the Difference Between a Developmental Delay and a Disability? And How Can Therapy Help?
March 11, 2025
Learn the difference between a developmental delay and disability and how therapy can help your child thrive.
Read moreHow can teachers support students with disabilities? Advice from a graduate
March 4, 2025
Ally, now an adult, reflects on her experience in school. Here’s her best advice for how teachers can support students with disabilities.
Read moreHow to communicate with parents of special education students: 5 tips from an IEP veteran
February 18, 2025
Teachers know that parent communication matters. Here are our 5 tips for how to communicate with parents of your special education students.
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Can My Child Do Therapy at Daycare? How to Coordinate with Providers
February 11, 2025
Struggling to balance therapy and daycare? Learn how to coordinate care, schedule sessions, and keep providers informed. Can my child do therapy at daycare? Find out here.
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5 Things to Know Before Filing Taxes for People with Disabilities
February 3, 2025
With tax season here, we’ve provided 5 things that you should know about the different tax credits, deductions, and liabilities affecting families with children and adults with disabilities.
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Exceptional Lives Disability Services Finder
January 21, 2025
Exceptional Lives’ Disabilities Services Finder is a free tool to help you find a provider in your area based on your child’s disability.
Read moreEarly Childhood FAQ: How to Get Therapy for a Developmental Delay
January 14, 2025
Learn how to get therapy for a developmental delay with clear steps to support your child's needs in this video.
Read moreThe Holiday Hustle: How do I keep my child regulated?
December 16, 2024
During a season where we are all a little more stretched than usual, I’ve been trying hard to be present and stay grounded for my children. Mostly I’ve been trying not to lose my calm. Really trying. So hard. But the reality is that my son’s anxiety means he anticipates every new thing -- which…
Read moreHow does clear communication in special education help schools reduce complaints?
December 10, 2024
Check out these tips and strategies for clear communication in special education. And learn why this reduces complaints.
Read more2024 Impact Report: Bringing families and schools together to help children with disabilities thrive
December 4, 2024
We are excited to share our 2024 Impact Report, which celebrates what we’ve accomplished over the past five years and looks forward to what’s ahead. At Exceptional Lives, our mission is to support families and educators of children with disabilities so every child can thrive. With your help, we’ve built stronger connections between families and…
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How you can support parents of a child with disabilities: holiday edition
November 26, 2024
Six ways to support parents of a child with disabilities at your holiday gatherings.
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How can teachers support parents of students who are new to Special Education?
November 19, 2024
Teachers: how do you support families of students new to Special Ed? Here are 5 things to do to get families off to a good start.
Read moreHow can schools avoid legal trouble in Special Education? Build trust with families
November 12, 2024
When schools focus only on compliance they miss something essential, building trust with Special Education families.
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Headed to your first IEP meeting? Here are 5 things to do first.
October 29, 2024
If your child recently qualified for Special Education, you may feel a little overwhelmed trying to understand how the system works. Try these 5 things before your first IEP meeting to set your child up for success.
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