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Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
Where to Start: Choosing the Best Supports and Therapies for Your Child
November 20, 2017
Each new stage in life brings developmental changes and opportunity for growth and learning. It also opens new doors to an ever-changing list of possible therapies or community activities. Development is made up of so many key aspects of ourselves. How do we decide which ones to prioritize over the others? “I want to set…
Read moreAsk the Attorney: What Happens to My Child’s Special Education Rights in a Private School?
November 11, 2017
I’m glad you brought this up. There are several layers to this question in terms of both your rights and your child’s rights under the special education law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The BasicsLet’s start with the fundamentals. Overall, there are two categories of schools: public and non-public. A public…
Read moreAsk the Attorney: Five Rights Parents of Children with Disabilities Need to Know
November 10, 2017
I’ve heard I have some rights as a parent who has a child with disabilities, in addition to my child’s rights. Can you tell me about these parental rights?The federal law which mandates all children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate education (FAPE) also includes a host of rights for you – the…
Read moreMy Child Has an IEP, What Are Next Steps?
November 1, 2017
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…
Read moreShared Expectations: How to Identify Measurable IEP Goals
November 1, 2017
My child is complex. I don’t mean only in terms of his physical or cognitive function. I mean in terms of his humanity. He is complex because he is a human and we are complex. We have moods, motivations and preferences that guide our behavior. We have family, friends, and community that affect our development.…
Read moreAsk the Attorney: How Can I Help My Child Be Job Ready After High School?
October 25, 2017
You’re in luck – we have lots of resources to help you! This is also a timely question as October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. First and foremost, know that there are job supports and job coaches available through various organizations who can help your child learn to be successful in the workplace…
Read moreAsk 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 morePreparing a Vision and Goals for Your Child’s IEP
October 3, 2017
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.…
Read moreWhen and How to Start Thinking About an IEP
October 3, 2017
Do you remember the first time you went in for a screening or assessment? You leave with notes and pamphlets, trying to remember the details but recalling only a few words? Do you remember trying to make sense of the jargon, knowing you had so much to learn, so much to do? But you need to…
Read moreAsk the Attorney: What Special Education Placements are Available for My Child?
September 20, 2017
There is a continuum of placement options available for your child. To recap, the spirit of the IDEA law is that the school places your child in the least restrictive environment (LRE), such as a classroom alongside children who do not have disabilities.Take a look at this graphic for an idea of your options,…
Read moreAsk the Attorney: How Do I Know if My Child is Really in the Least Restrictive Environment?
September 20, 2017
The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) provision of law requires that students with disabilities receive their education alongside students without disabilities “to the maximum extent appropriate,” which is somewhat vague. This means that a student’s default placement should be in the general education classroom, often with various supports and services. Students should only be removed…
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 moreAsk the Attorney: How Can I Tell If My Child is Making Progress if He is Still Reading Below Grade Level?
August 24, 2017
The IEP team will measure your child’s progress based on whether he meets the goals in that year’s IEP. That said, it is important to make sure those goals are measurable. You will often see phrases like, “The student must read 10 words correctly in 2 of 3 trials with 80% accuracy.” It’s not…
Read moreHow to Reduce Back to School Stress
August 16, 2017
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.New teachers, classrooms, expectations, and classmates – and…
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…
Read moreThe 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 moreAsk the Attorney—”How Can I Better Track My Child’s Progress in School?”
July 26, 2017
I've been reviewing my child's files over the summer and it doesn't seem like he has made much improvement against his goals. How can I better track his progress in the upcoming year?Getting your files in order before the school year begins is a great idea. Under Massachusetts law, the school district must send…
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 moreWhat is Stress and How Can I Unwind?
June 14, 2017
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. As I mentioned…
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