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Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
Special Education Placements for My Child
January 4, 2019
The winter break from school can be a time to observe and experience our children in a new way. There are probably times of overstimulation or exhaustion. There are hopefully moments of quiet connection or discovery of something new. As we send our students back to the classroom (good luck, teachers!), this mid-year moment is…
Read moreThe Holiday Hustle
December 19, 2018
During a season where we are all prone to be 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…
Read moreTraveling While Parenting
December 6, 2018
I have thought many times that there should be a parade or at minimum a marching band for solo parents exiting planes or arriving at their road trip destination with their children in tow. Traveling with children is a sport. You mentally prepare, you physically prepare, you envision all of the potential scenarios. Is everyone…
Read moreWhat information goes into an IEP?
November 27, 2018
Knowing how to fill in each section of an IEP can be confusing. We’ve broken it down to help you understand how to write things like a vision statement or to identify measurable goals. Remember, an IEP is a document that the parent and school create together. The form may vary between states, but…
Read moreWhat Should I know About Child Development?
November 20, 2018
I’ve studied child development for almost 20 years and I’ve been a parent for almost 9. I do not have all of the answers. But I’ve learned to ask some good questions. Last week, I listened to a presentation by Kids Included Together (KIT) and I felt inspired to share some of the important takeaways…
Read more4 Steps for Transitioning Out of Early Intervention
November 14, 2018
Early Intervention (EI) is a program through which children who qualify can receive services until their third birthday. Once your child turns three, the local school system will become your child’s service provider if they still qualify. The process of moving from EI to the school system is often called transition. The earlier you…
Read more5 Tips for Family Members: How to Avoid Unnecessary Stress at Family Gatherings
November 7, 2018
Holidays are a time for family and gratitude. For family members who we see only a few times a year, it can be hard for them to understand our unique experiences as parents of children with disabilities – and it can be easy for them to make judgment on us, our relationships with our children,…
Read moreHow to Take Care of Yourself
October 29, 2018
Caring for a child with a disability can be a fulfilling experience. It can also be challenging and stressful. Caregivers and parents sometimes forget to take care of themselves as much as they care for their children. Here are four tips to keep in mind: 1. Take a break when you need it.Why is this…
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 more3 Ways You Can Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 2, 2018
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The goal of NDEAM is to raise awareness about disability employment issues and share the value that people with disabilities add to our workplaces and communities. Whether you are a parent, job-seeker, employer, or friend, here are three ideas to help you get involved this month.…
Read moreBut First, Sleep.
September 28, 2018
When you are exhausted, just getting through the day can be challenging. When you are a parent of a child with a disability and you are exhausted AND your child is exhausted, ‘challenging’ is an understatement. Many of our children have struggled or continue to struggle with sleep. It’s one of the first shared experiences…
Read moreAsk the Attorney: “Where Can My Adult Child Live?”
September 17, 2018
Planning for your adult child with disabilities involves thinking about how she or he can live their best full life in the community. If your child needs both a place to live and daily support, they have options. We can’t tell you what is best for your child or exactly what options are available,…
Read moreTo Medicate or Not to Medicate My Child? A Conversation I’ve Had with Myself
September 10, 2018
Searching online for ’Should I medicate my child?’ yields about 1,880,000 results. If you are like me, you skim the headlines and maybe click on a few, trying to discern what is ‘real’. We want to hear from someone we can relate to, who has similar values. Maybe someone who understands our individual children and…
Read moreWhat is Supported Decision-Making?
September 5, 2018
What is supported decision-making?Supported decision-making is an alternative to guardianship. It allows a person with a disability to make their own decisions with support from a team of people they trust instead of having someone else make decisions for them. How does it work?1. A person with a disability decides in what areas they…
Read more“I’m Fine.”
August 30, 2018
How many times have you said those words only to wonder how ‘fine’ you really are? Sometimes “I’m fine” because that is what I want to be, sometimes it’s because I think that’s what others want me to be, and sometimes it’s just the easiest response. Most times, it’s true: I am fine. Of course…
Read moreMeet Your Child’s IEP Team
August 21, 2018
Who will be sitting around the table at your child’s IEP team meeting? We've created this list to help you know who to expect to see as you head into your first IEP meetings of the year.Under federal law, the IEP team must consist of: A general education teacher who works with the studentA…
Read moreWho Can I Bring to an IEP Meeting?
July 25, 2018
Showing up for an IEP meeting at your child’s school can feel intimidating, especially if you are the only person at the table who isn’t part of the school staff. Keep in mind that as the parent, you are an important part of the IEP team and you are also an expert in your…
Read more“Is this normal?” …and other things I Google at 1AM
July 20, 2018
One of my favorite things to share about Exceptional Lives is that people access our resources the most between the hours of 10PM and 2AM. When I learned this fact, I nodded in agreement and immediately recalled many nights pulling out the computer or squinting at the bright phone in the dark to search for…
Read moreWhat is Transition?
July 11, 2018
What is Transition?Life is full of transitions. Moving, changing jobs, and preparing for a next step are examples we experience all the time. In the disability world, “transition” or “transition to adulthood” refers to the time during which a young adult “transitions” out of school and into the community, whether that means a college…
Read moreWhat If My Child Missed Developmental Milestones?
July 6, 2018
That’s what happened in my family. Our son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was late to crawl and we noticed he had a clear preference for one side of his body. My husband asked me one night, “Does he always have his right hand fisted while he’s crawling?” I quickly said, “No” and…
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