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Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
To 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…
Read moreWhat is Occupational Therapy?
June 27, 2018
You’ve likely heard lots of new terms at your child’s IEP, 504, or Transition meetings. It is hard to keep them all straight! While many of us think of Occupational Therapists as providing help with handwriting or using scissors, OTs do so much more.Occupational therapy (OT) is a form of therapy that helps people…
Read moreExceptional Lives’ Top 10 IEP Blogs: Everything You Need to Know
June 23, 2018
Whether your child is just finishing up the school year or beginning to anticipate the start of a new grade, the IEP has likely crossed your mind. As one of our Exceptional Lives’ users shared with us, entering an IEP meeting can be very intimidating to say the least. Whether are just learning about what…
Read moreWhat is a Transition Plan? Follow These 4 Steps to Get Started
June 13, 2018
A Transition Plan is a document you will create with your child and the rest of the IEP Team by the time your child turns 16. The word “transition” in this case refers to the transition from high school to adult life. This occurs when your child receives a diploma or turns 22 and…
Read more“Wait, are we eligible for that?” Here’s How to Find Out
June 12, 2018
Last year, I sat next to an older man on a plane. We kept to ourselves for most of the flight, but as we started to make our descent, we picked up easy conversation. It was my first time to Louisiana and I was curious and excited to see a different part of the country.
Read moreExpanded Access to Independent Evaluations in Massachusetts
May 30, 2018
New regulations increase the amount you can be reimbursed for independent educational evaluations (IEEs).An IEE is a tool parents can use when they disagree with an evaluation the school district has conducted. They can request that a psychologist, therapist, or other provider outside – or independent from – the school district conduct their own…
Read moreThe Beautiful Moments
May 24, 2018
*This post appeared in The Mighty, May 2018 Sometimes we all need a little more. It looks different for all of us: more attention or more alone time, more cuddles or more space, more structure or more flexibility. Maybe it’s a developmental stage, maybe it’s circumstance, mood or personality. Whatever it is, we notice and…
Read moreRead Beyond the Headline
May 4, 2018
In today’s digital world, it is easy to take headlines at face value. We have so much information coming at us all of the time that we might see a headline or skim an article without reading the full piece. Sharing an article as fact without digging deeper to check sources or compare findings…
Read moreTake Me Outside!
April 28, 2018
This week, I was called to the school twice to pick up my son. Scrreeeech. Back down the rabbit hole I go; There have been a lot of transitions lately. He’s going through a growth spurt. Is everyone getting enough sleep? I think there’s too much sugar in our diets. We should probably cut back…
Read more3 Tips for Tracking Your Child’s Progress at School
April 20, 2018
Tracking your child’s improvement against his goals involves comparing old and new documents, as well as understanding the reports you receive from the teacher and school. Here are some tips to keep organized and prepared. 1. Organize your child’s progress reportsIn many states, the school district must send parents or guardians written progress reports…
Read moreMassachusetts Resource Directory Now Available in Spanish
April 5, 2018
Families with Children who have Disabilities Now have Access to an Online Resource Directory in SpanishExceptional Lives is excited to announce that its comprehensive Resource Directory designed to provide information on services available to children with disabilities has been translated into Spanish. This free, on-line directory provides a wealth of information on local services…
Read moreDon’t Look the Other Way
March 29, 2018
People freeze in unknown situations. It’s normal. And it’s why I became interested in this field in the first place. I was reminded of this earlier today.I ran out to grab lunch and while I was waiting for my bagel - headphones in my ears because I was on the phone, face-down looking at…
Read moreAsk the Attorney: What are my rights regarding school placement?
March 21, 2018
"Can the school district force my child into a new placement because we requested a certain accommodation such as a one-to-one aide?"As with all of our Ask the Attorney posts, we acknowledge that every situation is unique based on the student and school district, though there is some general advice we can share on…
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