Our Content
Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
Co-regulation: Your secret tool for managing meltdowns
June 29, 2022
Parenting comes with meltdowns - it’s part of the deal. But did you know that co-regulating with your child is often the fastest and most effective way to diffuse things when your child is upset? You may already be doing it, even if you’ve never heard of it. Learn more. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written…
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How can co-regulation help my child’s behavior? Strategies for parenting children with disabilities
June 29, 2022
If your child with disabilities has trouble relating and communicating, you’ve seen a lot of meltdowns. Co-regulation can help you get back on the same page.
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Transition to adulthood for young people with disabilities: a timeline.
June 22, 2022
If you are the parent to a student with disabilities, the transition to adulthood can feel overwhelming. Here’s a timeline to help you through.
Read moreHow do we address oppression based on race and disability?
June 15, 2022
How do we address disability rights and oppression based on race at the same time? Keep learning. Keep listening. Dr. Leslie Grover of Assisi House shares her insight.
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6 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
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I thought OT was about workplace skills. Why does my child need OT if they don’t work?
June 1, 2022
If your young child has a disability or delay, you may have been referred to Occupational Therapy. But what does occupational therapy mean for a child? Anne and Kim from the McMains Child Development Center explain how OT can help a child with their most important work - play.
Read moreSetting up children with disabilities to live their best lives…and new tools for families.
May 25, 2022
If you care for a child with a disability, our recent webinar series has tools to support you from before diagnosis right up to adulthood.
Read moreParents, let’s talk mental health
May 18, 2022
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. But what does mental health look like for those of us caring for children with disabilities? How can we support our children while still tending to our own needs? Here are a few ideas for you.Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
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 moreFeeling parent stress? Us too. Here’s our favorite trick to reduce stress and enjoy our kids more.
May 11, 2022
Feeling parent stress? We are too. But it turns out unplugging our phones when we’re hanging out with our kids is one of the best ways to transform the stress into joy - even when things are hard. Read on to learn why
Read moreThe key to improving your child’s experience in school? Parent-teacher relationships
May 4, 2022
For some children with disabilities, interactions with teachers and staff can be difficult. Watch this quick video from school counselor John-Pierre LaFleur to find out how building parent-teacher relationships can help.
Read moreMother’s Day special podcast: If you give a mom a minute
May 4, 2022
A tribute to mamas and people filling those mama shoes this Mother’s Day…. If you give a mom a minute, she’ll try to fill it with “just one more thing”...Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
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Is DIR Floortime right for my autistic child?
April 28, 2022
DIR Floortime is an approach to supporting autistic children, yet many parents of autistic children only know about ABA therapy. In this podcast, Julie McIsaac, Learning and Mental Health Consultant, talks about her experience as a certified DIR Floortime provider.Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Read moreWhat is DIR Floortime? Is it right for my autistic child?
April 27, 2022
Many families are drawn to Floortime because they want to understand why their Autistic child behaves a certain way. Here is my experience as a child therapist.
Read moreMy student with disabilities is transitioning to adult life – how do we find resources for them?
April 20, 2022
Youth with disabilities should start to learn independent living skills as early as possible. Read on to help them transition to adulthood!
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I am the parent of an autistic child. What will I learn from listening to autistic adults?
April 13, 2022
If you have the chance to learn more about what it is like to walk in your child’s shoes, why not take it? One of the best ways parents of autistic kids can understand our children’s experience is to listen to autistic adults. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Read moreI have an autistic child. What can I learn from autistic adults?
April 12, 2022
If you had the chance to learn more about what it is like to walk in your child’s shoes, why not take it? As parents, we turn to other parents walking in our shoes because we have shared experiences. It helps. But when it comes to understanding the experience of our kids, let’s turn to…
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What is identity-first language and what does it have to do with autism?
April 6, 2022
Autistic child? Child with autism? It feels like the language is always changing. But identity-first language is a powerful way of shifting the conversation - and reflects so much of what we want to teach our children. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Read moreAutistic child or child with autism? Why identity-first language matters.
April 5, 2022
This is a fundamental value of Exceptional Lives. It is our mission to support families and caregivers of children with disabilities and to do this work effectively, we must do it respectfully. We must listen.
Read moreTools for managing anxiety in young children
March 31, 2022
Many young children suffer from anxiety. In this short video, clinician John-Pierre LaFleur offers some simple tools for managing anxiety in young children.
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