Our Content
Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
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 more
Setting 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 more
Want 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
Read more
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!
Read more
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…
Read more
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.
Read moreDoes my child have dysgraphia? How would I know?
March 30, 2022
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that interferes with a person’s ability to express their ideas in writing. But you may not even know what it is. Here’s what to look for and what to do if your child is struggling. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Read more5 tips for filing taxes for people with disabilities
March 23, 2022
Nothing’s sure but… well, you know the end of that sentence. If your family includes a child or adult with a disability, here are 5 important things to know before you file your taxes in 2022.Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney in consultation with Ken W. Shulman, Day Pitney LLP.
Read moreMarch is CP Awareness Month
March 17, 2022
In March, for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, my son and I like to do something together. Sammy has cerebral palsy and he's great at answering questions about what that means to him and how it impacts his life.
Read moreMy child with disabilities is now an adult. How do I let go and still support him?
March 16, 2022
At age 22, young people with disabilities age out of special education. In this podcast, Exceptional Lives Team member Julie talks about her son’s transition and how she is learning to support him in this new part of his life while she learns to let go. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Read more4 pieces every IEP goal should have
March 9, 2022
How can you tell between a great IEP goal that will support your child with a disability – and one that doesn’t mean much? In this podcast we will talk about 4 things that should be a part of every goal. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Read more
