Our Content
Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
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
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What 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.
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My 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
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I 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
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Autistic 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 moreWhat to Look for in an ABA Provider
March 8, 2022
Need services for an autistic child? In this short video from Donyelle Clark-Kennedy, BCBA, learn how to select the right ABA provider.
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A crash course in navigating special education
March 1, 2022
Special education (often called special ed or SPED) means specialized teaching and related services to help children with disabilities or special needs make progress in school. How do you know if your child qualifies? And what does specialized teaching mean, anyway? In this podcast we’ll break down the systems and acronyms so you’re ready to…
Read moreStorytelling as a self-advocacy skill for teens with disabilities
February 28, 2022
Telling their own story is a self-advocacy skill for teens with disabilities. In this short video, Dr. Leslie Grover talks about how to get your teen started.
Read moreHow are Civil Rights and Disability Rights connected?
February 23, 2022
How are the Civil Rights movement and the Disability Rights movement connected? Dr. Leslie Grover of Assisi House in Baton Rouge explains how one would not exist without the other.
Read moreWhat happens when my child is too old for early intervention?
February 16, 2022
If your child has a delay or disability, they may qualify for school-based special education services or therapy when they turn 3. In this episode we’ll talk about how and when to start getting your child (and yourself!) ready for this transition. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McKinney
Read moreLoving Well
February 10, 2022
When we have a spouse, a child with a disability, and other children can we have enough love to go around? How do we do “family love” well?
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Does my child need Occupational Therapy?
February 2, 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? In this episode, we’ll talk about all of the ways OT can make a difference for your child. Kim Haynes and Anne Hindrichs of the McMains Child Developmental Center…
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