Disproportionality is the term used to describe the overrepresentation of a minority group in special education programs. The backdrop to the IEP meetings, consent forms, and evaluations is a law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law sets forth the rights of students with disabilities in the public education system in the […]
disabilities
5 Tips for Family Members: How to Avoid Unnecessary Stress at Family Gatherings
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 […]
The Power in Wondering
We all wonder. We wonder about the future and what it holds for us and for our loved ones. We wonder about our careers, our relationships, and our contributions to our community. Some of us wonder about accessibility: As a parent, how do I know if my son will be able to access the curriculum […]
Massachusetts Resource Directory now available in Spanish
Families with Children who have Disabilities Now have Access to an Online Resource Directory in Spanish
18 Ways to Help a Special Needs Family in 2018
Why special needs families need help: Before I became a parent, I thought a little extra hard work would be enough to make it through the valleys of parenthood. When I became a special needs parent, goodness, I realized how wrong I was.
3 Reminders for Parents of Kids with Disabilities in 2018
1. You are an expert in your child You know your child best. You have watched your child grow, tracked milestones, and sought help when your parental instinct told you something might not be quite right. You know the techniques that will calm an outburst, the language that will get your child back on task, […]
Yes, I look tired. This is why I don’t care.
Last week my son stood up on skates for the first time on his own. I cannot express the intense emotion that swept over me at that moment, but I suspect you know the feeling. Pride, joy, love, glee. It isn’t the skating part that I care about. It is the perseverance and determination. Despite […]
The Resources Are There. How Can We Connect More Families to Them?
The stress, emotion, and confusion that accompany a diagnosis for your child can be overwhelming. We are excited to share an article by Ricki Meyer, Exceptional Lives’ Director of Policy and Legal Operations, that discusses how our free resources can help parents and caregivers navigate the various disability systems and accompanying emotions upon receiving a diagnosis […]
Exceptional Lives is proud to be a recipient of the International 2018 Zero Project Innovative Practice Awards.