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disabilities

What is disproportionality in special education?

January 23, 2019 by Ricki Meyer, Esq.

children smiling and playing

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 […]

Filed Under: Back to School, Education, Exceptional Lives, Featured, IEP, IEP Guide, Inclusion, LA, MA, MassHealth, News & Blog, Special Needs, Transition Tagged With: disabilities, disproportionality, education, IDEA, IEP, low income, socio-economic, special needs

5 Tips for Family Members: How to Avoid Unnecessary Stress at Family Gatherings

November 7, 2018 by Julie McIsaac, M.A.

Two boys playing outside with leaves in the fall

  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 […]

Filed Under: Advice from Parents, Anxiety, Autism, Exceptional Lives, Featured, Financial Planning, Healthy Lifestyle, Inclusion, LA, MA, News & Blog, Social Skills, Special Needs Tagged With: diagnosis, disabilities, family, holidays, special needs, stress, support, Thanksgiving, tips

The Power in Wondering

May 9, 2018 by Julie McIsaac, M.A.

Little Girl Wondering About Something

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 […]

Filed Under: Advice from Parents, Anxiety, Autism, Exceptional Lives, Featured, Free, IEP Guide, LA, MA, News & Blog, Special Needs, Technology Tagged With: advocate, developmental disability, disabilities, free, How-To Guides, information, Online Resources, resources, special needs

Massachusetts Resource Directory now available in Spanish

April 5, 2018 by Ricki Meyer, Esq.

Desktop and Mobile using the Spanish Resource Directory

Families with Children who have Disabilities Now have Access to an Online Resource Directory in Spanish

Filed Under: Disability News, Exceptional Lives, Featured, Free, MA, News & Blog, Resources, spanish Tagged With: disabilities, free, Massachusetts, resource directory, resources, spanish, special needs

18 Ways to Help a Special Needs Family in 2018

January 11, 2018 by Katie Emanuel

Family Going for a Walk

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.

Filed Under: Advice from Parents, Anxiety, Autism, Back to School, Childcare, Communication, Disability News, Exceptional Lives, Featured, Free, Holidays, IEP, Inclusion, Inspiration, LA, MA, News & Blog Tagged With: 2018, advice, child, developmental disability, disabilities, family, help, how to help, parent, parenting, special needs, stress, support

3 Reminders for Parents of Kids with Disabilities in 2018

January 2, 2018 by Ricki Meyer, Esq.

Mother and Child Together Outside

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, […]

Filed Under: Advice from Parents, Autism, Childcare, Communication, Exceptional Lives, Featured, Free, Inspiration, LA, MA, News & Blog, Social Security Tagged With: child, disabilities, exceptional lives, guides, new year, online, parent, parenting, reminders, resource directory, resources, school, support, tips

Yes, I look tired. This is why I don’t care.

December 20, 2017 by Julie McIsaac, M.A.

boy smiling at camera

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 […]

Filed Under: Advice from Parents, Holidays, Inspiration, News & Blog, Uncategorized Tagged With: disabilities, guides, holidays, parenting, resources, support

The Resources Are There. How Can We Connect More Families to Them?

December 8, 2017 by Ricki Meyer, Esq.

ELI Resource Directory Screenshot

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 […]

Filed Under: Ask the Attorney, Autism, Communication, Disability News, Education, Employment, Exceptional Lives, Free, Guardianship, Housing, IEP, IEP Guide, Inclusion, Inspiration, News & Blog, Social Security, SSI, Technology, Transition Tagged With: diagnosis, disabilities, exceptional lives, news, online tools, resources

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