by Bonnie Landau | Nov 13, 2018 | Blog, Fun Stuff, Gifts
We all know that little builders are thrilled when they get a Lego kit, but did you know there are a lot of other great ways to stretch the imagination of a visual spatial creator? Other plastic toys and magnet kits provide great opportunities to learn other ways... 
by Bonnie Landau | Oct 13, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog, Interview
I feel really fortunate to be interviewed by Michael Boll at California Special Needs Law Group. Michael is working on putting together a network of special education advocates so we can get to know advocates in different regions of California. Since we each work in... 
by Bonnie Landau | Oct 7, 2018 | Accommodations, Auditory Processing, Blog, Classroom Help, Coping Strategies, Sensory Processing
Many people with APD (auditory processing disorder) suffer from hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound) and difficulty understanding in noisy situations (auditory figure-ground issues). For child this is especially difficult because school is filled with all sorts of loud... 
by Bonnie Landau | Sep 16, 2018 | Attention Problems, Blog, Classroom Help, Coping Strategies, Sensory Processing
Working with kids means knowing what to do when a child doesn’t fit still. Kids who know me are ready for me to pull out my ‘fidget bag’ and are always excited to see what new gadgets I have added. These fidgets are the all-time favorites of the kids... 
by Bonnie Landau | Sep 8, 2018 | Autism, Blog, Coping Strategies, Fun Stuff, Sensory Processing
Tactile (Touch) Sensory Input Pineapple Thumbprint Drawing Ice Paint DIY Sidewalk Chalk Pops Bouncy Ball Stamp Pufferfish Textured Hot Air Balloon Sensory Craft Worry Pet Buddies for Anxiety Pool Noodle Pom Pom Shooter Puffy Paint Octopus Ocean Slime Stretchy Slime 20... 
by Bonnie Landau | Sep 8, 2018 | Blog, Classroom Help, Coping Strategies, Infographic, Stress & Learning
Anxiety is one of the most difficult emotions to get control over, but with useful strategies you can do a lot to help a child calm down. I have used the following strategies with children and found they are very effective at shifting thought patterns and helping a... 
by Bonnie Landau | Sep 4, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog
We all know that in the world of special education, if it isn’t in writing, it may not have happened. As Special Ed Parents, we need to remember that all requests and responses need to be done via email or printed letter. Optimally, multiple people will be... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jul 28, 2018 | Back to School, Blog, Infographic
Unfortunately it is that time of year when we have to transition our kids away from a less structured schedule and extended sleep times to the reliability of the school day. Getting ready for back to school can be fun, but it can also be overwhelming when you have so... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jul 27, 2018 | Back to School, Blog, Printable
There are SO many things to do to get our kids out of summer mode and back into school mode. It’s a wonder we get it all done! I created this simple checklist so you could have an easy to make sure you don’t lose track of anything. This list is geared... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jul 25, 2018 | Advocacy, Back to School, Blog, Classroom Help
Starting a new school year is a big chore for many teachers. They often have to create new curriculum and schools introduce new methodologies, and then of course all teachers get a new group of students. They may hear about your student from other teachers, but they... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jun 8, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog, IEP, Infographic
One of the most important things you can do when advocating for your child is to organize IEP paperwork! That is why I created the Ultimate IEP Binder Tool Kit, so parents like you can get all the information in one place. Why organize IEP paperwork? In chapter 33 of... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jun 8, 2018 | Blog, Parenting
Need immediate help? If you have an emergency situation, CALL 911. If you suspect someone is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or visit their website to do an online chat. Call The Trevor Project at... 
by Bonnie Landau | May 29, 2018 | 504, Advocacy, Blog, IDEA, IEP, Special Ed Law
There seems to be a lot of confusion about IEP vs 504 plans. While both are covered within special education, only IEPs (individualized education programs) are covered under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). IDEA is the federal law that governs how... 
by Bonnie Landau | May 28, 2018 | Biomedical Healing, Blog, Sensory Processing, Therapy
Rhythmic Movement Training (or RMT) is a neurological development program that can help integrate primitive reflexes. It provides easy, gentle movements that can actually help with sensory, anxiety, emotional and behavioral issues. It is easy to learn so parents can... 
by Bonnie Landau | May 24, 2018 | 504, Advocacy, Blog, IDEA, IEP
Has your child been denied an IEP or 504? It is so common for schools to say that a child is not eligible for special education because the child has good grades or is too smart. The truth is, this is not a valid excuse for denying special education support. Sec.... 
by Bonnie Landau | May 13, 2018 | 504, Accommodations, Advocacy, Blog, IEP
A lot of time and effort goes into choosing the exact right accommodations to help your child in the classroom. Sometimes you even have to fight for them, even though they usually don’t cost the school any money. Even with all this careful consideration, they... 