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...
Join me for a FREE Facebook Live! SWOT Analysis Q&ASaturday, June 22, 2019 at 9 am PST Join my Special Ed Mom Facebook Group to participate! It’s FINALLY the end of school year. Was it worth it? In the early years, my family couldn’t wait for the relief that...
Sometimes, traditional parenting methods can be a source of frustration in families with children on the autism spectrum. Kids with autism often express themselves differently, have special sensory concerns, and might not understand certain social expectations. Read...
You may have read about me in Special Ed Mom’s Survival Guide. I’m Bonnie’s husband Steve, otherwise known as the dad who had a hard time letting go of my dreams for a typical son. Those days are behind me. As a professional mediator, I thought I could handle IEP...
In all my advocacy work as a parent, and all the individual work with students, I have found self-advocacy to be one of the most important skills that a student can develop. Self-advocacy is the ability to ask for the support that is needed in order to be successful...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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