How do you teach your child to understand their differences?
I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of parents of special needs children for 25 years to assist in the development and provision of an appropriate special education program. I am also a...
I got an IEE… Now what?
As an advocate who has attended more than 3,000 IEP meetings and served hundreds of clients over the past 25 years, I can tell you that obtaining an IEE by a reputable provider and holding the IEP...
Annual Goals are the most important component of your child’s IEP
IEP goals are the most important component of your child’s IEP and this is why. Because Goals drive the frequency and duration of the related services, and the Goals and Services drive the Placement...
Part 3 – Becoming Autodidactic is the road to successful parent advocacy
In Part 3 of the series “Becoming Autodidactic is the road to successful parent advocacy” we will cover the Parent Agenda, Parent Statement, and Partial Consent. Part 1 and Part 2 focused on how to...
Part 2 – Becoming autodidactic is the road to successful parent advocacy
Lately, the conversation on my FB page has been about mandated IEP team members and lawful excusals. There are many parents who don't know their rights when it comes to these issues and that's the...
Becoming autodidactic is the road to successful parent advocacy (Part 1)
There are many parents on my Facebook pages that write comments about what’s happening in IEP meetings. Many of these comments are so shocking to me and I am appalled with how many schools across...
Prior Written Notice: The little-known most powerful parent advocacy tool
Utilizing your right to demand a Prior Written Notice (PWN) is huge when used properly and not enough parents use it or are aware of what it is. When you make a request in writing or at an IEP...
Bullying Strategies for Children with Special Needs
One out of five children experiences bullying. Children with disabilities are more likely to be bullied than their peers. It was found that "35.3% of students with behavioral and emotional...
Responding to School Discipline
Childhood discipline can haunt kids later in their education. There are many school disciplinary actions inflicted upon students without giving parents any kind of say-so in the matter. It is a...
What you should do if your child refuses to go to school
If your child has repeatedly refused to go to school, please don’t wait to take proactive steps to address this behavior. School avoidance is when a child refuses to attend school or has difficulty...