Special Education
How Long Can a Child be on a School Bus? + Tips for IEP Issues.
Maximum Length of School Bus Ride Did you know that some school students, particularly those in rural areas such as
Special Education
Manifestation Determination Meeting | What It Is | How to Prepare | Examples
Manifestation Determination Speaking to you as a parent, I hope that you never have to know what a Manifestation Determination
Disability Resources for Families
23 Books about Siblings with Disabilities | Autism | Down Syndrome
Books About Siblings of Special Needs Children Yesterday was not a great day. It wasn’t terrible, just not great.
Holiday Fun for Everyone
Best Christmas Tree Farms | Delaware | Prices | 2020
Christmas Tree Farms in Delaware There is just something about the smell of a fresh real tree in your home
Holiday Fun for Everyone
Best Christmas Tree Farms in PA | Cut Your Own | Prices | 2020
Christmas Tree Farms in PA If you are planning a traditional holiday season, then you’ll want to know more
Holiday Fun for Everyone
Best Christmas Tree Farms | New Jersey | Prices | 2020
Christmas Tree Farm NJ New Jersey may be a small state, but it packs a ton of great Christmas tree
Disability Resources for Families
Adaptive Clothing | Special Needs | Adults | Kids | Abdominal Access and More
Special Needs Adaptive Clothing Accessible and Adaptive Clothing for kids and adults with Special Needs is really having a moment,
Don’t IEP Alone
When does an IEP end? IEP Age Range
When does an IEP end? When does an IEP end? How do you end an IEP? What is the IEP
Special Education
What are IEP Related Services in Special Education | Definition | Eligibility
What are Related Services? According to IDEA, these are the related services in Special Education. audiology counseling services early identification
Don’t IEP Alone
When your IEP Team says, “We don’t do that here.” | Next Steps for Parents
We don’t do that here. I got two inquiries recently that are very similar. Both parents asked for something
Don’t IEP Alone
What Parents Want New Special Education Professionals to Know
What IEP Parents Want You to Know A few weeks ago, a newish teacher tweeted at me. She asked what
Want Better IEP Meetings?
How Long Does the School Have to Respond to an IEP Meeting Request? What about an Emergency?
Parent Request for IEP Meeting Timeline IDEA does not define this. Some state special education regulations have set a time
Don’t IEP Alone
Special Education Timelines | When Should the School Respond to IEP Requests or Evals?
IEP Timelines How long does a school have to: respond to IEP email? schedule an IEP meeting? evaluate my child?
Want Better IEP Meetings?
Requesting an IEP Meeting | Who | How | Letter Templates
How to Request an IEP Meeting This one should be filed under “blog posts I never thought I’d have
Don’t IEP Alone
What to Do if you Disagree with your IEP Team about Goals.
I don’t want that IEP goal. I know I’ve told the story several times. The story of my
Acceptance, Advocacy and Activism
Why Every Parent Should Get Involved in Special Education Lobbying | IDEA Re-Authorization
Citizen and Parent Advocacy I think we’re in this for the long haul. I wrote this right after the 2016
Don’t IEP Alone
What if an IEP Goal is not Met?
What happens if your child does not meet their IEP goals? Ah, progress monitoring. I find it to be one
Don’t IEP Alone
How to Build a Meaningful IEP for Autism | Goals | Sample
IEP for Autism For almost 10 years, readers have been asking me questions about an IEP and autism. It’s quite
Special Education
Educational Autism | What’s the difference between a Medical and a School Diagnosis of Autism?
Educational Autism I’m sure if this has happened to you, it sure felt like a gaslighting moment. You have
Don’t IEP Alone
4 Phrases that Create more Chaos than Cooperation in IEPs.
Confusing Legal IEP Terms There are some words in the IEP process that seem to create more chaos than cooperation.
Don’t IEP Alone
{FAPE Waivers} Should Parents Sign Them? | Special Education
FAPE Special Education? “My district wants me to sign away FAPE! Why would I do that?!?!” I often get emails
IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
57 Functional Communication IEP Goals | Transition | Vocation | Recreation
Functional Communication Goals One of the biggest obstacles that some IEP students have is lack of appropriate, functional communication. A
Don’t IEP Alone
How to Prevent and Get Out of Truancy Charges | IEP | 504
School Truancy I looked at the mom/client sitting next to me in at truancy court, and gave her hand
Want Better IEP Meetings?
Should I Bring Food to the IEP Meeting? | Pros and Cons
Should I bring donuts to the IEP meeting? I understand you want to be nice. You want to be the “
Want Better IEP Meetings?
Are You Being Gaslighted at School or IEP Meetings? {Spoiler Alert: Probably!}
Gaslighting at School I remember the first time I was gaslighted at an IEP meeting. It probably wasn’t the
Want Better IEP Meetings?
What to Wear to a Parent Teacher Conference or IEP Meeting
Does it matter what you wear to an IEP meeting? Yes. “I have an IEP meeting tomorrow, should I dress
IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
{Study Skills} IEP Goals | Accommodations | Note Taking
Organization/Study Skills IEP Goals I’m a good learner, but I’m terrible at studying. Always have been. Other
Sponsored
{When We Last Spoke} Review | Great Family Movie for the Entire Family
When We Last Spoke Review One of the things we’ve been able to do MORE of since all this
Don’t IEP Alone Pandemic Parenting
IEP Assessments and Evaluations | Can they be done virtually? | REED
Virtual/Remote IEP Assessments This issue has been coming up in the Facebook Group often. I guess this pandemic is
Acceptance, Advocacy and Activism
The Battle Fatigue of Disability Parenting.
Special Needs Mom Burnout On Tuesday, when my son came home from school, his newly revised IEP was in his
Disability Resources for Families
50 Best Toys for Toddlers and Kids with Autism | Sensory | Developmental Delay
Best Sensory Toys for Autism This list of autism toys and gifts is great for: Developmentally Delayed Toddlers Developmentally Delayed
Special Education
Special Education Classroom Observation: Rules for Parents Visiting Classrooms
Special Education Classroom Observation I’ve been hearing this one a lot lately. And unfortunately, this issue often brings out
Activities for Kids
25 Amazingly Awesome Dolls with Disabilities | Disability Awareness | Action Figures
Dolls with Disabilities Kids need dolls and toys that resemble them. Sure, it’s great to have toys that you
Special Education
After School Meltdowns | Tips for Helping your Child | IEP Ideas
Managing After School Meltdowns Sometimes I marvel at the existence of my two boys. I look at them, and both
Special Education
25 Cool Gifts that Autistic and Disabled Teenagers and Adults Actually Want | Toys
Gift for Disabled Teenager and Adults Teens and adults with autism and disabilities can be so hard to buy for!
Holiday Fun for Everyone
Where to Get Free Letters from Santa | 2020
Free Letters from Santa Claus by Mail Would your child enjoy a free mailed letter from Santa? Who wouldn’t?
Holiday Fun for Everyone
Free Printable Letter to Santa | Santa Letter Template
Santa Letter Template When your child has a learning disability, they don’t only have the disability from 8-3 on
Disability Resources for Families
Best Reusable Swim Diaper | Adults | Older Kids
Swim Diaper for Adults This has been a huge struggle and colossal waste of money for us. Finding an adult
Disability Resources for Families IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
Toilet Training and Older Kids | IEP Goals | School Protocols | Diaper Recommendations
Toilet Training an Older Child I am wildly passionate about kids being toilet trained if it is a possibility. I
Acceptance, Advocacy and Activism
Was Dr. Seuss a Racist?
Dr. Seuss was Racist. Dr. Seuss is a prolific children’s book author and global icon. And Dr. Seuss has
Special Education
When you Cannot Afford an IEP Special Education Advocate or Attorney | Tips for Parents
Cost of IEP Advocates/Attorneys Your child is struggling. As a mom, you’re stressed and you’re frustrated. You
Special Education
How to Become a Special Education IEP Advocate | Salary | Certification
Become an IEP Special Education Advocate I never intended to become a Special Education Advocate. I merely took a course
Special Education
Special Education Advocate | How to Find and Hire One Near You | What We Do.
IEP Special Education Advocate “$2000?!?!” my husband exclaimed. “Do we really need this for him?” “Become an IEP/Special Education Advocate!”
Pandemic Parenting Special Education
What is an IRLP? Individual Remote Learning Plans, explained.
IRLP Individual Remote Learning Plan Yesterday a blog reader asked if I could further explain IRLP. IRLP stands for Individual
Frugal Living
Cutting the Cable Cord Options | Will I have to give up TV and Internet?
Cutting the Cable Cord Options Are you fed up with your cable TV bills? We were! And with technology, it
Acceptance, Advocacy and Activism
27 Ableist Tropes and Characters in American Movies | Examples
Ableist Movie Tropes and Characters I think most of us would agree that if a movie calls for a Black
Disability Resources for Families
8 Companies that Hire Disabled Adults | Fair Wage | Inclusionary Practices
Work for People with Disabilities We vote with our dollars. When you buy something, you aren’t just saying that
Disability Resources for Families
What is an IFSP? | A Parent Guide to Early Intervention Services | IDEA Part C
Early Intervention IDEA Part C Kevin is my first born. Like many new moms with internet access, I was um,
Special Education
Child Being Bullied at School? | Advocacy Tips | Legal Rights | Gebser Letter Example
Bullying at School Bullying at school. I hate it. It’s gross and happens everywhere-on the bus, at school. My
Special Education
Parent-Teacher Conferences | What to Ask | Special Education | Distance Learning
Parent-Teacher Conference Like other areas of our life, Parent-Teacher conferences can look different for a child with an IEP. A