Special Education | Latest Articles

What is Occupational Therapy for Kids?

What is Occupational Therapy for Kids?

OT and school-based occupational therapy help students with disabilities develop the skills they need to participate in daily activities at home and school.

4 Functions of Behavior and your FBA/Behavior Plan

4 Functions of Behavior and your FBA/Behavior Plan

If parents (and teachers!) have a better understanding of the four functions of behavior, the history behind the philosophy, and the many flaws, you can be a better advocate for a child exhibiting behaviors.

19 Work Completion IEP Goals and Examples

19 Work Completion IEP Goals and Examples

Inside: Discover how setting Work Completion IEP goals can help students with disabilities improve their academic performance and achieve success in school and beyond. Includes…

50 Essential Life Skills for Teens

50 Essential Life Skills for Teens

Use this list of teen life skills to see where your child is, and what they need to work on before going on to college or living independently.

Can You Have an IEP and a 504?

Can You Have an IEP and a 504?

Learn what an IEP provides and what a 504 provides, and why it’s not a case of “more is better. Your child should not need both.

Is an IEP a Legal Document?

Is an IEP a Legal Document?

Inside: Yes, an IEP is a legally binding document. Understand the framework and laws behind IEPs and what to do if you have a legal…

Dear IEP Team: Don’t Call Me Mom.

Dear IEP Team: Don’t Call Me Mom.

Does your IEP team call you “Mom” at IEP meetings? Are you comfortable with that? Let’s explore the pros and cons to this common gesture, and ways to change it if you wish.

What is Pathological Demand Avoidance?

What is Pathological Demand Avoidance?

Pathological demand avoidance in autism explained Listen to this story: Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is a contentious term. Over the past 40 years, some clinicians…

What is IDEA Child Find?

What is IDEA Child Find?

“That’s a Child Find issue.You need to report them for Child Find!” If your child has an IEP, chances are you have heard these phrases.

What is CVI Cortical Visual Impairment?

What is CVI Cortical Visual Impairment?

Cortical Visual Impairment I recently attended a conference to educate myself on Cortical Visual Impairment, one of my son’s diagnoses. It was so enlightening and…

504 Plans, explained.

504 Plans, explained.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive…

40 IEP Goals for Executive Functioning Skills

40 IEP Goals for Executive Functioning Skills

Executive Functions IEP Goals Executive function is an umbrella term for cognitive processes such as planning, working memory, attention, problem solving, verbal reasoning, inhibition, mental…

What is an IEP Mom?

What is an IEP Mom?

IEP Moms “Mrs. Lightner, we’ll add the additional hour of OT to Kevin’s plan, but I want you to know that he is the only…

15 Best Sensory Toys for Adults

15 Best Sensory Toys for Adults

Here are some reader-recommended sensory toys for adults, including those with disabilities like autism, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities.

What is a Sensory Diet? (Examples)

What is a Sensory Diet? (Examples)

A sensory diet may help a child improve their self-regulation skills. Read how, why, and getting a sensory diet added to your child’s IEP.

Can you get an IEP in High School?

Can you get an IEP in High School?

High School IEP Surprisingly, I am asked the question about IEPs in High School quite often. More than I am comfortable with, but more on…

Autistic Shutdowns

Autistic Shutdowns

You might have heard about autistic meltdowns, but what about autistic shutdowns? The two terms are often used interchangeably by non-autistic autism professionals, but autism…

Vocabulary IEP Goals

Vocabulary IEP Goals

Once a child has been identified as a student with a learning disability, it can be tough for the IEP team to come to agreement…

The IEP Team Met Without Me!

The IEP Team Met Without Me!

The IEP Team had a Meeting without You. Let’s be honest, not everyone fully understands the IEP process and what it entails. It’s a complicated…

Liar

Liar

When your Child Lies As I often begin many articles, I state “this has been coming up in the Facebook group a lot lately.” And,…