If you are a parent of a child with special needs, attending an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting is essential to ensure that your child’s individual needs are being met. However, one crucial step, often forgotten, is writing a parent concerns letter before meeting with the IEP team. This letter serves as an opportunity for you to voice any issues or concerns about your child’s education and to be part of the decision-making process. In addition, writing a parent concerns letter allows you to be an active participant in the IEP meeting and ensures that your child’s needs are taken into consideration.

Children with disabilities can be easy targets for other children who feel like they themselves are under-appreciated or bullied. From teasing and bullying to exclusion, it is important that these moments are stopped before they cause long-term damage in your child.

An IEP is an Individualized Education Plan, a legal document that details your child's educational present levels and current needs. Then it includes goals and objectives to support those needs. It covers all areas of education--including special education services--and consists of the regular education curriculum. The IEP also includes behavior intervention plans if necessary. The most important thing a parent should know about an IEP is that it is INDIVIDUALIZED for YOUR CHILD. Just because they do or do not support another child in a certain way does not mean they have to support your child the same way.

As a parent, you always want the best for your child, especially regarding their education. So, when a school evaluation does not accurately reflect your child's needs or abilities, it can be frustrating and worrisome. If you are in this situation, knowing your rights and the steps you can take to ensure your child receives the support they need and is appropriate is essential. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is requesting an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). In this post, we'll discuss why you disagree with a school evaluation, how to request an IEE, and what new data you might obtain in the process.

Educators and parents need to understand the criteria for qualifying for an IEP under this category, which includes a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, conduct disorders, eating disorders, and psychotic disorders

It seems that come March or April, the behaviors of students become a focus of teachers and schools. I have spoken to so many parents in the last few months explaining why they need to reqeust a Functional Behavioral Analysis (FBA) for their child.

As a parent of a child with special needs, navigating the special education process can be overwhelming. However, one of the most essential tools for parents is Prior Written Notice (PWN). This legal requirement ensures parents are informed and involved in their child's education. In this blog post, we will discuss what PWN is, why parents need to know about it, and when to request IEP meeting information be added to the PWN.

As a parent or guardian of a special education student, it's essential to be aware of the procedural safeguards protecting your child's rights. These safeguards ensure that children with disabilities and their families receive the necessary support and accommodations to help them succeed in their education. This blog post will summarize the key procedural safeguards you should know to advocate for your child's needs effectively.

As parents of special kids, we often find ourselves facing the complex and overwhelming public education system. We juggle appointments, therapy sessions, and IEPs while also trying to ensure our child receives a fair and appropriate education. Amid this whirlwind, an advocate can be your guiding light, helping you traverse this tiring process.

Disappointment comes in all shapes, forms, and sizes. And we have to learn how to navigate the little moments of disappointment when we are kids so when those much bigger moments happen in life, we have mastered the skills and steps to get through them; and equally as important, we can help those around us work through their disappointment as well.

I have hesitated writing this blog because it seems so self-serving. I am a great advocate and an advocate that will always go the extra mile. But there are many great advocates out there. However, when one of my clients told me, "I was thinking you should probably write an article or give advice on how to ... identify an advocate not doing their job (just after your money) and how to look for one with the qualities you have ... who is genuinely trying to help you..." I knew it needed to be addressed.

Executive Functioning Disorder (EFD) is akin to the maestro of cognitive abilities, harmonizing tasks like planning, organization, time management, and problem-solving. As children enter the labyrinth of middle and high school, those with EFD might find themselves struggling to keep pace with their peers.