I am wildly passionate about kids being toilet trained if it is a possibility. I never dreamed I would be a passionate advocate for toilet training. But here I am. Lack of toileting skills is one functional IEP skill that really carries a serious stigma for our kids. It's very ostracizing for an older child| A Day in our Shoes
Personal hygiene skills is something that many of us take for granted. If you do not pick up on social cues, and your interoception is different because of your neurodivergence, you may not notice these things. But, others will! That's for sure. And some things, like managing your medication, can be complete barriers to independent| A Day in our Shoes
It's a familiar sight, dating back many decades. We thought we were just playing, and didn't realize we were learning letter recognition. When I was small, we had the wooden blocks with the alphabet on them. Some kids had the plastic alphabet letters with magnets so they'd stick to the fridge. Now, you can get| A Day in our Shoes
So your kid can recite every dinosaur that ever lived... but can't microwave popcorn or tie their shoes. Or maybe they’re nailing math facts but completely melting down over brushing their teeth. Sound familiar? If you're here, you're probably wondering how the heck you're supposed to teach your kid all these “life skills” on top| A Day in our Shoes
Swim Diaper for Adults This has been a huge struggle and colossal waste of money for us. Finding an adult swim diaper for an older child that works. And that fit Kevin well. Kevin has really skinny legs, so finding swim pants that were snug around his legs was a challenge. Well, and his waist.| A Day in our Shoes
Before you enroll your child in any school, know the differences between a Public School vs. a Charter School. Outcomes matter!| A Day in our Shoes
Remember this? Did you know that way back when...when Tupperware invented this toy, that you were using fine motor skills to play with it? And it was Tupperware! If you're a Gen X'er like me, you definitely remember this Tupperware toy. When I was young enough to play with this toy, IEPs didn't even exist.| A Day in our Shoes
What is LRE Least Restrictive Environment? Students must be educated in the least restrictive environment to the maximum extent possible, and cannot use budget issues as an excuse not to do it. From Ed.Gov/IDEA Have you heard of LRE or the Least Restrictive Environment continuum? Many parents are unaware of this right or principle of| A Day in our Shoes
I got two inquiries recently that are very similar. Both parents asked for something on their child's IEP and were told, 'We don't do that here. It happens often. Can a school say that? Can they deny a service based on 'we don't offer that here?' You've heard it before, right? Short answer, no. So| A Day in our Shoes
Remember when we were little, and we thought nickels were worth more than dimes, just because they were bigger? Ah, those were the days. As part of adulting, we need to teach our kids practical money skills or functional math skills which are a subset of functional math IEP goals. Few kids even see dimes| A Day in our Shoes
Inside: Take a deep dive into learning about AT Assistive Technology, and how it differs from AAC. And 15 IEP goals for assistive technology.| A Day in our Shoes
Several years ago, I took my boys up to my Dad's house. Kevin just walked into the room where we were, stood in the middle,| A Day in our Shoes
Today, I had heard this phrase three times before 6 am. Yes, really. See, every morning I get up and grab my coffee. Before the| A Day in our Shoes
Goals are all around us. We make goals all day, every day in our own head. It may be as simple as 'I want to| A Day in our Shoes
I have a friend and there are 18 school staff people at her IEP meetings. I've mentioned many times before how large Kevin's IEP team| A Day in our Shoes
IEP Goals for Handwriting | Handwriting issues can be much more than a fine motor planning issue. It could be dysgraphia, dyslexia, vision issues, or| A Day in our Shoes
Before I get started with this list of Life Skills Goals for an IEP, I want to make one thing clear. That is, remember, IEPs| A Day in our Shoes
Inside: Private schools can provide special education but are not required to provide FAPE. It gets complicated, so read on to fully understand your rights| A Day in our Shoes
One little-known feature of IDEA is the section on parent training. Parents are often unaware that they can ask for training and/or counseling as part| A Day in our Shoes
How many times have you heard phrases like these, at IEP meetings, when you've suggested something? I don't think he/she needs that. Why don't we| A Day in our Shoes
Not only is IEP placement one of the most debated topics among parents, it's also one of the most contentious issues you will have with| A Day in our Shoes
What to know about getting a 1:1 aide or para on your child's IEP. From what qualifies a child for a 1:1 aide to getting| A Day in our Shoes
Inside: After the IEP meeting, here is what to expect. Including the after IEP meeting email, and when you should receive the final IEP. It| A Day in our Shoes
The Ultimate IEP Goal Bank! A free list of IEP Goals and IEP Objectives separated by category or area of need; includes a PDF of| A Day in our Shoes
