I recently participated in a local consignment sale. My youngest son had quite the collection of fidget spinners. That was a short-lived trend, wasn't it? I'm kinda glad it's over. For him, anyway. But, for some kids with ADHD, Fidget Spinners and Fidget Toys are therapeutic. I just hope that the trend of spinning them,| A Day in our Shoes
Nothing frustrates a parent more than to tell a child to 'go clean your room!' only to return two hours later to see the same mess. But just like I tell schools, I sometimes have to remind parents, 'Is this can't do the skill, or won't do the skill?' Some kids truly do not have| A Day in our Shoes
Slow processing speed can be a challenging issue for many children, impacting their ability to keep up with peers and complete tasks in a timely manner. Many parents ask for accommodations for this on an IEP. But, not enough believe you can or know how to improve slow processing speed in kids. You can, and| A Day in our Shoes
Have you ever walked into your child's room to find them sleeping on the floor? I mean, you put them in bed, and you find them curled up on the floor. Or, if you're like me, you feel like your autistic child is sleeping too much. Raise your hand if you're a huge fan of| A Day in our Shoes
The Ultimate Guide to Special Needs Travel: Adequately (and safely!) prepare for a vacation when your child has a disability or special needs. This can save you some headaches and hassles!| A Day in our Shoes
Is Sensory Overload really a 'thing?' YES. It happens to people with anxiety, autism, ADHD, and other conditions. How to help and prevent sensory overload.| A Day in our Shoes
During 2020 and 2021, when we were all stuck at home, I took the opportunity to engage subject matter experts to do some online chats with parents.Here is one of those videos, and the information is still very relevant, and not covid-specific.I hope you find it helpful and informative.| A Day in our Shoes
Much like the other posts I have on this site about anxiety, I want to start with the same warning. IEPs are not diagnosis-driven document. They are needs-driven. Your child's needs, determined through their IEP evaluations, will drive the IEP goals that the team creates. Not a diagnosis of anxiety. Still, there are some commonalities| A Day in our Shoes
First, let me say that I am not in love with this article's title. IEP decisions are team decisions. No one IEP team member should be deciding things like this--such as eligibility. Still, I want parents to use it as a starting point. Chances are, if you landed here on this article, you may already| A Day in our Shoes
If you’ve been hearing the term 504 plan and wondering what it is, how it works, or if your child might need one, you’re not alone. A 504 plan is one of the most misunderstood tools in education. Has your child been recently offered a 504 plan, or you've been told that they need one?| A Day in our Shoes
I'm sure if this has happened to you, it sure felt like a gaslighting moment. You have a child. The child sees various doctors and| 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
These cool noise-cancelling headphones can help with Autism or ADHD focus issues, avoid sensory overload and reduce stress. Decibel ratings too.| A Day in our Shoes
One concept or behavior that you may be exposed to as an IEP parent is elopement. Unfortunately, I am not talking about the fun kind| A Day in our Shoes
Many parents and caregivers struggle to manage aggressive behavior in children. These are the situations that can deteriorate a situation quickly--because many schools have zero| A Day in our Shoes
Study skills are some of the highest and most complex of all the executive functions. Depending on the child's grade and expectations, they will be| A Day in our Shoes
FBAs and Behavior Plans FBAs and Behavior Plans are a common component of IEPs. And, after 12 years of advocacy, I'm seeing the same issues| A Day in our Shoes
