I never planned on becoming a special education advocate. For more than 15 years, I was a resource teacher, and I loved being a teacher. Honestly, I never thought I would do anything else. But my journey to advocacy started long before I became an advocate. It started with being a parent. I am a parent of two children with learning and attention challenges. My daughter is dyslexic, and my son has ADHD. Being both a teacher and a parent gave me a perspective I could never have

Are you saying to yourself, “It’s the beginning of the school year, and Joey is already struggling. The teacher isn’t following the 504 Plan. What should I do?” A 504 Plan can provide important support for a student with a disability. However, there are times when accommodations alone are not enough. Your child may need specialized instruction, related services, measurable goals, or more intensive support. When that happens, it may be time to consider requesting a special edu

Have you ever been given a packet—or received an email—with your Procedural Safeguards before an IEP meeting? Did you look at it and think, “What are these?” If you have, you are not alone. But before you put them away, take a few minutes to read them. Your Procedural Safeguards explain your rights as parents! When parents attend an IEP meeting, they are often surrounded by: a special education teacher, general education teacher, administrator, school psychologist, service pr

Many parents know if their child is struggling in school. You may notice difficulties with reading, writing, math, communication, behavior, attention, or social skills. Sometimes parents repeatedly ask for help but are told to “wait and see” or they simply need more time. This is where Child Find becomes important. Child Find is a legal obligation that requires school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate children who may have a disability and who may need special educa

Walking into an IEP meeting can feel intimidating. Feeling Confident at the IEP table. You may be sitting across the table from teachers, specialists, administrators, and school staff who use vocabulary you don't understand. You may know your child is struggling, but you may not know exactly what to ask for or how to communicate your concerns. The best thing you can do is prepare. Write down your questions before the meeting. Review your child's IEP. Most importantly, be prep

End of summer is a great time to organize — not just for the first day of school, but for the entire IEP year. Don’t delay taking out your child’s IEP and reviewing it. This is a perfect time to be prepared for the new school year. Here is a Back-to-School Checklist 1. Find your child's most recent IEP Read through the entire IEP before school starts. Know your child's goals, accommodations, services, supports, and placement. 2. Review accommodations Ask yourself: Are these a

Many parents hear the words speech therapy and assume all speech services are the same. In reality, there are two very different systems that provide speech therapy: school-based speech services and medical speech therapy. While both are provided by licensed Spe ech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), they have different purposes, different qualification criteria, and different goals. School-Based Speech Therapy Speech and language therapy provided through the public school system

Over the past two weeks I have been writing to help families understand why services in school often look different from services provided through private clinics or medical insurance. Occupational Therapy (OT) is a misunderstood service for parents. Many parents are surprised when their child receives extensive occupational therapy through a medical clinic but only limited OT—or none at all—through school. Understanding these differences can help advocate more effectively fo

You might have heard the term "Other Health Impairment (OHI)" during an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting and wonder, "What does that even mean?" OHI can be confusing because it doesn't describe one specific disability. Instead, Other Health Impairment (OHI) is one of the 13 disability categories under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that allows students to qualify for special education services when a health condition significantly affects

A Parent's Guide to Understanding Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD): When Should You Ask for Help? As a parent, watching your child struggle in school can be heartbreaking. You see them working harder than their classmates, yet they continue to fall behind in reading, writing, or math. Homework becomes a nightly battle that often ends in frustration and tears. Your child may even begin saying things like, "I'm stupid," even though you know they are bright, capable, and try

Over the past 10 years a lot of information has come out about autism. I could write a lengthy blog but will try to break it down for you. Hearing the word autism for the first time can bring a mix of emotions. Some parents feel relief because they finally have an explanation for their child's challenges. Others feel overwhelmed, confused, or unsure of what comes next. The most important thing to know is this: you are not alone in your family's journey. An autism diagnosis do

Special education can be overwhelming for many parents. There are 13 federal disability categories that school districts consider when determining whether a student qualifies for an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Many parents are unfamiliar with these categories and may not know what to expect when their child begins to struggle in school. When a child experiences academic, behavioral, social, or communication challenges, parents often wonder whether special educatio

A transition occurs whenever a child moves from one activity, environment, or routine to another. During the school year, children have structure, routines, and expectations that they understand. They know where they need to be, who they will see each day, and what their schedule looks like. Then summer arrives. Suddenly, their school friends are no longer around every day. The teacher they spent six hours a day with is no longer their teacher. The routines that provided comf

As parents, we all want our children to feel confident, capable, and ready to take on new challenges. Confidence is not something most children are born with. While there are always exceptions, most children develop confidence through experiences, encouragement, and opportunities to grow. Elementary school is a critical time for building self-confidence. Children are learning new academic skills, making friends, solving problems, and discovering who they are. When children re

Happy Monday everyone! As parents, we spend a lot of time helping our children learn to read, write, and solve math problems. While academics are important, there are three other areas that play a huge role in a child's success: independence, mental health, and physical health. These three skills are connected and help children become confident, resilient, and prepared for life's challenges. Independence One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is help by building

As a parent of a 5-year-old, one of the biggest questions parents ask themselves is: Is my child ready for kindergarten? For many families, this is a difficult decision. Parents often wonder if they should give their child one more year of childhood before entering elementary school. If a child starts kindergarten at age 5, they will be 17 heading to college or trade school. Will they be ready for that journey? Many families are surprised to learn that in the state of Califo

One of my biggest pet peeves is watching kids at a swim meet, restaurant, or family outing completely focused on a tablet or phone. I understand it is not always easy to say no to screens. Sometimes parents are tired, busy, or just trying to get through the day. But constant screen time is not teaching children how to interact with the world around them. Our society has moved away from hearing kids say, “I’m bored.” The truth is, boredom is not always a bad thing. Being bored

When a child enters the world of special education, many families feel overwhelmed, confused, and isolated. Meetings are filled with unfamiliar terms. Reports can feel intimidating. Parents often leave wondering if they asked the right questions or if they are doing enough for their child. The truth is this: families are not meant to navigate special education alone. Across the country, thousands of parents are walking a similar path. Some are learning about IEPs for the very

“Your child just needs to focus.” “They’re not trying hard enough.” “They’re too distracted.” “They need more discipline.” ADHD is not a parenting failure. It is not laziness. It is not a child choosing to struggle. ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, affects the brain’s ability to regulate attention, emotions, impulse control, organization, and executive functioning skills. Many children with ADHD desperately want to succeed in school, friendships, and everyda

ADHD and Medication: Should We Medicate Our Kids? When a child is diagnosed with ADHD, one of the first—and often most emotional—questions families face is: Should we consider medication? There’s no universal answer. What matters most is understanding your child, knowing your options, and making a decision based on evidence—not pressure or fear. It is a family decision. What is ADHD, really? ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition t