Resilient. If you're on this journey, I'm going to go ahead and make the assumption this word describes you and your child(ren). As a parent, you are your child's biggest advocate.  If you've been knocked down, it is so important to get back up.  You are the "expert" and know your child better than anyone else on this planet.  If your parent intuition is telling you your child's needs aren't being met at school, do your homework, present your case to your child's team, and do not accept, "No." We're on our 4th year of public schooling with our 1st grade son.  We've gone round and round about so many things over the course of those four years, but no matter how many times people have disagreed with me or told me, "No," I simply won't give up. If we backtrack two years, to the first time I requested our son have an evaluation, I was told by his principal, "There is nothing wrong with him.  He's

So sorry for the delay!  Here is Part 2 in the IEP Eligibility Meeting series. You've completed your introductions and those responsible for assessing your child have reported their findings.  Now what? At this point, it is time to determine whether or not your child needs special education.  Please note this very important point:   It is not okay for this determination to be made prior to the meeting.  In fact, it is illegal.   The decision should be made together as a team. Absorbing all of the evaluation data and the discussion about determination can feel incredibly overwhelming.  You are not the first to feel this way!  It is also common to experience heightened emotions at a meeting.  If you need a few moments to compose yourself, request a brief break. Keep in mind this team has been put together to help your child.  While you may not always agree, it is important to keep your composure and be mindful of your body language and tone.  If it is determined that your ch

You've consented to an initial evaluation.  Now what? The school has 60 calendar days to complete a full and individual evaluation.  At the conclusion of these 60 days an evaluation report will be put together.  You should be invited to a a team meeting to discuss these results.  A written notice should be provided and those invited to attend the meeting should be on that notice. I would recommend requesting these results prior to that meeting.  I have always felt the need to be prepared for what I'm going to hear prior to the meeting day.  An eligibility meeting can be overwhelming, especially if you have not experienced one before.  Having the results provides you with the opportunity to absorb the information and jot down any questions you may have. Every eligibility meeting is unique and comprised of different team members.  It can be intimidating to walk into a room filled with many people, but take a breath.  You've got this! The professionals who conducted ev

It was evident from the age of 2 that our younger son had some challenges.  He began state-funded preschool at the age of 4 at our neighborhood elementary school.  He did okay, but struggled throughout his time in that classroom.  He had difficulty sitting, following directions, and often spoke out of turn.  By the end of the year we, as parents, knew an evaluation and diagnosis was necessary. For our family, this is where our son's public education system let him down.   By the summer of '14, though our son was only 4, he had several symptoms of ADHD.  Tics had also emerged that spring and we determined we needed to get the ball rolling to figure out what was going on.  We made the decision to start with our pediatrician's behavior clinic. After meeting with us and observing him in the office, he referred us to a local psychologist for an evaluation.  This was an expense we had to incur, but we felt it was necessary and proceeded to schedule the appointment for

Your child is struggling at home and school or has been medically diagnosed with a disability.  Now what? Today we're going to discuss children who are of school age, which can range from 3-21 (the upper age may vary from state to state) and the current laws that protect them .  This is going to be an overview and a topic we will revisit many times.  It can be overwhelming, so we'll take it slow! First, it is important to familiarize yourself with laws that may pertain to your child and what each entails. - IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004) is a federal special education law ensuring services to children with a disability.  This law governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to children (birth to 21) with a disability. - Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973   is a federal civil rights law to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.  It guarantees that a child with a disa

Welcome to a safe place where you can come to empower yourself and become the best parent and advocate for your child with special needs.  Parenting is a journey with many twists and turns.  When you have a child with unique needs, these twists and turns may seem a little more daunting and frightening than you might have expected. It's okay.  Take a breath.  You're just going to reset your GPS a bit, dust yourself off, and get back on the road. Take in your surroundings, offer yourself some grace when you make a wrong turn, and don't be afraid to stop and ask for directions.  Eventually, you will settle into your journey and arrive at your destination. Slow down a bit.  You have been blessed with a precious child who will teach you more than you can ever imagine.  Kids are awesome like that:  they are resilient and start each day anew.  There will be new milestones met, questions asked, and experiences to be had. Be kind and patient with yourself, your child, and yo