Seeking Understanding
The special education experience and dyslexia diagnosis journey can be exciting, stressful, and daunting. I want to share what I have found to be helpful in my experience working with …
Five Ways Educators Can Build Rapport with Parents During Meetings
As a practicing speech-language pathologist in a high school, I realized the majority of times I called a parent, it was to get something from them–availability for a meeting, an …
We’re All Human
One of the best things we can do as members of special education teams (parents included) is to remember that we are all human. What we see from an outsider’s …
Key Components of an IEP
Understanding your child’s IEP is critical. It does not have to be difficult. Check out our post, Key Components of an IEP – A Parent’s Guide. It covers what to …
Improving GenEd Teacher Confidence with IEP Meetings
As confusing and complicated as the IEP process can seem to parents and caregivers, general education (gen ed) teachers may feel the same way. The special education team has strong …
Streamlining the IEP Process for Greater Parent Inclusion
It’s no secret that the IEP process is overwhelming for parents unfamiliar with it and can continue to be confusing or complicated for parents with more IEP experience. These feelings …
Goals: Not Just Smart, but Wise Too
One of the most rewarding parts of being a speech-language pathologist is discussing goals and progress with my clients’ families. Hours of therapy, meetings, and stress associated with having a …
The History of IDA
Without understanding, there is confusion. For many years I struggled to comprehend why there was no support for my learning differences. What I’ve come to know is that the structure …
The Message Matters
There is nothing wrong with your son—he doesn’t need to be fixed.~ Whitney Stein, Dyslexia Connection Looking back, Whitney gave me a gift by saying those words to me. After …
A Parent’s Guide – Request for an Evaluation
There are lifelong repercussions of being identified as a struggling student late in the educational process. I know because I have lived them. Not being identified until middle school, I …
From Bystander to Active Participant
Steps Every Parent Should Take Before Entering The Special Education Process I felt like a bystander in the special education process. Then I changed. Entering this journey, even though I was …
School Evaluation Process and FAQs
The evaluation process in a school can seem overwhelming to unfamiliar parents. Numerous acronyms, meeting several staff members in addition to their child’s general education teacher, and the thick packet …
