“Special Needs” or “Gifted”?
Disabilities used to carry with them a significant stigma. Historically, people may have been ashamed of their differences, which were not well understood. If they could hide them, they would. While we are still a long way off from total universal acceptance of learning and thinking differences, we’ve made progress too, especially in terms of […]
It’ll All Be Okay with Chef Marc Murphy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhEstcEqP8o&list=PLkH_2Gx7Rou_yHoply-OhaZVQ5e83esoh&index=2 School is hard for so many students, and especially for children with learning differences like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or ADHD. However, academic challenges aren’t necessarily an indicator of a child’s potential for success. Unfortunately, this is a message that these students (and their parents!) don’t hear nearly often enough! Richard Branson struggled his way […]
Making the Most of IEPs
We think it’s fair to say that the word “IEP” creates a bit of anxiety for most parents and teachers alike. That’s because these three letters are central to the educational experience of any child who learns differently. An IEP is a student’s Individualized Education Program, and it outlines the plan for specialized instruction, supports, […]
The Benefits of Inclusion
All kids benefit from inclusion. Students with and without special needs thrive from being surrounded by diverse learners. For the student with autism, being able to practice social skills with typically-developing peers is invaluable. For a student with a reading disability, hearing and seeing strategies that neurotypical peers use is a great learning opportunity. And […]
How (and Why) to Talk to Your Child About Their IEP
For many parents, talking to kids about their disability diagnosis and IEP can feel touchy. It can also feel like a lot of pressure to start the conversation, and even more pressure to make sure it doesn’t crush their spirits. The first step for parents is to reframe their own perspective on what it means […]
What is ADHD?
What is ADHD? ADHD (or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a mental health disorder that may make it difficult for students to pay attention and/or control their impulses. As students with ADHD progress through their academic careers, they may have difficulty forming relationships, experience low self-esteem, and/or struggle academically. Symptoms of ADHD can present in […]
Special Ed Lingo 101
For anyone who is not a special education professional, it is daunting to make sense of all of the terminology. The acronyms and legalese native to “special ed lingo” are not exactly user-friendly. For any parent of a child with a disability diagnosis, it’s important to know the lingo to be the best advocate for […]
What is an Oral/Written Language Disorder?
Learners with an oral/written language disorder struggle with expressing themselves verbally and/or in writing. As this disorder is similar to a speech impairment, it is often accompanied by speech problems. Students with an oral/written language disorder often have difficulty making sense of standard syntax and sentence semantics. Because of this, it can be difficult for […]
What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology creates opportunities. These resources and tools transform the learning experience for students who learn and think differently. This technology includes any device, equipment, or software that helps people work through tasks they find challenging. And these tools can be as high-tech as word prediction software to help students write, or as simple […]
Understanding Dysgraphia
While many learning challenges can be difficult to define, dysgraphia is especially tricky. That’s because at its core, dysgraphia is an issue with transcription that includes difficulty with handwriting, typing, and spelling; however, because these skills are closely related to so many facets of learning, dysgraphia is often hard to identify. If a child struggles with handwriting, […]
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