How to build supports around your child
Have you ever found yourself Googling your child’s diagnosis at midnight, trying to piece together what support should actually look like for your child and what services, therapies, and specialists should be on your radar? Or sitting in an IEP meeting hearing terms, therapies, and acronyms that feel just out of reach?
When your child’s needs are more specialized, support can feel harder to figure out. What helps one child access learning, communication, or independence may look completely different for another. And yet, families are often left to connect the dots themselves. Our resources are here to help you understand your options and feel more confident about what to ask for next, whether you just got a new diagnosis or are already navigating multiple diagnoses.
Start here → navigating a new diagnosis
Whether your child is one week or five years old, receiving a new diagnosis can be a lot to take in. Many of us on the Undivided team have been there too, trying to make sense of new terms and figure out what comes next. You don’t have to have all the answers right away. When you’re ready, this resource for California parents can help you take those first steps.
Next → browse by diagnosis
Below, you’ll find resources to help you understand what support can look like across a range of diagnoses — from therapies and specialists to IEP supports and everyday strategies. (Psst…stay tuned for our autism-specific newsletter coming to your inbox later this month!)
Down syndrome→
Specific learning disabilities→
- Understanding specific learning disabilities
- Dyslexia
- Dysgraphia
- Dyscalculia
- Auditory processing disorders
Cerebral palsy→
- Understanding cerebral palsy
- Supports at home, school, and in the community
- Common therapies and specialists
Epilepsy→
Genetic conditions→
Low-incidence disabilities→
- Understanding low-incidence disabilities
- d/Deaf or hard of hearing + supports at home, school, and in the community
- Orthopedic impairment
- Low vision and blindness
- Cerebral/cortical visual impairment (CVI) + supports at home, school, and in the community
- Childhood apraxia of speech
- Orientation and mobility services
Dive deeper
You asked. We answered.
💌 Dear Undivided,
Our child has had so much dysregulation due to bullying that he’s been picked up early a lot and has missed educational hours. I have asked our IEP team to include a safety plan into the IEP with steps for what we’ll do each time our son is bullied. They said they’ll do one, but they won’t make it a part of the IEP. If the bullying has affected his ability to access his education, shouldn’t it be included in the IEP?
Signed,
Concerned Parent
Dear Concerned Parent,
You’re absolutely right that a safety plan can be included in your child’s IEP. That might look like additional accommodations, services, and/or goals that increase adult supervision and help your child feel safe at school. Check out our article all about dealing with bullying for an example safety plan and questions to discuss with your IEP team.
By the way, if this is an ongoing issue with your school and they’re not addressing your concerns, you might consider sending a Gebser letter to help hold the district accountable for protecting your child against future bullying.
With love,
The Undivided team
Have something on your mind? Send us an email with your question. You might see it featured in an upcoming issue.
FREE live Q&A – Getting Ready for a CA Summer with Regional Center and the Self-Determination Program
Thursday, April 30, 12:00 p.m. PT
If your child is a Regional Center client in California, summer may open the door to services like additional respite hours, social-recreation programs, camps, and individualized supports. Join us for a FREE live conversation and Q&A with Undivided’s Public Benefits Specialist and Self-Determination Program Consultant as we talk about how families can prepare for summer now. Register for free here→
Office hours
Wednesday, April 15, 12:00 p.m. PT
If you’re a California resident, join us for office hours with Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, Undivided’s public benefits specialist, to ask your questions about Regional Center, IHSS, SSI, Medi-Cal, and other public benefits programs. If you’re not a member, sign up here to participate.
Undivided Conversations – Streaming on Facebook and YouTube
Saturday, April 11, 10:00 a.m. PT.
Orthopedic Impairment 101 – Join us again for this conversation with a powerhouse panel as they break down what families need to know about orthopedic impairment in the school setting. Experts Laura Alanis, PT, DPT, Cintya Diaz, Dr. Sarah Pelangka, BCBA-D, and Lisa Concoff Kronbeck share how OI can impact access to education, what supports and services may be included in an IEP, and how to advocate for the right accommodations, therapies, and benefits.
Does your child have a low-incidence disability such as low vision, hearing loss, or orthopedic impairment? Check out our low-incidence disability playlist on YouTube for wisdom from experts in all these areas→
Last week was Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day! Hear about this holiday’s history from Whitney, an Undivided team member with CP→
This week in our private Facebook group for parents: an inclusive school spotlight, upcoming webinars, and more! Join the discussion→
Know any families or providers who could benefit from these free resources? Share Undivided articles on LinkedIn→
🎙️Undivided Voices Podcast S2E12: Do Schools Have to Offer Inclusive Extended School Year (ESY)?
In this episode, Undivided’s Non-Attorney Special Education and Inclusion Advocate Karen Ford Cull is joined by David German of Vanaman German and Melinda Bird from Disability Rights California to unpack the M.C. vs. LAUSD case — what it means for students who need special education services over the summer, how it may impact access to inclusive ESY programs, and what families should know as they advocate for their child’s rights. Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and anywhere you listen to podcasts.
