Author: Brittany Long

Seeing our kids struggle to socialize, make friends, and find a sense of belonging is one of the hardest things to see as parents. And for those of us with kiddos who have developmental disabilities, this struggle is something we face quite often — and it can stick around through school and beyond. We all …

School may be out for the summer, but something that continues, no matter the season, is our kids’ therapies. Therapies, whether at school, home, or in a clinic, are an essential part of our kiddos’ growth and development, and can help them build social, cognitive, gross and fine motor, social, sensory processing, play, speech and …

Early intervention is a powerful tool that can make a great, big impact on the lives and development of children with developmental delays and disabilities. However, as a parent, trying to figure out the best care options, tackle wait lists, and secure funding can be incredibly challenging and often frustrating. If you’re wondering about your …

Planning for a disability-friendly summer with the kiddos isn’t the easiest thing on our to-do lists. Sometimes, it can feel like the world isn’t equipped to accommodate what our families need, especially on vacation. For instance, somewhere like a theme park. Bright lights, loud noises, long lines, people everywhere — if only there was a …

With the school year winding down, both parents and IEP teams have their hands full with things to do before summer break begins. Are you feeling stressed about getting that IEP wrapped up and signed before the final school bell rings? Or maybe your child is moving to a new school in the fall and …

Supporting kids through challenging behaviors Behavioral challenges are tough on any parent, and it can feel like a lot to handle some days. Understanding why children with disabilities have challenging behaviors is the key to providing intervention. Hint: all behaviors occur for a reason; it’s up to us to figure out what that underlying reason …

Many of us as parents understand the desire for a miraculous fix to the challenges we face regarding our children’s education. We also understand there is no one miracle cure to what ails our educational system. The hope is that AI will revolutionize learning for our kids and create new ways of accessing learning that …

Summer is right around the corner, so now is the perfect time to start requesting extra support from your Regional Center to help make sure your kiddo’s needs are met. Every Regional Center does things a bit differently, but here are some common services to talk to your service coordinator about. Remember: it could take …

Neurological disorders, which affect the way the brain or nervous system functions, present with a unique set of symptoms and challenges that impact areas such as speech, mobility, vision, and behavior. It’s natural for parents’ anxiety to rise when faced with navigating and supporting your child through diagnosis, treatment options, and ensuring they’re not only …

Understanding your rights as a parent is vital to the IEP process. This includes your right to disagree. In an ideal world, parents and the school would be on the same page about a child’s assessments, educational placement, related services, accommodations, supports, and goals. While this is certainly possible, sometimes, no matter how great a …