Category: New Diagnosis

From first evaluations to first IEP meetings, the early years bring a lot of new experiences — and questions. If you’re unsure where to start or what support your child may qualify for, we’ve mapped out the key milestones and services from birth through kindergarten. Early intervention What is early intervention? Not sure where to …

If you’re parenting a medically complex child, you already know that no two days look the same — and that the learning never really stops. You’re managing a care team, coordinating appointments, navigating equipment and supplies, learning a whole new language of acronyms and medical terms, and preparing for challenges most parents never expect to …

Mental health in kids is rarely simple, and rarely fits into just one neat label. For our kiddos, it can feel like everything is layered on top of everything else. Anxiety, tics, compulsions, emotional regulation struggles, and trauma responses don’t always show up separately or take turns. They can overlap, interact, and sometimes make it …

How to support autistic and 2e kids April is Autism Acceptance Month! If you’re parenting an autistic child, chances are you’re already thinking about what helps your child feel comfortable in their own skin, connect with others, and move through the world in a way that keeps them regulated (and true to themselves!). And then …

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 …

If you’re raising a child with a disability, chances are you’ve spent a lot of time trying to make sense of your child’s behaviors and big emotions — whether it’s an emotional outburst, hitting, avoiding tasks, shutdowns, head banging, wandering off, refusing to go to school, or constant calls from school about “non-compliance” and “discipline." ...

Hey parents, did you know that starting fall 2025, California schools will be giving early reading screenings to kids in kindergarten through 2nd grade? If you’re wondering, What is this screener for? Will it be used to diagnose a learning disability? Is this a dyslexia screener?! — you’re in the right place. This screener will …

When you’re parenting a child with disabilities, the phrase “early intervention” gets tossed around a lot, and for good reason. Getting the right support early on can make a world of difference in your child’s growth, development, and daily life. But here’s the thing: knowing where to start (and how to get through all the …

If you’re raising a child with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or Down syndrome, you’re probably already living a reality many people wouldn’t understand: navigating therapy schedules, medical appointments (like EEGs!), and medication; advocating for inclusion and accommodations at IEP meetings; overcoming stigma, stereotypes, and misconceptions (even from providers?!); juggling overlapping needs like support with mobility, communication, …

Dear new parent, You may not be new to parenting, but if your child has just been diagnosed with a disability or developmental delay, you are likely new to disability parenting (what some call being a “special needs parent”) — a phrase that, as you’ll find with so many words, doesn’t come close to describing …