Category: Special Education

“Special education isn’t a place.” We can’t say this enough. Special education was never supposed to be a place. Or a classroom. Or a reason to discriminate. It consists of services and supports that allow children with disabilities to learn alongside their peers in a way that works for them. Inclusion is about learning and …

For most of us, IEPs are not a fun process. We might feel a lot of pressure, some intimidation, a fair amount of confusion, and possibly some mistrust. All of this stems from the reality that as bureaucratic as IEPs may feel, they are vitally important. Preparation is key to feeling a little less lost …

Finding the “right” educational path and placement for our kids can stir up a lot of emotions for some families. Where can my child thrive, learn, and be appreciated for who they are? How do I advocate for a placement that ACTUALLY meets my child’s needs? What exactly is a “specialized” private school? Where do …

The IEP assessment process, while crucial to creating more individualized IEPs, can often seem like a magnifying glass zooming in on our kids’ strengths and challenges (and everything in between). But assessments are one of the primary ways IEP teams can better understand the unique educational needs of kids with disabilities, and a thorough assessment …

Getting ready to send our kiddos off to preschool can feel both exciting and daunting. This is the time most of us first experience what it means to explore placement options, inclusion, and the great and powerful…IEP. As parents, we want to start our kids’ educational journey right, but navigating their first IEPs can often …

With IEP season in full swing, we’re setting our sights on strength-based IEPs and how to develop one using a whole-child, strengths-first approach. But what exactly is a strength-based IEP? Is it just another buzzword or do kids actually need one? (Yes, they do!) If you’ve sat through an IEP meeting before, or read through …

Preparing for our kids’ transition out of high school and into the great, big world of adulthood can often feel like a mixed bag of emotions: excitement, joy, anxiety, gratitude — and maybe a side of panic?! If your child is in high school, part of the IEP process will include planning for their transition …

Are you up at night wondering how you should prepare because your child has a big transition right around the corner? Call it what you will — transitions, big leaps, rites of passage — these exciting milestones in our kids’ lives can also leave us (and our kids) feeling terrified. New friends, new campus, new …

Dear parents, as sweater weather draws near, it also brings us to a significant moment in the school year — progress reporting! Many of us can feel like we’re in the dark when it comes to getting meaningful IEP progress reports from our kids’ schools. Do they really matter? Baselines, hard data, present levels, goals …

It’s safe to say that we all know what IEPs are — but are you wondering (and maybe utterly confused?!) about what the heck they have to do with Common Core? Let’s break this down. Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are like a universal yardstick that helps teachers and parents understand what’s expected at each …