Learn about the most common treatments for anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles in kids, including medication, therapy, and hospitalization.

Mental Health Treatment Options for Children and Teens with Disabilities

What are the pros and cons of parents pursuing a mental health diagnosis for a child with disabilities? Dr. Lauren Stutman explains.

Should parents seek a mental health diagnosis for their child?

Dr. Lauren Stutman outlines the steps parents can take to support their child with disabilities during a mental health crisis.

Steps for parents to support a child through a mental health crisis

Did you know that kids with disabilities can have a mental health team to support them? We break down who parents can go to for help, including pediatricians, therapists, and more.

Who should be on the mental health team for our children?

Dr. Lauren Stutman explains why it's important for parents to communicate honestly with their child's mental health care team.

Why is it important for parents to stay connected with their child's mental health care team?

Children struggling with mental health may need special accommodations through their IEP or 504 plan in order to participate fully in school that go beyond what they need for their developmental disabilities.

How IEPs and 504 Plans Help Support Mental Health in School

Finding mental health specialists experienced in caring for kids with disabilities is important as you build your child's mental health team.

Finding mental health specialists experienced in caring for kids with disabilities

As parents, learning how to identify when our kids are struggling with their mental health and knowing how to support them through uncomfortable emotions, or during a mental health crisis, is one of the most important ways we can support their wellbeing and development — and empower them to not only develop positive coping and self-advocacy skills, but to be kind to themselves and know when to ask for help.


Supporting Kids' Mental Health at Home and in Crisis

How parents can help de-stigmatize mental health services for their kids. Dr. Lauren Stutman explains why it's important to use a strength-based approach.

Overcoming the stigma of mental health

Support your kid's mental health by learning about signs and symptoms, diagnosis, building a care team, psychological assessments, treatment options, and more.


Mental Health for Kids with Disabilities 101

Dr. Lauren Stutman's tips on how families can develop positive coping strategies for their kids' mental health.

How to develop positive mental health coping strategies with your kids

How does mental health show up in an IEP? Undivided Special Education Advocate Lisa Carey explains.

How can mental health be included in an IEP?

Special Education Services and Individualized Education Programs

Learn about special education services, everything you need to know about IEPs, and how to advocate for the services and supports your child needs.

Education and IEPs

Insurance Options for Parents of Kids with Disabilities

Whether you’re using private insurance or public benefits like Medi-Cal or a combination of the two, get tips on how to fund the supports and services your child needs.

Insurance

What to Do When Your Child Has Received a New Diagnosis

Has your child received a new diagnosis? Are you concerned about a developmental delay? Check out these resources to help you navigate medical services, funding, and more.

New Diagnosis

Public Benefits - Government Programs for Children with Disabilities

Depending on your income, your child’s age and diagnosis, and other factors, there are a variety of government programs available to you.

Public Benefits

Helping Kids With Disabilities Manage Anxiety, Stress, & Mental Health

Learn how to help your child manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges with these resources from therapists and other experts.

Mental Health In Children with Disabilities

Financially Supporting Your Child With Disabilities into Adulthood

Check out our resources to help plan your child's transition into adulthood and set them up for success.

Future and Financial Planning

Family Life - Advice for Parenting Children with Disabilities

Parenting a child with disabilities comes with unique joys and challenges. Learn how to meet your family's diverse needs and how to talk about disability together.

Family Life

Self-Care for Parents Raising Children With Disabilities

Raising a child with disabilities can place a lot of demands on parents. Check in with your own mental and physical health needs through these resources.

Self-Care for Parents

Regional Center

Regional Center Early Intervention (Ages 0–3)

Self-Determination Program

Medi-Cal

IHSS: In-Home Supportive Services

Other Public Funding Sources

IEP: Individualized Education Program

IEP Meeting Preparation

Preschool IEP

IEP Assessments

Strength-Based IEP Goals

Educational Accommodations, Modifications, and Curriculum

Educational Transitions

Learning At Home

Educational Placement

Educational Inclusion

Parenting

Camps and Travel

Supporting Therapies and Education at Home

Disability Culture and Advocacy

Private Insurance

Public Insurance Programs

Therapies

Education-Based Therapies

Behavioral Intervention Therapies

Funding Sources For Therapies

AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Therapy at Home

504 Educational Plans

Medical

Therapies (Ages 0-3)

IEP-Related Services

After the IEP

What do parents need to know about being a part of their child's IEP team? Learn from one parent how she learned the art of fighting for what matters.

3 Tips for Parents Jumping into the IEP Process

A huge part of setting up your child for success throughout the upcoming months is communicating with their teacher. Check out these tips for smoother follow-up.

4 Tips for Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher

Estate planning means making vital decisions about our children’s care, our assets, and our own medical care — and it requires writing those decisions down in legal documents. The process can seem overwhelming, which is why we brought in some help!

3 Tips for Parents Diving into Estate Planning

We’ve compiled a list of organizations in the United States where you can learn more about common disability diagnoses and find community support.

Where can I find support for my child's specific diagnosis?

Some of the most frequently diagnosed developmental disabilities include cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, and ADHD. 

What are the most commonly diagnosed developmental disabilities? 

Funding options may include an ABLE account, Regional Center, the DOR, scholarships, and federal funding such as a Pell Grant.

What resources can help pay for my child with a disability to attend college?

Learn from a pro why estate planning doesn’t need to feel impossible to tackle and why we absolutely have to do it as parents of kids with disabilities.

Estate Planning — We Dread It, But We Gotta Do It, with Brianna Davidson Jarrett

Undivided Parent and Navigator duo talk about how they worked together to advocate for inclusion with supports, language immersion, and retention.

Unite and Conquer: Our Lessons Learned From the Kindergarten IEP

Special education advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka helps us tie up any loose ends and concerns we may have in our kids’ education as the school year comes to a close.


End of Year Wrap-Up with Dr. Pelangka

As a parent of a child with developmental disabilities, knowing the difference between well-written and poorly-written goals (and learning how to fix them) can make a huge difference in your child’s roadmap.

Let’s Fix Those IEP Goals!

Goals are central to the IEP process. Getting the goals right can be the key that opens the door to a great IEP for your child, ensuring not only that they can make progress but also make meaningful progress in the right areas, and for the rest of their lives.

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