One of the most frustrating parts of my job as an advocate is knowing or remembering the little detaily things about special ...

Let’s talk about a topic that makes some people squirm, and for others, it’s the very thing they need to hear: grieving your child’s disability diagnosis. National Grief Awareness Day is observed ...

If your child is being evaluated for Early Intervention or Special Education Services, you may be introduced to the terms ‘receptive language skills’ or ‘expressive language skills.’ As humans, we all ...

During a school shooter drill at a local elementary school, the alarm blared, and the announcement instructed everyone to “run to the nearest safe zone.” But for 9-year-old Jake, who uses a wheelchair ...

One of the more frustrating aspects of “IEP life” is the perceived lack of accountability as far as parents being able to hold schools accountable. Now, I expect some pushback here from school staff, ...

A pumpkin spice sensory bin is simple to make, smells heavenly, and is full of textures and surprises that will keep your kids occupied longer than you can say “extra foam.” Plus, it’s a fantastic way ...

Hey there, IEP parent! I have been in your shoes (see what I did there?). I am on this same journey, as I am a parent to a disabled child myself. And now, in addition to being a blogger since 2008, I ...

Ever feel like the difference between an IEP goal and an IEP objective is as clear as mud? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a question that comes up all the time. And hey, if it makes you feel ...

Have you heard of being a special education surrogate parent? The slang for it is actually educational surrogate, and the special education or IEP part is assumed. Many times parents ask me how they ...

I’m going to wag my finger at you–from this day forward, you do a Parent Concerns Letter for your IEP. Every.single.time. No more “Well I didn’t know…” or “I didn’t think I had to do one each time…” ...

“She likes to braid hair.” Several years ago, I was an Educational Surrogate for a teen in a neighboring county. That sentence was her entire IEP transition plan. Seriously, that was it. And, she had ...

When I was a special educator in Maryland, we provided an IEP Snapshot to all of our general educators who had a student with an IEP in their class. We knew that teachers could be overwhelmed when ...