AAC is often utilized by children and adults who cannot rely on their speech/voice some or all of the time due to congenital (present from birth) and/or acquired disabilities (e.g., traumatic brain injury). Some of these conditions include autism, genetic syndromes, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, disease, stroke, or head injury. AAC is multimodal, which means …

Both adults and children thrive when they feel safe, comfortable, and in control, and we can provide that for our students! Even in infancy and toddlerhood, children can recognize familiar activities. They also develop relationships with who they interact with during these activities and gain a sense of confidence and belonging. What is the difference …

Emotional regulation is the process of controlling your emotions and how you respond to them.  Students should:  Take a break  Express anger constructively   Focus on finding a solution   Emotional regulation exercises:  BUBBLE BREATH WITH FORCED EXHALATION  This is a good strategy when students are feeling emotionally dysregulated because it delivers oxygen to the brain, which …

This lack of literacy skills affects unemployment numbers, family literacy, poverty, and incarceration rates. Literacy skills affect each one of the following areas: Unemployment Not only do adults without a high school diploma or equivalent have the highest unemployment rates, but they also have the lowest median weekly earnings. Family Literacy Parents’ and caregivers’ literacy …

For kids with diverse learning needs, transitions can be tough!  Here are some tips to ease frustrations, anxieties, and other difficulties changing from one task or time to another.  Set up a schedule including transition times. Make it a visual schedule for the child. When the child can physically see their schedule for the day, …

Neurodivergence is the term for when someone’s brain processes, learns, and/or behaves differently from what is considered “typical.” It is not a disability but a difference in how the brain works. With this shift, practitioners are no longer treating neurodivergence as an illness. Instead, we view neurodiversity through a lens of an individual needing different methods of …

When a parent realizes their child is not thriving in school, even despite the school district’s very best efforts to work with the child, they can feel defeated and alone. Conversely, when the school team is concerned that their large public-school setting is simply not working and their student is at risk of failing, solutions …

The Importance of Low Child to Teacher Ratios Research strongly suggests that smaller class sizes and low student to teacher ratios within classes greatly impact the success of all children. Particularly in early education programs, children need individualized attention and proactive services. The Center for Public Education recommends that 15 students to 1 teacher is …

Organize all that paperwork In the world of special education, there are lots of meetings, paperwork, and documentation. Try to keep a family calendar of school events, special education meetings, conferences, etc. Setting up a binder or folder to keep your child’s special education documentation, meeting notices, and IEPs in sequential order can also help …

3 Underserved and Overlooked Student Populations in Public Schools  When it comes to equity in education, we often think of ethnic and racial minorities, students with disabilities, or students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. However, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to equity. There are many student populations that can use extra resources. This blog post explores some …