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A Warm, Witty Guide to a Condition That’s More Common Than You Think (But Still Wildly Misunderstood) If you’ve ever tried to parallel park while someone watched you, you already understand a tiny piece of Dyspraxia. Your brain knows what to do. Your body wants  to do it. But somehow the timing, the sequencing, the “move this while doing that” part… goes a little sideways. Now imagine feeling that way all the time , across dozens of everyday tasks — tying shoes, writing your

Because an IEP without strengths is like a sandwich without bread—technically possible, but why would we do that?   If you’ve ever sat in an IEP meeting and felt like the conversation was a dramatic reading of “Everything My Child Struggles With, Vol. 1,” you’re not alone. Too often, strengths get treated like the decorative parsley on the plate—nice, but not the main event.   But here’s the truth:   Strengths aren’t fluff. They’re the foundation.   They’re the “how,” the “wh

If you’ve ever watched your child attempt to zip a jacket, climb a playground ladder, or navigate the mysterious physics of a pencil and thought, “This shouldn’t be this hard…” —you’re not alone. And your child isn’t “lazy,” “messy,” or “not trying.” They may simply have a brain that choreographs movement in its own beautifully unique way. Welcome to Developmental Coordination Disorder—DCD for short, Dyspraxia for some, and “my kid is brilliant but keeps tripping over air” fo

A Warm, Witty Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Anyone Who’s Ever Frozen in a Drive‑Thru Line If you’ve ever tried to order at a drive‑thru and suddenly forgot how language works, congratulations—you’ve experienced a tiny, tiny taste of what Selective Mutism can feel like. Except for kids with Selective Mutism, it’s not a quirky moment. It’s not stubbornness. It’s not “being shy.” It’s a real anxiety disorder  where speaking in certain settings feels as impossible as trying

Let’s be honest: “PLOP” sounds less like a critical section of an IEP and more like the noise your backpack makes when you drop it after a long day. But don’t let the name fool you. The Present Levels of Performance is the engine  of the IEP. Everything else—the goals, the services, the accommodations—are just passengers along for the ride. If the IEP were a house, the PLOP would be the foundation. If the IEP were a novel, the PLOP would be Chapter One. If the IEP were a cook

If you’ve ever watched your child try  to say something—really try—and the sounds come out like a scrambled radio signal, you’re not imagining it. Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a real motor-planning difference that makes talking feel like trying to perform a dance routine while someone keeps rearranging the choreography. The thoughts are there. The ideas are there. The personality is definitely  there. But the mouth? The mouth is like, “Wait… what are we doing again?”

If the IEP is a movie, the evaluation results are the plot twist that suddenly makes everything make sense. One minute you’re thinking, “Why does my kid melt down every time someone says ‘group project’?”  and the next minute—bam!—the evaluation drops a clue that explains the whole storyline. Evaluations aren’t just paperwork. They’re the GPS, the recipe, the IKEA instructions (minus the tiny Allen wrench) that guide the entire IEP. And when you understand how those results s

If you’ve recently typed “Pitt‑Hopkins Syndrome”  into a search bar with the emotional stability of a raccoon rifling through a trash can, welcome. You’re in the right place. This guide is warm, human, and sprinkled with just enough wit to make the science feel less like a medical dissertation and more like a conversation over coffee. Let’s decode Pitt‑Hopkins Syndrome (PTHS) together — gently, clearly, and with a few laughs along the way.   🌱 So… What Is  Pitt‑Hopkins Syndr

If you’ve ever opened a psychoeducational evaluation and immediately felt like you were staring at a secret code written by psychologists, statisticians, and possibly wizards… you’re not alone. These reports are dense . They’re long. They’re full of numbers that look like they escaped from a math textbook. And they’re describing your child, which makes every sentence feel ten times heavier. So let’s slow it down, warm it up, and walk through how to read one like a human—not a

If you’re new to CHARGE Syndrome, you might be thinking, “Why does this diagnosis sound like something my phone does when it’s at 2%?” Fair question. But CHARGE Syndrome has nothing to do with batteries — unless we’re talking about the emotional battery parents run on (which, let’s be honest, is powered by caffeine, stubborn hope, and the ability to Google at Olympic speed). CHARGE Syndrome is complex, rare, and often misunderstood. But families living it every day know somet

When something isn’t adding up in your child’s school experience—when the data feels thin, the evaluation feels incomplete, or your gut says “we’re missing something”—you’re not being difficult. You’re being a parent. And one of the strongest tools available to you in the special education process is the Independent Educational Evaluation , often called an IEE . This guide breaks down what an IEE is, when you might request one, what schools are required to do, and how to use

Kabuki Syndrome: The Rare Condition With a Big Story and an Even Bigger Heart Kabuki Syndrome is one of those conditions that makes you say, “Wait… what?” Not because it’s scary—because it’s rare, complex, and wrapped in a name that sounds like it belongs in a theater program instead of a genetics report. But behind the dramatic name is a community of kids and adults who are bright, determined, expressive, and full of personality. Kabuki Syndrome isn’t a single story—it’s a w

There’s a special kind of stomach‑drop that happens when you finally work up the courage to request a school evaluation… and the school says no . It’s the educational equivalent of, “We hear you, but we’re going to pretend we didn’t.” If this has happened to you, take a breath. A “no” is not the end of the road. It’s not even a dead end. It’s more like a speed bump—annoying, jarring, and absolutely navigable with the right information. This post walks you through what that “n

Cri‑du‑Chat (5p‑) syndrome commonly affects communication, motor skills, and learning; for parents across the U.S., the most helpful school steps are a written request for a comprehensive evaluation, an IEP that prioritizes AAC and related services (SLP/OT/PT), and a function‑based Behavior Support Plan (BSP) that ties therapy minutes and assistive technology to classroom strategies.   Overview What it is:  Cri‑du‑Chat (also called 5p‑ syndrome ) is a rare chromosomal conditi

“Adverse educational impact” means a child’s disability must cause a meaningful limitation in the child’s ability to access school life — not just a diagnosis or a low grade.   The IDEA requires teams to look at how the disability affects learning, participation, behavior, and functional performance  when deciding eligibility and services.   Quick guide: key considerations before you read Ask:  Is the concern academic, social, behavioral, or functional? Decide:  Do you want e

If you’ve ever watched a child grow, you know how every new skill feels like a tiny miracle. With Rett Syndrome, families often experience a confusing twist in that story: early milestones arrive right on time… and then, slowly or suddenly, begin to slip away. It’s not because anyone missed something. It’s not because the child “stopped trying.” It’s because Rett Syndrome rewrites the developmental script in ways no one could predict. This guide is here to help you understand

Navigating the world of special education can feel overwhelming. When your child needs extra support, understanding how to secure an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is crucial. I want to share a warm, clear guide to help you through this process. Together, we’ll break down the steps, so you feel confident and empowered. Understanding the Get an IEP Guide: What Is an IEP? An IEP is a legal document designed to meet your child’s unique educational needs. It outlines spec

If you’ve ever sat in an IEP meeting and felt like the team was speaking in code — “SLD,” “OHI,” “ED,” “DD” — you’re not alone. Eligibility categories can feel like a maze of labels, acronyms, and technical definitions. But at their core, these categories are simply tools schools use to determine who qualifies for special education services  and what kind of support they need .   This guide breaks down each category in human language, so you can walk into your next meeting fe

If you’ve ever met a child who can charm an entire grocery store aisle, remember every lyric to a song they heard once, and greet strangers like long‑lost friends — you may have met someone with Williams syndrome. This rare genetic condition comes with a unique blend of strengths, challenges, and personality traits that make it unlike anything else. Below is a clear, warm, parent‑centered guide to help families, caregivers, and professionals understand what Williams syndrome

After taking in the comic from Diary of A Work-From-Home Dad , you probably already have a sense of the beautiful chaos that comes with Smith‑Magenis Syndrome. Consider that your appetizer. Now let’s get into the full meal — the what, why, and how behind the syndrome, served up in plain language and without the medical jargon hangover. Smith‑Magenis Syndrome (SMS) is a rare genetic condition that affects development, behavior, sleep, and communication. Families often describe