Learn Your Special Education Laws, Special Education Rights, and Share IEP Goal Ideas

Self-Advocacy refers to an individual’s ability to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate or assert his or her own interests, desires, needs, and rights. It involves making informed decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions. (VanReusen et al., 1994)

Below are ten tips to help build self-advocacy skills:  Read the rest of this entry →

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an inherited genetic disorder that results in a range of characteristics which include autistic-like features, such as gaze avoidance, hand-flapping, difficulty with transitions, and impaired social and communication skills. It is the most commonly known inherited cause of intellectual disability, affecting 1 in 4000 males and 1 in 8000 females (Dykens, Hodapp, & Finucane, 2000). Organizations such as the National Fragile X Foundation and FRAXA are working to raise awareness about FXS; however, families continue to consistently hear “Fragile what?” when advising physicians, clinicians, teachers, friends, and neighbors of their child’s condition.

Read the rest of this entry →

There is an old adage: “Statistics never lie, but statisticians do.” In other words the results are not just the data, but rather how one analyzes and interprets the data. When reviewing assessment results, be sure to look at the actual assessment scores reporting grade level and percentile performance. I have had school psychologists claim that a child scoring in the first or second percentile is in the “low average range.” When they say this, my question to them is, “How low does the student have to score to be in the low range?” Also review the individual sub-test scores because the Broad Scores are averages that don’t always identify the needs of the student.  Read the rest of this entry →

Cue the music……One of these things is not like the others.  One of these things just doesn’t belong.  Can you tell which thing is not like the others, by the time I finish my song?

Did you guess which thing was not like the others?  Did you guess which thing just doesn’t belong? If you guessed “Reality TV” is not like the others, then you’re absolutely…right! Read the rest of this entry →

When a child looks normal, but does not learn well, we sometimes make the assumption that the child is lazy or not focused enough on their studies in school. This common and almost always frustrating scenario is what parents deal with every day when they have a child with learning disabilities (LD) or special needs. And that is exactly what Dane, a sinewy child with pretty white blond hair and the biggest of smiles, faces every time he picks up a pencil or a book. Read the rest of this entry →

In my opinion parents and school districts can’t collaborate because they have different agendas. School Districts are businesses that are limited by school budgets and costs. Their business is educating the masses of children in the most cost effective method possible. Parents on the other hand are only interested in educating and raising their children. Parents want the best for their children while School Districts want the cheapest cost. While I don’t believe School Districts and Parents can collaborate the good news is, I do believe Parents and School Personnel (individuals) can collaborate. Believing in collaboration between individuals is one thing, but how do you actually foster collaboration? Read the rest of this entry →

Punishment is widely used in our society.

Punishment can be seen in imprisonment, late fees, speeding tickets, and detention all for not following socially acceptable rules. By definition, punishment is anything that follows a behavior that leads to the decrease of that behavior in the future. This may include adding something to the environment or situation such as giving detention or issuing a parking fine. It also includes removing things from the environment of situation such as taking away dessert after dinner as well as the popular “grounding” (e.g., no television or computer, cannot go over friend’s homes on the weekends).  Read the rest of this entry →

As the end of the school year approaches, many students are reflecting on their accomplishments and looking forward to their future goals. One student has a lot to think about this summer as he is deciding if he will give traditional public school another chance to get it right. He is a 5th grader who has attended a PA cyber school for two years now. In those two years, he has made amazing progress academically and socially. This young man has had plenty of challenges along the way but continues to look forward beyond his past circumstances. Read the rest of this entry →

What should families expect their children to learn in a life skills class at the high school level? A simple question; however, I think many schools seem to struggle with providing valuable life skills lessons. Our students age out at 22 years old, which means the state is no longer responsible with providing the students services through public schools. When students attain that age and leave our system, it is incredibly important for them and their family that the student has learned coping skills to assist them to become more independent in their life. Read the rest of this entry →

If you have been following my blogs lately, I recently got into a debate in the comment section of the Top Ten Negotiating Skills to Learn for an IEP. I’m going to focus this blog on one comment that was made:

“The (IEP) “team” concept does not in any way suggest a process of negotiation, rather it suggests collaboration. There is a significant difference with the former implying a relationship of possibly opposing views, while the latter implies a co-operative relationship.” Read the rest of this entry →