One of the biggest problems for children with disabilities is a lack of compassion, support and understanding at school, not just from fellow classmates but from teachers too.  If a teacher doesn’t understand common conditions such as epilepsy or dyslexia symptoms can often be mistaken for bad behavior.

It’s called transition planning and it’s common for parents to be more stressed and concerned about life after high school than for a child with autism.  However it can be a very difficult and scary time for a child because of change, leaving the structured world of special education. The reality is proper planning for life post secondary education for a child with autism no matter what their level of functioning, is critical to success.

Reading to your child is critical for their development. In fact, there are endless benefits of reading aloud to children.

Children who are read to from a very young age grow up with a positive attitude about reading. Because they enjoyed being read to when young, they often have a natural interest in learning to read as they grow up. Not only will children enjoy reading by repeated exposure, children also learn language skills which can do many things for them, including increase their vocabulary.

Homeschooling is one of the best options for us moms of special needs children. Not only does it ensure that our children get the kind of special attention that their condition deserves, but we are the ones to give it to them! What more could a mom want, really? Here are some of the best lessons I’ve learned in deciding to homeschool my child.

Being a parent of a child with a disability can be very difficult. Not only do you have to deal with living with your child's disability, but you also have to deal with your child being treated differently by other people. Sometimes, this means that your child is getting picked on or bullied by other kids. Depending on your child's disability, your child may not always be able to tell you what is happening to him or her at school. This is why it is important as a parent to know the signs a child is being bullied.

With the daily click of the mouse and touch of the keyboard your kids could learn to read in just a matter of months.  Click n’ Read phonics is an award winning program that’s designed for kids of all abilities, including those with autism and dyslexia. 

There are so many courses, CDs and workbooks out there claiming to be able to teach children as young as 3 to read.  But do any of these methods actually work?  Can they help special needs children to read?  And do kids even enjoy learning to read at such a young age?

Having seizures at school can be a daunting experience for the child and parent, as well as teachers and other classmates.  Yet through education about epilepsy at school, the negative stigma that arises from fear of the disease can be dissolved, enabling a positive learning experience for all concerned. 

Okay, this is my final post on strategies used to deter parents and advocates. Today's timely topic: Confusion

I received an email today from a mother seemingly beside herself with confusion.  She didn't understand the technical differences between options offered to her by the school district regarding IEP's and 504 plans for her child.  She wasn't sure if what the district told her was 100% accurate (regarding alternate options she has). There's more to the story, but you see where I'm going... she was feeling very confused.

I think all children have difficulty focusing and concentrating at one time or another, but for those children who struggle with this day in and day out, the implications can be far reaching. 

When children enter the school system, especially if in main-stream classes, the expectations can be quite great and definitely include the ability to concentrate.  Special education classes, while more adept at understanding this ability is difficult to master, tend to use creative methods to teach concentration and focus.