Supporting Families to Prepare Students to Be Participating Members of Their Community

• By: Dianne Zager, PhD Carly Werner, MEd, MS Boca School for Autism
• October 2nd, 2023
• committee engagement, community integration, cultural appreciation, customized instruction, education, Fall 2023 Issue, family, home-school communication, improved outcomes, information gathering, parent involvement, school, self-determination, student potential, teacher-parent collaboration, teachers, transition to adulthood
• 1647    0

For over five decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving students with autism and developmental disabilities and their families. I’ve been employed as a teacher, administrator, professor, consultant, and advocate in public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit settings, working in preschools,...

Supporting Young Adults: Transitioning to Post-Secondary Educational Opportunities

• By: Tara C. Fappiano Advocate, Mediator, and Litigator
• October 2nd, 2023
• accommodations, choosing a college, educational, expectations, Fall 2023 Issue, goals, independence, post-secondary education, school, self-advocacy, self-determination, support services, transition planning, transition to adulthood
• 1435    0

This fall, I dropped my oldest child off for his junior year of college. For our family, this is always a time of excitement, but also one of trepidation. The transition from high school to higher education, from childhood to adulthood, is full of new and evolving challenges. Those challenges are...

A Mother’s Journey Advocating for Her Child’s Autism Diagnosis and What Fellow Educators Can Learn

• By: Shelley Hughes, OTR Pearson Clinical Assessments
• October 2nd, 2023
• access to resources, advocacy, assessments, diagnosis, diagnosis equity, early detection, early intervention, education, Fall 2023 Issue, improved outcomes, mental health, parents, racial disparities, research, screening, socioeconomic disparities, teachers, underdiagnosis of females
• 1823    0

As a registered occupational therapist (OTR) and Director of Portfolio Management and Delivery at Pearson Clinical Assessment, I have extensive experience working with students who have been diagnosed with a variety of conditions. And as a mom of an autistic daughter, I understand on a personal...

The Importance of Residential School-Based Family Support

• By: Caitlin Sweetapple, EdD Arij Abdul-Halim, LMHC Lauren Koffler, MSW Shrub Oak International School
• October 2nd, 2023
• co-occurring disorders, Fall 2023 Issue, families and caregivers, parent liaisons, parent support groups, parent training, parent-school relationship, psychoeducation, residential school, stress management, supporting families
• 1539    1

Providing school-age support for families and caregivers with an autistic child varies based on the school program the student is enrolled in. It is imperative that alongside the programming and support autistic students receive, parents receive similar services. This includes but is not limited...

Navigating the Legal Rights and Entitlements for Your Student with Autism

• By: Maria C. McGinley, MST, JD McGinley Law Group, LLP
• July 5th, 2023
• children, estate planning, evaluations, guardianship, IEP, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, parental rights, parents, school, students, Summer 2023 Issue
• 2414    1

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal law that governs the education of children with disabilities, including autism. Congress’ purpose in passing IDEA 48 years ago was to open the school doors for children with disabilities and provide them “a free appropriate...

The Power and Potential of the IEP

• By: Ellen D’Amato, PhD Zakkiyyah Sally, MEd, MA Kathleen McCarthy Gorski, MEd. Adm, MAT Georgia Efthimiou, MA, BCBA-LBA Kristen Daneker, MS, BCBA, LBS-PA Howard Savin, PhD First Children Services
• July 5th, 2023
• accommodations, advocacy, children, classroom, IEP non-compliance, IEPs, legal issues, modifications, out of district placement, parental involvement, resolving disagreements, school, service eligibility, special education, students, Summer 2023 Issue
• 2371    1

To address the inequity of limiting special needs children from obtaining an appropriate public education, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) was implemented in 1975 across the United States school systems. The IEP is an educational road map for children with disabilities. It is required by...

A Call for Reform of the Least Restrictive Environment

• By: Caitlin Sweetapple, EdD Shrub Oak International School
• July 5th, 2023
• educational justice, IDEA reform, Individuals with Disabilities Act, least restrictive environment, opinion, policy, school leadership training, special education, Summer 2023 Issue
• 1623    2

Section 1412(a)(5) of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) outlines regulations regarding the least restrictive environment (LRE). The statute states: To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care...

Strategies for Navigating College for Students with Autism

• By: Denise Gackenheimer Verzella, Esq., MA Manes & Weinberg, LLC, Special Needs Lawyers
• July 5th, 2023
• accessibility, accommodations, college, disability services, disclosure, family support, IDEA, self-advocacy, students, Summer 2023 Issue, transition programs
• 2846    0

College is a transformative period in a young adult's life, offering a platform for growth, self-discovery, and academic achievement. However, for students on the autism spectrum, navigating the challenges of college life can be particularly overwhelming. College students with autism spectrum...

Preserving Educational Stability: Understanding the Role of Pendency in Tuition Reimbursement Cases for Students with Special Needs

• By: Susan Fingerle, Esq. Tracey Spencer Walsh, Esq. Spencer Walsh Law, PLLC
• July 5th, 2023
• appropriate educational services, children, conflict resolution, continuity of education, educational placement, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, parents, pendency, special education lawyers, students, Summer 2023 Issue, tuition reimbursement cases
• 1081    0

Parents of children with special needs sometimes face a daunting challenge when it comes to securing appropriate educational services. Fortunately, many legal avenues exist to advocate for an appropriate education. One critical aspect that often goes unnoticed is the indispensable role of pendency...

How to Advocate Successfully at School for Your Child with Autism

• By: Marina Sarris SPARK | Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative
• January 2nd, 2023
• advocacy, autism service disparities, developmental evaluations, early diagnosis, early intervention, economic disparities, IEPs, intersectionality, racial disparities, Winter 2023 Issue
• 1277    0

You want what’s best for your child with autism, but you’re not a teacher or a speech and language pathologist. How do you get the school’s special education team to listen to your ideas? What do you do if you suspect your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) is failing...