Help! I don’t know how to treat my friend’s Special Needs kid!

Do I say hello even though I know he’s not going to say hello back? I mean, he doesn’t talk, right? But wait, maybe he does talk a little. Do I say hello and wait expectantly for him to return the greeting, looking right at him and waiting? I’ve heard sometimes he does talk and I don’t want to be rude and not acknowledge that he can, in fact, do that. Or maybe it’s just that he can’t hear me, maybe I need to move closer,  get right in his face and say HELLO over and over again!!!! Maybe that Read More

A Five Step Plan for getting WHAT YOU WANT at your child’s IEP.

Photo from Ben’s first ever yearbook at the LOTTERY WINNING school mentioned toward the end of the post. I have been going to IEP’s for about 13 years now, since Benjamin started school at the early age of 3. For those who don’t know, IEP stands for “Individualized Education Plan”. It’s the place you get together with teachers, therapists, school administrators and parents to talk about and decide, what kinds of special services or school placements your child should have. Your special needs child. It is well known for being something to FEAR and DREAD in the special needs community. Read More