Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are an essential tool for ensuring that students with disabilities receive the education they need to succeed. Assistive technology (AT) plays a crucial role in IEPs by providing students with the tools they need to overcome barriers to learning and participate fully in the classroom. …

One of the questions I am asked most often from parents is, “What can I do to set my child up for success?” There are a lot of ways to answer that question, but my first advice is always to be involved. Your child watches your actions and attitudes and…

As a parent of a child with special needs, you know that your child requires additional support and assistance to succeed in their education. …

As a parent of a special education student, it can be overwhelming to keep track of all the important documents and information related to your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). One way to stay organized is by creating an IEP binder. …

How would you feel if your place of employment required you to wait an entire year to determine what you were “doing well,” your “areas for improvement,” and whether you would be advancing or staying at the same job level? With this example in mind, think about your child’s Individualized…

All children need support and encouragement. For children with learning disabilities, positive reinforcement helps students gain confidence, have a strong sense of self-worth, and develop the perseverance to keep going when things are difficult. Ronald Pitzer, University of Minnesota Extension Family Sociologist, developed a great list of encouraging words and…

“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” — Alexander Den Heijer There have been many times during my educational and special education consultant career that I have used this saying to explain to parents and educators that, in order for students…

In the Stop Being Invisible Podcast, we are discussing the laws and requirements that both protect and service special education students. In our most recent episode, we discussed the least restrictive environment (LRE), a provision set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). …

In the latest episode of the Stop Being Invisible Podcast, Dr. Ingrid Amorini-Klimek and I do a deep dive in the world of accommodations and explore questions like: how do accommodations relate to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? What are some…