Massachusetts

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Inclusion

Is my child developing OK?

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As new parents, we’ve all asked ourselves this question. Whether with movement or babbles or play, we watch and we wonder. If you’ve watched and wondered and you still have questions about your child not meeting developmental milestones, ask their doctor for a developmental screening. We’ll tell you more here.

Understanding your child’s strengths and challenges

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No one knows your child better than you! This is why you are key to finding the right supports and activities that are most likely to help your child thrive.

“How do I help my son to engage in more sports activities?”

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Last week, I looked into a soccer program for my son. It has been a couple of years since we’ve tried community sports programs and I wondered, “Is he ready?”

What is disproportionality in special education?

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Disproportionality is the term used to describe the overrepresentation of a minority group in special education programs. The backdrop to the IEP meetings, consent forms, and evaluations is a law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law sets forth the rights of students with disabilities in the public education system in the […]

Talk to my son

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We want our children to have control over their thoughts and emotions as much as possible. We teach them to better identify how they’re feeling and what they need. We want them to have the confidence to try. If they fail, we encourage them to try again. We hope they advocate for themselves in whatever […]

Special Education Placements for My Child

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The winter break from school can be a time to observe and experience our children in a new way. There are probably times of overstimulation or exhaustion. There are hopefully moments of quiet connection or discovery of something new. As we send our students back to the classroom (good luck, teachers!), this mid-year moment is […]

What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan?

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An IEP is an Individualized Education Program (or Plan) that is required for any child who qualifies as a student with a disability under your state’s law, and as a result of the disability, the student requires “specially designed instruction” to make progress in the general education setting, or requires one or more services to […]