The Special Education Advocacy Blog

Yes, this sounds absurd, however, I do know, school districts would likely show more compassion toward students and their parents when addressing the cause and effect of ADD/ADHD if the disability and it's effects were physical in nature.  A general lack of...

For many parents and their children, the current condition within today's schools often feels like buying shoes; one is trying to find the right fit or match.  However, the greatest challenge comes in the form of a fascinating dynamic taking place:  As schools move...

    A few weeks ago, I spoke at Lehman Learning Center (Seattle), and the theme of the presentation was titled, "The Canary in the Coalmine Kids".  Simply, the talk highlights what I have observed during the last 18 years: an amazingly sensitive group of...

As a parent listens to teachers and other district personnel talk about "best practices", "research-based", and "common core",  which all serve a justifiable purpose when discussing instructional practices, there comes a time when the conversation needs to shift to...

Finland continues to provide the gold-standard of success when comparing national education systems. From my perspective, the wisdom of Peter Pan* provides valuable insight within this inquiry: "All you need is a little faith, trust, and pixie dust", when developing a...

"True love is understanding."  Thich Nhat Hahn  Within the context of special education and the development of school-based interventions, understanding provides the foundation for our work as a team between parents, staff, teachers, and community.  Seems so obvious....

The idea of ESY (Extended School Year during summer) services is not appropriate for everyone on an IEP.  However, for those students who experience a significant skill loss and drop-off during extended breaks, ESY support is critical for the IEP to explore.   For...