The Successful IEP Meeting

Since my son has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, I have spoken to many parents of special needs children.  A common theme of dissatisfaction has emerged from these conversations.  Most parents express frustration with the lack of appropriate services provided for their children by the school.  Because of this (and other factors), I [...]

Medications

Medications can be a life saver, but nobody wants to experiment with their own child. And most of these medications have not been approved for pediatric use by the FDA.

When to help the strugglers

Every spring my kids and I incubate and hatch chicken eggs. It is our Easter tradition. When I first started hatching eggs, a farmer told me that it is very important that the chicks break out of the shells completely on their own. It strengthens them to peck their way out and prepares them for survival. This was a good warning our first year, because it took over twenty-four hours for a few of the chicks to finally make it out of the shell!

Goodbye Good Friend

Yesterday our little hamster friend passed away. We knew it was coming. She was at least two and a half years old, which is a good long life for a hamster. She was very elderly and was becoming less and less mobile. Our son knew it was coming too, and we were bracing ourselves for this loss. Sometimes these emotional issues can be very trying for a child with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Support through peer training

My personal prayer is that my own willingness to give and to adapt will come back to me now (a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over…Luke 6:38) as I prepare to put my own special needs child into a regular education classroom.

Pampering Mama

Parenting is hard. Raising a child with special needs is even harder, and it is very difficult to find people who understand these challenges.

What to do about bullies?

So what do we do about the bullying? How do we protect children with Asperger’s Syndrome from experiencing abuse each and every school day?

Healing Through Fiction

One of the best ways I have dealt with the news of my son’s diagnosis, is through story.

To Label or Not to Label

So why do we need the label? Why pursue a medical diagnosis only to find out that you labelhave to endure more testing to pursue an educational diagnosis? Unfortunately, these labels give the child access to the services that he or she needs.

The “Individualized Education Plan”

I am nervous about my child’s upcoming IEP meeting. I am an important member of this team of people that will create a plan to hopefully support my son in school so that he can function more successfully.