A Practical Guide to Down syndrome and Special Needs Parenting
When virtual schooling gave way to in-person learning last year, I underestimated the stress of having to get Grace ready and to school on time each day. Many mornings ended in tears. Sometimes she cried, too. I realized that while some of her stress and resulting behaviors stemmed from separating from me, much of it... Continue Reading →
If you’re anything like me, awaiting IEP meetings is always nerve-wracking. I’ve found it critical to remind myself is that I am an important member of the IEP team with valuable input. As such, I’ve found that being prepared and knowledgeable about what I would like my daughter’s IEP to look like before going into... Continue Reading →
As we prepared for Grace's kindergarten IEP meeting last year, we were all coping with a very new, terrifying global pandemic. Several of the staff hadn't even been able to meet with Grace for evaluations because schools had abruptly closed just weeks before. More than ever, I felt the need to humanize her for the... Continue Reading →
Grace "reading" the pictures in a book during virtual kindergarten What? A sheet or booklet with important information to familiarize staff with your child and facilitate interactions to maximize success. Why? For me, It makes me feel more comfortable having staff be familiar with GraceThey have always appreciated the insightWhen people know Grace better, it... Continue Reading →
I had one item left on my very modest summer bucket list: a local hike-in swimming hole. It was the last day before school, and we finally got out of the house hours later than I’d planned. We ran into both obstacles I’d hoped to avoid: lots of people and a sky full of dark... Continue Reading →
The Extra Life 