Exceptional Needs TODAY

KATE SWENSON: THE LOVING TIES OF BROTHERHOOD THREE TIPS TO IMPROVE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS

Tomorrow Is A New Day

HOW CURRENT DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES FAIL KIDS IMPLEMENTING STUDENT-LED IEP MEETINGS can

1. Who is going to take care of your child after you are gone and where will they live?

2. How much will that care cost and how are you going to pay for that care?

3. Do you have a special needs trust and do you know how much money you will need in it? How are you going to fund it? How are the funding instruments taxed when you die?

4. What government benefits are available to your child and how do you apply for them?

5. What is the Medicaid waiver and how do you apply for it?

6. How will you communicate your plan to family members?

BORN INTO AUTISM ADVOCACY: THE LOVING TIES OF BROTHERHOOD

Kate Swenson

The Founder of Finding Cooper’s Voice shines a light on the bond between her son Cooper, who has severe nonverbal autism, and his brother, Sawyer.

STORY TIME: A MULTI-PURPOSE GIFT FOR CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES

Dr. Ronald I. Malcolm, EdD Nurture your differently abled child’s intellectual, interpersonal, and practical development by using 10 guidelines for sharing the gift of communal reading.

SHAPING OUR FUTURE

IT’S ABOUT TIME: DISCOVERING WHAT MATTERS TO CHILDREN THROUGH THEIR LENS

Rose Adams, OTD, OTR/L

Reflect on how you spend time with your children and uncover ways to make it more meaningful by discovering what they value most.

FIVE SENSORY SENSITIVE TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS

Ron Sandison, MDiv.

Read on for advice from a well-traveled autistic man on coping with sensory difficulties when taking a journey.

SENSORY INTERIOR DESIGN: A NECESSARY LUXURY WHEN THERE ARE EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS

Stephanie Lee Jackson

Learn how designing and managing your home environment reduces stress and sensory overload.

EXCEPTIONAL ADVICE FROM MESHELL HEALING FROM PRECONCEIVED STEREOTYPES AND INTRAFAMILY PREJUDICE

Meshell Baylor, MHS

Accept there is no shame in protecting an exceptional needs loved one from relatives who refuse to accept them as they are.

SAFETY GOALS WITH NICOLE

HOW CAN WE HELP CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, EMOTIONALLY?

Nicole Moehring

Learn ways to teach children how to identify and regulate emotions early in life, as well as approaches for preventing or alleviating meltdowns.

HOW TEACHERS CAN DEVELOP POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR NEURODIVERSITY

Karen Kaplan, MS

Nurture student learning and engagement by getting to know individual classroom needs, supporting those needs, and providing both visual and auditory instructional content.

THE BENEFITS OF REMOTE MICROPHONE USE FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS

Dr. Dawn Aerts

Learn the potential uses of a remote microphone, including as assistive tech for audio processing difficulties caused by neurodivergence.

KATE MAKES IT GREAT!

ALL ABOUT STIMS: SELF-REGULATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS

Kate C. Wilde

Learn more about stimming and engaging when sensory input needs to be regulated.

43 NATURE NOTES

THE HEALING NATURE OF HUMOR AND WHIMSY IN CHILDREN’S OUTDOOR SPACES

Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, SCEM, EDAC, FAOTA

Implement fun and silliness in outdoor spaces to help your soul rejuvenate.

TAKE CARE WITH MENTAL HEALTH: SPECIAL NEEDS CARETAKERS NEED SUPPORT

Carol Tatom, BA.HSE, CHW Recognize the necessity of specialized mental health services for the vulnerable and underserved parents/ guardians of differently abled individuals.

OUR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS JOURNEY: HOW MOVING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY CREATED A CALMER LIFE

Dr. Mary H. Jones, MD, FAAP

Discover how a family of seven benefitted from a drastic location change and consider what modifications you could make in your own life to create calm.

POSITIVE VOICES

KRYSTIAN SHAW AND GIVING BACK: PROMOTING COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND ALL ABILITIES

Amy KD Tobik, BA

Learn how Krystian Shaw gives back to society through his newsletter for all abilities, promoting awareness and success stories.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILL BUILDING WHEN THERE ARE LEARNING DISABILITIES

John Civita, MS Ed

Discover the most prominent barriers in the job market for individuals with learning disabilities and five key strengths to develop to improve employability.

EXCEPTIONAL BOOKS REGULATION AND CO-REGULATION: ACCESSIBLE NEUROSCIENCE AND CONNECTION STRATEGIES THAT BRING CALM INTO THE CLASSROOM

Learn the keys to bringing emotional stability to your home and classroom through balanced regulation and coregulation in this excellent new book by Ginger Healy, MSW, LCSW.

THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE: HOW CURRENT DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES FAIL KIDS

Guy Stephens

Discover how some current methods for managing behavior in children can cause more harm than good.

FIVE REASONS DISABILITY INCLUSION IN THE ARTS IS ESSENTIAL

Dr. Rhoda Bernard, EdD

Acknowledge the unique communication, social, and creative benefits that make access to the arts a fundamental human right in the author’s eyes.

THE FRIENDSHIP & DATING DUO STOP BUILDING BARRIERS TO SOCIAL SUCCESS WHEN THERE IS AN AUTISM DIAGNOSIS

Jeremy Hamburgh and Ilana Frank

Find out ways to pursue multiple priorities at once and work towards dismantling procrastination methods so you can stop putting off new social adventures.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO IMPLEMENTING STUDENT-LED IEP MEETINGS

Carli Haskovec, MA, Ed.S. Enjoy a teacher’s recount of how she implemented student-led IEP meetings saw students’ confidence blossom as a result.

KEY2ENABLE TECHNOLOGY EMPOWERS LEARNING WHILE ENCOURAGING INCLUSION

Richard Schreiber

Learn about a company aiming to bridge learning gaps between all neurotypes and exceptional needs individuals through innovative assistive technology.

ALL THINGS OT DECIPHERING HANDWRITING DIFFICULTIES IN EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS

Laura A. Ryan, OT, OTR, OTD Learn how our various sensory systems work together and how problems with one system can affect the body’s interaction with the environment.

MANAGING YOUR CHILD’S ASTHMA IN SCHOOL

Dr. Ronald I. Malcolm, EdD Actively enhance your child’s school experience, independence, and general safety regarding asthma management by implementing advice from an experienced parent.

THREE TIPS TO IMPROVE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS FOR TOMORROW’S TASKS

Dr. Chris Abildgaard, EdD, LPC, NCSP, NCC

Discover the importance of executive function abilities to follow daily care routines and self-management.

FINANCIAL FOCUS GUARDIANSHIP—IS IT RIGHT FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS FAMILY?

Ryan F. Platt, MBA, ChFC, ChSNC, CFBS

Make an informed decision on whether legal Guardianship or an alternate form of decision-making support is appropriate for your young person with exceptional needs.

EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS TODAY