Resources for Parents of Children With Special Needs During School Closures for Coronavirus
What are schools required to do for students with special needs during a shutdown? Special Education Advocate Lisa Lightner has put together this guide.
Author: Lisa Lightner
Field Trips for All Students
Advice for parents of students with disabilities to avoid exclusion on field trips.
School Refusal: 8 Parent Tips When Your Child Refuses to Go to School
8 parent tips on how to deal with school refusal.
Accessible Beaches in New Jersey and Delaware (and Those with Beach Wheelchairs)
This is a useful list of Jersey and Delaware beaches that have beach wheelchairs and ramps over the softer sand.
7 Easter Basket Ideas for Older Kids
It's not easy to find non-candy treats for Easter baskets; consider cash, gift cards or a coupon for a 1-on-1 outing with mom or dad.
What to do when your child does not qualify for an IEP
“His grades are fine! He doesn’t need an IEP.” Here are the steps to take if you’ve asked for help from the school and have been told this.
10 Things to Buy at the Dollar Store (Including Pregnancy Tests)
Here are 10 must-buy dollar store items, including toys kids with special needs will enjoy.
Pennsylvania Farm Show Tips for Families
The 2019 PA Farm Show starts this weekend. Here's what you need to know if you want to take the kids.
20 (Easy) Snowman Crafts
These snowman crafts focus on sensory and fine-motor skills.
How to Tell When Your Special Needs Child is Sick
When a non-verbal child is sick, he can't describe his symptoms.
Best Toys for Kids with Autism, Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Delays
What are the best toys for children with special needs?
How Zero Tolerance Policies Can Impact Students With Special Needs
Zero-tolerance policies meant to keep weapons out of schools sometimes punish students with special needs for less serious offenses.
Now Is the Time to Update Your Child's IEP
Back-to-school time always has a nervous energy to it. Will my kid’s BFF be in my daughter’s class? Will my son like his teacher? Did my daughter get a good teacher? Will my son adjust and do well in this…
Assumed Consent: Why parents need to let their disabled kids have their own say
Have you ever been tagged in a completely unflattering photo on Facebook? I mean the kind when you look at it, you groan and debate in your head if the person will notice if you untag yourself? It’s awful, right?…
Visiting Knoebels? Then You Need to Read This Sensory-Friendly Travel Review
Some great travel tips and discounts, including info on how it accommodates children and others with special needs.
Childhood Epilepsy: At Home and School
There is much to know about epilepsy but luckily there are also many resources available.
Is Autism Different for Girls?
Some researchers have begun to say that autism presents differently in boys and girls.
How to Find a Special Needs Dentist
Lisa Lightner discusses finding the best fit dentist for your special needs child and shares tips on assisting with oral hygiene.
8 Things Every Philly Special Needs Family Needs to Know
Blogger Lisa Lightner shares 8 things you may not know about living near Philadelphia if you or someone you love has a disability.
Discipline and the IEP
Mom-blogger Lisa Lightner discusses the high rate of suspensions for children with IEPs and what parents can do about it.
The School Keeps Taking Away My Child’s Recess
What to do when the school punishes your child for a behavior issue or incomplete work by taking away recess
How to Write a Parent Concerns Letter for an IEP
Why you should always take advantage of the opportunity to do a Parent Concerns Letter for an IEP meeting and how to write an effective one
First Steps to an IEP
Special education advocate Lisa Lightner explains the steps to take to initiate the evaluation process that can lead to an IEP.
