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Special Needs Resources: Do We Need a 504 Plan?

Dr. Brandi Roth answers one parent's question about the 504 Plan, one of the many special needs resources available for children of special needs. Find out more about what's available.

Learning Difficulties of Color Blindness

Color blindness is a serious problem for many students. If left unchecked, it can result in learning difficulties in school and later in life. Find out exactly what is color blindness?

Kids' Learning Disabilities: Glossary of Terms

There are many kinds of learning disabilities and lots of confusing terms that go along with them. Use this handy reference guide to some commonly used terms for kids' learning disabilities.

Dyslexia Symptoms

Dyslexia children do not exhibit identical dyslexia sypmtoms. Use this list of symptoms as a general guide. If you are concerned about your child's speech language development, read on.

Defusing Tension When Advocating for Children of Special Needs

Good parent teacher communication is important, especially for children of special needs. One mother discusses how to avoid arguments with educational professionals and help her child.

Social Strategies for Special Needs Parents

Special needs parents may find it hard to be gracious when teachers and others are insensitive. Here are some social strategies to handle situations with calm and grace.

Parent-Teacher Communication: What Teachers Wish Parents Knew

Teachers welcome parent involvement in education. There are things, though, that they wish parents knew so that they could be better partners. This article contains 20 pieces of advice that teachers have for parents.

Programs Offer Special Needs Resources to Siblings

Special needs parents know that all their children sometimes need extra help--even those without a disability. This program offers special need resources and support to siblings of children with disabilities.

Special Parent, Special Child: Raising Children with Special Needs, and without

Special needs parents must work twice as hard to ensure they don't neglect their children without special needs. It takes a special parent to show enough affection for both.

Will Your Child Benefit From Special Needs Resources?

Does your child qualify for special needs resources? This article explains the process of evaluating children who are in learning difficulties at school. The evaluation will determine whether your child is eligible.

Noisy Classrooms Can Cause Major Education Issues

When the noise levels get too high, learning takes a dive. Researchers have discovered major education issues with noisy classrooms. Amplified classrooms may be a key to restoring hearing health in school.

Parents' Issues: Individualized Educational Plans

If you have a special education student, important parents' issues may involve IEPs. Learn how to work with teachers to come up with an IEP that makes sure your child gets the best education possible.

Funny Bedtime Stories Offer Opportunities for Special Parent-Child Time

Sometimes unexpected moments--such as making a mistake while reading children's bedtime stories--can create special parent and child time that promotes toddler reading and creative writing.

Home School Education in Partnership with Public Schools

In this first-person account, one mom tells how home school education and public school partnered to provide her child with needed special education activities for speech.

Reading Tutoring May Be the Real Answer to Your Child's Difficulty

Many excuses are given for why a child can't read. Parents are often told their child has ADD symptoms or dyslexia symptoms--or sometimes just that the child is lazy. Before you despair, find out whether reading tutoring is t...

Becoming a Special Needs Parent

The birth of a child heralds major changes for every family. This is especially true for special needs parents. The special needs activities you do now can make a difference for your family.

Baby Development Stages Move More Slowly for Premature Infants

When newborns arrive prematurely, they're more likely than ever to survive. However, premature babies' development will be a little slower and parents need to be patient with baby development stages.

Ten Fingers, Ten Toes: Welcoming Children of Special Needs into the Family

Everyone hopes for a normal baby. Special needs parents find themselves faced with a wide range of often difficult emotions. Mother explains how to work through grief that comes with adjusting to children of special needs.

Getting Help for Kids with Developmental Learning Issues

Parent teacher communication is important to your child's success as a student. But what happens when the teacher says your child is having developmental learning issues?

Development in Baby: Capturing Kodak Moments

Taking photos of your infant with special needs can be tough, but go ahead and photograph his or her child development stages. You'll treasure the photos, and your parent's development will benefit.

Special Needs Parents Must Trust Their Instincts

Being the parent of children of special needs can be overwhelming. While professionals and special education articles help, special needs parents need to remember to trust their gut instincts.

Special Education Issues: Hurtful Words about Disabilities

There are many special education issues. Words can make us feel good or bad, worthwhile or worthless, self confident or insecure. Often, people don't choose their words carefully about disabilities.

Parenting Children of Special Needs: Remember to Laugh

When it comes to lifting the blues that may set in when life with children of special needs feels like more than you can take, don't neglect your sense of humor. Laughter truly is the best medicine.

Cool Educational Toys and Special Needs Resources

It's becoming more difficult to shop for products for kids (including special needs) that are educational and fun. Check out these websites and catalogs for special needs resources.

Autism Signs—A Mother’s Story

A first-person account from the mother of a rising star who happens to have autism addresses baby development stages and what to do when you feel something's off. Is your child showing autism signs?

Learning with Disabilities: Help Your Young Child Succeed

Early intervention is key to learning with disabilities for children of special needs. Exploring different programs and special needs resources can help parents find the best fit.

Helping Children of Special Needs Focus on Strengths

Children of special needs require love, support, and commitment. Parent teacher communication, creativity, and teamwork help special needs parents build their children's strengths.

Faith, Freedom and Friendship: The Three Fs of Parenting Children of Special Needs

Families with children of special needs can find hope and renewal in three special needs resources: faith, freedom and friendship. Learn how these can help.

Advice for Dealing with Kids' Learning Disabilities: ADHD

Learning with disabilities such as ADHD isn't easy, and rearing kids' with learning disabilities isn't easy either. Here are some words of wisdom and support for parents of children with ADHD.

Learning with Disabilities: ADHD

If you think your child may have ADHD or has been diagnosed with the disorder, it is essential for you to read as much as you can about treatment options, learning with disabilities and parenting strategies.

Special Needs Parents Need Emotional Support

Even when special needs parents are coping well, milestone transitions for their children of special needs can be emotionally bittersweet. Here's how to find support.

Special Inclusion in After-school Activities

When children with special needs are valued and special inclusion includes after-school activities, everyone wins. Read about the extra-curricular cross-country career of Micah, a child with special needs.

To Parents of Children of Special Needs: Take Care of Yourselves Too

Parenting children of special needs can feel like running a marathon without training. Don't forget yourself among the many challenges. Here are some family ideas on self care from a mom who's been there.

Learning for Summer: Choose Camps Well and Choose Them Early

Plan in the winter for summer camp. Learning the facts for the best fit takes times. Check out these resources that can help parents choose the best option for summer camp learning experiences.

One Parent's Experiences with Special Inclusion

What issues come up when a child with cerebral palsy is included in a regular classroom? Read about one parent's experiences with special inclusion and find out which issue is most important.

Dyspraxia In Children: Does Your Child Have It?

What is Dyspraxia (Clumsy Child Syndrome)? Is it possible that your child could be affected by this disorder? Even kids with an above-average learning intelligence are affected.

Learning with Disabilities: An Age-by-Age Guide

Nobody knows your child like you do. If you sense that something's "just not right," your child may be learning with disabilities. Here are problems to look for at three child development stages.

Kids' Learning Disabilities: Evaluations

It's important to find out why your child isn't doing well in school. He or she may have one or more of the many types of kids' learning disabilities. By law, schools must provide special help to eligible children.

Average Student Benefits from Special Education in Schools

As a parent, you know better than anyone what your child needs to succeed. So listen to the voice that tells you something is wrong. Help your child benefit from special education in schools.

Public School Policy: No Child Left Behind Offers Free Tutoring to Some Students

If your child's school doesn't meet the grade according to the public school policy mandates of No Child Left Behind, then your children may qualify for special tutoring services.

Accommodating Learning with Disabilities

Is your child uninterested in a school subject, or is he or she learning with disabilities? Your judgment as a parent is your best guide—and testing for learning disabilities is often a good option.

I'm Special too: Parenting Siblings of Children of Special Needs

Being the sibling of a child of special needs can be challenging. With the support of a loving family, this experience can result in rich life lessons that serve children well.

Eric Winter: The Child Became the Teacher

Author Judy Winter's son Eric, born with cerebral palsy, passed away in 2003. Read this story about a special parent's love for a child and what her son taught her about life.

For Kids with Special Needs, Resources Begin with Mom and Dad

For kids with special needs, resources begin with their parents. A mother shares her perspective on what some may view as a hardship—parenting a child with cerebral palsy—and makes a case for empathy.

Advocating for Children of Special Needs

If you have special needs children, you want them to have the education they deserve. Here's how to advocate for children of special needs to make sure they receive the best education possible.

How Technology Can Help Children of Special Needs

Technology can help children of special needs to become more independent. It is one of the special needs resources that schools can use to help students.

Parent Stress About Travel for Kids

Riding the school bus is an important mark of a child's independence. But many folks, including special needs parents, feel a mix of emotions watching their children get on board.

Early Intervention: Begin Special Needs Activities Early

Parents with special needs children may not know where to find special needs resources for early intervention. Here are some tips for special needs activities to start now.

Learning with Disabilities: A Mother's Letter to Her Kindergartener

What do you say to children of special needs as they begin kindergarten? Is special needs inclusion the path to follow? Learning with disabilities is never easy. It takes special parents.

Back-to-School Tips for Students Learning with Disabilies

Back-to-school is always a hectic time, especially for children who are learning with disabilities. If you have a child of special needs, learn what you can do to make sure the transition is smooth.

Rites of Passage for Children of Special Needs

Sometimes children of special needs miss out on childhood's rights of passage, including simple kid fitness. Read one mom's inspiring reflections on special needs activities and more.

Siblings of Students Learning with Disabilities

Siblings of students learning with disabilities face their own challenges. There's a lot of importance placed on standardized tests today, but special needs kids can teach us a lot.

How the Law Helps Children of Special Needs

The law helps children of special needs to get the education to which they are entitled. Learn how Section 504 and the IDEA are important special needs resources.

Children of Special Needs Challenge Parental Expectations

Children constantly surprise us and some of those surprises can be devastating. Special needs parents may need to pull on all new coping skills so that they can help their child thrive and succeed.

What Is Dyslexia? A Journey into the World of Learning Disabilities

What is dyslexia? You may not know your child has this nonverbal learning disability. If your child is struggling to learn to read and write, have him or her tested. Then try these learning techniques.

What is ADD and ADHD?

ADD and ADHD are two of the most commonly diagnosed disorders of childhood. What is ADD and ADHD? Know the symptoms of ADD and ADHD, and learn about treatments.

Parents' Issues: Effective Parenting of ADHD Children

Learning how to parent a child with ADHD can be challenging at times. Having a child with ADHD can cause increased parent stress unless you have the tools to help you cope.

Children of Special Needs: ADHD

Children of special needs such as ADHD often struggle in school and outside of school. What can you do to help your child who is learning with disabilities? Suggestions from a mom who's been there.

Autism Education: Early Diagnosis Is Important

Autism education is key to helping kids and parents understand what causes autism, how to diagnose it, and how to deal with it. Read on to learn more about early diagnosis.

Learning with Disabilities: Teacher Committed to Special Needs Inclusion

One outstanding teacher knew that learning with disabilities was possible and made the extra effort that special inclusion required. This preschool special education made all the difference in a child's life.

Teaching Kids Manners for Students Learning With Disabilities

Teaching kids manners for students who are learning with disabilities can make a huge difference. The extra kindness can make special needs inclusion at schools more successful and gentle.

Teaching Character and Social Strategies at School

Children of special needs have extra challenges beyond learning with disabilities. The load is lighter when classmates understand and empathize. Here's what some schools are doing to aid that process.

Fellow Parents Make Great Special Needs Resources

When it comes to special needs resources, fellow parents can provide a network like no other. Special needs parents can empathize as well provide road maps around special education issues.

Special Needs Inclusion Extends to Hollywood

Parents of children with special needs are often told the many things their children will never be. Gail Williamson works to bring special needs inclusion to acting.

What is ADD? One Family's Story

What is ADD? When one family searched for answers to their son's school and social difficulties, they learned much about ADD symptoms, ADD testing, and ADD treatment.

Boundless Playgrounds: Fun for Children of Special Needs

Boundless playgrounds designed with children of special needs in mind are popping up all over the country. Boundless playgrounds are places where kids of all abilities can play and have fun.

Parents' Issues: Expectations for Children of Special Needs

There are so many parents' issues when you're parenting children of special needs. Find out from a parent like you how stay balanced so you can provide the best for your child and for yourself.

Knowledge Is Power: Help for Families with Children of Special Needs

Sometimes parents don't know where to turn for help for their children of special needs. There's lots of help out there if you know how to find it. Read these tips from a resourceful special parent.

Recognizing Kids' Learning Disabilities

The most important step in getting help for children who are learning with disabilities is identifying—and accepting— kids' learning disabilities. Get advice from experts who have been there.

Delayed Speech Development in Children

Schools discipline kids when they misbehave. But, what if those kids are acting out because they have Auditory Processing Disorder? Find out if your child has this disorder and what you can do.

Identifying the Learning Difficulties of Struggling Readers

While child development stages vary with each child, there are some warning signs that a child might be in learning difficulties. If you observe the warning signs in this article, you might need to take action.

Learning Disabilities Strategies Help Struggling Student

Learn about one family's journey to find help for their daughter who struggles with reading, and the learning disabilities strategies that help her succeed.

Teenage Advice: Get Reading Help

If high school academics are an issue, your teen might have a learning disability. School is easier when reading isn't a struggle. Help by suggesting popular books for teenagers and staying involved.

Michigan Public School Policy Grades Middle School Students with the MEAP

According to Michigan's public school policy, the MEAP test grades middle school students on their academic progress. Read about how school standardized tests gauge middle school learning and find ways to help your child exce...

Identifying an Early Learning Disablity and How You Can Help at Home

Many learning disabilities can often be prevented if intervention occurs at an early age. Experts say that there are things parents can do at home to help even the youngest children. Recognizing risk factors is key.

Parents Can Find Summer Camp Programs for Children of Special Needs

Children of special needs may want to participate in summer camp activities. In this article, the author and other special needs parents explain how they found the right summer camp program for their children.

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Topic: Learning Disabilities and Special Needs