Blogs by Bonnie Landau
Information about Special Education & Inspiration for Special Ed Moms
2019 Back to School Roadmap for Special Ed Parents
Unfortunately it is that time of year when we have to transition our kids away from a less structured schedule and extended sleep times to the reliability of the school day. Getting ready for back to school can be fun, but it can also be overwhelming when...
SWOT Analysis for the Special Ed School Year
Join me for a FREE Facebook Live! SWOT Analysis Q&ASaturday, June 22, 2019 at 9 am PST Join my Special Ed Mom Facebook Group to participate! It's FINALLY the end of school year. Was it worth it? In the early years, my family couldn’t wait for the...
How to Help Your Autistic Child Flourish
Sometimes, traditional parenting methods can be a source of frustration in families with children on the autism spectrum. Kids with autism often express themselves differently, have special sensory concerns, and might not understand certain social expectations. Read...
10 Ways to Have Better IEP Meetings
You may have read about me in Special Ed Mom’s Survival Guide. I’m Bonnie’s husband Steve, otherwise known as the dad who had a hard time letting go of my dreams for a typical son. Those days are behind me. As a professional mediator, I thought I could handle IEP...
Self-Advocacy: A Critical Skill for Special Ed Students
In all my advocacy work as a parent, and all the individual work with students, I have found self-advocacy to be one of the most important skills that a student can develop. Self-advocacy is the ability to ask for the support that is needed in order to be successful...
10 Super Fun Building Toys That Aren’t Legos!
We all know that little builders are thrilled when they get a Lego kit, but did you know there are a lot of other great ways to stretch the imagination of a visual spatial creator? Other plastic toys and magnet kits provide great opportunities to learn...
Interview with Bonnie Landau, Special Education Advocate
I feel really fortunate to be interviewed by Michael Boll at California Special Needs Law Group. Michael is working on putting together a network of special education advocates so we can get to know advocates in different regions of California. Since we each work in...
A Simple Solution to Help Auditory Sensitivity
Many people with APD (auditory processing disorder) suffer from hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound) and difficulty understanding in noisy situations (auditory figure-ground issues). For child this is especially difficult because school is filled with all sorts of loud...
The Best Fidget Toys for Kids and Adults
Working with kids means knowing what to do when a child doesn't fit still. Kids who know me are ready for me to pull out my 'fidget bag' and are always excited to see what new gadgets I have added. These fidgets are the all-time favorites of the kids I...
Printable IEP Prep Checklist
Getting ready for an IEP meeting can be really nerve wracking, but it doesn't have to be. If you know how to prepare and how to plan, the process can be easier than expected.I created the attached IEP Preparation Checklist with 20 different tasks you need to complete...
42 Sensory Crafts for Kids with Autism, SPD and ADHD
Tactile (Touch) Sensory Input Pineapple Thumbprint Drawing Ice Paint DIY Sidewalk Chalk Pops Bouncy Ball Stamp Pufferfish Textured Hot Air Balloon Sensory Craft Worry Pet Buddies for Anxiety Pool Noodle Pom Pom Shooter Puffy Paint Octopus Ocean Slime Stretchy Slime 20...
10 Proven Strategies for Helping an Anxious Child
Anxiety is one of the most difficult emotions to get control over, but with useful strategies you can do a lot to help a child calm down. I have used the following strategies with children and found they are very effective at shifting thought patterns and...
Difference Between Educational vs. Clinical Autism
I have had many parents become confused as to why their child might qualify for autism in a doctor's setting, but the school says the child does not qualify for an IEP. Conversely, some students qualify for an IEP under the autism category, but despite repeated...
100+ Special Ed Letter Templates for Parents
We all know that in the world of special education, if it isn't in writing, it may not have happened. As Special Ed Parents, we need to remember that all requests and responses need to be done via email or printed letter. Optimally, multiple people will be copied to...
3 Private Therapies that Can Change Your and Your Child’s Life
Guest Post by James Lambka You know that public schools just aren't equipped to give every child exactly what she needs; and, while you'd desperately like to, you just can't do it all at home on your own either. There are, however, some proven...
Back to School Checklist for Special Ed Parents
There are SO many things to do to get our kids out of summer mode and back into school mode. It's a wonder we get it all done! I created this simple checklist so you could have an easy to make sure you don't lose track of anything.This list is geared...
Recent Comments