Blogs by Bonnie Landau
Information about Special Education & Inspiration for Special Ed Moms
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...
Helping Teachers Get to Know Your Child
Starting a new school year is a big chore for many teachers. They often have to create new curriculum and schools introduce new methodologies, and then of course all teachers get a new group of students. They may hear about your student from other...
Preparing for Parenting a Child with a Disability
When you are an expecting parent, life can be filled with a combination of excitement, anticipation, stress and fear. When you’re expecting a child with a mental or physical disability, you have the same feelings, but it can also be trepidatious of the...
12 Warning Signs the IEP Team is NOT Doing Their Job!
The IEP Team is suppose to help support your child, but sometimes their approach can be misleading. Knowing the law is key when advocating for your child. In my book, Special Ed Mom Survival Guide, I spend considerable time helping you learn about the law...
Infographic: Special Education Acronyms
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Bonnie Landau is a professional counseling and holistic therapist in Ventura County, California. Her specialities include therapy for autism, therapy for ADHD, and therapy for parenting who have kids with autism or ADHD or other neurodivergence....
Infographic: 6 Tips to Organize IEP Paperwork
One of the most important things you can do when advocating for your child is to organize IEP paperwork! That is why I created the Ultimate IEP Binder Tool Kit, so parents like you can get all the information in one place. Why organize IEP paperwork? In...
What Parents Should Know About Suicide Prevention
Need immediate help? If you have an emergency situation, CALL 911. If you suspect someone is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or visit their website to do an online chat. Call The Trevor Project at...
Infographic: IEP vs 504 – What’s the Difference?
There seems to be a lot of confusion about IEP vs 504 plans. While both are covered within special education, only IEPs (individualized education programs) are covered under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). IDEA is the federal law that...
What is Rhythmic Movement Training and How Can it Help Anxiety & Learning?
Rhythmic Movement Training (or RMT) is a neurological development program that can help integrate primitive reflexes. It provides easy, gentle movements that can actually help with sensory, anxiety, emotional and behavioral issues. It is easy to learn so...
Denied an IEP or 504 Because Grades Are Good
Has your child been denied an IEP or 504? It is so common for schools to say that a child is not eligible for special education because the child has good grades or is too smart. The truth is, this is not a valid excuse for denying special education support. Sec....
Making Sure Gen Ed Teachers Provide Accommodations
A lot of time and effort goes into choosing the exact right accommodations to help your child in the classroom. Sometimes you even have to fight for them, even though they usually don't cost the school any money. Even with all this careful consideration,...
18 Apps to Help Build Visual Processing Skills
It is often difficult to get children to do vision therapy exercises, but if you can find an app that they love, you might be able to engage them for longer than prescribed. The following apps help with different visual tasks. NOTE: Please talk to your vision...
Least Restrictive Environment: What Are Your Placement Options?
When providing an IEP, least restrictive environment (LRE) is an important concept for parents to understand. It relates to where they put your child for the daily classroom, and how much structure there is in your child's educational day. IDEA defines the LRE as: “To...
Being a Special Needs Mom is Not Exactly Hard
So many people look at my life and cannot restrain their need to comment, “It must be so difficult.” They look at me, my journey and my children, and they cannot imagine themselves walking this path. What so many people do not realize is the...
Infographic: 12 Ways to Help Kids Calm Down
In my work as a special education advocate and parenting coach, the one question I get most often is, "How can help my child calm down when he is overstimulated?" This could be a sensory issue, like spinning out of control at a noisy party. It could also...
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