Blogs by Bonnie Landau
Information about Special Education & Inspiration for Special Ed MomsHow Parent Centers Help You With Special Ed
The IDEA provides funds for each state to offer Parent Training and Information Centers, and some states have Community Parent Resource Centers. These centers provide information and resources to parents of children with disabilities, including: One-on-one...
Returning to School After TBI: What Parents Should Know
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can turn a child's world upside down. Not only because of the unexpected accident, but because the healing process is really slow and unpredictable. It is common for children to need extra supports in school, even if they never missed a...
I Do Not Like These IEPs
IEPs Dr. Seuss Style(author unknown) Do you like these IEPs? I do not like these IEP'sI do not like them, Jeeze LouiseWe test, we checkwe plan, we meetbut nothing ever seems complete. Would you, could youlike the form? I do not like the form I see.Not page 1, not 2,...
IEP vs 504 Plan: What’s the Difference?
In the United States, if your child is falling behind the expected average in his or her schoolwork, some kind of educational plan may be drafted, approved and implemented. This may be due to a behavioral…
Help Twice Exceptional Kids With Being Different
Q: My son is a junior in high school and struggles with significant depression and anger problems. He is gifted in math and goes to the city college for math classes, but he is still in resource class for language arts due to dyslexia.
Regaining Your Sense of Control from Mommyhood
I know we all had dreams for our kids, imagining all the typical experiences they would have. Even if we have kids with no special ed challenges, life as a mom is full of surprising moments that can take us from calm to overwhelmed in a heartbeat. I know for me having...
Concussions & Football: Knowledge Helps Prevention
This long-term consequences of concussions are finally getting notice from sports programs around the globe. Acknowledging that they can create life-long issues has only come about as NFL players have spoken out about their challenges. Schools are starting to pay...
Neurofeedback: Retrain Your Brain
After 15 months of neurofeedback I asked my son what was the best thing he got out of it. “I don’t have to move my body if I don’t want to,” was his reply. Before neurofeedback he couldn’t sit still for even 10 seconds
Do Colored Reading Filters Help?
Q: I read an article that talked about colored reading filters and how they can help our kiddos in school. Have you heard of these? Do they work?
How do I help my NT child?
Q: I was heartbroken today when my NT (neurotypical) son told me that he didn’t want to be in our family anymore because he doesn’t matter. He always has to take a second seat to our son with autism because, honestly, he just doesn’t need as much help. I feel like an awful mom because he is struggling in a different way. What can I do to support both my kids?
SCOTUS Requires “Appropriately Ambitious” Education
It was a unanimous verdict by the Supreme Court, 8-0, in favor of a special education student who was not given a fair and appropriate education. Too often in the schools we see teachers “dumming down” curriculum…
What is a QEEG Brain Map?
A QEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalogram) brain map is a way of measuring the electrical activity in the brain. This measure provides a clear picture of how the different areas of the brain are functioning. Very sophisticated statistical software is used to analyze...
Is it Autism or APD? What’s the Difference?
Q: My 4 year old daughter's pediatrician noted some developmental delays and referred us to a psychologist for a full assessment. She had 14 ear infections form 6 months to 3 years of age, and our family has a history of auditory processing disorder (APD) and I...
Why Auditory Processing Disorder Makes Reading Difficult
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is not an issue of poor hearing, but an issue with how the brain interprets the nerve signals from the ear. APD challenges are most often seen with spoken speech since the differences between speech…
Understanding Learning Styles Makes Learning Easier
If somebody were to give you driving directions to a place, and you drew a map while listening to the person telling you the directions, which would you recall when going there…
Contrast Sensitivity
To read well your eyes must work well. Unfortunately most people think this means if text looks blurry, you need an eye exam. The truth is, there is more that goes on with eye function than just visual acuity. This is why it is very important…