Can you imagine being left with no choice but to surrender custody of your own child in order to get him help? Consider a hypothetical family of four: mom, dad, one typical child, and one child with extreme and violent behaviors, all living together under one roof. They’ve tried everything: school-based interventions, private therapy, brief periods of hospitalization, medication. Still,…
Children With Special Needs
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Helps Students with Special Needs
On March 22, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that a school must offer an IEP reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s unique circumstances (Endrew F. v. Douglas County Sch. Dist. 2017 Lexis 2025) (“Endrew F.”). This decision represents an increased duty on school districts to provide an educational benefit…
Update: School Refuses to Allow Service Dog
Remember the little girl with cerebral palsy that wasn’t allowed to bring her guide dog to school in Michigan? The family sued the school district and the case was thrown out because the family didn’t first try to resolve the matter administratively by filing due process under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) laws. The family argued that it was not…
Which School District is the BEST?
So many of my clients ask me which school district is the best for students with disabilities. That’s a really tough question to answer! I’ve had families who are very happy with a district’s services for their disabled child in the same city where I’ve had many complaints and, conversely, I have clients who are disappointed with the offerings of…
The Importance of Intensive Therapy and the Research Behind It
Twenty years ago, strength training in children with cerebral palsy was discouraged, as it was assumed that it would increase spasticity (tight/stiff muscles and the inability to control them). However, this was not supported by the results of earlier studies, which showed that strength training can actually improve lower-limb muscle strength in children with CP, without increasing spasticity. Current research…
Cool Adaptive Clothing for Kids
Anyone who buys clothes for someone with special needs knows how difficult it is to find fashionable clothes that work. The good news is that another big retailer, Tommy Hilfiger, has introduced a line of apparel that is made specifically for those with special needs! Their adaptive clothing line is just as fashionable as the rest of their clothes, except…