5 Practical Tips for a Less Stressful IEP Meeting
A few years ago, Peter and I both cried at our daughter's annual meeting to discuss her IEP (Individualized Education Plan) goals. We cried because we were so overwhelmed with…
How to Navigate IEP Meetings and Disability Services with Meghan Burke, PhD
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E29 — Do you have to fight everyone around the table to advocate well for your child? Many parents feel intimidated by disability advocacy. They…
You Don’t Have to Be the Expert: Parenting a Child with a Disability
I read a book last year by Greg McKeown. My favorite part came at the end, when McKeown offered a personal story of his daughter having epilepsy. His first responses was…
What We Need to Know About Disability and Happiness with Misty Coy Snyder
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E28 — Do you feel overwhelmed, isolated, or afraid of the future? Misty Coy Snyder knows those feelings well. After receiving a prenatal diagnosis of…
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How to Help Kids Build Confidence and Capability: 3 Parenting Lessons
Somewhere along the way, my husband Peter and our daughter Penny, who has Down syndrome, developed an elaborate goodnight ritual involving a complicated handshake followed by cheering and naming sports…
Raising Capable, Confident Kids: Disability + Parenting • David Thomas, LMSW
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E27 — How can my child with a disability learn and grow? What does it look like to cultivate capability while honoring their limitations? When…
Why We Shouldn’t Wait to Celebrate Joy: Disability and Family Life
One of my favorite moments at Hope Heals Camp happens at the banquet Thursday evening. After days of being together, we all gather for a meal where we start with…
What to Do When Parenting Feels Overwhelming: Take One Next Step and Ask for Help
I’ve taken to calling it my whiteboard of shame. When Penny was a toddler, and we had four therapists coming to the house on a weekly basis, I kept a…
Be Unapologetically Impatient: Disability + Parenting • Christina Cipriano, PhD
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST E26 — When your child needs support now, “just wait” isn’t good enough. Chris Cipriano, mom and developmental psychologist, helps parents of children with disabilities…
The Necessary Untethering: Learning to Let Go as Our Children Grow Up
In the past two weeks, William turned 18, applied for his first credit card, and registered for a language immersion program in Spain that starts in January. (He’s doing a…
