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An IEP Checklist Before the School Year Starts
Read More…: An IEP Checklist Before the School Year StartsThe backpack may be ready while the IEP still describes last spring’s child. This practical checklist helps parents review goals, services, accommodations, participation rights, and the first thirty school days.
Supporting the Siblings of Autistic Children
Read More…: Supporting the Siblings of Autistic ChildrenThe quieter child should not have to earn attention by being easy. This researched guide looks at honest feelings, one-on-one time, privacy, safety, and keeping siblings out of a caregiving role.
Wandering and Elopement: Building a Safer Home and Community Plan
Read More…: Wandering and Elopement: Building a Safer Home and Community PlanWandering can happen during one ordinary open-door moment. Build layers for prevention, identification, water safety, school handoffs, and a fast emergency response.
Getting a Second Opinion During Long Evaluation Waitlists
Read More…: Getting a Second Opinion During Long Evaluation WaitlistsWhen an evaluation report does not sound like the child you know, another opinion may help. Use the wait to organize records, understand school rights, and choose the next evaluator carefully.
Stimming Isn’t a Problem to Fix
Read More…: Stimming Isn’t a Problem to FixA child’s rocking, hand movements, humming, or pacing may be doing an important job. Start with safety and curiosity before asking an autistic child to stop stimming.
When It’s Not “Just Autism”: ADHD, Anxiety, and GI Issues
Read More…: When It’s Not “Just Autism”: ADHD, Anxiety, and GI IssuesA practical parent guide to noticing when attention, anxiety, sleep, pain, or gastrointestinal symptoms may need their own evaluation alongside autism.
Planning Ahead: What I Learned About ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts for My Son’s Future
Read More…: Planning Ahead: What I Learned About ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts for My Son’s FutureThere’s a question I’ve spent too many nights turning over: what actually happens to my son if my husband and I aren’t here one day. Here’s what I found when I finally sat down and researched ABLE accounts and special needs trusts, plus how to find the right options in your own state.
Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports
Read More…: Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and SupportsA book review by Caren S. Kelley Coleman’s book is a must-read for parents of disabled children. It’s a comprehensive guide that provides practical advice on how to navigate the complex medical, educational, and social service systems that are essential to a child’s success. The book covers a wide range of topics, including diagnosis, working with your medical team, insurance,…
Recent Posts
Person-First vs. Identity-First Language: What Parents Should Know
Surviving Thanksgiving and the Holidays with a Sensory-Sensitive Child
Meltdown vs. Tantrum: How Parents Can Tell the Difference
New Autism Research, Translated: What 2026 Studies Actually Mean for Parents
An IEP Checklist Before the School Year Starts
The Services Cliff: What Parents Should Understand Before High School Ends
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About Me
I am Caren – I’ve been wanting to start a blog because I feel the need to share my journey, struggles, and victories with others. When it comes to describing myself, I wear many hats: wife, keeper of my house, corporate world employee, friend, sister, and daughter. But above all, I identify most strongly with being called “Mama.” In this space, I’ll be focusing on the role of motherhood, which has taken me on the wildest roller-coaster ride of my life.