College Accommodations: What Every Parent Needs to Know

By Crystal Ladwig, Ph. D. | January 2, 2026 | Special Needs
The time has finally come: senior year. Excitement builds as your young adult joins in all the senior festivities. But it also comes with significant stress. What’s next? Some students with disabilities will transition to a job, supported employment, vocational training or other activities that align with their independent living skills. Many others will attend

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Homeschool evaluation

Tailoring Your Child’s Educational Assessments

By Crystal Ladwig, Ph. D. | April 22, 2025 | Learn , Special Needs
It sometimes comes as a shock to parents that they are encouraged to be actively involved in the assessment and evaluation of children with disabilities. After all, most parents aren’t trained to administer or interpret these tests. Yet parents play a critical role in the assessment process, and your involvement will benefit both you and

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Stress Free Holiday

Stress Free Holiday

By Crystal Ladwig, Ph. D. | December 15, 2024 | Articles , Special Needs
Most people think of stress as a bad thing — those physical and mental sensations that occur when we’re too busy, overwhelmed or can’t handle one more thing. The truth is that many things cause stress, and not all of them are bad. Stress is a physiological reaction to an environmental condition. Weddings, births and

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Sensory-Friendly Birthday Parties

By Crystal Ladwig, Ph. D. | February 28, 2023 | Special Needs
A sensory-friendly birthday party is one that is designed to accommodate individuals who may be oversensitive to certain stimuli, such as loud noises, bright lights or strong smells. These parties can be an excellent option for children with autism or other sensory processing disorders, as well as for those who simply prefer a more low-key

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What You Need To Know About the 504 and IEP

By Crystal Ladwig, Ph. D. | September 13, 2022 | Special Needs
IEP, 504, ESE, SLP, OT, PT, oh my! Special education is so full of acronyms that we can have an entire conversation that sounds like another language. It can be overwhelming for those new to special education, whether they’re parents, caregivers, students or educators. The best educators avoid using too many acronyms and explain the

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