Standard back-to-school lists are built for a typical student and if you're raising a neurodivergent child, they leave out most of what actually gets your kid through the day. In this episode, Genie breaks down the sensory, adaptive, and academic tools that belong on your list, what schools are legally required to provide under IDEA […]
Are you worried your child might forget crucial academic skills during the summer break? Wondering how to keep them engaged, confident, and ready for the new school year — without turning your home into a classroom? In this episode of The Parenting Cipher, Pam Roggeman, Dean of the College of Education at the University of […]
Did your child's IEP team say no to Extended School Year (ESY) services this summer — or was the “assistive tech” box never checked at all? In this episode, The Parenting Cipher breaks down why an ESY denial isn't the end of the conversation, how to recognize if your child needs assistive technology, and […]
Are you planning a summer adventure to an amusement park but worried about how to make the experience accessible and enjoyable for your child with disabilities? This episode dives deep into the essential tools, systems, and mindsets families need to know before heading out for summer fun—so you can spend more time making memories and […]
Summer learning loss is real, and if you are parenting a child with ADHD, autism, or dyslexia, you have probably already watched it happen. The reading fluency that took all year to build. The focus strategies that finally clicked in April. Gone within a few weeks of no school. It is not your child regressing […]
Summer break sounds like a dream until you actually live it with a child who has sensory disorder challenges. No school schedule. No routine. Just long, hot, unstructured days stretching out in front of you both. If you are already dreading the meltdowns and the constant "what do I do now" energy, you are not […]
Sending your kid off to summer camp is a big moment, and if you're parenting a neurodiverse kid at summer camp for the first time, your nerves are probably doing somersaults right now. That's normal. You're not overreacting, and you're not "that mom." You're just a parent who knows her child better than anyone in […]
If your child seems to fall apart over a small comment, a missed invitation, or a teacher's correction, you are not imagining it, and you are not alone. Many parents raising a child with ADHD notice the same pattern: a small moment of disappointment turns into a big, overwhelming reaction. This emotional intensity often has […]
