Welcome back to The Parenting Cipher, a space created for parents who are raising children with disabilities, navigating the world of IEPs, 504 plans, emotional regulation, and everything in between. If you’re new here, we’re all about helping parents of color advocate confidently for their children — decoding the complex language of education systems and […]
Back-to-school success for neurodiverse kids starts before day one. I’ll never forget standing in my son’s new classroom three years ago, watching him scan the room with wide eyes. He clutched his favorite Ipad and whispered, “Do you think my teacher will remember I need quiet time?” That moment crystallized what back-to-school success for neurodiverse […]
Every new teacher in special education carries a story about the one mistake that shaped their career. Mine was painful but transformative. My Rookie Mistake in Special Education wasn’t about lacking knowledge—it was about misapplying it. I walked into the classroom determined to “fix” academic gaps with scaffolds and modifications, while overlooking the need to […]
Introduction Every parent wants to see their child succeed in school and beyond, but here’s the challenge: kids don’t all learn the same way. Some grasp concepts quickly when they hear them explained, others need to see them mapped out, and still others won’t fully understand until they’ve tried it with their own hands. That’s […]
Parents raising neurodivergent children know that traditional classrooms often don’t address their child’s unique learning needs. That’s where e-learning steps in. With the rise of free digital education platforms and interactive online learning tools, children can now access personalized learning that works with their strengths instead of against them. Let’s break down the benefits, tools, […]
Why Does It Matter? When a child qualifies for special education, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) is more than just a document; it’s a legal promise. Schools are bound to provide the services agreed upon in that IEP. Yet, many parents eventually face a painful reality: IEP services are not being delivered. This isn’t just […]
The conversation around neurodiversity has grown in recent years, yet one area still widely misunderstood is the overlap of ADHD and Asutism in women. While ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) are often viewed as separate conditions, many women live with traits of both. This dual experience is sometimes referred to […]
When I watched Sinners, I wasn’t expecting a moment that felt deeply personal. But when Smoke said: “Numbers should always be in a conversation,” I froze the screen. To most, it might have felt like a quirky aside. But as a mom of neurodivergent kids—and someone who speaks up about Black neurodivergence and dyscalculia—that line […]
