This month, we will take a closer look at one subset of neurodiversity: learning disabilities. Learning disabilities are often misunderstood in popular culture, leading to people not noticing the signs of a learning disability in a child or themselves. So this month, we will cover all sorts of learning disability topics, from what they are and common misconceptions to signs to look for, assessments, and evidence-based interventions.

This month, I want to focus on a subset of evaluations I always get questions about- ADHD evaluations. If you have concerns about your child’s attention, you might be wondering if they should have an ADHD evaluation. Or maybe your pediatrician diagnosed your child with ADHD, and you are wondering if a more robust evaluation would be helpful. This month, I will cover what ADHD is, when to consider an evaluation, the three parts of a high-quality evaluation of attention, and how to ensure your child gets a comprehensive evaluation.

One of the most common questions I get from parents is: “Should I have my child evaluated?” This can be an emotionally charged and confusing question. Maybe you are wondering if the things you notice in your child are part of typical development or if they indicate that an evaluation might be helpful. Or maybe you are considering having your child evaluated but are unsure how evaluation would benefit them and are worried there could be negative impacts.

So this month, I will tackle the question of evaluation head-on. First, I’ll cover what evaluation is (and isn’t!), then discuss reasons to have your child evaluated and what can come from it.

Let’s jump in!

Every year, I get tons of questions from parents about summer programs for neurodiverse kids and teens.

This year I put together a FREE list of options across the country. I made sure to include a wide variety of camps so you can find a great fit for your kid! The list has academic camps, traditional camps that provide support for neurodiverse kids, and camps exclusively for neurodiverse kids.

Flirting, crushes, and dating are normal and healthy parts of development for teens. Learning to navigate romantic relationships is difficult for everyone, but being neurodiverse can add an extra layer of challenge.

The good news is that we can support neurodiverse teens in developing the social and executive functioning skills that help build healthy relationships! When supporting neurodiverse teens, it is important to understand the additional challenges they may face while exploring romantic relationships. In my work, I have found that these additional challenges often fit into one of three categories.

Study skills are a variety of skills that help us process, organize, keep, and use information. Middle School is a critical time for developing study skills as students learn to juggle multiple courses and adjust to having more autonomy. Like me, you might be having thoughts of carrying your sticker-covered paper planner around all day and finding a parent to sign it each night. However, just like for adults, different study skills work better for different situations and different people. We can support study skill development for middle schoolers by exposing them to an array of study and organizational techniques. Then, most importantly, we can help them reflect on these tools and identify which ones work best for them in a variety of situations.

There are so many great apps to help us organize our lives, remember to take care of ourselves or help us calm down when we are overstimulated. Below are some of my favorites for both kids and adults.

You will find books for everyone, from toddlers to adults, in a wide variety of genres.

Our goal is that everyone can find something on this list that reflects parts of their lived experience and something that challenges them or expands their understanding.

Welcome to our ultimate neurodivergent friendly gift guide! Our recommendations include things for everyone from toddlers to adults!

School conferences can provide a lot of helpful information, but now what? How do I share that feedback with my child so that they feel supported and celebrated? Feedback can be hard to receive at any age, and as adults, we process feedback for ourselves and our children differently than they do. Many adults instantly move into problem-solving mode upon receiving feedback. When you hear your kid is struggling with a specific behavior, and because we love our kids, the immediate reaction is to solve whatever is coming up.

With conferences right around the corner, we find most parents are eager to connect with teachers, but sometimes, maximizing the short conference time is challenging. The scores shared are hard to interpret - plus they are really just one measure. How can parents make the most of conferences? Following these 4 steps can help guide you through the process.

As you likely know, though, the constant stimulation can be detrimental to our mental health. To be healthier and happier, our kids need tech-free time. Period.

One of the key benefits of free time is that it helps build regulation. Regulation refers to our ability to manage our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. When kids have unstructured time to themselves, they learn how to regulate their own behavior, practice problem-solving skills, and develop social skills. Regulation is a key component of mental health. It helps with impulse management, emotional skills, and social relationships.

How often have statements like these been heard in your household?

"I should be able to get this assignment done by the due date."

"I should be better at paying attention in class."

Or perhaps, from parent to child:

"You should be able to get this assignment done on time."

"You should pay better attention in class."

“You should make sure you have all your materials and your iPad charged before class. Why is this still happening?”

Are any of these statements similar to one’s you've found yourself (or your child) repeating?

ADHD is one of the most researched neurodevelopmental disorders. We know we have a lot of research on how it affects the brain and what sorts of experiences it creates in someone's life. Yet, professionals don't always do a great job of explaining it to parents or kids.

Think about the last vacation you took from work.

Whether it was a week off to celebrate the winter holidays with your family or a 10-day trip to Disney, when it's time to get back into the swing of things and return to your normal routine, it can be a tough pill to swallow. You may find yourself hitting snooze a few extra times in the morning or struggling to check everything off your to-do list for the first few days.

Transitions are challenging - and they become even more difficult when the transitions become more major, especially thinking about transitioning from elementary to middle or middle to high school or even high school to college.

So what causes these conflicting feelings?

Spring is in the air! The birds are chirping, the weather is warmer, and everything seems a whole lot brighter these days.

That is, until you open your email and discover you've received an email from the principal, who wants to discuss some concerns she has about your child.

It might read something like this: "Your child is smart but struggles to stay on task. They understand the content but are not performing well on tests. I want to see them reach their full potential."

As a parent, this email might send off alarm bells in your head. You might find yourself wondering, " Does the school think my child has ADHD?" or are they missing some school skills?

Whether you find yourself facing this kind of unexpected email or it comes up in a parent-teacher conference - or perhaps it's something you've just found yourself wondering on your own - know that you are not alone. Many parents worry that a lack of attention and less-than-perfect academic performance might signal an underlying issue like ADHD.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis - and in some cases, ADHD might not be at play. Regardless, there are plenty of steps you can take as a parent to help your child succeed.

Spring is in the air! The birds are chirping, the weather is warmer, and everything seems a whole lot brighter these days.

That is, until you open your email and discover you've received an email from the principal, who wants to discuss some concerns she has about your child.

It might read something like this: "Your child is smart but struggles to stay on task. They understand the content but are not performing well on tests. I want to see them reach their full potential."

As a parent, this email might send off alarm bells in your head. You might find yourself wondering, " Does the school think my child has ADHD?" or are they missing some school skills?

Whether you find yourself facing this kind of unexpected email or it comes up in a parent-teacher conference - or perhaps it's something you've just found yourself wondering on your own - know that you are not alone. Many parents worry that a lack of attention and less-than-perfect academic performance might signal an underlying issue like ADHD.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis - and in some cases, ADHD might not be at play. Regardless, there are plenty of steps you can take as a parent to help your child succeed.

Your heart is pounding out of your chest. Your body is tense. Your brain feels blank, and your face is flushed. You feel like the air conditioning needs to be turned up by about 10 degrees.

You could be experiencing anxiety, but you could also be experiencing a healthy and normal amount of stress…depending on how long it lasts and what recovery from it is like!

If your child is getting ready for a big state test, you might be familiar with these symptoms. Test anxiety is a very real phenomenon for many people, and it can be crippling, especially for kids with any level of anxiety. Take heart in the fact that you are not alone.

What do you do if your five-year-old suddenly announces that he has a crush on one of his classmates? What do you do when your teenager comes home and asks questions about exploring potential partners?

Remember that day back in middle school when you finally mustered up the courage to tell the person you were crushing on that you had feelings, and they responded with, “I just want to be friends.” You dashed home, threw yourself onto your bed, and blared “Waiting to Exhale” by Whitney Houston on your cassette player for 2 days straight. Or was that just me? Luckily, those feelings are no longer that intense, but some of us have kids who are in the thick of early love.

It is January and often seen as a time to reset, and whether or not you prescribe to setting new goals or habits, many see this month as a time to reset. Now that we are towards the end of the month, sometimes, we start the new year off strong and are still going strong! Other times we feel parts of goals or habits slipping a bit. Other times, we start the year strong and think we are on track and grooving; sometimes, we feel we are way off track. Are you in any of these situations? If so, you are not alone!

It's the end of the year, and motivation is running low.

You're not alone - this time of year is tough for everyone. Between the cold weather and the busy holiday schedule, it's tough to stay motivated.

But there are some things you can do to help yourself- and your kids- stay on track.