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Questions Every Parent Should Ask Before Choosing a School for a Child with Special Needs: A Q/A with Kate O'Connell

Questions Every Parent Should Ask Before Choosing a School for a Child with Special Needs: A Q/A with Kate O'Connell

Choosing the right school for a child with special needs takes more than a campus tour. Veteran educator Kate O'Connell shares the questions that reveal how a school truly supports inclusion, from how teachers are backed by leadership to whether outside providers like ABA therapists are welcome during the school day. In this wide-ranging conversation, they also cover co-teaching, masking in girls with ADHD, and why planning for the "average" student leaves everyone behind.

8 min read

What a New Pregnancy Medication Study Means for Families Navigating Autism

A major study published in Molecular Psychiatry found that certain common medications taken during pregnancy, particularly in combination, are associated with higher rates of autism diagnosis in children. The drugs in question affect the body's cholesterol-making pathway, a system researchers believe plays a key role in fetal brain development. Here is what the data showed, what it does not prove, and what it means for families in the special needs community.

5 min read

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57 total articles
Where is there room for improvement in the ABA industry? A sit-down with Meaghan Timko

Where is there room for improvement in the ABA industry? A sit-down with Meaghan Timko

Meaghan Timko, COO of Gradual Behavioral Health, has worked in ABA since 2003 and has a clear-eyed view of where the industry stands today. In this conversation, she breaks down how insurance reimbursement structures have created misaligned incentives, what families should watch for when evaluating a provider, and why the recent wave of industry scrutiny may ultimately strengthen the field. Her advice is direct: ask hard questions, expect clear answers, and trust your instincts when something feels off.

8 min read
Coaching Organizational Skills To ADHD Children

Coaching Organizational Skills To ADHD Children

Learn practical strategies from child psychologist Dr. Steven Richfield to coach organizational skills in ADHD children. Overcome forgotten homework, lost supplies, and poor planning with simple self-check techniques and a 'personal navigational system' for better school success and self-esteem.

2 min read

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Uta Frith On Autism: Is It Time To Rethink the Spectrum?
Uta Frith Autism
Autism Spectrum
Autism News
+1 more

Uta Frith On Autism: Is It Time To Rethink the Spectrum?

Parents searching Uta Frith Autism want clarity on her bold claim: the spectrum is too wide. She urges subtypes over one label. This guide breaks down her views with actionable steps for your child's support.

13 min read
Schools for Kids with Autism
autism schools
special needs education
schools for autistic children
+2 more

Schools for Kids with Autism

Parents seeking schools for kids with autism need options with small classes, integrated therapies, and individualized support. SpecialNeedsUSA.com makes it easy to find these by state.

13 min read
ABA Therapy Cost 2026: Parent Guide
ABA therapy cost
ABA therapy prices 2026
autism therapy insurance
+2 more

ABA Therapy Cost 2026: Parent Guide

Parents searching for ABA therapy cost find $120-$150 hourly averages, $62K-$250K yearly without coverage. This guide breaks down state prices, insurance steps, and funding to start therapy affordably.

2 min read
Stimming in Autism: What Parents Need to Know
Stimming
Autism Stimming
ABA Therapy Stimming

Stimming in Autism: What Parents Need to Know

Stimming in Autism: What Parents Need to Know Stimming can be one of the most visible and confusing parts of autism for families. This article is meant to help...

8 min read
7 Autism Books Every Parent and Educator Should Read
Autism Books
Books for Parents of Autistic children
autism resources
+3 more

7 Autism Books Every Parent and Educator Should Read

Parents and educators need autism books that mix real insight with steps they can use right away. These 7 stand out for offering history, inner views, behavior strategies, and more to help kids thrive at home and school.

15 min read
How Insurance Coverage for ABA Therapy Works in Florida
ABA Tampa
Tampa ABA Insurance
Blue Cross Blue Shield ABA

How Insurance Coverage for ABA Therapy Works in Florida

Finding ABA therapy in Tampa can feel overwhelming, but the biggest hurdle for most families isn't finding a provider; it's figuring out if their insurance will...

4 min read
10 Highly Regarded ABA Therapy Centers in Georgia
Georgia ABA
BCBA Georgia
Georgia Autism
+2 more

10 Highly Regarded ABA Therapy Centers in Georgia

10 Highly Regarded ABA Therapy Centers in Georgia (Atlanta and Beyond) Looking for ABA therapy in Georgia? Explore 10 well-known ABA therapy providers serving A...

3 min read
2026 Special Education Law Guide
special education laws
IDEA
laws for aba centers
+3 more

2026 Special Education Law Guide

2025 and 2026 updates to special education law and school accommodation guidelines—including for students with ADHD. January 2026 policy and law changes affecting schools and clinics.

13 min read
South Florida Special Needs Education Trends
Special Needs
South Florida
Autism

South Florida Special Needs Education Trends

South Florida is seeing a quiet but significant shift in the educational needs of its students, and families are feeling it firsthand. In Broward County alone,...

3 min read
Top ABA and BCBA Providers in Southern California
ABA
BCBA
Southern California

Top ABA and BCBA Providers in Southern California

Southern California has one of the largest and most diverse concentrations of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and ABA providers in the United States....

3 min read
Top ABA Therapy Centers in Florida 2026
ABA Florida
ABA
BCBA

Top ABA Therapy Centers in Florida 2026

Top ABA Therapy Centers in Florida Koala ABA & Learning CentersKoala ABA & Learning Centers are highly regarded for their early intervention expertise and compr...

3 min read
15 Famous Dyslexic People
dyslexia
famous dyslexics
learning disabilities
+3 more

15 Famous Dyslexic People

Parents often search for '15 famous dyslexic people' to show kids dyslexia won't hold them back. This guide lists 15 stars like Branson and Einstein, with parent takeaways on support strategies, schools, and therapies.

12 min read
Certificate in Special Needs Education: Options for Aspiring Educators and Parent Guidance
special education certification
special needs teacher training
educator certification options
+4 more

Certificate in Special Needs Education: Options for Aspiring Educators and Parent Guidance

Certified special needs educators bring skills in IEPs, behavior plans, and inclusive teaching that directly help kids with autism, ADHD, or learning disabilities. Parents learn top U.S. programs, verification steps, and questions to ask schools for better outcomes.

14 min read
Curriculum for Special Needs Education
Curriculum for Special Needs Education
SPED

Curriculum for Special Needs Education

Curriculum for Special Needs Education Families often want to know what a special needs curriculum look like, and how it may be different from a general educati...

3 min read
Dyslexia Trends in the United States
Dyslexia
State Testing
Dyslexia by region
+1 more

Dyslexia Trends in the United States

Dyslexia Trends in the United States: State Rates, Screening Laws, and Links to Giftedness Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, affecting re...

4 min read
ADHD and Gender - Separating Myth From Fact
ADHD
ADHD And Gender
Gender differences
+1 more

ADHD and Gender - Separating Myth From Fact

Understanding ADHD and Gender: What Educators Need to Know in 2025 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects millions of children across the U.S.,...

3 min read
The Changing Landscape of Special Needs in America (2026)
special needs 2025
autism trends
IDEA changes
+4 more

The Changing Landscape of Special Needs in America (2026)

America's special needs landscape in 2026 features record autism diagnoses, policy shifts under new federal leadership, and growing service demands. Over 7.5 million kids rely on IDEA, yet enforcement risks loom. Parents can navigate this by pursuing early screening, leveraging insurance for ABA therapy, advocating in IEP meetings, and exploring regional hotspots like Northern Virginia and South Florida. This pillar guide offers clear trends, real parent scenarios, and actionable steps.

5 min read
MTSS - A Guide for Parents
MTSS
Multi-tiered systems of support

MTSS - A Guide for Parents

Understanding MTSS: A Parent’s Guide Schools today use different systems to make sure every student receives the right kind of support. One of the most common i...

3 min read
virtual learning
special needs education
online therapy
+5 more

Embracing Virtual Learning: A New Era in Special Needs Education

Virtual learning revolutionizes special needs education by delivering flexible, individualized instruction that aligns with each child's pace and strengths. Parents observe heightened engagement, reduced stress, and measurable progress in areas like focus and skill retention. This comprehensive guide details key advantages, common hurdles with solutions, essential tools, actionable steps for families, emerging trends, and answers to frequent questions.

15 min read
Assistive Language Learning Software: Opening Doors for Children with Autism and Learning Disabilities
Assistive Technology
Learning Software

Assistive Language Learning Software: Opening Doors for Children with Autism and Learning Disabilities

Assistive language learning software is transforming how children with autism, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities build communication and reading skills. From AI-powered reading coaches to AAC apps, adaptive dyslexia tools, and emerging AR/VR language platforms, these technologies create personalized, multi-sensory pathways that reduce frustration and open new opportunities for learning at school and home.

3 min read
Practical Tips for Kids with ADHD
ADHD
Parenting Tips
Reading with ADHD
+3 more

Practical Tips for Kids with ADHD

Parents of kids with ADHD can use these targeted strategies at home, from visual routines and smart rewards to reading techniques and school collaboration, to foster focus, confidence, and smoother days.

14 min read
Flexible Scheduling Can Be Beneficial For Some Students
Flexible Schedules
School Wellbeing
Independent Learners
+3 more

Flexible Scheduling Can Be Beneficial For Some Students

Flexible scheduling moves beyond rigid school days to support special needs students' unique rhythms. Parents see gains in mental health, independence, and engagement when kids control their learning pace. This guide offers practical steps to explore these options.

13 min read

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