In May, senators introduced a bill called Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower, or the RISE Act, S.1585, which would benefit students with disabilities who are attending college (1). The RISE Act is an amendment to the Higher Education Act (HEA) (2). At present, the documentation of a disability that served students in secondary school does…
In the United States, public schools are required to pay for a variety of special education services in order to ensure that all students receive a “free and appropriate public education.” Among other things, these services may include the help of a paraprofessional, accessible transportation, occupational therapy, or even private school tuition (in cases where…
As we enter the summer months, many parents are setting out to find fun and enriching activities for their children to participate in. And what better summer activity than summer camp? Parents of children with disabilities often have difficulty finding summer camp opportunities that will cater to the needs of their child. So we decided…
The STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) defines sensory processing as “the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses” (1). SPD occurs when these sensory signals are not detected by the brain or are not matched with the correct responses. This can cause…
As the back-to-school season begins, many students are looking for scholarship opportunities. As part of our Back-to-School series, we want to highlight foundations that offer scholarships for students with disabilities. Scholarships for Students with Disabilities The 180 Medical Scholarship Program helps young adults with spinal cord injuries, transverse myelitis, spina bifida, neurogenic bladder, or an…
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a section which was written in 1938 law, permits employers to pay subminimum wages to workers who have disabilities. This section of the FLSA states that employers must apply to the Department of Labor for a waiver to do so, with the caveat that subminimum wages…
The Sesame Street theme park, Sesame Place, just won the title of the world’s first amusement park designated as a Certified Autism Center! Located just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the theme park is beloved by fans of the show everywhere. But when it partnered with The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)…
In recent years, the Texas government has been shockingly indifferent to the needs of children with disabilities. The state legislature has greatly restricted access to vital educational and medical resources, leaving thousands of parents in a quandary – to put it very mildly – over how to provide for their children. Moreover, the state government…
In 1963, a group of parents met at a Chicago, Illinois conference called “Exploration into the Problems of the Perceptually Handicapped Child.” This was before the term “learning disabilities” had been incorporated into common lexicon. It had been used in the title of a paper by Dr. Samuel Kirk, who presented at this conference, and…
Children with developmental disabilities often struggle to interact with their peers. Many experience difficulty understanding nonverbal communication such as social cues and body language. It is important to have realistic expectations for your child’s level of socialization because social interaction can induce anxiety more for some children than for others. Some questions to ask yourself…
