What Information Do Parents Wish They Had Received Before Their Child’s First Special Education Meeting? Written by Chotimanee Guandique ParentsOfBraveHearts | Parent Education & Family Resources Why I Chose to Write About This Topic As a parent, I have attended and requested school meetings to discuss my child’s educational needs. I remember that, during my first educational meeting, I had many questions about its purpose, what would happen, and how I could prepare. English

Parents of Brave Hearts Case Study Written by Chotimanee Guandique Founder & Family Resource Connector A New School, New Teachers, New Staff and a Child Still Learning to Communicate Imagine a child who is autistic and non-speaking. The child recently started at a new school with new teachers, new staff, a new classroom, new routines, and new expectations. About a month into the school year, a behavior consultant or teacher tells the parents: “Your child is aggressive, and we

Education Resource A Parent’s Guide to SLP, CCC-SLP, CF, SLPA, SLP Students, and New York State School Credentials Written by Chotimanee Guandique Founder & Family Resource Connector | ParentsOfBraveHearts Why I Created This Resource As a parent, you may hear the words speech therapist, speech-language pathologist, SLP, CCC-SLP, Clinical Fellow, or SLPA and wonder: What do all these titles mean? You may also wonder: Who is qualified to provide speech therapy? Is an SLP the sa

When a child has a seizure disorder, neurological condition, or other health-related needs, parents and caregivers may receive reports about unusual movements, staring episodes, changes in awareness, falls, behaviors, or other events. In those moments, it can be difficult to know exactly what happened especially when you were not there to see it yourself. One helpful tool is a Seizure & Health Observation Log. The purpose of this log is not to diagnose what happened. Instead,

A ParentsOfBraveHearts Case Study: Why Communication, Documentation, and Seizure Education Matter This case study is based on a parent’s experience and is shared for educational purposes. It is not intended to diagnose a seizure or determine whether a particular school observation was medically a seizure. As parents, receiving a phone call from your child’s school can be stressful. But receiving a call from a school nurse saying that your child may have had multiple seizures

🎒 Back-to-School: What Parents Should Prepare For By Parents of Brave Hearts Empowering Parents. Connecting Families. Supporting Every Child. The start of a new school year can bring excitement, but it can also bring uncertainty, especially when children are adjusting to new teachers, classrooms, routines, transportation, and expectations. Back-to-school preparation is about more than buying school supplies. A little preparation at home can help make the transition smoother

A New School. New Teachers. New Paraprofessionals. A Whole New Beginning. For many children, the first days of a new school year can mean excitement. But for a child with special needs, a new school year can also mean a lot of uncertainty. Imagine walking into a building where: The classroom looks different. The teacher’s voice is unfamiliar. The daily schedule has changed. New adults are asking questions. New classmates are watching. Familiar routines may no longer feel fami

💛 Introduction At Parents of Brave Hearts, our mission is to help families navigate special education with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Understanding the IEP evaluation process is one of the most important steps in advocating for your child’s educational needs. This guide explains what an IEP evaluation is, when it’s needed, how to request one, and what happens afterward, rewritten in parent‑friendly language while grounded in the research provided by Francesca Korba

Individualized Education Program (IEP) An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written legal document developed for students with disabilities who are eligible to receive special education services. The IEP outlines a student's present levels of performance, annual goals, accommodations, modifications, related services, and specialized instruction needed to support meaningful educational progress. The IEP is developed, reviewed, and revised by the Committee on Special