Developmental Differences
We see you, parents of kids with special needs. Yours is not an easy road, but NPN has many resources to help you along, whether you’ve just received a diagnosis or you’re looking for further supports for your older child.
Our Developmental Differences Parent Support Group has been making parents and caregivers feel less alone for nearly 10 years. The group meets the third Wednesday of every month—see the NPN calendar to RSVP for the next meeting.
Also celebrating its 10th birthday, the annual Developmental Differences Resource Fair brings together therapy providers, schools and fun activities for kids with special needs. And our library of videos on developmental differences offers tips and strategies on everything from potty training to IEPs.
The best part: All of our developmental differences resources are free to members and non-members alike.
👉 New! Use our Developmental Differences Resource Directory to find doctors, schools, therapy providers and more.
Providers: Click here to participate in our Developmental Differences Resource Program.
Discussions
My son will be starting high school next year (suburbs, public). We just received a notice that there will be a meeting for parents of incoming freshmen with IEPs. I am feeling a little put off by this, but maybe I am overreacting? I feel like my child's IEP status is private and between...
Our 4 year old was recently diagnosed with ADHD and provisional diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (through a full neuropsych assessment). Our neuropsych report including a few parent coaching resources, including “Alternative Teaching” (https://www.alternativeteaching.org) ...
This is a vent as well. I am at my breaking point and looking for any advice if this has happened to someone if their kid has a disability or not. My 11 year old son, with moderate ADHD, along with multiple LD’s and anxiety, would like to quit his travel basketball team midway through the season...
Our 9-year old was diagnosed with ADHD at age 7. Our second child who will be 7 soon is starting to exhibit some characteristics that have us wondering if he may also have ADHD. They have completely different personalities and presentations- oldest is more impulsive and fidgety and medication has ...
The thread about asking for a reduced workload in a AP classes got me thinking…..When do accommodations stop? High school? College? Grad school? In the workforce? Are accommodations realistic if they continue after elementary/middle school? Maybe a kid who is not great at/cannot focus in certain cla...
More Articles related to this topic
NPN is known for helping families find childcare, research schools, navigate developmental differences, and get parent-to-parent advice. Helping families navigate developmental differences is one part of our mission that is especially meaningful to me and the rest of the staff team. NPN’...
Traveling with children can be fun, exciting and challenging and traveling with a child with a special needs child adds a whole new dynamic. I’m a mom of three: I have one 3 year old son and 5 year old boy/girl twins and my oldest son, Owen, has autism. To get ready for a trip, whether that be an ou...
It was an early Sunday morning in March 2012. I did not get much sleep the night before, because I was 4 months pregnant with our second child, and our first child, Luke, had just received a diagnosis of autism and epilepsy. To say that I was stressed would be an understatement. Related: Your ...
As a pediatric physical therapist, something I hear quite often in new assessments with families is that they "knew something wasn't quite right and had questions on it, but were told to wait and see if it was still a problem" at their next pediatrician visit. Many times, things do work themselves o...
As a parent of a special needs child, I look forward to the periods of platitude. Every developmental stage is an uphill climb that seems to take forever. So when my child hits a plateau and can thrive in an age-appropriate developmental stage, I relish in the peace that comes with it. I have learne...
