Special needs Archives - Family Pathways Coaching

December 9, 2025

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Family Connections: When the Ties Don’t Bind

It’s December, which means every channel is airing ads depicting families reconnecting, friends embracing, and strangers sharing joyful interaction. But what happens if our own experiences don’t match the scenes being thrown at us? What if the noise of holiday celebration is distressing to our neurodivergent children? Or the idea of parties – even among our closest people – stir up anxiety rather than pleasure? If we approach the holiday season thoughtfully, with appreciation for our kids’ different needs, we can enjoy this time of year and help our family and friends do so, as well. Read on for tips to help prepare children of all ages, extended family, and yourselves for a season focused on patience, acceptance, and hopefully a little fun.

November 18, 2025

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ADHD 2025 International Convention

This past week I had the pleasure of joining a multitude of ADHD coaches, therapists, educators, and doctors, as well as individuals who have ADHD and/or care for people with ADHD, at the 2025 ADHD International Convention in Kansas City, MO. I left the three-day event with respect for those among us who process the world differently and a renewed commitment to supporting parents who are raising neurodivergent children. As I listened to speakers, participated in workshops, and met creative, empathic practitioners and parents, I was both validated by experiences from my own family journey and introduced to new perspectives and avenues to support this community.

November 4, 2025

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From Stigma to Strength

When one of my sons was a preteen, we met with the director of a weekend program to see if he would match with the group. This meeting took place around the same time the world was debating whether vaccines caused autism, and my son surprised me by raising the topic. He told the program director he was offended by the conjecture that vaccines induce autism for two reasons. First, as a scientist, he was bothered that people confused causation and correlation. Second, as an autistic person, he was hurt that some parents would choose to risk their children contracting a potentially deadly disease like measles over ending up like him.

October 28, 2025

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Guiding Without Grabbing: How to Support Without Taking Over

Parents, can you relate: It’s homework time. The clock is ticking, and your child is stuck. They don’t know how to complete an assignment (or study for a test or apply for a job). You want to help, so – with the best intentions – you offer suggestions, reminders, and little nuggets of wisdom, all meant to provide support for your struggling child. But rather than delivering relief and momentum, your efforts yield only anger, resentment, and obstinate refusals.

October 21, 2025

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ADHD Parents Parenting ADHD Kids

In 2007, my sons and I were featured in a television news segment about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its genetic link. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) had just published a “Science Update” regarding a gene variant found in ADHD teens, and a news outlet thought a family with four ADHD sons would put a human face on the report that emphasized ADHD’s hereditability. We all thought the report was pretty funny: My husband has ADHD and all of his sons have been diagnosed with ADHD. We had little doubt that genetics was at play in our family. If you’re a parent with ADHD, read on for some simple systems all parents – especially those with ADHD -- can implement for easy and effective parenting.

October 14, 2025

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ADHD

October: ADHD Awareness Month

One afternoon, when my oldest son was in the fourth grade, he came bounding through the door after school and announced through panting breath: “I have ADHD!” Yes, indeed you do, I told him, but a little context please! It turned out, my son’s class was learning about “differences.” What are the differences we can see in people, and what are the hidden differences we can’t see? When his teacher talked about ADHD (Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder), my son related to everything she described. He wasn’t ashamed, but rather empowered. It all made sense why he struggled to maintain focus on tasks that bored him but could delve in deep and for long, uninterrupted stretches on the subjects that fascinated him. He understood why it was hard for him to curb his impulses, and why he always needed something in his hands in order to stay focused in school.

October 7, 2025

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Autism

The Facts About Autism & Tylenol

On Sept. 22, 2025, President Donald Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. held a press conference to discuss their opinions about pregnant women using Tylenol. If I were generous, I would say the president’s outlook was slanted for political gain: It’s on-brand for him to say this issue is more evidence that he’s the truth teller, and the experts can’t be trusted. But I can’t be charitable here. That September announcement was irresponsible at best, dangerous at worst.

September 30, 2025

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When Mom & Dad Disagree: Parenting Neurodiverse Kids with Unity

My husband and I have been married for 32 years. We have raised four sons. All four of our sons fall under that great big umbrella called “neurodiversity,” so we have seen our fair share of discord! The key isn’t that we always agree on how to deal with challenges, but rather that we are able to navigate our own differences of opinion with respect and care. Unfortunately for one of our sons, we learned the hard way what happens to our children when parents aren’t able to work collaboratively to address a child’s problem. If your family is struggling because mom and dad have drastically different opinions about how to nurture your neurodiverse children, read on for important tips to help you bridge the gap and support your children along the way.

August 26, 2025

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Learning Differences

Does My Child Have a Learning Disability?

By the time my youngest child was in preschool, it was evident he was struggling to recognize letters and link sounds to words. Two of his older brothers had already been diagnosed with learning differences, so the red flags were clear to me: Letters had no meaning to him and no amount of time with flashcards were making them any more identifiable. By elementary school, even though he could articulate thoughts and make connections verbally, reading and writing continued to elude him. By age 6 he was formally diagnosed with dyslexia, along with ADHD, and began working with specialists to learn to read and write. It was a long journey, but today he is a huge fan of fantasy fiction, with books stacked across his room. If you are worried about your child’s academic performance, read on for some typical signs to look for in LD students.