Special needs Archives - Family Pathways Coaching

August 12, 2026

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Back-to-School: Make it Familiar to Reduce Stress

It’s August, and my friends with elementary-age kids are deep into planning after-school activities. These friends are part of a generation former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy was hoping to reach in his “Advisory on the Mental Health & Well Being of Parents.” In his 2024 report for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Murthy warned that parental stress is increasing, partly as a result of parents’ perceptions that in order for kids to succeed they need to have hobbies and participate in enrichment programs … all the time. And of course it’s mom and dad’s responsibility to get them there, cheer them on, and keep them going. If these conditions are increasing the stress of the general parental population, what is happening to parents of neurodiverse kids?

August 7, 2026

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Back-to-School: Make it Familiar to Reduce Stress

When my boys were young, July and August were filled with summer camp and family vacation time. There were hikes and swimming and s’mores for everyone. And yet, in the back of my mind, I was always considering September’s return to school. While summer may still be in full swing, parents of neurodiverse kids may already be worrying about how they can help their children start the year on a positive note, especially if they have struggled in the past. One point for parents to remember: Every new school year begins as a clean slate. It’s all brand new for our kids, but that means it’s also unfamiliar. The more you can help your child reduce uncertainty, the less stressful that first day will be.

July 30, 2026

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Autistic Burnout: When Your Child Suddenly Can’t Cope

I learned about something new this week: autistic burnout. My son sat me down for a heart-to-heart the other day, and he explained this condition that can affect people on the autistic spectrum. Autistic burnout is a state of extreme physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion brought on by intense stress, and it can immobilize a person.

July 24, 2026

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Oh Brother! How Siblings Engage

Earlier this month, my four sons gathered for a Brothers Bachelor Party. To celebrate an upcoming marriage, they barbequed steak, swam in the lake, binge-watched a favorite show, and enjoyed each other’s company. It’s a great image, and yet it’s not always how things have been between the four of them. There were stretches of frustration, misunderstanding, teasing, and jealousy. To be clear, all of those disagreements came amidst a lot of connection and camaraderie, and yet the pain that comes from sibling rivalry can be difficult to put in the past.

June 24, 2026

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Do We Need the DoE?

A little over a year ago, I wrote about President Donald Trump’s executive order that moved special education services and protections from the Department of Education (DoE) to the Health and Human Services Department (HHS). Last week, on June 16, 2026, the Trump administration began the formal restructuring of the federal DoE, specifically moving civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department and special education oversight to HHS. For families whose children are protected by congressionally mandated civil rights and who rely on special educational services, the question arises: How will these changes affect our children?

June 8, 2026

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Changed Expectations Can Still Be Great Expectations

A few weeks ago we had the distinct pleasure of watching our 28-year-old son receive his master’s degree diploma, mugging happily for the university’s Jumbotron and giving a thumbs up and wide grin as he walked across the stage to shake hands and accept his conferment. This moment was a big one – for him and for my husband and me – and I shed a few tears of pride as I thought of his long journey.

April 15, 2026

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I’m Only as Happy as My Least Happy Child…

“I’m only as happy as my least happy child.” I have heard parents recite this phrase for decades. I know why they say it, I know the pain that elicits this reaction, and I still push back on it every time.

April 8, 2026

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Failure to Launch: Young Adults Who Struggle

I speak with friends, acquaintances, and clients frequently about how painful it is to watch their 20-something children flounder post high school or college. These young adults are capable of living independently but they don’t; they are intelligent but can’t hold a job. Parents wonder and worry if they have enabled this behavior, if their child is lazy or unwilling to work. And most importantly, how they can support their child in a healthy way.

March 25, 2026

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Twice-Exceptional: An Interview with Heather Goldman, PhD.

There is some confusion in the neurodiverse community about the 2e (twice-exceptional) designation. I have heard it incorrectly used to describe co-occurring conditions, and I have seen those who are 2e misunderstood as either geniuses who shouldn’t need any support or learning disabled so unable to handle the rigors of gifted classes.