Special needs Archives - Family Pathways Coaching

November 12, 2026

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Stigma & Shame: Helping Our Kids See Their Worth

One of my sons was 12 years old when we met with the director of a weekend program we were considering joining. This conversation was the first time I heard my son talk about himself as the victim of stigma, and I was both surprised and impressed with his ability to articulate his irritation. My son was angered on two levels. As a budding scientist, he was offended by parents who didn’t understand the difference between causation and correlation. On a more personal level, he was hurt by parents so afraid of their children developing autism that they would rather ignore proven science and risk contracting measles than ending up like him.

October 28, 2026

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Halloween: Finding the Fun, Avoiding the Frenzy

Halloween was a favorite holiday for my boys. When they were very young, their costumes led to imaginative play all year long. But that didn’t mean the holiday wasn’t exhausting, from the craziness of trick-or-treating to the sugar rush that followed. Kids can be overwhelmed by the commotion and may not want to participate in parties or wear uncomfortable costumes. Or they may struggle to strike a balance between playful pranks and chaos.

September 9, 2026

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Executive Functioning: The Skills Behind Success

When my boys were young, I remember sitting in a lecture hall in the public high school listening to a guidance counselor talk about executive functioning skills… Huh? I didn’t know what that meant, let alone how my boys were being affected by any deficits. All these years later, I understand the significance of these skills in my boys’ ability (or inability) to prioritize, organize, and manage their work and life.

August 27, 2026

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Beyond the Grade: Building Lifelong Learners

What does it mean when your child refuses to read a book, complains about every math problem or science lab? When they are oppositional to anything academic at all? What looks like defiance may actually be your child’s way of sending you a message: This is hard, and I don’t feel successful.

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?