Autism + ADHD: the most common combination and what it changes in the IEP
Many autistic children also have ADHD. The combination changes what your child needs in the IEP. Here's what schools usually miss.
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Drawn from eight years of teaching IEPs from the school side, and a few more years of writing them from the parent side.
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Special education advocate vs attorney: which one does your family actually need?
Most IEP fights don't need a lawyer. Here's a decision framework for when to hire an advocate, when to escalate to an attorney, and when to do both.
Read article → Newly Diagnosed
Mess-Free Mornings: the routine framework that ended the chaos at our house
The three-pillar framework Merrie teaches for ending morning chaos in autism families: consistency, optional breakfast, no screens.
Read article → IEP
IEP vs. 504 Plan: which one does my child actually need?
The real difference between IEPs and 504 plans, when Florida schools push the wrong one, and how to know what your child qualifies for.
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How to write a request for an IEP evaluation in Florida (with the exact wording)
The written request triggers Florida's 60-day legal clock. The exact language, who to send it to, and what to do if they stall.
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What to do if your school refuses to evaluate your child for an IEP
Schools can refuse to evaluate, but only in writing. How to respond in a way that often gets the decision reversed in Florida.
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Prior Written Notice (PWN): the IEP document parents almost never ask for
PWN is the IDEA-required paper trail your school must give you for every proposed or refused IEP change. Why it matters.
Read article → Newly Diagnosed
Just diagnosed with autism in Florida. Now what?
A day-by-day plan for the first 30 days after an autism diagnosis in Florida: what to request, what to read, what can wait.
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"Will be considered": the four-word IEP red flag every parent should know
Three words on the page determine whether your child gets a service. The language pattern Florida schools use, and how to fix it.
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How to prepare for your first IEP meeting
Twelve concrete things a former ESE teacher does before an IEP meeting, written for parents on the other side of the table.
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Specially designed instruction vs. accommodations: the difference your IEP depends on
Schools sometimes mix SDI and accommodations up, and the consequences are huge. How to tell what your child needs.
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IEP red flags every Pensacola parent should know
Eight red flags I see in Pensacola-area IEPs (vague goals, missing services, dropped accommodations) and the language to fix each.
Read article → Tutoring
How to coordinate ABA, school, and tutoring (without losing your mind)
Three teams, three sets of language, often three different goals. Here's the framework that keeps everyone working on the same child.
Read article → Newly Diagnosed
Sleep strategies for autistic children: what actually works (from a mom and ESE teacher)
Autistic children sleep less, fall asleep later, and wake more often. What's worked for our family and the families I coach.
Read article → Newly Diagnosed
Toilet training a child with autism (when nothing else has worked)
Standard pediatric toilet training advice fails most autistic children. The approach that's worked for the families I coach.
Read article → Resources
Florida's Gardiner Scholarship: how to use it for tutoring, therapy, and academic support
Gardiner (now part of FES-UA) gives Florida autism families thousands of dollars for educational services. How to spend it well.
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FES-UA Scholarship in Florida: a complete guide for autism families
Eligibility, award amounts, application timeline, eligible expenses, and the mistakes most Florida autism families make.
Read article → Resources
Pensacola autism resources: every program a family should know about
Local diagnostic centers, ABA providers, schools, support groups, and recreation programs across Pensacola and Santa Rosa County.
Read article →Get the IEP Prep Checklist.
The 12-question checklist Merrie hands every parent before their first IEP meeting. Free.