Dawanna has three children and lives in Cleveland.

What do you do to relax?

Spending time with friends and family.

What benefits has Connecting for Kids brought to you and your family?

Community and resources. A member of the CFK staff reached out and provided me with contact information for a few schools that could better suit my child's needs.

Which have been your favorite Connecting for Kids resources?

The events for kids and family, especially the caregiver support group. It was nice to speak to others who understand and share my experiences.

The area where I have grown the most...

Is patience. My child’s diagnosis requires patience when dealing with all that comes with this condition. Also, understanding things will improve with time.

I get embarrassed when...

My child has a meltdown in public.

The hardest thing for me to learn was...

It's ok to ask for help.

Is there anything else about your journey that you would like to share with other parents?

My child's speech and behavioral therapists have been consistent and supportive. They have played a huge role in the progress my child has made. I continue to see positive improvements in her every day.

Many school districts schedule annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 Plan reviews in the spring. This timing allows teams to review more data and helps ease transitions into the next school year. But even when you’re on great terms with your child’s team, these meetings can be stressful. Use these tips to feel prepared and advocate confidently for your child.

Know the Process

Special education is governed by federal law – that means there are steps that must happen, no matter which public school your child attends.

There are many great resources to help you learn those steps, including this podcast. In it, you’ll see how the process moves from identification to evaluation, and ultimately, to an IEP or 504 Plan. Ohio’s Evaluation Roadmap is another great resource for families.

Ask for a Draft

Having a draft of your child’s IEP or 504 Plan before the meeting can make a big difference. It’s a good idea to ask for the draft several school days ahead of time. This gives the school time to prepare it and gives you time to review it.

For more tips on working with a draft, check out this information sheet from the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities.

Prepare Your Data

Asking the team for changes to your child’s IEP or 504 Plan is easier when you have data to support your request. For example, if homework takes hours each night, you might track:

• Total time spent
• Time on task
• Amount of help you had to give
• Whether your child understood the work

Our Guide to Communicating Concerns with School gives practical examples for tracking problems and suggestions for sharing that information with your school team.

Connect with Your Parent Mentor

Many school districts have free parent mentors who can help you with special education questions. Parent mentors are not advocates, but they can review IEPs or 504 Plans, explain your rights and attend meetings with you.

Parent mentors are trained to support families and can be a helpful, neutral presence in meetings. You can find your parent mentor using the map from Ohio’s Parent Mentor Project.

Ask Us

Special education can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. With an Ask Us call or quick request, our Family Resource Specialist (FRS) team can help you find resources, understand next steps and feel more confident going into your meeting.

Anna has one child and lives in Fairview Park

What do you do to relax?

Watch TV shows and movies

What else would you like to tell us about yourself?

I am a past intervention specialist and now a stay-at-home mom to support my son’s needs and therapy schedule.

What benefits has Connecting for Kids brought to you and your family?

Free and convenient Music Therapy & More and Adapted Playgroup programs that make us feel welcomed and safe.

Which have been your favorite Connecting for Kids resources?

Music Therapy & More and Ask Us 1:1 parent resources.

My greatest lesson learned was...

To set and follow realistic, measurable goals. For example, you feel like you need to be working on therapy skills as much as possible during the day. Ask your therapists how many minutes they expect a day, and it will likely be a realistic amount of time compared to the unrealistic time you decided in your head.

The best thing about parenting a child who struggles is...

We have and will have such a strong bond. I feel like I get extra “baby phase” time with my son. He is not mobile and very snuggly. We can still go out to restaurants and enjoy ourselves.

The most difficult part of parenting a child who struggles...

How time-consuming and emotionally exhausting it is. We have extra layers on top of the typical parenting stressors. It feels unfair that simple everyday tasks like feeding, transitioning and playing take us more time, effort and practice when other kids do it all naturally without support.

Do you have any recommended resources such as blogs, websites, or books that we can share?

Any Facebook page for your specific diagnosis, local groups, equipment resale, etc. Overcome the Overwhelm for Special Needs Moms podcast. 

Is there anything else about your journey that you would like to share with other parents?

I think more education on healthcare and other sources of funding would be helpful, especially right after you get a diagnosis. I am still unsure if we are getting the coverage we need or that we could have.

Summer is a great time to get outdoors, try new activities and explore interests. But with so many choices, how can you stretch your recreation budget and still give your child a meaningful experience?

Use Family Support Funds

County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (BDDs) may offer funding to families who meet eligibility requirements. Each county has its own rules, and you’ll need to check with your County BDD. Programs in Northeast Ohio include:

• Cuyahoga
• Geauga
• Lake
• Lorain
• Medina
• Portage
• Summit

Look for Scholarships

Some programs offer scholarships to help income-eligible families with their program costs. This is just a sampling — it never hurts to ask your program provider whether financial assistance is available.

• Cleveland Metroparks (scholarship available)
• Empower Sports (financial assistance available)
• Rec2Connect (Eileen Hewitt Scholarship Fund)
• Talespinner Children’s Theater (scholarships available)
• The Fine Arts Association (scholarships available)

Check Out Free/Low-Cost Programs

Free and low-cost programs are offered at local libraries, community recreation centers and through Metroparks programs. Here are a few examples in our area:

• Empower Sports (low-cost programs)
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes Cleveland/Akron (free one-day sports camps)
• GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland (free fitness programs)
• Northeast Ohio Challenger Baseball (low-cost program)
• Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Youth Baseball Association Adapted League (free program)

Apply for Grants

Some grants allow you to use funding directly for recreation activities. Other families use grants to pay for other needs (like therapy or adapted equipment), freeing up money to spend on recreation. Our Guide to Finding Funding has dozens of grants that can help.

Ask Us

Our Family Resource Specialists are all parents too, and we know how hard it can be to juggle expenses. Think of an Ask Us call or quick request as a chance to brainstorm together and uncover options you may not have tried yet!

Efrat has five children and lives in Beachwood.

What do you do to relax?

Go to an art supplies store or walk around Target alone.

What benefits has Connecting for Kids brought to you and your family?

Finding out about grants for my family.

Which have been your favorite Connecting for Kids resources?

I enjoy seeing all the program options that are out there. That limits the amount of research I need to do on my own.

The area where I have grown the most...

Trying not compare myself to others and my kids to other kids. Knowing that I am doing my best with my kids.

What I worry about most…

I worry sometimes about what will be in the future, such as what my children will be able to do or not be able to do, what their lives will be like, but I remind myself to just keep trying to do what’s in my hands now in this moment.

How parenting a child who struggles has changed my ideas on parenting...

Parenting a child with mild CP and some health struggles, as well as children with attention issues and some less complex children, I can say my life is full and I can also say I never imagined parenting would be this challenging. The main lesson my parenting journey has taught me is that I don’t have all the answers, and am skeptical of those who claim they do. How does such a thing even exist? I’ve learned that kids are people and they come with all different personalities, temperaments, needs, challenges …. and each one requires such individual parenting and guidance to help them grow and develop. Who would proclaim with the same confidence that they are an expert at understanding and helping all kinds of people, the same way those proclaim to be parenting experts? Yes, I definitely learn parenting tips along the road from others that I implement where I see fit, but what I’ve learned the most is that each of my kids needs something else, to trust my intuition and advocate for my kids. I think parenting means trying my hardest to give each child what they need. For some kids, that’s therapies twice a week and a bunch of appointments and waiting patiently for them to reach missed milestones. It can mean explaining to others that no, your toilet training method will not work on my child. It can mean staying with a child until they fall asleep, it can mean talking to the teachers again and again… and it can change daily. It can mean picking your battles and letting certain things slide when a kid is having a rough time. Ultimately, I’ve learned that parenting means trying my hardest to support each child as an individual, in the moment, with all the tools I have in my toolbox… all while praying for God’s help that I succeed.

Do you have any recommended resources such as blogs, websites, or books that we can share?

I recommend Nikki Rotschtein, kavanaparenting.com. 

Resource fairs can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been to one before. Below, our Family Resource Specialists (FRS) team shares their favorite tips to help you make the most of your time.

Katie Krueger, Program Assistant With 70+ vendors at each fair, there is a lot to see. Before you arrive, think of one or two priorities (occupational therapists, alternative schools, etc.) and focus on those first. The resource fair directories are grouped by program or service type, so it’s easy to find what you need. Once you’ve covered your priorities, you can go back and check out other vendors to discover new programs or services.

Anna Barr, Family Resource Specialist We have some great resources on the website to help you to feel more prepared. One that many people don’t know about is our sample questions. With lists of questions for summer camps, therapists, social skills groups and alternative schools, you’ll feel confident that you’re not forgetting to ask something important.

Alicia Zuberny, Senior Family Resource Specialist Sometimes it’s hard to figure out exactly what you need – and that’s where an Ask Us call can help. For example, if your child has a new ADHD diagnosis, you can use Ask Us to understand how different professionals support children with similar needs. During your call, we’ll talk about your child’s needs and suggest options. We can even look up specific professionals to see if they’ll be attending the fair.

We hope these tips help you feel confident, prepared and ready to find the support your child needs.

Whether you’re unsure about a new behavior or have been dealing with something that feels like it will never end, Connecting for Kids has tools to help you build better behavior this year.

Worth the worry?

“Is this typical?” 

“Will they grow out of it?”

“Should I be worried?”

We hear these types of questions often and the answer is usually, “it depends.” Our Behavior Resource Guide gives you four questions to help decide whether the behavior is something to get help with or a “wait and see.” 

Strategies to go!

If you're ready to take action, our podcast library can help you learn on the go — in the car rider line, at nap time or at the gym.

If you’re not sure where to start, our team loves:

• Behavior Series: Ten to 15-minute tools you can use right away
• Co-Regulation is Your Super Power
• The Ugly Hour
• Challenging Behavior Series

Feeling isolated or overwhelmed?

Our Family Resource Specialist team has been there. Whether it’s a bedtime tantrum or a meltdown in the middle of the store, you’re not alone.

With an Ask Us or Quick Request, we'll listen, strategize with you and point you toward resources that really help.

The end of the year can bring extra expenses for families who have concerns about their child’s development or needs. On top of the usual holiday and household costs, you may find yourself:

• Using up covered therapy visits and needing to pay out of pocket
• Seeking a new diagnosis, treatment or service after first-quarter progress reports
• Purchasing adaptive versions of holiday gifts that come with a higher price tag
• Replacing everyday items that wear out faster for your child
• Reaching annual caps on family support funding or NEON assistance

If you’re feeling a pinch, Connecting for Kids has resources that can help.

Guide to Finding Funding

Our Guide to Finding Funding highlights eight different ways families in Northeast Ohio can find funds for therapies, equipment and other needs. It also includes a list of grants organized by diagnosis and type of support. Even if you can’t access help right now, applying early could make next fall a little easier.

Wish Granting Guide

While wish programs often focus on children with life-limiting conditions, our Wish Granting Guide also includes opportunities for children with autism, permanent disabilities or kids who have experienced trauma.

Ask Us

If you’re not sure where to start—or if you feel like you’ve tried everything—Ask Us! You’ll connect with another parent who understands what you’re going through and who can share ideas, compare notes and help you find next steps.

Melanie has two children and lives in North Royalton.

What do you do to relax?

I go to a salt cave to relax. We live near the Holistic Halo Salt Spa, and it has a private salt room. You can either use it alone or bring your family. For 30 minutes, you just breathe in the salty air, and the floor is covered in salt, and the kids can play in it. It definitely relaxes us and redirects my son.

What benefits has Connecting for Kids brought to you and your family?

We found a lot of organizations and activities at the Resource Fairs. I also met some amazing people who work for Connecting for Kids at some of the programs. Especially when my son was younger and I felt so clueless, I didn't know anyone in my situation, and I didn't know who to turn to.

The bad habit I picked up...

Trying to do everything for my children. They need to learn, and fail if need be.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself the day we got the diagnosis I would say...

It's not as bleak as the doctor made it out to be. It's going to be hard as heck, but you can do it.

When my child's behavior gets out of control, I feel...

Embarrassed at first. But then I realize that he can't help it. Also, I think these complete strangers are people I'll probably never see again and maybe they have a differently-abled person at home, too

Do you have any recommended resources such as blogs, websites, or books that we can share?

The 3 big things that have helped our family are

The Arc of Ohio – Helped us figure out waivers and get a support team in place. 

Akron Rotary Camp | Akron Area YMCA Camps -- Has amazing respite weekends and an overnight summer camp for kids, which has given me a chance to have time to clean and travel while my son has a blast.

Rec2Connect – Offers recreation therapy. THE BEST place to go for sports and activities for differently-abled people. Included. Always. is their motto, and the owner, Jen Knott, is fantastic.

Is there anything else about your journey that you would like to share with other parents?

Some years will be better than others. Get a support team in place, join groups, talk to your neighbors. By just striking up random conversations with complete strangers, I have gained such useful knowledge and learned about places I never would have known about. My son is at Insightful Minds this year, and I wish I had known about the place sooner. He is thriving there, not just surviving.

It’s October, the kids have settled into their school routines and it’s time for parent-teacher conferences. For many of us, that means squeezing into a chair that’s a little too small, admiring student artwork and hearing about the classroom day-to-day. But what if a concern comes up?

Here are five tips to help you make the most of your time with your child’s teacher:

1. Review Schoolwork

In the first few weeks, kids bring home a flood of forms, schedules and assignments. Take a little time to sort through everything and look over your child’s work. If your child has an IEP, 504 Plan, or Written Education Plan (WEP), review those too. This is also a great moment to update — or start — your School Communication Binder.

2. Prepare Your Questions

If you already have a concern, conferences are the perfect time to compare notes with the teacher. Because meetings are usually brief, jot down your questions ahead of time. If you have new information (like a doctor’s note or testing results), bring copies to share.

3. Take Notes

Conferences move quickly and it’s easy to feel overloaded. Taking notes helps you remember what was discussed. Ask for copies of important documents such as test scores, progress reports or behavior checklists.

4. Make a Follow-Up Plan

Before you leave, agree on how and when you’ll follow up. For example: “I’m glad we talked about Stephen’s reading — we’re noticing the same concerns at home. When should I expect a progress update?”

Afterward, send a short follow-up email to recap. It not only documents what you agreed on, but also keeps everyone on the same page. For example:

Dear Mr. Jones,

Thank you for meeting with me last night and for sharing your concerns about Stephen’s reading. I’ve scheduled an appointment with his pediatrician and will let you know what we find out about getting an eye exam. I know we agreed to re-check progress in November, but if there’s anything more I can do to help from home, please let me know.

5. Get Support

Learning that your child is struggling can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our Family Resource Specialist (FRS) Team can help you understand school information, set priorities and make a plan — just ask us!