Stories from the team

ADHD and School Support: Why "Grades Are Fine" Isn't the Whole Story

You've got a kid with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), decent grades, and a school that says a 504 plan is enough. You're wondering whether to push for more. Here's the short answer: good grades don't settle the question, and you have the right to ask for a full evaluation to find out. "Grades are fine" doesn't decide eligibility Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal special education law, ADHD is served under a category called "Other Health

Does ADHD Qualify for an IEP? What Parents Need to Know

Your child has ADHD, and you're wondering if the school has to help. The short answer is yes, a public school can help, and often the plan that does it is called an IEP. An IEP is an Individualized Education Program. It's a written special-education plan a public school must provide to a child who qualifies. It spells out the support your child gets, in writing, and the school has to follow it. Here's what qualifying actually depends on, and how you start. Does ADHD qualify for an IEP? ADHD

Does Autism Qualify for an IEP?

If your child has an autism diagnosis, or you're starting to suspect one, you're probably asking a simple question with a stressful weight behind it: can the school actually help, and how do you start? The short answer is yes. Autism is one of the disability categories that can qualify a child for an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the written special-education plan a public school has to provide and follow. The rest of this walks through how that works and the first move you can make.

School Says No Diagnosis, No IEP? Not True.

You're watching your child struggle, and the school keeps saying some version of "they seem fine in class," or "come back once you have an autism diagnosis from a doctor." So you're stuck wondering whether you can request a special education evaluation, and whether the school gets to set those rules. Here's the direct answer: you can ask the school, in writing, to evaluate your child at any time, for free. The school cannot require an outside medical diagnosis before it will even look. That rig

The School Says Your Child Doesn't Need Braille. Here's What the Law Says.

"My child has some sight left, and the school says Braille isn't necessary. What are my rights?" If you've been told that, you're not wrong to question it. Under federal law, some usable vision is not, by itself, a reason for a school to skip Braille. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) sets a specific rule for children who are blind or visually impaired, and it puts the burden on the school's team to justify a "no," not on you. Here's what the law actually says, in plain te

Does Visual Impairment or Blindness Qualify for an IEP? What Parents Need to Know

If your child can't see well even with glasses, and you're wondering whether the school has to help, the answer is yes. Under federal law, a public school must evaluate your child and, if your child qualifies, provide support at no cost to you. That written support plan is called an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. It spells out the services and tools your child gets and holds the school to providing them. You don't need a diagnosis in hand or a special form to start. You need to know

Mental Health Insurance Coverage Denied? How to Appeal and Use Parity Law

Mental health insurance coverage denied? Learn why therapy and psychiatry claims get rejected, what the parity law guarantees, and the exact steps to appeal.

7 Caregiver Paperwork Mistakes Families Make (and How to Fix Each One)

A healthcare advocate's guide to the 7 caregiver paperwork mistakes families make, from lost records to missed appeal deadlines, with a fix you can start today.

Heart Disease Care Management: 5 Coordination Gaps That Stall Cardiac Recovery

Heart disease care management fails at the handoffs. Here are 5 cardiac coordination gaps and how to close them, from referrals to cardiac rehab coverage.

What to Do When the School Says "We Don't Diagnose Dyslexia"

You've been in the meeting where the teacher smiles and says your child is "doing fine," then adds that the school "doesn't diagnose dyslexia." You left with a knot in your stomach, because you can see your child struggling with reading at home. Here's the short answer: the school not saying the word "dyslexia" does not block your child from getting help, and passing grades do not close the door either. Let's walk through what your rights actually are, and the one thing you can do this week.

6 Things No One Tells You After a Diabetes Diagnosis

Nobody warns you about the insurance side of a diabetes diagnosis. Formulary tiers, CGM denials, supply reorders: here are 6 things to know and your first move for each.

Cancer Care Advocacy: Help After a Diagnosis

Cancer care advocacy handles scheduling, coverage approvals, and record-keeping after a diagnosis so that you can save your energy for treatment. Here's your next step.