Birdhouse Blog

Dear Birdhouse families, teachers, and collaborators! Sean and I feel like we owe you a long overdue Hello from Vermont, our home. The old and new Birdhouse team share the commitment to make Birdhouse the best collaborative platform for people with special needs. With...

To all of those who make up the strong, resilient, dynamic, supportive, and loving Birdhouse community: Dani, Adam, and I are proud to share that Birdhouse is being acquired by Track and Share! There are quite a few things to cover here, and questions to address, so...

Figuring out what foods your child should and shouldn't eat is one of the most challenging and frustrating parts of their path to recovery. It can also be the most rewarding. Our kids are different. Simply making sure they are eating a healthy balanced diet low in...

The latest statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control show that 1 in 68 school aged children have been diagnosed with Autism. Recently, it was estimated that 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls have been diagnosed with Autism. That means that most of us know...

Do you have a chewy kiddo? Mine has been known to put toys in her mouth, chew pencils, even chew holes into her shirt. The truth is, this behavior is purposeful. It's not really behavioral, it's a means for oral motor seekers to get the sensory input their bodies...

A 2014 study showed that about 6.5 million students in the United States were receiving special education services. That's about 13%.  That means that general education teachers are likely learning to accommodate different learners far more than ever...

Some families with autism and other special needs find going out into the community very difficult and some even avoid it altogether. If you're one of those families who spend most of your time at home, here are some great tips for childproofing a home for a child...

For many children with autism, life outside of the home can be scary and anxiety-provoking. There are loud noises, changing weather conditions, and sometimes unexpected surprises. Home can be a true sanctuary where things are consistent and predictable. Many children...

  When you learn your child has special needs or a developmental delay, you quickly become familiar with a language of acronyms: OT, PT, SLP, ABA, DIR, IEP, and on and on! There really are a lot of options. Here's a list of 8 Therapies You May Not Know About....

You may have seen the title of this post and thought "only five important life skills to teach??" Of course, I know there are many, many important life skills we strive to teach our children. I get overwhelmed just thinking about them all. I sat down to think of which...

Toilet training any child can be difficult and frustrating. There are a few things that might make toilet training a child with special needs a bit more challenging. If a child has had various delays: gross and fine motor, speech and communication, and others, this...

A teacher’s time is valuable, and nobody should have to spend their day drowning in data collection.  We surveyed dozens of special educators, and designed a new, improved student documentation app to help teachers take control of their time and classroom and better...

I'm always looking for new, easy sensory tools I can make myself. Gotta keep it fresh and switch things up for my daughter now and then. This is a list of 5 super easy sensory tools that I found (and pinned to our Pinterest board!). Plus, these are things she can help...

No one functions well the day after getting too little sleep, or sleep that's poor in quality. Sleep problems in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have been reported as high as 80%. This may affect their ability to focus, attend to task, control impulsive...

An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) ensures that students with disabilities have access to a Free and Appropriate Public Education within the least restrictive environment. In the US, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires public schools to...

As the parent of a special needs student, I’m always asked at the start of each school year, for any tools and strategies that have worked for my son in the past. As we start to prepare for September, these are five things I will definitely be recommending to all the...

Special Education teachers draw inspiration and encouragement from each other. Sometimes, that means walking across the school to connect with another teacher, and sometimes that means making connections online. Here are 8 special education blogs you do not want to...

I’ve spent hours upon hours tracking & analyzing my autistic son Jordan’s food consumption manually. If you’re a fellow special needs parent like myself, you know how limited our time is. I thought to myself, there has to be an easier way to do this and after a...

Every day in a special education classroom can be different. So much can depend on how the kiddos are feeling, what's on the schedule for the day, even whether the weather keeps us cooped up inside! We all know that there's a high rate of burnout among special...

While the therapies listed below are likely familiar to families who've been raising children on the Autism spectrum for some time, they may be new to others. Other family members or well-meaning friends might hear loved ones talk about ABA, OT, PRT, etc., and be too...

  I'm a special educator. I teach children with an Autism certification in Michigan. I had searched for solutions to the never-ending stacks of papers, lists, and notes I'd tried to organize over and over. I started using the Birdhouse for Teachers app when they...

There are two types of plans implemented by schools to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Both Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and Section 504 plans are federally mandated and ensure a student's access to a free and appropriate public education within...

We posted this question on the Birdhouse for Autism Facebook page and here's how you answered: Jen from Special Ev said "Camp, picnics, iPads, daytrips to the Farmer's Market, canoeing, beach. Did I mention the iPad?!" Jaycee from Running Through Water: "Structure!...

Why am I about to share my iPad password with you? Because it's so good and so brilliant, that you'll want to use it, too! We've talked before about how important and how tough it can be to teach personal information to our kids. The National Autism Association says...

Recently a friend asked me how things are going with my daughter and instead of my usual, "everything's great!" response, I answered honestly: "I can't stop thinking about her toenails."  It's true. Every time I cut my daughter's toenails I can't help but wonder who...

The best gifts you can give your children with autism are lessons in preparing them for the real world they will someday need to survive in.  If they don't learn it from you, the people who love and cherish them the most, they'll run the risk of having to learning it...

I was in a looooong line at the post office when I spotted a friend I know a few people ahead of me.

Current statistics show that 1 in 45 school age children in the U.S. has an Autism diagnosis according to the Centers for Disease Control. It has long been widely believed that early intervention can improve the outcome for a child.According to Autism Speaks, Early...

Getting an iPod or iPad is a big deal. For children with disabilities, it can open up a whole new world. In some ways, it's a portable, accessible, engaging therapeutic device. For some children, it becomes a way to communicate, getting needs and wants met. For...

After many years of opening up capsules and trying to hide medications and supplements in applesauce, yogurt, and anything else I could find, or making sure something comes in a liquid form, I decided to try to teach my daughter to swallow a pill. Swallowing pills is...

I suppose that it was only a matter of time that my photography business combined with my experience as the mom of a boy with autism lead me down my path as a special needs photographer. In all these years, I've learned a thing or two. First, I shared with you my tips...

We've all seen so many lists out there of gifts for children with disabilities. They're great lists, and much needed and appreciated because sometimes kids with special needs can be tough to shop for. Still, I've found that sometimes there's another group of people...

As a mom to a little boy with Autism, I know all too well how tough it can be to get a great family photo. Once I developed the techniques necessary to succeed at photographing families with special needs, I set out to focus my business on special needs photography. I...

I got into photography as a entertainment industry photographer. I was shooting celebrity headshots, promoting my daughter's acting career, and attending events to add to my portfolio. Then, everything changed. My son was diagnosed with Autism. I became a member of...

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I think it’s safe to say that we Autism parents have a bit more on our minds than which turkey (or tof-urkey mmmm!) basting technique we’re gonna try this year. We’ve got a short school break to consider, a disruption to our...

Sensory Integration Dysfuntion is a term we hear more and more these days, but it still seems to confuse many people. New research is coming out all the time, helping to shed light on what can be a difficult disorder to understand. Here's a pretty basic overview....

With so many families using technology like tablets, iPods, and even good ol' fashioned computers, many are employing the use of different apps designed for families with special needs. I'm guessing many parents, like myself, have discovered that it's either apps or...

In 2013 President Obama declared November National Family Caregiver Month, stating "Across our country, more than 60 million Americans take up the selfless and unheralded work of delivering care to seniors or people with disabilities or illnesses. The role they play...

A couple of years ago I was coordinating a party for my child’s 4th grade classroom. Twenty percent of that classroom had food allergies. I gently reminded parents that the goal was for all our children to be included, safe and have fun. One parent refused to change...

Earlier this week, we posted a news article Why Schools are Adding Standing Desks to the Classroom on the Birdhouse for Autism Facebook page. Educators are finding children showing increased attention in both special education and general education settings. One...

1 in 68 children has been diagnosed with Autism. 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. To better understand how girls and boys with autism differ, researchers are actively recruiting more girls into studies.  With fewer girls on the spectrum, not only is there less...

I am an Early Childhood Special Education teacher as itinerant staff. Although this is my first full year as a special education teacher, I have years of experience working with children diagnosed with a disability as a volunteer, caretaker, or camp counselor. In high...

In case you haven't noticed, Minions are everywhere. Everywhere! We've even started learning some words and phrases in "minionese". If your kids are as crazy for minions as most, you'll definitely want to try some of these easy and fun minions-themed sensory...

Have you ever felt that your physician or school was not taking your concerns seriously? Unfortunately as a nurse and caregiver I have encountered this situation frequently. It is often very frustrating when the issues that you are experiencing are not addressed by a...

Dear Mr./Ms. General Education Teacher, I just heard you'll be my daughter's mainstream teacher this year. Congratulations! You are so lucky. I'm not sure how many special education students you've had mainstream into your class, but each and every one will always add...

Diversity and inclusion in a company is about more than hiring women and minorities. There are many progressive companies also hiring individuals with special needs and disabilities to enhance and expand their culture. These organizations provide tools for individuals...

I like to use exercise as an outlet for some of my daily stress. While most days, I just have time to push my little guy's stroller around the neighborhood, I love to practice yoga. Of course, I don't get to nearly as much as I'd like to, but I always feel great after...