20 Executive Function Strategies That Actually Help Teens Stay Organized If you've ever wondered why your teenager can spend hours researching their favorite hobby but forget to turn in homework they finished three days ago, you're not alone. Executive functioning challenges affect many teens, especially those with ADHD, autism, AuDHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental differences. These skills include planning, organizing, remembering information, managing time, ...
Educational
Why Back-to-School Can Feel So Overwhelming for Teens with AuDHD
Why Back-to-School Can Feel So Overwhelming for Teens with AuDHD For many families, back-to-school season brings excitement, fresh notebooks, new teachers, and the anticipation of a new beginning. But for teens with AuDHD—a combination of autism and ADHD—the start of a new school year can feel anything but exciting. While other students may simply be adjusting to an earlier alarm clock, teens with AuDHD are often navigating multiple challenges at the same time. New routines, crowded ...
What Is Executive Functioning? A Parent’s Guide for Teens
What Is Executive Functioning? A Parent's Guide for Teens Have you ever wondered why your teen is incredibly bright but constantly forgets homework, loses assignments, starts projects at the last minute, or struggles to keep their room organized? Many parents assume their child simply isn't trying hard enough. In reality, these challenges are often related to executive functioning—a set of mental skills that help us plan, organize, prioritize, manage time, regulate emotions, and complete ...
How to Prepare Your Teen to Advocate for Themselves at School
How to Prepare Your Teen to Advocate for Themselves at School One of the most important life skills we can teach our teenagers isn't found in a textbook—it's learning how to advocate for themselves. Whether your teen has an IEP, a 504 Plan, ADHD, autism, anxiety, a chronic medical condition, or another disability, there will come a day when they need to speak up about their needs without a parent standing beside them. That transition can feel intimidating for both parents and students, but ...
10 High School Accommodations Every Parent Should Know About
10 Accommodations Every Parent Should Know About for High School Students When your child qualifies for an IEP or a 504 Plan, one of the biggest questions parents ask is, "What accommodations should I request?" The answer depends on your child's unique strengths and challenges, but many parents don't realize just how many supports may be available. Accommodations aren't meant to give students an unfair advantage—they're designed to provide equal access to learning by reducing barriers that ...
What to Do If Your Child’s IEP Isn’t Being Followed | Parent Guide
What to Do If Your Child's IEP Isn't Being Followed As parents, we trust that when an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is created, everyone involved will work together to provide the support our children need. Unfortunately, that isn't always what happens. Maybe your child isn't receiving extra testing time. Perhaps they're supposed to have preferential seating, but they're sitting in the back of the classroom. Maybe speech services are being missed, sensory breaks aren't happening, or ...