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When a child tends to run off or leave the classroom without permission, it’s more than just a tricky moment for the teacher — it’s a safety concern that schools should take seriously. For students with disabilities, especially those who wander or elope, support at school isn’t just about rules or consequences; it’s about creating an environment where they feel safe, understood, and able to learn.

Keeping our children safe is always top of mind, but when a child tends to run off or wander, that worry can quickly multiply. For some children with disabilities, especially those with autism, elopement is more than just a phase. It can happen at school, in public, or even at home. While the risks can feel daunting, understanding why it happens and putting the right supports in place can make a real difference.

Feeding therapy is a type of specialized support that is used to teach a child with sensory or motor challenges how to eat or improve how they eat. It focuses on building the physical, sensory, and behavioral skills they need for more successful mealtimes. It can be administered by a speech-language pathologist (SLP), an occupational therapist (OT), or both working together.

Feeding challenges look different for every child. Some are just temporary phases, while others require extra attention and support. As children grow, they move from natural feeding reflexes to learning how to chew, swallow, and explore new tastes and textures. For children with developmental disabilities, this transition can come with unique challenges that might need additional support.

Undivided ResourcesVideo Clip Chris Lemons, associate professor of special education in the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University, explains how evidence-based reading strategies can (and should) be adapted to support students with Down syndrome. Want more information about reading? Check out our article Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome. Join for free Save your favorite resources and access a custom Roadmap.

Undivided ResourcesVideo Clip Join Dr. Kathleen Whitbread as she shares expert advice on how to build early reading skills, what makes reading instruction effective, and why kids with Down syndrome may suddenly struggle when text formatting or font changes. Want to learn more about teaching kids with Down syndrome to read? Check out our article Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome. Join for free Save your favorite resources and access a custom Roadmap.

Undivided ResourcesVideo Clip Reading comprehension can be one of the biggest challenges for students with Down syndrome, often more difficult than decoding or fluency. Join Emily Mondschein, executive director at Gigi's Playhouse, as she explains how educators and families can create meaningful opportunities for students to demonstrate what they understand. Want to learn more about teaching reading?

Undivided ResourcesVideo Clip Sight words are often a big part of early reading instruction—but are they always effective? Join Kathleen Whitbread, PhD, as she breaks down what parents need to know about teaching sight words, why some kids struggle with them, and how to support reading development in a way that builds real literacy skills. Want to learn more? Check out our Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome article. Join for free Save your favorite resources and access a custom Roadmap.

Undivided ResourcesParent Question If you’ve maxed out your IHSS hours but still have a gap in unmet needs (including in-home nursing), there are a few options. Unmet need hours are hours for which there is an assessed need for IHSS-specific services beyond the maximum hours allowed.

Undivided ResourcesParent Question If your original social worker encouraged you to gather documentation to apply for Protective Supervision (PS), but you were then reassigned to multiple new workers in a short period of time, it can be confusing to know how to move forward. If you're unable to reach anyone by phone and aren't sure who to send your paperwork to, you may be wondering whether you can submit your PS documentation in person.