Sarah Eis

Discovering that your child has a disability can bring a flood of emotions. It’s a moment that changes everything, and the feelings that follow can be overwhelming. Grief is a natural response, and it’s important to understand it, accept it, and find ways to move forward with hope and strength. Eye-level view of a parent holding a child’s hand while walking in a park The Emotional Journey of Parent Grief When you first imagine becoming a parent, you don’t picture IEP meetings, therapy...

When young children struggle with behavior, adults often focus on what they can see : tantrums, refusal, impulsivity, withdrawal, or big emotional reactions. These behaviors are frequently labeled as “defiance,” “emotional sensitivity,” or “immaturity.” However, for many toddlers and preschoolers, challenging behavior is not the root issue. It is a signal. Very often, behavior is a child’s way of communicating when words, understanding, or expressive language are not yet available. Behavior...

By Sarah Eis, School Psychologist/BCBA/Special Education Advocate When parents think about school-based services, they often picture IEPs, speech therapy, or special education beginning once a child enters kindergarten. What many families don’t realize is that public school districts are legally required to identify and support children with speech and language delays well before kindergarten—sometimes as early as age three. As someone who has spent years working in public schools and now...