MySpeechPath

Wishing all of our families and colleagues a happy and healthy 2026! Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays and the best in the new year. Enjoy time with family and friends!
We will be closed December 24, 2025-January 1, 2026.

Wishing you all health and happiness this holiday season and in the new year! Enjoy your time with family and friends.
From Michelle at MySpeechPath

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⭐️ BEFORE you comment “This is normal” or “ALL kids do this” - read the caption and check out the breakdown of why saying these are harmful in my previous post. ⭐️ 🌈♾ Autism is a well known word and disability - that is greatly misunderstood by the vast majority of people. This video shows some commonly seen EARLY signs of Autism, in children who have a formal diagnosis. Autistic kids can “grow out of” these signs (because they learn new skills, learn to mask, or their needs and interests change) and that doesn’t mean they aren’t Autistic. Typical kids can demonstrate some of these traits *at times* and it doesn’t make them Autistic- especially if it’s just one or two things that happen rarely (again, see post from yesterday where I break these traits down). Autism is characterized by patterns of differences in 3 areas: 1️⃣ Language/communication, 2️⃣ Socialization, and 3️⃣ Repetition of movements, preferences, routines and/or differences in sensory processing. These differences can range from clear to subtle and well known stereotypes (like lining items up) to lesser known differences (like being overly friendly and social), and these will likely change over time as a child ages. Differences in these areas can look vastly different from one person to the next, and common differences are often perceived as strengths (like early ability to name letters or read). Also - strengths don’t cancel out a possible Autism diagnosis, Autistic people can have strengths, be smart, and do all the things! DISCLAIMER: This is not an exhaustive list of characteristics. Just because a child did not demonstrate these differences does not mean they are NOT Autistic, and just because a child does one thing listed does not mean a child IS Autistic. This is because Autism is a constellation of characteristics. If you see a possible pattern, it indicates an evaluation would be beneficial to see if a diagnosis is appropriate. Check out my pinned posts, and Autism in Real Life story highlights for more information on how Autism can present! Thanks to @happyhandswith_hallie @daily_dig @ot_mama_of_twins and @broganburnside for sharing!!

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For anyone wanting to learn more about the IEP process…

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2FF38f2nnHkzFdHB/?mibextid=WC7FNe

PEATC presents this virtual workshop series for parents and professionals who want to learn more about special education in Virginia.

Register once to attend some or all of the informative workshops! - https://bit.ly/4dSDgME

July 10 - From Referral to Eligibility
July 24 - Anatomy of an IEP
August 7 - Measurable IEP Goals
August 21 - Ins and Outs of IEP Meetings
September 4 - Dispute Resolution in Virginia

Each workshop will start at 6:30 p.m. and will last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. These sessions will not be recorded.

Please see peatc.org/events for descriptions of each session topic.

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🎬 Introducing 'Minutes with Melissa'! Join us as Melissa hosts insightful interviews with disability service providers, The Arc of Northern Virginia staff, and inspiring community members. Knowledge is power! Tune in to empower yourself with the information and resources you need to know.💡Be sure to like and follow to see our first episode later this week!

https://www.facebook.com/share/3DZCqbTUHhzMrszh/?mibextid=WC7FNe

FREE opportunity to speak with a special education attorney!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/XuBzU4Y1xqpkRgwU/?mibextid=K8Wfd2

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Are you struggling to obtain adequate support services at school? Do you have questions about your student’s IEP? Do you understand your rights as a parent? An attorney can help you navigate these issues. Parents can schedule a free 45-minute virtual meeting on Zoom with an attorney to receive advice and guidance on any number of special education topics for their student including Eligibility, IEP Development, IEP Implementation, Placement, Parental Rights, and School Discipline.

This is a wonderful opportunity to seek free guidance from a legal professional. Appointments are limited and preregistration is required. Reserve your timeslot here: https://ow.ly/XvnX50Qzguj