Nicole Beurkens

Five Tips for Parents Making School-Related Decisions

School-related decisions seem to be an ever-present issue for all families, but especially for families with a child with unique learning needs. Here are some tips I find myself frequently providing parents in regards to their child's education: Just because a service or option is available doesn't mean you have to take it. Go with your gut feeling and do what you believe is right for your child. If... (posted by Nicole 2 years 268 days ago.)

Prioritizing Needs and Treatment for Children with Autism

I recently had a parent refer to the many needs of her daughter in this way: "It's like there are three floors of the house burning! Where do we start and which level do we fight the fire on first?" This provides an excellent visual metaphor for determining priorities in treatment. When a child has autism, or another neurodevelopmental disorder, there are many areas of need to consider. The... (posted by Nicole 3 years 47 days ago.)

12 Things Parents & Teachers Must Know About Educating Students with Autism & Other Disorders

Working with parents and educators for over a decade has taught me some important lessons about what it means to provide a meaningful education to students with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. It is easy to get bogged down in the moment-to-moment challenges and lose perspective on what we are trying to accomplish. Too often we employ strategies... (posted by Nicole 3 years 79 days ago.)

One Step Back, Three Steps Forward: Dysregulation and Development

I've been thinking about dysregulation and developmental "growth spurts" lately, as my 9-month old daughter has had a weeklong stretch of frustrating behavior. Normally she is a very easy baby; content to hang out with us and do whatever. She generally likes to be held, likes to play with toys on the floor, sleeps through the night, etc. Two weeks ago she learned to crawl -that funny army... (posted by Nicole 3 years 106 days ago.)

Parenting Thoughts For the New Year: Changing I Should to I Could

The start of a new calendar year tends to be a time for us to reflect on the past year, and also make plans for what we envision in the 12 months ahead. Some people make resolutions, write to-do lists, or set goals for themselves. What often happens with these lists and resolutions, however, is that they fall by the wayside shortly after they've been written. One of the reasons for this is... (posted by Nicole 3 years 136 days ago.)

Holiday Tips (and a few great excuses) for Families

The holidays can be both a joyful and stressful time for all families. This can especially be the case for families of individuals with autism or other neuro-developmental disabilities. If you're racking your brain to come up with some excuses you can use to avoid a holiday event you dread, here are a few you can try out this year: Top 10 Great Excuses to Use at the Holidays There is a Sponge... (posted by Nicole 3 years 172 days ago.)