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Welcome to the Resource Center
Parallel offers a growing range of free resources to empower and support students with learning differences (and their communities).
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From our Blog
Your Guide to Orton Gillingham
If you have a child who is demonstrating difficulties with reading, writing, and spelling, you are most likely curious about what resources and programs are best to help your child learn literacy skills. In talking with teachers, parents, and other professionals, you have probably heard of or will hear about Orton-Gillingham or "OG". So what is this program and why is it beneficial for your child to have a tutor who uses this instructional method? In this post, we break down the basics for you, discussing exactly what it is and why it is so helpful.
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Top Benefits of Summer Programs
Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner. With so much to think about and plan for the summer months, you may be wondering how to make the most of your child's summer break. One of the most beneficial things for your child or teen can be involvement in a specialized summer program which provides a jumpstart and proactive approach to preparing for the next school year. We've put together four reasons why summer programs can be a highly advantageous opportunity.
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Literacy at Home: Learning to Write
In our last blog in the Literacy at Home series, we discussed ways you can help your younger child learn to read at home. Just like you can support your child's growth in learning to read, you can also help to facilitate the early writing process. Here are 6 ways to help your child develop those early writing skills at home.
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Things I Wish I'd Known: ADHD
ADD/ADHD is one of the most misunderstood neurodivergencies. Many people casually assign the label to anyone who demonstrates any of the wide range of indicators. Some people don't even believe it to be a real diagnosis, but rather a ploy by the pharmaceutical companies to tame energetic kids. In truth, it is very real and can greatly impact the daily lives of children and adults. As with our recent article focusing on dyslexia, we took to social media and asked parents, caregivers and teachers what they wish they had known early on in the process of seeking a diagnosis or receiving one.
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Literacy at Home: Learning to Read
We all hope for our children to have a passion for books and a love for reading. In a world full of video games and flashy devices, we take great joy in seeing our child tucked away in a corner, nose in a book. Building lifelong readers starts at home. While literacy instruction is happening in schools, it is also important to create an environment at home which supports younger children who are learning to read. Below are some ways you can reinforce those budding literacy skills.
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Things I Wish I'd Known: Dyslexia
Oftentimes, we look back at certain times in our lives and think, "If I only knew then what I know now." We wish we could sit our past selves down and share the knowledge we have accrued in hopes of easing worries and providing invaluable information. As you start down the path with a child who might need an evaluation for dyslexia or has recently been diagnosed with dyslexia, you may face a mix of emotions: confirmation, fear, anxiety, confusion, anger, relief at a diagnosis, etc. We asked parents, teachers, and adults with dyslexia to share with us the advice they would give to others. We asked, "What are the things you wish you would have known?" Below are their words.
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Learning Plans Explained: IEP's & 504s
Oftentimes, parents, caregivers, and educators come to realize that a student with learning differences or needs might not be as successful in a general education classroom as they could be. Fortunately, your child may be able to qualify for and receive assistance from an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or a 504 plan which can help provide individualized support, instruction, and accommodations. Navigating which plan might be best for your child and how to go about obtaining one can be both time consuming and confusing. To help make the process easier, we've mapped out the plans' similarities and differences below.
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Organizing for Success: Places and Spaces
For many of us, the start of the second half of the school year signals a fresh beginning and an opportunity for growth and change. In addition to setting goals and resolutions, January also offers a great time to clear out and organize spaces. For families with children who have unique needs and/or learning disabilities, organization and structure can be especially helpful in creating a more successful home and school experience.
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Preparing for Standardized Tests
For many schools, standardized test season is on the horizon. Even though a lot of schools test in the spring, the start of the new year is the perfect time to make sure everything is in order and your child has an opportunity to practice testing skills, if necessary. It is important to understand that standardized tests are only one measure of your child's academic achievement. While you don't want your child to feel unnecessary pressure and stress surrounding these tests, there are things you can do to prepare and make your child feel more comfortable.
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College Admissions Process
The college admissions process, while exciting, can be extremely stressful and laborious for any high school student. We spoke with Dr. Megan Hallam, a school psychologist and Director of Student Support Services with a doctorate in Educational Leadership, to learn more about how this process uniquely affects students with disabilities. We put together six important steps in the college admission process for high schoolers with disabilities.
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Parallel's Inclusive Book Guide for Children
On the heels of our recent blog post on the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, we wanted to put together a list of books that focus on, or include characters with diverse learning styles or disabilities. Whether it's your own child who would benefit from relatable characters and content, or you simply want to enrich your home library, these books offer increased representation and will make a wonderful addition to your collection.
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Holiday Gift Guide for Our Beloved Teachers
As we enter the winter break, you may be thinking about how best to thank your child's teachers and school staff. First, please know that gifts, while appreciated, are not mandatory for your child's teacher. You might also need to check with your child's school and see if they have a gift policy. However, if you are wondering how to show gratitude during the holidays, we polled teachers across the nation to see what gifts they truly prefer during the holiday season and put together this gift guide!
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International Day for Persons with Disabilities
December 3rd marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day gives us pause to consider how each of us can make an impact on those in our personal lives and greater circles with actions both big and small. Below are some ways we can all give back, self-reflect, and make changes to be better advocates and allies to those with disabilities.
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How Should I Interpret My Child's Report Card?
We all know that capturing who your child is as a learner on one document can be challenging. However, report cards are a necessary means to communicate a child's academic and social progress throughout the school year. So what do you do with this document exactly? You have the report card...now what?
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10 Ways to Keep Your Child Learning During Holiday Breaks
Every holiday season we're given the opportunity to embrace more quality time at home. Some parents worry that time away from school might derail their child's learning progress. While you might be tempted to bring out the workbooks and learning apps, most teachers feel strongly about students resting and not doing work that mirrors that of a classroom during breaks. Children need to recharge and reset. However, that does not mean you can't offer plenty of engaging, off-screen, and academically stimulating activities at home. Here are 10 ways you can keep your child learning during the holidays!
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What Is An Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in the classroom, but some students require instruction and support that is catered to their learning profile. However, most lesson plans, teaching styles, and even the classroom structure are all designed to be effective for the average student. This leaves students with learning differences and disabilities behind. IEPs play an essential role in ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn in a way that works for them.
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The Power of a Diagnosis for a Learning or Thinking Difference
You make decisions based on the information you have. The more information you have before making a decision, the more likely you are to make the right decision. When it comes to caring for your child, you have endless streams of information that you use to make decisions for them. But, while endless, this information comes in pieces, and it doesn’t always lead to understanding. A diagnosis brings understanding to you, your child, and educators, and this understanding can become a powerful tool that helps your child grow in and out of the classroom.
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What Is Executive Function Coaching?
Does your child have a hard time staying organized? Are they falling behind on schoolwork and struggling to catch up? These issues are often not due to a lack of motivation or intelligence, but related to delays in executive functions.
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The Purpose of Comprehensive Learning Evaluations: 4 Reasons to Have Your Child Tested
When your child struggles to keep up with their peers academically or behaviorally, a teacher may recommend that you have them evaluated for learning differences and/or learning disabilities. This evaluation, depending on their strengths and weaknesses, may be a comprehensive learning evaluation. Before investing time, energy, and money into an evaluation for your child, it’s essential to understand what a comprehensive learning evaluation is and its purpose.
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Evaluating Your Evaluation Options: Comparing Private Clinic and Public School Testing for Learning Differences
“You should have your child evaluated.” No parent wants to hear their child may have a learning difference or a disability, but every parent wants the best for their child. When a recommendation for a learning evaluation is made, it’s important to take that recommendation seriously and seek out professional help to ensure that your child is receiving the support they need to succeed in and out of school.
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How Do I Know If My Child Needs a Learning Evaluation?
School is a challenge. Your student will have ups and downs throughout the school year, but consistent learning challenges and difficulties may be caused by an unidentified learning difference or learning disability.
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What are the 6 Different Types of Learning Evaluations?
Learning about the different types of learning assessments and evaluations can give you clues as to what type of testing may benefit your child and help get to the root of their challenges or learning differences.
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