Hi, I’m Silvia.

In my blog, I discuss early intervention and how to build inclusive communities where children of all abilities are valued and supported.

Connection First, Compliance Later: The Key to Developmental Progress articles Jun 08, 2023

(Photo 96150314 © Tatyana Tomsickova | Dreamstime.com)

Young children with developmental delays often start educational and therapy interventions at an early age.

It's natural for toddlers and pre-schoolers to respond differently to these interve...

Read the blog...
Celebrating My Son's Successful First Year in Secondary School articles Jun 02, 2023

In this blog post, I celebrate a significant milestone:

My son is finishing his first year in secondary school.

I feel immense joy and amazement at his progress. Reflecting on his journey, it's incredible to see how much he has grown. As a moth...

Read the blog...
Supporting Children With Additional Needs Starting Primary School articles May 17, 2023

(Illustration 155631998 © Ramu Chinnasamy | Dreamstime.com)

 Starting primary school is a significant milestone in a child's life, and it can be both exciting and overwhelming for parents and children alike. 

For children with additional needs, t...

Read the blog...
Letter from a father to his son (Written 100 years ago!) articles Apr 20, 2023

(Photo 184933974 / Father Child Hugging © Christinlola | Dreamstime.com)

Parenting can be challenging and rewarding, and balancing discipline with love and nurturing is a constant struggle for parents. As an early intervention specialist and mother,...

Read the blog...
My Childhood Friend with Down Syndrome: A Story of Friendship, Inclusion, and Inspiration. articles Mar 23, 2023

(Photo 251270419 © Pojoslaw | Dreamstime.com)

With World Down Syndrome Day this week, I wanted to share a personal story that has shaped my life. It's about my childhood friend Monica, who had Down Syndrome.

A story about friendship, inclusion and ...

Read the blog...
Examining the Reality of Divorce Rates for Parents of Children with Disabilities articles Feb 13, 2023

(Photo 258330047 / Couple Child Disability © Yuri Arcurs | Dreamstime.com)

Based on my experience working with families for over 20 years, I have observed that many couples become more robust as they navigate the challenges of parenting a child with...

Read the blog...
Is inclusion of children with disabilities possible - What is the first step articles Jan 05, 2023


(Photo 229746503 © Evgenyatamanenko | Dreamstime.com)

I often talk about inclusion of children with disabilities in our communities. But before we can look at inclusion in the community, we must remember that inclusion starts within the family circl...

Read the blog...
How I helped prepare my autistic son for his first a trip abroad articles Aug 31, 2022

(Photo 20707953 © Alain Lacroix | Dreamstime.com)

 How we helped Sebastian prepare for the trip to Helsinki

Here in the Angel household, we did different things this summer.

Typically every summer, we spend a few weeks near Barcelona with my p...

Read the blog...
Is it reinforcement or bribery? articles May 25, 2022

(Photo 229623173 © Picsfive | Dreamstime.com)

 

Is it reinforcement or bribery?

As educators and parents, we offer praise when our children cooperate and follow instructions. We might even provide reinforcements for it, such as when we ask them ...

Read the blog...
Teaching communication skills with Ready-Steady-Go games articles May 11, 2022

(Photo 228218828 / Child © Aaron Amat | Dreamstime.com)

Teaching communication skills with Ready-Steady-Go games.

Ready, steady, go games help develop your child's listening and attention skills and early communication skills.

In today's blog, I...

Read the blog...
Is your child/student using avoidance behaviours to escape a task? articles Apr 20, 2022

(Illustration 57520720 © Klara Viskova | Dreamstime.com)

Is your child/student using avoidance behaviours to escape a task?

Some children with additional needs learn behaviours that help them avoid doing activities they don't want to do.

From a yo...

Read the blog...
Do parents have unrealistic expectations for their autistic children? articles Apr 07, 2022

 

Do parents have unrealistic expectations for their autistic children?

 

Recently, in conversation with a group of educators, I recommended some resources and videos from well known autistic self-advocates.

 

One of the teachers shook her head ...

Read the blog...
7 tips to foster a love of books in autistic children (Part 3) articles Mar 30, 2022

(Photo 222860659 © Chernetskaya | Dreamstime.com)

7 tips to foster a love of books in autistic children

As an early intervention specialist and a mum of an autistic boy, books and reading have always been my best allies to help children learn. 

...
Read the blog...
How do you know if your student is ready to learn reading? (Part 2) articles Mar 16, 2022

How do you know if your student is ready to learn reading?

In my last blog (Teaching Reading To Children With Autism), I discussed some key aspects to consider when teaching reading to autistic children. Today, I will address the question, “How do...

Read the blog...
Teaching reading to children with autism (Part 1) articles Mar 09, 2022

Teaching Reading To Children With Autism

I have noticed over the years that many children with autism are interested in letters from a young age. Many of my young students enjoy matching letters, the alphabet song and looking at printed words.

My...

Read the blog...
1 2

Join My Newsletter

Join us by signing up for my newsletter, where you will get free content on early intervention, special education, and parenting children with disabilities.

Together, let's create a community that celebrates and embraces all children.