Why does music therapy work?Music is a whole-brain brain activity that generates physiologic responses. Its predictable and structured nature can improve attention, enhance learning, and expand communication. Music listening and creation are motivating social experiences that can access memories and express or alter emotions.

Prospect Music Therapy

https://prospectmusictherapy.net/

Loren Goodman

401 E Prospect Ave Suite 109

Mount Prospect, IL 60056

847-580-3443

info@prospectmusictherapy.net

Laurie McDevitt

Founder, Special Education Advocate & Consultant

Advocacy for the Special Ones in Your Life

laurie@advocacyforthespecialones.com

(630) 639-0343

www.advocacyforthespecialones.com

What is Conductive Education and who benefits from its practice?

Center for Independence, Chicagoland, offers super affordable access for your child with motor needs. Jim Zwiefelhofer, PTA

Center for Independence 

Through Conductive Education-NW

23153 W. Miller Rd Lake Zurich, IL 60047

P-847-722-0386

F-708-588-0406

CFImove.org 

Laurie McDevitt

Founder, Special Education Advocate & Consultant

Advocacy for the Special Ones in Your Life

laurie@advocacyforthespecialones.com

(630) 639-0343

www.advocacyforthespecialones.com

Laura Hernandez, mom of 10, talks about her life, her business and her family. Managing therapies and the needs of her family require systems....instead of just holding on and surviving until bedtime. How could they manage all of their logistics and have-tos and make time to intentionally instill the ideals that their family values?  It took her years to develop systems and life hacks to keep her family running and organized. But after creating systems that helped her family run smoothly, it reduced her daily workload and her house became a place of peace... yes, even with 10 kids!

https://www.mamasystems.net

Laura Hernandez

https://www.advocacyforthespecialones.com/special-education-advocacy

Laurie McDevitt

Founder, Special Education Advocate & Consultant

Advocacy for the Special Ones in Your Life

laurie@advocacyforthespecialones.com

How the brain processes what our ears hear! Is your child struggling with w oral direction, spelling difficulty, strain and stress to follow along, to understand what they are hearing, tired, tune out? Auditory processing interacts with all areas of learning, sensory, phonics, social emotional, functional, reading. spelling, math and attention! Dr. Donna Turetgen, Au.D and Dr. Christy Washkowiak, Au.D. educate us about Auditory processing, also known as Central Auditory Processing (CAP). Dr. Dr. Christy Washkowiak, Au.D.

Dr. Donna Turetgen, Au.D.

The Auditory Connection-Illinois
1 East Northwest Hwy.
Suite #212
Palatine, IL 60067
​(800) 959-1791 (voice/text)
info@auditoryconnection.com

Dr. Dr. Donna Turetgen, Au.D.The Auditory Connection-Texas
725 FM 1103
Unit #786
​Cibolo, TX 78108
(800) 959-1791 (voice/text)
info@auditoryconnection.comServing the San Antonio area and more!

Laurie McDevitt

Founder, Special Education Advocate & Consultant

Advocacy for the Special Ones in Your Life

laurie@advocacyforthespecialones.com

(630) 639-0343

 www.advocacyforthespecialones.com

John Felageller is the Ministry Relations Manager at Joni and Friends Chicago. Previous to that, he  spent almost 20 years in education, working with children from Infants to Middle School, serving in a variety of roles including Teacher, Mentor Teacher and School Director. John lives in Highwood, IL and is a single father to his son Christopher (ASD). He is a public speaker, multiple podcast guest, and regular contributor to Key Ministry’s Special Needs Family blog, as well as other special needs blogs including Hope Anew and The Mighty. Connect with John on his website:

www.johnfelageller.com

Facebook: John's Special Needs Blog

Instagram: jfelageller

Twitter: jfelageller74

Laurie McDevitt

Founder, Special Education Advocate & Consultant

Advocacy for the Special Ones in Your Life

laurie@advocacyforthespecialones.com

www.advocacyforthespecialones.com

Let's talk about trusts, guardianship and POA!  Sara Riechert from the Chamberlin Riechert Law Group P.C. breaks down what parents need to know about future planning and protections.  She carefully and clearly breaks down the often confusing and often intimidating conversation about planning for the financial and medical needs of a child with a disability, and any child who turns 18.  

Sara Riechert

https://crattorneys.net/

1200 Harger Road

Suite 209

Oak Brook IL 60523

sara@clgattorney.com

Laurie McDevitt

Founder, Special Education Advocate & Consultant

Advocacy for the Special Ones in Your Life

laurie@advocacyforthespecialones.com

www.advocacyforthespecialones.com

Jenn Haston is a dynamic professional presenter with 10 years of speaking experience who provides inclusive and growth-based presentations virtually or in person! A cultural leader who motivates and inspires teams with a collaborative spirit and focuses on meeting personal and professional goals and accomplishing great things with folks around the globe.

She is no parenting expert- and some of the items she would share with parents looking for resources and tools are as follows:

If you want to connect with Jenn Haston for more parenting and life journey lessons, you can do so on Instagram @HastonHelpingHands or her website www.HastonHelpingHands.com - and if you want a little more information on the folks she utilizes for her parenting experiments see below: 

**Disclaimer: All their tips may not align with your family, as it does for u. She tends to take a little from each and experiment, experiment-experiment and hope things don't blow up, and if/when they do, these people have shown us tools to help clean things up!

Resources - Books and Websites-

Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

https://michaeleendoucleff.com

The Connected Child

https://empoweredtoconnect.org/book/

Big Little Feelings- Big Little Feelings – Big Little Feelings – Happy Parents, Happy Toddlers

Destini Ann- Home | DestiniAnn.com

Jai Institute- The Jai Institute for Parenting: Become a Certified Parenting Coach

Momma Cusses-  Home | Momma Cusses

Mr. Chazz- Mr Chazz Mr Chazz (@mrchazz) • Instagram photos and videos

Laurie McDevitt

Founder, Special Education Advocate & Consultant

Advocacy for the Special Ones in Your Life

laurie@advocacyforthespecialones.com

www.advocacyforthespecialones.com

Lenora Edwards, Chief Knowledge Officer, from betterspeech.com talks about the benefits of virtual speech and language services. She explains that SLP service providers deal with "the neck up" when it comes to services. 

She also answers questions parents ask about speech and language, that includes pragmatic language and sequencing of stories. Lenora also covers the question parents often ask regarding when to ask for a screening, if you are really not sure about the developmental progress of your child and whether they are meeting developmental milestones.

Lenora Edwards. M.S. CCC-SLP

Chief Knowledge Officer, BetterSpeech

Board Certified and Licensed in 5 states.

Betterspeech.com

Laurie McDevitt

Founder, Special Education Advocate & Consultant

Advocacy for the Special Ones in Your Life

laurie@advocacyforthespecialones.com

www.advocacyforthespecialones.com