Exceptional Outcomes

08/06/2026

Mystic Aquarium 2026 Sensory Friendly Night

Join Mystic Aquarium for a calmer, more inclusive aquarium experience where lighting and sound are adjusted to create a sensory-friendly environment.

Date: Tuesday, 8/11/26
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Tickets- https://ramp.mysticaquarium.org/95114/95116

This event will have the following accommodations: Reduced crowds, Lowered lighting and sound levels, quiet zones and sensory support resources, access to exhibits at your own pace

This night is specially tailored for guests with sensory processing challenges and their families.

Tickets are $15 per person and free for members but advanced reservation required for all.

08/06/2026

06/26/2026

Dyslexia runs in families — and science is beginning to understand why.

Research shows that dyslexia has a significant heritable component. If a parent or sibling has dyslexia, a child's risk increases substantially. Scientists have identified several genes that appear to influence how the brain processes language and develops the neural pathways needed for reading.

This isn't fatalism — it's opportunity. A family history of reading difficulties is one of the most important early risk factors we have. Knowing it allows parents, pediatricians, and educators to watch for signs and act early.

TDF's Scientific Advisory Board has been at the forefront of the genetics of dyslexia research for decades.

🧬 dyslexiafoundation.org

05/05/2026

i-Ready is back in the headlines, and this time it’s out of Michigan and California.

Both states reviewed it and said the same thing:
It does not meet the bar for a universal screener.

Worth noting: Georgia found the same thing. The difference? It was added back by our superintendent because it’s widely used.

Here are the problems:

1. Borderline blind spot
Misses the 30th–40th percentile; the kids were supposed to catch early.

2. Phonemic awareness problem
Clicking ≠ actually hearing and manipulating sounds.
👉 That’s how risk gets missed.

3. Adaptive = risky
It can skip key skills entirely.
👉 If it’s not measured, it’s not identified.

This behaves like a diagnostic, not a screener. I’m grateful to see states like Michigan and California hold the line unlike Georgia!

When it comes to screening, popular shouldn’t be the bar, effectiveness should be!

Read more: https://open.substack.com/pub/decodingmom/p/michigan-rejected-i-ready-as-a-k?r=46qttl&utm_medium=ios

05/02/2026

EP. 504 plan.

Two terms you’ll hear fast when your child struggles with reading. And most parents ask the same question: which one actually helps?

A 504 can make school more manageable. An IEP (Individualized Education Plan) can include real instruction.

But here’s the part most people miss: neither one guarantees progress. The label doesn’t drive results. Instruction does. If reading instruction doesn’t change, the outcome usually won’t either.

In this blog, we break down the difference, what each plan actually provides, what to ask in school meetings, and what helps children with dyslexia learn to read.

Because your child doesn’t just need support, they need the right instruction.

04/19/2026

Just 4% of schools screen all learners for dyslexia.

80% of dyslexics leave school unidentified.

But by helping teachers to understand what to look for, we can help many more dyslexic learners to be spotted, supported and empowered in the classroom.

If you're a teacher, or a parent, learn how to spot the signs of dyslexia using Kate's book Xtraordinary People: https://learning.dk.com/uk/books/9780241705124/xtraordinary-people