Sonia's Village Talks

Hi FB Family, as you know the special needs community is true and dear to my heart. If you are a parent with an adolescent or adult child who is differently wired (ADHD, Autism, Mental Health, Social Anxiety) and overcome great odds. I would love to hear your story. It will be used to help inspire others. The story can be listed as anonymous but we will need your contact information to ask questions. CLICK HERE and share https://www.soniasvillagetalks.com/for-parents/spotlight-on-the-village/

Imagine having a tool to help you navigate parenting? Share 1 or 2 critical topics that would help you become most productive as a parent?

Hey Village, it’s that time of year again. If you have children who learn differently, check out my monthly 5 Minute read to learn how to successfully prepare for your IEP or 504 meeting at https://conta.cc/3PXQhtk. Subscribe today!

Prepping for IEP and 504 Meetings Email from sonia's village talks Maximize Your Impact at the IEP Meeting: See Our Prep Checklist! SONIA'S VILLAGE TALKS... March 2025| V1, Issue 3 EDUCATE . ENCOURAGE . EMPOWER . E3 How to Plan

Happy 2025, I strongly believe in the power of a village. Our village helps us to make the right choices in life. Especially, when it comes to parenting. Please share parenting topics that you would like us to brainstorm and gather some words of wisdom. See below and post your top 2 priority topics:

- Parenting in the Digital Era
- Value Based Parenting
- Behavior Management
- How to best advocate for my child who learns differently
- Preparing for the IEP Meeting
- How can I communicate with My Tweens/Teens so they will listen?

Hi FB Family, it’s been a while since I have made a post of this sort, but I AM BACK! Beginning in 2025 I will premiere my newsletter Sonia’s Village Talks. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide information, support and guidance to families raising teens and young adults in the digital age of distractions. While the message will benefit most families, the focus will revolve around helping families of individuals with different abilities: Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, mental health, learning disabilities, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and Oppositional Defiance Disorders. If you know anyone, who would like to share an inspirational story about raising an individual with different abilities (please send me a message via FB). All information will be treated in a confidential manner. The purpose of this newsletter is to empower families with the necessary tools to educate, elevate and empower themselves and their loved ones. As an educator and parent with family members of different abilities, I can personally identify with the challenges parents or caregivers face on a daily basis. At times, we feel as though we are “alone” on our journey. My goal is to end that feeling of “isolation” and create a community of positive forces. From my journey as a parent and educator, I now have access to, or resources from a plethora of professionals that I would like to share with you. Please Like, Follow and Share if you are interested in receiving the newsletter on my FB Page Sonia’s Village Talks. https://www.facebook.com/SoniasVillageTalks/

What is preventing you from helping your child get to the next level?

1. Uncooperative child.
2. Lack of time.
3. Financial resources.
4. Other (be specific)
Please specify the number that supports your answer.

When you have a neurotypical child, you feel reasonably assured that class participation and decent study habits will result in good grades. These kids have close friends. They get invited to participate in social things like dances and weekend gatherings. They make the teams, auditions organizations and clubs.
But when you have a child with certain differences, this is often not the case. Learning may take longer, both academically and socially. Despite their tremendous efforts, results are often a fraction of their peers and social acceptance is fleeting, setting them up for painful comparisons and bitter frustration. Instead of a fun and fulfilling experience, school can become a breeding ground for depression and anxiety, and assignments a battle ground at home. It is exhausting for parent and child alike.
This is the week of SPED (Special Education), Autism, Dyslexia, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) awareness.
For all the children who struggle every day to succeed in a world that does not recognize their gifts and talents, and for those who are walking beside them, please let this be a gentle reminder to be kind and accepting of ALL people.
Recognize that the "playing field" is not always a level surface.
Children who learn differently are not weird. They are merely gifted in ways that our society does not value enough. Yet they want what everyone else wants: To be accepted!!
If you choose, please copy and paste this in honor of all children who are deemed "different". Our world would be far less beautiful without them.

The power of an educator. This is worth the READ!

An old man meets a young man who asks:

“Do you remember me?”

And the old man says no. Then the young man tells him he was his student, And the teacher asks:

“What do you do, what do you do in life?”

The young man answers:

“Well, I became a teacher.”

“ah, how good, like me?” Asks the old man.

“Well, yes. In fact, I became a teacher because you inspired me to be like you.”

The old man, curious, asks the young man at what time he decided to become a teacher. And the young man tells him the following story:

“One day, a friend of mine, also a student, came in with a nice new watch, and I decided I wanted it and I stole it, I took it out of his pocket.

Shortly after, my friend noticed the flight and immediately complained to our teacher, who was you. Then you went to the class:

‘This student's watch was stolen during classes today. Whoever stole it, please return it.’

I didn't give it back because I didn't want to. Then you closed the door and told us all to get up and you were going to search our pockets one by one until the watch was found. But you told us to close our eyes, because you would only look for his watch if we all had our eyes closed.

So we did, and you went from pocket to pocket, and when you went through my pocket, you found the watch and took it. You kept searching everyone's pockets, and when you were done you said

‘open your eyes. We have the watch.’

You didn't tell me and you never mentioned the episode. You never said who stole the watch either. That day you saved my dignity forever. It was the most shameful day of my life.

But this is also the day my dignity was saved and I decided not to become a thief, a bad person, etc. You never said anything, nor even scold me or took me aside to give me a moral lesson, I received your message clearly.

And thanks to you, I understood what a real educator needs to do. Do you remember this episode, professor?

And the professor answers:

‘I remember the situation, the stolen watch, which I was looking for in everyone’s pocket, but I didn't remember you, because I also closed my eyes while looking.’

This is the essence of teaching:

If to correct you must humiliate; you don't know how to teach "