The National Association for Child Development (NACD)

"The constant turnover makes it very difficult for him to get acclimated."

This is what we're hearing from parents about ABA. Therapists leave. New ones arrive. Your child starts over, again and again.

There's a reason NACD trains parents to be the intervention. Zero turnover. You're there every day.

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When ABA Therapy Isn't Working: A Different Path Forward 68% of parents questioning ABA aren't anti-therapy. They're frustrated with compliance-focused approaches. Here's what actually changes the brain.

If you've been in ABA therapy and that quiet voice keeps asking "Is this actually working?" ... you're not wrong for asking.

68% of parents questioning ABA aren't anti-therapy. They're frustrated with compliance-focused approaches that don't see the whole child.

We wrote this for you:

When ABA Therapy Isn't Working: A Different Path Forward 68% of parents questioning ABA aren't anti-therapy. They're frustrated with compliance-focused approaches. Here's what actually changes the brain.

Today we honor World Down Syndrome Day — and we're sharing a story close to our hearts. 💙

When Gitane was born with severe hypotonia and could barely open her eyes, her father Dr. Julian Neil searched the world for answers. That search led him to NACD and Bob Doman.

Bob's words were simple: "We're going to wake her up."

Gitane graduated with honors from a mainstream high school. She surfs. She does Karate. She creates art. And now she's starring in a film.

As Dr. Neil writes: "When we say 'special needs,' what we truly mean is special abilities."

Read his full tribute on our site. 🔗

Honoring World Down syndrome Day - NACD International | The National Association for Child Development Dr. Julian Neil shares how NACD and Bob Doman helped his daughter Gitane — born with severe hypotonia — graduate high school and live a full, remarkable life.

What does neurodevelopmental science say about the dinner table?
NACD's Laird Doman wrote something worth reading — about the research behind family conversation, the real challenges every parent faces (devices, exhaustion, dead-end questions), and why the quality of the question matters as much as showing up.
Read it here, and then download the app he built to put it into practice. 👇

Dinner Table Conversations That Build Kids' Brains | NACD NACD's 45 years of neurodevelopmental research shows family dinner conversation is one of the most powerful tools for child development. Here's how to do it right.

Every child is unique. Every child deserves a real opportunity.

For parents of special needs children, navigating the school system can feel like a constant battle — not because you're wrong, but because the system was never designed with your child in mind.

Bob Doman's article breaks down why traditional schooling often falls short for children with special needs, and how a targeted, individualized, home-based program can unlock the potential that schools may have written off.

If you've ever wondered whether there's a better path, this is worth your time.

Homeschool & Special Needs Children - NACD International | The National Association for Child Development Defining Education and Developmental Opportunity for Special Needs Children: Targeted, Individual Home Based vs. School Based by Bob Doman Many parents of special needs children, as well as children with attention and learning related problems, mistakenly believe their children are receiving a good,...

We just launched something we're proud of.

Family Conversations is a new app from NACD — designed to help families have better, deeper, more meaningful conversations at the dinner table every night.

Every question is rooted in 45 years of neurodevelopmental research. Every card is calibrated by age. Every prompt comes with follow-up questions so conversation never stalls. And it works on Apple Watch, so your phone can stay in the other room — where it belongs.

The dinner table is one of the most powerful developmental environments in your child's life. We built this to help you make the most of it.

📲 Download free on the App Store → https://apps.apple.com/app/family-conversations/id6759932067

Family Conversations App | Dinner Table Questions for Kids | NACD 500+ age-appropriate dinner table conversation starters for kids ages 3–17. Built on 45 years of neurodevelopmental science by NACD. Free download on iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch.

🌟 Parents — let’s talk power! 🌟

Are rewards and consequences actually helping your child learn and grow, or just creating more chaos? 🤔 In this powerful piece by Bob Doman on NACD.org, we dig into how consistent, meaningful feedback (yes, both positive and negative) shapes behavior and builds credibility with your child. It’s not about “punishment”, it’s about clear, intentional communication and teaching, not just correcting. 

👉 Why does inconsistency feel “unfair” to kids?
👉 What does effective feedback really look like?
👉 How can we focus more on reinforcing the behavior we want to see?

This article breaks down parenting in a way that makes sense—especially for brains that thrive with clarity, structure, and purpose. 

💬 What’s one thing you’ve learned that actually made consequences work better at your house? Comment below — we’d love to hear your wins (and struggles)!



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Parent Power - Rewards and Consequences - NACD International | The National Association for Child Development How to Provide Your Child with Effective Feedback by Bob Doman Rewards and consequences are the tools we have as parents, or, for that matter, as a society, to provide feedback, guidance, encouragement, and instruction, and to maintain order. Lack of consistent quality feedback leads to ambiguity, c...

The significance of short-term memory, working memory, executive function, and fluid intelligence has been known for many decades. These are the building blocks of cognitive function, the pieces that determine how smart we are. It’s not our innate intelligence that determines how smart we are, it’s how well these processing pieces have been developed. Whether you are an average Joe, have issues, or are functioning at a superior level, you can be smarter. And so can all your children, even if they have labels like ADHD, Dyslexia, ASD, Down syndrome, etc.

Read more about the significance of this for those with developmental issues:
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NPD: Neurodevelopmental Processing Deficits - NACD International | The National Association for Child Development Understand Neurodevelopmental Processing & Its Effect on Global Function by Bob Doman Neurodevelopmental Processing and Neurodevelopmental Processing Deficits are terms needed to help people understand the significance of processing and processing inadequacies, or deficits. Neurodevelopmental proces...