It's a question I hear all the time from educators, support staff, and parents: "What do we do when we're trying to help a child, offer support, or suggest something, and they just say no?" The answer may seem surprisingly simple: we honor the "no." For many adults, hearing "no" can feel uncomfortable. We may interpret it as defiance, noncompliance, or resistance. We might feel pressure to keep moving, solve the problem immediately, or get the child back on track. But before we do that, it's...

What Is a Partnership? A partnership is a relationship between individuals or groups that is characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility for the achievement of a shared goal. In education, that shared goal is simple: helping students succeed. Parents and educators each bring unique knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. When we work together as partners, we create stronger support systems that help students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The Benefits of...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with nearly 90 ABA practitioners across 6 countries and 23 states about burnout, resilience, and the realities of working in helping professions today. Attendees joined from the United States, Canada, India, Kuwait, Nigeria, and England, and despite being spread across the world, many shared similar experiences. One theme came up again and again: exhaustion. Many practitioners described feeling emotionally drained from managing challenging situations,...