Welcome to the Meredith Neurodivergent Family Hub. Here you will find basic information, resources for initiating services at Meredith, resources for families within Meredith, the School District of Philadelphia, and the city of Philadelphia, and local events designed to accommodate neurodiverse learners.
Creating a Supportive Community: Meredith is a community where we draw strength and knowledge from those with shared experiences. Please join the Parents and Caregivers of Meredith’s Neurodivergent Learners Facebook Group for support, suggestions, discourse, and the most up-to-date information!
| Upcoming Events | General Resources |
| THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP now enrolling children ages 4-19 for FUN, engaging, social skills groups with our original SEL curriculum, positive reinforcement, and compassionate social coaching. We offer: ~ Girls groups, boys groups, co-ed groups, & non-binary affirmative ~ Locations in Haverford, Paoli, Plymouth Meeting, & Center City, Philadelphia ~ Nineteen (19!) different groups have at least one opening and may meet your child’s needs at each developmental age: -4-5 year olds -6-8 year olds -9-11 year olds -12-15 year olds -16-19 year olds Space is limited! Enroll now before groups fill up. For a list of available groups, to learn more, to to register, visit: https://www.artoffriendshipsocialskills.com/ | Office of Diverse Learners (Formerly Office of Specialized Services) William M. Meredith School, Specialist Staff Directory , 2024-2025 |
| ECHO Autism at CHOP: While You Wait June 13th This series is designed for family members of young children who: -Have not received a diagnosis of autism and are awaiting an autism evaluation. -Have recently been diagnosed with autism and are in the process of accessing services. -Have a developmental difference and are in the process of accessing services. WHAT TO EXPECT Each 75-minute session will include: -A presentation from subject matter experts about key topics and best practices for your child. -An interactive discussion about aclinical case study -A Q&A with the presenter and the opportunity to provide feedback. -Access to relevant resources to continue your learning journey and your child. | Special Education Glossary |
| Colors of Autism: Parent Support Group Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Hosted by The Colors of Autism Foundation. The COA Parent Support Group is your go-to place for connection, understanding, and guidance. It’s where parents and caregivers of children on the autism spectrum come together to share experiences, access resources, and build a strong community of support. Join them to connect with others who truly understand your journey and gain valuable insights to help you and your child thrive. Together, members of this support group are here to empower and uplift each other on this remarkable path of autism parenting. | Philadelphia Inquirer- Philadelphia is the City’s First Sensory Inclusive City |
| A.J. Drexel Autism Institute: Father’s Autism Support Group Saturday, June 21, 2025, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Hosted by the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute The Autism Institute is excited to offer a support group for fathers of autistic people in partnership with Dr. Robert Naseef, a clinical psychologist at Alternative Choices, and Michael Hannon, Associate Professor of counseling at Montclair State University. Email AutismInstitute@drexel.edu for further information and to register. | Philadelphia Autism Project |
| The Pennsylvania Branch, International Dyslexia Association (PBIDA) – Summer Learning | Sensory Processing- STAR Institute Resources |
| bodycraft bodycraft is the mobile massage practice of jude kapadia. bodycraft is an offering by and for the queer and neurodivergent community. Massage that meets you where you are. whether you’re dealing with stress, chronic pain, or just looking for a way to unwind, massage can help you feel more at ease in your body. Trauma-informed, client-led massage with a focus on comfort and respect. no judgment, no assumptions—just skilled, intuitive touch designed to help you release tension and move more freely. sessions take place in your own space, so you can fully relax without the stress of traveling before or after. | PEAL Center – Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership – The PEAL Center is a one-stop-resource for disability information and referral in Pennsylvania for parents, self-advocates and professionals |
| Kids at Play ~ Therapy Dedicated Therapy for Your Child A child’s main occupation is to play and learn. | Jefferson Center for Autism and Neurodiversity |
| Accommodating Venues We’ve collected lists of venues, such as museums and amusement parks, who regularly offer accommodations for those with sensory sensitivities and disabilities. | We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym -Northeast We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym – Mount Laurel |
Inclusive Summer Camps & Programs | Kids at Play Therapy |
| Camps that are for kids with special needs, that integrate special-needs kids, or that make special provisions for kids with special health needs | Franklin Institute: Sensory backpacks are available for check-out at our Ticketing Desk. Each backpack is equipped with sensory guide alerts, noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, and fidgets. Backpacks are first come, first served. If you find the museum too overwhelming and need to leave within 30 minutes of purchasing your ticket, please stop by the Box Office for a return visit voucher to try again on another day. |
| 10 Best Sensory-Friendly Camps near Philadelphia, PA | Leogland Discovery Center KultureCity® Sensory bags containing special KCVIP badge, feeling thermometer, fidget tools, and noise-canceling headphones are available for checkout at the Admissions Desk. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia’s staff are trained on Sensory Inclusive initiatives to better serve our visitors. View the Digital Social Story to see what to expect for sensory stimuli on your visit to LEGOLAND Discovery Center! |
NEURODIVERSE RESOURCE FAIR & SUMMER CAMP EXPO 2024 DIRECTORY | Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate FREE IEP Binder FREE IEP Meeting Workbook and Guide |
| We Are One Foundation: Kickball Event for Special Needs Individuals Saturday, June 28, 2025, 1:00 – 3:30 pm This special day will celebrate inclusion, fun, and community. As part of the event, there will be a Vendor Fair to highlight organizations and businesses that support the special needs community. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about programs, services, or products for families and individuals who can benefit most. The mission of the We Are One Foundation is to provide free activities to special needs individuals of all ages. | Focus Foxes Tackle Tasks One Step at a Time – Big Life Journal This printable helps your child manage their tasks by teaching them how to prioritize, break things down into steps, and stay focused. Your child will learn to tackle tasks step-by-step, making it easier to handle schoolwork and other responsibilities. |
Office of Minority Leader Kendra Brooks: Autism Play Date Saturday, August 2, 2025, 1:00 – 5:00 pm This exciting event will take place at the Smith Memorial Playground. The Autism Play Date is important because it provides valuable information, resources, and awareness for the community. Kendra Brooks is the first Working Families Party member elected to Philadelphia City Council in history. Kendra has deep roots working across movement-building organizations throughout Philadelphia, where her focus has been on the implementation of restorative justice practices in schools and communities, fighting school privatization efforts and gun violence in Nicetown, and organizing with 215 People’s Alliance on their Steering Committee. | IEP Meeting Readiness Checklist These are some of the common areas of need for a child receiving IEP evaluations. Use this list as a guide to request IEP evaluations, re-evaluations, your parent concerns letter or to add to the Permission to Evaluate form you receive. |
| adayinourshoes.com Online tips, IEP advice, and support for parents raising disabled children | |
| Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Philadelphia, PA dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding programs and equine-assisted services (EAS) for children and adults with disabilities, diagnoses, and those in at risk populations. | |
| Find more events at https://www.specialneedscollective.com/community | Neurabilities We bring together the experts needed to provide evaluation, diagnoses and treatments for individuals across the lifespan with neurological, behavioral, developmental and cognitive concerns. These experts work collaboratively to provide a seamless experience for patients |
What is Neurodivergent?
Neurodiversity refers to the concept that humans have neurological differences that lead to variety in communication and thinking styles. Neurodivergent is an umbrella term that encompasses health conditions including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia. At Meredith, we celebrate the unique strengths of neurodivergent students in our community and strive to create an inclusive learning environment.
Educational Model
vs.
Medical Model
Educational Model: In the school setting, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy services must be educationally relevant and support an academic need. These related services are for students that require skilled therapy in order to access their educational environment and/or the school curriculum. Students must be found eligible for school-based services based on a comprehensive evaluation conducted by the therapist. The educational model is guided by IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
Medical Model: In the medical setting, outpatient therapy services (occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech therapy) are meant to remediate any deficit- there does not need to be an educational impact. These services require a referral from a physician and are paid for by health insurance or private pay. There are many instances where a child may benefit from outpatient therapy to improve skills, but do not require school-based therapy in order to access the curriculum.
IEP vs 504
EP: Individualized Education Plan; the legal document for students that qualify for special education that includes a student’s goals, specially designed instruction (SDI’s), and related services needed to support the student’s academic progress. Eligibility is based on a multi-disciplinary evaluation that shows the student meets the criteria for a disability category. The disability categories listed in IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) are: Specific Learning Disability, Other Health Impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotional Disturbance, Speech of Language Impairment, Visual Impairment, Deafness, Hearing Impairment, Deaf-Blindness, Orthopedic Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Traumatic Brain Injury, Multiple Disabilities.
504 Plan: The main criterion for eligibility for a Section 504 Service Agreement is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities are functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. The purpose of a Section 504 Service Agreement is to protect students with disabilities from discrimination for reasons related to their disability. School age students who require occupational therapy and/or physical therapist services to accommodate for their functional limitations or provide access to their educational environment, but do not require special education services (specially designed instruction), may receive occupational therapy and/or physical therapist services. The educational team writes the needed aids, accommodations, and services into a Section 504 Service Agreement for the student rather than an IEP (United States Department of Education, 2020).
United States Department of Education (2020, Jan 10). Protecting students with disabilities: Frequently asked questions about section 504 and the education of children with disabilities. Office for Civil Rights.
Initiating Support at Meredith
Where do I start if I have a concern about my child’s academic performance, behavior, or health needs?
The first step is for a student to go through the MTSS process. MTSS stands for
Multi-tiered System of Supports. It’s a framework many schools use to give targeted support to struggling students. The MTSS process is initiated by general education teachers based on any academic or behavior concern impacting success in the classroom. The teacher will arrange a meeting with the parent and any staff members relevant to the concerns. Based on the unique concerns of the student, relevant team members could be: school psychologist, special education teacher, special education compliance monitor (SPECM), school counselor, nurse, speech therapist, occupational therapist, teacher for the visually impaired (TVI), and physical therapist. This team will help determine appropriate interventions to trial and recommend next steps.