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Special Education
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with special education.
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Therapy & support
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Therapy & support
How do I explain Genetic / Chromosomal Syndromes to my child?
Explaining a genetic or chromosomal syndrome to your child works best with simple, age-fitting, strengths-first words: genes are the instructions inside every body, and your child's are arranged in their own unique way. Keep it honest, warm and free of blame, answer the questions they ask, and revisit the conversation as they grow. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Global Developmental Delay to my child?
Explain Global Developmental Delay to your child with simple, honest, strengths-first words that focus on how they learn rather than what is wrong, reassuring them they're loved and capable. Frame therapy as friendly practice and keep the conversation open. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Gross Motor Delay to my child?
Explain gross motor delay to your child in warm, simple words: their big muscles for sitting, crawling and running are still learning, and you are helping them grow stronger together. Use strength-focused language, normalise different paces, celebrate effort and present the physiotherapist as a fun movement coach. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Hypotonia (Low Muscle Tone) to my child?
Explain hypotonia to your child in simple, honest, blame-free words suited to their age — that their muscles are softer and need extra practice to feel strong, and that's okay. Name strengths alongside challenges, keep it an ongoing calm conversation, and let your warmth reassure them. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Intellectual Disability to my child?
Explain Intellectual Disability to your child simply, honestly and warmly: everyone's brain learns at its own pace, some children take longer or need extra help, and that is okay. Lead with strengths, normalise help, welcome questions, and revisit the conversation as they grow. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Motor Planning Difficulties to my child?
Explain motor planning difficulties to your child in warm, simple words: their brain and body are still learning to plan the steps of new movements, so some things take more practice — and that's nobody's fault. Use a friendly picture, praise effort over outcome, and keep a calm, hopeful tone. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Explain Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation to Your Child
You explain Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation to your child with warm, simple, shame-free words — naming their strengths, normalising that everyone communicates differently, and reassuring them that more tools (pictures, signs, devices) are on the way. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow to explain Oppositional Defiant Disorder to your child
Explain ODD to your child in simple, blame-free language: their brain finds it hard right now to manage big angry feelings, and you'll work on it together — not as punishment. Match words to age, name feelings rather than misbehaviour, and reassure them of your love. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Persistent Toe-Walking to my child?
Explain persistent toe-walking to your child in warm, playful, body-positive language — that their feet like to tiptoe and that fun games and stretches will teach them strong flat-foot walking. Keep it short, reassuring and free of blame. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Prematurity-Related Developmental Risk to my child?
You can explain prematurity to your child gently and by age — for little ones, a warm story about arriving early and doing fun catching-up games; for older children, honest, strength-first reassurance that their brain learns at its own pace. Lead with belonging and tone, not fear. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Rett Syndrome to my child?
Explain Rett Syndrome to your child simply, honestly and at their level — name it gently, focus on what it means for everyday life, lead with their strengths, and reassure them they are loved exactly as they are. Match your words to their age, invite questions, and revisit the conversation over time. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain School Readiness Gap to my child?
You don't explain a "School Readiness Gap" to a young child as a label — you talk warmly about how everyone learns at their own pace and how you're practising fun school skills together. Name the skill not the gap, make it a team effort, and celebrate small wins. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Selective Mutism to my child?
Explain Selective Mutism to your child in simple, blame-free words: their voice works fine, but a big worried feeling sometimes makes talking hard in certain places, and it is not their fault. Use a calm tone, name the feeling not the child, remove pressure, and reassure them you are a team. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Self-Regulation Difficulties to my child?
Explain self-regulation difficulties to your child with simple, blame-free, body-based language — name big feelings, normalise them, use pictures like a fast or slow engine, and make learning calming tools a shared journey. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Sensory-Based Feeding Selectivity to my child?
You explain Sensory-Based Feeding Selectivity to your child with simple, blame-free words — that their senses find some textures, tastes or smells very strong, so certain foods feel tricky right now, and you'll explore new foods together slowly and without pressure. Use feeling words not failure words, make it a playful team adventure, and celebrate tiny steps. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Separation Anxiety Disorder to my child?
Explain Separation Anxiety to your child in simple, honest words: name the worried feeling, normalise it, reassure them it is not their fault, and promise — and keep — that you always come back, paired with a small predictable goodbye routine. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Social Communication Difficulties to my child?
Explain social communication difficulties to your child in simple, strengths-first, blame-free language matched to their age — name what feels tricky, reassure them they are not broken, and frame therapy as helpful tools. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Specific Learning Disability to my child?
Explain Specific Learning Disability to your child in simple, strengths-first language: their brain learns some things differently, it is nobody's fault and has nothing to do with being clever, and there are tools and helpers to make learning easier. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Stereotyped Movement Disorder to my child?
Explain Stereotyped Movement Disorder to your child in simple, kind, blame-free words suited to their age — that their body sometimes likes to make comforting repeated movements, that it is okay and not their fault. Lead with reassurance and acceptance, and seek a check if movements cause harm or distress. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Tourette Syndrome to my child?
Explain Tourette Syndrome to your child in simple, blame-free words: their brain sometimes sends a quick signal that makes a movement or sound called a tic happen, it isn't their fault, and it doesn't change who they are. Use age-appropriate comparisons like a sneeze, reassure them tics aren't dangerous or contagious, and keep the conversation open. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I explain Visual Impairment to my child?
Explain visual impairment to your child in simple, honest, age-matched words, naming the difference calmly and focusing on what their eyes can do and the tools that help, while inviting their questions and revisiting the conversation as they grow. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I find a good provider of remedial education for my child?
A good remedial-education provider assesses how your child learns before teaching, employs qualified educators using evidence-based multisensory methods, sets individualised goals with regular progress reviews, and keeps you and the school involved. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I find a good provider of special education for my child?
A good special-education provider assesses your child first, builds an individualised written plan with measurable goals, employs qualified and registered educators, collaborates with therapists and with you, and offers a warm, strengths-based environment. Visit in person, ask about qualifications and progress reviews, and watch how your child responds. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I find a good provider of the TEACCH approach for my child?
Choosing a good TEACCH-approach provider means looking for therapists trained in structured teaching, who assess your child's strengths first, tailor visual supports and routines to them, and coach you to carry those supports into home life. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
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