Evidence Based Resources for Pediatric Therapists

11/13/2025

11/11/2025

We're excited to announce a special cohort of the Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course, proudly sponsored by RareKids-CAN. This means course fees are covered for eligible participants.

This cohort aims to bring together learners who share an interest in or are affected by pediatric rare disease research, including patients, families, researchers, and trainees.

Course Highlights:
✅ Earn a McMaster University Certificate of Completion
⏰ ~30 hours of learning: 4 x 2-hour Zoom sessions + online group activities
📅 January 17 - March 19, 2026
📖 Learn more: https://tr.ee/OJiFnJ
📝 Apply now: https://tr.ee/90eSMj
Questions? Contact fer@mcmaster.ca

11/10/2025

11/10/2025

For years, doctors warned parents to keep peanuts away from children until they turn three. But experts now say delayed exposure helped cause a peanut allergy surge in the U.S.

Hear more from Dr. Robert Wood, Chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, on "Lessons from America’s peanut allergy flip flop."

▶️ https://wbur.fm/49bNeZw

11/10/2025

This 1-hour, FREE webinar (on THIS TUESDAY, Nov. 11, at 12pm EST) brings together five unique perspectives to provide a holistic understanding of how to choose the “right” school for your child.

Hear from:

🧑‍🏫 The Maddux School

🧑‍🏫 The McLean School

🧑‍🏫 The Springwell School

🧑‍🏫 The Lab School of Washington

🧑‍🏫 Weinfeld Education Group’s Homeschooling Specialist Casey Joseph Winderbaum

🏫 and our moderator will be Hayley Jacobson, Lead School Selection Specialist and education consultant with the Weinfeld Education Group

Participants will:

🚸 Learn the factors that parents should consider when exploring different schools.

🚸 Gain insights into the admissions process from schools’ viewpoints.

This session is designed for parents exploring different private school and homeschooling options.

Come with your parenting questions!

👉🏽 Register to join this FREE discussion:
https://bit.ly/3Romkn6

Thank you to our sponsors for enabling this important discussion:

💙 The Stixrud Group

💙 McLean School

💙 PrepMatters

💙 Fusion Academy

💙 The Maddux School

💙 The Lab School of Washington

💙 The Springwell School

Learn more about WEG’s advocacy and school selection services at www.WEGadvocacy.com.
🔗 in bio.

Casey’s Special Education Services, LLC WISER

11/10/2025

Join us on Monday, Nov. 10, at 1pm EST for “The End of Autism? And Other DSM Categories?- a FREE parent support and discussion group led by Dr. Dan Shapiro, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician.

👉🏽 Register for this free discussion at http://shorturl.at/bemHZ .

Will the DSM eventually be abandoned?

Psychiatrist Steve Hyman, previous Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)) from 1996 to 2001 has argued that the DSM—our big book of diagnoses—describes clusters of visible symptoms rather than what’s really going on inside the brain.

🧠 What if our current labels, like ADHD or autism, are just rough sketches of much more complex patterns of brain development?

As science uncovers genetic clues, brain circuits, and biological markers, will we still think in terms of artificial boxes—or move toward describing each child’s unique neuroprofile?

🧬 If the DSM has been used by insurance companies and special education programs, what might happen when science, not policy, leads the way?

Join other parents and Dr. Dan by Zoom for a participant-led discussion.

Different themes are selected by the group each week.

Share experiences and ideas. Support each other. Brainstorm solutions.

💙 You are not alone.

11/10/2025

With Baby Begin, LLC – I'm on a streak! I've been a top fan for 4 months in a row. 🎉

11/02/2025

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month
💜💜💜💜💜

Epilepsy is one of the most common diagnoses to come from HIE, & there are certain types of seizure disorders that HIE children are more prone to developing.

👉 Many babies and children experience seizures at the onset of HIE, in fact, HIE is the top cause of neonatal seizures.

👉 HIE is the second leading cause of Infantile Spasms (IS), a type of epilepsy. The onset of IS is considered emergent, so we recommend all newly diagnosed HIE families learn about their child’s risk profile, what they look like & how to elevate concerns quickly with your medical team for quick diagnosis & treatment (Hopeforhie.org/infantilespasms).

👉 IS most commonly develops in the first 4-8 months

👉 Hope for HIE is a proud partner of the Neonatal Seizure Registry, which is working on long-term studies to fill data gaps, education for professionals, and improvement in care.

👉 The work through NSR has changed guidelines for when it is safe to stop anti-seizure medications after neonatal seizures.

👉 There are many types of seizures and seizure disorders. Some are easier to treat, and some are more aggressive.

👉 Other forms of epilepsy that HIE leads as the top cause include ,

👉 Common developmental times for epilepsy onset later in childhood tend to be around developmental cognitive leaps (ages 4-8), and puberty, most frequently starting at the sleep/wake cycle.

👉 There are many treatment options, including medications and surgery, and what works for one person, may not work for another.

👉 Hope for HIE is a part of several advocacy & research collaboratives working to improve the care for the various seizure types that are common with HIE including the Rare Epilepsy Network, Infantile Spasms Action Network, Epilepsy Leadership Council & Epilepsy Action Network.

👉 Life with epilepsy can be tough, but there are many resources, support, & lots of research being done to improve, control & prevent it.
💪💪🧠🧠💜💜

11/02/2025

Celebrate the Season. Support Kennedy Krieger.

11/02/2025

AACPDM offers CME opportunities all year long. Check out the information for our upcoming Spring Symposium and eCourses. More information coming soon! https://ow.ly/M2ZX50Xgz6g

10/25/2025

Join us on Monday, October 27, at 1pm EST for “PDA Parenting Controversies“- a FREE parent support and discussion group led by Dr. Dan Shapiro, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician.

👉🏽 Register for this free discussion at http://shorturl.at/bemHZ .

Whether you call it pathological demand avoidance or persistent demand for autonomy, this common subtype of autism plus anxiety has become one of the most debated topics in developmental pediatrics.

🧐 Should we be subscribing to low-demand parenting or just more gradual, incremental exposure therapy?

🧐 What’s the right balance—more accommodation or accommodation reduction?

🧐 Is this a permanent condition or a developmental difference?

🧐 What exactly do we mean by PDA, and what should we do about it?

Join Dr. Dan and other parents for what’s sure to be a lively and thought-provoking discussion.

Different themes are selected by the group each week.

Share experiences and ideas. Support each other.
Brainstorm solutions.

💙 You are not alone.

10/24/2025

Check out this new children’s book about one of our Scientific Advisory Council members, Dr. Kathleen Friel! Kathleen was born with cerebral palsy.

Rewriting the Rules: How Dr. Kathleen Friel Created New Possibilities for Brain Research and Disability tells the incredible story of how Kathleen broke stereotypes of disability to become a leading researcher in CP rehabilitation. Together with many collaborators, Kathleen and her lab have made important discoveries about hand and arm rehabilitation in people with CP.

Congratulations to first-time author, Danna Zeiger, who was mentored by Kathleen, and amazing illustrator, Josée Bisaillon. We always love seeing people with disabilities – especially people we know – represented in media.

Find the book at https://www.amazon.com/Rewriting-Rules-Kathleen-Possibilities-Disability/dp/B0DQ65MGX8 today!