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What we tell families on the phone, written down.
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Hiring
Finding, choosing and paying for a shadow teacher, special educator or remedial tutor in India.
How to hire a shadow teacher in India: a step-by-step guide for families
The full process for families in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad: writing the brief, getting the school's agreement, choosing between an agency and a direct hire, vetting, the trial, the written terms and the supervision that follows.
5 min read
Shadow teacher, special educator or remedial teacher: which does your child need?
The three roles families are offered, what each actually does, where each one works, and how to tell which your child needs from the school's request, the clinicians' reports and the hardest hour of the day.
4 min read
What is a shadow teacher, and does your child need one?
What a shadow teacher does in an Indian school, how to tell whether your child needs one, the alternatives, what the role is not, and how to arrange it.
12 min read
How much does a shadow teacher cost in India? What decides the fee, and how to compare quotes
What decides the cost of a shadow teacher in India: hours, qualification, experience, city, school and home, agency fees and the costs families forget.
9 min read
Questions to ask when interviewing a shadow teacher, and what good answers sound like
The questions to ask a shadow teacher or special educator at interview, grouped by topic, with what a strong answer sounds like and the warning signs to notice.
9 min read
A special educator at home: what a good session looks like and how to judge it
What to expect from a special educator at home: a good session, arranging the hours, judging progress after a month, warning signs, and how to hire one.
11 min read
Shadow teacher roles and responsibilities: what to agree in writing
Shadow teacher roles and responsibilities, set out as a written agreement between the family, the school and the shadow teacher, with a checklist of clauses.
11 min read
Can a parent be their own child's shadow teacher? What schools allow, and what usually happens
Can a parent be a shadow teacher? What Indian schools usually allow, the honest pros and cons for child and parent, how to hand over, and the alternatives.
10 min read
How to find a good special educator near you: where to look and what to check
Looking for a special educator near me? Where Indian families find one, what each route gives, how to check RCI registration, and what to watch in a trial.
10 min read
Part-time shadow teacher: when half a day is enough, and how to arrange it
When a part-time shadow teacher is enough: which children suit it, which parts of the day to cover, what the school must agree, and how to make it last.
10 min read
The first week with a new shadow teacher: a day-by-day plan
A day-by-day plan for a new shadow teacher's first week: preparing before day one, what each day is for, the daily note, the Friday review and common wobbles.
10 min read
When a shadow teacher isn't working out: signs, fixes and ending well
Problems with a shadow teacher? The signs, which problems can be fixed and which cannot, how to raise a concern, a two-week plan, and how to end it well.
10 min read
Tuition for a slow learner or a special educator: when extra classes stop helping
When tuition for a slow learner stops helping, how a tutor differs from a special educator or remedial teacher, and how to plan the week around both.
12 min read
Hiring a nanny for a special needs child: what to look for, check and teach
Hiring a nanny for a special needs child: how care differs from teaching, what to look for, the checks to run, how to train a caregiver and fair terms.
9 min read
Both parents working: organising support for a special needs child
Working parents of a special needs child: who covers school pick-up, therapy in office hours and the after-school gap, and how to hand over without gaps.
12 min read
School
Admissions, inclusion coordinators, IEPs, school meetings and the school year, for CBSE, ICSE, IB, IGCSE and state-board families.
What a school inclusion coordinator needs from a family, and what to ask for in return
How to work with the inclusion coordinator or special educator at a CBSE, ICSE, IB or IGCSE school: the documents they need, the consent they will ask for, the meetings that matter, and what a family is entitled to expect back.
4 min read
Preparing for a school meeting about your child: what to bring, what to ask, what to write down
How parents can walk into a meeting with the class teacher, counsellor or inclusion coordinator prepared: the file, the three questions, who should attend, how to handle a request for a shadow teacher, and the note to send afterwards.
4 min read
Down syndrome and the first year of school: preparing the child, the school and the household
How families prepare a child with Down syndrome for the first year at a mainstream school: the conversation with the school, the shadow teacher's role, the therapists' plans in the classroom, independence skills, friendships, and what the first term's reviews should cover.
4 min read
A school day with a shadow teacher: the daily routine from gate to dispersal
Shadow teacher daily routine in an Indian school, from the gate to dispersal: what the child finds hard, what the shadow teacher does, and how help fades.
11 min read
When should a shadow teacher step back? Fading support in planned stages
Fading shadow teacher support is planned from the first week: the levels of help, signs a child is ready for less, a phased plan, reviews and setbacks.
11 min read
Choosing a school for a child with special needs in India: what to look for
How to choose a school for a special needs child in India: what to decide first, what the board changes, what to look for on a visit and the questions to ask.
11 min read
Inclusive school vs special school: how to decide for your child in India
Inclusive school vs special school in India: what each kind of school offers a child, how they compare, and how to decide what fits your child now.
10 min read
What is an IEP? The individualised education plan in Indian schools
What is an IEP? The individualised education plan Indian schools write for a child who needs support: what it contains, example targets and the IEP meeting.
11 min read
Moving to India with a special needs child: schools, support and settling in
Moving to India with a special needs child: what changes, what to bring, choosing a city and school, keeping therapies going, timing the move and settling in.
10 min read
Telling the school about an autism, ADHD or dyslexia diagnosis: when and how
Should you tell the school about an autism diagnosis, ADHD or dyslexia? Why families hesitate, when to tell, what to share, and what to do if it goes badly.
10 min read
How to explain autism to classmates, with or without naming the diagnosis
How to explain autism to classmates: consent first, what to say at each age, a short script for the class teacher, buddy systems, and dealing with teasing.
11 min read
The resource room in school, and what the school's special educator does
What a resource room in school is, what the school's special educator does, what to ask, pull-out or in-class support, and where a shadow teacher fits in.
9 min read
NIOS for a special needs child: open schooling, homeschooling and what to weigh
NIOS for a special needs child: subject choice, exam concessions, On-Demand Exams, the honest trade-offs of open schooling and what a home programme needs.
12 min read
Annual day, sports day and school trips: planning for a child with special needs
How to plan annual day and sports day for a special needs child, plus picnics and trips: rehearsals, the stage, races, the bus, medicines and photos.
13 min read
A one-page profile for teachers: what to include, with an example
How to write a one-page profile for teachers about your child: what to include, a worked example, versions for the van, PE and relatives, and updating it.
11 min read
Moving from primary to middle school: a transition plan for special needs in classes 5 and 6
A transition to middle school plan for special needs: subject teachers every period, more notebooks, a third language, the bag, the IEP and the shadow teacher.
10 min read
Homework adjustments for a child with special needs: what to ask the school for
Homework for a special needs child: the adjustments to ask the school for, from time caps to typed answers, and how to ask using a homework diary and the IEP.
11 min read
Classroom accommodations for special needs: what an Indian school can change
Classroom accommodations for special needs: how they differ from modifications, examples by need, reasonable accommodation, board exams and the IEP.
10 min read
A child with hearing loss in a mainstream school: seating, devices and what the teacher can change
How to support a child with hearing loss in school in India: seating, daily hearing aid checks, captions, sign language, exam provisions and the teacher's role.
13 min read
Low vision and visual impairment in a mainstream school: what helps a child keep up
What helps a child with visual impairment in a mainstream school in India: seating, large print, board work, braille, mobility, PE and board exam provisions.
11 min read
Rights
What Indian law and the boards provide for children with disabilities, and the paperwork that unlocks it.
ICSE and ISC concessions for dyslexia and learning disabilities: the CISCE rules
ICSE concessions for dyslexia and other learning disabilities under CISCE's 2024 guidelines: extra time, writers, language exemption, evidence and applying.
12 min read
IGCSE and IB access arrangements in India: evidence, deadlines and practice
IGCSE access arrangements and IB extra time for students in India: what Cambridge and the IB allow, the evidence each wants, the deadlines and practice.
12 min read
SSC and SSLC concessions for learning disability: four state boards compared
SSC concessions for learning disability in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana: the orders, extra time, scribes, languages and how to apply.
12 min read
CBSE concessions for learning disabilities and autism: CWSN portal, dates and documents
CBSE concessions for learning disability and autism in the 2027 exams: who qualifies, extra time, scribes, subjects, the CWSN portal and the LOC deadline.
12 min read
RPwD Act 2016 education rights: what the law gives your child at school
RPwD Act 2016 education rights in plain English: the 21 disabilities, Sections 16, 17 and 31, RTE 25% seats, NEP 2020, CBSE’s rules and where to complain.
12 min read
Can a school refuse admission to a child with autism or another disability?
Can a school refuse admission to a child with autism in India? What the RPwD and RTE Acts say, the paper trail to keep, where to complain and when to move on.
12 min read
School asking for a shadow teacher: who pays, and what a school can insist on
School asking for a shadow teacher? Who pays in practice, what the law and two 2025 High Court rulings say, and how to agree the hours, terms and review.
11 min read
UDID card for autism or learning disability: how to apply for a child in India
UDID card for autism, SLD or developmental delay: what the disability certificate is, whether to apply, the steps on the portal and the March 2024 rules.
12 min read
Third language exemption for learning disability: dropping a language, board by board
Third language exemption for learning disability on CBSE, CISCE, NIOS and four state boards: what each allows, what to check and when dropping one helps.
12 min read
JEE, NEET and CUET with a learning disability: scribe, extra time and college support
Scribe and extra time in entrance exams for a learning disability: the DEPwD rules NEET, JEE and CUET follow, the certificate, ADHD, and support at college.
12 min read
Is a special educator mandatory in a CBSE school? What the rules say, and what to ask
Is a CBSE special educator mandatory? What circular Acad-57/2025 and the bye-laws require, what one educator can do, and what to ask at admission and the IEP.
10 min read
Government schemes for children with disabilities in India: a family checklist
Government schemes for children with disabilities in India: UDID, Samagra Shiksha, ADIP aids, DEICs, National Trust, scholarships and where to apply.
11 min read
National Trust schemes explained: Niramaya health insurance and legal guardianship
The Niramaya health insurance scheme and National Trust guardianship explained: who qualifies, what Niramaya covers, how to enrol, and planning for age 18.
10 min read
Section 80DD deduction for parents of a child with a disability: 80U and the 2026 change
The Section 80DD deduction for parents of a child with a disability: who can claim, the certificate and Form 10-IA, 80U, the tax regimes and the 2026 Act.
10 min read
Financial planning for a special needs child in India: wills, trusts and guardians
Financial planning for a special needs child in India: a will, a private trust, a letter of intent, guardianship after 18, and a checklist by your child's age.
10 min read
Learning disabilities
Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and the 'slow learner' label: what they are, what helps, and board exams.
Learning disability and board exam accommodations: how to prepare from class nine
A plain guide for families of children with dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia in CBSE, ICSE, IB and IGCSE schools: the assessment the school will ask for, what accommodations usually exist, how to apply through the school, and how a remedial teacher helps a child actually use them.
4 min read
Home or online remedial tutoring: how to choose for a child with a learning disability
The real differences between remedial tutoring at home and online for a child with dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia in India: attention, materials, the parent's role, the commute, the pool of specialist teachers, and how to tell a specialist from a general tutor in either format.
4 min read
What is remedial teaching? How it differs from tuition, and how to tell it is working
Remedial teaching rebuilds a skill a learning difficulty has made hard. What it is, how it differs from tuition, who it helps and how to tell it is working.
9 min read
Multisensory, structured literacy teaching for dyslexia: what it is and what a good lesson looks like
What structured literacy and multisensory teaching mean for a child with dyslexia, what a good lesson looks like, and how to spot a trained teacher.
8 min read
Signs of dyslexia in children: what to notice and what to do next
Signs of dyslexia in children that parents and teachers notice from pre-primary to class 3 in India, why lazy is the wrong word, and what to do next.
11 min read
Slow learner: what the label means in Indian schools, and what actually helps
Slow learner is a school label, not a diagnosis. What it can hide, how it differs from a learning disability, why assessment matters and what helps.
11 min read
Dyslexia test in India: how the assessment works and how to read the report
A dyslexia test in India is a learning disability assessment by qualified professionals. Who does it, when, what to bring and how to read the report.
11 min read
Scribe, reader or extra time in the board exam: a practice plan from class 9
Scribe for board exam, reader or extra time: a term-by-term practice plan from class 9, who can be a scribe on each board, and the rules for entrance exams.
12 min read
Dyscalculia in children: tables, abacus classes and what actually helps
Dyscalculia in children, for Indian families: what parents and teachers notice, why more tables and drills may not help, and what school and teaching can do.
11 min read
Dysgraphia in children: slow, untidy writing and what the school can do
Dysgraphia in children, in Indian schools: why it is more than bad handwriting, who helps with which part, and the classroom and exam support to ask for.
11 min read
Dyslexia in Hindi and Indian languages: matras, aksharas and three languages
Dyslexia in Hindi and other Indian languages: how reading difficulty shows in matras and aksharas, why English differs, and why assessment language matters.
11 min read
Class 3 and still not reading fluently: when practice is not enough, and what to do next
When a child cannot read fluently in class 3, more practice is rarely enough. What to rule out, what the school can do this term and when to seek assessment.
12 min read
Second-language learner or dyslexia? When a child in an English-medium school can't read
If your child cannot read English but speaks another language at home, is it the language or dyslexia? What to look at, what helps both, and when to assess.
10 min read
Study tips for students with dyslexia: how to revise for board exams
Study tips for students with dyslexia in the board years: active recall, mind maps, listening, answer templates, subject methods and a weekly timetable.
11 min read
Assistive technology for dyslexia and learning disabilities: text-to-speech, typing and more
Assistive technology for dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia: text-to-speech, dictation, typing, calculators and planners, with free options and exam rules.
9 min read
Exam stress in children who learn differently: a calm plan for the board year
Exam stress in children with learning disabilities or ADHD: the signs, a calm routine for the board year, what to say, results day and when to get help.
10 min read
Autism
Support for autistic children at school and at home, between the therapy sessions.
Autism support at home between therapy sessions: what a special educator actually does
How a special educator or shadow teacher supports an autistic child at home and at school between sessions with the speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist and psychologist, what the role does and does not include, and why coordination is most of the job.
4 min read
Visual schedules and social stories for autism: how to make and use them
How to make a visual schedule for autism at home, use first/then and now/next boards, and write a short social story, with an example for a family visit.
11 min read
Autism meltdowns at school: what helps before, during and after
An autism meltdown at school is not a tantrum. Common classroom triggers, the written plan, what helps before, during and after, and what must never happen.
11 min read
Preparing an autistic child for a new school year: a four-week plan
A four-week plan for preparing an autistic child for school after the holidays: visits, photos, a social story, the uniform, sleep and a teacher profile.
11 min read
Diwali with an autistic child: tips for festivals, weddings and family functions
Diwali autism tips: preparing an autistic child for festivals, crackers, weddings and family functions, with a plan for relatives and the day after.
11 min read
After an autism diagnosis in India: what next, and a plan for the first 90 days
Autism diagnosis, what next in India: a practical 90-day plan for families, from reading the report and building the team to school, paperwork and routines.
11 min read
Special educator vs occupational therapist: who does what in your child’s team
Special educator vs occupational therapist, speech therapist, psychologist and ABA therapist: what each does for an autistic child and how to check them.
12 min read
Birthday parties with an autistic child: hosting one, and going to one
Planning a birthday party for an autistic child, or taking them to one: guest list, cake and song, a quiet room, return gifts and invitations that never come.
11 min read
Malls, restaurants and places of worship: taking an autistic child out
Taking an autistic child out to malls, restaurants, temples and markets: practising in steps, what to carry, handling stares, crowd safety and when to leave.
11 min read
Autism assessment in India: who to see, what happens, and how to prepare
How an autism assessment in India works: who diagnoses, where to go, what happens on the day, what to bring, and why a diagnosis is not a UDID certificate.
11 min read
Toilet training an autistic child: a step-by-step plan for home and school
Toilet training an autistic child: readiness signs, a doctor's check first, picture steps, sensory barriers like the health faucet, and a written school plan.
12 min read
Autistic child eats only a few foods? Widening the plate, one food at a time
When an autistic child eats only a few foods: sensory reasons, when to see the doctor, feeding help in India, food chaining, roti, spice and the school tiffin.
10 min read
ABA
Applied behaviour analysis explained for Indian families: how it works, the debate around it, finding a qualified analyst, and carrying the plan into school and home.
What is ABA therapy? A plain-English guide for parents in India
What is ABA therapy? A plain-English guide for Indian parents: the ABC idea, what a session looks like, who delivers it, what it is for and what it is not.
11 min read
ABA therapy for autism in India: how it works, who provides it and what to expect
ABA therapy in India explained: who provides it, how to check credentials with no RCI category, home, school or centre, and what the first months look like.
11 min read
Does ABA therapy work? What the research says, and what it does not
Does ABA therapy work? An honest look at the research on ABA for autism, why results vary between children, and what 'working' should mean for your child.
10 min read
How many hours of ABA therapy does a child need?
How many hours of ABA therapy does a child need? What Indian guidelines say, why intensive ABA is debated, and how hours should fit into a child's whole week.
10 min read
What age should ABA therapy start? Toddlers, school-age children and teenagers
What age should ABA therapy start? Early intervention for toddlers, starting at school age, ABA for teenagers, and why goals change but it is never too late.
10 min read
Is ABA therapy harmful? The criticism from autistic adults, and how good programmes respond
Is ABA harmful? What autistic adults criticise, in their own terms, how today's practice and the BACB Ethics Code respond, and how a parent can tell.
12 min read
Assent-based ABA: what kind, child-led practice looks like
Assent based ABA explained for parents: assent vs consent, the signs a child wants to stop, how play and choice shape sessions, and what to ask a provider.
10 min read
ABA vs speech therapy vs occupational therapy: which does my child need first?
ABA vs speech therapy vs occupational therapy: what each does, how a developmental paediatrician decides what comes first, and how to run all three together.
10 min read
ABA, ESDM, Floortime, TEACCH and PECS: the main autism approaches compared
ABA vs Floortime, ESDM, PRT, TEACCH and PECS: what each autism approach emphasises, how they combine, what Indian guidance says, and how to choose.
10 min read
ABA beyond autism: ADHD, developmental delay, Down syndrome and behaviour that gets in the way
ABA therapy for ADHD, developmental delay and Down syndrome: where behavioural approaches help, what parent training involves, and when ABA is not the fit.
11 min read
Discrete trial training (DTT): what happens at the table, and why
Discrete trial training explained for parents in India: how a DTT trial works, which skills it suits, when it is overused, and how to keep it playful.
11 min read
Natural environment teaching: play-based ABA in everyday life
Natural environment teaching explained: how play-based ABA builds skills at mealtimes, bath time and the park, following your child's own interests at home.
10 min read
Reinforcement in ABA: how rewards work without becoming bribes
Reinforcement in ABA explained for parents: how rewards work, the difference between a reinforcer and a bribe, natural rewards, fading and token boards.
10 min read
Prompting and prompt fading in ABA: helping without making a child dependent
Prompt fading in ABA explained: the main prompt types, most-to-least and least-to-most, avoiding prompt dependence, and what a shadow teacher should do.
10 min read
Task analysis and chaining: teaching brushing, dressing and packing the school bag step by step
Task analysis in ABA explained: breaking brushing, dressing, handwashing and packing the school bag into steps, and when to use forward or backward chaining.
10 min read
Functional behaviour assessment: finding out why a behaviour happens
A functional behaviour assessment finds out why a behaviour happens: the four common reasons, what the behaviour analyst does, and what parents can add.
11 min read
Behaviour intervention plans: what a good one contains
What a behaviour intervention plan should contain: prevention, replacement skills, calm responses, safety, data and review, plus a checklist for parents.
11 min read
Recording behaviour at home: ABC notes for parents
ABC data collection for parents: how to note what happens before, during and after a behaviour at home, what to leave out, and how to share your notes.
10 min read
Why behaviour can get worse before it gets better: extinction bursts explained
An extinction burst is a short rise in a behaviour once it stops working. Why it happens, why only the behaviour analyst should plan for it, and safety first.
10 min read
Functional communication training: teaching a child to ask instead of hit or scream
Functional communication training teaches a child to ask for what a behaviour was getting them, using words, signs, pictures or a device, at home and school.
10 min read
The verbal behaviour approach: mands, tacts and teaching a child to ask
The verbal behaviour approach (verbal behavior ABA) in plain English: mands, tacts, why requesting comes first, and how it fits with speech therapy.
11 min read
Pivotal response treatment (PRT): motivation-led ABA explained
Pivotal response treatment (PRT) explained for parents: the pivotal areas, child choice, natural rewards, how parents use it at home, and its limits.
10 min read
Social skills in ABA: play, turn-taking and friendship, without forcing eye contact
ABA social skills done well: play, turn-taking and friendship on your child's terms, why forced eye contact and masking are not goals, and recess at school.
10 min read
Generalisation in ABA: when skills learned in therapy don't show up at home or school
Generalisation in ABA explained: why skills learned in therapy don't show up at home or school, how good programmes plan for it, and what families can do.
10 min read
ABA, AAC and non-speaking children: PECS, devices and the right to communicate
ABA for a non-verbal child: how AAC, PECS and speech devices fit with ABA, why every form of communication counts, and why the SLP leads AAC decisions.
10 min read
How to find a qualified ABA therapist in India
Searching for an ABA therapist near me? How families in India find qualified ABA, check a behaviour analyst on a public registry and judge the first meeting.
11 min read
BCBA, RBT, IBA, QBA: ABA credentials explained for Indian families
BCBA in India, RBT, IBA and QBA explained for parents: who issues each ABA credential, the BACB residency rule, how to check a registry and what else matters.
10 min read
Questions to ask an ABA centre before you sign up
The questions to ask an ABA provider or centre before you sign up: the analyst, goals, methods, data, your role, school, fees in writing and how it all ends.
9 min read
Red flags in an ABA programme: when to ask questions or walk away
ABA red flags parents in India should know: distress ignored, no observation, punishment, no data shared, hours sold upfront and credentials you cannot check.
10 min read
ABA therapy cost in India: what drives the fee and how to plan for it
ABA therapy cost in India, explained without guesswork: what you pay for, why fees differ, questions to ask, packages, budgeting and schemes worth checking.
10 min read
Home-based, centre-based or school-based ABA: which setting suits your child?
Home based ABA therapy, a centre or school? The trade-offs for Indian families, from commutes and flat space to joint families, and how to choose with a BCBA.
10 min read
Online ABA and parent coaching: can remote supervision work?
Online ABA therapy in India: how parent coaching by video works, what a BCBA can and cannot do remotely, which children it suits, and its real limits.
10 min read
Shadow teacher and ABA: carrying the behaviour plan into the classroom
Shadow teacher ABA support: an educator, not a therapist, carrying your child's ABA plan into class as the analyst directs, with the school's agreement.
10 min read
Sharing your child's ABA plan with school: what to send, and to whom
ABA in school starts with sharing the plan well: a one-page summary, consent, the inclusion coordinator and class teacher, and the same words everywhere.
10 min read
From ABA centre to mainstream school: planning the move
Moving from ABA to mainstream school: the readiness skills that matter, choosing and visiting schools, a transition plan and fading the shadow teacher.
10 min read
Parent training in ABA: why it matters and what a good programme teaches
ABA parent training for Indian families: why coaching parents matters, what a good programme teaches, how practice with feedback works and realistic goals.
11 min read
ABA-informed strategies parents can use at home, safely
ABA at home, safely: first-then, real choices, specific praise, visual schedules and catching good moments, plus the points where parents should stop and ask.
10 min read
One plan for the whole household: ABA in joint families, with grandparents and helpers
ABA in a joint family: helping grandparents, relatives and helpers respond the same way, short scripts that work, respecting elders, and bilingual homes.
11 min read
Reading an ABA progress report: goals, graphs and the questions to ask
How to read an ABA progress report: goal types, baselines, mastery criteria, graphs, maintenance and generalisation, red flags and questions to ask at review.
10 min read
Is ABA covered by insurance in India? Money, schemes and your child's rights
ABA insurance in India: what IRDAI's 2024 circular says on disability cover, why outpatient cover is not guaranteed, Niramaya, Disha, RBSK and your rights.
11 min read
ADHD
Attention, homework, the classroom and exams for children with ADHD.
ADHD and the homework hour: how a special educator rebuilds the afternoon
Why homework is the worst hour of the day for many children with ADHD, what a special educator or tutor changes about it, the structures that actually get used, and how the home works with the school and the paediatrician.
4 min read
ADHD classroom strategies: how to help a child with ADHD in a full class
ADHD classroom strategies for a class of forty: seating, short instructions, movement, timers and checklists, the school diary, praise and what to stop doing.
10 min read
Preparing a child with ADHD for exams: revision, exam day and results
ADHD exam preparation, step by step: a revision plan in visible blocks, active revision, timed practice, the exam hall, results day and board accommodations.
10 min read
When the school says your child can't sit still in class: what to do first
The school says your child can't sit still in class. What to ask the teacher, notes to keep at home, questions for the doctor, and who assesses attention.
10 min read
Executive function support for teenagers with ADHD, from class 8 to the boards
Executive function support for teenagers with ADHD in classes 8 to 12: planning, starting, organising, the systems that help, and what parents should avoid.
11 min read
ADHD assessment in India: who to see, what the school sends, and what happens next
ADHD assessment in India, step by step: who assesses, the school's rating forms and notebooks, what to bring, what happens after, and the certificate question.
12 min read
When a child does not complete classwork: incomplete notebooks and ADHD
Why a child does not complete classwork or copy from the board, what to ask the school for, and a short home routine that ends the nightly rewrite of notebooks.
10 min read
Inattentive ADHD: the quiet child who drifts away in class
Inattentive ADHD in quiet children and girls: what teachers and parents notice, why it is missed in big classes, what helps at school and home, and assessment.
9 min read
Parenting a child with ADHD: tips and strategies that work at home
Parenting tips for a child with ADHD: instructions that get followed, praise, small certain consequences, routines, hard outings, and one plan for the family.
10 min read
Speech
Speech and language delay, bilingual homes, and carrying the therapist's targets into the day.
Speech and language delay: carrying the speech-language pathologist's targets into the day
How a special educator at home supports a child with a speech or language delay between sessions with the speech-language pathologist: the current targets in meals, play and reading, the prescribed communication system used everywhere, bilingual homes, and the record the therapist needs.
3 min read
Speech delay in a bilingual child: should the family switch to one language?
Speech delay in a bilingual child: what the evidence says about two languages at home, why it is no reason to wait, and how to help talking in every language.
11 min read
Selective mutism: when a child talks at home but not at school
Selective mutism explained for Indian families: why a child talks at home but not at school, who assesses it, and what helps in class, oral tests and at home.
10 min read
Early years
The first signs, the first appointments and the first year of school.
A shadow teacher in nursery and kindergarten: what preschool support looks like
A shadow teacher for preschool, from three to six: settling in, circle time, play, snack and toileting, working with therapists and the move to class 1.
11 min read
Developmental delay and starting school: planning the first years
Developmental delay and school: planning the first years with the school and clinicians, the skills that matter most, choosing a setting, and the first term.
11 min read
Nursery admission with a speech delay: preparing a child who is not talking yet
Nursery admission with a speech delay: what the interaction involves, preparing a child who is not talking much, what to tell the school and what to look for.
11 min read
Early intervention in India: DEICs, RBSK and where to find free help
Early intervention in India: why not to wait for a diagnosis, what RBSK and DEICs offer, the national institute centres, Disha, Niramaya and help at home.
12 min read
Is your autistic child ready for school? The skills that matter more than the alphabet
Autism school readiness is about group instructions, waiting, toileting and asking for help, not the alphabet. How to build each skill and decide when to start.
13 min read
Down syndrome baby development: learning at home from birth to five
Down syndrome baby development from birth to five: health checks, early intervention, speech and signing, learning through daily routines and support in India.
11 min read
Growing up
Life skills, puberty, safety and the years after school for young people with special needs.
Home
Routines, the household and the plan everyone at home follows.
Sensory processing at home and at school: small changes that make the day possible
Practical adjustments for a child with sensory processing differences at home and in the classroom: sound, light, a calm space, food, clothing, gatherings and visitors, guided by the occupational therapist's advice and carried out daily by a special educator or shadow teacher.
4 min read
One consistent plan across the whole household: bringing every adult in the home onto the same page
How families with a child with autism, ADHD or a developmental delay bring every adult in the household onto one plan: who needs to know, the one-page version, the briefing, the rules that are not negotiable, and how the special educator holds it together.
4 min read
What a good monthly report looks like: the document that turns a placement into a plan
What the monthly report from a supervised shadow teacher or special educator placement should contain: named targets and where the child is now, what changed and what did not, school and clinic notes, incidents, the professional's own hours and needs, and who reads it.
3 min read
Daily routine for an autistic child or a child with ADHD: morning to bedtime
How to build a daily routine for an autistic child or a child with ADHD: mornings, after school and bedtime, a sample routine, screens, holidays and travel.
11 min read
Anxiety in children with autism, ADHD or learning disabilities: signs and what helps at home
Anxiety in children with special needs: what parents and teachers notice, the triggers at school and home, what helps, and when to see a doctor or psychologist.
12 min read
Vetting
Checking who you are about to trust with your child.
How to verify a special educator's qualifications and references before they meet your child
What a family should check before a shadow teacher, special educator or remedial tutor starts: the qualification confirmed with the institution, identity, employment history, references actually spoken to, a safeguarding conversation and a competency interview with real scenarios.
4 min read
Red flags when hiring a special educator, tutor or caregiver to work with your child
Red flags when hiring a special educator, tutor or caregiver: warning signs in the CV, interview, references, trial and first months, and what to do.
10 min read
Safeguarding
Keeping a child safe when the support happens in a private home.
Safeguarding a child in a private home: the household, devices, photography and the rules that should be written down
A practical safeguarding framework for a shadow teacher or special educator working in a family home: the code of conduct, boundaries by role, the wider household, devices and photography, transport, being alone with a child, concerns and complaints, and the incident record.
4 min read
Body safety for special needs children: beyond good touch and bad touch
Body safety for special needs children: correct words, private parts rules, safe adults, consent in daily care, warning signs, and what to do if a child tells.
10 min read
Training
How the people who do this work are trained.
What practitioner training covers, and who it is for
An outline of the Special Minds practitioner programme for shadow teachers and special educators in India: who joins, the six areas it covers, how it is taught, the supervised practice, what it does not claim to be, and what it means for the families who receive a trained practitioner.
4 min read
Shadow teacher skills: twelve every shadow teacher needs, and how to build them
The twelve shadow teacher skills that matter in an Indian classroom, from observing and prompting to calm and confidentiality, and how to build each one.
12 min read
Careers
For people who want to become shadow teachers or special educators in India.
How to become a shadow teacher in India: routes, skills and a first placement
How to become a shadow teacher in India: why there is no licence, the RCI courses that help, the skills families check, and how to find a first placement.
12 min read
How to become a special educator in India: RCI courses, registration and jobs
How to become a special educator in India: RCI-approved D.Ed. and B.Ed. routes, ISITEP, CRR registration, government job rules and private work in 2026.
12 min read
RCI registration for special educators: CRR numbers, renewal and how to check
RCI registration for special educators: who must register, the October 2025 CRR rules, CRE points and renewal, and how parents can check a CRR number online.
11 min read
Shadow teacher interview questions: what families and schools ask, and how to answer
Shadow teacher interview questions from families and schools, what a good answer contains, the demo session, and the questions you should ask in return.
13 min read
Special educator salary in India: what decides shadow teacher and special educator pay
What decides a special educator salary in India and shadow teacher pay: qualification, city, setting and hours, how pay is structured, and how to grow it.
10 min read
How to become a remedial teacher in India: training, methods and first steps
How to become a remedial teacher in India: the recognised learning disability routes, structured literacy training, supervised practice and your first steps.
10 min read
Career change to special education: moving from mainstream teacher to special educator in India
A career change to special education for teachers in India: what transfers, the gaps to close, RCI routes after a B.Ed, trying it first and the real trade-offs.
9 min read
Career options after BA psychology: routes into special education and child support in India
Career options after BA psychology in special education: shadow teacher, assistant, special educator, remedial teacher and the clinical routes in India.
9 min read
Looking for a word? The glossary explains every term families meet, with the Hindi where it helps. हिन्दी में ब्लॉग
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