The holidays bring joy, excitement, and special traditions — but they also bring noise, crowds, disrupted routines, and emotional overload. In this week’s episode of The Whole Child Advocate, Dominique McLellan, BCASE, shares compassionate, practical strategies to help both parents and children stay regulated during the busiest season of the year.

You’ll learn:

• The early signs of sensory overload and emotional burnout

• How to create sensory-friendly and emotionally safe spaces at home

• The power of co-regulation — and how your calm becomes your child’s anchor

• Practical tools that support nervous system regulation for all ages

• Ways parents can manage their own stress so they can show up with patience and presence
  

Dominique explores the heart of holiday regulation, reminding parents that their job isn’t to prevent every meltdown, but to stay connected through them.

Quick Takeaway: You don’t have to fix every meltdown — just stay connected through it.

Download your Holiday Calm Guide, part of the Advent Giveaway Series, at: www.wholechildadvocacy.com

#WholeChildAdvocate #HolidayStress #CoRegulation #ParentAdvocacy #AutismParenting #ADHDFamily #SensorySupport #EmotionalRegulation #TheWoodlandsTX

Holiday events often bring excitement — but they can also bring anxiety, especially for children who thrive on structure and predictability. In this week’s episode of The Whole Child Advocate, Dominique McLellan, BCASE, explains how social stories can help children manage stress, understand expectations, and feel confident during seasonal changes.

You’ll learn:

• What social stories are and where the idea originated

• Why they’re so effective for reducing anxiety and sensory overload

• How visuals + predictable sequences help prepare kids for new experiences

• A simple step-by-step method for writing your own social story

• A real example you can use for holiday gatherings or school events

• Quick tips for reading the story, reinforcing coping strategies, and supporting your child
  

💡 Quick Takeaway: Social stories don’t remove challenges — they build confidence through practice and predictability.

Download your free social stories from the Advent Giveaway Series at: www.wholechildadvocacy.com

#WholeChildAdvocate #SocialStories #HolidayAnxiety #AutismParenting #ADHDFamily #SpecialEducationSupport #ParentAdvocacy #SensoryFriendlyHolidays #TheWoodlandsTX

The holiday season is magical — but for many children with sensory sensitivities, autism, or ADHD, it can also be overwhelming. In this week’s episode of The Whole Child Advocate, Dominique McLellan, BCASE, shares practical strategies to help families create joyful, predictable, and sensory-friendly celebrations all season long.

You’ll learn:

• Common holiday sensory triggers (lights, noise, crowds, new routines)

• How to prepare your child using visual schedules, social stories, and sensory planning

• Simple tools to use during family gatherings and travel

• The power of predictable routines and quiet spaces

• Why being proactive doesn’t make you “overprotective”—it makes you prepared

Dominique also shares calming, real-world tips to help your child feel secure, supported, and understood during this exciting time of year.

💡 Quick Takeaway: Your calm presence is the best gift your child can receive this season.

Download your free Holiday Sensory Checklist from the Advent Giveaway Series at: www.wholechildadvocacy.com

#WholeChildAdvocate #SensoryFriendly #HolidaysWithKids #AutismParenting #ADHDFamily #SpecialEducationSupport #ParentAdvocacy #SensoryProcessing #HolidayStress #TheWoodlandsTX

A Parent Vision Statement is one of the most powerful tools you can bring to an IEP or 504 meeting — yet most parents have never been taught how to write one. In this week’s episode of The Whole Child Advocate, Dominique McLellan, BCASE, explains what a Parent Vision Statement is, why it matters, and how it can transform the way your child’s school team understands their needs, strengths, and long-term goals.

You’ll learn:

• What a vision statement includes (and what it doesn’t)

• Why it helps teams see your child as a whole person, not just data points

• How it keeps meetings focused on meaningful outcomes

• A step-by-step process for writing your own

• A sample Parent Vision Statement you can use for inspiration

• How to add your statement into the IEP or 504 process

💡 Quick Takeaway: When you write your child’s vision, you’re giving the team a compass.

📘 Download your free Parent Vision Statement Template and read the companion article at:
www.wholechildadvocacy.com

#WholeChildAdvocate #IEP #504Plan #ParentAdvocacy #SpecialEducation #VisionStatement #Inclusion #TheWoodlandsTX #Neurodiversity #ParentSupport

In honor of World Children’s Day (November 20), The Whole Child Advocate celebrates every learner’s uniqueness and reminds us why inclusion matters all year long.

Join Dominique McLellan, BCASE, as she reflects on what “all children” truly means — valuing neurodiversity, culture, and individuality — and shares simple ways parents and educators can help children feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

Quick Takeaway: When we celebrate every child, we strengthen our communities.

📘 Read the companion article and share what makes your child unique at www.wholechildadvocacy.com.

#WholeChildAdvocate #WorldChildrensDay #Inclusion #SpecialEducation #ParentAdvocacy #Neurodiversity #Belonging #TheWoodlandsTX

This week on The Whole Child Advocate, Dominique McLellan, BCASE, honors veterans and shines a spotlight on the families who serve beside them.

As a military parent and special education advocate, Dominique shares practical insights on the unique challenges military-connected families face — from transferring IEPs and 504 Plans during relocations to navigating differences in state policies and ensuring service continuity.

Learn about the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), and real-world strategies to protect your child’s supports through every move.

💡 Quick Takeaway: Behind every service member is a family serving too — and every child deserves consistent, compassionate support wherever duty calls.

📘 Learn more about advocacy services and military family discounts at www.wholechildadvocacy.com.

#WholeChildAdvocate #SpecialEducation #ParentAdvocacy #MilitaryFamilies #VeteransDay #IEP #504Plan #MilitaryKids #TheWoodlandsTX

This November, let’s pause to celebrate progress — not perfection. In this week’s episode of The Whole Child Advocate, Dominique McLellan, BCASE, explores how gratitude can become one of a parent’s most powerful advocacy tools.

Learn how practicing gratitude helps reduce stress, foster collaboration, and highlight what’s working in your child’s IEP or 504 journey. Dominique shares practical ideas you can start today — like keeping a “progress gratitude list,” sending thank-you notes to teachers, and reframing communication with appreciation instead of anxiety.

💡 Quick Takeaway: Gratitude doesn’t mean accepting less — it’s about building stronger partnerships and recognizing growth along the way.

📘 Share your story of gratitude using #WholeChildAdvocate, or contact us for resources or assistance at www.wholechildadvocacy.com.

#WholeChildAdvocate #SpecialEducation #ParentAdvocacy #Gratitude #IEP #504Plan #InclusiveEducation #TheWoodlandsTX

How can you tell if your child’s IEP or 504 Plan isn’t being followed — or simply isn’t working anymore? In this week’s episode of The Whole Child Advocate, Dominique McLellan, BCASE, helps parents identify common warning signs and know when it’s time to speak up.

Learn how to spot key red flags — from missing accommodations and vague progress reports to emotional or academic regression — and understand the difference between a plan that’s being ignored and one that simply needs to be updated.

Dominique also shares clear, professional steps you can take to document your concerns, request a meeting, and bring your team back into alignment — without confrontation or conflict.

💡 Quick Takeaway: When something feels off, don’t wait — ask questions, review the data, and bring the team together. Advocacy isn’t about confrontation; it’s about collaboration.

📘 Download your free Red Flags Checklist: Is Your Child’s IEP or 504 Plan Working? at www.wholechildadvocacy.com.

#WholeChildAdvocate #SpecialEducation #ParentAdvocacy #IEP #504Plan #InclusiveEducation #TheWoodlandsTX #ParentSupport #EducationPodcast