The Present Heart
Post #2 in category. We recommend reading posts in numerical order. The Present Heart The goals and strategies of Parallel Assessment and Parallel Development reflect the state of our heart, our dreams, our beliefs. This paper is inspired by Reuven Feuerstein’s Theory of Mediated Learning Experience, emphasizing Belief, Intentionality and Reciprocity. The […]
Health, Wellness and Development
Post #2 in category. We recommend you read posts in numerical order. Physical health, mental health and development are inseparable. Health is usually viewed medically, but its interpersonal, learning and developmental implications cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, health and medically related signs and symptoms may be overlooked because they may be falsely attributed to the child’s […]
Introducing: Side by Side: Building Community, Together!
I am beyond excited to announce that I have partnered with the Israeli nonprofit organization Et La’asot to bring to fruition an initiative I have been dreaming about for many years. Et La’asot is an extraordinary organization founded in 2006 that pairs high school student volunteers with children with disabilities across Israel and provides emotional […]
What if it’s not ADHD? Avigail Schondorf hosts Jacki Edry on AvyHD Podcast
Have you ever considered the possibility that, in many instances, “ADHD” might actually be the result of a dysregulated sensory system? Tune in to hear our in-depth conversation about: I have learned that you cannot reason with the senses. It’s critical to understand this fact and seek out ways to help regulate the sensory system. […]
Book Introduction: “The Autism Parents’ Club” by Ritu Kiran
A while back, I served on the co-production board of Aubilities, a company that developed an inclusion platform underpinned by neurodiversity, alongside a wonderful team of neurodistinct members. I was privileged to work on the team with Ritu Kiran, founder and CEO, and found it refreshing and uplifting to work with a neuro-affirming leader who […]
Organizing Minds: The Hidden Weight of “Keeping It All Together”
In honor of Neurodiversity Celebration Week (17–22 March), I’m pleased to share this post about organization, filled with helpful tips for helping people feel supported and become more organized in the workplace, written by Nathaniel “Nat” Hawley, MSc — Founder of Divergent Thinking . I saw the new “Organizing Minds” section on Jacki’s site, I […]
Sirens, Independence, and Impossible Choices
Parenting an autistic adult in Israel during wartime means constantly balancing safety, freedom, and the realities of daily life under sirens. Last Saturday afternoon, as sirens sounded and explosions echoed in the distance, my autistic son insisted on leaving the house to attend his weekly Torah lesson. It was only a seven-minute walk from our […]
Parallel Assessment and Sensory Integration
Post #5 in category. We recommend reading posts in numerical order. Sensory integration is the neurological process that organizes sensation from one’s own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively within the environment. – Jean Ayres Eye contact is still difficult for me in noisy rooms because it […]
Parallel Assessment: sensation, movement and the beginning of intention
Post #4 in category. We recommend reading posts in numerical order. Early sensorimotor responses in infancy are largely automatic, reflexive, immediate and constrained to the present moment. They are narrow in range, rigid, and often disconnected from planning and intention. Only when these early sensations and movements are stored, associated, and integrated with experience across […]
Parallel Assessment: an overview
Post #3 in category. We recommend reading posts in numerical order. To truly understand a child, we need to attend to the child as a whole human being living in the real world, not as a collection of isolated skills, deficits, or test scores. Both Parallel Assessment and Parallel Development involve ongoing, individualized processes of […]