Mind by Design

05/27/2026

Self-advocacy isn't something kids are born knowing. It's a learned skill that grows in safe places first. Before your child can ask their teacher for extra time on a test, they need practice naming what helps them learn. Try asking at home: What part of homework feels hardest? What helps your brain focus? Listen without fixing. The kids who learn to speak up become the adults who navigate life with confidence. How do you start these conversations in your family?

05/20/2026

Reading starts with the ear, not the eye. Before kids decode letters on a page, they need to hear how sounds work. How words break into syllables, how they rhyme, how sounds repeat. That's phonological awareness, and it's one of the strongest predictors of early reading success. Try this at home: pick a word, clap each syllable, then race to find a rhyme. Five minutes a day adds up. What word games does your family love?

05/13/2026

Watching your child work twice as hard for half the recognition is one of the toughest parts of parenting a kid with learning differences. Real support starts with seeing the whole child, not just the challenge. Strengths-based language, steady routines, bite-sized goals, and asking your child what helps. These are the things that build lasting confidence. You don't have to navigate this alone. What's worked for your family?

05/11/2026

We are so proud of our own Rachel Z. Roth, Director of Educational Support Services at Mind by Design, who is presenting this Wednesday evening as part of the LearnUp Speaker Series.

Rachel will be walking parents and educators through what executive functioning skills actually look like at home and at school — what the challenges are, why they show up differently for neurodiverse kids, and most importantly, what you can do to support them across both environments.

If you are a parent, teacher, or anyone who works with children and wants practical strategies you can use right away — this one is free, it is online, and it is one hour of your time well spent.

Wednesday May 13 · 6–7 PM PDT
Link to stories to register!

05/07/2026

19 years ago, I walked into Easterbrook Discovery School as a brand new school psychologist. I had no idea that the work I did there would shape everything that Mind by Design is today.

Yesterday, I was joined by our incredible Lead Psychologist, , as we had the honor of being part of the Moreland School District Family Resource Fair — held right there at Easterbrook, the same community where my career began. I even got to reunite with my first principal, which honestly made my whole week!

If you’re a Moreland family and you stopped by to chat — thank you. We’re always here for you. 💛 🧠 🌳

05/06/2026

Does your child erase their homework five times before giving up? Do they refuse to even start an assignment because they're afraid it won't be good enough?

Perfectionism and learning differences often go hand in hand. When kids feel behind their peers, the pressure to "catch up" can turn into an impossible standard they set for themselves. Instead of motivating them, it paralyzes them.

The path forward starts with helping your child see that progress, not perfection, is what matters. Celebrate the effort. Acknowledge the courage it takes to try something hard. These small shifts in how we talk about learning can make a big difference in how your child sees themselves.

If your child is caught in a cycle of perfectionism and avoidance, our team can help you find a path forward that builds confidence and supports their unique learning profile.

04/29/2026

IEP annual reviews don't have to be a source of stress.

While these meetings can feel like a high-pressure environment, remember: you are an equal member of the team. Your insights are just as valuable as the school’s data.

To help the meeting run smoothly, we recommend bringing your child's work samples and a written list of your primary concerns. This keeps the focus on progress and ensures your voice is heard clearly.

Ready to walk into your next IEP meeting with confidence? We’re here to help you prepare every step of the way. Reach out anytime.

04/26/2026

I mean, who doesn’t want to spend part of their Saturday surrounded by other incredible community providers and representing our life’s work? 🤩✨

and I had fun connecting with some of our favorite people and families at the Fusion Los Gatos Comminity Resource Fair. Thank you to and for a fun-filled morning!

04/24/2026

The classroom can be a minefield for neurodivergent children who experience the world through a different lens. Every day, their brains must manage a flood of information, from flickering lights to the hum of a distant hallway. For those with sensory processing differences, this input doesn't always filter correctly, leading to either sensory overload or intense sensory seeking behaviors. Whether a child has autism and sensory sensitivities or adhd and sensory needs, these challenges can directly impact their ability to focus and learn.

To support sensory processing and learning, we must look beyond "behavior" and see the underlying neurological need. Implementing classroom accommodations—like noise-canceling headphones or wobble cushions—can help maintain sensory regulation. Many families find that working with occupational therapy to develop a tailored sensory diet transforms the school day from a struggle into a success. When we prioritize a child's sensory comfort, we unlock their true academic potential. Understanding your child's unique sensory profile is the first step toward a more compassionate and effective learning environment.

Read our full guide on how sensory processing differences shape the classroom experience here.

Is your child's sensory processing affecting their ability to learn? Discover how sensory differences shape the classroom experience and what support looks like.

04/22/2026

"I don't know where to start." If your child says this before homework every single day, it's not a motivation problem. It's a planning problem.

Students with ADHD often struggle with executive function skills like prioritizing and sequencing. Everything feels like it needs to happen at once, so nothing happens at all.

A simple strategy that helps: before homework time, take two minutes to write down just three things that need to get done. Not a full plan. Just three clear steps. It gives the brain a concrete starting point instead of an overwhelming wall of tasks.

Try it tonight and see what shifts. And if your child needs more support with executive function skills, we're here to help.