Dr. Kosmerl Consulting: Trauma-Informed and Neuroaffirming Consulting

08/20/2026

This is how to easily accommodate … different not less!

08/19/2026

This is what true inclusion looks like in higher education!

Well done!

08/18/2026

Interesting research!

A new long-term study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry has proven to be an excellent next step in getting a better understanding of the disorder, showing that a lot of what’s commonly believed or assumed about ADHD is incomplete or just flat-out wrong.

Researchers studied 483 participants who were diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and continued to assess them for a period of 16 years. The study’s authors wanted to get a sense of how ADHD symptoms might change over time.

What the researchers found surprised them. In most participants, symptoms of ADHD fluctuated greatly over the years rather than staying consistent. What surprised them even more were the environmental factors that seemed to play a role in those fluctuations.

Researchers expected that greater life demands—like more responsibility at work, a heavier workload at school, major life changes, etc.—would exacerbate ADHD symptoms. What they found was the opposite.

It makes sense that a person who struggles with inattention or hyperactivity might have more trouble focusing when they have more “going on” and more distractions to pull them in different directions. It was a huge surprise to the researchers that, actually, people’s ADHD symptoms seemed to ease up when life got hectic.

“We expected the relationship between environmental demands and ADHD symptoms to be the opposite of what we found,” study author, professor, and clinical psychologist Margaret H. Sibley explained. “We hypothesized that when life demands and responsibilities increased, this might exacerbate people’s ADHD, making it more severe. In fact, it was the opposite. The higher the demands and responsibilities one was experiencing, the milder their ADHD.”

08/18/2026

Love this! Accommodations at home. Kudos to sharing OT knowledge.

08/10/2026

Palm Beach County, FL (and most of Florida)

Back to School today! Please becareful of students walking/riding to school.

Hope it is an amazing 2026-2027 school year!

Dr. Kosmerl

08/09/2026

Interesting case out of Kansas….

Re private ABA and access to schools and education.

Thanks Dragan Law Firm, LLC for sharing!

Can a School Ban Your Child's Private ABA Therapist: What One Recent Case Tells Parents

A federal judge in Kansas just stepped in to stop a school district from banning private ABA therapists from classrooms.

The situation: Two young students with autism had private ABA therapists working with them in their classrooms for a full school year. It worked. Their doctors had prescribed the therapy specifically to be used at school, and the results showed it: better focus, better communication, fewer harmful behaviors. Then the district reversed course and banned all private ABA providers from campus, no exceptions. The district offered a workaround, but it kept therapists out of the classroom itself and demanded far more insurance than the industry standard. The family's provider couldn't agree to those terms.

What it cost the kids: Both families ended up pulling their kids out of the district just to keep the therapy going. Even after they left, the district kept providing some special education services, but still wouldn't let the therapists into those sessions either. Without that support, the kids regressed. Their old struggles came back.

What the court decided: The judge found the family was likely to win their ADA and Section 504 case and ordered the district to stop enforcing the ban for now. A district that already allowed something to work without problems has a hard time later claiming it's suddenly too risky to continue. The court also said choosing to leave a district because of an unlawful policy isn't the family's fault, that's harm the policy caused.

One important thing to understand: this is a preliminary injunction, not a final ruling. It means the judge looked early on and decided the family will probably win, so the kids get protected while the case keeps going. The lawsuit isn't over. But it's a meaningful signal.

Why parents should know this exists: Policies that ban private providers from schools are becoming more common, often justified by liability or insurance concerns. But schools are exactly where kids need this support the most. If your district has denied a request for your child's private therapist, an aide, or another medically necessary service, you may have more options than you think. Cases like this one are pushing back.

U.S. District Court, Kansas 26-4032-AJP-ADM August 4, 2026

08/08/2026

Katie Wentley is an amazing advocate for autism and specializes in water safety! She is amazing.

Last week, law enforcement professionals from across Palm Beach County, Florida, came together for specialized Autism training led by the Autism Society of America. Through education, understanding, and practical strategies, officers strengthened their ability to recognize characteristics of Autism, communicate effectively, de-escalate situations, and respond with compassion and confidence.

For too many individuals and families in the Autism community, interactions with first responders can be filled with uncertainty. Training like this helps replace fear with understanding, build trust, and create safer outcomes for everyone involved.

We are proud to partner with law enforcement agencies that are committed to learning, growing, and ensuring every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and the support they deserve.