A Thanksgiving Message for Families Navigating Special Education

By: Dr. Gabrielle Baker, President & Advocate

Thanksgiving often brings a mix of gratitude, reflection, family time, and if we’re being honest, a fair amount of stress. For families navigating IEPs, 504 Plans, behavior plans, school challenges, or ongoing challenges, the holiday season can feel complicated. There’s gratitude for progress, frustration with setbacks, and constant concern about what comes next.

At Education Advocates of America, we want to remind families that this season is not just about celebrating what’s going well. It’s also about honoring the hard work you’ve done for your child, the resilience they’ve shown, and the everyday wins that don’t always get noticed.

For many parents, this year may have included difficult meetings, unexpected behavior calls, evaluation delays, service gaps, or battles to get the right supports. You might be heading into Thanksgiving feeling exhausted instead of relaxed. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, it means you care deeply about your child’s future and you’ve been fighting to make it brighter.

Thanksgiving can also be a time when parents notice just how different their child’s needs are compared to cousins, neighbors, or friends. Holiday gatherings may bring loud environments, sensory overload, social expectations, or family members who “don’t get it.” If this is your experience, you’re not alone. Many families are quietly adapting traditions to make sure their child feels comfortable, included, and successful. That is something to be proud of.

This holiday, try to give yourself permission to let go of comparisons. Your child’s journey is not supposed to look like anyone else’s. Their strengths, challenges, and progress are unique—and so is your advocacy. Focus on what matters most: connection, comfort, and moments of joy that feel right for your family.

If the school year has been stressful so far, Thanksgiving break can also be a much-needed pause. A chance to reset routines, observe your child in a less structured environment, and reflect on what supports might be needed heading into December and the new year. Sometimes clarity shows up when the pressure of the school day lifts.

Most importantly, we want to thank you. Parents of children with disabilities show courage, creativity, and determination every single day. You advocate, you comfort, you adjust, you question, you push for better, and you do it because you love your child fiercely. That deserves recognition.

From our team at Education Advocates of America, we hope this Thanksgiving brings you moments of peace, understanding, and hope. We are grateful for the chance to support your family, and we are here with you—during the hard meetings, the small wins, and everything in between.

If you need guidance as the school year picks back up after the break, reach out. You don’t have to navigate this alone.