What Valentine’s Day Teaches Us About Supporting Kids Who Learn Differently
By: Dr. Gabrielle Baker, President & Advocate
Valentine’s Day at school is meant to be about kindness, connection, and belonging. For many children, it is exactly that. For others, it can quietly highlight how different their school experience really is. Difficulty with social cues, sensory overload, rigid routines, or feeling left out can turn a day meant to celebrate love into one filled with stress.
For students with disabilities, belonging is not created by parties or cards alone. It is created through access, understanding, and support that allows them to participate in school in meaningful ways. When a child struggles on days like Valentine’s Day, it is often a sign that social expectations or environmental demands are not aligned with their needs.
Valentine’s Day can be a helpful reminder for teams to look beyond academics. Social emotional skills, peer relationships, and regulation are all part of a child’s educational experience. If a student consistently feels overwhelmed, isolated, or misunderstood, those experiences matter just as much as grades and test scores.
This time of year is also a good opportunity to reflect on whether supports are working. Are accommodations helping the child feel included. Are social skills or behavior supports being implemented consistently. Is the student expected to conform without being taught the skills they need to succeed.
Love in education does not mean lowering expectations. It means providing the right supports so expectations are realistic and attainable. It means recognizing effort, honoring differences, and building systems that allow students to show up as themselves without constant strain.
Valentine’s Day reminds us that every child deserves to feel seen and valued at school. Advocacy is one of the ways we show that love. When we speak up, ask questions, and push for appropriate supports, we are telling our children that their experience matters and that they do not have to struggle silently to belong.
