Finding the right tools can make parenting a child with special needs less overwhelming, but tracking them down takes time. Our Tool of the Day templates help you spotlight helpful resources, making it easy for your community to discover and share what works. Empower your members with daily, actionable solutions.
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Featuring a Tool of the Day taps into the human drive for practical support and shared discovery. By consistently introducing new resources, you create a sense of momentum and curiosity that keeps members coming back. This approach also helps members feel understood, as each tool is tailored to real-life special needs parenting challenges.
Highlighting tools encourages knowledge sharing, which builds trust and community expertise. When members see tools that address their daily struggles, they feel validated and are more likely to engage, comment, or share their own finds. Over time, this cultivates a collaborative environment where everyone benefits from collective wisdom.
Today's Tool of the Day is Calm Harm - an app for managing stress and anxiety. Try it and let us know what you think.
💡 Example: "Today's Tool of the Day is Calm Harm - an app for managing stress and anxiety. Try it and let us know what you think."
Have you tried the Visual Schedule Planner app? It can help kids with routines. Share your experience below.
💡 Example: "Have you tried the Visual Schedule Planner app? It can help kids with routines. Share your experience below."
Check out AbleFinder - a network connecting special needs parents. Find support and resources.
💡 Example: "Check out AbleFinder - a network connecting special needs parents. Find support and resources."
Tool of the Day: Choiceworks app for visual schedules and social stories. See if it fits your child's needs.
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: Choiceworks app for visual schedules and social stories. See if it fits your child's needs."
Today's spotlight: Understood.org. Explore practical guides for navigating IEP meetings.
💡 Example: "Today's spotlight: Understood.org. Explore practical guides for navigating IEP meetings."
We love the First Then Visual Schedule app for transitions. Has anyone else tried it?
💡 Example: "We love the First Then Visual Schedule app for transitions. Has anyone else tried it?"
Try Boardmaker Online for creating custom visual supports. Free trial available.
💡 Example: "Try Boardmaker Online for creating custom visual supports. Free trial available."
Tool of the Day: Otter.ai for transcribing meetings or therapy sessions. Could this help you stay organized?
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: Otter.ai for transcribing meetings or therapy sessions. Could this help you stay organized?"
Today's pick is Goally - a device with visual routines for kids. Learn more and share your thoughts.
💡 Example: "Today's pick is Goally - a device with visual routines for kids. Learn more and share your thoughts."
Looking for sensory tools? Check out ARK's Z-Vibe for oral motor therapy.
💡 Example: "Looking for sensory tools? Check out ARK's Z-Vibe for oral motor therapy."
Have you downloaded the Seesaw app for easy communication with teachers? Give it a try this week.
💡 Example: "Have you downloaded the Seesaw app for easy communication with teachers? Give it a try this week."
Tool of the Day: Social Stories Creator for building personalized stories. Who finds this helpful?
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: Social Stories Creator for building personalized stories. Who finds this helpful?"
Today's resource: Parent to Parent USA connects you with other parents for advice and support.
💡 Example: "Today's resource: Parent to Parent USA connects you with other parents for advice and support."
Use the MyChart app to manage medical records and appointments. Has it simplified your life?
💡 Example: "Use the MyChart app to manage medical records and appointments. Has it simplified your life?"
Try the Fun Routine Cards printable for morning and bedtime routines. Download here.
💡 Example: "Try the Fun Routine Cards printable for morning and bedtime routines. Download here."
Today's Tool: Sago Mini First Words app for speech development. Has anyone seen good results?
💡 Example: "Today's Tool: Sago Mini First Words app for speech development. Has anyone seen good results?"
Check out the free Special Needs Parenting Toolkit from Wrightslaw. Great for advocacy.
💡 Example: "Check out the free Special Needs Parenting Toolkit from Wrightslaw. Great for advocacy."
Do you use Alexa or Google Home for reminders and routines? What tips do you have?
💡 Example: "Do you use Alexa or Google Home for reminders and routines? What tips do you have?"
Today's pick: Gemiini online program for speech and language practice. Try their free videos.
💡 Example: "Today's pick: Gemiini online program for speech and language practice. Try their free videos."
Tool of the Day: Sensory bins for calming play at home. Share your favorite fillers.
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: Sensory bins for calming play at home. Share your favorite fillers."
Have you used the Bookshare library for accessible reading materials?
💡 Example: "Have you used the Bookshare library for accessible reading materials?"
Today's tool: The Cozi Family Organizer app for keeping schedules and lists in one place.
💡 Example: "Today's tool: The Cozi Family Organizer app for keeping schedules and lists in one place."
Try the Calm app for guided relaxation sessions. Parenting can be stressful - take a moment for yourself.
💡 Example: "Try the Calm app for guided relaxation sessions. Parenting can be stressful - take a moment for yourself."
Tool of the Day: Fidget tools for focus and calming. What is your child's favorite?
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: Fidget tools for focus and calming. What is your child's favorite?"
Today's feature: Khan Academy Kids for free learning at home. Do your kids enjoy it?
💡 Example: "Today's feature: Khan Academy Kids for free learning at home. Do your kids enjoy it?"
Check out Be My Eyes - a free app connecting visually impaired users to volunteers for support.
💡 Example: "Check out Be My Eyes - a free app connecting visually impaired users to volunteers for support."
Try Canva's free templates for making personalized social stories.
💡 Example: "Try Canva's free templates for making personalized social stories."
Tool of the Day: The Mighty community app for connecting with other special needs parents.
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: The Mighty community app for connecting with other special needs parents."
Today's tool: Visual timers like Time Timer to support transitions at home or school.
💡 Example: "Today's tool: Visual timers like Time Timer to support transitions at home or school."
Share your favorite IEP goal tracker app. We recommend IEP Writer as a starting point.
💡 Example: "Share your favorite IEP goal tracker app. We recommend IEP Writer as a starting point."
Today's pick: Learning Ally for audiobooks and reading support.
💡 Example: "Today's pick: Learning Ally for audiobooks and reading support."
Tool of the Day: Weighted blankets for calming and sleep. Have they helped your child?
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: Weighted blankets for calming and sleep. Have they helped your child?"
Today's tool: Proloquo2Go for AAC needs. If you use it, what tips can you share?
💡 Example: "Today's tool: Proloquo2Go for AAC needs. If you use it, what tips can you share?"
Use Child Mind Institute's resources for behavioral strategies. Free guides available online.
💡 Example: "Use Child Mind Institute's resources for behavioral strategies. Free guides available online."
Tool of the Day: Special iApps for early learning and communication.
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: Special iApps for early learning and communication."
Today's resource: The Autism Navigator website for video-based learning and support.
💡 Example: "Today's resource: The Autism Navigator website for video-based learning and support."
Try the Choiceworks Calendar app to help your child anticipate upcoming events.
💡 Example: "Try the Choiceworks Calendar app to help your child anticipate upcoming events."
Tool of the Day: Social Skills Board Game for practicing turn-taking and communication.
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: Social Skills Board Game for practicing turn-taking and communication."
Today's pick: Sensory-friendly headphones for outings and noisy places. What brands work best for you?
💡 Example: "Today's pick: Sensory-friendly headphones for outings and noisy places. What brands work best for you?"
Check out Autism Speaks' 100 Day Kit for new diagnoses. Free to download.
💡 Example: "Check out Autism Speaks' 100 Day Kit for new diagnoses. Free to download."
Tool of the Day: PECS cards for communication. Download free printables from pecs.com.
💡 Example: "Tool of the Day: PECS cards for communication. Download free printables from pecs.com."
Today's resource: The Family Voices website for healthcare advocacy and parent support.
💡 Example: "Today's resource: The Family Voices website for healthcare advocacy and parent support."
To use these templates, choose one that fits your community's needs and the day's theme. Personalize it with the name of the tool or link, and schedule your post for when your members are most active. Encourage feedback by inviting stories or tips. Rotate the template styles to keep things fresh and ensure all member types feel included.
These templates are designed for all platforms. On forums and Facebook groups, use pinned posts or threads for ongoing tool discussions. On Instagram or Twitter, pair each tool with a relevant hashtag. In chat apps, schedule daily posts at peak times. Always adapt formatting for each platform's posting style.
Select and customize Tool of the Day templates that highlight sensory-friendly tools, such as weighted blankets or noise-cancelling headphones. In your posts, invite members to share their experiences with sensory regulation strategies or ask for tips on integrating these tools into daily routines, fostering practical peer support specific to sensory processing needs.
Absolutely! Many templates are designed for showcasing tools like AAC devices, visual schedules, or OT/PT aids. Use prompts that ask parents how these tools have impacted communication or daily transitions, or encourage them to share modifications that have worked for their child’s unique profile. This way, posts go beyond product mentions and spark valuable knowledge sharing.
When choosing tools to highlight, focus on their adaptable uses (e.g., timers supporting executive function, calming apps for emotional regulation). In your templates, add prompts like 'How do you adapt this tool for your child's needs?' or 'What diagnosis-specific challenges has this tool helped with?' to encourage diverse perspectives without excluding anyone.
Prepare templates with neutral, discussion-friendly wording, such as 'What has your family's experience been with this tool?' or 'Have you tried alternatives?' Monitor comments and encourage parents to share both successes and challenges, reminding members to respect differing approaches given the individualized nature of special needs parenting.
Highlight tools commonly referenced in IEP meetings—like communication devices or flexible seating options. Use templates to prompt members to share advocacy tips, sample accommodation requests, or IEP success stories related to specific tools, turning posts into collaborative learning opportunities about navigating educational systems.
Yes! Use templates that break down new tools with clear, jargon-free descriptions and practical examples of use. Include prompts for parents to ask questions or share initial concerns, and periodically revisit posts to update with member feedback. This gradual, community-driven approach helps reduce overwhelm and builds trust around trying innovative supports.
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