May Madness: Surviving End-of-Year Overwhelm for Special Needs Families

Aleia Mastroianni and DCSEAC board members Kelly Mayr and Courtney Nangle discuss why May feels especially overwhelming for families raising children with disabilities, describing end-of-year scheduling crushes (testing, concerts, prom, graduations), IEP renewals, and teacher appreciation pressures compounded by social media expectations and the many staff and providers supporting IEP students. They note student and parent burnout can trigger increased behaviors, school refusal, and dysregulation, and that planning summer activities can add stress for autistic, anxious, or OCD-affected kids. The group emphasizes transition uncertainty and recommends requesting transition meetings, visiting new schools, and starting planning early. Coping strategies include tailoring support to each child, giving parents grace (simpler meals, more screen time), limiting overbooking, communicating “it’s okay,” leaning on other parents, and acknowledging summer can be difficult due to loss of structure and fears of regression.

00:00 May Madness Begins

01:13 Why May Feels Unbearable

03:07 Kids Burnout And Behaviors

05:49 Teacher Gifts And Pressure

08:20 Transition Season And IEPs

11:19 Making Transition Meetings Work

15:19 May Survival Tips

19:00 Summer Stress And Regression

22:51 You Are Not Alone

The iconic Holderness Family Music video about "Maycember"

https://youtu.be/S8_IszUUAkw?si=XyINGdGfcruIXWiZ