Posts Tagged ‘special needs education’
Thriving Instead of Surviving
I came across an old post on my personal Facebook page that I wrote two years ago, on April 5th, 2019. That was a pivotal day for me, one that both shattered my naive perception of life and changed the way I live it. The following is an updated and edited version of that post from two years ago: “A harsh Autism reality hit our household yesterday. Evie was thriving for about two months, preschool was going amazing. Then things changed. Her teacher got transferred to a different location, her…
Read MoreTo The Heroes Who Love Our Children
Along this journey of navigating autism you send the largest part of your heart out into the world and pray that they are loved and cared for. You also meet some of the most amazing heroes disguised as teachers and para-professionals. You see the blonde standing in the back? That’s our “Miss Kaci” and never have I felt such gratitude or such an instant connection for someone who was a complete stranger to us less than a year ago. To those who love our children despite challenging behavior. Who meet…
Read MoreThe Other Side of the Table
Five years ago I became a teacher; five years ago I also became the mother to a son in heaven. August 12th, 2016 I came home from my first new teacher work day. It was exhilarating, and exciting, and for the first time in a long time, I knew I was exactly where I should be. I had no idea that a few short hours later I’d find myself in the hospital in preterm labor with our first child. That same day, we lost our son, Jaxon, at only 21…
Read MoreA Love Letter to My Son’s Teacher
To my son’s teacher, From the time I found out that Nathan had autism I started thinking about school and I always got anxiety. Once he entered his second year of preschool my anxiety started going through the roof. I was so worried about him going to Kindergarten. I would cry most nights thinking about it. He was safe in preschool. He had routine. He loved his teacher. I would wonder who his new teacher was going to be. I would pray every single night that God would protect him…
Read MoreDifferent, and Equal
Hi. My name is Carrie. We’ve never met, but I read the news report about what happened to you at school, when your paraprofessional used a stapler to attach a note to your hair. She said she wanted to send a reminder home to bring in a water bottle the next day. Right away, I want to tell you I am very, very sorry. Reading your story made my heart squeeze tight. I felt sick inside, to be honest. I pictured you standing in your classroom, waiting for a drink…
Read MoreTeacher’s Aide Staples Piece of Paper to a Disabled Child’s Head as a Reminder
From the minute you become a parent, the overwhelming fear and concern sets in. You constantly question whether every choice or decision you make on your child’s behalf is the right one. When your child has special-needs, the endless self-doubt triples. The options for schooling seldom are plentiful or a perfect fit, so when an appropriate placement is agreed upon, it is not done without careful planning and discussion among all involved. As the start of each school year draws closer, I often think to myself “I hope Skyler doesn’t become the…
Read MoreA Taste of Inclusion
Last year my son Stalen went to preschool. I was so nervous and scared. It’s one thing to send your child off without you but it’s another when they are non-verbal, on the autism spectrum and have a lot of unique challenges. Stalen has pica so I was worried that he would eat something he shouldn’t. He also is a runner and elopes so that weighed heavily on my mind. I was worried about him being accepted, I was worried that he wouldn’t make any friends. I was worried that…
Read MoreWhy We Push
It was only an hour and a half into the first day of my son’s school-sponsored summer enrichment program when my phone began to ring. It was supposed to be math camp – my 6 year old’s first love. Not enough kids signed up so they went with our third choice, farm camp. He does not dig farming so much, but I had viewed it as a chance to be around typical kids in a safe and fun environment.I had no expectations that he would grow even remotely in his…
Read MorePublic Schools Accused of Defrauding Special Education Students During Pandemic Nationwide
Our lives are often broken up by dates that mark significant events that change us. Our wedding dates, the birthdays of our children, the death of a family member we loved and cherished.. And for parents in 2020, there are various dates throughout the second week of March that will stay with them forever. For us, March 11th 2020 is the day our world stopped. My husband began working from home, my small business was forced onto a virtual platform, and so were our therapies for our six year old…
Read MoreOnce Again, The New Normal Didn’t Have Room For Us
Normal. Such a funny thing. When I say our life is not, I’ll hear back “Who is really normal?” or “What is normal?” I get everyone is different but when it comes down it, there is such a thing as normal. In some ways we are normal, but in many ways not and haven’t been even before I knew it. I never wanted my kids to be like everyone else. I want them to march to the beat of their own drums. Howl at the moon. Sing when they feel…
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