Feb 3, 2023 | Special Education |
I find myself at the end of the long road I have traveled in all my years of parent advocacy. I made this journey with so many others and learned from each one of them. Our common thread that held us all together was our passion for advocating. Lately this story has...
Oct 28, 2016 | ADA, Disability, Inclusion, Independence, Self Determination, Uncategorized |
I recently heard a mom recite the Emily Perl Kingsley poem, “Welcome to Holland. This has been the mainstay of describing parental emotions for decades. When I first heard it, I understood the message as a newbie parent and was also willing to accept that message...
Nov 5, 2015 | Disability, Independence |
Exploring the world of eligibility after entitlement, a place where only the tenacious excel. I recently helped a friend with a disability apply for adult services. What a rude awakening to a whole other process. There is no lever of enforcement to pull that moves...
Jun 2, 2015 | Independence, Special Education, Transition |
The transition process does not just happen the last year of school, I believe it begins at birth. It is what we as parents naturally do when teaching our children to take care of themselves, and that learning process continues when children enter into a public school...
Mar 18, 2015 | Advocacy, IDEA, IEPs, OCR Complaint, Parent Involvement |
There is only one type of individual that OSEP (Office of Special Education Programs) has discouraged from attending an IEP meeting and that is an attorney. While school attorneys are not expressly forbidden from attending IEP meetings, they are strongly discouraged....
Dec 15, 2014 | Uncategorized |
If you want positive outcomes, it’s important to do more than just show up once a year! Preparation and continued involvement throughout the year are what it takes to see adequate gains. Otherwise, the odds are that you will be disappointed and we all know you don’t...
Oct 21, 2014 | Uncategorized |
How does one remain focused when choosing the direction in which to expend one’s energy? As much as you might want to take on all comers and issues, there simply is not enough time or energy to do everything. So what must be done is to prioritize what can be...
Oct 4, 2014 | IEPs, Parent Involvement, Public School, Special Education |
It’s now October and the school year is well underway. I hope all you parents out there used this past summer as a time to rest and recharge your batteries as much as possible. I am sitting here thinking of the events that unfold at the beginning of each school...
Aug 13, 2014 | Dads, Fathers, Inclusion, Special Education, Vocational Rehab |
I recently posted a story written by a father about his daughter on the Florida Fathers Network page. Of several comments I received, one stood out to me. It reflected that we all need to hear more about positive things and I couldn’t agree more. It is so commonplace...
Jul 1, 2014 | Advocacy, Disability, Inclusion |
In regard to disability, I have become convinced that the only sustainable way to achieve equality will not come from a trickle-down effect. As well-meaning as anyone would like to believe government passage of law to be, enforcement is not consistent enough and the...
