Dec 3, 2013 | Advocacy, Dads, Disability, IDEA Information, Identification, Invisible Disabilities, Parent Involvement, Public School, Special Education |
Perhaps one of the hardest things to get the public, general educators and, in some instances, parents to understand and accept are the disabilities that are not obvious. Statistically ten percent of the population has an invisible disability. (What Are Invisible...
Nov 25, 2013 | Advocacy, Dads, Disability, Emotion, Fathers, Florida, IDEA Information, IEPs, Least Restrictive Environment, Parent Involvement, Public School, Self Determination, Special Education |
Along with successes come mistakes, for that is how we learn. It is difficult to understand good unless you have experienced bad, right without wrong. This never happens with isolation and segregation that restricts and limits exposure to life. It is not only...
Nov 19, 2013 | Advocacy, Dads, Disability, Fathers, Florida, IEPs, Parent Involvement, Parents Training Parents, Public School, Special Education |
Paying it forward…. “I do not pretend to give such a deed; I only lend it to you. When you meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be...
Nov 11, 2013 | Advocacy, Dads, Disability, Emotion, Fathers, Florida, IDEA Information, IEPs, Inclusion, Least Restrictive Environment, Parent Involvement, Parents Training Parents, Public School, Self Determination, Special Education |
Creating dependencies on others to do what all parents are capable of doing for themselves is such a disservice to families. Is the person calling themselves a parent advocate qualified to act on behalf of others? Everyone should be an advocate for children but...
Nov 4, 2013 | Advocacy, Dads, Disability, Emotion, Fathers, Florida, Parent Involvement, Self Determination, Special Education |
What is disability culture? It is interesting to note the overall willingness of the disability community, which includes individuals with disabilities and their families, to initially embrace any and all regardless of the type of disability. Once indoctrinated...
Oct 30, 2013 | Advocacy, Dads, Emotion, Fathers, Florida, IDEA Information, IEPs, Parent Involvement, Public School, Special Education |
Imagine an IEP meeting where everyone is in agreement. A meeting where the only time money is mentioned is when the group thanks you for buying the snacks you brought with you. Imagine a meeting where you feel good about your child being part of the school he or she...
Oct 23, 2013 | Advocacy, Dads, Disability, Emotion, Fathers, Florida, IEPs, Inclusion, Parent Involvement, Parents Training Parents, Public School, Special Education |
I have always prided myself in the fact that from the very beginning I always tried to include all in my efforts to advocate – all disabilities, races, languages and genders. I have seen the growth and inclusionary practice in all these areas but the last one. ...
Oct 14, 2013 | Advocacy, Emotion, IDEA Information, Parent Involvement, Procedural Safeguards, Public School, Special Education |
Many years ago I created what I call Mr. Hawke’s top ten. I think they still hold true today and felt compelled to share them once again. Reflections of the ESE Policeman 1) The first step of the journey requires dealing with a myriad of emotions one experiences when...
Oct 8, 2013 | Advocacy, Parent Involvement, Public School, Special Education |
Over a prolonged period of time the relationship between schools and parents of children with disabilities has become adversarial. I believe this continues because some parents pass along the negative history they experienced to others, convincing them the only way...
Sep 19, 2013 | Disability, IDEA Information, IEPs, IFSP, Parent Involvement, Parents Training Parents, Public School, Special Education |
It was now time to set the plan in motion. Initially we met monthly throughout the school year. I selected three staff we called PEERs, Parent Educator Exception Resources, from the pool of the training teams. Two of those PEERs were bilingual, to meet the need of...
