An Advocates Journal
Special Ed Advocacy in Florida...
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Collaboration & Communication with those that work with and teach my daughter is a major plus for her education if there is honest open communication on a regular basis.
To be able to have face-to-face conversations is even better but when that isn't possible because of being a bus rider, then phone calls (yeah right...not happening) and emails are the next best thing to everyone being able to communicate on a regular basis.
I find it odd that some teachers will have no problem being real and communicating with me where other teachers are so not going to allow any type of just simple conversations on a regular basis, no matter by email or picking up the phone and having a quick conversation. Seems to be this unspoken rule or fear of working with parents that want to be involved in their Child's education by daily, weekly, monthly collaboration & communication home. It places such a strain & a feel of tension on both the teachers and parents when being friendly is all it really takes to be able work together as a team for the success of their student and my Child.
Why is it this way? Why are some teachers more willing to provide open, friendly, honest, free-flowing, easy going conversations on a regular basis. We hear the buzz words of PARENT INVOLVEMENT, but what does that really mean to a teacher today? What does it mean to parents?
I know I am not the only parent that has a Child with Special Learning Needs attending our Public School System that feels this way. I hear and work with many parents that tell me this on a daily basis. Parents only want to know what is happening in their Child's classroom, our Children can't always communicate what they really did during school. It is imperative that parents and teachers talk or email on a regular basis, especially if the Child has a disability that impairs their Speech and Language abilities.
Working together with parents that want to help and be involved should be embraced not feared or ignored. Parents after all are the Child's life time teacher and know the Child best! We always hear people say, "Parents you are your Child's first teachers"...if people really believe that, than why are many teachers not wanting to work with the parents more? Especially the parents that want to help the teachers teach our Children.
There needs to be a new attitude going on with our teachers towards parents that just want to be helpful. I'm sure many teachers reading this would say the same thing about their being a new attitude with the parents that 'don't really care' or are not involved in their Child's education. We all know there are probably way more parents out there that are not actively involved in their Children's education as they should be, but what about the parents that are? Teachers, let your guard down and open up to the parents that are concerned for their Child's education.
We talk of parent involvement, it needs to start with teachers being willing and taking action to being more receptive to the parents help by having regular 'chats'. Parents are not out to tell teachers how to do their jobs as some teachers may believe, that is a misconception. Parents have known their Child the longest and know them best and absolutely know what makes them tick.
Where do you fit in with all of this? Are you a parent or a teacher? How do see yourself in the way you communicate with your teacher or with the parents? Do you need to maybe be a little more honest with how you work together or does it all not really matter to you? Parents, do you need to take a more active roll in helping your Child's education, do you put it all on the teachers to 'teach' your Child? Teachers, are you open to the suggestions of what parents may have and bring to the table? Do you not really care what parents suggest or want? Are you providing a regular way to have communication with your students parents, especially those students with extra learning challenges?
Do the right thing and start now being more open to suggestions with regular communication and working together as a team for students. Collaborating on things that will help ALL students be more successful in school and with their academic progress.
"The only thing that is constant is change - Let it start with me"
Feb. 20th, 2010
Ok....so my daughter is taking the FCAT and needs lots of help 'passing it'! She gets to attend the Title I afterschool Academic Adventure Camp which is what her school is calling it this year or aka FCAT CAMP. Bcause she is on the FREE/REDUCED Lunch program and attends a Title i school that did not make AYP for several years in a row now and because she is one of those students that falls under the certain 25% percentile and because she is a student with disabilities that receives special ed supports and services and because she just plain and simple....needs the extra help and support on how to take and possibly pass that darn FCAT!
So she goes to her first day of her Academic Adventure Camp on Jan. 4th, 2010. This FCAT camp being held 2 times per week after school from 2 -3:45PM. She came home happy and was just glad to be back home again after a very long day at school after being off for 2 weeks because of Christmas vacation. Of course I asked her how her school day was and she tells me 'fine'. She has a difficult time giving me any details on who, what, when and where of her school day, that's why she has a daily note home as part of her IEP.
When I opened her backpack, right on the top of all her books and folders were 2 pieces of paper with red scribbling all over them, just like what she used to do when she was about 4 years old. I asked her about it and she couldn't tell me anything about it of where it came from and what it was or who her 'new teachers' were from her new FCAT Camp classes. She did motion to me like she was putting dots all over her face and arms and said teacher. I had to guess at what she was trying to tell me, I can only guess.
I didn't see anything different in her backpack that would let me know she was now participating in a new afterschool FCAT camp program. So I wrote an email to the school asking for more information and wanting to know what I should be looking for and what to expect to have come home after these 2 days. I also requested to come in for an observation during those new classes so I could see who her new teachers are, where the classes were, how many students and what kind of support was she being provided. She has the support of a 1:1 para professional throughout her school day and I needed to know who was providing that kind of support to her during this new program for her.
Without going into all the details of what went on back and forth with my emailing, the bottom line was I did get to go in and see a very short observation and on that particular day, there were 2 classes being taught together when there was only suppose to be just 9 students per class with one teacher. My daughter did not have any extra help, principal said that all the students know her and are helping her. Ok.....that may sound good, but in reality, its not really any type of support that she really needs in order to stay focused and on task to what is being presented.
I asked if I could volunteer during that time twice a week, and the principal said, "YES"!! I was so excited to be able to help out, not only for my daughter but for any of the other students that might need help. Next week on the morning of when I was to be a volunteer, I received an email just before school let out that a VOLUNTEER was found to work with my daugher and that my services as a volunteer were not needed that day. What a let down and such a disappointment to not be able to help out where I know I was needed in order to help my daughter during her FCAT Camp time. I was looking forward to active and involved with all the students, not just my own!
I still haven't been able to volunteer during that time and hope to do so before it is over. It is only a 9 week program and a before you know it, it will be done and over with and it will be time to take the FCAT test! I haven't met the High School Volunteer and the wonderful 5th grader that is now my daughters helper during that time. I wanted to be able to meet them, which I have not and maybe have a little conversation with them about some of the things that she needs their help with. It has never happened....I hope to finally get to meet them next week on one of those 2 days.
Its amazing how when a parent wants to help and volunteer, it seems that the brakes go on and we aren't 'needed' or allowed to volunteer in our child's classroom. When teachers don't email or write a little note or make a quick phone call and let us know that everything is ok or that their may be a concern with 'how to teach' or help our unique learner child...and there is no communication with a new teacher for a new program than as a parent it only makes it feel like the doors are closed to parent involvement.
A closed door policy to parents is what it feels like many times when teachers aren't willing to communicate in an honest relaxed way with parents...especially when the student has a disablity like Down syndrome or Autism. Good communication and teacher-parent collaboration is very much needed to help that particular student be successful, but many times the communication is strained or none at all with some teachers. Why? I don't know.....do teachers feel intimidated by certain parents? Do some teachers not care about some of their students? Are the teachers hiding something? Do teachers even like my child? Maybe some teachers are only looking at the clock everyday and waiting for the bell to ring so they can go home and aren't really into teaching anymore...it's just a J O B for some and they just want to put in their hours and get out of there!
I wish things were different when it comes to helping those teachers know and understand my child. Some teachers are so stand offish and non-communicative to me. I really care about my daughter doing well in school! I want her to do well on the FCAT, no matter my feelings about the FCAT test. I want her to get something out of her time being spent 2 times a week in the Academic Adventure FCAT Camp. It makes for a very long school day for her and alot of demands are on her to behave and pay attention and do well. She needs all the help and support she can get, let's not waste her time, her efforts or the teachers time and efforts. As a parent, I have rearranged my schedule to go and pick her up instead of her coming home on the school bus, which she loves that bus ride home everyday!
Can't we all just THINK OF THE CHILD FIRST and put our personal feelings aside? It's about MY CHILD needing, receiving and doing extra help in taking the FCAT in a few weeks....let's do all we can to open the lines of communication and provide what she needs....and that is cooperation of everyone that helps and works with her.
I want my daughter to do well in school and in life....it starts with being able to talk to those that are getting paid to teach her. Everyone needs to work with the parents as teachers and partners in helping with the education of all students especially students with disabilities!
Jan. 20, 2010
Met my daughters new teachers for 4th grade. I like to set up a meeting before schools starts to meet with Mariah's new teacher/s. This year our little elementary school will be doing DEPARTMENTALIZING. She will have 3 different teachers for 90 minutes each. Mariah's morning will start out with going to Mrs. V for WRITING & Social Studies then Mrs. L for MATH & SCIENCE and then her homeroom teacher is Mrs. Moon who will be teaching her READING this year! (names have been changed)
Mariah is soooo ready to start school righth now and is excited to see all her friends and excited to make new ones this year! She was very happy to go to th\is meeting with daddy and I to meet all her new teachers and to see her aide and her Principal. She was very well behaved during our meeting, even drew a nice little picture that she gave to her new homeroom and READING teacher Mrs. Moon! Her drawing skills were 'more developed' than what her usual drawings are....we made comments on how much she has grown and how her talking skills have improved! Oh my girl has no problem talking and communicating...its about if those listening want to really 'connect' to her and give her the time to respond. She is becoming a typical Pre-Tweeny for sure! Loves iCarly these days....she will be turning 11 years old on September 26th. She talks everyday about the BOWLING PARTY she is going to have and wants to invite everyone to!
I was nervous of course when I first walked into this meeting...but quickly relaxed when I was met with 3 happy smiling teachers and to see her Para there also! She isn't usually at any of our IEP meetings, she works the closest with my daughter and many times I don't think teachers share 'the details' of what's said at the IEP 'team' meetings or what's important to the parent, so much gets lost in translation. Don't know why the Para's aren't invited to attend IEP meetings!?...I do believe this is going to be a really wonderful year this year! Last year...I just want to put behind us and never have a year like we did last year!
I presented to Mariah's 4th grade team 'what my hopes and dreams' are for this school year...also had a WISH LIST of all the things that I believe to be what will help Mariah have a wonderfully academically successful year that we all will be proud of her accomplishments at the end of the year. Will everything go perfectly the entire year....probably not...but gosh if you don't let teachers know 'the foundation' of what is important to you at the beginning of a brand new school year and what you are expecting...and let's not forget the communication that is needed from the first day of school.....being open and honest up front...
I have grown in being a better advocate for my daughter....and others as well...I am not new at this...she is going into the 4th grade, I should know how to talk to 'new teachers'....and help them understand what my expectations are from them as my daughters teacher...no fake fronts, getting along and talking is a daily, weekly thing that has to happen to make it a good year for all of us. Being part of an awesome team is exciting...I am happy with the choices of teachers that Mr. Principal has choosen for my daughter. He knows me....God Bless him...he sure does know me....wonder what he really thinks about strong advocate parents like me....wonder what goes thru his mind when he sees my email address pop up on his blackberry....gotta love our Principals!! I am not the only parent he is trying to 'keep happy'!
I will be posting to my BLOGS Mariah's school year experiences....to share with the world how things are going with FULL INCLUSION in the 4th grade...of course with all the supports and servicces that will help her be successful!
Bookmark this blog....keep it handy...the stories...I hope will all be positive and on the up and up....not like what happened to us during her first day of 3rd Grade Reading Camp at Riversand Elem over the summer....it was just the 1st day that was bad...oh so bad...but having her attend the Reading Camp was a wonderful experience for sure! Mariah tells me she misses READING CAMP and Mr. R!
Mariah's 4th Grade Team ROCKS!!
August 22nd, 2009
Another IEP....so looking forward to this one! The PLP, the main goals and then off for the fight of the proper place of delivery of those ESE supports and services! The parents want FULL INCLUSION...was included with an aide previously in Kindergarten and 1st grade, but halfway thru 1st grade 'pull-out' to go receive reading and math in the ESE resource room was suggested. First it was just for a little bit...then it was for a little more...now parents want to have their Child back in the general education classroom like it was before...
....this is where we are at....carefully creating a new IEP with all new 'evaluations'....to go by.
This isn't something fun that any parent really wants to have to do. Don't think any parent would want to sign-up to have to go to one of these meetings if they didn't have to!
Why does it always feel like the school people don't want the same as what the parents want!...and that is for full ACCEPTANCE into a REGULAR CLASSROOM!? Aren't the Special Education supports and services suppose to COME TO THE CHILD? That's what I have always read in the Federal IDEA Laws...but oh yeah...this is Florida. Each County in Florida does it differently too...and then we have each school that is run by a different group of administrators...this is what makes it hard on parents...each school seems to make up their own rules....unless parents take the time to learn as much as they can pertaining to the rights of their Child that receives Special Education Services. The other side of the IEP table will always do things the way they have always done things on that campus...in that school district! Unless we all start standing up and putting our foot down and holding up the Federal IDEA laws that all our unique learners have a right to!...and that is a Free and Appropriate Public Education aka FAPE in the Least Restrictive Environment aka LRE! Read the laws people...know what IDEA is all about!
Knowledge is Power!
Be sure to bookmark: Wrights Law Peter and Pam Wright www.wrightslaw.com
A kindergarten girl, Jacqueline, was sexually harassed by a third-grade boy while riding the school bus. The child's parents brought this to the attention of school administrators immediately. The principal offered to transfer the child to another bus. Her parents asked the school to put a monitor on the bus or transfer the boy to another bus. When the school did not accept these alternatives, the parents drove their daughter to school for the rest of the year.
The police concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against the boy. The principal concluded there was insufficient evidence to warrant discipline.
Jacqueline continued to describe disturbing interactions with the boy for the remainder of the school year. Ultimately, she began missing school.
Claiming that school officials did not make adequate efforts to protect their daughter, Jacqueline's parents filed suit in federal district court against the school's governing body, Barnstable School Committee, and the superintendent. Their complaint included a claim for violating Title IX of the Education Act Amendments and claims under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.
Claims Under Title IX and Section 1983
Claiming that school officials did not make adequate efforts to protect their daughter, Jacqueline's parents filed suit in federal district court against the school's governing body, Barnstable School Committee, and the superintendent. They alleged that the sexual harassment violated Title IX of the Education Act Amendments. The suit also alleged a violation of 42 USC 1983 which states that: "Every person who, under color of any (federal or state) statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage . . . subjects (someone to be deprived) of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured ... "
If a statute, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC 1400) provides a clear remedy for statutory violations, then the ability to sue under IDEA precludes an ability to sue using Section 1983.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE provided by: Wrightslaw.com COPY & PASTE below link directly into your search window to go to this link if you have trouble viewing the full article. http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/art/fitzgerald.barnstable.supct.htm
This is all so DISTURBING!!!!!!! A 3rd GRADER on the bus acting out of line with a little Kindergartner and THE SCHOOL offers to move the little girl to another bus and NOT do THE RIGHT THING?!! What are our PUBLIC SCHOOLS coming to? GOOD FAMILIES and our innocent children are the victims more and more today!!! WE ALL HAVE TO continue to make our schools ACTIONS & ADMINISTRATORS ACCOUNTABLE...our Children's lives & eductaions are at stake here! Thank you 'parents' of this little girl for paving the way for the rest of us!
A Due Process is now happening...I am out of town for the funeral of my mother-in-law...first week into the new year of 2009 and I miss attending an IEP for a family...they email me and let me know a little about the meeting, that it lasted for 2 hours and the school presented them with the Due Process paperwork...because...because the school doesn't want to have 'that student' FULLY INCLUDED??! Give me a break...what is with our IEP "TEAMS"....they aren't teams at all...they are US against THEM!! I so wish I could have been there to help this wonderful family out so this type of stuff didn't have to happen. The school tells the parents that in the entire 19 years of this particular school being open...they have never had a DUE PROCESS??! I don't believe that for a moment! Are parents going to the slaughter so easily and not standing up for the rights of their child at this particular school in its entire 19 years of their doors being open? Well if that be the case, than I guess this particular school has been doing what is in the best interest of each and every student..especially our students with DOWN SYNDROME! From what I hear, they have many students with Down syndrome attending this school...but not one family has stood up for FULL INCLUSION until now? Well good for this family in doing what they believe is going to be the best for their child! I will help them as much as I can thru 'the process' of standing up for their rights. This family shouldn't have to go thru this just because they want her in GENERAL EDUCATION as much as possible instead of being jerked around from this 'special class' to that special class...from what I understand IDEA LAW to be...the special ed services are suppose to COME TO THE STUDENT...not the student has to 'go somewhere' to receive the special ed services...
Got any comments on this one? Would love to hear what you all think about FULL INCLUSION and about students receiving their Special Ed services IN their General Education Classrooms!
Happy New Year ...let's hope 2009 brings good things to all of us!
Being part of the IEP team....means?
It means adding YOUR parent input into all parts of the IEP document! Adding what it is that you see your Child doing at home and out in the community, adding your say-so on exactly what it is that your Child is capable of doing or not doing outside of school.
If you attend an IEP meeting and the entire IEP document is handed to you COMPLETED and quickly read over and the meeting is over and done with in an hour or under...than you are not really part of the process! If you even allow this type of nonsense to happen even once and it happens again and again each and every time there is an IEP meeting...then you absolutely need to seek out an Advocate or a friend to attend those IEP meetings with you to help guide you on how to be a stronger Advocate for your Child!
Attending any and all trainings that are provided by your local school district is the easiest way to get professional parent trainings under your belt so you know when the IEP team is not working collaborative with you to create a well written IEP document. Attending several parent trainings throughout the year is my recommendation, this helps parents learn new ideas and also puts them in touch with other parents and professionals that can help them when 'things come up' during future IEP meetings.
Parents are the KEY to having a well written IEP document!
What does being a good Advocate mean?
As a parent to a Child that needs extra help and support at school, attending IEP meetings to make sure certain supports and services are in place, helping with the school work and homework sent home to be completed...it seems learning to be a good Advocate is looked upon by those very people that are part of our IEP meetings, they look at us as 'confrontational'...now why is that? Isn't being a good Advocate mean you are working to make sure your Child receives or will receive certain supports to be successful at school and beyond? Why would a school professional come out and say, “they want to work with us, but that we are being confrontational” because we are pushing to have our Child receive 'something'...an evaluation that hasn't been done in over 3 years, or a communication device because our Child doesn't have clear speech and most don't understand what they are saying? Why wouldn't 'the IEP team' want to make sure everyone can understand what a student is communicating and then NOT recommend that Child have an articulation evaluation or an Assistive Technology assessment? If a Child needs help with being able to write even their name and they are beyond the typical age to be able to so, why wouldn't Occupational Therapy services be a top priority and be given more than just the minimum of 1 -1/2hr. OT session? If a student can't 'chew food' because they have had a feeding tube for the first 5 years of their life and the students medical doctor writes a letter of recommendation that the school provide some sort of feeding training for the Child since they spend approximately 6 hours a day at school, (eating a breakfast, 2 snack times and a lunch) yet the 'IEP team' say they provide the “'educational vs. medical model for OT, S/L and PT Therapy”. But on the other hand, outside of the IEP meeting we can talk about 'Medicaid Therapy services' being provided while at school and then be denied that too! I don't get all this running in circles to get certain supports and services that are what is needed for our Children to be successful!
Being the parent first off and then trying to advocate for your Child to receive the very supports and services that the schools and programs should be providing and then to have much it denied or only be providing the most minimal of supports...and parents are considered 'confrontational' because they are fighting for what their Child needs? I think parents are rising up and standing up to the IEP team members that are not really working with the parents as a valued IEP team member and saying we're not going to take it anymore, my Child does need this or that!
Parents today are better educated and have more information available to them at their fingertips, thru the internet, support groups and other parents and Advocates walking in the same shoes of trying to get quality IEP documents written up for their Children. Parents are rising up and becoming good Advocates for their Children!
Parents...sign up for those trainings and get connected to the different support groups and with other families, websites and conferences that are only going to help make you a better and stronger Advocate for YOUR CHILD at that next IEP meeting you attend!
Are we done yet? In the Special Ed world this is usually attached to getting a good IEP document completed after a few good IEP meetings...some parents are worried about keeping their jobs when yet another IEP meeting is needed to finish up and complete the whole process. This happens many times because the family isn't allowing little half hour meetings to just come in a sign a completed IEP document. Once parents start learning how the IEP process really works they quickly realize it should have never been a QUICK come in and sign off on IEP...and that they have NOT been part of the IEP...that they have been taken advantage of! Especially the newest parents with Children between the ages of 3-5 years old. These parents have not had any experience of just what a good IEP meeting should look like and what its all about really.
Bringing an Advocate to those first few meetings is the foundation to the learning process. If parents have attended a couple of IEP meetings for their Child and they feel lost or not much part of the the process and they are feeling left out, then they know something doesn't seem right and its time to reach out and seek help and support from someone, anyone that is familiar with the process and can teach them somethings to be familiar with, so the same things don't keep happening.
Parents should attend any trainings their school district offers to help families become familiar with the whole IEP process. The trainings that school districts offer are available thru IDEA funding specifically for PARENT TRAININGS. If you are not familiar with what and where the parent trainings are being held, ask your school person you are in contact with, if that person doesn't know ask someone else, if that person doesn't know and can't seem to put you in contact with someone that does than call your local school district office and ask and how to be put on a list to be and stay informed of any and all Special Education Parent Trainings. Get involved and attend Special Ed committees and be the parent that stays on top of the local issues pertaining to your school districts Special education. By getting involved and attending these types of meetings you will meet other parents that can be of support to you and can point you in the right direction of where to go for more help and where all the parent trainings are being held.
I can't stress enough how important it is to get involved and start attending anything and everything you can that will help in your understanding of the entire process of Special education in your area. Some school districts make it very hard for parent involvement and there is almost none or little parent trainings...find out how your school district uses their Federal IDEA funds that are for parent trainings...don't give up, be persistent and keep plugging away till you are put in contact with your local districts parent training person and parent training committee or taskforce that works on exactly what types of parent trainings will be provided in the near future or for next year.
Get involved and Stay involved! Get out there and meet other parents walking in the same shoes as you, ask for help and bring an Advocate to your Childs IEP meetings if you need that someone to help you voice your concerns and deal with the issues you believe to be important pertaining to the education of your Child!
Find a good book to start using as your tool to learning how the whole IEP process is suppose to be. Anything by Peter and Pam Wright is great! www.wrightslaw.com sign up and get their newsletters and make plans to attend one or two or three of their trainings or bootcamps! You will become a much more confident IEP "team" player once you have!
With the new school year in full swing...it's time to let it be known what families are really up against as they attend their IEP meetings. Many of the parents that I help, are very new to the entire idea of even needing to attend such meetings to make sure their Child is being educated! So the entire IEP meeting is a whole new ball game for those I work with.
Without giving away any privacy about my clients and their Child I advocate for. Names and ages are changed, school names are made up for Blogging purposes. I want this Blog to be a place where everyone can learn from. Parents, educators and the public at large that want to know just what really goes on at those IEP meetings...from the Parent and Advocate perspective.
This is what I hope this Blog becomes...a fun resource to see into the world of becoming a GREAT ADVOCATE for your Child, by learning from others experiences.
Will be posting more soon...stay tuned....
With Summer in full swing and everyone coming and going on vacations...or children going to ESY=Extended School Year school or Summer School to make up failed classes...summer is full of activities!
This is the time to sort thru all of those piles of papers that get 'saved' throughout the school year, dump, file or be creative in how to save them for years from now so the Child that created them can see them again when they are an adult.
Now is a good time to go over those IEP goals and start thinking of new ones that your Child should be able to accomplish in a school year. Do you have a copy of the IEP-AT-A-GLANCE? This is the condensed version of the entire IEP that teachers receive. (hopefully ) Ask teachers if they have this for your Child...if not...make sure they get a copy. This is something that should be provided at the beginning of each school year!
Find a quit time to go over the current IEP and read thru every page, be sure to mark up anything that is a question or concern. By marking up this document with notes from you, when you have throughly read thru it without any distractions or other people 'reading it to you' during an IEP meeting, now you will be able to disipher what it is really saying. Be sure you understand what is being written about YOUR CHILD in this document! If you don't understand or agree with what is written, be sure to make all sorts of notes ON THIS DOCUMENT so you will remember to bring it up at the next IEP meeting.
Summer is a great time to plan for next school year. What will be your prioity for your Child to accomplish? What changes do you want to see happen or improve? Let it be known to your Child's new teacher and the Principal. Become more active at your Child's school, become a regular VOLUNTEER on campus. Be the parent they can depend on to 'be there'. Get involved and stay involved. Attend the PTA - SAC - SAF and any other parent involvement activities this next school year.
Summer break is a great time to attend a National Convention specific to your Child's Disability, attend other trainings to help you be the best advocate you can be for your Child's education! Relax and enjoy being home and playing with your Child..have FUN and get out and do different things!
Enjoy your summer!
Nancy Harris
DS Advocate
The count down is on for the last day of school! Another amazing school year is coming to a close...all the memories from this year to be packed away into our memories.
I do have to say this was a year for both my children of amazing growth! My son made it through his 1 year of middle school-6th grade, started his own .com and created his first website and is now doing graphic art work and has submitted his first 3D Design Buggy to his favorite online game and they accepted it. He is a promising future Graphic Artist and Photographer like his dad.
My daughter had an amazing teacher and para for her 2nd grade year! She has made many new friends this year! I signed her up for Brownies and together her and I sold 500 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, yup...she was TOP SALES GIRL her first year selling cookies! She also had her very first sleep-over and learned how to really do Hop Scotc! She recently has been singing more and actually carrying a tune! She is still wants to be a Doctor and continues to call herself, "Dr. Mariah". I hope her dreams of helping others comes true for her!
This time of year is a busy time for a Special Ed Advocate! Seems our schools just love to have IEP meetings in the month of May! I swear next year I am not going to let this happen again. There is so much stress put on some of these parents this time of year! The fight is on to secure ESY=Extended School Year services and often times some of these sitting on our IEP 'teams' have NO IDEA why the ESY services are so important for our children...they just don't get it...everyday is another day for many of our Children to get ahead another day. I don't understand how many of the very professionals that get paid for teaching our Children everyday would think our Children are going to breeze thru 9-12 weeks of not receiving some sort of therapy or school based services to help them 'hang onto' the very skills everyone works so hard at making sure they get the very basics at least throughout the schoolyear! It is an upward battle just to secure the very minimum of services for our children today! Special Ed Advocacy is a life long training for each and everyone of us...I try to TEACH N RELEASE my parents to become the BEST Advocates they can be...after all it is they that will be their Child's Advocate 4 Life!
The last few days of the school year are here...ideas to show those wonderful teachers how much their hard work has been appreciated! My first year as a 6th grade Middle School mom was a learning experience for me, I learned all about just how the 504 Plan is suppose or not suppose to work as it was NOT working for my son and I had to learn how to get it to work and that sometimes with more creative and persistant collaboration with a team of teachers...lessons can be taught for how to deal with things for the next year! My daughters 2nd grade teacher has been THE BEST...truly had a natural understanding about what and why INCLUSION is so important for my daughter. It was not a struggle to get to know and work with her teacher this year. She welcomed my ideas and help in anyway I offered. I became the Bullentin Board helper this year! I found a new creative outlet this year and a fun way to stay involved as a volunteer at my Children's schools!
Be sure to attend something over the Summer Break that will teach you something new in the way of Advocacy or learning disabilty specific things. Meet other parents "in the same boat" as you. Parents learn most from other parents! I love to connect families together...something I have been doing for going on 9 and a half years now thru my Down syndrome support group aka PODS Angels www.podsangels.org
Have a HAPPY & SAFE SUMMER!
Leave a comment and let me know how your school year was in summary and how your end of the year IEP's went!
Nancy
DS Advocate Blogger 
Wow!!
This is going to be fantastic!! A place where I can as a Special Ed Advocate really let my hair down and write about what I do best! Advocating!
Why do I love Advocating for Special Ed? Because I have two beautiful teachers that have changed my world for the better! My 12 year old son, Mark and my 9 1/2 year old daughter, Mariah. Both are my reason for many things!
Let me tell you a little bit about my children. Mark is funny, energetic, smart, creative, sassy, has a super-sonic talent for spotting details that and things in his ever changing world! He has the talent of an adult graphic artist that is so unbelievable because of his computer skills and passions with creating new things! He spends way too much time on the computer for a 12 year old. He owns his own .com website and is learning how to market his graphic design talents and learning how to update and maintain his own website.
My daughter Mariah when she was born threw me into the most amazing adventure of my lifetime! She was born during a Hurricane weekend as an emergency C-section and every since that day...my life has taken me down many interesting roads! Mariah is happy, silly, funny, smart, sweet, precious, creative, imaginative, easy-going, fun, stubborn, hard-working, determined, persistant and most of all adorable, loveable, squeezable and kissable! Did I mention smart? She also has something extra...she has that teeny weeny tiny many times much misunderstood extra 21st chromosome they call Down syndrome. She is the best healthy surprise anyone could ever ask for! My life, our life has forever been changed...for the better!
Both my children are my teachers...and are my reasons for learning how to be a great advocate for them as well as others.
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Nancy Harris DS Advocate Blogger
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