Part 1

I’m continuing to digest the information in the policy perspective report issued by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute and The Center for Adoption Support and Education: "Adoption in the Schools: A Lot to Learn, Promoting... more

So, it’s official. Schools have a lot to learn about adopted kids. And thankfully, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, in conjunction with The Center for Adoption Support and Education, has compiled research that shows just that in a recent policy perspective entitled "Adoption in the Schools: A Lot to Learn, Promoting Equality and Fairness... more

Some local parents added a few:

o If you know your advocate's phone and fax number by heart...your child might have an IEP. o If you have ever been forced into due process, state court, the district court of appeals, federal court, or the federal circuit court on a fast track to the US Supreme Court... your child might have an IEP. o If you are known as a due process queen... your child might have an IEP. o If you can quote federal statutes in your sleep...your child might have an IEP. o If you have ever requested your child's records and it took two years to receive them...your child might have an IEP. o If you have... more

Those of us in the South love Jeff Foxworthy. So, when I found this list on the Mothers From Hell2 website, I had to share (especially since the author is unknown!) MFH2 is an organization worth checking out if you are parenting a special needs child. The humor on this site made me laugh. These moms, however, are dead serious!

Author Unknown • If you have ever attended a meeting at school with 25 professionals... your child might have an IEP. • If you are the only one wearing jeans.... your child might have an IEP. • If these professionals speak a different language.... your child might have an IEP. • If... more

-Mostly I’m writing this blog because I found this graphic that was just too good to pass up. It speaks volumes to how 2006 has been for us. I know many of you have followed our school issues. We have a decision from the judge in our elongated, incredibly painful due process case. The word DENIED is in big bold letters. Yet…it is a mixed decision in many ways…and produces a whole range of mixed emotions in me.

What the judge didn’t deny was that to experiment on LuLu, provoking her behavior, using the things known to trigger... more

I’ve completely devoured the survey conducted by Public Agenda entitled "When It's Your Own Child A Report on Special Education from the Families Who Use It." It was a fascinating survey.

But in my former life, I was (am) a marketing consultant and one of the things I have learned about is that how you word questions in a survey dictates a lot about how you get the answers. Most survey developers know this.

And frankly, I’m bugged a... more

I’m fascinated by the study that Public Agenda conducted in 2002 of parents of special education students. While school officials and politicians are highly focused on the federal laws governing – and funding - special education (IDEA), parents know little.

A whopping 63% of parents surveyed said they were not too familiar with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) -- the federal statute that governs all special education programs. Frankly, I wasn’t either…until... more

I have great irony in my life. Yesterday was a terrific day for LuLu. She did awesome at her school work. We’ve been tackling reading fables and answering questions about the morals and lessons learned. One of her areas of weakness is dissecting a story and being able to retell it, as well as making any inferences about it. This unit on fables is hitting these areas hard. We did a Venn diagram of the fable, and answered several questions causing her to digest information and give her opinion. It was tough!

In math, she sped through... more

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Ok, I was asked to fill you in on “what happened” in regards to the traumatized child who was restrained through her nosebleed at school. And believe it or not, today, I witnessed a mom winning a round with the school system.

I think she totally caught the system off guard. Sadly, I believe... more

I don’t know about any of the rest of you, but I often think in song. I apply songs I know to my life situations. I don’t know how common that is for others to do, so maybe I’m the only one. But songs encourage me, comfort me, inspire me, relax me and diffuse a stressful situation. And sometimes they just run through my head like a soundtrack.

Today was the day I had to go “fight a dragon”. That’s what LuLu calls doing battle with the school. Despite being done with our own court case, I felt the overwhelming need to help the mom from the ... more