Inclusive Education

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

I'm still on a quest for making inclusive education successfully happen for Kayla. We changed schools this year and have her at her neighborhood school; and I still feel confident that was the right decision to make. She should be at her neighborhood school riding the same bus as the other kids on our street.

However, just switching schools and getting the school to agree with her placement in the general education 3rd grade classroom doesn't mean things are going as well as I'd like them to be, or that I hoped they would be.

It's hard to be the first one to ask for something of this magnitude to be done differently. It's hard asking not just a school, but the school district, to do things differently. It's hard when the mindset has been one way for so long. It's hard when it's just you (and your spouse) who are the only ones on your child's team who feel like this can work.

There is a difference between inclusion and mainstream. Mainstream is when the child with a disability is in a special education as their placement; that is their main classroom ... and they get to be with their non-disabled peers in the regular classroom during certain times. Usually those times are fine arts, lunch, recess, and in most (I think) cases, history (or social studies) and science. The bulk of the time spent on the core courses happens with math and language arts; so the bulk of the time is in the spec ed room with the student visiting the general ed classroom.

We tried that in the last school. She was in the special ed classroom for the bulk of instruction in math and English Language Arts. We don't feel like she made much progress in that setting. For us, the biggest issue with that setting is she wasn't on the same general education curriculum as the students in the general ed classroom.

I'm not delusional about Kayla's present levels; I know she isn't on a third grade level - I know there are many obstacles she faces in the 3rd grade class. But I also know it's a misconception that students with disabilities need to be at or near grade level to be in the general ed class. With the proper supports and modifications she can be in the classroom engaging in, participating in, and making progress in the general education curriculum.

The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education has several great resources on their site including this one on Inclusive Education Research and Practice: Inclusion Works! In 2004 research showed “No studies conducted since the late 1970’s have shown an academic advantage for students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities educated in separate settings.” 

If no studies having shown an academic advantage for students with intellectual disabilities educated in separate settings then why are the vast majority of schools still educating students with disabilities this way? I know IDEA states there has to be a continuum of services offered; however these separate settings should not be where the majority of students with disabilities are educated.

It's not enough for Kayla's placement to be in the general ed classroom with no real change to how things are done in this district. I'd like to see a true willingness to think outside the box; I'd like to see the schools here make changes to move towards a more inclusive educational platform instead of automatically placing students with disabilities in 1 of 3 types of special ed classroom - Mild, Moderate, and Severe (but more commonly referred to as they have been for years here before the classification was changed - Educable, Trainable, and Profound.); I'd like to see the district bring in inclusion experts and have trainings for the general education teachers because its not entirely fair to them to have a child with an intellectual disability in their class and they haven't received any special education training. I'd like to see collaborative planning between special education teachers and general education teachers on how to make the general education curriculum accessible for those with disabilities.

I'm not asking for too much, am I? Ha! Seriously, I wish I knew how to get some true changes to how students with disabilities are educated here, but I don't know how to make those changes come about.

In the meantime we prepare for yet another IEP where I leave feeling defeated and wondering if I really know what is in the best interest for Kayla. I know what I want for her, but so far I feel like I've failed in her educational experience. It just shouldn't be this hard; parents shouldn't still have to be advocating for the least restrictive environment to be the general education setting when study after study after study, for years and years, show more positive gains and academic progress for students with disabilities educated in the general education classroom.

 

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Caring Santa at Simon Malls

Thursday, 29 November 2012

For the 3rd consecutive year Ability Path has joined forces with Simon Malls across the country to host  "Caring Santa" for kids with special needs and their families. Noerr Programs is providing the photography.

Caring Santa is a special photo session that is set up privately and is sensory-friendly. Dim lights, no music, play stations while kids wait, and pre-scheduled appointments to limit the wait time.

This year's participants include 81 Simon Malls, 2 military exchanges, and 6 independent malls.

They aren't in every state, but you can search by state and see if there is a Caring Santa near you to sign up.

The events for the military - called Santa Cares - are being held at Ft Bragg in NC and Ft Campbell in KY. Both of those events are this Sun, Dec 2, from 0900-1100.

 

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Kayla is More Than Down Syndrome

Sunday, 21 October 2012

I was honored to recently be asked to be a guest blogger for the Military Special Needs Network for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

My post was about the abilities and individuality of people with Down syndrome, and of course Kayla in particular. It was about how having Kayla has not limited our family life.

"Down syndrome is a condition Kayla has. It is something she was born with; an extra chromosome. It isn’t the whole of who she is, it is just something that is part of her. She is her own person with her own personality. She is this incredible little girl with bright, sparkling eyes and a smile that lights up her face. She is a military brat – going with the flow and adjusting with relative ease to transitions to new homes and new schools. She is a big sister who adores, and sometimes fights with, her brother. She is strong-willed, energetic, empathetic, and full of love and friendship. She is so much more than Down syndrome. We are raising her to be a confident, independent self-advocate."

The rest of my post is at Fridays with Friends: Down Syndrome Awareness.

 

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Ability Path

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

AbilityPath is an online special needs community for parents and professionals to learn and connect. Experts from AbilityPath's team includes educators, parents, therapists, and medical professionals.


Several weeks ago I was interviewed for an article on their site about being a military mom and raising a child with special needs. I'm thankful for the opportunity to give a glimpse into both parts of those worlds. I thought the article A Special Needs Military Mom's Story came out great!

Right now they are running a contest - share your best tried and true mother-approved tip and you could win a $200 gift certificate to Spa Finder or Molly Maid.

They also have an active Facebook page where you can join in the fun every week for "Foto Friday" where you're encouraged to share a favorite photo of your loved one with special needs.



 

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Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Sunday, 15 April 2012

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors students in middle and high school for outstanding volunteer service to their communities.

102 Honorees and 234 Distinguished Finalists are from each state and the District of Columbia.

This years State Honorees includes students whose volunteer service was devoted to special needs. A few of these students are:

Hope Reis, 18, organized a day of downhill skiing for children with special needs. Visually impaired herself, Hope came up with the idea for “A Day on the Hill for Kids with Special Needs” when she was working with the local ski patrol to complete her Girl Scout Gold Award. “I wanted to give people with all different kinds of disabilities a chance to do something they did not think they would be able to do.”  Seven children with disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to blindness arrived at the mountain for a day of fun on the ski slopes. “I would like to see this event happen every year, and hope that it will grow to include more participants each time,” she said.

Taytum Jones, 13, has been volunteering with students with disabilities since she was in third grade. She missed an hour of class every other day to work in the autistic room. “I thought that was the greatest thing,” she said. She helped them with sensory activities, worked on physical coordination skills and assisted with homework. Taytum also volunteered with an organization called “Dream Catchers” that teaches children with disabilities to play baseball. She continues to work with disabled students at her middle school by playing games and assisting with learning activities. Taytum wants to be a special education teacher when she grows up

Calista Pierce, 12, raised nearly $12,000 so local Special Olympics athletes can continue to take part in regional and state competitions, and more than $8,000 to grant wishes to two gravely ill children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She makes and sells crafts, hosts bake sales and organizes raffles and other fundraisers. She recruits family, friends and even Special Olympics athletes to help with her endeavors. In addition, Calista works as a Special Olympics volunteer.

Congratulations to these 3 outstanding students, and all the honorees, for their contributions to volunteering and making a difference in their communities.

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Tips For Teaching Your Children About Our Children

Friday, 2 March 2012

Ellen from Love That Max asked me if I would contribute to an article she was writing for Babble. The topic was what moms who have kids with special needs wanted other moms to know about teaching their kids about kids with special needs.

Each of the moms who contributed shared something about one specific point. My contribution was about conversations in general you (parents who don't have kids with special needs) can have with your children and how to start that conversation.

Check out What To Teach Your Children About Kids With Special Needs to read the full article and all the great advice from all the contributors.

My original piece was a bit longer than what was needed, so I'm sharing the rest of it here.

It's inevitable that kids notice differences about other people. There will come a time when your young child starts asking you questions about why someones skin is that color, or why that man is so big, or that lady so short, or why someone has no hair. Parents generally talk to their kids about these differences explaining to them that everyone is different and we are not all made the same and the world would be a boring place if we were!

When you're talking to your child about those differences include people who have disabilities as well. The next time you see a child with a disability or special needs at the playground, or in the store, or on TV, use that opportunity to explain to your child that they might have different abilities but you can probably find similarities as well. Just because a child is in a wheelchair, or can't run very well, doesn't mean they don't like to swing. It might take some kids longer to do things, but it doesn't mean they aren't trying their hardest or doing the best they can.

Teach your children that other children with disabilities are more alike them than they are different. Tell them that kids with special needs still like to have fun, and make friends, and have feelings and probably enjoy a lot of the same things - books, toys, music, tv shows. Teach your children that the 'golden rule' - to treat others how you want to be treated extends to those with special needs as well, because at the end of the day that's all we, as parents, want - for our kids to be accepted and valued as human beings just like kids without disabilities. 

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Luke 14 Banquet

Sunday, 26 February 2012

On Valentine's Day Healing Farms Ministries and Seacoast Church held a Luke 14 Banquet. The invitation said it was for families with special needs (remember those perks?) who were to be treated to a night of dinner and dancing and fun. It described this event as Red Carpet event. It sounded like a fun night so I signed us up to attend.

Little did I know that they literally meant red carpet event. As we pulled in to the parking lot we saw the red carpet from the sidewalk to the front door. It was lined with volunteers on each side all dressed up in red dresses and shirts and slacks.

When the families walked this red carpet the volunteers lining it cheered and clapped and several snapped photographs. I wish I had been prepared to have my camera out taking pictures of what was going on! I wish we had a moment to stop and stand together as a family for a picture on this red carpet ... but Kayla was off with an escort about 3 feet in front of us! She was loving all the attention. (I'm going to have to see if I can track down any of the photographs from that night!)

We were served a catered dinner from Sticky Fingers and someone even brought gluten-free cookies for dessert (along with 'regular' cake and cupcakes that were available.)

Kayla was the first one out on the dance floor when the music started. She danced and twirled by herself on the dance floor; totally in the moment. Watching her I couldn't help but think of the lyrics from the song I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack. "And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance. I hope you dance." 

 

They also had someone there doing photography in a type of 'photo booth' set-up with props. You could do silly family pictures if you wanted ... which we did! The print out we were given is pretty small - it has 3 photos, duplicated twice, on one sheet. So the following are pictures I took of the picture and the quality isn't that great - but you get the idea. Overall I love how these turned out.

And finally I wanted to get one family picture of us all decked out, but it was the end of the night and the kids were tired and done....but we still attempted a quick photo; which also didn't turn out too bad.

It was a fun night and I'm glad we had the opportunity to attend.

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Military Spouse of the Year

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Jeremy Hilton was just recently named/voted the Air Force Spouse of the Year. Now the winners from the other branches of service (Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard) are competing for the Military Spouse of the Year.

Besides being an Air Force spouse, Jeremy is a Navy veteran and father of two; one of whom has disabilities.

I'm asking you to please take a few moments to vote for Jeremy (you don't have to be military to vote - anyone can vote!) and here is why in his own words:

"I advocate for all military families impacted by a disability. I advocate to senior leadership in the Air Force and DoD, within the Congress and at the White House on a wide range of issues, including respite care, education and Medicaid issues. I worked with Congressional staffers on a concept to institute feedback from military families to DoD on exceptional family member issues. This was recently passed in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act and established as the new Military Exceptional Family Member Panel. A current issue I’m working on is HR 2288, the “Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act.”

Jeremy has been instrumental in helping to bring changes to the military's Exceptional Family Member Program (for families with any type of special needs/disabilities).

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeremy and hearing him (and 2 other fathers) give a briefing on special needs to the Military Family Caucus. Military families like my own need someone like Jeremy to be an advocate in D.C.

Check out the rest of Jeremy's bio, and the video featuring military kids who have special needs (Kayla has a cameo!) and please vote! You do have to register but it is quick and easy, and again, you don't have to be military to vote!

Thank you!

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That Word Special

Thursday, 2 February 2012

I have a love/hate relationship with the word special.

- kids with special needs
- special-needs family
- Special Education
- Special Education teacher/classroom
- special ed bus
- Special Olympics
- special, special, special ... most of the time I want to say, but we're just an ordinary family! There is nothing special about us!

Kayla has a harder time with academics. She doesn't pick up on concepts as quickly or easily as most typical kids do. But when a typical child is falling behind in a subject what do they get? Extra help. They get extra help in reading, or math. So why does Kayla get special education? Why isn't what she getting just the same - extra help? She has needs, but why are they special needs? They are just needs. Extra needs sometimes. Additional needs/help.

She's not special or extraordinary because she has an extra (not special) chromosome. She's just a kid with +1 more chromosome. Does that make her special-special? Naw. It's just who she is.

And I don't fully buy into the concept that God only gives special children to special people/parents. Not at all.

God did not give Kayla to me because I was special. Because I wasn't. And I'm not. Seriously. I'm no more special a person than you or you or you. There was nothing I did in my pre-motherhood life that set me apart from anyone else. I'm average. Typical. I did nothing that would have showed God I was 'meant' to be a parent of a kid with special needs. I did nothing to show I was any more ready, deserving, capable, or equipped of having a child with Down syndrome than anyone else.

If God only gives these special kids to special parents, then what about the 90% of women who terminate their pregnancies upon finding out their baby has Down syndrome? If they were given this special child because they are a special person then why did they not carry their baby to term? Why in Eastern Europe are babies with Down syndrome who are born to those special parents immediately left at the hospital or orphanages? Aren't they special parents because they were given a special child?

I'm not special. I wasn't before I had Kayla and I most certainly am not after I gave birth to Kayla. On any (most) given day my parenting skills are certainly lacking in being a special parent.

I'm just a mom. A mom raising two kids.
For the most part we're a pretty typical family - mom, dad, daughter, son. That's it. Not a special family.


It's not even that it's a negative word. Just look at a few of the descriptions from Dictionary.com

1. of a distinct or particular kind or character: a special kind of key.

2.being a particular one; particular, individual, or certain: You'd better call the special number.

3.pertaining or peculiar to a particular person, thing, instance, etc.; distinctive; unique: the special features of a plan.

4.having a specific or particular function, purpose, etc.: a special messenger.

5. distinguished or different from what is ordinary or usual: a special occasion; to fix something special.

  

I'm not advocating against using the term special needs. It's clearly not anything like using the R-word. I know it's an easy umbrella term to cover all people with disabilities or who have some kind of differing-need.

I'm just saying ... that I have this love/hate relationship with that word special. That's all. 

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Morgan's Wonderland

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

While we were in San Antonio for the convention we were able to spend a day at Morgan's Wonderland - "the world's first family-friendly ultra accessible family fun park!"

The front entrance has a large world map with pins showing the visitors they've had from different states and countries; that was neat to see! Access is free to individuals with special needs and only $10 for family and friends with them. ($15 if you're not with someone who has special needs.)

They limit the number of guests (not sure what that number is) per day so it isn't overly crowded and over-stimulating. It was so nice to walk around and not be overwhelmed by crowds (and the heat probably kept a lot of people away!) They also give each guest a wristband locator. If you lose someone in your party you can go to any of the location stations, scan your wristband, and it will show you where everyone in your party is located.

I also like that there are giant sun shades over a majority of the park - especially the playground area. While it was still very hot (August in Texas!) it was nice that the sun wasn't beating directly down on us walking around. The kids really liked the playground area and probably would've stayed there all day if it weren't for us parents who kept pulling them away to go check out other areas of the park!

We spent our day there with Playette's family; I love that our kids are going to grow up together at these conventions!

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The Alligator Story

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

It seems when you have a child with special needs you look at everything they say or do as an accomplishment, or mastering a skill, or reaching some milestone ... things that you wouldn't notice otherwise. Things that you would just take for granted as happening in the natural progression of growing up.

Such was the case the other day when Kayla and I were driving back home from the store.

Publix always has balloons available for the kids with a clip on the end to keep them weighted down. Kayla was playing with the clip, making it open and close (fine motor skills! strengthening her finger grip!) when she said "chomp chomp" (imaginary play!) and continued with "The alligator ate you up mommy!" (storytelling!)

I said, "It did?! Oh no! If the alligator ate me up then who is driving the van?" She told me "no one." (Good awareness about what just happened in the story!)

I continued the conversation with, "That's not good. If no one is driving the van then it might crash."

I really don't think I was expecting an answer from her; at least not some logical answer that would follow that train of thought.

She responded with, "Chomp chomp! The alligator ate the van."

Me thinking to myself: great logic there! If there alligator just eats the van then the van can't crash! Analyzing! Thought-processing skills! Following through with a made-up story! Logic! Drawing a conclusion!

These are the things in my day that make me smile.

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Snapping Buttons

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

I have tried to show Kayla how to snap the buttons on her pants/shorts, to no avail. She had trouble lining the buttons up correctly so they would snap together, and if she did get that part then she wouldn't, or couldn't, use enough strength in her fingers to push them together hard enough to snap.

One day while we were on vacation this was my Facebook status: "When your 7 yo child has special needs, which means low muscle tone that makes some fine motor skills difficult, you get all excited and stuff when they can finally snap the button on their shorts without any help whatsoever. Just sayin."

Yes, there was much celebrating going on the day Kayla pulled up her shorts, lined those 2 button pieces up, and snapped them together! I wish I could have captured the look of pride and accomplishment on her face over this milestone! Every time she would snap it again she would get such a satisfied look on her face and say, "I did it!"

I guess we won't be hearing her come out of the bathroom saying, "I need help with my button please."

Now to work on that shoe-tying thing!

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