I love "The Parent Side" satirical cartoons! They say what most of us, as parents, are thinking but do it in a comical way♡. I find myself laughing at the cartoons because I have personally experienced some of the situations even though, at the time, the situation wasn't funny.
Countdown to the next IEP meeting. Hoping this one goes better than before. I wish people would remember that parents are PARTNERS in the IEP process not passive attendees. Parents are often criticized for not showing up for meetings but, trust me, I can definitely understand why!
With all the talk about parent participation in IDEA, why are we still fighting to be heard when it comes to our children's academic needs? Smh
Is "special" education really one big oxymoron? Check out this article: http://www.wnyc.org/story/301679-the-special-education-problems-we-arent-solving/
Join me February 27 @ 6pm EST on Google Hangouts on Air for the webinar "Understanding Your Child's IEP." This webinar will give an overview of the IEP components and requirements in basic terms. Hope to see you there!
Very proud and excited to be presenting with my friend and colleague, Dr. Sharita Crossen, at the North Carolina Council of Exceptional Children Conference in Pinehurst, NC on January 28.
Today was one of THOSE days. It's sad when you have to literally fight so that your child can live his "normal." People seem to be content with the idea that children with disabilities are a burden, particularly in the inclusion classroom. Even with the protection of the law, children's rights are often denied in the academic setting. To add insult to injury, parents are often painted as "crazy" or overzealous when they advocate for their children. I often ask the question: what's so "special" about special education? #onetiredmom
I remember when I first ventured into special education after 5 years of teaching language arts/reading. I was apprehensive even then about the amount of paperwork required for the job. Despite my misgivings, I moved ahead because I knew there was a need for highly qualified teachers in the field.
Once involved, I was able to organize my time well enough to the point where I could balance my role in the classroom with my paperwork requirements. Several years later, when my oldest son had his own individualized education plan ( IEP ), I developed an even greater respect for the special ed process.
Fast forward four years later, and I am in a completely different place as far as my mindset. The amount of paperwork has seemingly doubled and 24 hours in a day doesn't seem to be sufficient for me to meet the demands of my job. As much as I value the need for special education, I am becoming a statistic...one of the hundreds of special education teachers with one foot out the door and the other one slipping...
