Whether caring to admit it or not, everyone who has every attended school has been impacted by a teach in some fashion. If you’re in the first category, you might
Tag Archive: special education
Jul
29
Manchester Schools Refuse to Maintain Transportation Monitor. Oh. And Chicken Bones.
If you haven’t been around for the fun, please read THIS, THIS, and THIS.
Cheers.
Jul
28
The great Kindergarten debate, debacle, and finally decision
The last 6 months have been very stressful while deciding where Liam would attend school for the next school year.The simpliest solution would be for Liam to attend our neighborhood elementary school less than a mile from the house. Initially, my…
Jul
06
The Gambler
When I moved in with my grandparents when I was 9, I spent a lot of time doing farm chores with my grandfather, listening to Kenny Rogers. I knew every word to “The Gambler”: You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to w…
May
17
Ben’s "graduation" and IEP progress report/ OT re-evaluation
On Tuesday, Ben had his last day of both speech and of his special education play group. Ben’s teacher had a little graduation ceremony and nothing is cuter than a just turned 3 year old wearing a construction paper graduation cap.Ben’s IEP quart…
May
08
National Teacher Appreciation Day a chance to honor autism support
Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day. While the day is a general recognition of the great teachers who have changed lives, it also needs to serve as kudos for all
May
07
Leaps and Bounds
Exciting things are happening in Ben’s world. He started school based speech therapy a little over a month ago. The progress he has made in that month is astounding. I have become gun shy of using the term “language explosion” as I ha…
May
06
Twice exceptional
2e is the short-hand for twice exceptional, which means a child who has a diagnosis (Asperger’s, PDD-NOS, ADHD, etc) and is also gifted. They are called twice exceptional because they often need IEPs addressing both delayed areas AND areas where …
Mar
30
Elgibility results and special education, the 2nd time
Today was my meeting to find out the results of Ben’s school eligibility testing…you know, the one he was so charming and cooperative for.The overall report showed that Ben is 25% delayed in social skills and 20% delayed in speech/articulation and ex…
Mar
26
This changes everything….
Last week I got the results of Liam’s neuropsychological testing. To say I was shocked is a bit of an understatement. I thought I knew how he did on the test, but I was dead wrong. I wanted the testing to help with educational testing and to look at ar…
Mar
26
The week that brought us all down
Last week was a week where nothing seemed to go right or as expected. It seemed to last forever and the weekend was not at all relaxing.Monday was Ben’s school eligibility testing, and my sullen boy was all smiles and cooperation and charm for th…
Mar
17
Milestones, testing, spring break, oh my
This week was Liam’s spring break from school. Dave was acting SJA at work, so the boys and I had a quiet week with playdates with friends and battling colds. Changes in schedule often lead to crazy behavior, but this week wasn’t bad, all i…
Mar
01
Crappy Transportation Company – Finger Lickin’ Good Times
This is PART THREE in a gripping saga about Crappy Transportation Company. If you are new to the story, please read THIS, then THIS. Thanks. So. After using an empty, greasy Dunkin Donuts bag to smoosh away the CHICKEN BONES from under RM’s seat and then securing her tightly in the safety straps, I kissed [...]
Mar
01
Crappy Transportation Company – Part Deux
If you’re just joining us, please read yesterday’s post HERE. After that first email I sent to SpedHead on Tuesday, February 21, I received an unusually speedy response that afternoon from her that she would be looking into the matter and that all emails would indeed be entered into RM’s school file. Up to this [...]
Feb
29
Crappy Transportation Company
Last summer, I wrote about RM’s safety seat drama with Crappy Transportation Company to her outplacement AMAZING AUTISM SCHOOL. The seat issue was resolved. I’d love to tell you that after those painful dealings, the company stopped being a bunch of assholes and realized that we weren’t messing around. Not so much. The following email was Round Three [...]
Feb
28
Lots of waiting
I haven’t blogged much because there isn’t much about which to write. I am still obsessing about the correct school choice for Liam for next year. I am in touch with the preschool department of special education services in Alabama, and they remember …
Feb
06
Kindergarten visit, take 2
I think the e-mail from Liam’s teacher explains it all:I was just going to email you!He did great today! He came in talking about it and we went over everything with him. This time he did not have to leave his work unfinished (although we’re going to t…
Jan
30
Big changes ahead for my big guy
I am still struggling with the Kindergarten decision and trying to find someone, anyone in Alabama to answer my questions about the transfer process from 3-5 to kindergarten and how private schooling affects the IEP.In the meantime, we re-wrote Liam’s …
Jan
10
What the Battle Sometimes Looks Like
The following letter was written on the battlefield in Afghanistan, July, 2010, after the district special ed director reduced the hours of paraprofessional support for RM at her YMCA summer camp without prior notification, or grounds to do so. Just another perspective of what our military families must do to advocate for our kids with [...]
Nov
13
Put Down Your Hammers
RM isn’t quite there yet. Surely, she will always be unique. But right now, at 5-years-old, she is safely tucked away at an outplacement ABA program that caters to exactly who she is. There are only square pegs there. From staff to students. All square pegs. It’s a safe space for her to learn how [...]
Oct
17
Ben’s developmental ped evaluation
The appointment was suprising for me and completely unexpected. Beforehand, I said that I wouldn’t be suprised if Ben was found to be on the autism spectrum and I wouldn’t be surprised to find we wasn’t. The appointment had different result…
Oct
03
Update on Ben’s speech and school OT for Liam
Today was step 3 in Ben’s developmental evaluation process. We met with a SLP for a speech evaluation. I had alot of anxiety going into this appointment and had 2 seperate nightmares about it last night. Ben talked young and if you ha…
Aug
24
Back to school
I survived the summer! It was a serious question whether I would. 
Back to school encompasses a different set of challenges and we will be busy the next few weeks settling into our new schedule. This year Liam will be going to TWO …
Aug
16
A Toe-Walking She Will Go
I’m already nearly in tears. I make mental note to never get to the school early again. The waiting is killing me. It’s 2:28pm and the last ten minutes have been pure torture. Another mom is sitting nearby with her typical daughter. They are waiting, too. The mom seems just as anxious. I have never [...]
Jun
19
My Daddy is a Soldier
This Father’s Day, I honor the soldiers – Daddies who are worlds away from their babies today – longing for little arms wrapped around their neck, squeezy hugs and butterfly kisses. SGM has never been home on Father’s Day to be celebrated by his kids – but no Daddy has ever been loved so fiercely. The [...]
AMFAS Update
- Experiences of Wandering, Part 3 of 4 May 23, 2013
- Experiences of Wandering, Part 2 of 4 May 22, 2013
- Finding Answers in Chicago at AutismOne May 21, 2013
- Experiences of Wandering, Part 1 of 4 May 21, 2013
- Armed Forces Day celebrates America’s warriors May 18, 2013
CMKAA
- TRICARE Stalls on Implementing Treatments February 25, 2013
- FY2013 NDAA Includes One-Year Pilot Program January 2, 2013
- TIME Magazine Highlights Last Minute Kill of CMKAA December 21, 2012
Confessions from Household Six
- Please Stop the Ride May 12, 2013
- Autism Awareness Today and EVERY Day April 23, 2013
- Go Ahead, Laugh AT Me April 12, 2013
Captain Dad – Family Life with Autism, twins, and the Military
- Going on a Mission - and Skittles! April 6, 2013
- March Madness March 16, 2013
- Reading Tea Leaves March 2, 2013
Lily and the Roses
- Autism Mom – Finding A Balance May 22, 2013
- A Cure for Autism? Thoughts and Reflections May 8, 2013
- 87 Blue Balloons and 1 White April 6, 2013
Navy Chaplain: A Story
- Eloping and Autism: How to get a free safety kit for your ASD kid (or share with a family you love) May 22, 2013
- What is the difference? April 14, 2013
- THE BIGGEST SECRET EVER!! March 18, 2013
Who’s Teaching Who?
- Transitions: From Sampling to Eating March 21, 2013
- Today’s Lesson: Appreciation February 2, 2013
- First Impressions October 17, 2012
Oh What A Life!
- Lit it up Blue! May 2, 2013
- Selfish Moments March 15, 2013
- Just keep your head up March 12, 2013
Conner’s Search For A Voice
- The dreaded word. Deployment. March 21, 2013
- All our friends are different. February 18, 2013
- Sick in disguise. January 22, 2013
Red Green Lellow
- God make me a Warrior Mama. May 21, 2013
- Claiming my Namesake May 19, 2013
- Recovery for our kids with Autism: Getting out of our comfort zone April 28, 2013
The Holland’s Home
- We are low on funding so… February 12, 2013
- Book Review: Tent of David by Boaz Michael January 16, 2013
- Hey There Delilah January 2, 2013
Raising Soldiers 4 Christ
- Focusing on the Gospel this Resurrection March 28, 2013
- Tae Kwon Do and Special Needs March 17, 2013
- Tae Kwon Do….is it Biblical February 25, 2013
Pathways in Autism
- Please Sign Petition For Sensitivity Training At Whole Foods January 14, 2013
- Expect Spin With Autism Mandates October 23, 2012
- Watch Your Little Eloper! October 15, 2012
Pieces
- Truth From the Fox February 26, 2013
- Again I Rise February 21, 2013
- Working Together February 6, 2013
Oh What a Life!
- Lit it up Blue! May 2, 2013
- Selfish Moments March 15, 2013
- Just keep your head up March 12, 2013
Autism Recovered
- Kate's recovery story April 16, 2012
- Fairies get a new swing outside February 29, 2012
- Craftiness February 25, 2012
Four Cannons
- BFF’s May 22, 2012
- An Emotional Glimpse Into My Heart… May 17, 2012
- Soooo Ready For Spring! February 20, 2012
P.R.E.K.P.A.
- OUTINGS with 3 small children, Autism and only 1 parent August 7, 2011
- NEW DIET FOR KAITLYN!!! August 7, 2011
- ALL GROWN UP!!! August 2, 2011
Michelle’s maniacal musings on mommyhood
- Kindergarten graduation May 12, 2013
- The battle with strep continues May 12, 2013
- Hello Kitty May 3, 2013
A House of Hagfeldt’s
- You say its your birthday! na na na na na it's my birthday too! yeah! na na na na na March 1, 2013
- What's the deal-eo February 16, 2013
- Christmas 2012 January 16, 2013
ArmyWifeToddlerMom
- Remembering Ramzi Doany 10 years later September 11, 2011
- And she'll have fun fun fun till her Daddy takes her t-bird away June 16, 2011
- And more June 6, 2011
Army Wife and Autism Life
- Crazy Beautiful life February 13, 2013
- What the... January 26, 2012
- A Beautiful Moment November 21, 2011
Pajama Camper
- Family Update October 19, 2011
- Open House August 12, 2011
- Been Awhile August 11, 2011
Parenting a child with Asperger Syndrome
- What a way to spend a day, hike challenge by W December 24, 2012
- My aspie's rude awakening September 26, 2012
- Me, the problem? September 18, 2012
Shot’s Spot
- Send a deployment hug November 8, 2012
- #photoadayaug Day 6 - Writing August 6, 2012
- #photoadayaug Day 4 - Somewhere you sat August 4, 2012
Major Autism
- No one can tell you how to build October 4, 2011
- What causes autism? June 14, 2011
- Is this Autism (Money) Awareness Month? April 3, 2011