Inclusive Education Video: A UN Global Event

 Now happening LIVE from the United Nations, and available later for viewing: (PREMIERE) Inclusive Quality Education for All - World Autism Awareness Day

 * UN Web TV: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1p/k1pgh88oqn

 * Facebook link:  https://www.facebook.com/UNWebTV/videos/561654072063158

 * YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/9xqT5gnwSw8

This is near and dear to me because I have fought for this for my son with two public school districts, pretty much since he was diagnosed. Some years were fantastic, and the best that full inclusion in a public education setting can be. Most years were not.

From Kindergarten to Fourth Grade, my son was in full inclusion in a public school, with a 1:1 aide. I was able to be a classroom assistant, so it was a real group/community effort.

In those years, everyone knew him. When I was on school grounds, and even around town, I would constantly hear "Hi, James!" and spot kids and adults waving in a friendly manner. He had access to and modeled behaviours of his peers. His communication skills improved. Almost as importantly, the kids saw James as one of them. In third grade, they were compete for a chance to be allowed to "help James" with a lesson, and his aide facilitated group games of catch on the playground during recess. These classmates were learning empathy and how to work with and accept those who are differently abled. This is huge for our future to work together in the world.

Watching this video is important because public education in the United States has been under attack for many many decades. They are the first state organization to have their budgets cut when states are reducing costs, teachers are not respective or compensated as they should be (and are in other countries), and schools are increasingly being made to be to safety net for families under attack, by providing safe places for homeless students, food and sometimes clothing for families who cannot afford to keep up with rising costs and low salaries, and hostile parent groups (and sometimes the US Secretary of Education) who are using religion and politics to undermine education in a free society.

This is a call to form a better future for inclusive education, which I see as better education for us all.

I encourage everyone seeing this to share and discuss.

Back to the Classroom?

 Should I? Shouldn't I? -- Adults and parents struggle with this quandary. Autism parents, doubly so. 

Most recently, whether or not to allow James to return, part-time, to campus. 

Nay:

• While staff may be vaccinated, the students probably are not. 
• I am not comfortable allowing him to ride the bus until he has been vaccinated. 
• Change in schedule and routine, at a time when he resists both bedtime and morning wake ups.
• Food. What to pack and will he eat? Oh nos.
• Bathroom. Sigh ...

Yea:

• Get him back on a schedule. It will be hard no matter what. Slowly but surely will help.
• James has already received his first vaccine shot. 
• Staff are trained and used to James.
• I can drive him, as the campus is maybe 10 minutes away and I do not have do leave the car.
• It's only 5 hours a day, 2 days a week, with only 1-2 other students in the room.
• We get a break from each other.

Result?

Despite receiving notification that there was a COVID-19 positive discovery on campus (the first week back), it was reassuring to be able to talk with the school and learn it was not related to his program. The staff is so positive, I feel confident he is in good hands. Proceeding with caution and hope.

A Year of Process and Outrage

It's almost the end of another year. What a tough one it's been, especially for James. How the system is failing him. Failing us. Namely, the school districts and the government that is supposed to fund and provide guidance to said school districts.

The upshot is that it has been a year of James being without a steady, structured educational environment. It's showing. It's come at a horrible time of a flood of hormones, added height, and explosive frustration.

In short: two Sonoma County school districts, our State and Federal governments failed us at a crucial time and they pretty much bank on parents like myself being too tired, broke, or ignorant to do much about that.

Here's where being outraged pairs well with stubborness and endurance. I am currently engaged in several Processes, some of which include legal, to fight for my son to be educated and supported per his legal rights. To give him tools so later in life he can be as independent and self-supporting as possible.

I call them Processes for the good of my soul. It's long-termed and I know he won't get his full legal entitlements while the federal Secretary of Education removes guidance and legal protections for other-abled students, our state government continues a pattern of funding cuts for public schools and special education, districts side with unions over student needs, and schools actively work to keep special needs parents in the dark about what is actually happening at school.

My mother taught for 30 years. She worked for and received a Masters in Special Education while my brother and I were in high school. I have helped teachers in private and public schools since I was in the 5th grade. I have seen a lot of school from both sides and understand how games must be played to do the best one can in a system. I understand schools are being asked to do too much with too few resources and training. I understand it is hard to work with kids in general, our kids in particular, and sometimes parents most of all. I do get infuriated when I want to pitch in and help but get treated like the enemy. And lied to. And meanwhile, my guy gets put in a corner and short-changed. Over and over. So yes, outrage.

Our public schools systems are not perfect. They never will be. That doesn't mean we get to shrug our shoulders and let it go. Throwing money at schools is not a solution (although it can help). It doesn't mean that yelling or pointing fingers will do much. I think our best bet is to keep trying to hold schools and government agencies accountable, and try our best to partner with them for our kids in this Process.

First Day 2015

Not sure how I feel about this school year. For the first time in 6 years, James is not starting out as Full inclusion. It's heartbreaking for me but James seems to like it. It's been his easiest start back in years.

Glad it is easy for him because everything else is a mess, from the constant construction on-site all year to the fact that no one still can tell me what his Special Day Class routine is like to the fact that the district is asking me if I have the original signatures page for the IEP meeting we had in June.

On top of that, the comparison between the organization and seemingly effortless support at his sister's new school and the broken mess from his school district ... after all our efforts ... I must confess, I broke down and cried after dropping him off that morning. I feel like I've failed him and he's being lost down a hole.

Pineapple Express '14

What else happened in December ... oh yes - rain! After too many years of drought, especially after this past Spring that almost never was, we welcomed rain from a Pineapple Express.

I think we received some delayed water shipments, because the storm on December 11th dumped so much on us in a short while that roads, freeways, storm drains, and creeks were overwhelmed.

From Kent Porter in the Press Democrat

For the first time ever up here, school was cancelled for both kids/districts. Really, it was because the roads were compromised and people weren't sure about landslides later in the day. Regardless, I am so glad James does not take the bus. Some kids were waiting in the rain for 30 minutes for buses that never came - that's how close his school district cut it.  I actually called him in sick first, because his lack of eating after his procedure plus his anxiety over getting spots of water on his clothing just made staying home the better option that day.

James' sister's school waited too late, in my opinion. I was almost in the car with her before getting their cancellation message. Some parents had already dropped their kids at school and had to go back and get them. Oh, there were MANY unhappy parents that day ... which is why both districts announced that same afternoon that schools would also be closed the next day (Friday).

While I was glad my husband could be home with the kids, it was a bit sad to be the only one in the family who did not get a Rain Day off. Still, I did get an earlier start (and finish) than usual. I even got to do what the locals do when we get Rain -- head up to Memorial Bridge and take some pictures while sipping some Flying Goat coffee.

Memorial Bridge, under construction - yes, the workers were there & working - almost at flood stage.

On the railroad bridge, watching the park flood. haven't seen *that* in a while!

First Day, of the Third Grade

Well James has started back to school. Not our best start, but he's in a great classroom with an awesome aide, so I have a good feeling about this year.

“Life is about not knowing, having
to change, taking the moment and
making the best of it"

No back to school pictures today, as the sinus infection hasn't quite left yet and anxiety had him literally twisting with nerves. Once he saw the kids (girls, really) in his class, he perked up. One of his previous classmates greeted him with a "Hi, James!" and a big smile. She's one of his favourite people, so I know that helped.

His aide reports he did a lot of testing behaviours with her, before settling down to classroom routine. They did flash cards, reading, and writing. Thank you!

I was a bit frazzled myself. The morning commutes go through 3 of the 4 construction projects currently in full swing. We were stopped to allow sanding of a road and cleanup from a crash and new parents froze at intersections. Thank goodness his sister got to school on time, James' school expected first day delays, and I'd let work know I'd be in late.

I did pick him up early today so he could get some extra rest, and he was definitely happier than the past few days. I saw a few side looks too from some kids who are new to James and the noises he can make. It was the "weirdo!" look. It's always something, isn't it?

Looking forward to a much better year than last.

Student of the Month

I think we've all seen those bumper stickers that read "My Child Is Student of the Month at __________" -- they are so prevalent that they've spawned snappy comeback bumper stickers like "My Child/Cat/Dog Can Beat Up Your Honor Student" and made their marks on American auto adornment.

I knew, going into this school year, that James' new school did the Honor Student thing. I cringed. I usually shy from the fads of the crowd, attended parochial school for 12 years, and was raised in a rather anti- "toot your own horn" family. It so went against the grain.

And then the school year started rough. It spiraled down toward disastrous. While part of me knew that eventually each child would be one of several Students of the Month at assemblies, I never expected James to get there any time soon. He was the trapezoidal peg that the school kept trying to pound into a round hole. There were so many things going wrong.

Then we pulled James out of school and did Independent Study at home for a few weeks, to keep matters from getting worse. I calmed down (a bit), pulled focus, and changed tactics. I asked the school for help.

What we got, was something of a freakin' miracle. A new classroom and teacher, with classmates James knew from the previous two years. Most importantly, an amazing aide who "got" him came into our lives. She went so above and beyond the proverbial call of duty that reading James' progress reports from his first and third semesters make him sound like two different boys.

School went from stressful, unhappy, and exclusionary to exciting, organic, encouraging, and positive. We feel so incredibly grateful and lucky.

And in the last month of school, this came home in James' backpack:

Yes, and I went to see him receive his awards.

This has been a wonderful conclusion to a challenging year. I am so happy James had a chance to participate, and that he was chosen at a time when being Student of the Month could truly be a proud experience for us all.

James, sitting with his teacher, aide, and classmates.
His good friend from First Grade has his hand on his shoulder, to make James feel better amidst all the noise.

James receiving his award from his principal, who helped make all the wonderful changes happen.

Student of the Month James -- bumper sticker in one hand, certificate and prizes in the other.

James' teacher, aide, and classmates, congratulating him.

Way to go, James! We're so proud of you and how far you've come. I'll even tape that bumper sticker to the back window of our car, if you want.

First Class Report: Ostriches

James is working on his first class report. The general topic is wild animals and each student picked an animal. James picked ostriches.

His aide and I listened to him read his book and fill out sentences for the draft of his report. I misread the directions so we are a little behind. We've got a trip the library and internet this weekend to discover more interesting things about the largest birds on earth.

We've already taken a real field trip to see live ostriches. People have them on their farms here in Sonoma County and there's one near our house that allows for casual visitors to pull over on the side of the road and say hello (and take pictures):

I've already learned 2 news things -- the female ostriches lay on their eggs during the day and the males take the night shift, and the females look like the photos above. Only the males have black and white feathers.

Pop culture FAIL:

Although I understand the artistic license/reasoning.

It's exciting to have James included in the class oral report project. We'll be working on his poster board next week, practicing his verbal presentation. He's never done anything like this before, so we'll see how it goes.

Pick-up Time

Wow, we moms are a swarmy bunch! Waiting for my guy in the shade, admiring the garden and warm afternoon sunshine.

I love these angular windows. They somehow recall TV space and science programs from the early 1970s.

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: After School

Both kids are back in school. Big changes this year! Big sister is an upper classperson, with a different start schedule and change-ups at recess and lunch. She is in a room with lots of new classmates. Her school changed to a charter, with emphasis on math and science, which is right up her alley. She is going to be a Big Buddy to some lucky little kid, instead of being the Little Buddy.

James is on a campus he's attended before, but for a special day preschool three years ago. At this second grade level, aides are not available before or after school, so we are coping with being more self-directed at these times. Class is much more structured than he's been used to over the past year; it's not the one I advocated for. And its a challenge to have him use his voice appropriately. I have a meeting tomorrow with his services coordinator. Yesterday I got the notification in the mail about his 3-year assessment, and I am contemplating what this means for James. It's hard to play chess when I am not sure of which pieces I have, and the rules are hazy and not fully formed in my brain.

So after yesterday's pickup, we hit the library and then walked across the Green to Yogurt Farms for a frosty treat. James lost his temper and yelled, almost crying, when I told him he needed to wait his turn in line to get his yogurt rung up. He'd held it together all day so well, but that was one thing too much. He howled and melted right before us all. Thank goodness he was able to get to a seat and remain mostly seated, occasionally stating loudly "I am very angry!" and making his dinosaur noises for the two minutes it took to reach our turn. Then we skedaddled across the street to the park, and life took a much calmer, better turn:

For more images from the heart and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.
 





               and ... Wordless Wednesday

So Glad It's Saturday

Oh my goodness, what a lot has been packed into the past two days. School worries already and a homefront crisis. For the win, I have a sinus cold. So I was very glad to not have to get up or go anywhere soon this morning.

Remember that post about me being glad that James is talking more and initiating conversations? Well that was ironic -- he was asked to leave class on his first day of school for talking too much during class. Ouch. He actually left class twice on the first day -- one was related to his aide's break schedule. So now I am walking the fine line between "what the heck do you mean by pulling him out of class on the first day?" and trying to find out what's going on and seeing what I can do to help make sure James stays in class while remaining engaged and behaving appropriately. I also want to make sure that he, his class, and aide are all good fits for each other. I know, I know -- but I'm his mom. Who else ya gonna call?

Speaking of calling ... I can't reach his services coordinator by phone. They took away her portable, put her somewhere new, and no one seems to know how to get her up and running on her new phone. Um, I know start of school is insanely busy ... but I also worked in Facilities -- betchya I could get it up and running without waiting for the District IT folks, but I digress.

My plans for observing James in class on Day 2 were foiled by a financial crisis. There is nothing like panicked phone calls from your partner and the fear of financial insolvency to get that ol' bp up and running, you betchya! I do have mad skills in bureaucratic process and can sometimes remain amazingly calm in a crisis. These helped to resolve the worst issues before 4PM, but by then James was out of school. I was told Day 2 went much better and there were no time outs. I am still going to observe his class next week ...

By 5:00PM, I was at my daughter's campus, looking at class lists. Five minutes later, my heart was in my shoes. She was in exactly the classroom that she wanted, but I think I can read between the lines and now am concerned that she is being left out of the academically motivated group of kids at her grade level. After the last few days, I am trying to breathe deeply and remember the good things -- like the fact that she is in an excellent school and has friends there. That she will be starting 4-H next month and there are 2 more grades after this one.

That maybe I can't see the whole picture because of my fears.

Because this week, there seem to be so many of them around.

I need to close my eyes, have a little faith, and visualize ... with intent.

This is how I need to move forward.

Irony Goes to Summer School

The good news is that the summer school program this year is shaping up to be an exponentially better experience than last year's.

• The teacher is from the school he just spent two years attending, as opposed to a teacher from out-of-state. The kids know her and she knows most of the kids. Nice!
    
• The classroom is nicely set up and already had the a/c on, as opposed to last year's dark room that felt like a big broom closet. I had to make a stink to get the a/c turned on for James, and I had already communicated that heat really affects him adversely.
    
• The desks were already clearly labeled and set up for the class, as well as the cubbies. Last year's seating was a bit of a free-for-all and the masking tape with their names soon peeled off the cubbies and were never replaced.
    
• The childrens' worksheets had been already neatly prepared in folders with their names on it.  Last year's programs had sheets ripped out of several different workbooks at the beginning of a work circle and were not appropriate for what James had been working on.
    
• All James' papers and sensory diet items were waiting for him in the classroom the first day of our arrival; only his chair made it last year, and they didn't know it was his until I mentioned it and asked that it be made available for James.
    
• Best of all, the older kids have their own classroom this year, so it's not 1 room for grades K-5.

James no longer cringes from summer school. He'd still prefer 2nd grade, but he's a happy guy going into class this summer. The irony comes in 2 parts.

Number 1: Out of our 2 kids, James is the confident, outgoing one. Everyone is his friend and for the most part he sails fearlessly to new campuses and groups of people. This morning, his 3rd of summer session, after Pink-Eye, a 1000+ mile road trip, and the flu, he raced ahead of me to his class door. I encouraged him to open it, and he was greeted with a chorus of "Hi, James!" In he went, with a big grin. I never made it to the portable's ramp. I think back to the years of struggling to get my daughter to school -- the tears, late arrivals, and severe anxiety and feel a mixture of frustration and wry amusement.

Number 2: James' summer school teacher is THE teacher I'd longed to have for my daughter. I really admired her organizational style and teaching expectations and delivery. My daughter had a different teacher for 1st grade who ended up being the perfect teacher for her. I will be forever grateful for the confidence and zest for learning that she nutured in my daughter. No regrets there, but my daughter never got the teacher who first caught my eye, so to speak. Because this teacher tended to teach at a more advanced level, I never even thought of her as a teacher for James. Yet here she is, redeeming my opinion of summer school and teaching James, not his sister.

Life is funny, I tell ya.

Special Exposure Weds: Patriotic Pics

So I've told you a bit about the wind-up for Patriotic Day. Every year our local K-1 school puts on an assembly in honour of Memorial Day and those who serve and have served our country. If there is a US veteran in the family, students are encouraged to invite them to be VIPs at the assembly. The entire school salutes and thanks them for their service. I am not wildly patriotic, but every year my heart is warmed and I share my gratitude with the rest of the school.

Here are some pictures from the actual assembly:

The event was in full swing as I walked onto the playground.
Looks like we pretty much all got the memo to show up in red, white, and blue!

I arrived just in time to see and hear James' class perform.
My guy sang his heart out, jumping up and down as he belted out
"Fifty Nifty United States from 13 original co-lo-nies!"

James is pretty chuffed about all this.

After some songs, veterans and their school-aged relatives were recognized.
Then there was a lull before the big finale. Check out James being social!

Waiting for the finale, my gorgeous guy!

I took a video of the finale. It moved many of us moms to tears. James was actually crying by the end of it. He had to come find me and schnuggle with me on my lap for about 10 minutes before he was okay with picking up again and going on with his day. The song? You Raise Me Up.

Oh my heart.

So ends the last assembly for us at our little neighbourhood school.

For more images from the heart and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.






               and ... Wordless Wednesday

Last Open House at Mattie

James' sister has been sick most of this week, throwing plans and schedules out the window. Luckily, no one else has come down with whatever she has.

Luckier still that I read James' communications folder this morning, as I packed up his lunch and assembled his backpack. His teacher asked to have all kids to the playground a little early this evening, so they'd be ready to sing their First Grade songs for Open House night.

Great freakin' monkey tails, I'd completely forgotten all about Open House. Both kids' schools have it on the same night and one was down sick and the other was supposed to perform. My husband had to work late. Shoot me (I've been saying this a lot -- maybe I should change this to "dark chocolate, STAT").

I gave respite a go, but no joy -- too short notice. My mom came down for over an hour to sit with the invalid so I could whoosh through two campuses and school districts, trying desperately to look like a responsible adult who'd planned in advance to enjoy perusing her offsprings' work.

I am so glad it worked out because there was so much to see. I am used to being amazed with the work my daughter has accomplished during her school year. She's deeply explored marine life, reading, math, and reports on local historical figures. Her stories and pictures delight me and her ceramic figures are full of whimsey and personality.

This is the first year that I've been able to do the same with James. It's also my last open house at our little local school that I've become very familiar with over the last four years -- the only school both kids might ever both attend. I am more than a bit sentimental here.

Ah well. Seems so little time has passed since he was having his first Open House as a Kindergartener, wearing his feathered headband and doing the Chicken Dance with the rest of his year:

Looking on the classroom was a bit of a letdown, because James was still not writing much, and certainly not drawing. In fact, I think this is the only project that included one of his pieces:

This year, however, James has been bursting out all over. He kept up with his class in all the songs and dances and stayed with his group. His desk had the same projects on it as the others in the room. He was well represented on the classroom walls and boards. He even took me over to a table to show me what he'd done, just as his classmates were doing.

Oh my heart. I am so proud of him, grateful that he's had such a wonderful teacher this year, and that he's made this last Open House here extra special for me.

SOOC Saturday: Science Exhibit

This week, James' school had it's first science exhibit, put on by the Charles M. Schultz Museum. As this was a challenging week for James, his aide told me that his difficulties with concentration, coupled with all the loud background noise meant his classroom visit was short. His teacher reminded me that there would be a Family Night  and encouraged us to come.

So with about an hour to go on the event, I bundled up the kiddos and brought them over to the school. The stars were out overhead and the place was surprisingly full. As it was not too noisy, we stayed the entire hour.

James really liked the water cycle board:

His sister was fascinated by earthworms and the tiny camera and light instrument that magnified them.

There were tables and equipment for examining rocks, making paper, animation strips, and bird feeding (as in the birds feeding themselves).

What really caught the imagination of both? The Fan:

A scientific experiment for the SOOC action at Marvelous Mommy's blog. Come on over to see more or join in!

Tackle It Tuesday: Work Area

This school year, both kids are ramping up in academics (grades 1 & 3). The breakfast table wasn't going to cut it anymore for homework. Only James' sister has a desk in her room, and it's rather snowed under by Squinkies, at present.

Over the summer, I knew some changes were in order. The kids needed a homework center. That meant the toy shelf needed to go. That make me weepy, because that's been our fun center for many years. It's lasted longer because James is a bit behind the developmental curve with toys and we keep inheriting cool new things (like the Disney Potato Head family and a very cool box full of characters from Monsters Inc, as well as the interactive Scare Floor).

Work Area Before:

However, it's been a worthwhile project. Over the summer, I found a used desk for $10 at the Salvation Army. The toy bookcase got moved in September, after we'd started settling into the new school year.

The new work area got set up recently. The kids are very excited to use the Homework Desk. Their calendars that they make in school get posted to the wall. Each of them has a folder for their homework and school notices. The lamp was on sale at WalMart (bulb included) for $9. A folding chair from the dump (about $1) with a pillow makes a great seat.

Markers, crayons, and paper moved out of the kitchen cabinets and into some desk drawers:

Lolli at 5 Minutes for Mom had the same challenge for her Tackle It Tuesday. What challenged you lately? Do you have an idea to share from your own homework center? Hop on over to share and view creativity on Tackle It Tuesday.