When Exclusion Becomes Normal: Why Schools Must Do More for Students with Disabilities

/
When Exclusion Becomes Normal: Why Schools Must Do More for Students with Disabilities

Do you ever have conversations that haunt you? Where you play what the other person said on a loop in your mind, to the point it becomes a sore you can’t stop picking?

I recently had one of those conversations. A conversation where the person made a flippant remark that hit me hard. A conversation where I wished I had called out the comment instead of letting its audacity blindside me.

The conversation was about a high school student and the subtle, and not so subtle, ways they have been bullied and excluded by their classmates over the years. Going beyond the name calling and talking about this student behind their back, they’ve also had students throw garbage on them and film them during a medical episode, accuse them of faking their disability (which includes the use of a wheelchair), locking them in a classroom, and more.

Read More

Decades Later, the Fight for Educational Supports for Kids with Disabilities Remains Unchanged

/
Decades Later, the Fight for Educational Supports for Kids with Disabilities Remains Unchanged

This summer, I spent time cleaning out my parents’ basement. Having lived in the same house for over 50 years, it was a treasure trove of old magazines, family photos, expired foods, vases and so much more.

One of the interesting things I came across in my purging was a binder from the 1980s about my brother. I know many parents and caregivers of kids with disabilities are familiar with this binder (I have a few in my house). It’s a summary of letters to the school, medical and therapy reports, assessments, and report cards.

Read More

4 Ways to Move from Judgement to Curiosity

/
4 Ways to Move from Judgement to Curiosity

Focusing on a child’s behaviour does nothing to help the situation. Rather, it allows biases, judgement and assumptions to take root and cloud what’s really happening.

Being curious about the behaviour versus judging the behaviour is the best way to support any child.

Read More

Why Being a Truly Inclusive School Shouldn’t Be Scary

/
Why Being a Truly Inclusive School Shouldn’t Be Scary

Despite all the talk about diversity and inclusion in classrooms, many schools and families still struggle with what this actually means and why it matters. Just having a child with disabilities or complex needs in a classroom isn’t enough. They need to be seen as a valued member of the school community.

Too often the conversation focuses on the challenges versus gifts these students bring to the classroom.

How can any kid be successful with this approach?

Read More

Why Saying Change Takes Time Harms Kids

/
Why Saying Change Takes Time Harms Kids

As a mom of a child with autism, and an advocate, the saying “Change Takes Time” is one I hear way too often. Honestly, it’s a cop out for not doing the hard work needed today instead of sloughing it off for tomorrow.

Read More