Friday, July 29, 2011
Action Plan 2012.......ignite the torch
INCLUSION, you all know my fight to include my children is priority. I had some wonderful years in Elementary school including the kids..INCLUSION means that my children are not secluded to another area because of their disability..it is being a person like all others.. BUT in the school system they simply do not understand this passion at all.. You see even though some very in depth, expensive completely factual research proved that children with down syndrome should and will succeed in classrooms that are general education settings with the person who has Down syndrome being the ONLY child in the classroom with a disability. THAT IS INCLUSION, in the real would one person with a disability in every 20 so why would a classroom of 20 have any more than one in there that has a disability. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. So now I learn that i have been conned..yep that IA which I was told the past three years is for the children who score a 1 or 2 on their FCAT and need extra help. I learn now the IA is the old VE VARIED ACCEPTIONALITIES and that all students in the IA setting are ALL IEP students varied ages 14 to 22 and THEY CLUSTER 9th to 12th grade TOGETHER..how INCLUSIVE IS THAT??? REALLY??? Come on, so my tiny freshman is in class all day with a senior boy(S) How is that NORMAL...INCLUSIVE in my opinion it is a bad situation waiting to happen. REALLY is that a safe place and REALLY WHAT ARE THEY LEARNING...REALLY. So how is this happening when the LAW IS CLEAR..INCLUSION IS LAW, that the least restrictive environment is the LAW and if that does not work with all the supports and services in place something less can be put on the table for discussion NOT JUST A GIVEN... Where do the officials think they are helping our future.. Do they really believe breaking the law is OK for them?? How is it so wide spread and why is it so under the table.... CRAP I SAY!! If I had some funds I would pay an attorney to take this on...CAN I SAY IA my A**! CLUSTER is the word THEY are CLUSTERING KIDS 9th to 12th grade...REALLY... COME ON!!! So I have a much bigger job than I ever imagined... and it is stewing to figure out my plan of action. I can not continue to sit here saying Liars Liars PANTS on FIRE...ACTION is my plan... yes, I am drafting an ACTION PLAN.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
And the journey 2011/2012 has begun
Getting back at the wheel here is refreshing to have my outlet, I want you to all know these are my views and often I write from my heart so if I offend anyone it is not my intent , it is my intent to share my inner most feelings about my journey parenting today and the daily issues I face...
I struggled if I should post but today I had a meeting with Kaitlyn's new High School to set her schedule. we went on to their website and found the Freshman work sheet that is clearly a choice of classes, choices, lots of choices.. It is easy to follow. You start at the top and these are mandatory classes and then step two you choose and here is step three and you sign your child signs... Seems simple enough. Well that is for THOSE OTHER KIDS. Today we had one option..well I am not really sure option is the factor. You see we went to get the schedule and were put into a conversation about LIFE SKILLS. My child is 16 was FULLY INCLUDED K-5th successfully. Her best education growth was K-5th. We went IA for Middle school because the powers that be said it is best for middle school....for three years Kaitlyn made NO GROWTH.. she reads at the level she read in 5th if not a little less. She loves to read, she loves to learn, she loves school. So today even the words LIFE SKILLS seemed so inappropriate .. of course they added that it is full of HIGH FUNCTIONING GIRLS "we just love our girls in there" OK what is with this.. Come on it is 2011 and INCLUSION IS LAW... I wounder if their child was told she needed to go to the place under the bridge to shop, she can only buy things that are yellow.. I tell you it gets me right to the core of my heart.. HOW DARE PEOPLE.. My child deserves to be educated in the seat next to her peers and I simply and getting tired of repeating that. Why is it so easy for people to just assume my child would be better off in the rooms over there, those that are in close proximity to one another so they are CLUSTERED FOLKS ... they are singled out and DISCRIMINATED... because do not think for a minute you are not LABELING THEM... you have set THEIR CLASSES with lights and sirens for the "cool people" KNOW who is whom... PLEASE STOP !!!! Educate all children all together and do the job TEACH!!! Just TEACH. Especially the child who wants to be taught... I knew when i woke up this morning this was going to be a day.. I thank my higher power for the strength to keep the torch for my kids lit. I have a girl who wants to go to college, she wants to drive a car, she wants to be a teacher, she wants to have an apartment, she wants to shop and buy her own things... WHY THE HELL WOULD ANYONE STOP HER... because putting her in Life Skills is not going to teach her to deal with the real world. placing here in clusters that are not the normal world environments are not where she is going to live, she has no special walmart to shop or Publix to enter.. She is going to enter each place in this community that each and every other freshman is going to walk through the Entrance of and I want her prepared for that. OK, so I got her in sign language ..YEAH me.. LOL It is a foreign language.. it is imperative for her life long abilities because she has no handicap in her arms, hands or fingers so nothing will stop her from communicating like everyone else who signs and her world in signing will open like all other people who sign.. then we go on to signing up for swim team... they need to check on LIABILITY... for real that was said...When you come in Friday please check with the athletics department because we need to check on liability... have you EVER heard any one say that to your NON SPECIAL CHILD... OK ...I held it together because I have waited years for the day my child would enter the front doors of this school and I am excited for her... I really am I just was not fully prepared for the work ahead of me.... I feel like that mom back in 1997 in the front office enrolling her into the Kindergarten class where in a crowd of people I was told if her shots were not up to date she could not start school because of her CONDITION... I must say today I have a little more class than that moment I had not prepared to experience.. To be sure we did not have an epidemic of Down syndrome in the school I assured them her shots were up to date.
I struggled if I should post but today I had a meeting with Kaitlyn's new High School to set her schedule. we went on to their website and found the Freshman work sheet that is clearly a choice of classes, choices, lots of choices.. It is easy to follow. You start at the top and these are mandatory classes and then step two you choose and here is step three and you sign your child signs... Seems simple enough. Well that is for THOSE OTHER KIDS. Today we had one option..well I am not really sure option is the factor. You see we went to get the schedule and were put into a conversation about LIFE SKILLS. My child is 16 was FULLY INCLUDED K-5th successfully. Her best education growth was K-5th. We went IA for Middle school because the powers that be said it is best for middle school....for three years Kaitlyn made NO GROWTH.. she reads at the level she read in 5th if not a little less. She loves to read, she loves to learn, she loves school. So today even the words LIFE SKILLS seemed so inappropriate .. of course they added that it is full of HIGH FUNCTIONING GIRLS "we just love our girls in there" OK what is with this.. Come on it is 2011 and INCLUSION IS LAW... I wounder if their child was told she needed to go to the place under the bridge to shop, she can only buy things that are yellow.. I tell you it gets me right to the core of my heart.. HOW DARE PEOPLE.. My child deserves to be educated in the seat next to her peers and I simply and getting tired of repeating that. Why is it so easy for people to just assume my child would be better off in the rooms over there, those that are in close proximity to one another so they are CLUSTERED FOLKS ... they are singled out and DISCRIMINATED... because do not think for a minute you are not LABELING THEM... you have set THEIR CLASSES with lights and sirens for the "cool people" KNOW who is whom... PLEASE STOP !!!! Educate all children all together and do the job TEACH!!! Just TEACH. Especially the child who wants to be taught... I knew when i woke up this morning this was going to be a day.. I thank my higher power for the strength to keep the torch for my kids lit. I have a girl who wants to go to college, she wants to drive a car, she wants to be a teacher, she wants to have an apartment, she wants to shop and buy her own things... WHY THE HELL WOULD ANYONE STOP HER... because putting her in Life Skills is not going to teach her to deal with the real world. placing here in clusters that are not the normal world environments are not where she is going to live, she has no special walmart to shop or Publix to enter.. She is going to enter each place in this community that each and every other freshman is going to walk through the Entrance of and I want her prepared for that. OK, so I got her in sign language ..YEAH me.. LOL It is a foreign language.. it is imperative for her life long abilities because she has no handicap in her arms, hands or fingers so nothing will stop her from communicating like everyone else who signs and her world in signing will open like all other people who sign.. then we go on to signing up for swim team... they need to check on LIABILITY... for real that was said...When you come in Friday please check with the athletics department because we need to check on liability... have you EVER heard any one say that to your NON SPECIAL CHILD... OK ...I held it together because I have waited years for the day my child would enter the front doors of this school and I am excited for her... I really am I just was not fully prepared for the work ahead of me.... I feel like that mom back in 1997 in the front office enrolling her into the Kindergarten class where in a crowd of people I was told if her shots were not up to date she could not start school because of her CONDITION... I must say today I have a little more class than that moment I had not prepared to experience.. To be sure we did not have an epidemic of Down syndrome in the school I assured them her shots were up to date.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
School August 8th the journey continues
It has been a long time since I posted for many reason but the most disturbing was a letter from my ex husband that stated he is having people get information off my blog about my children. You see he made a choice in life to make it impossible to have any relationship with the children. He resides in a Florida prison for a child crime unthinkable. it was not during the time I had anything to do with him and after the divorce and after the courts had stopped his visits with the children so they were safe ...BUT never the less he is to have no contact with them and I will when his release time comes near file for a lifetime restraining order but the fact that some human would violate my right to have a safe secure home for my children rocked me to the core..To believe there are people out there that would violate my children took me to my knees..The fact one day I loved a man who really was no one I knew. I pray the person feels some sort of remorse.
I think the best way again is to start from the top.
Mandie is back to work but not for me. She is working full time in the world of disabilities as a supported living coach and supportive employment coach. She is loving the new role of helping people with disabilities find their abilities in life and their communities. She is natural. Her baby girl is growing up fast as are her two boys. She and her husband are busy working and love life. they plan to take a vacation in the fall on a cruise..We love cruising.
Michelle has just returned to Florida. She had moved to GA when the housing market went bust here and she was in the market industry but now is moving back to medical and working fro me in the house as a PCA for the children.. I wma very much enjoying Michelle back in my life especially my grandson. Her relationship is strong and the entire family hopefully will be in Florida by years end. It needs to be a safe secure move so taking the time to make it right.
Kory is in Illinois working on a farm, he loves the Independence and seems to enjoy being a big part of my brothers life in racing. Kory is single not in any serious relationship although he lives like a 21 year old; growing up one day, just not tomorrow.. LOL
Erin is living in the Cape, she has been struggling with kidney stones which have caused her great pain this past year. Her daughter did wonderful in school. She is in a new relationship which appears to make her glo.
Josh is in Illinois as well, he is working in the factory world getting back to college and making life long plans, he is in a new relationship although
Keirsten is 17 and a half now, she is making little progress on making plans for INDEPENDANCE, so she is more than likely NOT moving out the day she turns 18 as she has so threatened for a couple years. LOL
Kaitlyn starts HIGH SCHOOL in a couple weeks and it seems impossible!! She is super excited. She will attend some events at the school this week to help get use to the campus. She is going school shopping with her sister this week, she is very very happy to have her big sister Michelle back in her life.
Steven is entering High school, he did not get into the same school as Kaitlyn so he will be out on his own AGAIN.... I wish they could keep the kids in the same schools.. GOOD SCHOOLS. he is not excited at all because he really doesn't seem to be motivated so I need to help him choose a talent area, like his art and get him into some good art activities.
Jordan, he is getting a new para this year, a male and a male teacher so this year is going to be exciting. I am going to have a whole lot of work cut out for me because his last para was motivated to be a teacher and continued education as her choice .. I can not wait to meet these guys and see where this journey leads.. Jordan has been a little needy this summer and is going on anti depressants..one day at a time.
Tressa my million piece puzzle in the game called life.. LIFE... between tween years and PWS and OC .. wow she has taken me to levels of parenting I knew nothing about... we are doing well, she has had some studies this summer, her medical is amazing. I will attach the research studies completed that she is in. We entered many more and will yet another in October.
Lucas, the boy has grown like a weed this summer.. TALL.
I think the best way again is to start from the top.
Mandie is back to work but not for me. She is working full time in the world of disabilities as a supported living coach and supportive employment coach. She is loving the new role of helping people with disabilities find their abilities in life and their communities. She is natural. Her baby girl is growing up fast as are her two boys. She and her husband are busy working and love life. they plan to take a vacation in the fall on a cruise..We love cruising.
Michelle has just returned to Florida. She had moved to GA when the housing market went bust here and she was in the market industry but now is moving back to medical and working fro me in the house as a PCA for the children.. I wma very much enjoying Michelle back in my life especially my grandson. Her relationship is strong and the entire family hopefully will be in Florida by years end. It needs to be a safe secure move so taking the time to make it right.
Kory is in Illinois working on a farm, he loves the Independence and seems to enjoy being a big part of my brothers life in racing. Kory is single not in any serious relationship although he lives like a 21 year old; growing up one day, just not tomorrow.. LOL
Erin is living in the Cape, she has been struggling with kidney stones which have caused her great pain this past year. Her daughter did wonderful in school. She is in a new relationship which appears to make her glo.
Josh is in Illinois as well, he is working in the factory world getting back to college and making life long plans, he is in a new relationship although
Keirsten is 17 and a half now, she is making little progress on making plans for INDEPENDANCE, so she is more than likely NOT moving out the day she turns 18 as she has so threatened for a couple years. LOL
Kaitlyn starts HIGH SCHOOL in a couple weeks and it seems impossible!! She is super excited. She will attend some events at the school this week to help get use to the campus. She is going school shopping with her sister this week, she is very very happy to have her big sister Michelle back in her life.
Steven is entering High school, he did not get into the same school as Kaitlyn so he will be out on his own AGAIN.... I wish they could keep the kids in the same schools.. GOOD SCHOOLS. he is not excited at all because he really doesn't seem to be motivated so I need to help him choose a talent area, like his art and get him into some good art activities.
Jordan, he is getting a new para this year, a male and a male teacher so this year is going to be exciting. I am going to have a whole lot of work cut out for me because his last para was motivated to be a teacher and continued education as her choice .. I can not wait to meet these guys and see where this journey leads.. Jordan has been a little needy this summer and is going on anti depressants..one day at a time.
Tressa my million piece puzzle in the game called life.. LIFE... between tween years and PWS and OC .. wow she has taken me to levels of parenting I knew nothing about... we are doing well, she has had some studies this summer, her medical is amazing. I will attach the research studies completed that she is in. We entered many more and will yet another in October.
Lucas, the boy has grown like a weed this summer.. TALL.
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