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Category Archives: My Life
It’s IEP Season, Part 6
For several days I pondered how I could observe in the un-offered classroom placement. I checked the district website and learned Mitchell was now a K-8 school. Back in 2009, Mitchell was still an elementary school. It’s where Katie had … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Third Draft of My Memoir is Done!!
It’s been a long, strange spring. First I developed a bizarre thumb infection that rendered my right hand virtually useless. I was forced to take more antibiotics than I care to think about and soaked my bloated digit six times … Continue reading
Posted in My Life, News
Tagged 50th Birthday, Creativity, Draft #3, Expectations, Memoir, Milestones, Poetry, Single Parent, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Another Story Selected for Performance By Petaluma Readers Theatre
Many of you will remember that the Petaluma Readers Theatre (PRT) performed my award-winning story, “Elliott Comes to Play” on stage back in the summer of 2012. As I told PRT after the performance, “seeing my story performed on stage … Continue reading
Posted in My Life, News, Other Writers, Publications
Tagged Adoption, Christine Falson-Daigle, Chuck Kensler, Craig Harris, Cynthia Patton, David Berner, Dear Ole Dad: A Tribute to Fatherhood, Divorce, Ed Rau, Eric Wallace, Family, Jean Wong, Jennifer March, John Noland, Jon Berger, Leslie Scratchard, Pat Tyler, Petaluma Readers Theatre, Sheila Bender, Single Parent, Susan Starbird, Terry Kolkey, The Clear Herat Stage, There's No Daddy Here, Tiny Lights, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 5
When I was observing potential classroom placements in my home school district, both teachers mentioned a moderate special day class at another school. I had no idea where this class was or who taught it, but I wanted to know … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 4
A week later, my friend Barb (Katie’s reading tutor) and I met Mary, the Program Specialist, in front of a middle school in our home district. I liked the feel of the place. This classroom had fewer students and the … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 3
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I met Mary, the Program Specialist, outside the Pleasanton middle school. We signed in and headed to the classroom, making small talk as we wandered the unfamiliar corridors. Eventually we found the classroom … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Boredom, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 2
After our first IEP meeting in January 2015, Ms Nav never sent the consolidated goals. Two days before our next meeting, she sent an updated draft IEP but it only contained her proposed goals. When I questioned this, she said … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Appropriate Goals, Autism, Goals, IEPs, Non-compliance, Placement, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Pioneers
Given that I recently completed a poetry chapbook of autism poems (oh yes I did!) and read at an autism awareness event sponsored by the Sacramento Poetry Center at the UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento earlier this week, … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Fear, Pioneers, Poetry, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Second Guest Post on Monday Coffee
The multi-talented Liz Whiteacre asked me to do another guest post for the Monday Coffee and Other Stories of Mothering Children with Special Needs website and blog. If you remember, I had a story published in the Monday Coffee anthology back in … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life, News, Other Writers, Publications
Tagged Acceptance, Anger, Autism, Autism Awareness, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum, Comparison, Fear, Grace, Monday Coffee and Other Stories of Mothering Children with Special Needs, Reading, Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew, Tyann Sheldon Rouw, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Cynthia’s Yearlong 50th Birthday Bash, March Update
As I described back in April 2014 (you can read the post here), I celebrated my 50th birthday with a year of activities, challenges, and FUN designed to honor this milestone. I called it Cynthia’s Yearlong 50th Birthday Bash, and … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged 50th Birthday, Authenticity, Birthdays, Fun, Memoir, New Things, Poetry, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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