Tag Archives: Advocacy

Chaos and Change, Part 2
avatar

Open Mind School (OMS), my daughter’s fantastic new school in Redwood City, was being kicked out of its current location by Oracle’s childcare provider and then lost its new location in Menlo Park to Facebook. Welcome to the cut-throat world … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s the Problem?
avatar

Sometimes I wonder, is the problem me? Other parents have special education horror stories, but no one has twisted tales of terror like mine and my daughter’s. Am I a bad parent? A poor advocate? But no, I have moved … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Waiting is (Almost) Over–An Update
avatar

I am tremendously happy to share that next week my daughter will begin attending the fabulous Open Mind School (OMS). This innovative private school, located in Redwood Shores, uses technology and rapid prompting method (RPM) to teach children with various … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Waiting Is (Almost) Over
avatar

Last Friday turned out to be a RED LETTER DAY in my crazy, unplanned life. First, my poetry collection, Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism, was finalized and sent to the printer. It should be ready to ship in … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Waiting
avatar

We are in limbo. Everything is on hold as we wait to see what happens with my daughter’s placement. School started in our district on Monday, August 22nd, and the following week, on August 29th, at Open Mind School (OMS). … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Playing Chicken
avatar

The school district and I are playing a high stakes (at least for my daughter) game of chicken. They want me to sign an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)—read annual contract—committing my daughter Katie to the generic, for-profit, non-public school (NPS) … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
avatar

My twelve-year-old daughter has been out of school for over five weeks. Katie is loving her extended vacation but I’m frazzled and depleted. Thank goodness that I have Nate in my life. He’s been doing a tremendous amount of sitting … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

More IEP Woes
avatar

My daughter Katie has once again been kicked out of school, from a special day class no less, in our oh-so-wonderful district. Apparently autism is too mysterious and complicated for them to handle. Or something like that. This time around … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hello Middle School–An Update
avatar

My daughter Katie has been in middle school a little over a week. I am happy to report that despite my initial fears, things appear to be working out. She had a great first day. A great first week, in … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hello Middle School
avatar

This week Katie started 6th grade. My daughter is in middle school. How did that happen? I know it’s a cliche, but time is simply flying by, galloping forward and gaining speed. My baby is no longer my baby, or … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment