Tag Archives: Advocacy

Chaos and Change, Part 2
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Posted on May 25, 2017 by

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 →

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What’s the Problem?
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Posted on October 27, 2016 by

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 →

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The Waiting is (Almost) Over–An Update
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Posted on October 20, 2016 by

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 →

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The Waiting Is (Almost) Over
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Posted on September 29, 2016 by

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 →

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Waiting
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Posted on September 8, 2016 by

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 →

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Playing Chicken
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Posted on August 25, 2016 by

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 →

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Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
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Posted on March 10, 2016 by

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 →

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More IEP Woes
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Posted on February 18, 2016 by

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 →

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Hello Middle School–An Update
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Posted on September 3, 2015 by

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 →

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Hello Middle School
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Posted on August 27, 2015 by

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 →

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