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Tag Archives: Special Education
The Amazing Firebird
In January 2017, my daughter’s incredible school partnered with the Circus Center, which is based in the former Polytechnic High School Gym in San Francisco (see photo above). From January to June, several members of the Circus Center staff traveled … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acrobatics, Autism, Circus Center, Clowning, Creativity, Expectations, Gratitude, Juggling, Open Mind School, San Francisco, Show Creation, Special Education, Tightrope, Trapeze, Unplanned Life
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Katie Graduates
Tomorrow my daughter Katie graduates from 8th grade. I honestly have no idea where the time went. It’s such a cliche, and yet, utterly on point. My brain keeps shouting: How did this happen? It’s simply not possible. You have … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Gratitude, Milestones, Open Mind School, Rapid Prompting Method, RPM, Sensory Integration, Soma RPM, Special Education, Unplanned Life
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Transportation Woes, Part 6
My daughter Katie was quiet and subdued for the next two days. She slept on and off, which was odd given she wasn’t sick. If I needed further reason to fire the taxi company, they were a no show Tuesday … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Open Mind School, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Transportation, Unplanned Life
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Transportation Woes, Part 5
As promised, Officer S waited with the parked cab until Melissa arrived. My daughter was still locked in the back of the taxi. Katie was lying face down on the back seat, head pressed against the door. Officer S said … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Open Mind School, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Transportation, Unplanned Life
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Transportation Woes, Part 4
I will never know exactly what happened on the drive home from Open Mind School’s new location in Menlo Park. I know the driver, Mari, showed up 30 minutes late with a window taped shut. It took 45 minutes for … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Open Mind School, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Transportation, Unplanned Life
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Transportation Woes, Part 3
The following week, school was closed as Open Mind School (OMS) moved from Redwood City to Menlo Park. There were a few days of makeshift classes, but without a sensory gym, I didn’t think Katie would fare well, so I … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Open Mind School, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Transportation, Unplanned Life
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Transportation Woes, Part 2
No surprise, the taxi driver had problems on the bridge, which frankly, serves him right for waiting in the cash line. I wondered if this had been an issue in the past. Whenever my daughter had a problem, it usually … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Open Mind School, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Transportation, Unplanned Life
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Transportation Woes, Part 1
Open Mind School (OMS), the wonderful, magical place that embraced my daughter Katie last fall after years of struggle to find her an appropriate educational placement, is MOVING! The long awaited move to Menlo Park is finally happening—or will once … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Open Mind School, Special Education, Special Needs, Transitions, Transportation, Unplanned Life
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Gratitude for Attitude (School Update #2)
As part of our effort to save the new building in Menlo Park for my daughter’s fabulous school, many of the parents wrote testimonials. After I helped Marina Vaserman, Director of Open Mind School, write a killer advocacy letter to … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Gratitude, Marina Vaserman, Open Mind School, Special Education, Special Needs, Tolerance, Unplanned Life
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Small But Mighty
As I wrote before, 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. We … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Change, Facebook, Gratitude, Marina Vaserman, Menlo Park, Open Mind School, Oracle, Special Education, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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