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Tag Archives: Transitions
Hello Middle School–An Update
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 Advocacy, Annie Sullivan, Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Expectations, Fear, Gratitude, Middle School, Social skills, Special Education, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Hello Middle School
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 Advocacy, Annie Sullivan, Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Expectations, Fear, Helen Keller, Middle School, Special Education, Transitions, Unplanned Life, Waiting
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Welcome to Summer School, Part 2
Victoria never did call back. Nor did anyone from the Pleasanton School District, although a district staff person recognized Katie and brought her to her classroom. “Immediately,” the teacher would emphasize later. “They brought her to me immediately.” Yeah, but … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Fear, Letting Go, Special Needs, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Welcome to Summer School, Part 1
Back in April 2014, when Autism A to Z was making its public launch, I produced a special Storied Nights: An Evening of Spoken Word that focused on autism spectrum disorder. The year before I’d been published in Chicken Soup … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life, Other Writers
Tagged Autism, Behavioral Issues, Bus, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum, Connie Post, Fear, Jennifer Bush, Katherine Briccetti, Laura Shumaker, Michele Bissonnette Robbins, School bus, Special Needs, Storied Nights, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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It’s IEP Season, Part 7
For two months I waited for Ms Nav to schedule another IEP meeting. Despite numerous notes and emails, she never did. Finally in late April I put my foot down and insisted on a meeting. Ms Nav replied that Pleasanton … 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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A Poem for Summer Break
My daughter Katie has only one week of vacation before beginning summer school. We are taking advantage of this break by hanging out on the Sonoma Coast, in a community called The Sea Ranch. For several years, Katie resisted staying … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Change, Poetry, Sea Ranch, Sonoma Coast, Transitions, Unplanned Life, Vacation, Writing Life, You Used to Hate the Ocean
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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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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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