School budget myths revealed by a blogger in Cali

My son and I are having a tough time convincing the district we recently moved to, that inclusion is the law and until they have effectively tried it with the proper tools in tact, then I cannot agree with an out-of-district placement. The alternative placement would likely require a driver and an aid to transport my son at least 45 minutes away from his home community and sister who is one year ahead of him in school. The "school" he would attend is surprisingly NOT held accountable to any state or federal agency...nor would they write the IEP. So, the expense that has already taken place for over a year now, just to employ the administrators to say no and intimidate their staff rather than educate them. It has been topsy turvy and I feel that with the amount of time spent acting as if they were following the law...when they were not...they could have taken the five admin's salaries and brought back all the students with ASD in their district, in alternative placements and started their own school for half the money. With budgets being cut, I often wonder if we could rid ourselves of the middle layer of administrators and get more done in the educating department.

This article is stellar...http://www.squidalicious.com/2010/02/we-are-not-sparta-real-justified-costs.html

This made me laugh out loud, which I often need to do...you may too

This is a blog about special education law that I stumbled upon and although my children don't have any physical challenges aside from SIB's and sensory EXTREMES...I did relate to this woman's "list of terms." Read it and laugh...then add your own here:

http://specialedlaw.blogs.com/home/2010/04/special-needs-as-a-second-language-by-lori-miller-fox.html#more

He's really happy, means he is squealing and giggling uncontrollably and pretty soon he is going to run fast and hard into that wall to complete the cycle. LOOK OUT.

bro (poem I wrote about my son)

bro

What could the boy do?
He can’t speak to you!

The label you gave
Says he misbehaves.
Scale fixed.
Outcome mixed.
Your every doubt
He’s figured out.
Due to years…
And lives evolved.
Witnessed tears…
And problems solved.
He understands
And he demands
ATTENTION!
Empires, governments, churches and rules
Taming life with useless tools.
Shaming the wise. Idiots! Fools!
Too conscientious
and conscious to swim.
Afraid to drown making waves with him.
The fearless dolphin swims
with pleasure and pain
In circles, with giggles, in love and insane.



10.01.05

Be the Change, Be the Change, Be the Change

I repeat the mantra as if it will bleed into the lives I come in contact with. Sometimes I believe it will, and today...not so much. I believe that those resisting the change I am attempting to be...those who are in the position to reject change, must be now put to the test of the legal system. The only way to defeat or better yet, win over this audience is to band together.

Once we gather as a force, the decision must be made..."What sort of change do we wish to be together?" I envision a change for all children, adults, animals and, what the heck...the universe.

Today, I will create a list of resources and save my personal story for the next few hundred entries. I will divulge one detail of my daily life. With all of these many resources, support and intentions, the fact remains, change must be created and I have not been as convincing as I thought I could be...if that makes any sense at all. I have found that passion alone cannot complete the task...a community of passion is required. A passion that looks tangible to the less passionate.

So, I share these links, books and tidbits as sparks to create a communal passion for change...change that includes all. It is possible. Anything is. We can look at our own children as proof of that.

Read, learn and get fueled up for the passionate endeavor of being the change!


Author Paula Kluth
The Autism Checklist
Just Give Him The Whale
http://paulakluth.com/inclusive-schooling.html


Author Barry Kaufman
Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues
http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/index.php

The Movie Autism is a World
http://www.inclusioninstitutes.org/index.cfm?catID=8&articleID=58

My son is using this device independently and we just randomly introduced it at home last December. Very inexpensive and fully equipped. I do all the programming and I am soooo low tech.;)
http://www.proloquo2go.com/

Author William Stillman
Autism and the God Connection
http://www.williamstillman.com/about.html
http://www.udservices.org/communityResourceslinks.asp

The Horse Boy
Movie and Book

I see you. I hear you. I accept you.

I recently read and article a friend sent me about a greeting in a distant country where the people press forheads together, look into one another's eyes and say, "I see you." The response is, "I am here." I put this into practice with my children and saw them light up with confidence and the beauty of being recognized and loved.
A worldwide movement of seeing, hearing, accepting...does it start here? Peace?

Let's talk about me, my family, and societal inclusion. I am a mom of two beautiful souls. In our societal view...they are considered 'disabled' with autism. I believe they are intuitive, brilliant and exceptional people with unique ways to teach us.

Throughout thier lives, I have asked, demanded, requested, created and envisioned inclusion for them in the public school systems and society. This vision has been viewed as a privelege, not a right by those I have come up against. Typically the administrators and decision makers in school districts' Special Services offices are allowed to say no, not follow the law, and even lie to parents about the law or their actions in order to save face. Do citizens realize that they pay BIG TAX DOLLARS to pay these people to go to meeting after meeting as well as to trial against parents like me, just to tell us, "NO. We refuse to think outside the box and help your family."? In many cases the law that was brought about to help families like ours is used to harass, isolate and punish families like mine for expecting more. The money spent to say no, could be spent to say yes...and believe me, hours and hours of meetings, paperwork, failures, abuses and covers are where your money is going...not to helping our kids. Teachers, staff or professionals who agree with parents and want to try innovative measures and teach outside the box are often punished for going against the will of the administrative minority.

This is an abuse of power, one of which I think citizens must be made aware of. I feel that on my swim thru the procedural channels I have not been heard. When I am not heard, as the 'advocate/expert/parent' of my children who cannot do this on their own behalf, then my children's lives are being compromised and minimalized.

I believe and envision them being seen and accepted as whole human beings with gifts and dreams...and the ability to share those dreams with everyone...not just those who resemble them. Call it segregation, limitation, misrepresentation, or exclusion...I call it OVER. No MORE!

My frustrations and endless battles led me on a quest. Across the country...in search of excellence, community and education I found a surprise within me instead. And I found that many are still struggling through the muck I thought had started to clear. I found shame, sadness, hopelessness, unawareness and isolation. Tired families, afraid of where to turn for support. A lack of resources and no lack of innovation. I found the need for inspriration, hope and a restructuring of our "norm."
Today I wrote the words...INCLUSION REVOLUTION...on my car, on a sign and I started this blog because the surprise I found was passion. This vision within me is driving my life. I hope INCLUSION REVOLUTION unites many to venture outside the box and see each human dance as an intricate, essential part of our culture.

Please share, listen and insprire throughout our "inclusion revolution" journey. Consider this OUR place to create momentum, power and love as we share and conquer struggles and resistance.

I am open and enthusiastic.

This blog and this movement are for them...my babies in all their glory...and for all of us who share the hope of unconditional love for everyone. Let's put an end to separation.

INCLUSION REVOLUTION!!! Let's do this...TOGETHER.