Surviving the System: May 2011

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day 2011

So what is it to be a mother this year? Is it dealing with a boy who has feet the same size as mine and who's suddenly changing voice sounds like a stranger?

Is it having a kid who is within spitting distance of college, but still seems like that toddler that was constantly getting into stuff?

Is it having a mother who is 88 years old, who can still make me feel like a teen when I'm almost 50 years old?

Is it the chaos of a night out at the BSO and scouts and D&D and hockey and laundry and groceries and family and an SAT and house cleaning and crazy neighbors and so much you can't keep track?

Guess so... at least that's what it is for me :-)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Goal!!!

I need to take the time to write a post about the Special Hockey International Tournament that msk and I went to, but for now I just want to share a picture.

About this blog

This will be anonymous because schools can be pretty political, but hopefully constructive. My eldest child entered Kindergarten 16 years ago and I figure I've got another 4.5 years until my youngest finishes. By this fall between the three children we've been enrolled in eight different schools. There have been CST meetings, IEP meetings, PTO meetings, PTA meetings, fund raisers and vast quantities of homework. We are in public schools because we believe that justice starts with a decent free education for all and if I want decent public education being personally involved is the first step.

Glossary and Acronym List

Autism Spectrum - the spread of behaviors that define autistics. The primary areas are difficulties with communication, social interactions and change/lack of order. You can see the official diagnosis criteria here.
CST - Child Support Team, a group (including parents) that meets when a student is having difficulties
ESY - Extended School Year. In our experience, related to special needs kids who go to school over breaks because there will be significant regression in skills over the break if they weren't in a school setting.
FAPE - Free Appropriate Public Education. This is the right of every American child, but is usually a term about creating or finding a learning environment that works for a special needs student.
IEP - Individualized Education Plan. A written plan of goals and ways to achieve them. Typically for special needs students
PTO & PTA - Parent Teacher Organization & Association
SST - Student Support Team, I guess this is the new term that replaces CST