Sweet Max: I’m so sorry we failed you

Nothing upsets me more than learning about the physical restraint of children with autism in school. Basically, these students are punished for having a disability. The following story is what prompted this post: Restraint Death Prompts School To Close As a  middle school special education teacher, I work with students with emotional and behavioral disorders as well as students with …

Why I don’t have a Christmas tree in my classroom

Christmas is hard. We think of it as a joyous time for children. We love seeing their eyes light up in wonder at the bright lights, sparkly decorations, and delectable sweet treats. But for students with neurological or psychological disorders such as autism, ADHD, emotional disabilities, or other cognitive disabilities, it’s a horrifying nightmare. First, there’s the sensory overload of the …

As I see it: a view through the special educator’s lens

There are some things that happen in public education that I will never understand. I realize I come from a background very different than most public school teachers. I was fortunate to start my teaching career in small, private schools, where imagination and creativity by the teacher was encouraged. Ironically, I started out teaching in a rigorous program in the …

Proof: teaching sign language and communication works

In my last post, Teaching autism: first things first, I talked about the importance of teaching sign language and communication skills first. After I posted the video, I found the following inspiration: I’m passionate about kids getting early intervention and getting it consistently. Indiana education systems need to wake up. There are too many students who don’t get the chance …