Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Special Education”
It’s frustrating as a parent of children with autism to know there are excellent resources out there but that Indiana schools fail to access them. In too many public schools, autism is an annoyance, especially at the secondary level. This is partly due to not addressing the needs of students with autism at the elementary level. If students are reached …
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 …
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 …
What do we do first for kids with autism? Teach them to communicate! Meet their sensory needs! Here’s the video I created to share with those who work with your child with autism. I hope it helps! Let me know what videos you’d like to see by leaving me a note in the comments below. Please tweet: What other …
When I read Gloria Doty’s book about her daughter with autism, I felt a great kinship with her. As you know, my twin adult sons also have a diagnosis of autism. As we venture into adulthood with them, I found this book an absolute comfort. It helped me realize that I’m not the only one experiencing all these new adventures …
If there’s one thing I am grateful for from my public school education in the 70s, it’s that I was able to take classes to learn how to touch type. I can still type about 93-102 words per minute (WPM), and believe me, it’s come in handy when writing books, blogging, and writing research papers! (Thanks, Mr. Geesik!) (I can …
It’s been an exciting school year so far at the Akins ranch. The twins are in their senior year. They are 20 years old and will be 21 in February. They’ve waited quite anxiously for several years for this to happen and now it has. They have jobs! Their vocational school, Heartland Career Center, has a program that helps high school …
No one should ever be valued less because of their limitations or emotional struggles.
A few weeks ago I wrote to you, dear Strong Girls, about standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Today I want to share a great Strong Girl story with you. Last night, in front of thousands of people, Anahi Alvarez gave her Homecoming Queen crown to her friend, Lillian Skinner. Lillian, described as sweet and innocent, …
Regardless of ability, all students have gifts inside them that I, as a teacher, am responsible for unwrapping. A good teacher will focus on abilities and gifts of a student to enhance and strengthen weak areas.