|
Are they just "invited to the party"? 💃 Hi friend, I talk to so many parents who feel relieved when they see their child placed in a "regular" classroom. It feels like a win, right? It feels like we’ve finally achieved inclusion. But lately, I’ve been asking myself—and the parents I coach—a harder question: Is your child actually included, or are they just sitting in the room? There is a massive difference between proximity and belonging. Too often, I see children sitting in the back of the...
The 30-page surprise (and how to stop it) 🛑 I still remember the feeling of sitting down at my children’s elementary school IEP meetings. The team would slide a 30-page document across the table—stapled, dated, and looking very... finished. Sometimes they’d project it on a SMART board and read it to me, word for word. By the time we got to the end, I was exhausted. I felt like the train had already left the station, and I was just there to wave it goodbye. I had no idea back then that I had...
Happy Thanksgiving! Plus: Part 3 of My Conversation with Evan Wilkerson 🦃 Hey friend, As you read this, I hope you are taking a moment to breathe deeply, turn off the chaos, and focus on everything you have to be grateful for. From my family to yours, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!🍂 In the midst of the holiday planning, let's remember the incredible gifts our children are—full of determination, unique challenges, and potential. That sense of determination is exactly what I explore in...