The Special Education Advocacy Blog

It's often stated, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"; especially if the "cure" creates misunderstanding, division, and conflict. This is true for most events which have a high stakes impact on one's life as well as our childrens' lives. And this is...

Recently, a client asked me about PDA , Pathological Demand Avoidance, and I was able to share insights related to anxiety, autism, and other neuro-diverse related expressions. For those who need a more informed understanding, give this a go: untitled...

I signed my first education employment contract in WA State in 1993 and have been an "insider" ever since. My last position as Director of Special Education ended July 2020. However, as an education advocate since 1998, I have been working across the country, in small...

How many conversations have you heard the following: "Teachers are like saints; only people with a calling would do this type of work"? Having been an educator for over 45 years, references like this have been heard countless times. And at the same time, we may often...

Often, conversations between myself and parents may sound as follows: PARENT: "Why does the special education process make it so difficult?" ADVOCATE: "The guidelines and the laws are fairly simple and well established; it's more of the human condition that gets in...

Sometimes within the context of school and learning, the focus leans heavily into conversations about "meeting standards", "grade level achievement", and "progress monitoring"; all within the context of DOING. But then, as I attend meetings everyday, it's the deeper...

No matter how one looks at education, the never-ending - always ever present needs of students today push into the following more so than ever before: RELATIONSHIP - REGULATION - RELEVANCE. SImply stated, classrooms must be founded upon these three pilars of support;...