Making Sure Everyone is Included

Here’s a story that offers a glimmer of hope in contrast to the one about the little boy who was voted out of his kindergarten class. My husband, a high school carpentry instructor, was approached by a couple of his students yesterday morning. The two asked if the class could stop on the way to [...]

Where’s the Outrage When Adults Vote Kids Out?

Apparently, a kindergarten teacher in Florida asked each of her young students to say what they didn’t like about their classmate 5-year old Alex Barton. Then the teacher asked the class to vote on Alex’s continued participation in class. By a 14 to 2 margin Alex was voted out. This morning’s bloggers and readers are [...]

Summer Education Training with Paula Kluth

Heads up everyone – June 17 & 18,  Paula Kluth is teaching a 2 day session on promoting inclusive schooling and exploring positive ways of supporting students with autism. Sponsored by State Support Team 14 (formerly called Hopewell SERRRC). At Hillsboro Elementary School, 500 US 62 South, Hillsboro, Ohio (1.5 hours south of Columbus Ohio). [...]

Out of Diversity One Discovers New Possibilities – Huse

Some experts estimate a staggering 92 percent termination rate in down syndrome pregnancies. Apparently, we place greater importance on diversity in plant and animal life than diversity in human life. Instead of protecting variations in the human population we sanction the elimination of variance. How is this loss effecting us?
Here’s a brief related excerpt from [...]

Seeking Artists Who Voice Social Issues

Seeking artist like Patrick Huse who said, “A large percentage of art production is produced for the market, which actually has nothing to do with art. It has to do with the economy. From my experience art reflecting social-political issues are often in contradiction to the market.”
And Ed Burtynsky who said, “Someone [...]

Project for Peace

Here’s a lofty leadership program. It’s called Project for PEACE – Parents Engaged in Advocating for Change in Education- and its sponsored by the Peal Center, Pennsylvania’s parent training and information center. They are still accepting applications for this new leadership program. For more information or to apply, download an application from www.pealcenter.org . [...]

Power to Influence Change

Tonight, I’ll be giving the keynote at the Spring Leadership Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. This three evening event, sponsored by State Support Team 13 (creative name eh?), is an effort to ramp up the voices of families advocating for their school age children. Sessions focus on policy and procedure related topics such as transition, behavior [...]

We Make the Road by Walking

We Make the Road by Walking
Watercolor Mixed Media
A personal reflection on rising up for social change.
Title inspired by Myles Horton & Paulo Freire’s book -
We Make the Road by Walking: Conversations on Education and Social Change

Watercolor/Mixed Media Painting

Title: A Conversation with Katie
Painting based on a conversation with Katie. The conversation, illustrated near the bottom of the painting, went like this.
Me: What can people do to help you reach your dreams?
Katie: You can dance.
Me: If I dance, how can that help you reach your dreams?
Katie: That tells me that I can dance, [...]

UNH Institute – Amanda Baggs Will Give Keynote

This just in from the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability.
In keeping with the tradition and mission of the conference, this year’s NH Summer Institute features keynote presentations by autism rights advocates. This year’s keynote presenters include Amanda Baggs, a 26-year-old autism activist and a prolific blogger who has recently garnered national media attention [...]