Stories

Parents

Even When Your Kid Has Special Needs, Sometimes You Gotta Back Off and Let Them Make Their Own Choices

My younger daughter is one of the greatest joys of my life. She is full of energy, gives great cuddles and has a fantastic imagination, often involving her Marvel friends Black Widow and Captain...

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Special Education

Thank You to All the Teachers Who Know That We Can't Have Equity Without Love

I come from nothing. I was reminded of this at a tense board meeting in which a member from the community, upset with my opinion on something, shouted out, “Mr. Wright, I remember your interview. You...

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Achievement Gap

My Dyslexia and Self-Doubt Were No Match for the Supportive Teachers Who Got Me to Read

I remember walking through the doors of Blackstone Valley Prep Middle School seven years ago like it was yesterday. I didn’t know anyone. The “gymnasium” was a cafeteria with a 7-foot ceiling. It...

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Parents

I Fought Like Hell to Find the Right School for My Blind Daughter and Now I Want to Help Others Do the Same

“Twalet, mama.” This was my daughter’s way of telling me she needed to use the potty. She was 4 1/2 years old, couldn't speak English, newly adopted and blind. The technical term for her condition is...

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Special Education

I'm in Bangladesh Right Now to Help Students With Special Needs and I Won't Come Back the Same Teacher I Was Before

I've been offered one of those life-changing opportunities where I know that the person who I was when I left won't be the same person when I return. Asha Inc. (Asha is “hope” in Bengali) is a small...

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IEP

My Son Has Autism and This School Taught Him to Say ‘Mom’

At 5, my son, Niko, was still in diapers. He didn’t know how to communicate. He wouldn’t let anyone touch him. I was afraid for him to learn new skills because he threw fits and cried out in...

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