by S. DeCarlo | Sep 6, 2020 | Special Education Basics
With the school closures and distance learning, is my child entitled to compensatory services? The simple answer to the first question: If your child is on an IEP and doesn’t receive the services on an IEP, they frequently have to be made up. Those make up...
by S. DeCarlo | Aug 30, 2020 | Special Education Basics
This is the third post in a 3 series blog. Yesterday I wrote about reasonable accommodation. Today, I would like to continue with a discussion about the differences between accommodations and modifications. Understanding the difference can be one of the first steps in...
by S. DeCarlo | Aug 30, 2020 | Special Education Basics
This is the second post in a 3 series blog. What does the law require? Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law that provides federally funded facilities (like public schools) from discriminating against those with disabilities. Under 504, public...
by S. DeCarlo | Aug 29, 2020 | Special Education Basics
This is the first post in a 3 series blog. It’s a question on the mind of every special ed parent right now. And it’s a hard one to answer. There’s very little guidance from the Federal Government or state, beyond a “do your best” and the...
by S. DeCarlo | Aug 2, 2020 | Life Lessons
We lost a family member last week. After a long illness, my husband’s aunt passed away. She had been very close to Annie when she was a toddler, but Annie doesn’t have clear memories of her great aunt. She was just too ill for too long. The news of her...
by S. DeCarlo | Jul 31, 2020 | Transition
When we began this journey, I shared a list of the life skills (see link below) a person should have to gain independence. It’s a long list. And while I am a professional special ed advocate and this subject is my passion, I am not an expert in everything on...
by S. DeCarlo | Jul 29, 2020 | Transition
Participation in the community is important for everyone, but for those with disabilities, it can be essential. Being active in the community allows a person to be visible, allows a person to be seen in light of their abilities, rather than their disabilities, and it...
by S. DeCarlo | Jul 28, 2020 | Transition
If you know me personally, you probably know that I am a very politically involved person. I have worked for, volunteered for, and given money to candidates. I vote in local elections. I vote in midterms. I have firm policy positions. When Annie was 3, and just...
by S. DeCarlo | Jul 23, 2020 | Transition
Last week, I had the opportunity to sneak out for a long hike with a friend. Annie was asleep when I left, and I had intended to give her the day off. Instead, she surprised me by texting to say she was going to cook pasta. (Don’t panic, her dad was in the...
by S. DeCarlo | Jul 21, 2020 | Life Lessons
Annie is really, really cute. And cuddly. She loves Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Pokemon, and she sleeps with about two million stuffed animals. Her innocence is charming. Everything about her sweet and unjaded way of looking at the world fills me with joy. Her...
