Boundless Horizons: A Charismatic Boy’s Star Shines Bright
Boundless Horizons: A Charismatic Boy's Star Shines Bright I am honored to share this post about a remarkable boy who finished middle school this year and will attend high school in the fall. I got to meet him the last year I taught when he came to visit my…...
Speaking Without Words: The Lessons a Former Student Taught Me
Speaking Without Words: The Lesson a Former Student Taught Me This young man was the first student I taught that was non-verbal. My classroom aide asked me how we would do this, and I told her we would figure it out. I was a little intimidated by the thought of…...
Fearless and Fabulous: Her Diagnosis Does Not Define Her
Fearless and Fabulous: Her Diagnosis Does Not Define Her I am retired, but occasionally I like to substitute teach in special education. The love of kids with special needs will always be part of who I am, and I have my favorite schools and teachers. This young girl is in one of my…...
A Crown and a Song: Embracing Diversity With a Homecoming Queen and Music Lover
A Crown and a Song: Embracing Diversity With a Homecoming Queen and Music Lover This is a blog about a girl with Down syndrome who was in my middle school class and became the high school homecoming queen. This cheerful girl knew everyone in school, loved her music and was always ready…...
Hang in There Tough: Wisdom from My Dad
Hang in There Tough: Wisdom From My Dad I was blessed to have two loving parents who supported me in all my activities. They came to my plays, watched me cheer for high school sports events, and listened to my choir and band concerts. They showed up for me in ways that…...
Silent Strength: How a Mother’s Advocacy Changed Everything
Silent Strength: How a Mother's Advocacy Changed Everything This mom has held several positions at Optimist International. The group's mission is, "providing hope, and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in children, their communities, and themselves." She was elected to serve a 3-year term on the International Board of Directors…...
Artistic Alchemy: Embracing Diversity with Brushstrokes of Brilliance
Artistic Alchemy: Embracing Diversity with Brushstrokes of Brilliance This amazing young lady created the sketch in this blog recently. She is a former student and was an interesting person in my class. I loved her creative mind. She had some sensory needs, and her needs challenged me to create a supportive learning environment.…...
Navigating the World Through Nonfiction: Geography Without Limits
Image by Freepik Navigating the World of Nonfiction: Geography Without Limits. This young man has an amazing mind. Many times I have said that kids on the autism spectrum have superpowers, and he is proof of that. He loves all things about maps and geography and as an eighth grader in our school,…...
Normal is Just a Setting on the Washing Machine: Every Differently Abled Child is an Individual
Normal is Just a Setting on the Washing Machine: Every Differently Abled Child is an Individual While visiting our daughter and her family in Saline, Michigan we stopped at my favorite coffee shop for a sandwich. It is called Brewed Awakenings, and I love going there. This welcoming cafe takes pride in the…...
Five Things You Can Do Today To Be Inclusive: A Special Conversation
Image by Freepik Five Things You Can Do Today To Be Inclusive: A Special Conversation We all hear about the need to be inclusive but what are actions you can do to promote this idea? I have 5 tips for you today to help you be inclusive when interacting with someone with…...
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“Deb has always been a champion for her students. She builds long-lasting relationships with her students and their families. Deb’s classroom over the years focused not only on quality instruction but also on teaching her students social skills and getting her students involved in community service projects.”
– Jim Shields, Human Resources Director of Medina City Schools, Medina, OH