Shining Bright: Celebrating a Special Helper
Image by brgfx on Freepik Today I want you to meet a former student of mine who is now in high school. As a student in my class, he loved to be a helper and loved to be involved in group projects with his friends. We started each day as kids entered…...
Their Night to Shine, Our Night to Serve
pch.vector on Freepik The Tim Tebow Foundation sponsors Night to Shine which is an unforgettable prom night experience. It is for people with special needs ages 14 and older. The first Night to Shine occurred in 2015. The parties are now held across all 50 of the United States and are hosted by…...
Down Right Amazing: Embracing Diversity
Image by Freepik This is a young man that I have not met, but I can tell he is an extraordinary young man. My oldest daughter met his mom at an exercise class and said he would be a great subject for my blog. She said, "Mom, you will love this lady. She's…...
Special Needs Do Not Define Them: Embracing Neurodiversity
Image by Freepik Special Needs Do Not Define Them: Embracing Neurodiversity Meet an extraordinary young lady. Today she is in college as a hard-working, successful education major. She was not in my class, but when she was in middle school, I remember that she had such a heart of gold and…...
Dance of Joy: Celebrating the Rhythm of a Special Soul
Image by kjpargeter on Freepik Do you ever have a song that is played and you instantly think of a person? One song for me is "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. I downloaded this song to play in my classroom when I had this boy as a student and needed a reward for completing…...
Transcending Labels: A Family’s Story of Love, Strength and Empowerment with Down Syndrome
Image by lifeforstock on Freepik Today I would like to shine a spotlight on this whole family unit. There is a dad, a mom, and a girl with Down Syndrome in this family. This girl is a former student, and I remember our challenges together as she navigated middle school. I…...
Sparkling Words: Unveiling the Enchanting Realm of a Girl’s Creative Mind
Image by Freepik Sparkling Words: Unveiling the Enchanting Realm of a Girl's Creative Mind This girl is a former student, and I always enjoyed reading books with her. She had a great imagination and loved to read about flawed characters. She had mature and thoughtful insights, and it was a joy to…...
Inquisitive Soul, Remarkable Memory: Embracing Special Gifts
Image by Freepik Inquisitive Soul, Remarkable Memory: Embracing Special Gifts This week I would like to celebrate the inquisitive spirit and remarkable memory of a woman with special needs. I came to know her as an adult, so I never had the privilege to be her teacher. How would you like to…...
The Calendar Maestro: Embracing a Young Man Whose Skills Shine Bright
Image by Freepik The Calendar Maestro: Embracing a Young Man Whose Skills Shine Bright Meet the calendar maestro - a former student I recently saw at my book signing event. He possesses an extraordinary ability to recall calendar events with impeccable precision. I haven't seen him since I retired, and I…...
Hopeful Hearts: Nurturing the Caregiver’s Soul Through Life’s Ups and Downs
Hopeful Hearts: Nurturing the Caregiver's Soul Through Life's Ups and Downs Today I am bringing you something different on my blog. I wanted to take a break from the parent posts and give everyone a gift of a wonderful resource. His name is Peter Rosenberger, and my friend Kathy Harris asked…...
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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