A-U-T-I-S-M Acronym

A- America
U- Understands
T- Teaching
I- Individuals
S- Should
M- Matter

I am not sure if this makes since to everyone, but I was trying to think of a cool Acronym on my own and wanted to you know what you thought or if you could think of your own Acronym?  Any feedback or suggestions for future post is greatly appreciated.

Motivating A Special Needs Student

If you are in the field of education you have heard it a million times "Why do I have to learn this?", "When am I ever going to use this?"  This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reasons why regular education students do not want to do their work.  Then you have a student with Autism who lacks motivation and really does not see a purpose in some subjects.  This is where you have to be ready and give them real reasons as to why they might need certain subjects.  Here is a list of some counter arguments.

1. Math (Balance a check book, how much you might need to save up for an Xbox, in order to live on your own, advance their career, for computer programs.)
2. English (To be able to communicate, to find new words to ask a girl or boy out, to go to college, to speak intelligently.)
3. History (To know what not to do again, further your education, to compete on jeopardy.)

This is just a small does of what you may counter the students argument with.

As always please leave suggestions for future post. 

Federal Codes

I just wanted this to be more of an informative post and I wanted to post the 15 current Federal Census Codes that go on a IEP.

1. Intellectual Disability
2. Hearing Impaired
3. Deafness
4. Speech/Language Impaired
5. Visual Impairment
6. Emotional Disturbance
7. Orthopedic Impaired
8. Other Health Impaired 
9. Specific Learning Disability
10. Multiple Disabilities
11. Child in Need of Assessment
12. Deaf/Blind
13. Traumatic Brain Injury
14. Autism
15. Developmental Delay

Helicopter Parenting Part 2

Great Article

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-mendelsohn/car-seat-safety_b_2830955.html

helicopter parents

There are believe it or not positive and negatives to helicopter parents.  Now by no means are these parents the best, but I just wanted to try and cover both sides and look for comments.
Positives

• At least these parents try to come and look like they care, these parents could just not show up at all.  
• They are also at least trying to do what they think is best for their child, even though they may not know what is best.  

Negatives

• The parents do not really know their child or their needs.  
• The parents are also not there when the child really needs them.
• The parents may not know the student as well as the teacher does.
• The child needs their parents there 24/7 not when their is just an emergency.

These are just a couple of positives and negatives, but if a child has a disability the worst thing in the world may be a helicopter parent.

Please leave feedback and you suggestions. 

Is there a thing such as to much improvement? appeal, parental rights.

I received recently a comment about how a parent is worried that their child might show to much improvement.  As a teacher and special educator I do not think that their is such a thing as to much improvement.  We are never going to create a perfect student no matter how much we improve.  The key is once they accomplished one academic goal, we then shift our focus to the other ones or we work on behavioral goals.  It is important to always to keep moving forward and if you are not getting the answers you want then appeal the IEP decision.

At every IEP meeting parents should receive a "Parental Rights Packet."  In this packet it goes over all of the rights you have as a parent and if you are not happy with the decisions that are made at the IEP meeting, then you have the right to appeal, just like you would at a courthouse trial, when a verdict is reached that you do not like.  It is important that every parent is educated on their rights and what they need to do if they feel their child is not getting the IEP they deserve.  

http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/top-ten-parental-rights-in-special-education/

As always please leave feedback and helpful hints about future posts.

People with Autism are truly amazing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=filK9gZw4rA