SLP Mommy of Apraxia

Category: special education

  • First middle school track meet!

    First middle school track meet!

    Ashlynn participated in her first middle school track meet with all general Ed peers. She was so excited to ride the bus there

    🚌

    She smiled the entire time. Kids high-fived her and knew her name. She was included. She had a fan club there consisting of me and her dad, both sets of grandparents, her friend and his mom, and last year’s SPED teacher and para because I was so worried no one would cheer for her. I was wrong. All the parents clapped her on and cheered her to the finish line. It was amazing. Maybe this world is changing…in the best kind of way.

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    She literally smiled the entire time. Even while running.

    ✨

    Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for someone is simply to include them

    ✨
  • When inclusion works: my hope for the rest of 3rd grade

    When inclusion works: my hope for the rest of 3rd grade

    This past break, I went over my posts from 2018, and read the article I wrote at the beginning of the year.  In it, I begged parents to teach their children to be kind as I wrote about the importance of inclusion.

    You can read about here.

    I was filled with worry and trepidation as Ashlynn started third grade.

    Last year in second had been one of her worst years with peers and friendships.  She frequently came home with bloodied shirts from her picking her fingernails.  Many times, the nurse had to change her shirt it was so bad.  She always reported that she hadn’t played with anyone at recess and my heart broke for her nearly everyday.  In second grade, she was also bullied in the bathroom but thankfully some other students heard and told the teacher.  Fresh off the heels of a great summer, I worried to see her go back to school again.

    This year though in third grade, has been one of her best years for growth not only academically, but also with friends and feeling like she was part of the class.

    The teacher told me at parent/teacher conference in November that she had told her class if they see Ashlynn sitting alone to go grab her and include her because many times it’s not that she doesn’t want to play; but rather that she has a hard time jumping into a situation.  The teacher went on to explain the kids initially did it because they were instructed to, but as they got to know her they now do it because they wanted to.

    Every year before winter break, 3rd grade throws a Luau party to add some fun and a twist to a normal Winter celebration.  I volunteered to run a craft with the class. I couldn’t believe what I saw when I got there.  Ashlynn was completely assimilated into the classroom as one of the kids, and not the “special ed kid” or the “ILC kid.”

    As she talked to her friends I thought of her speech therapy.   As she navigated the limbo stick like any of the other classmates I thought of her work in occupational and physical therapy. Her special education teacher wrapped up her current progress monitoring showing how she had rocked her goals because she knew it would be the best Christmas present to see all of her success and she was right.

    As she completed some seat work independently I thought of her TA who understands the difference between enabling and helping.

    This is how inclusion is supposed to look. Every human whether they have differences or not all want the same thing. They want to feel useful, included, and loved. Her smile says it all.

    Honestly I didn’t need any Christmas presents this year.  My cup was overflowing.  I just pray as Winter Break is over and she heads back to school, that the second semester will be as amazing as the first.

    Laura Smith is a mother to two beautiful children, one of which was diagnosed with a constellation of issues including apraxia that can be traced back to a genetic mutation entitled BCL11A. She is a Denver based Speech/Language Pathologist now specializing in Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
  • Silence means agreement when ending social injustice

    Silence means agreement when ending social injustice

     

    This weekend we went to Breckenridge, Colorado for a family weekend getaway.

    Breckenridge is a popular ski town, and this weekend was especially busy since the “Dew Tour” was here.

    My kids were enjoying their full day snow boarding lesson when I decided to take a walk down Main Street and enjoy the fresh air. I normally work Saturdays, so I was reveling in just enjoying the crisp mountain air as the snow crunched underneath my feet. I was not in apraxia, special needs, SLP, or mommy mode at all.

    My zen was broken by two adult males laughing loudly and clearly drunk walking in front of me.

    They were making fun of their friend who was walking about 4 feet behind them clearly inebriated out of mind. Thinking nothing of it, I moved to pass them when they stopped to let their friend catch up and one called out loudly,

    “Come on special Ed, let’s go!” before they both erupted into knee slapping laughter.

    I honestly was stunned.

    My eyes filled with tears as I looked at the stumbling friend laughing behind. His eyes were half closed as he stumbled along. There were many people around but everyone skirted by, including myself, without saying anything.  I studied this clearly inebriated man walking behind his buddies and thought of all the kids I have served in special education aka “special ed” or “SPED.” The kids I know have nothing in common with this man.

    After the moment passed, I was angry. I was angry at his ignorance, but even more angry at myself.

    Angry I didn’t say anything. I rationalized that it’s not worth trying to reason with people who are drunk and high, but I thought about the others around…the bystanders pretending they didn’t hear and thought at least I could have spoken up and educated them. My sister always says silence is agreement…whether that is the person’s true intent or not. If we don’t stand up for what we believe in, regardless of whether we think it will matter or not….how will things ever change?

    So, though I unfortunately was silent in that moment, I want to be prepared for the event that it ever happens again, and instead of being stunned, I’ll be prepared.