Mariah Elizabeth's 1st week at her New School ~ Is this a dream?

"I'm so excited mom!"

"....now what?"

"Mom, that's nuff pictures!"

First Day at her New School ~ I was buzzed in at the security gate with the door ringer and I stepped in at the front office to say hello to the school secretary. She said, "it's OK to go ahead and take her to her classroom." I snapped a few pictures of Mariah, as she was rushing me saying, "come on mom that's nuff pictures!" Mariah was so excited and happy to finally be starting at her New school this morning! I opened the door to her classroom and saw a few students already sitting in desks. Her new teacher greeted her "by saying her name" and asked her to come in and take a particular desk.

Mariah Elizabeth was so excited and eager to meet her new classmates and go to school today! I am excited for her to make new friends and capture new academic growth here at this school that she desperately needs. (Back to the basics of learning and including her in a 'regular' classroom without any hassles about it.

Inclusion should be Natural! 

Mariah has a ton of confidence and a strong desire to learn. With just enough support, I know she'll be showing off her independence at this new school. She'll blossom here I'm sure of it! 

I gently closed her new classroom door behind her and was glad things went so smoothly this first morning drop off. As I was walking away and going out the security gate, I felt very much at ease at how welcoming it all felt dropping her off there on her first day of school without having to WAIT or wonder would she be safe today. This school operates how schools used to be ~ FRIENDLY & WELCOMING....I call this our LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE SCHOOL. They join 2 different grades together and they all eat at the same time together, so everyone gets to know everyone in the entire school. There is a FAMILY FEEL at this school for sure! After dropping her off her first day of school it took me less than 4 minutes to drive back home. Drive time there in the AM even in the busy AM traffic is 12 minutes at the most.

The first thing she said when I picked her up after her first day of school was..."Mom!!!!! Guess What!!"  " I PLAYED BASKETBALL! I LLLLLLLOVE SPORTS!!!" She was bout jumping out of her skin with excitement that she gets to do SPORTS at school!!! Basketball being her favorite "sport" right now!! Her homeroom teacher is also the PE Coach!

Mariah's at a great place! She is welcomed and valued as the individual she is! Her being a person with Down syndrome is not an issue here at this school!!!

2nd Day of School for Mariah Elizabeth  ~ I asked for a home set of class books this morning. Her teacher said, "That will be fine, I'll have them for you. A set will be ready when you pick her up this afternoon." .....and that was that!!! Now THAT'S Customer Service!!! "The way it should be", someone said to me on my FB page. I have to agree, yes the way it should be! No big deal!

Today is Tuesday, the day I pick her up early to take her to her OT-PT-SPEECH Therapies every week. I arranged with the school that I would be picking her up on Tuesdays 15-30 minutes before school lets out. This way she is able to continue attending her Private OT/PT/ST Therapies and won't be missing from her Academic class time at school anymore. No more therapies when she's in school anymore, she receives the best therapies where she has been going for the past 7 years now! 

School Day #3 for Mariah Elizabeth 

~ FAMILY FEEL!!!! With absolutely NO HASSLES thus far!!! 
*Mariah's mommie oh so needs this from a school!!! 

Takes me no more than 10 minutes or less to go pick her up after school!!

Mariah keeps telling me how much she LOVES her New School!! 

Her very first homework is to memorize a little prayer. Now that can be any more PERFECT for her first homework assignment!!! 

Below is her MEMORY Homework due on Friday 8/23/13. She wrote it out a few times, in a little notebook and also on 2 index cards. Today she typed it into an email to her teacher. At home I am teaching her how to use an email program and will eventually have it set up to send 'homework' over to her teacher this way. This is to continue to help Mariah with her computer and keyboarding skills she will need to be successful in life.

Here is what her Memory homework is ~ 
Dear Father in heaven above,
Fill our minds and hearts with your love,
Watch over us as we work and play
and be with us throughout the day.
Amen
*She typed this herself with a little help from me, to make sure she was using Capitals and punctuation correctly. I copied and pasted it from the email she sent to my email first. My goal is to help her learn how to independently use an email program this school year. Something her past schools were not interested in. Emailing is a skill she has to be taught and without a reason for using it via sending in homework once in a while, she will not gain that important "life skill" that I think is important for her to lean now. I will keep you posted on how the idea goes over when I ask her teacher about this idea.

Reading and practicing her Memory work on the drive to school each day this week.

Day #3 ~ On Wednesday's they go Chapel and have to wear their white uniform shirts on that day. They have several colors to choose from for their UNIFORM shirts, white, light blue, navy blue, green, red. Their shirts have to have the school logo...and their logo is so gosh darn cute!!! Mariah Elizabeth is used to wearing a uniform to school, so it's no big deal. She was actually impressed and happy when she took a good look at her New School LOGO on her shirt. On the car ride home her 2nd day she looked at it so proudly and said, "I LOVE THIS SCHOOL MOM!" ....with the cutest smile when she said it!

The school office has a box full of "pre-owned" uniforms in their front office. I was able to purchase a few items really cheap. For me it was like going shopping at a thrift store, which Mariah and I love to do anyway! Picking up a weeks worth of shirts really helped alot! That gurl of mine, she is hhharrd to find clothes that fit her right. We have learned to get creative on where we shop for her clothes. Woman's Capri's fit her legs like long leg pants. We are grateful for Capri's!! 

This is a page from her Social Studies book that was sent home. I do believe my daughter, Mariah has had the best first hand experience in CIVIC these last few months. Mariah's very first public speech at the State Capitol in front of the Florida Senate Education Committee March 18th, 2013 on Senate Bill 1108 was an experience in Civics that could never be learned in any classroom. 

Mariah knows about..."meetings" and "public speaking" and doing things to help change laws already. She has told me she wants to do more Public Speaking because of that experience. She has spoken before the School Board too! Want to see Mariah speaking before the Senate Education Committee 3.18.13 ~ Go to 21:07 - 22:57 on the video. http://thefloridachannel.org/video/program-201311/

Listen to Mariah & her Mom speaking on NPR-National Public Radio 

http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2013/04/22/why-parents-could-get-more-control-over-their-childs-special-education-plan/

"Mom, I couldn't get into the swing, I need help." "The swings are for big kids, I'm a big kid."

Mariah and I both are looking forward to a wonderful school year ahead! 

GO TIGERS!  *Great MASCOT!! 

.....Does that make me a TIGER MOMMA???

Day #4 ~ Thursday 

She was asked to be part of the after school Jewelry Making classes!! Yes yes yes she will be there!!

This is the beautiful bulletin board by the front office! Isn't it pretty? Read what it says!!

Picked her up a tad early today to take her to her 1st day back Horse Riding at the Ranch!

Singing and talking on our weekly car ride to the ranch 18 miles away! She is so glad to be back to school and starting back with her weekly horse riding lessons!

This is Katie her new riding instructor this season.

Back sitting on FIRE!! She has been riding FIRE now for a few years!

Thursday is her HORSE Riding Day! This was 1st day back at the ranch with Katie is the new Riding Instructor for the group lessons. New this year, each rider will now be receiving some 1:1 independent riding lessons on a rotating schedule! This place is our favorite place to be each week! Glad to be back "in session" again!! 

Mariah is so HaPpY here at the Ranch!

Day 5 ~ 1st Week of School

Friday is PIZZA DAY for Lunch! The lunches are homemade and cost $4 daily. Mariah being on a restricted diet to keep her weight down, she will be taking her own fresh salads and low calorie lunches 3 times a week. She will get to eat Pizza on Friday's with everyone. Mariah likes making her own lunches and deciding what to put in her lunch container. Making her own lunches teaches her responsibility and how to make healthy choices on her own and how to COUNT HER CALORIES that she will have to do for the rest of her life if she wants to be in control of her 'healthy weight'!! She loves salads and eating healthy. 

This is where she is getting to know all of her new school & classmates! Yes they have SWINGS and the "big kids" still like swinging! It's like going to the Park everyday...in fact they DO GO TO THE PARK for some of their PE classes down the street!

BIG big difference the first week in a Private school compared to Public school first week! There is a calm and trust that she is respected and not babied or denied access to regular classes. Mariah is fully included in all regular general education classes and not segregated into an all special needs only classroom. She no longer has a 1:1 adult aide sitting so close and on top of her. Mariah is proud to be herself here at this school. I think this school is the place where Mariah is going to blossom on so many levels academically and in so many ways as a typical teenager! Mariah has had an absolutely awesome first week at her new school! 

Mariah is HaPpY at her New School!!! 

......so is her "Tiger Momma!"

"If a child can't learn the way we teach,   ...maybe we should teach the way they learn."        - Ignacio Estrada

VIEW & SHARE this NEW Video about Down syndrome! 

Just Like You! http://youtu.be/5M--xOyGUX4

Down syndrome good practice guidelines for education 

http://dsei-files.cdn.dsegroup.net/2012/12/appgds-good-practice-guidelines.pdf

INCLUSION GUIDELINES http://iod.unh.edu/PriorityAreas/inclusive-education/inclusiveed/about.aspxhttp://iod.unh.edu/PriorityAreas/inclusive-education/inclusiveed/about.aspxhttp://iod.unh.edu/PriorityAreas/inclusive-education/inclusiveed/about.aspx

To read more about Mariah go to her personal blog at:

321 FUN ~ Mariah's Life Blog

www.321FUN.blogspot.com

DS Advocate Blog

www.DS-Advocate.blogspot.com

Down Syndrome Inclusive Education 

www.DownSyndromeInclusiveEducation.blogspot.com

POD Angels ~ Down syndrome Family Support

www.podsangels.blogspot.com

Do you have a student with Down syndrome in your classroom? Great Resource out of Michigan! Supporting the Student with Down Syndrome in your Classroom. To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled, and special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily” 20 U.S.C § 1412(a)(5)(A).

The Florida Channel ~ Mariah Speaking before the Florida Senate Education Committee 3/18/13

http://thefloridachannel.org/video/program-201311/

The National Center on Inclusive Education (NCIE) at the Institute on Disability/UCED at the University of New Hampshire advances the view that disability is a natural part of the human experience and promotes the inclusion of all students within general education classrooms and school communities.

http://iod.unh.edu/PriorityAreas/inclusive-education/inclusiveed/about.aspx

FLDOE Inclusion guidelines & Florida Inclusion Network (FIN) does what for our schools?

Good stuff on "How to Build an Inclusive Campus" at your Child's school.  

~ Parenting and Educating a child with Down syndrome...do you believe in INCLUSION? Having our students with Down syndrome included in regular gen ed classes, is so important for them to gain many skills; academic as well as social, behavioral, speech and language skills and basic life skills. I know my daughter, learns by watching others way more than she learns by reading or listening.

Inclusion is Natural and is the Right Thing to Do for many students!

In this blog post I have added a nice Power Point Presentation I found online. Inclusion will happen only if the school you enroll your child in also WANTS to have an INCLUSIVE Campus. If our Public School Districts in Florida and the schools "site based management" aka the Principals want Inclusion too then half the battle is won. But if the Principal believes in SEGREGATION and keeping all the Special Needs students in classrooms together and doesn't want to change the way they have always done it, then this wonderful FIN Power Point Presentation is totally useless and was created as a SHOW! I hope not....share this PPP with your school and see what response they give you when you request to have a FIN rep come in and do a training on Inclusion.

Hats off to all of us as we start the new 2013-2014 school year wanting and hoping for better INCLUSION of ESE Students into Gen Ed Academic Education and especially with our children with Down syndrome!! 

Look around and see....ASK: Where ARE THE STUDENTS with Down syndrome? Are they ALL attending the same school somewhere else far away from their neighborhood schools? Are there several students with Down syndrome all grouped together upstairs or are they all in a Separated ESE Classroom on the school campus away from the 'regular students?' Our students with Down syndrome generally are not being included into regular gen ed classrooms as an unspoken rule. *Discrimination!! Find out for yourself...ask around and ask your friends that have a child with Down syndrome what kind of classroom are they being educated in everyday. Some parents want this, and that's ok for them and their child. Placement is not suppose to be cookie-cutter by whole groups of students with certain traits. Some of us parents don't want that! 

We should be allowed to have our child INCLUDED in regular gen ed classes if that is what we believe to be best for our children's academic education. 

Florida Inclusion Network aka FIN ~ Exactly what does this organization actually do for school districts in the way of helping build more inclusive schools? Just asking... 

HOW MUCH $MONEY DOES FIN GET each year?For doing what?? Is there information available showing the progress pertaining to our schools being more Inclusive because of what FIN provides? 

I have asked for years, even added FIN support to my PARENT INPUT to my daughter's IEP, especially pertaining to PEER SUPPORT. Still NOTHING is provided to the school my Child ever attended. 

I don't see how any of our Public Schools can be what we need them to be for our students that need INCLUSION if the school districts and schools are not working with the very organization that is suppose to be providing the training to school staff and teachers on Inclusion. How can things change when things stay the same and nothing different is tried?

Please take the time to open the link provided below. SHARE IT with your favorite school and the Principals. Ask to have FIN come out to your school and do a staff training on Inclusion. Just see what they 'say & do'......n o t h i n g!!!

http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/studentsupport/ese/videos/FIN%20Building%20Inclusive%20Schools%20E-learning%20Module%202011/player.html

Here's another amazing PDF I came across online in the Florida Department of Education website! This can't be anymore PERFECT!
WHAT THE HECK HAS EVERYONE BEEN WAITING FOR?? 

This PDF is a MUST READ FOR EVERYONE IN THE EDUCATION BUSINESS!!!! 
*I am not sorry for shouting!!
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/Newrole.pdf

Here is the link that Broward Public Schools website has for what FIN does in Broward Schools ~ 
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/studentsupport/ese/html/fin.htm

Florida Inclusion Network www.FloridaInclusionNetwork.com 

Inclusion and the Other Kids pdf document worth reading, (2005 doc.)
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/studentsupport/ese/PDF/InclusionandtheOtherKids.pdf

Mariah Harris (14DS) Speaking before Broward Public School Board on July 23rd, 2013 - FLORIDA

M_07_23_2013 <---Click that live link to go to the Becon-TV recording of Broward County Public School Board Meeting held on July 23rd, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Go to the PUBLIC SPEAKERS portion of this School Board Meeting. Mariah is the first Public speaker called. Fast forward to 144:15 on the Video. I speak after her at 149:35 on the Video. 

A copy of Mariah's speech was handed out to each of the School Board members so if some of the words that were difficult for her to pronounce weren't clearly understood by all, then the board members and the school superintendent were still able to know what she was saying to them publically. 

Mariah presented herself with such style, grace and professionalism! For being so brand new to public speaking she is only going to get better at it and have a heck of a lot more confidence the more she does it! Gosh darn it I am so proud of her and her ability to stand at that podium all by herself and do her best. 

By allowing Mariah to do things like this, it is paving the way for her to be a more confident SELF-ADVOCATE for the rest of her life! It is also very much showing the Public how CAPABLE she is! How ABLE our students are if provided a way!

Here is her speech:

Hi !!

*Pause & SMILE

My name is Mariah Harris, I am 14 years old and in the 6th Grade.

I am in the Nova  U-Na-Ver-ciTy  School of the ARTS Drama Camp.

I am a dancer, singer, actress and will be in the Disney MULAN show August second.

I have teachers and helpers that support and BELIEVE IN ME!

Want to come see me on the stage at the EP-STEEN Center?

I went to Horse Camp for 2 weeks and had a lot of FUN!

FIRE is the name of my horse.

I met new friends that liked me and BELIEVED IN ME at the Ranch!

I am on the SWIM TEAM at River Land Pool.

Back Stroke is my best stroke. I Like doing Free Style and I'm learning the Butterfly. 

I love going to Swim practice every day!

My Coaches BELIEVE IN ME!

I love going to the Movies and Cooking.

I am having a Great Summer.

I need people to BELIEVE IN ME and see that I CAN do it!

Do not JUDGE me because I have Down syndrome!

I am Mariah Harris, I love school and I'm a good student!

I have always been fully IN-CLUDed with an adult to help me.

BELIEVE IN and IN-CLUDE more students with Down syndrome in all of our schools!!

Have a good day!

Thank you very much.

SMILE

Mariah Harris

321funlife@gmail.com

(954) 205-0016                                         

321 FUN ~ Mariah’s Life Blog

www.321fun.blogspot.com

Mariah's Speech to Broward School Board Meeting on July 22, 2013

Mariah needs a Speech COACH to help her with doing public reading & speaking, to help her with her 'speech skills', articulation and her reading fluency. This is what she needs help with now if she wants to become a more polished public speaker. Who wants to help?

To see Mariah's mom (Nancy Linley-Harris) speaking after her daughter, go to 149:35 on the Video. Here is my written speech that was handed out to all the school board members:

July 23^rd, 2013

Nancy Linley-Harris to School Board Meeting at Broward County Public Schools.

Good Afternoon Superintendent Runcie and School board members of Broward Public Schools,

Today, I will be speaking on behalf of students with Down syndrome and ALL Special Ed Students that are being forced to be WAREHOUSED at certain schools in ESE classrooms in Broward County Public Schools.

My name is Nancy Linley-Harris and I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On May 24^th I removed my daughter with Down syndrome from Broward County Public School District because I was being retaliated against for being an outspoken Advocate for the rights of my daughter to be ACADEMICALLY EDUCATED to learn and earn a real High School Diploma. My daughter was being forced out of all regular classes and was prevented from taking the State exams any longer. The ESE Department & the Due Process department for Broward County Public Schools did all they could to prevent my daughter and others like her from being treated with respect and educated with their classmates without special needs in the least restrictive classrooms, which is a regular classroom.

*How many students are being forced out of their neighborhood schools because of having a disability? This seems to be a Civil Rights concern here in Broward County Public Schools.

A mom of a 5 year old with Down syndrome recently contacted me and let me know that she had filed for a Due Process Hearing, because Broward Schools is refusing to allow her son to go to Kindergarten at the school that is just a few blocks from her house, which is HAWKE’S BLUFF Elem. She told me that Broward Schools is forcing him to have to attend a school that is almost 6 miles away to be in a segregated special ed classroom at PEMBROKE LAKES. 

The parents are not agreeing to this and have let the school know they would like to have him be included in a regular Kindergarten classroom with his neighborhood friends that he knows. This little guy has already been attending HAWKE’S BLUFF ELEMENTARY School for 2 years already because of the 3-5 year old Early Intervention classes that used to be called the PLACE Classrooms for students with disabilities.  I am asking; “Why HAWKE’S BLUFF is even allowed to say, “NO” to this particular student?”  

Is this school and this district DISCRIMINATING AGAINST Students with Down syndrome from even being allowed to attend their neighborhood schools anymore? I THINK SO! 

Please School board members, there needs to be an investigation into the INCLUSION Practices that this District is doing, because it is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that provides the FEDERAL FUNDS to help educate our students with Disabilities. 

From what I am seeing as happening in Broward County Public Schools is; our students with Disabilities MATRIX FUNDS are being used to WAREHOUSE our Children into schools and classrooms that not all parents of these children agreed to and ultimately parents are forced into filing a Due Process.

How much money is the district spending on the Due Process for families like this one? Parent just wanting there child to attend the school down the street and to go to a regular kindergarten class with the neighborhood friends.

School Board members of Broward County Public Schools, for the record, I would like to know how much is this District spending from our student’s special education funds by NOT ALLOWING our students with disabilities into the regular classrooms, from being educated academically so they can learn and earn a high school diploma.

As an Advocate for the Disability Community, I am asking; “HOW MUCH DOES THIS DISTRICT RECEIVE IN Special Ed Matrix FUNDS federally and thru the State Special Ed Funds from FDOE?” “What is the amount for the entire district and how is that being spent?”

“HOW IS BROWARD SCHOOLS SPENDING our children’s ESE funding that’s there to help educate our Special needs children?”  

This school district does not BELIEVE IN students…….especially the students needing the most support that comes with extra funding to help educate them, students with disabilities! 

Stop forcing parents to file Due Process Hearings, because we want our children to attend their neighborhood school and be included in regular classes. 

We want our Teachers to BELIEVE IN our children and to TEACH our children. Where is the training for the teachers and staff? Stop the Discrimination & Segregation of our students with Disabilities!

How are you spending our Special Education Funds in Broward Schools?

I want to know if my daughter’s ESE Matrix Funds were actually spent on educating her instead of allowing Parkway Middle’s ESE teachers and staff to attend 10-IEP meetings to go against my wanting her to continue to be fully included and to be educated academically so she too could learn to earn a real high school diploma.

Nancy Linley-Harris

podsangels@gmail.com

(954) 612-2997

DS Advocate BLOG

www.ds-advocate.blogspot.com

My Message to the Down syndrome Community:

If more parents of DS go before school boards with the same message - it would speak volumes across the Nation & the World. What I have found here where I live is that parents are afraid to speak out - Knowing that makes me feel more obligated to be that voice for many of them! 

My daughter "learning to speak publically" is amazing to be part of with her! She has no fear of Public Speaking! I see it as her Self-Advocacy "training" as well for Mariah and showing our Community that she IS CAPABLE of so much more than our schools want to believe. She is gaining more confidence each time she speaks! 

I would encourage more parents to help our children show your community that our children and young adults with Down syndrome have so much to give!! The Public needs to SEE our children being successful, if that means giving a simple message before your school board and learning how to give a speech with a real microphone than so be it! I'm pretty sure many of our kiddos love the "stage" and will do anything to have an opportunity to speak into a microphone.....without it being taken away from them. My daughter like many with Down syndrome loves "the stage!!"

Civil Rights Question ~ Students NOT ALLOWED to attend their neighborhood school?

Mariah Harris and I are signed up to SPEAK AGAIN before our Public School Board meeting tomorrow. We also signed up to be on the Public Speakers LIST for next school board meeting on Tuesday, AUGUST 6th as well. 

WHO will be supporting us as we speak up on behalf of all individuals with disabilities, especially those students with Down syndrome being constantly DENIED an INCLUSIVE EDUCATION in the least restrictive classrooms, leading towards being educated to learn and earn a real high school diploma! 

WHO will come out and support us on this? There is still so much NONSENSE being allowed to take place towards individuals with Down syndrome not being allowed to attend their neighborhood schools. Being FORCED to send our children to schools miles away instead! 

THIS nonsense of discrimination & segregation needs to STOP!

SIGN-UP to be a PUBLIC SPEAKER and let your Public School District know how you feel about the DISCRIMINATION & SEGREGATION of students with disabilities, and yes especially many of our children with Down syndrome absolutely are being denied their right to an academic education like everyone else!

Florida ESE in 2013...Remember ~ Racial Segregation of Schools particularly in the South between 1955-1968.

Florida ESE in 2013...Remember ~ Racial Segregation of Schools particularly in the South between 1955-1968. 

This Archived News Clip is worthy of watching to see the similarities with our exceptional student education (ESE) population of students today.

*The CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL Principal ~ We need more Principals like him! 

*So many awesome people that spoke out back then! True Civil Rights ADVOCATES!

Mariah wasn't allowed to take the FCAT or the Alternate Assessment in the 6th Grade at Parkway Middle School!!

This is me speaking for the first time publically to Broward County School Board a month before I completely WITHDREW Mariah from Broward Public Education! In my speach you can see I was PLEADING for help to look into what was happening to me at Parkway Middle School via the IEP "PROCESS" here in Broward County! I also explain how Mariah wasn't even allowed to take the FCAT anymore and wasn't ever told by the schools ESE Specialist, Ms. Chiante Roundtree-Jones as to exactly when the ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT would be going on. (*the Special Needs FCAT testing) The schools ESE Specialist said, that Mariah wasn't in school on the day that the 'letter' was sent home. Instead weeks later, Mariah did bring home a letter informing us when the "regular" FCAT testing times would be going on.

In Elementary school, Mariah had always taken the "regular" FCAT since the 3rd grade and twice in 5th grade, because I thought it would be good for Mariah to have a second year of 5th grade with the same wonderful teacher, Mr. Allagood. Mariah had always been taking the "regular" FCAT, a total of 4 times she took the FCAT before going off to 6th grade at Parkway Middle School. So this year in 6th grade, Mariah wasn't even allowed or was I ever informed when the Alternate Assessment testing dates would be given. I found out later that the Alternate to the FCAT is given to the ESE Students over a 3 week time period, whereas the regular FCAT is given over a shorter time period of just 2 weeks. Not once during the time for testing the Alternate Assessment was our family notified of this testing and it was going on for 3 whole weeks?! That in itself shows the lack of care to test and/or educate a wonderful student like Mariah! 

Mariah loves school and is a wonderful student any good teacher would be thrilled for the challenge of teaching her in a diversified classroom as they all should be today! Not all her teachers should have been chosen for her as there have been some really GREAT TEACHERS over the years and certainly Mariah has has some really lousy/rotten teachers too! More good teachers though, but the bad ones can really make life miserable for both student and parent! Her intensive reading teacher in 6th grade at Parkway Middle had no desire to really help Mariah continue with increasing her reading skills. An intensive reading teacher that only gives "F's" to a student with an IEP should be fired! Upsetting to say the least, because READING is one of the most important academic skills a student needs to learn to get an education! That reading teacher's only goal for Mariah was to show she wasn't making progress to push her into a NON-PHONICS BASED reading program the ESE Department was pushing on many of the Middle School Students, that I wanted no part of for my girl. This "curriculum" was not something I agreed to, if SB 1108 had been in place, I would have had to 'sign-off' yes or no to that curriculum. As of July 1st, 2013 that Senate Bill will be law! 

So this year, not only did my daugher, Mariah not get to take the "regular" FCAT, she also wasn't allowed to be tested the one given to Special Needs students, the Alternate Assessment to the regular FCAT. Why was this allowed to even happen to Mariah? Is it because both Mariah and I went up to testify before the Florida Senate in March on SB 1108? Is it because she has Down syndrome, is it because her mom is an outspoken Advocate for students with Down syndrome and other unique learning challenges? I would like to know how our public school district can get away with such nonsense!

Ultimately....one month later I decided to completely WITHDRAW my daughter from PUBLIC EDUCATION because I have experienced such a total lack of care to ACADEMICALLY EDUCATE my daughter as she gets older. Being in Middle School and being included in regular general education classes is NOT WHAT THIS DISTRICT WANTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME and certainly they don't care to work collaboratively with their parents.

The new Senate Bill 1108 if it had been in place before this school year or before, I never would have had to go through the nonsense I was being forced to endure at the many (too many) IEP meetings Parkway Middle School put me through. 

Mariah and I going to the Florida Capitol a month previously on March 18th, 2013 to testify before the Florida Senate on why we thought this Bill is an absolute must to have in place to protect parents rights to help our children receive a "world class education"? That is what is advertised throughout our public school district, on their phone lines when we are put on hold and on the District website. A world class education is for those without disabilities I think is what they really mean.

In this video, Mariah had just spoken before me, the same exact speech she read to the Florida Senate Education Committee a month before on March 18th, 2013. I will post her first school board speech when I have a copy of it. This was Mariah's second time public speaking and she did fabulous job! She has told me she loves speaking in front of a people! So through it all, we both have become Public Speakers. Mariah and I both have now had parts of our Senate Education Committee testimony from the the Florida Capitol speech aired on National Public Radion-NPR. Mariah telling the Florida Senate that she wants a REAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA and that she wants to one day go to College. Her cute voice and her very first public speech has been aired and heard across the Country. I believe she speaks for many with Down syndrome and special needs education in general. 

Mariah you are on your way to becoming a National Speaker, getting on NPR is a start! I am so proud of my daughter for rising to the challenge of getting up and speaking before the public and having your voice heard! You speak for many like you! 

Please comment if things like this are or have been happening to your child's education, I would love to hear from my readers. Share my story too!

Segregation still happens as: Tampa mom fights to keep her son with Down syndrome in his neighborhood elementary school!

Tampa mom fights to keep her disabled son in his neighborhood school

Segregation still happens as: Tampa mom fights to keep her son with Down syndrome in his neighborhood elementary school!

This advocate mom, Roberta Moore and her 10 year old son, who is also a student with Down syndrome, just like my daughter, Mariah is up against the SAME THING that I have been experiencing here in Broward Public Schools as well! It's parents like us with children like ours that are being DISCRIMINATED against on so many levels in the Public Education System, especially here in Florida. I have spoke before my school board, several times. This same thing is happening to so many students...everywhere! 

In Tampa, Roberta Moore attended an IEP and was absolutely against what was being suggested for her son's placement for his next school year. In Fort Lauderdale, an IEP was taking 10 meetings to write up with the suggestion from the school side of the IEP "team" leading towards having Mariah's class placement for her to be in FULL ESE CLUSTER ALL DAY FOR ALL HER CLASSES, with the exception for her to be able to 'come out' so she could attend her STEM MAGNET CLASS in a General Education Classroom. LUNCH TIME would be her other allowed time to attend school with her friends and peers without disabilities. This sort of special classroom placement suggestion was not anything Mariah was used to. Mariah has always attended the same classes as her friends she goes to school with. Mariah has always been educated in 'regular classes' and fully included in gen.ed. classes all her life. Now it seemed to be the push of her school and the IEP "team" that it would be better for her to only attend school in an ESE classroom. Same with Roberta Moore for her 10 year old son, this too was not what I wanted for my 14 year old daughter either! 

Senate Passes Bill Empowering Parents in Critical IEP Decisions

http://capitalsoup.com/2013/04/29/senate-passes-bill-empowering-parents-in-critical-iep-decisions/

I am not a teacher, but have always 'homeschooled' part-time because it is good for her and I know what is best for my daughter and her education. As her mother and her truest advocate, I know and believe in her plans for her future career choice! Mariah has always had the desire to work with animals and become a Vet Tech and go to college one day.  It's up to me to make sure that happens for her....all other's need to either support her in teaching her a quality academic education or just GET OUT OF THE WAY!

I withdrew my daughter, Mariah on May 24th, 2013 from Broward County Public School District. I enrolled her in a small private Christian school that has graduated many many students over the years! Mariah and I are very much looking forward to her new school in the Fall without so many 'cooks in the kitchen!'

I filed my official STATE COMPLAINT with the Florida Department of Education on June 7th, 2013. What's being allowed to happen to so many of our students with disabilities throughout the entire State of Florida, particularly students with Down syndrome is ripe for a CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT! Who's in?

If this same thing has happened to you, I highly recommend filing a STATE COMPLAINT! 

Senate Bill 1108 goes into law on July 1st, 2013!
click above link to learn all about what SB1108 is all about.

Public Schools get extra funds to help educate our children, but it seems instead, the Public School system is possibly using the $$MONEY$$ our special needs students generate. Our children's educational money is being spent however Principals and District Administrators want. Our children's special education funds are being spend on all sorts of things other than for those very students that need the extra support.

ESE Teachers in those ESE classrooms are not always provided the most basic of supplies that other teachers and classrooms are afforded. It's the ESE students extra funding that is attached to them for the extra they may need, yet the many ESE TEACHERS are not given a reasonable budget to spend on classroom supplies, so all the students suffer by not having what the 'typical' students receive at school each and every day. Let's talk TECHNOLOGY, TEXT BOOKS & CURRICULUM in ESE Classrooms! 

So instead of INCLUDING our children into regular classes, schools are using our children's special education funds aka as their MATRIX Funding elsewhere instead of for my child. Our Special Ed Students are a cash commodity for schools today! 

Schools and the Districts are pushing to have all Special Needs students in the same classrooms...it's called SEGREGATION & DISCRIMINATION! ~ This is 2013 people!! Martin Luther King would be applaud at what is still going on with Discrimination!!

Guess my leaving and pulling my daughter from Broward Public School "before" the big boom to herd all SWD=Students With Disabilities off to Special Schools and all ESE special classes and Special everything is a good thing that I WITHDREW my daughter completely from Public Education when I did! My daughter will be fully included at her new school, where she'll be respected and accepted for the wonderful student and person she is. 

Many SWD that have recently graduated with Standard Diploma's or what's commonly known as a REAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA have all 'just made it under the wire!!!" They are the LUCKY ONES today!!

It's time for us to work together to help all SWD and future SWD have the opportunity to be accepted into regular classrooms. This is not something we all should have to even worry about this day and age, but in Florida we do! Florida as well as many other States are still very much behind in treating people fairly, especially when it comes to our public education today and our students needing special education support and services. 

Being treated unfairly and being left out is not something new to SWD and their families, especially families that have someone with Down syndrome. We know all to often the feeling of things not being 'fair'. We have all felt discrimination and it hurts every time we are being discriminated against, for wanting what is every one's right and freedom...a PUBLIC EDUCATION! 

We all know that raising a child today is not easy, with or without a learning disability, but certainly if your child has a disability, our families experience alot more funky situations than most families would ever imagine and people take for granted. We have to deal with the unfairness on a regular basis because our child has Down syndrome. *or any other disability.

It's 2013 people ~ SEGREGATION &amp; DISCRIMINATION need to STOP!

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/22567697/2013/06/12/should-special-needs-students-be-in-mainstream-classrooms#.UbiaH2fXW61.facebook

http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/6/12/mom_of_boy_with_spec.html

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_south_hillsborough/tampa-mom-fights-to-keep-her-disabled-son-in-his-neighborhood-school