Dear General Education Teacher, Let’s Talk About Your Role in My Child’s Education
Dear teacher, That child in your classroom with an individualized education program (IEP) is my kid. She has a special education teacher, of course, but when she is in your classroom, you are her main teacher, and this is why we need to talk. I need you to read my...
I Shouldn’t Have to Fight for My Daughter With a Disability to Be Considered by Educators
Inclusion means valuing every student, and believing they have a place in the classroom — because they do.
Inclusion means plain good teaching.
Rethinking Inclusion for My Daughter With Down Syndrome
My husband and I have been talking at length about what inclusion will look like for her this coming year. We have a schedule of the classes a typical sixth-grader takes, and we are taking a step back as we discuss: can our daughter really, truly keep up with these classes? Science. Math. Social Studies. English. Physical Education.
Dear Parent in the School Parking Lot, It’s Not OK to Park in the Accessible Spots
I know every school is different, but in my experience, most school parking lots only offer a couple of accessible spots. These spots, by law, can only be used if you have a handicapped tag. When it comes to school due to the limited number of accessible spaces, these...
When a Dance Studio Refused to Teach My Daughter With Down Syndrome
Last year, I walked into a dance studio planning to sign up two of my girls; one for ballet, the other for ballet and tap. We found a studio only a few blocks from our house and it was not a competition dance school — we liked that. We chose the studio because on...
Ellen Stumbo writes and speaks about finding beauty in brokenness with gritty honesty and openness. She's passionate about sharing the real – sometimes beautiful and sometimes ugly – aspects of faith, parenting, special needs, and adoption. Ellen’s writing has appeared on Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia and the Huffington Post.