Transforming Inclusive Practices
Last weekend I attended a Women’s Leadership Summit with the theme “the time is now!” The spirit of stepping forward to lead has stayed with me, haunting my thoughts and inspiring me to action.
Can we be honest?
Special education services in this country aren’t working. We’ve had a special education law since 1975. We’ve been required to include secondary transition services in IEPs since 1997. Yet, take a hard look at these employment statistics from the US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Why is there such a gap in that right hand column? Why aren’t more adults with disabilities employed? According to the NLTS2, 59% of transitioning students were employed one year after graduation. What’s happening? What are we missing?
I don’t blame education professionals or families. I think everybody is doing the best they can with what they know. I know that I did my best to fulfill my role – whether I was a parent, teacher, transition coordinator, state dept transition specialist, or university professor. Over the last 50 years, I have collaborated with countless committed professionals at all levels who earned my respect and admiration. They have huge caring hearts. They work so hard, and frankly they are discouraged.
I think our educational system is stacked against them.
Special education is complex and each aspect is often considered a separate domain – instructional practices, self-determination, co-teaching, family partnerships, transition services, universal design, specially designed instruction, IEP development. How confusing!
When I married Robert after being a single mom for 20 years, I started to understand how an engineer thinks about systems. On many long walks, we talked about how to integrate all the educational silos into one system. His questions prompted me to write Included with the End in Mind. His faith in me propelled me to incorporate my ideas into my consulting.
Too many talented, committed teachers are leaving the field! Somebody has to do something – and SOON! Then I hear an echo of a song and hum, “let the change begin with me.” OK, then.
The Endrew F. Supreme Court decision will push schools and districts to transform their systems. Leaders across the country are starting to search for solutions. The time is right. The time is now.
My declaration: over the next year, I will develop a system of professional development that will integrate inclusion, transition, youth empowerment, and family partnerships into one initiative. I want to give school leaders the tools and empowerment to transform their own practices. I’ll take the first step, but I can’t do this alone.
I need your help. What are YOUR special education issues?
What would help YOUR situation?
Please complete my survey!
PS. If my ideas here resonated with you,
let’s stay connected on LinkedIn
Reach out to me!
