This website, Step Up for Students, provides two options for parents: low-income or special needs. These two options should be considered when you are looking for alternative education plans for your special needs child. The first choice most often is for the use of Mackay Scholarship. Mackay is based on the student having an IEP…
Tag: florida
WAIT! do not file intent with Mckay
Calm down! Do not make this mistake. Do not file for intent to use the Mckay scholarship until you have completed your IEP re-evaluation and or end of year review where you can make sure all the lists of services and accommodations are on the IEP. McKay Scholarship is provided by the Florida Department of…
IEP, PBIB, ABA, OT, SLP… What does all this mean?
When you first realize that your child is struggling to develop at the same level as other children their age, you begin the early intervention process. Little did you know that you would have to learn a new language: acronyms. Below is a list of acronyms that I have learned over the years working through…
Teacher Truth, Mom Truth
There is a saying in education. OH, are you one of those public school teachers that puts their kid in private school?! Truth is…. Absolutely, I would and I did. I am a public school teacher that will put her children in any school or program that meets their needs. Yes, I have placed my son…
It’s time for VPK!
In the beginning of the year, we apply for the August start of the new school year. We are planning eight months out! So, as a mom of two this is actually my first time going through this process because my oldest had an IEP. Because we were already in the preschool system with an…
Sensitive Santa for the win!
We had a great experience at Sensitive Santa at Westshore Mall last weekend. We’ve not always had the best experience and outcome with visiting Santa but were very happy with this years opportunity. Last year we tried three different times all paid opportunities to get a family picture and picture with Santa. All three times,…
Stressful September
Well, I am so very excited that September is on it’s last day! I rarely write on Ruthfulness about topics that don’t relate directly to education, access and advocating for autism and early intervention. But, we are one year in! Happy Anniversary to Ruthfulness. It has been a year since I started publicly sharing my…
Sensory Friendly Guide to Hurricanes
A little humor to go along with the stress and mess of Hurricane Irma! By the fifth and sixth of September, most Floridians were in serious Hurricane supply and stock up mode. It went from a calm and fun Labor Day weekend to a straight havoc and mayhem! Monday, no work and holiday. Tuesday, everyone…
5 Ways Public Schools Fail Special Needs Children
original blog post: How Schools Fail Special Needs Children In my original post regarding how the school system fails special needs children my primary focus was around communication. Communication on multiple levels and capacities. I have refined my list for five ways our public schools are failing special needs children. Thinking one size fits all…
A Sensory Friendly Guide to Sea World
Sea World (Orlando) has been awesome for our family! Sea World gives out teacher passes to all state educators and we take advantage of going at least once a year. The other great deal is that from year to year Busch Gardens and Sea World offer a preschool pass, the pass gives children five and…
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