Resources
A collection of my essays, activities, and case studies for supporting the education of disabled/chronically ill and neurodivergent children.
Drive Teaching by Addressing the “Why”
Some of the things we request from children make very little sense. Worksheets asking question after question about a book sucks the life out of it. As parents and teachers of disabled or neurodivergent children, we always feel we need to do more. Drive it home...
Privacy and Dignity Are Human Rights
Home-educating parents, especially parents raising disabled children, are continually being watched, judged, and criticized. Everyone has an opinion. Hardly anyone keeps it to themselves. Nobody questions public school parents about their choices. When their kids...
Deeply Rooted in Our Silence Is Ableism
The rehabilitation center we’re affiliated with is an old school adapted with an elevator and sliding doors at the entrance but does not have adequate change spaces. The only two change tables at this center are polar opposites in design and both entirely...
The Ableist Medical System
The pediatrician hinted about a disorder while I sat in a chair and he stood over my son's incubator. I left confused and in tears.⠀ The official diagnosis was handed to me without support in the NICU. I held my son, the doctor casually leaned on the empty...
Home Education Series
More Essays, Activities, and Case Studies
On the Receiving End of Ableism
My son and I have been on the receiving end of ableist remarks throughout his lifetime. Most of it is well-intentioned and meant to be encouraging. These seemingly-benign comments are a result of internalized ableism which is why it's hard to identify...
Embracing Imperfection
The year I won the award for perfect attendance, I was absent to accept it. I imagine the adults in the room swapped glances and chuckled at the irony of it all.⠀ When I was given the award along with my report card, I felt I didn't deserve it. I couldn't believe my...
He Is My Son, But I Am Not Part of His Culture
I am my son’s parent, but I am not a part of his culture and he is not part of mine. I have not experienced life as a disabled person and he’s never been non-disabled. I first became aware of this distinction when I heard Andrew Solomon, author of Far From the Tree:...
More Than One Way to Be in the World
I learned that there is only one way to be in the world as a child. It was reinforced in my schooling and solidified in my career in the education system. There are a set of rules for behaving that are socially accepted. Anything outside of that is judged,...
On the Receiving End of Ableism
My son and I have been on the receiving end of ableist remarks throughout his lifetime. Most of it is well-intentioned and meant to be encouraging. These seemingly-benign comments are a result of internalized ableism which is why it's hard to identify...
Embracing Imperfection
The year I won the award for perfect attendance, I was absent to accept it. I imagine the adults in the room swapped glances and chuckled at the irony of it all.⠀ When I was given the award along with my report card, I felt I didn't deserve it. I couldn't believe my...
He Is My Son, But I Am Not Part of His Culture
I am my son’s parent, but I am not a part of his culture and he is not part of mine. I have not experienced life as a disabled person and he’s never been non-disabled. I first became aware of this distinction when I heard Andrew Solomon, author of Far From the Tree:...
More Than One Way to Be in the World
I learned that there is only one way to be in the world as a child. It was reinforced in my schooling and solidified in my career in the education system. There are a set of rules for behaving that are socially accepted. Anything outside of that is judged,...