What Happens Next in DC Child Find Policies is Up to Parents and Allies of Children with Disabilities
After a weekend of much needed rest and reflection, I have had some time to think not just about what independence means to me but what it means for my children. Frederick Douglass was not only a hero in the anti-slavery movement, he was also prolific in articulating great ideas expressed in speeches such as […]
Medicaid and Me
It is wonderful news to hear that the vote on the massive tax-cut for the wealthy bill (disguised as a health care bill) has been postponed for at least another week and a half. Yet as a mother and head of household of two young children with autism whose quality of care is heavily dependent […]
Part 2: What is Basic Income
In the last post on Basic Income, I alluded to the pilot program that was just approved in Hawaii as well as the project in Ontario, Canada sponsored by the Poverty Reduction Strategy Office (PRSO). I had the pleasure of meeting Karen Glass, the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Ontario PRSO, who is a willing […]
Disabilities Competency: Lessons of a Parent Advocate
Over the past year, I have been privileged to meet many people operating at various levels of disabilities advocacy in Washington, DC. Ranging from elected officials to accomplished advocates to parents/caretakers to self-advocates, it has been a heartwarming exposure to people who are also passionate around improving our community through personal and political measures to […]
The Role of Parents in the Movement for Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL offers a clear methodology of how District of Columbia classrooms can become inclusive environments, thus it is a very exciting journey to learn more about evidence-based tools and assessments that include parents as active members of a school’s community of learning.
Intersectionality and Disability Rights
We are living in a tense political climate both locally and nationally where lawmakers seem out of sync with the needs and desires of everyday people. When local tax cuts are proposed in the midst of one of the most unstable national climates, also proposing tax cuts, it begs the question: where do our leaders think […]
Public Safety Awareness Campaign – Summer 2017
In the process of actively advocating with DC law makers and connecting with dedicated individuals and organizations working diligently for children and youth with disabilities and the families responsible for their care, the most important lesson is the power of coordination and organization. There’s a lot of housekeeping to be done within our coalition, of […]
Dear Parents, Your Advocacy Matters.
For many families, taking on the educational system can be very intimidating and/or disillusioning. The District of Columbia has a long and sordid history of maltreating people with developmental disabilities. And while many things have improved since the prolonged fight for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Evans v. Washington, there is still […]
The Balkanization of Special Education in Washington, DC
In a recent comparative study of the Child Find process in three counties Maryland and three counties in Virginia to compare with the Child Find process in Washington, we found that of these six counties the District of Columbia is the only place that has a decentralized Child Find process for the age group 3 to 5 years […]
Dear Parents, Your Advocacy Matters.
To blog with us and share your story, please email motheringhands@mail.com with subject line “Inclusive Prosperity Blog Post”. For many families, taking on the educational system can be very intimidating and/or disillusioning. The District of Columbia has a long and sordid history of maltreating people with developmental disabilities. And while many things have improved since the prolonged […]